麦哲伦英语 第 59 课：The Government of the United Kingdom 英国的政体

The British method of government has developed very slowly over hundreds of years. This is perhaps why it can be rather difficult to understand. 英国的政体几百年间发展缓慢，这恐怕也是人们很难弄明白它的原因。

For example, the Queen is the head of State, but she has no real power. 例如，女王是国家首脑，但她没有实权。

Parliament is the real government of Britain. It has two 'Houses', the House of Lords, and the House of Commons. 议会是英国真正的管理机关，它分为上议院和下议院两院。

The 'Lords' are members of the old aristocracy, bishops, lawyers, and retired politicians. 上议院议员是由旧贵族、主教、律师以及退休的政治家组成。

They have little power now, but they can suggest new laws and change or delay laws that the House of Commons wants to pass. 他们拥有的权力不多，但可以提议新法，改变或推迟下议院想要通过的法律。

The House of Commons makes laws, agrees on policy, and decides what taxes the people must pay. 下议院制定法律、协商政策，并决定税收种类。

The British people choose the 650 members of the House of Commons every five years. 英国人每五年选出下议院的六百五十名议员。

In each area there are usually two or three main political parties to choose from. The party who gets most members into parliament makes the new government. 在每个选举区，通常有两个或三个主要政党参选。在议会获得最多席位的政党组成新政府。

The Prime Minister is the leader of the winning party. Only party members (not the whole British people) choose their leader. 获胜政党的领导人成为首相。只有政党成员（而不是全体英国人）选举他们的领导者。

The Prime Minister chooses the members of the Cabinet, who are called ministers. Each minister has a special job to do, for example, education, or health, or transport. 首相挑选内阁成员，这些人称为大臣。每个大臣有特定的负责范围，如教育、健康、交通。