British Culture Vu Le Quang

TEST ON BRITISH CULTURE

Question: What topic from British culture do you like the best? Tell 3 reasons
for this. Put at least 2 references for your answer.
Deadline: before 7a.m 6 Feb
ANSWER
1. The political of the UK is the topic which I like best from British culture.
2. 3 reasons for this:
2.1. Having deeper understanding about the UK government:
Constitutional framework
- The United Kingdom is a parliamentary democracy with a
constitutional monarchy.
- They have a directly or indirectly elected prime minister who is
the head of government, and exercises effective political power.
- The real authority in the British governmental and political
system now rests with the Prime Minister, as it had once
belonged predominantly to the monarch
- Britain's head of state, but her executive powers are limited by
constitutional rules. Her role is mostly symbolic: she represents
Britain on state visits and on ceremonial occasions.

2.2. Having more information about British Institution

The Queen: a constitutional monarch
- Legislative power: The Parliament
o The house of Lords
o The house of Commons
o To make the laws;
o To provide the means of carrying on the work of
government;
o To protect the public and safeguard the right of
individuals;
o To scrutinise government policy and administration;
o To examine European proposals;
o To examine the major issues of the day

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- Excutive Power: Prime Minister

o Head of the UK government and is ultimately responsible
for the policy and decisions of the government.
o Chooses Cabinet minister
o Ministries and Offices
- Judicial Power: The House of Lords
o Supreme court of Judicarure ( High course of Justice)
o Count courts
o magistrates
2.3. Distinguishing the function of the House oif Lords and the
House of Commons
- The House of Common
o The most authority.
o Chaired by the Speaker who presides over the House’s
debates
o 650 Members of Parliament or MPs (the number varies
slightly from time to time to reflect population change).

o Each MP represents a geographical constituency

(electoral district) by winning a plurality of votes.
o Every citizen aged 18 or over can vote once in the
constituency in which they live.
o There has not been fixed term parliaments

- The House of Lords

o This is the upper chamber but the one with less authority.
o Main powers: - revise legislation
- control Government’s activities
o The membership of the House of Lords is made up
of Lords Spiritual and Lords Temporal.
o The Lords Spiritual are 26 bishops in the established
Church of England
o Of the Lords Temporal, the majority are life peers who
are appointed by the monarch on the advice of the Prime
Minister, or on the advice of the House of Lords
Appointments Commission

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3. References

1. Crowther J. 1999, Oxford Guide to British and American Culture: For

Learners of English, Oxford University Press.

2. Falk R. 1993, Spotlight on American, Oxford University Press.

3. White G., Seath J. &Sheerin S. 1997, Spotlight on Britain, Oxford

University Press.

4. www.britainnica.com