英美概况上期末复习.docVIP

英美概况期末复习 名词解释 Prime Minister 首相 The Prime Minister is the number-one minister of all the British ministers. After a general election, the leader of the party that has won the majority of the seats in the House of Commons will be appointed Prime Minister by the monarch. The Prime Minister is the head of the British Government and is rather powerful in making appointments. The Prime Minister not only controls the Cabinet but also the Parliament British Parliament 英国议会 The British Parliament comprises 3 elements棗the Monarch, the House of Lords, and the House of Commons. In law, the Monarch is the official head of the Parliament; the two House are separate and equal. In reality, the Monarch is nothing but the symbolic part, the real power in passing laws is held mainly by the House of Commons. The British Parliament has the supreme legislative authority in the United Kingdom. The Speaker 议长 The chief officer of the House of Commons is the Speaker, who is also known as the president of the Chamber. The Speaker is elected by the House of Commons, but normally only after the party leaders have privately agreed beforehand on a particular person. Once elected, he can hold the position until his retirement when he will be made a peer. Though he may belong to one of the political parties, the Speaker has to give up all party loyalties. He is next only to the Prime Minister in rank. The Speaker never votes except when the votes are equal. Then he gives the deciding vote. Question Time 质询时间 Every day when the Commons meets, they begin their meeting with a “Question Time,” which is an hour of parliamentary time after prayers and some preliminaries. During the “Question Time” ministers, in rotation, answer questions put to them on matters for which they are responsible. The questions are put forward by MPs and usually handed in beforehand. After the “Question Time” follows the main debate of the day. The “Three Readings” 三独 The process of passing it is similar in both of the Hous