The UK Constitution & History
Translate into Russian: uncodified constitution, statute, common law, constitutional convention, parliamentary sovereignty
Answer: некодифицированная конституция, статут, общее право, конституционная конвенция, парламентский суверенитет
Translate into Russian: House of Commons, House of Lords, constituency, general election, bill
Answer: Палата общин, Палата лордов, избирательный округ, всеобщие выборы, законопроект
Translate into Russian: to put forward a bill, first reading, second reading, committee stage, report stage
Answer: выдвигать законопроект, первое чтение, второе чтение, стадия комитета, стадия отчёта
Translate into Russian: head of state, to reign, royal prerogative, Prime Minister, Royal Assent
Answer: глава государства, царствовать, королевская прерогатива, премьер-министр, королевская санкция
Translate into Russian: UK Supreme Court, Magistrates' Court, Crown Court, County Court, High Court
Answer: Верховный суд Великобритании, магистратский суд, Суд Короны, суд графства, Высокий суд
Translate into English: верховенство права, ветвь власти, писаная конституция, деволюция, авторитетные труды
Answer: rule of law, branch of government, written constitution, devolution, works of authority
Translate into English: член парламента, большинство, двухпалатный, спикер, кворум
Answer: Member of Parliament (MP), majority, bicameral, Speaker, quorum
Translate into English: третье чтение, поправка, председатель, детальное изучение, новые статьи
Answer: third reading, amendment, chair, detailed examination, new clauses
Translate into English: править, полномочия, обязанности, кабинет министров, министр
Answer: to govern, powers, duties, Cabinet, minister
Translate into English: Апелляционный суд, гражданское отделение, уголовное отделение, отделение королевской скамьи, канцлерское отделение
Answer: Court of Appeal, Civil Division, Criminal Division, Queen's Bench Division, Chancery Division
Translate into English: подчиняться закону, обеспечивать исполнение, отменять (закон), иметь исковую силу, быть связанным чем-либо
Answer: to be subject to the law, to enforce, to strike down, enforceable, to be bound by
Translate into English: мажоритарная система относительного большинства, пожизненный пэр, наследственный пэр, духовные лорды, финансовый законопроект
Answer: first-past-the-post, life peer, hereditary peer, Lords Spiritual, money bill
Translate into English: построчная проверка, собирать доказательства, серия голосований, точная формулировка, королевская санкция
Answer: line-by-line scrutiny, to take evidence, series of votes, exact wording, Royal Assent
Translate into English: распускать парламент, заключать договоры, объявлять войну, вотум недоверия, коалиция
Answer: to dissolve Parliament, to make treaties, to declare war, vote of no confidence, coalition
Translate into English: судебный контроль, бремя доказывания, вне разумных сомнений, перевес доказательств, вынести вердикт
Answer: judicial review, burden of proof, beyond a reasonable doubt, preponderance of the evidence, to reach a verdict
What are the main sources of the UK Constitution?
Answer: Statutes (Acts of Parliament), common law (judicial decisions), constitutional conventions (unwritten rules), and works of authority (books by constitutional scholars).
Who are the members of the House of Lords and how do they get their seats?
Answer: Life peers (appointed by the Monarch on the advice of the PM), Lords Spiritual (26 bishops), and hereditary peers (inherited their titles). They are appointed, not elected.
What happens at the First reading in the House of Commons?
Answer: It is the formal introduction of a bill. There is no debate at this stage – the title is read and a date is set for the second reading.
What is a constitutional monarchy?
Answer: A system where the monarch is the head of state but does not govern; real political power lies with the elected Parliament and Prime Minister.
What is the highest court in the UK and when was it established?
Answer: The UK Supreme Court, established in October 2009.
What are the two core principles that underpin the UK constitution, and what do they mean?
Answer: The rule of law (everyone, including the government, is subject to the law) and parliamentary sovereignty (Parliament is the supreme legal authority and can make or unmake any law).
What is the Salisbury Convention and how does it limit the House of Lords?
Answer: The Salisbury Convention means the Lords do not reject bills that were promised in the government’s election manifesto. The Lords also cannot amend money bills (bills about taxation or government spending).
What is the "ping pong" process in the UK legislative process?
Answer: It is the process where a bill goes back and forth between the House of Commons and the House of Lords (exchanging amendments) until both Houses agree on the exact wording.
What happens if no party wins a majority in a general election (a hung Parliament)?
Answer: The incumbent Prime Minister remains in office and gets the first chance to form a government, possibly through a coalition or confidence and supply agreement. If they cannot command confidence, another party leader may be invited.
Describe the hierarchy of the court system in England
Highest court: UK Supreme Court (final court of appeal).
Appellate courts: Court of Appeal (Civil and Criminal Divisions).
Civil trial courts: High Court of Justice (with three divisions: Queen’s Bench, Chancery, Family) for complex cases, and County Court for most civil cases
Criminal trial courts: Crown Court for serious offences (with a judge and jury), and Magistrates’ Court for less serious offences and the starting point for all criminal cases.