Section A Exploring the World Text AA Brief Introduction to the United Kingdom The Act of Union of 1800 formally assimilated Ireland within the British political process and from 1 January 1801 created a new state called the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,which united the Kingdom of Great Britain with the Kingdom of Ireland to form a single political entity.The English capital of London was adopted as the capital of the Union. People often confuse the names for this country,and frequently make mistakes in using them.United Kingdom,UK,and Britain are all proper terms for the entire nation,although the term Britain is also often used when it comes to the island of Great Britain.The use of the term Great Britain to refer to the entire nation is now outdated;the term Great Britain,properly used,refers only to the island of Great Britain,which does not include Northern Ireland.The term England should never be used to describe Britain,because England is only one part of the island.It is always correct to call people from England,Scotland,or Wales British,although people from England may also properly be called English,people from Scotland Scottish,and people from Wales Welsh 大连理工大学出版社
大连理工大学出版社 Section A Exploring the World Text A A Brief Introduction to the United Kingdom The Act of Union of 1800 formally assimilated Ireland within the British political process and from 1 January 1801 created a new state called the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, which united the Kingdom of Great Britain with the Kingdom of Ireland to form a single political entity. The English capital of London was adopted as the capital of the Union. People often confuse the names for this country, and frequently make mistakes in using them. United Kingdom, UK, and Britain are all proper terms for the entire nation, although the term Britain is also often used when it comes to the island of Great Britain. The use of the term Great Britain to refer to the entire nation is now outdated; the term Great Britain, properly used, refers only to the island of Great Britain, which does not include Northern Ireland. The term England should never be used to describe Britain, because England is only one part of the island. It is always correct to call people from England, Scotland, or Wales British, although people from England may also properly be called English, people from Scotland Scottish, and people from Wales Welsh
Section A Exploring the World Text AA Brief Introduction to the United Kingdom Note Government In a broad sense,the British government comprises the monarch,the Parliamentl4l and the executive branch led by the Prime Minister.The Prime Minister forms a Cabinet.The Cabinet initiates policies,proposes all important bills in Parliament,and coordinates the work of different government departments.The Prime Minister as Head of Cabinet and Government as a whole is ultimately responsible for the policies and decisions of the government. Parliamentl4l is the law-making body of the United Kingdom.It comprises the monarch,often referred to as the Crown,the House of Lordst51,and the House of Commons161.The monarch's role is only ceremonial, unpolitical and symbolic.The House of Lords,sometimes referred to as the Upper House,consists of two groups of members:a religious group and a secular group.One important role of the House of Lords is its function as the highest court of the United Kingdom.The House of Commons is composed of 659 elected members who are called MPs for short.The seats are distributed according to population.Its most important function is to make laws,known as "Act of Parliament". 大连理工大学出版社
大连理工大学出版社 Section A Exploring the World Text A A Brief Introduction to the United Kingdom Government In a broad sense, the British government comprises the monarch, the Parliament[4] and the executive branch led by the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister forms a Cabinet. The Cabinet initiates policies, proposes all important bills in Parliament, and coordinates the work of different government departments. The Prime Minister as Head of Cabinet and Government as a whole is ultimately responsible for the policies and decisions of the government. Parliament[4] is the law-making body of the United Kingdom. It comprises the monarch, often referred to as the Crown, the House of Lords[5] , and the House of Commons[6] . The monarch’ s role is only ceremonial, unpolitical and symbolic. The House of Lords, sometimes referred to as the Upper House, consists of two groups of members: a religious group and a secular group. One important role of the House of Lords is its function as the highest court of the United Kingdom. The House of Commons is composed of 659 elected members who are called MPs for short. The seats are distributed according to population. Its most important function is to make laws, known as “Act of Parliament” . Note
Section A Exploring the World Text AA Brief Introduction to the United Kingdom Note The organization of local governmentl7 in the United Kingdom varies from region to region.Traditionally, most parts of the country had a two-tier system:country,shire,or borough councils and district councils.Local councils are controlled by laws and policies established by the central government,particularly conceming budgets and spending.The councilors of the local government are all elected. British Law British law consists of two parts,the civil and the criminal law,and there are different courts at various levels to handle cases in each category.All judges are appointed by the Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister and are irremovable.Lawyers in the United Kingdom are divided into two groups:the solicitors and barristers. 大连理工大学出版社
大连理工大学出版社 Section A Exploring the World Text A A Brief Introduction to the United Kingdom The organization of local government[7] in the United Kingdom varies from region to region. Traditionally, most parts of the country had a two-tier system: country, shire, or borough councils and district councils. Local councils are controlled by laws and policies established by the central government, particularly concerning budgets and spending. The councilors of the local government are all elected. British Law British law consists of two parts, the civil and the criminal law, and there are different courts at various levels to handle cases in each category. All judges are appointed by the Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister and are irremovable. Lawyers in the United Kingdom are divided into two groups: the solicitors and barristers. Note
Section A E知loring the World Text AA Brief Introduction to the United Kingdom The organization of local governmentl7 in the United Kingdom varies from region to region.Traditionally, most parts of the country had a two-tier system:country,shire,or borough councils and district councils.Local councils are controlled by laws and policies established by the central government,particularly conceming budgets and spending The councilors of the local government are all elected. British Law British law consists of two parts,the civil and the criminal law,and there are different courts at various levels to handle cases in each category.All judges are appointed by the Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister and are irremovable.Lawyers in the United Kingdom are divided into two groups:the solicitors and barristers. 大连理工大学出版社
大连理工大学出版社 Section A Exploring the World Text A A Brief Introduction to the United Kingdom The organization of local government[7] in the United Kingdom varies from region to region. Traditionally, most parts of the country had a two-tier system: country, shire, or borough councils and district councils. Local councils are controlled by laws and policies established by the central government, particularly concerning budgets and spending. The councilors of the local government are all elected. British Law British law consists of two parts, the civil and the criminal law, and there are different courts at various levels to handle cases in each category. All judges are appointed by the Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister and are irremovable. Lawyers in the United Kingdom are divided into two groups: the solicitors and barristers
Section A Exploring the World Text AA Brief Introduction to the United Kingdom Note Economy The UK economy is made up(in descending order of size)of the economies of England,Scotland,Wales and Northern Ireland.Based on market exchange rates,the United Kingdom is today the sixth largest economy in the world and the third largest in Europe after Germany and France(2015). The UK is a developed country,with the fifth(nominal GDP)or sixth(PPP)largest economy in the world. It was the world's first industrialized country and the world's foremost power during the 19th and early 20th centuries,but the economic cost of two world wars and the decline of its empire in the latter half of the 20th century diminished its leading role in global affairs.The UK nevertheless remains a major power with strong economic,cultural,military and political influence.It is a nuclear power and has the second or third highest defence spending in the world.It holds a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council,and is a member of the G8,NATOI8],OECDI91,World Trade Organization and the Commonwealth of Nations. 大连理工大学出版社
大连理工大学出版社 Section A Exploring the World Text A A Brief Introduction to the United Kingdom Economy The UK economy is made up (in descending order of size) of the economies of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Based on market exchange rates, the United Kingdom is today the sixth largest economy in the world and the third largest in Europe after Germany and France(2015). The UK is a developed country, with the fifth (nominal GDP) or sixth (PPP) largest economy in the world. It was the world’ s first industrialized country and the world’ s foremost power during the 19th and early 20th centuries, but the economic cost of two world wars and the decline of its empire in the latter half of the 20th century diminished its leading role in global affairs. The UK nevertheless remains a major power with strong economic, cultural, military and political influence. It is a nuclear power and has the second or third highest defence spending in the world. It holds a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, and is a member of the G8, NATO[8] , OECD[9] , World Trade Organization and the Commonwealth of Nations. Note