Lingua Inglese I Political Science

M. Antonietta Marongiu

Britain past and present:

history, language and institutions

Unit 4

Unit 4

Britain:

a constitutional monarchy

The British monarchy (1) The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy with a hereditary monarch as its head of state. The monarchy is a symbol of national unity and British traditions and is the oldest institution in the UK. Although it had absolute power in the past, today the sovereign cannot interfere in political processes and has no voice in the running of the government. The often heard quote “The Queen reigns but does not rule” means that the UK is governed by Her Majesty’s Government in the name of the Queen. Parliament holds the legislative power and the executive power is in the hands of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet of Ministers.

The British monarchy (2)

Nowadays the sovereign has an essentially ceremonial and representative role: e.g. travelling around the country on official visits to schools, hospitals and factories, inaugurating new buildings, opening cultural events, giving state banquets, welcoming foreign heads of state at Buckingham Palace and lending support to the work of various charities.

PRINCE WILLIAM AND KATE MIDDLETON’S WEDDING

PRINCE WILLIAM DUCCESS KATE MIDDLETON PRINCE GEORGE OF CAMBRIDGE PRINCESS CHARLOTTE OF CAMBRIDGE PRINCE LOUIS OF CAMBRIDGE

PRINCE WILLIAM AND DUCCESS KATE WITH THE NEW BORN AND PRINCE HARRY AND MEGHAN MARKLE

PRINCE HARRY AND MEGHAN MARKLE’ WEDDING

Royal Wedding gadgets

The role of the Queen (1)

The present sovereign, Queen Elizabeth II, became Queen on 6 February 1952. Her official royal title is ‘Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith’. Her eldest son Charles (the Prince of Wales) is heir to the throne.

The role of the Queen (2)

As head of state, the Queen takes part in traditional ceremonies, and her picture appears on stamps, bank notes and coins. She is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, so can declare war (though in reality only Parliament can take this decision) and she appoints high ranking officers. Tradition has established that she is the personification of the state and also the supreme governor of the Church of England, so she appoints its archbishops and bishops. However, the real authority lies in the hands of the Archbishop of Canterbury. The British monarch is also head of the Commonwealth, the union of former and present British colonies, and is still nominally head of state in some of the member countries.

The monarch’s duties (1) The Royal Assent is the term used to refer to the Queen’s signature on new laws passed by Parliament, necessary before any legislation can take effect. The Queen never refuses to put her signature, even though she still has the right to veto, in theory. The last time the Royal Assent was refused was in 1707. The State Opening of Parliament takes place every autumn, at the beginning of November, and is presided over by the Queen. On this official ceremony, she wears her crown and is carried from Buckingham Palace to Westminster in a golden carriage drawn by eight horses. The speech she reads from the throne outlines the government’s policies for the next session and it is written by the Prime Minister and his speech writers.

Buckingham Palace became the London residence of the British monarch on the accession of Queen Victoria in 1837. It is still the London residence and administrative headquarters of the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom.

The Palace of Westminster is where politicians meet to make laws and run the country.

It’s where the House of Commons and House of Lords is located. This is otherwise known as Parliament.

The monarch’s duties (2)

The Queen’s involvement in the formation of the government consists of her officially appointing the Prime Minister, the leader of the majority party in the House of Commons. Since it is the monarch’s duty to approve the government’s policies, the Royal Assent is also needed for the choice and appointment of Cabinet Ministers and other Government ministers. Judges are also appointed by the monarch, in her capacity as head of the Judiciary.

Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces

Supreme Governor of the Church of

England

Head of the Judiciary

dʒʌdʒ

Skimming 1)  What is text 4.1 about? 2)  What is text 4.2 about? 3)  What is text 4.3 about? 4)  What did you know

about the British monarchy before reading these texts?

Skimming

!  What is text 4.1 about? !  The Queen reigns but does not rule

!  What is text 4.2 about? !  The Queen is – the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces

– The supreme governor of the Church of England – The head of the Commonwealth

!  What is text 4.3 about? !  The Royal Assent !  The State Opening of Parliament

Grammar: the passive voice

!  e.g. The Royal Assent is required …

!  __________________________________________________

!  __________________________________________________

!  __________________________________________________

!  __________________________________________________

!  __________________________________________________

!  __________________________________________________

!  __________________________________________________

Grammar: the passive voice

!  e.g. The Royal Assent is required …

!  The UK is governed by Her Majesty’s Government in the name of the Queen

!  The State Opening of Parliament is presided over by the Queen

!  The Queen is carried from Buckingham Palace to Westminster

!  The golden carriage is drawn by eight horses

!  The speech is written by the Prime Minister

!  The Royal Assent is needed for the choice of the Cabinet Ministers

!  Judges are appointed by the monarch

ELIZABETH

Fill in the gaps (1)

1) A ____ can’t become a ____ without the monarch’s ____ .

2) Britain is a constitutional ____ . 3) Queen Elizabeth II is the ____ of state. 4) She asks the ____ of the ____ with a majority in

the House of ____ to form the Government. 5) The ____ wears her ____ only on state occasions. 6) The Commonwealth is a group of former ____ .

monarchy leader colonies bill Commons head law Queen party Assent

Fill in the gaps (1)

1) A bill can’t become a law without the monarch’s Assent.

2) Britain is a constitutional monarchy. 3) Queen Elizabeth II is the head of state. 4) She asks the leader of the party with a majority in

the House of Commons to form the Government. 5) The Queen wears her crown only on state

occasions. 6) The Commonwealth is a group of former colonies.

Fill in the gaps (2)

7)  The Queen has to ____ the Prime ____ . 8)  The Prime Minister forms the ____ . 9)  The Queen’s ____ is ____ and symbolic. 10) When the Queen opens Parliament every

autumn, she makes a speech from the ____ . 11)  The Queen’s face is on ____ , coins and bank

notes.

Government role stamps representative Minster throne appoint

Fill in the gaps (2)

7)  The Queen has to appoint the Prime Minister. 8)  The Prime Minister forms the government. 9)  The Queen’s role is representative and

symbolic. 10) When the Queen opens Parliament every

autumn, she makes a speech from the throne. 11)  The Queen’s face is on stamps, coins and bank

notes.

Taking notes: complete the tables

Taking notes: complete the tables

signs gives opens meets wears appoints meets

have write refuse wear

2 5 4 3 1

Paradigm of irregular verbs

Paradigm of irregular verbs

Guidare drive drove driven

Fare make made make

Incontrare meet met met

Mettere put put put

Mettere read read read

Indossare wear wore worn

Scrivere write wrote written

Memory game: the monarch’s functions

Memory game: the monarch’s functions

State

the Commonwealth

Commander-in-Chief

the Judiciary

the Church of England national unity And British traditions

Comprehension questions (1)

1)  Who is the head of state in the UK? 2)  What characterises a constitutional

monarchy? 3)  What are the functions of the Queen? 4)  Who holds true executive power? 5)  What happens every autumn? 6)  What happens to a bill before it becomes a

law? 7)  Can the monarch refuse to sign a bill?

Comprehension questions (1)

1) Who is the head of state in the UK? The hereditary monarch 2) What characterises a constitutional monarchy? The monarch cannot interfere in the running of the government 3) What are the functions of the Queen? The Queen is the head of state, she take part in traditional ceremonies, she has a representative role. 4) Who holds true executive power? The executive power is in the hands of the Prime Minster and the Cabinet of Minsters.

Comprehension questions (1)

5) What happens every autumn? The State Opening of Parliament takes place every autumn. 6) What happens to a bill before it becomes a law? It need the Royal Assent 7) Can the monarch refuse to sign a bill? The Queen has the right of veto in theory

Comprehension questions (2)

8)  Does the monarch choose the Prime Minister? 9)  What happens on official state occasions? 10) What does the Queen do when foreign heads of

state or monarchs visit Britain? 11)  What are her tasks as head of the

Commonwealth? 12) How long has Queen Elizabeth been the British

monarch? 13) Who is going to be the next monarch of Great

Britain?

Comprehension questions (2)

8) Does the monarch choose the Prime Minister? She offically appoints the Prime Minster. 9) What happens on official state occasions? The Queen has a cerimonial and official role. 10) What does the Queen do when foreign heads of state or monarchs visit Britain? She receives them.

Comprehension questions (2)

11) What are her tasks as head of the Commonwealth? She is still nominally head of state in some of the member countries. 12) How long has Queen Elizabeth been the British monarch? She has been the British monarch for 66 years. 13) Who is going to be the next monarch of the UK? Prince William is going to be the next monarch of the UK.

Matching: how do you pronounce these words?

Homework

Write three paragraphs about the Queen’s functions and role in the United Kingdom (30 words each). !  1st par. _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ !  2nd par. _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ !  3rd par. _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________

Matching: vocabulary

The UK Constitution (1)

It is often said that Great Britain has no written constitution. In its place there is a system of conventions and customs and rules. Conventions can be defined as rules and practices derived from the historical events through which the British government has evolved. However, there are some written documents. The earliest written document in the constitution is the Magna Carta, the Great Charter of Freedoms or of political rights given to rebellious English nobles by King John in 1215. Known also as the Magna Carta Libertatum, it is a historical document which diminished the rights and power of the king and gave greater rights and liberties to the people. King John was highly unpopular because he oppressed the people by increasing taxes and repeatedly demanding soldiers for his military campaigns abroad.

The UK Constitution (2)

This induced the barons to write the Magna Carta, which contained 63 clauses promising people a fair trial in court, eliminating unjust fines and punishments, and giving power to the Catholic Church. The document is considered a precursor of modern British law, and even of the US Constitution and its Amendments. Other written documents include: the Habeas Corpus Act of 1679; the Bill of Rights of 1689; the European Human Rights Provisions which were incorporated into UK law in 1998.

The UK Constitution (3)

In addition to these written documents, the UK constitution is composed of other written documents which have never been formally codified (or entrenched) in written form. They can be divided into Statute law, or a system of written bills and acts, and Common law. Statute law consists of laws proposed and enacted by the two Houses of Parliament, the Commons and the Lords. A bill is put before Parliament, debated and voted on, and when it has completed its passage, it enters the statute books and becomes the law of the land. Common law is made up of the legal precedents which emerge from individual court cases. Certain decisions by judges create such legal precedents, which are consulted in future cases. Since it has never been codified, the British constitution is very flexible and can be modified at any time by an Act of Parliament. Laws are made in the Queen’s name, but only Parliament has the power to make or change them.

Comprehension questions 1)  Is the British constitution a written document? 2)  What do the written documents of the constitution

include? 3)  What do the unwritten elements include? 4)  What is the ‘Magna Carta’? Why is it so important? 5)  Why was King John unpopular? 6)  What is meant by Statute law? 7)  What is meant by Common law?  8)  What is an Act of Parliament? 9)  Why is the British constitution considered flexible?

King John signs Magna Carta Magna carta, page 1 of manuscript

Practise pronuncing these words (1)

Practise pronuncing these words (2)

Matching: pronunciation

Choose the right phonetic transcription

Multiple choice questions (1) 1. The supreme legislative authority in the UK is __________. a) the Queen b) the constitution c) Parliament 2. The Queen ______ her speech for the opening of Parliament. a) writes b) reads c) writes and reads 3. Being the ____________ the Queen appoints high officers. a) head of the Armed Forces b) head of State c) head of the Church

Multiple choice questions (2)

4. The Queen ______________ the running of the country.

a) is responsible for b) intervenes in c) cannot interfere in 5. A bill needs the Queen’s ______________ to become

a law. a) refusal b) Royal Assent c) speech

Multiple choice questions (3)

6. The British Constitution is based on _____________. a) Common law b) Statute law c) both Common law and Statute law 7. Common law is based on___________________. a) precedent b) written bills and acts c) codified documents

W E W A N T T O K N O W W H A T Y O U R T H O U G H T S A R E O N T H E F U T U R E O F T H E M O N A R C H Y .

T H E D I S C U S S I O N E X P L O R E D S O M E O F T H E F O L L O W I N G

Q U E S T I O N S :

1)  W h o d o y o u t h i n k t h e n e x t h e a d o f s t a t e s h o u l d b e ? 2)  D o y o u t h i n k C h a r l e s o r W i l l i a m s h o u l d b e t h e n e x t k i n g ? 3)  W o u l d C h a r l e s m a k e a m o d e r n e n o u g h k i n g ? 4)  A r e y o u h a p p y w i t h t h e s t a t u s q u o ? O r d o y o u t h i n k t h e r e

i s a c r e d i b l e a l t e r n a t i v e ? 5)  D o e s t h e Q u e e n a n d h e r h o u s e h o l d c o s t u s t o o m u c h ?

Work in pairs: read the different opinions on the future of the monarchy in the UK from a forum on the Internet

Read comments so far …

Adapted from http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/monarchy/2027702.stm.

!  The Royals are a constant reminder of inequality, class division and the power of the rich to manipulate and control the masses via the media.

!  As long as monarchs are happy to continue representing us so well, I am happy to pay for them.

!  Britain will remain a pseudo-democracy, stuck in the past, until the Royals, the Lords and the whole corrupt system is swept away.

!  The monarch has no real power and parliament could dissolve the monarchy at some stage in the future … so it really isn't undemocratic.

!  There is no guarantee that someone elected to such an office would be fit to carry it. At least there is some comfort in knowing that monarchs in our system are trained for the job.

!  There is poverty in the UK and £100 million could go a long way to solving many problems.

!  I say keep the Queen; I feel Charles and William will be good Kings when their time comes too.

!  How about a monarchy funded entirely through private donations?

!  I don't envy their position but I am glad they are there!

Discuss the future of the British monarchy. Support your ideas and oppose the opinions of other students.

Translate into English

1)  La regina inglese ha solo un ruolo simbolico. 2)  Carlo, il principe del Galles, è l’erede al trono. 3)  Non tutti gli inglesi sono contenti della

monarchia. 4)  C’è molta povertà nel Regno Unito e molti inglesi

preferirebbero non spendere tanti soldi per la famiglia reale.

5)  Non penso che Carlo sarà un buon re. 6)  Alla monarchia preferisco la repubblica.

Habeas Corpus

A writ of Habeas corpus ("may you have the body") is a writ (legal action, mandato, ordinanza, decreto, ordine) that requires a person under arrest to be brought before a judge or into court.

The principle of Habeas Corpus ensures that a prisoner can be released from unlawful detention—that is, detention lacking sufficient cause or evidence. This can be sought by the prisoner or by another person coming to the prisoner's aid. This right originated in the English legal system, and is now available in many nations. It has historically been an important legal instrument safeguarding individual freedom against arbitrary state action.

Act of Settlement

The Act of Settlement (Atto di disposizione) is an Act of the Parliament of England that was passed in 1701 to settle the succession to the English and Irish crowns and thrones. The Act of Settlement of 1701 was designed to secure the Protestant succession to the throne. Under the Act of Settlement anyone who becomes a Roman Catholic, or who marries one, becomes disqualified to inherit the throne.

The Succession to the Crown Act

!  The Succession to the Crown Act (2013) amended the provisions of the Bill of Rights and the Act of Settlement to end the system of male primogeniture, under which a younger son can displace an elder daughter in the line of succession. The Act applies to those born after 28 October 2011. The Act also ended the provisions by which those who marry Roman Catholics are disqualified from the line of succession. The changes came into force in all sixteen Realms in March 2015.

!  THE LINE OF SUCCESSION !  SOVEREIGN

1. The Prince of Wales Charles 2. The Duke of Cambridge William 3. Prince George of Cambridge son of William and Kate 4. The daughter of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Charlotte Elizabeth Diana 5. Prince Henry of Wales 6. The Duke of York 7. Princess Beatrice of York 8. Princess Eugenie of York 9. The Earl of Wessex 10. Viscount Severn 11. The Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor 12. The Princess Royal 13. Mr. Peter Phillips 14. Miss Savannah Phillips 15. Miss Isla Phillips 16. Mrs. Michael Tindall

Any questions?