《英美概况》教学辅助2.ppt

Lesson2An Outline Introduction to Britain and America 2. The British Government and Politics Ⅰ.The British system of government: Constitutional Monarchy Ⅱ. Parliament Ⅲ. The Government and the cabinet Ⅳ. Political Parties Ⅴ. Election Ⅵ. The Judiciary Ⅰ.The British system of government: Constitutional Monarchy The monarchy (9th century) The constitutional monarchy (17th- ) The monarch reigns, but does not rule The role of the monarch 1.Theoretically, the King or Queen is the source of all government powers. He/She is the head of the legislature, the executive, and the judiciary, the commander-in-chief of all armed forces. In reality, the King or Queen does everything on the advice of the Prime Minister, and his/her role is symbolic, ceremonial, and not political. The role of the monarch 2. The monarch is the personal embodiment of the British government and a symbol of British unity, representing the continuity of the whole political system. So the stability of the British government owes much to the monarchy. 3. The monarch can meet the PM on weekly basis at Buckingham Palace, give the Royal Assent to any new law that has been passed by Parliament, act as a final check on a government that is becoming dictatorial. The role of the monarch 4. As a figurehead to represent the country, the monarch can perform the following ceremonial duties: paying state visits to Commonwealth countries as head of state and non- Commonwealth countries on behalf of the British government, etc. Ⅱ.Parliament The role of parliament The components The House of Lords (The Upper House) The House of Commons (The Lower House) The House of Lords The House of Lords (the Upper House), consists of the Lords Spiritual, including archbishops and prominent bishops of the Church of England, the Lords Temporal, including hereditary peers and life peers who are granted noble titles by the monarch on the advice of the PM, and the Lords of Appeal in Ordinary, more common