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Exercise IV. Read through the text on the British Parliament below and
translate it into Ukrainian.
The Glimpse of Great Britain and Its Parliament Life
1. Great Britain or the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland as the country is officially called ranks among the oldest constitutional
monarchies in Europe. The country's first constitution, the Magna Charta, was
signed under the pressure of her Parliament by the despotic King John Lackland,
son of King Richard the Lion Hearted, as far back as June 10, 1215. The Magna
Charta had a great influence on the country's parliamentary life and traditions
which have remained unchanged for centuries. Thus, the Palace of Westminster
where Parliament is held and which was built anew and rebuilt for several times is
in the same place for more than 1,000 years. Besides the Parliament consists of two
Chambers or Houses – the upper Chamber or the House of Lords and the lower
Chamber or the House of Commons.
2. The House of Lords is the upper chamber of Great Britain’s bicameral
legislature. It currently comprises the following elements: (1) the Lords Spiritual,
including the archbishops of Canterbury and York and the bishops of Durham,
London, and Winchester, as well as 21 other bishops holding sees in England; (2)
from November 1999, 92 hereditary peers; (3) from January 1980, all life peers
and peeresses created under the Life Peerages Act of 1958. A fourth element, the
Law Lords acted as Britain’s final court of appeal (except for Scottish criminal
cases) until 2009, when the Law Lords were abolished and the Supreme Court of
the United Kingdom came into being. The total number of persons qualified to sit
in the House of Lords is in excess of 670.
3. The House of Commons, domestically often referred to simply as the
Commons, is the lower house and de facto primary chamber of the Parliament of
the United Kingdom. Like the upper house, the House of Lords, it meets in the
Palace of Westminster. The Commons is an elected body consisting of 650
members known as members of Parliament (MPs). Members are elected to
represent constituencies and hold their seats until Parliament is dissolved.