Chapter3GovernmentandtheCommonwealth解析.ppt

1.3 Conventions 习惯法 rules and practices which do not exist legally, but are regarded as vital to the working of government 习惯法是并非合法存在的规则和惯例，但是却被认为是政府运作的至关重要的（大多数是在立宪政治发展过程中形成的经法院承认的宪法性法律规则 ） 2.1.1 Parliament Parliament 议会 the law-making body of Britain 立法机构 one of the oldest representative assemblies代表大会in the world Strictly speaking, the parliament consists of the King or Queen, the House of Lords (上议院), the House of Commons (下议院) She reigns but does not rule! Function of the house of Lords To examine and revise bills from the House of Commons 检查和修正来自下议院的法案 but the Law Lords cannot normally prevent proposed legislation from becoming law if the House of Commons insists on it 但是如果下议院坚持,上议院高级法官通常不能阻止提案成为法律. Three major functions Drafting new laws 起草新法律 to scrutinize, criticize and restrain the actions of the government 细看，批评和约束政府行为 to influence the future government policy 影响未来的政府政策 2.2.1 The Prime Minister—powerful leader head of the government政府的首脑 the leader of the majority party in Parliament 议会里多数党派的领导 controls the Parliament控制议会 2.2.2 The Cabinet supreme decision-making body in the British government英国政府的最高决策机构 Cabinet members are chosen by the Prime Minister from members of his own party in Parliament. 内阁成员是由首相在议会中自己党派挑选的. 唐宁街10号（10 Downing Street） 英国首相官邸位于英国首都伦敦威斯敏斯特，威斯敏斯特区白厅旁的唐宁街，一所乔治风格建筑物。 The Cabinet works on the principle of collective responsibility and individual ministerial responsibility Ministers responsible for their particular department (most senior members are the Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary, Chancellor of the Exchequer and Home Secretary) Collective responsibility or resignation 2.2.2 Privy Council a body of advisors (450 members) current and former Cabinet members and important public figures Its main duty is to give advice 2.3 The Judiciary Proceedings All criminal trials are held in open court because the criminal law presumes the innocence of the accused until he has been approved guilty bey