The Queen and parliament.
In Britain the Queen is the Head of state, but in fact she doesn’t rule the country as she has no power. The Queen is a symbol of the country history and its traditions. She is very rich, she travels about the United Kingdom, meets with different people and visits schools, hospitals and other special places.
At the beginning of the 20th century many countries all over the world were ruled by Britain. Among them were the British colonies and they all were a part of British Empire. India, Pakistan and Ceylon, for example, were also part of the Empire. Now these countries are independent states. But in 1949 the former British colonies and Britain founded the Comonwealth. The Commonwealth includes such countries as Canada, Australia and New Zeland. The Queen of Great Britain is also the Head of the Commonwealth and the Queen of Canada, Australia and New Zeland.
The real power in the country belongs to the British Parliament and to the British Government. The British Parliament has two “houses”: the House of Lords and the House of Commons. The House of Lords doesn’t have much power, but it is very important as it can offer and change laws, it can delay laws too. The House of Commons makes laws about the policy of the country, taxes and many other things.
The members of the House of Lords are not elected. These members are permanent. They are often aristocrat, people of the church, lawyers and former politicians or life pears.
The members of the House of Commons are elected. The British people elect 650 members of the House of Commons every five years.
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