Great Britain

• Monarch


  Represents the country, appoints Prime Minister and Lords, opens the parliament, has many ceremonial functions and social duties
• Members of the parliament

  • Represent one of the 650 districts in the UK
  • Located in the House of Commons
  • A few of them form the cabinet
• House of Commons


  Located in the palace of Westminster, elected for 5 years, Approve laws before they are submitted to the King or Queen
• House of Lords


  Located in the palace of Westminster, has 784 seats and members, less important than the House of Commons, examine or change the bills introduced by the House of Commons
• Great Britain


  • Largest of the British and European islands, includes England, Scotland and Wales (since 1707), Population about 67 million people
• Commonwealth


  Loose association of sovereign states (1931), formed primarily by the UK and its former colonies, countries are united by language, culture, history and values, responsible for 20% of the worldwide trade
• Voting rights for women

  1. Before 1832 a few women could vote through the "Vestries Act" of 1818

  2. After 1832 they were excluded from voting through the "Great Reform Act"

  3. Suffrage Movement formed in 1866 with 1500 signatures gathered in petition for women's voting rights

  4. After the first world war the movement was shut down

  5. 1918: "Representation of the People Act" was passed which allowed women over 30 and men over 21 vote if they met the property qualifications to vote

  6. 1928: "Representation of the People Act (Equal Franchise)" was passed which allowed men and women over 21 to vote
• Traditions


  • Food (Fish and chips, English-breakfast, ...)
  • Tea-Time
  • British politeness and helpfulness
  • Sports like cricket
• Multiculturalism


  • Result of colonialism and imperialism (1914), Pakistanis, Bangladeshis etc. migrated to Britain to work, today: 12,4% born abroad, enriches cultures (food, music, ...)