The British Parliament

Урок по теме «The British Parliament»

Цели и задачи занятия:

1. Познакомить учащихся с политической системой Британии и со структурой Британского Парламента

2. Отработать лексику по теме в серии языковых и речевых упражнений

Материал: Тексты с заданиями для чтения, аудирования и закрепления полученных знаний о Британском Парламенте.

Ход урока

1. Read and find the best translation for the words

The House – a) дворец б) палата лордов в) дом

The House of Lords – а) дом лордов б) палата лордов в) палата аристократов

Member of Parliament – а) гражданин парламента б) член парламента в) член совета

Hereditary peers – а) наследственные пэры б) наследственные аристократы в) наследственные члены парламента

Life peers – а) пэры на время б) пожизненные пэры в) живые аристократы

Bill – а) законопроект б) счет в) документ

General election – а) общий конкурс б) общественное голосование в) общие выборы

The House of Commons – а) палата простых б) палата обычных в) палата общин

Competent – а) компетентный. Б) надлежащий в) правомочный

1. Read the text

How many Houses does the British Parliament consist of?

The British Parliament sits in one building which is called the Palace of Westminster. It`s also called the House of Parliament because there are two Houses: the House of Lordes and the House of Commons.

In the House of Commons MPs, or Members of Parliament, make all the important decisions and work on bills, which later become new laws. The Prime Minister is in the House of Commons too. MPs represent all the people in the country. People vote for an PM and the party which has the most MPs wins the election and forms the government. Their leader becomes the Prime Minister.

And what about the House of Lords? They are not elected. Some people in the House of Lords just inherit their places from the fathers and grandfathers. They are hereditary peers. Most people in the House of Lords are life peers. They get the title “Lord” or “Lady” for their personal achievements, and their children can`t inherit it. Some of them are very competent. For example, our famous ex-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher took her place as Lady Thatcher in the House of Lords in 1992.

In the House of Lords people talk about bills before they become laws and sometimes suggest changes to the House of Commons.

The Queen is the head of state. She and the House of Lords have to approve the decisions of the House of Commons. Before a bill becomes law the Queen has to say “La Reine le veut” (The Queen wishes it). The Queen uses Norman French as part of traditions.

1. Say true or false

1. The British Parliament sits in two buildings

2. Members of the House of Commons never make important decisions

3. There is a general election when the Queen decides

4. Life peers get into the House of Lords because their parents were rich

5. Every member if the House of Lords and the House of Commons is called MP

6. If the House of Commons wants to do something the House of Lords can`t stop them

7. If the Queen disagrees with a bill, she still has to approve ir

8. Most members of the House of Lords are very clever and competent

9. Members of Parliament represent everyone in the country

10. Members of the House of Lords form the British Parliament

11. The United Kingdom is a monarchy

1. Answer the questions

1. Who is the head of state in the UK?

2. Who is the head of the government in the UK?

3. What is the British Parliament called?

4. How many Houses does it consist of?

5. Which House represents the people of Britain?

6. How often do the British people vote for MPs?

1. Read the text “The Houses of Parliament” in the textbook and answer the questions

1. How many parts does the Palace of Westminster consist of?

2. What are the main colours of the House of Parliament?

3. Who writes the Queens`s Speech?

4. Which are Britain`s two main political parties?

5. Whose shoe should a Conservative touch?

6. Why do MPs sometimes sit on the steps?

7. When can you see the Mace of the House of Commons?

8. How old is Westminster Hall?

1. Summing up

2. Home task: the pupils have to reread this text once again