Учитель: What is the origin of the Parliament?
Ученик 1: The origin of the Parliament lies in the King’s Great Councils. In Middle Ages the King made the laws and dispensed justice. Anglo-Saxon kings called the Witan (wise men). The king discussed important matters with his followers before making known his decisions.
Учитель: What institution replaced the Witan?
Ученик 2: After William the Conqueror defeated Harold II at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 he brought the Normans to power in Britain. The Great Council of the Normans replaced the meetings of the Witan.
Учитель: Why was Magna Carta signed?
Ученик 3: King John needed more money and men to defend his lands in France. The barons were unwilling to provide either. In June 1215 they forced John to put his seal to Magna Carta.
Учитель: When did the idea of Parliament develop?
Ученик 4: The idea of Parliament appeared in the late 13 century. Simon de Monfort tried to summon a Parliament.
Учитель: Why is Parliament called Parliament?
Ученик 5: It was Edward the I who gave royal blessing to Parliament. The name Parliament (from French «parler» = to speak) was first used for a meeting of the Great Councils in 1237.
Учитель: Why was Parliament summoned almost every year?
Ученик 6: It was the century of French wars of Edward the III… Wars cost money, so Parliament was summoned almost every year to agree to taxation. Lords and Commons now began to emerge as two distinct bodies. The Lords began to feel that they had a hereditary right to sit in Parliament.
Учитель: Why is the House of Commons called so?
Ученик 7: The representatives of the counties and towns came to be known as the Commons. The Commons doesn’t signify «the common people», but the local communities in the counties and towns.
Учитель: Can you tell me how Westminster Palace became the residence of Parliament?
Ученик 8: During the Middle Ages Westminster Palace was used both as a royal residence until King Henry VIII ceased to reside there in 1512. This left many empty chambers in the palace. By the beginning of Queen Elisabeth, I reign the Commons were firmly established in the Palace of Westminster.
– Учитель: So, let’s speak about the Parliament. We all know that it consists of the House of Lords (the upper House) and the House of Commons (the lower House). OK. Let’s imagine that we are in a Parliament of the UK nowadays. I’d like to invite you to the excursion.
Экскурсия по парламенту с помощью компьютерной презентации и диалога английской и русской девочек.
Jane: Hello, Katya.
Katya: Hello, Jane. You know, Jane, my hobby is British politics. I know that the British parliament consists of the House of Lords and the House of Commons.
The House of Lords includes the Lords Spirituals and the Lords Temporal. Its members aren’t elected. The House of Commons is a democratically elected chamber with elections every 5 years.
All Government ministers, including Prime Minister, are members of the House of Commons. Jane, what are the functions of the Parliament?
Jane: The functions of the Parliament are passing laws, voting on taxation, debating government policy.
Kate: Jane, I know that the Houses of Parliament are situated in the Palace of Westminster. Can you tell me anything about it?
Jane: The first Palace was built for Edward the Confessor, who came to the throne in 1042. It has been rebuilt many times during its long history. Every British citizen has a right to ask to see his or her Member of Parliament, and they meet in a Central Lobby.
Kate: You see, Jane I have always wanted to see St’Stephens Hall.
Jane: Yes, it’s beautiful. It’s a wide corridor with paintings and marble sculptures and a brass stud on the floor marking where the Speaker’s chair used to stand.
Kate: I have read a lot about the chamber of the House of Commons. Oh, now I can see Government Benches (left) and Opposition Benches. This is the chair of the Speaker. When Parliament is sitting, it is possible to hear debates from the strangers’ Galleries.
These are the «Aye voting lobby» and «No voting lobby». At the end of the debate the members can express their approval or disapproval of the debated bill, voting in favour of the bill in «Aye lobby» and against it in «No lobby».
Jane, what are the red lines on the carpet in front of each set of benches for?
Jane: The distance between them is two sword lengths. The member isn’t allowed to cross the line during debates. The lines are there to prevent either side attacking the other during the debate. It used to happen in the past. These days MPs aren’t likely to attack each other.
Kate: Jane, can you say some words about the House of Lords.
Jane: Sure. As you see the chamber of the House of Lord is richly decorated and more comfortable than the Commons. In the chamber of the House of Lords, where the State Openings of Parliament take place with the Queen reading from the throne, the Lord Chancellor, who is also Speaker, has a seat called the woolsack.
Kate: I agree with you. As for its functions I can say that the Lords pass the Bills sent to it from the House of Commons, amend Bills and send them back to the Commons for approval, delay Bills for a limited time, starts its own Bills.
Jane: So, Kate, I hope you liked our Parliament.
Kate: I like it very much. Thank you, Jane for having taken me to the Parliament.
Учитель: And now you should scan the text and fill in the gaps.
OK, let’s read it. What have we learned?
Parliament is the supreme legislative authority in Britain. Its main functions are:
To pass laws
To provide taxation
To examine government policy
The Bill must be passed by both Houses and get the royal assent.
– Учитель: OK, we see that all these institutions are important in the political life of the state.
Now,