British Parliament
Great Britain is a constitutional monarchy. This means that it has a monarch as its Head of the State. The monarch reigns with the support of Parliament. The powers of the monarch are not defined precisely. Everything today is done in the Queen’s name. It is her government, her armed forces, her law courts and so on. She appoints all the Ministers, including the Prime Minister. Everything is done however on the advice of the elected Government, and the monarch takes no part in the decision-making process.
Once the British Empire included a large number of countries all over the world ruled by Britain. The process of decolonisation began in 1947 with the independence of India, Pakistan and Ceylon. Now there is no Empire and only few small islands belong to Britain. In 1997 the last colony, Hong Kong, was given to China. But the British ruling classes tried not to lose influence over the former colonies of the British Empire. An association of former members of the British Empire and Britain was founded in 1949. It is called the Commonwealth. It includes many countries such as Ireland, Burma, the Sudan, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and others. The Queen of Great Britain is also a Head of the Commonwealth, and also the Queen of Canada, Australia, New Zealand...
The British Constitution. The British Constitution is to a large extent a product of many historical events and has thus evolved aver many centuries. Unlike the constitutions of most other countries, it is not set out in any single document. Instead it is made up of statute law, common law and conventions. The constitution can be change by Act of Parliament, or by general agreement to alter a convention.
The Monarchy in Britain. When the Queen was born on 21 April 1926, her grandfather, King George V, was on the throne and her uncle was his heir. The death of her grandfather and the abdication of her uncle (King Edward VIII) brought her father to the throne in 1936 as King George VI. Elizabeth II came to the throne an 6 February 1952 and was crowned on 2 June 1953. Since then she made many trips to different countries and to the UK also. The Queen is very rich, as are others members of the royal family. In addition, the government pays for her expenses as Head of the State, for a royal yacht, train and aircraft as well as for the upkeep of several palaces. The Queen’s image appears on stamps, notes and coins.
The Powers of Parliament. The three elements, which make up Parliament –the Queen, the House of Lords and the elected House of Commons –, are constituted on different principles. They meet together only on occasions of symbolic significance such as the State Opening of Parliament, when the Commons are invited by the Queen to the House of Lords.
Parliament consists of two chambers known as the House of Lords and the House of Commons. Parliament and the monarch have different roles in the government of the country, and they only meet together on symbolic occasions such as coronation of a new monarch or the opening of Parliament. In reality, the House of Commons is the only one of the three which is true power. It is here that new bills are introduced and debated. If the majority of the members aren’t in favour of a bill it goes to the House of Lords to be debated and finally to the monarch to be signed. Only than it becomes law. Although a bill must be supported by all three bodies, the House of Lords only has limited powers, and the monarch hasn’t refused to sign one.
The Functions of Parliament. The main functions of Parliament are: to pass laws; to provide, by voting taxation, the means of carrying on the work of government; to scrutinise government policy and administration; to debate the major issues of the day. In carrying out these functions Parliament helps to bring the relevant facts and issues before the electorate. By custom, Parliament is also informed before all-important international treaties and agreements are ratified.
A Parliament has a maximum duration of five years, but in practice general elections are usually held before the end of this term. Parliament is dissolved and rights for a general election are ordered by the Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister. The life of a Parliament is divided into sessions. Each usually lasts for one year – normally beginning and ending in October or November. The adverse number of "sitting" days in a session is about 168 in the House of Commons and about 150 in the House of Lords. At the start of each session the Queen"s speech to Parliament outlines the Government’s policies and proposed legislative programme.
The House of Commons. The House of Commons is elected and consists of 651 Members of Parliament (MPs). At present there are 60 women, three Asian and three black Mps. Of the 651 seats, 524 are for England, 38 for Wales, 72 for Scotland, and 17 for Northern Ireland. Members are paid an annual salary of ‡30,854. The chief officer of the House of Commons is the Speaker, elected by the MPs to preside over the House. The House of Commons plays the major role in law making.
MPs sit on two sides of the hall, one side for the governing party and the other for the opposition. Parliament has intervals during its work. MPs are paid for their parliamentary work and have to attend the sittings. MPs have to catch the Speaker"s eye when they want to speak, then they rise from where they have been sitting to address the House and must do so without either reading a prepared speech or consulting notes.
The House of Lords. The House of Lords consists of the Lords Spiritual and the Lords Temporal. The Lords Spiritual are the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, and the 24 next most senior bishops of the Church of England. The Lords Temporal consist of: all hereditary peers of England, Scotland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom; all other life peers. Peerages, both hereditary and life, are created by the Sovereign on the advice of the Prime Minister. They are usually granted in recognition of service in politics or other walks of life. In 1992 there were 1,211 members of the House of Lords, including the two archbishops and 24 bishops. The Lords Temporal consisted of 758 hereditary peers and 408 life peers. The House is presided over by the Lord Chancellor, who takes his place on the woolsack as the Speaker of the House.
The division of Parliament into two Houses goes back over some 700 years when feudal assembly ruled the country. In modern times, real political power rests in the elected House although members of the House of Lords still occupy important cabinet posts.
The Political Party System. The present political system depends upon the existence of organised political parties, each of which presents its policies to the electorate for approval. The parties are not registered or formally recognised in law, but in practice most candidates in elections, and almost all winning candidates, belong to one of" the main parties.
For the last 150 years there were only 2 parties: the Conservative Party and the Labour Party. A new party – the Liberal Democrats – was formed in 1988. Social Democratic Party is also the new one founded in 1981. Other parties include two nationalist parties, Plaid Cymru (founded in Wales in 1925) and the Scottish National Party (founded in 1934).
The effectiveness of the party system in Parliament rests largely on the relationship between the Government and the Opposition parties. Depending on the relative strengths of the parties in the House of Commons, the Opposition may seek to overthrow the Government by defeating it in a vote on a "matter of confidence". In general, however, its aims are to contribute to the formation of policy and legislation by constructive criticism; to oppose government proposal - it considers objectionable; to seek amendments to government bills; and to put forward its own policies in order to improve its chances of winning the next general election.
Because of the electoral method in use, only two major parties obtain seats in the House of Commons. People belonging to smaller political parties join one of the larger parties and work from within to make their influence felt. The exception to this are members of the Scottish National and Welsh Nationalist Parties, who, because their influence votes are concentrated in specific geographical areas, can manage to win seats although their total support is relatively small.
Her Majesty"s Government: Prime Minister, the Cabinet. Her Majesty"s Government is the body of ministers responsible for the administration of national affairs. The Prime Minister is appointed by the Queen, and all other ministers are appointed by the Queen on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. Most ministers are members of the Commons, although the Government is also fully represented by ministers in the Lords. The composition of governments can vary both in the number of ministers and in the titles of some offices. New ministerial offices may be created, others may be abolished and functions may be transferred from one minister to another.
The Prime Minister is also, by tradition, First Lord of the Treasury and Minister for the Civil Service. The Prime Minister’s unique position of authority derives from majority support in the House of Commons and from the power to appoint and dismiss ministers. By modern convention, the Prime Minister always sits in the House of Commons. The Prime Minister presides over the Cabinet, is responsible for the allocation of functions among ministers and informs the Queen at regular meetings of the general business of the Government. The Prime Minister"s Office is situated at 11 Downing Street.
The Cabinet is composed of about 20 ministers chosen by the Prime Minister. The functions of the Cabinet are initiating and deciding on policy, the supreme control of government and the co-ordination of government departments. The exercise of these functions is vitally affected by the fact that the Cabinet is a group of party representatives, depending upon majority support in the House of Commons. The Cabinet meets in private and its proceedings are confidential. Its members are bound by their oath as Privy Counsellors not to disclose information about its proceedings, although after 30 years Cabinet papers may be made available for inspection.
So Great Britain is the constitutional monarchy. Monarch is the Head of the State. But Queen or King rules with the support of the parliament. And practically monarch have no real political power. The main political decisions are made by the Parliament and Cabinet. And the House of Commons are more powerful.
Britain is administered from the Palace of Westminster in London. This is also known as the Houses of Parliament. Parliament is made up of two chambers - the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
The members of the House of Lords are not elected: they qualify to sit in the House because they are bishops of the Church of England, aristocrats who have inherited their seats from their fathers, people with titles. There has been talk of reform in this century because many Britons think that this system is undemocratic.
The House of Commons, by contrast, has 650 seats which are occupied by Members of Parliament (MPs) who are elected by the British public. The United Kingdom is divided into constituencies, each of which has an elected MP in the House of Commons.
Each of the major political parties appoints a representative (candidate) to compete for each seat. Smaller parties may have a candidate in only a few constituencies. There may be five or more parties, fighting for one seat, but only one person - the candidate who gets the greatest number of votes - can win.
Some parties win a lot of seats and some win very few, or none at all. The Queen, who is the Head of State, opens and closes Parliament. All new laws are debated (discussed) by MPs in the Commons, then debated in the Lords, and finally signed by the Queen.
All three are part of Parliament in Britain.
Парламент. Вестминстерский дворец.
Правительство Британии находится в Вестминстерском дворце в Лондоне. Вестминстерский дворец известен также как Дом парламента. Парламент состоит из двух палат - палаты общин и палаты лордов.
Членов палаты лордов не избирают: они являются членами парламента, потому что они - епископы английской церкви и аристократы, которые унаследовали свои места от отцов, титулованных особ. Идут разговоры о реформе этой системы в настоящем столетии, т. к. многие британцы не считают такую систему демократичной.
Палата общин, напротив, имеет 650 мест. Эти места занимаются членами парламента, избираемыми британским народом. Соединенное Королевство разделено на избирательные округа, каждый из которых имеет своего представителя (члена парламента) в палате общин.
Каждая из основных политических партий назначает представителя (кандидата), чтобы бороться за место в парламенте. Меньшие партии могут иметь кандидатов только лишь в нескольких округах. За одно место могут бороться пять и более партий, но победить может лишь один человек -- кандидат, получающий самое большое количество голосов.
Некоторые партии получают много мест, другие - совсем мало или вообще не получают. Королева, глава государства, открывает и закрывает парламент. Все законы обсуждаются членами палаты общин, затем - членами палаты лордов и, наконец, подписываются королевой.
Парламент в Британии составляют: королева, палата общин, палата лордов.
Questions:
1. What is Parliament made up of?
2. Are the members of the House of Lords elected?
3. What do Britons think about this system?
4. Who appoints a representative to compete for each seat?
5. Who can win the seat?
6. Who is the Head of State?
Vocabulary:
to be made up of - состоять из
elected - избираемый
inherited - унаследованный
seat - место
constituency - избирательный округ
candidate - кандидат
vote - голосование, право голоса
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The British Parliament
THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy composed of 4 constituent countries England Scotland Wales & Northern Ireland. Соединенное Королевство - конституционная монархия, состоящая из 4 административно- политических частей: Англии Шотландии Уэльса и Северной Ирландии.
The Union Jack The Union Flag (also known as the Union Jack) is the national flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Its design includes the flags of England Scotland and Ireland Государственный флаг Соединенного Королевства (также известный как « Юнион Джек») - национальный флаг Объединенного Королевства Великобритании и Северной Ирландии. Его дизайн включает флаги Англии Шотландии и Ирландии
The Royal coat of arms The Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom is the official coat of arms of the British monarch, currently Queen Elizabeth II. These arms are used by the Queen in her official capacity as monarch of the United Kingdom, and are officially known as her Arms of Dominion. The shield is quartered, depicting in the first and fourth quarters the three passant guardant lions of England; in the second, the rampant lion and double tressure flory-counterflory of Scotland; and in the third, a harp for Northern Ireland. The crest is a statant guardant lion wearing the imperial crown, himself on another representation of that crown. The dexter supporter is a likewise crowned English lion; the sinister, a Scottish unicorn. According to legend a free unicorn was considered a very dangerous beast; therefore the heraldic unicorn is chained Королевский герб Великобритании - это официальный герб британского монарха (в настоящее время - Елизаветы II). На обычном варианте герба два льва и семь геральдических леопардов: шесть золотых леопардов с лазоревым вооружением на щите, по три в 1-м и 4-м полях четверочастно разделённого щита (они соответствуют Англии). Червлёный, лев с лазоревым вооружением во втором поле олицетворяет Шотландию. Коронованный леопард в нашлемнике. Золотой коронованный лев в качестве щитодержателя поддерживает щит справа. С другой стороны щит поддерживает закованный в цепь единорог.
A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modeled after that of the United Kingdom. The name is derived from the French parlement , the action of parler (to speak): a parlement is a discussion. The term came to mean a meeting at which such a discussion took place. It acquired its modern meaning as it came to be used for the body of people (in an institutional sense) who would meet to discuss matters of state. Парламент – высший представительный и законодательный орган, особенно в тех странах, чья система правительства основана на Вестминстерской системе. Название «парламента» происходит от французского parlement (parler - говорить), parlement - обсуждать). Термин означает встречу, на которой имееет место обсуждение вопросов государства группой людей. Parliament
Great Britain is a constitutional monarchy . This means that it has a monarch as its Head of the State. The monarch reigns with the support of Parliament. The powers of the monarch are not defined precisely. Everything today is done in the Queen’s name. It is her government, her armed forces, her law courts and so on. She appoints all the Ministers, including the Prime Minister. Everything is done however on the advice of the elected Government, and the monarch takes no part in the decision-making process. In Britain the Queen is the Head of State, but in fact she does not rule the country as she has no power. The Queen is a symbol of the country history and its traditions. She is very rich. She travels about the united kingdom, meets different people and visits schools, hospitals and other special places. Великобритания - конституционная монархия. Это значит, что во Главе государства стоит Монарх. Монарх правит с поддержкой Парламента. Полномочия монарха точно не определены. Все сегодня принадлежит имени Королевы: правительство, вооруженные силы, суды и так далее. Она назначает всех Министров, включая Премьер-министра. Однако управляемая функция на совете принадлежит избранному правительству, и монарх не принимает участия в процессе принятия решений. В Великобритании, Королева – Глава государства, но фактически она не управляет страной, поскольку у нее нет никакой власти. Королева - символ истории страны и ее традиций. Она очень богата. Она путешествует по Соединенному Королевству, встречает различных гостей и посещает школы, больницы и другие специальные места.
The Government The most powerful person is the Prime Minister. He is the leader of his party, he is the head of the government and has a seat in the House of Commons. He chooses the Cabinet-Ministers, who are the Foreign-, Home- and Defense-Secretary and the Chancellor of the Exchequer. He recommends a number of appointments to the monarch. The Cabinet takes decisions about new policies, the implementation of existing policies and the running of the various government departments. The most popular Prime Ministers are Winston Churchill, Margaret Thatcher, John Major and present one, Tony Blair. Самый влиятельный человек - Премьер-министр. Он - лидер своей партии, он - глава правительства и имеет место в Палате общин. Он выбирает Членов кабинета министров, которые являются Министром иностранных дел, Министром обороны и министром финансов. Он рекомендует назначения монарху. Кабинет принимает решения о новой политике, выполнении существующей политики и управлении различных ведомств. Самые популярные Премьер-министры - Уинстон Черчилль, Маргарет Тэтчер, Джон Мейджор и, на настоящий день, Тони Блэр.
The British Parliament is the oldest in the world. It originated in the 12th century. Parliament consists of: The House of Commons (646 elected Members of Parliament or MPs) The House of Lords (approximately720 unelected members, most of them appointed for life) The Queen (hereditary monarch) Британский Парламент является самым старым в мире и был основан в 12-ом столетии. Парламент состоит из: Палаты общин (646 избранных Членов парламента) Палата лордов (приблизительно 720 неизбранных участников, большинство из них назначенные) Королева (наследственный монарх)
The House of Lords The first one, which is less important, is the House of Lords. It can be described as politically conservative. It consists of different groups. There are the Lord Spiritual. Those are archbishops and bishops. Furthermore the Lords Temporal. These are hereditary peers, which got their titles from their fathers or grandfathers, and life peers, which got their titles for their whole life, and finally there are the Lords of Appeal, which are the High Court Judges. The Lords` main functions are to examine and to discuss the Bills introduced in the House of Commons. They can also delay the legislation for a year, but they can´t stop those Bills completely. They have also the function to introduce Bills which are mostly unimportant and non-controversial. They must approve a Bill, before it becomes an act. Палата Лордов менее важна. Это - политически консервативная партия, состоящая из различных групп. Лорды духовные - представлены духовенством английской церкви. Светские лорды – наследственные пэры, которые получили титул от их отцов или дедушек, и пожизненные пэры, и наконец судебные, являющиеся членами Верховного суда. Палата лордов имеет функции исследования и обсуждения Законопроектов, введенных в Палате Общин. Они могут также задержать законодательство в течение года, но они не могут остановить его полностью. Они обладают функцией внесения на рассмотрение Законопроектов, которые главным образом незначительны и неспорны. Они должны одобрить Законопроект, прежде, он станет актом.
The House of Commons The second House is the House of Commons. The 651 Members of Parliament (MPs) who sit in the Commons are elected representatives of the British people. Each MP represents one of the 651 constituencies into which the UK is divided. The House of Commons has a maximum term of five years, at the end of which a general election must be held. However, a general election can be called in the government at any time. MPs sit on parallel rows of seats known as benches with those who support the government on the one side and the opposition on the other. The important persons are the front-benchers, the less important ones are the back-benchers. The Commons` main functions are to define and to pass the laws and regulations governing the UK and to examine closely all the activities of the government. Вторая Палата - Палата общин, составляющая 651 Члена парламента, которые сидят в палате общин и являются избранными представителями британского народа. Каждый член парламента представляет один округ из 651 избирательного округа, на которые разделена Великобритания. У Палаты общин есть максимальный срок правления - пять лет, в конце которого проводятся всеобщие выборы. Однако, всеобщие выборы можно созвать в правительстве в любое время. Члены парламента сидят на параллельных рядах, известных как скамьи, с теми, кто поддерживает правительство - на одной стороне и оппозицию - на другой. Важные люди - переднескамеечники, менее важные - заднескамеечники. Палата общин выполняет функции определения и передачи законов и постановлений,исследовать действия правительства.
The Party System Britain is normally described as having a two-party-system. One of the two big parties is the Conservative Party , also known as the Tories , which is right of centre and standing for hierarchical interference in the economy. They would like to reduce income tax and the give a high priority to national defense and internal law and order. A famous Tory is John Major, the former Prime Minister. The second big party is the Labour Party , which is left of centre and stands for equality, for the social weaker people and for more government involvement in the economical issues. Another smaller party is the Liberal Democratic Party . It was formed from a union of Liberals and the Social Democrats - a breakaway group of Labour politicians. Великобритания обычно описывается как наличие двух партийных систем. Одна из двух многочисленных партий - Консервативная партия, также известная как Тори, которая является правовой партией и обозначающей иерархическое вмешательство в экономику. Они хотели бы уменьшить подоходный налог, увеличить приоритет национальной обороны и внутренней законности к правопорядку. Известные Тори - Джон Мейджор, прежний Премьер-министр. Вторая многочисленная партия - лейбористская партия, называемая левой или левоцентристской, направленная на равенство и защиту более слабых людей и для большей правительственной причастности к экономичным проблемам. Другая меньшая партия - Либерально-демократическая партия, сформированная из союза Либералов и социал-демократов– отколовшаяся группа политических деятелей Лейбористской партии.
Parliament. The Palace of Westminster.
Britain is administered from the Palace of Westminster in London. This is also known as the Houses of Parliament. Parliament is made up of two chambers - the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
The members of the House of Lords are not elected: they qualify to sit in the House because they are bishops of the Church of England, aristocrats who have inherited their seats from their fathers, people with titles. There has been talk of reform in this century because many Britons think that this system is undemocratic.
The House of Commons, by contrast, has 65 0 seats which are occupied by Members of Parliament (MPs) who are elected by the British public. The United Kingdom is divided into constituencies, each of which has an elected MP in the House of Commons.
Each of the major political parties appoints a representative (candidate) to compete for each seat. Smaller parties may have a candidate in only a few constituencies. There may be five or more parties, fighting for one seat, but only one person - the candidate who gets the greatest number of votes - can win.
Some parties win a lot of seats and some win very few, or none at all. The Queen, who is the Head of State, opens and closes Parliament. All new laws are debated (discussed) by MPs in the Commons, then debated in the Lords, and finally signed by the Queen.
All three are
part of Parliament in Britain.
Парламент. Вестминстерский дворец.
Правительство Британии находится в Вестминстерском дворце в Лондоне. Вестминстерский дворец известен также как Дом парламента. Парламент состоит из двух палат - палаты общин и палаты лордов.
Членов палаты лордов не избирают: они являются членами парламента, потому что они - епископы английской церкви и аристократы, которые унаследовали свои места от отцов, титулованных особ. Идут разговоры о реформе этой системы в настоящем столетии, т. к. многие британцы не считают такую систему демократичной.
Палата общин, напротив, имеет 650 мест. Эти места занимаются членами парламента, избираемыми британским народом. Соединенное Королевство разделено на избирательные округа, каждый из которых имеет своего представителя (члена парламента) в палате общин.
Каждая из основных политических партий назначает представителя (кандидата), чтобы бороться за место в парламенте. Меньшие партии могут иметь кандидатов только лишь в нескольких округах. За одно место могут бороться пять и более партий, но победить может лишь один человек -- кандидат, получающий самое большое количество голосов.
Некоторые партии получают много мест, другие - совсем мало или вообще не получают. Королева, глава государства, открывает и закрывает парламент. Все законы обсуждаются членами палаты общин, затем - членами палаты лордов и, наконец, подписываются королевой.
Парламент в Британии составляют:
королева, палата общин, палата лордов.
Vocabulary:
1. What is
Parliament made up of?
2. Are the members of the House of Lords elected?
3. What do Britons think about this system?
4. Who appoints a representative to compete for each seat?
5. Who can win the seat?
6. Who is the Head of State?
Vocabulary:
to be made up of - состоять из
elected - избираемый
inherited - унаследованный
seat - место
constituency - избирательный округ
candidate - кандидат
vote - голосование, право голоса
The Houses of Parliament constitute perhaps the most popular and widely spread image of London, known and recognized throughout the whole world. In this famous palace are also many meeting halls and various parliamentary offices.
The Palace of Westminster, together with Victoria Tower and the Clock Tower - which houses the most famous clock in the world, Big Ben - form an unmistakable architectural complex. But the Towers and the Houses of Parliament are not only associated architecturally, but also in the democratic spirit that rules the political life developed in the House of Commons, for, if Parliament is sitting - British parliamentary debates constitute an exemplary political spectacle - the flag flies on top of Victoria Tower during the whole day. If the debates go on during the night - which quite often happens in the dynamic parliamentary life of Great Britain, especially if matters highly important for the nation are being discussed - a light burns above Big Ben in the Clock Tower. This light at night and the flag during the day-time signal for the people of London that the members of Parliament, each from his own political point of view, are watching over the nation"s interests.
The Houses of Parliament can be visited by the public. The entrance is through the door located at the foot of Victoria Tower and next to the Royal Arch. Visitors start at the Royal Gallery and then go to the House of Lords. Here there is the historical Woolsack, where the Lord Chancellor takes his place to preside over the sittings. From here, visitors proceed towards the Central Corridor, crossing the Antechamber of the Lords. The historical frescos that decorate the walls of the Central Corridor are very interesting. Passing from here visitors arrive at the Antechamber of the Commons and then continue to the actual Commons itself.
At the end of the House of Commons is the Speaker"s Chair, on the right side of which the members of the parliamentary majority sit. The members of the groups that form the Opposition sit on the left, directly facing the Government benches.
Another interesting point in the Houses of Parliament is St. Stephen"s Hall, which is decorated with very valuable frescos. From St. Stephen"s Hall one reaches Westminster Hall. It is one of the oldest buildings in London.
Дома Парламента
Дома Парламента являются, пожалуй, самым популярным и широко распространенным символом Лондона, известным и признаным во всем мире. В этом знаменитом дворце множество залов для собраний и различных парламентских кабинетов.
Вестминстерский дворец, вместе с Башней Виктории и Часовой башней - на которой находятся самые известные часы в мире, Биг Бен - формируют безошибочно узнаваемый архитектурный комплекс. Башни и здания парламента связаны не только архитектурно, но и демократическим духом, что правит в политической жизни Палаты общин. Если парламент заседает - британские парламентские дебаты представляют собой пример политического зрелища - флаг развивается на вершине башни Виктория в течение всего дня. Если дебаты продолжаются в ночное время - что довольно часто бывает в динамической парламентской жизни Великобритании, особенно, если обсуждаются вопросы очень важные для нации в настоящее время - свет горит над Биг-Беном в Часовой башне. Этот свет в ночное время и флаг в дневное время - сигнал для людей, что члены парламента, каждый со своей политической точкой зрения, блюдят интересы нации.
Здания Парламента можно посещать общественности. Вход через дверь расположенную у подножия башни Виктория и рядом с Королевской аркой. Посетители начинают осмотр с Королевской галереи, а затем переходят в Палату лордов. Здесь есть исторический мешок с шерстью, где лорд-канцлер занимает место и председательствует на заседаниях. Отсюда посетители проходят в Центральный коридор, пересекая Прихожую Палаты лордов. Исторические фрески, украшающие стены Центрального коридора являются очень интересными. Проходя мимо Прихожей Палаты общин, посетители проходят в саму Палату общин.
В конце Палаты общин находится трон спикера, по правую сторону от которого сидят члены парламентского большинства. Члены групп, которые образуют оппозицию сидят слева, прямо напротив скамьи правительства.
Еще один интересный момент в здании парламента - зал Св. Стефана, который украшают очень ценные фрески. Из зала Святого Стефана вы попадаете в Вестминстер-Холл. Это одно из самых старых зданий в Лондоне.
