THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT
Jan 11, 2016
THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT
• Fill in the gaps with the suitable words.• It was the ______ century, the year of ______. The ____ was a greedy and
incompetent ruler. The _____ were high but he decided to raise them. The _____ didn’t like it and started a _______. The ____ decided to hide in his castle but they found him. He had to sign the _______, an agreement between the King and his barons, because the _______ made him do it. The ______ limited the King’s power. Since then all the English _____have had to ask the barons before they made any important ________.
THE BEGINNING OF THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT
• Fill in the gaps with the suitable words.• It was the 13th century, the year of 1215. The King was a greedy and
incompetent ruler. The taxes were high but he decided to raise them. The barons didn’t like it and started a revolt. The king decided to hide in his castle but they found him. He had to sign the Magna Carta, an agreement between the King and his barons, because the barons made him do it. The magna carta limited the King’s power. Since then all the English kings have had to ask the barons before they made any important decisions.
THE BEGINNING OF THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT
John Lackland The Magna CartaThe barons made the King sign the Magna Carta.
The National Portrait Gallery
Who is she? What is she famous for?
She is Elizabeth II. She is the Queen of
the UK and the head of state.
The National Portrait Gallery
Who is she? What is she famous for?
That is Elizabeth I. She was the Queen
of England in the 16th century.
The National Portrait Gallery
Who is she? What is she famous for?
That is Margaret Thatcher, “The Iron Lady”. She was one
of the UK’s most powerful and
competent Prime Ministers, from 1979 to 1990.
The National Portrait Gallery
Who is he? What is he famous for?
That is Winston Churchill, one of the best British
prime ministers. He was the head of
the British government during
World War II.
The National Portrait Gallery
Who is he? What is he famous for?
That is John Lackland, the King of England in the
13th century. It was he who was made to sign the Magna
Carta.
The National Portrait Gallery
Who is he? What is he famous for?
He is David Cameron, the
incumbent British prime minister.
Let’s go on an excursion to the Palace of Westminster!
Where are we?
The lords and ladies sit here. This chamber is also called the Parliament Chamber. We are in the Chamber of the
House of Lords.
Let’s go on an excursion to the Palace of Westminster!
What is this?
When the Queen arrives in the House of Lords to open the Parliament, she sits on this. This is the Queen’s throne.
Let’s go on an excursion to the Palace of Westminster!
What is this?
There is wool inside. It’s a part of a very old tradition which started in the 14th century. It symbolises the importance of wool to the British economy at that time.This is the Woolsack.
Let’s go on an excursion to the Palace of Westminster!
Do you know this person?
He sits on the woolsack and presides over the House of Lords.
He is the Lord Chancellor.
Let’s go on an excursion to the Palace of Westminster!
How is this place called?
It is one of the two long narrow corridors, which are very important for the whole country, because MPs come here to vote.
It is called the “aye”, or yes lobby.
Let’s go on an excursion to the Palace of Westminster!
Where are we now?
MPs sit here.
We are in the Chamber of the House of Commons.
Let’s go on an excursion to the Palace of Westminster!
Who is this person?
He presides over the House of Commons.
He is the Speaker.
Let’s go on an excursion to the Palace of Westminster!
What are these red lines for?
We can see two red lines in front of the benches on each side of the chamber. That’s part of a tradition. The distance between them is two swords’ lengths. In the old days when MPs used to carry swords, it was dangerous if they got angry with each other.
They are here to remind MPs that they shouldn’t start a fight, and they can’t go over these lines when they are speaking in a debate.
Let’s go on an excursion to the Palace of Westminster!
What is this thing?
It lies on the table when the House is debating. It’s the symbol of the power which Parliament has won from the King. It even has its own guard, who has a very big sword.
This thing is the Mace.
Let’s go on an excursion to the Palace of Westminster!
And where are we at last?
This is the oldest part of the building. A lot of famous events and meetings have taken place here. It saw Guy Fawkes, who tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament in 1605, and in World War II bombs fell on it.
We are in Westminster Hall.
The House of Commons The House of Lords
Fill one of the Houses of Parliament with the appropriate things and persons.
The Speaker
The Lord ChancellorThe Mace
The Woolsack
Two red lines on the carpetThe throne
Green benches
Red benchesMPs
Peers
• Who is the head of state in the UK? • Who is the head of the government in the UK? • Is the UK a republic, a monarchy or a
federation?• How many Houses does it consist of? • Which House represents the people of Britain?• How often do British people vote for MPs?• What are Britain’s main political parties?• What are the members of the House of Lords
called?
Answer the questions.
(The queen is).
(The Prime Minister is).
(A monarchy).
(Two Houses).
(The House of Commons).
(At least every 5 years).
(Labour and Conservative).
(Peers).
• What do MPs do with their feet?• What is the surname of one of the most famous British Prime Ministers (“the Iron
Lady”)?• What does the Lord Chancellor sit on?• What is a member of the House of Commons called?• Who opens the Parliament?• Who presides over the House of Commons?
FILL IN THE CROSSWORD PUZZLE AND READ THE NAME OF THE RIVER WHERE THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTER STANDS.
1
2
3
4
5
6
• What do MPs do with their feet?• What is the surname of one of the most famous British Prime Ministers (“the Iron
Lady”)?• What does the Lord Chancellor sit on?• What is a member of the House of Commons called?• Who opens the Parliament?• Who presides over the House of Commons?
FILL IN THE CROSSWORD PUZZLE AND READ THE NAME OF THE RIVER WHERE THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTER STANDS.
1 V O T E
2 T H A T C H E
3 W O O L S A C K
4 M P
5 Q U E E N
6 S P E A K E
R
R
THE THAMES