Welsh, people from Scotland as Scottish, people from Northern Ireland as either British or 7 Irish.
Britain is split up into counties8 Each county has its own local government,9which is responsible10 for -such things as education11, housing12, town planning13,rubbish disposal. 14
Britain is a constitutional monarchy. The monarch, at the moment 15 Queen Elizabeth II, is the Head oj State16 The Queen is also head of the judiciary17 (all the judges 18) and of the Church19 of England, as well as the Commander-in-Chief20 of the armed forces. 21 Her face is on all British bank notes22coins23 and postage stamps. 24
The Queens role, however, is mainly symbolic 25True power26lies27 in the hands of the Prime Minister28 and his or her Cabinet. The Queen is head of the Commonwealth29(a group of former30 and present-day31 British colonies).
The British Parliament has two houses or chambers32:the House of Commons 33 and the House of Lords34 The House of Commons is the most powerful and decides35 national policy, but the House of Lords can ask the House of Commons to rewrite certain parts of a bill36 before it becomes a new law37 There are 651 Members of Parliament38, or seats39, in the House of Commons. In 1994, there were only 59 women MPs. Each MP is elected by voters40 in one region.
The 1203 members of the House of Lords are not elected. Some are life peers41 they are members of the House of Lords, but their sons or daughters cannot be members. Life peers are usually former members of the House of Commons. There are also a number of42 judges or bishops. 43Themajority44, however, are hereditary peers45, the heads46 of aristocratic families.
Every five years, British people over the age of 18 47 can vote in a general election48 People vote for the
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