God save our gracious Queen, God save our gracious Queen, Long live our noble Queen, Long live our noble Queen,

God save the Queen: God save the Queen: Send her victorious, Send her victorious, Happy and glorious, Happy and glorious,

Long to reign over us: Long to reign over us: God save the Queen. God save the Queen.

O Lord, our God, arise, O Lord, our God, arise, Scatter her enemies, Scatter her enemies, And make them fall. And make them fall.

Confound their politics, Confound their politics, Frustrate their knavish tricks, Frustrate their knavish tricks,

On Thee our hopes we fix, On Thee our hopes we fix, God save us all. God save us all.

Thy choicest gifts in store, Thy choicest gifts in store, On her be pleased to pour; On her be pleased to pour;

Long may she reign: Long may she reign: May she defend our laws, May she defend our laws,

And ever give us cause And ever give us cause To sing with heart and voice To sing with heart and voice

God save the Queen. God save the Queen.

More about ParliamentMore about Parliament

Speaking drillsSpeaking drills 1. Is Britain a constitutional monarchy 1. Is Britain a constitutional monarchy

or a presidential republic?or a presidential republic? 2. Who is the head of State?2. Who is the head of State? 3. Who rules the country in fact? The 3. Who rules the country in fact? The

monarch or the Parliament?monarch or the Parliament? 4. Do you remember the three 4. Do you remember the three

branches of power? What are they?branches of power? What are they? 5. What branch of power will be speak 5. What branch of power will be speak

of today?of today? 6. What Houses does the British 6. What Houses does the British

Parliament consist of?Parliament consist of?

VocabularyVocabularyRead and learn the wordsRead and learn the words

ParliamentParliament – – supreme law-making assemblysupreme law-making assembly Parliamentarian Parliamentarian – MP, a person skilled in the – MP, a person skilled in the

rules and procedures of Parliamentrules and procedures of Parliament House of CommonHouse of Common – lower division of – lower division of

Parliament, elected by the people (Lower Parliament, elected by the people (Lower Chamber)Chamber)

House of LordsHouse of Lords – upper division of Parliament – upper division of Parliament for peers, bishops (Upper Chamber)for peers, bishops (Upper Chamber)

To run the Government to pass the BillTo run the Government to pass the Bill – to – to develop a ministry in the normal waydevelop a ministry in the normal way

To lobby for a BillTo lobby for a Bill – to support proposed – to support proposed legislation legislation

To lobby against a BillTo lobby against a Bill – to opposite – to opposite proposed legislationproposed legislation

General electionsGeneral elections – choosing of – choosing of candidates for an office by votecandidates for an office by vote

To win a seatTo win a seat – to win Parliamentary – to win Parliamentary electionelection

To inherit a seatTo inherit a seat – to receive a seat – to receive a seat and a title in the House of Lords as an and a title in the House of Lords as an heirheir

To be a candidateTo be a candidate – to be a person – to be a person who takes an office or position for who takes an office or position for election to Parliamentelection to Parliament

FrontbenchersFrontbenchers – members of – members of Parliament in seats in the House of Parliament in seats in the House of Commons reserved for ministersCommons reserved for ministers

BackbenchersBackbenchers – members of – members of Parliament in seats at the back of the Parliament in seats at the back of the House of Commons because they do House of Commons because they do not appointment not appointment

ListeningListeningTry to answer the questionsTry to answer the questions

1)1)

- - In what century was the first Parliament in In what century was the first Parliament in Britain held?Britain held?

- What is the origin of the House of Commons - What is the origin of the House of Commons and the House of Lords?and the House of Lords?

2)2)

- - What is Parliament?What is Parliament?

- What does the term “Parliament” mean?- What does the term “Parliament” mean?

3) - What is a unique feature of the British 3) - What is a unique feature of the British parliamentary system?parliamentary system?

- What is the number of hereditary peers now?- What is the number of hereditary peers now?

4)- Have MPs got their own personal seats in the 4)- Have MPs got their own personal seats in the Commons?Commons?

- Who are frontbenchers?- Who are frontbenchers?

- Who are backbenchers?- Who are backbenchers?

- Who are crossbenchers?- Who are crossbenchers? 5) - Is the Government 5) - Is the Government ´́s power restricted?s power restricted?

- What is one of the main functions of the House of - What is one of the main functions of the House of Lords?Lords?

Read some facts about ParliamentRead some facts about Parliament..

1. Tell the group the most important 1. Tell the group the most important things from your card.things from your card.

2. What has changed in the House of 2. What has changed in the House of Commons since the reform of 1999-Commons since the reform of 1999-2005?2005?

3. What has changed in the House of 3. What has changed in the House of Lords since the reform of 1999-2005?Lords since the reform of 1999-2005?

The House of CommonsThe House of Commons

- 651 MP in the Chamber.- 651 MP in the Chamber.

- The prime Minister and - The prime Minister and the Cabinet sit in the the Cabinet sit in the Commons.Commons.

- The prime Minister - The prime Minister chooses about 20 MPs to be chooses about 20 MPs to be in the Cabinet. There are in the Cabinet. There are the heads of the the heads of the departments of departments of Employment, Defense, Employment, Defense, Industry, HealthIndustry, Health

- The House of Commons - The House of Commons has great power.has great power.

The House of LordsThe House of Lords

- More than 1000 members, - More than 1000 members, but only 100 usually attend.but only 100 usually attend.

- Most of The Lords are - Most of The Lords are hereditary peers.hereditary peers.

- There are no election for - There are no election for the Lords.the Lords.

- The Lords are dukes, - The Lords are dukes, barons, marquesses, viscounts barons, marquesses, viscounts and religious leaders.and religious leaders.

- The House of Lords has - The House of Lords has very little power.very little power.

- The members of the House - The members of the House of Lords discuss new laws but of Lords discuss new laws but can only suggest changes.can only suggest changes.

FactfileFactfile 1. In what century was the first Parliament in Brittan held?1. In what century was the first Parliament in Brittan held?

XIIXIIXIIIXIIIXVIXVI

2.What does the term ‘parliament” mean?2.What does the term ‘parliament” mean? ThinkThink SpeakSpeak DiscussDiscuss 3. There are two “houses” in British Parliament. What are they called?3. There are two “houses” in British Parliament. What are they called? 4. Members of the House of Commons are called the Members of 4. Members of the House of Commons are called the Members of

Parliament (MPs). How many MPs are there?Parliament (MPs). How many MPs are there?

More than 650More than 650

Fewer than 600Fewer than 600

Fewer than 500Fewer than 500

5. How many hereditary Lords are there 5. How many hereditary Lords are there in the Upper Chamber?in the Upper Chamber?

more than 85more than 85 fewer than 570fewer than 570 More than 450More than 4506. Who presides the House of Commons?6. Who presides the House of Commons? The Prime MinisterThe Prime Minister The Lord ChancellorThe Lord Chancellor The speakerThe speaker7. Approximately how many MPs are 7. Approximately how many MPs are

women?women? More than 100More than 100 More than 50More than 50 Fewer than 90Fewer than 90

How many of the questions in the How many of the questions in the factfile have you answered?factfile have you answered?

Did any of these questions facts Did any of these questions facts surprise you?surprise you?

Were you interested in the number of Were you interested in the number of women in British Parliament?women in British Parliament?