How bhitain is governed

(Part II)

The main stages of the bill's progress in each House are still known аs "readings".

Nowadays the first reading is a formality. Only the title of the bill is mentioned, and it is then printed in full for members of the House of Commons to read and think about before the second reading.

On the second reading, a discussion takes place. Тhe House may be unanimous in favor of the bill: on many occasions it is clear from the debates what the wishes of the majority of members are; but at other times some members may shout "Aye" (Yes) and other "Nay" (No), in which case a vote has to be taken. A bell is rung so that all members mау come and vote. The members leave their benches and walk out into two lobbies. This they do by passing through corridors behind the Speaker's chair, the "Ayes" ("for") on one side and the "Nays" ("against") on the other. As they walk out, they are counted by four tellers - two for each side - and it may take ten or fifteen minutes before the figures are announced.

The largest number of votes "for" or "against" decides whether the bill is passed or not. If the bill is defeated at this stage, it can go no further.

The next stage is called the report stage: the House has before it the new text of the bill, incorporating the committee's amendments. Further speeches and amendments are made.

The bill is now ready for its third reading. Again it is fully discussed in the House of Commons.

If the majority of MPs still votes for the bill, it is sent to the House of Lords for discussion. When the Lords accept it, the bill is taken to the Queen for the Royal Assent.

The Queen signs and the Great Seal is fixed. Тhe bill becomes an Act of Parliament.

The House of Lords. This House consists of hereditary and life peers and peeresses, a certain number of Irish and Scottish peers, the archbishops of Canterbury and York, and some bishops of the Established Church of England.

The House of Lords sits on average for about 140 days in each session. The Lord Chancellor is chairman and sits on a special seat called the Woolsack.

The House of Lords cannot deal with a Money Bill, and if they disagree on any other bill, the most they can do is to delay it for a year, if the House of Commons passes it. Members in the House of Lords may introduce new bills, but these have to be sent to the House of Commons for the usual three readings.

G.D. Tomakhin. Иностранные языки в школе № 4, 1988г.

Пояснения к тексту:

Speaker - спикер - член парламента, который председательствует в палате общин

Canterbury- Кантербери /город в Англии/

Established-Church - государственная церковь

Lord Chancellor - лорд Канцлер

Woolsack - мешок с шерстью

Standing committee - постоянная комиссия в парламенте

Слова и выражения для активного усвоения

to mention - упоминать

unanimous – единодушный

occasion- случай, возможность

vote - голосование, голос

lobby - кулуары /парламента/

to announce - сообщать, заявлять

to defeat - одержать победу, наносить поражение

proposal – предложение

amendment - исправление, поправка

alternation - чередование

to accept – принимать

to reject – отвергать

to consist of - состоять из

salary - жалование

expenses - расходы

to agree - соглашаться

to disagree - не соглашаться

attempts- попытка

to fail - не удаваться

trouble – беспокойство

Questions to the text.

1. Ноw many readings does every bill have?

2. How do the members of the House of Соmmons vote?

3. Whom does the House of Lords consist of?

1. Does the House of Lords deal with a Money Bill?

Text 5.