英美文化概况简答论述整理

英美文化概况简答论述简答：1.The Functions of Parliament① First and foremost, it passes laws.②provides the means of carrying on the work of government by voting for taxation.③scrutinize government policy, administration and expenditure and to debate the major issues of the day.④There are no legal restraints upon Parliament. However, it does not assert its supremacy, but bears the common law in mind and acts according to precedent. Strictly speaking, the Parliament today consists of the Queen, the House of Lords and the House of Commons.2.George WashingtonGeorge Washington was one of the founding fathers of the American Republic. He was the Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army in the War of Independence against the British colonial rule and the first President of the United States.3.The Open UniversityThe Open University ―founded in the 1960’s for people who might not get the opportunity for higher educarion for economic and social reasons.It’s open to everybody and doesn’t demand the same formal educational qualifications as the other universities. Universities courses are following through TV, correspondence,videos and a net work of study centers. Ath the end of their studies at the Open University, successful students are awarded a university degree. Universities in the UK.4.The strategy of PreemptionIn an address delivered to the West Point graduates, President Bush, for the first time, put forward the strategy of preemption（先发制人）, which is formalized in the National Security Strategy issued in Sept. 2002.By preemption, the US means that when it determines that a country which is repressive and hostile to the US has acquired or produced weapons of mass destruction（大规模杀伤性武器）or has the potential to possess such weapons, the US should use force to remove this threat to US security and should not wait till the danger becomes imminent or until the Us is attacked. This is known as Bush Doctrine.5. Comprehensive schoolsComprehensive schools are the most popular secondary schools in Britain today. Such schools admit children without reference to their academic abilities and provide a general education. Pupils can study everything from academic subjects like literature to more practical subjects like cooking.6. The Bill of RightsThe Bill of Rights consists of the first 10 amendments which were added to the Constitution in 1791. The Bill of Rights was passed to guarantee freedom and individual rights such as freedom of speech, the right to assemble in public places, the right to own weapons and so on.7. A federal systemA federal system is one in which power is shared between a central authority and its constituent parts, with some rights reserved to each.8. The House of CommonsThe House of Commons is the real center of British political life because it is the place where about 650 elected representatives (Members of Parliament) make and debate policy. These MPs are elected in the General Elections and should represent the interests of the people who vote for them.9. Grammar SchoolIt is a type of secondary schools in Britain. Grammar schools select children at the age 11, through an examination called “the 11-plus”.Those children with the highest marks go to grammar schools. These schools lay emphasis on advanced academic subjects rather than the more general curriculum of the comprehensive schools and expect many of their pupils to go on to universities10. PuritanismPuritans were those who followed the doctrine of John Calvin and wanted to purify the Church of England. They believe that human beings were predestined by God before they were born. Some were God’s chosen people while others were damned to hell. Nither church nor good works could save people. The sign of bei ng God’s elect was the success in his work or the prosperity in his calling. They also argued that everyone must read the Bible in order to find God’s will and establish a direct contact with God. These beliefs had great impact on American culture.11. The declaration of IndependenceIt was mainly drafted by Thomas Jefferson and adopted by the Congress on July 4, 1776, when the people of 13 English colonies in North America were fighting for their freedom and independence from the British colonial rule.The document declared that all men were equal and that they were entitled to have some unalienable rights such as life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.It also explained the philosophy of government: the powers of governments came from the consent of the governed and the purpose of governments was to secure the rights mentioned above.The theory of politics and the guiding principles of the American Revolution mainly came from John Locke.12. The three traditions of Christmas in Britainthe Christmas Pantomime(圣诞童话剧), the Queen’s speech over the TV and radio, and the Boxing Day.13. The Bill of Rights (US)In the Bill of Rights, Americans are guaranteed freedom of religion, of speech and of the press. They have the right to assemble in public places, the right to own weapons and so on.14. The Anglo-SaxonsThe Anglo-Saxon invaders were the forefathers of the English, the founders of Anglo-land or England as it has become known.15 . Broads of education in USAIt refer to groups of people who make policies for schools at the state or district level. They also make decisions about the school curriculum, teacher standards and certification and the overall measurement of student progress.16. The CommonwealthNo longer an imperial country with independence of many former colonies such as Australia, Canada, India which maintain links with Britain now through an organization called the Commonwealth of Nations (英联邦国家).17. The making of Britain’s foreign policyThe general direction of Britain’s fo reign policy is mainly decided by the Prime Minister and the Cabinet. The Ministry of Defence, although it is considered less important than the FCO, is an important player. It is responsible for ensuring Britain's defence and managing Britain's involvement in its military treaty commitments. The Department of Trade and Industry is concerned with formulating international trade policy and managing British commercial relations with other countries. A less obvious, but an extremely influential player in Brita in’s foreign policy is the Treasury. The Treasury makes decisions on how much money other departments can have each year.18.LondonThe Capital: LondonA cultural and economic dominance of England1. A highly urbanized country: 80% of its population living in cities, and only 2% working in agriculture2. England’s dominance in size --- largest of the four nations with largest population is reflected in a cultural and economic dominance19. The making of British foreign policyThe general direction of Bri tain’s foreign policy is mainly decided by the Prime Minister and the Cabinet. The main government department involved is of course the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), but many other government ministries also plays a part in formulating and carryin g out the government’s decisions.The Ministry of Defence, although it is considered less important than the FCO, is an important player. It is responsible for ensuring Britain's defence and managing Britain's involvement in its military treaty commitments. The Department of Trade and Industry is concerned with formulating international trade policy and managing British commercial relations with other countries.A less obvious, but an extremely influential player in Britain’s foreign policy is the Treasury. The Treasury makes decisions on how much money other departments can have each year.20. The containment policy （美国遏制政策）The US put into effect the containment policy in the late 1940s.1948, Truman Doctrine: the US would use whatever means, including military force, to prevent the SU from breaking out of its sphere of influence, so as to push back Soviet spheres until Soviet political system changed or collapsed.1950-51, the Korean War.1954-1973, the Vietnam War.The US lost 50 000 men in each of the two wars, greatly weakened the US.21. Boards of educationboards of education---refer to groups of people who make policies for schools at thestate and/or district level. They also make decisions about the school curriculum,teacher standards and certification and the overall measurement of student progress.American students pass through several levels of schooling---12 systems22. The Servicemen’s Readjustment ActPassed in 1944, It was soon popularly called the “GI Bill of Rights” . GI was anickname for the American soldier, which came from the abbreviation for“Government Issue”—the uniforms and other art icles issued” to a Soldier. The Act promised financial aid,Including aid for higher education to members of the armed forces23 .Affirmative Action ProgramsAdvocated by some colleges in 1960. The purpose of the programs was to equalizeeducational opportunities for all groups and to make up for past inequality by givingspecial preference to members of minorities seeking jobs or admission to college.论述：1.what is the US containment policy? Is it successful? Illustrate your point withfacts.1、The Containment policy(遏制政策)The US put into effect the containment policy in the late 1940s.1948, Truman Doctrine（杜鲁门主义）: the US would use whatever means, includingmilitary force, to prevent the SU from breaking out of its sphere of influence.1950-51, the Korean War.1954-1973, the Vietnam War.The US lost 50 000 men in each of the two wars.2、The containment policy in ChinaThe White Paper on China issued by the State Department in 1949 showed American hostility towards the new republic.Fighting in Korea institutionalized hostility between the two countries and extended the Cold War to Asia. The frozen relationship did not thaw until President Nixon visited Chinain 1972. The US and China normalized diplomatic relations in 1979. The strategic basisfor the two countries to come together was the struggle against Soviet expansionism.This basis lasted until 1980s and early 1990s.2. What are the foundations of Britain’s foreign policy?1. The Foundations of British Foreign PolicyThe contemporary foreign policy of the UK is greatly influenced by its imperialhistory( the most important single factor) and also by its geopolitical traits. As Britainlost its empire so recently, British policy-makers frequently forget that Britain is notas influential as it used to be in world affairs. Another decisive influence upon theway Britain handles its external affairs is geopolitical attitude to Europe.2. The Making of Britain’s Foreign PolicyThe general direction of Britain’s foreign policy is mainly d ecided by thePrime Minister and the Cabinet. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, themain government department, plays a significant role in the making of Britain’sforeign policy.The British foreign policy is also affected by its relationship with the UnitedStates. During World War II, the two countries were closely allied andcontinued to work together closely in the postwar years.3. “British history is a history of invasion”. Please illustrate this point. How did eachof the invasion influence English culture?Before the 1st century AD, be made up of tribal kingdoms of Celtic people凯尔特人→ in 43AD, invaded by the Roman Empire罗马帝国, and England and Wales becamea part of the Roman Empire for nearly 400years→the Germanic日尔曼人 (the Angles盎格鲁人 and the Saxon 撒克逊人) invasion, Anglo-Saxon invaders became the forefathers of the English, the founders of“Angle-land” or “England” as it has become known.→from the late 8th century on,( till the 10th) raiders from Scandinavia(斯堪的纳维亚), the ferocious vikings(北欧海盗), threatened Britain’s shores, leading tolarge areas of northern and eastern England were under their control.→the year of 1066, Norman invasion; Under William Normandy (known as “William the Conqueror”征服者威廉一世 ),they defeated an English army under KingHarold(英格兰最后一位撒克逊民族的国王).The next 300years may be thought of as a Norman aristocracyruling a largelySaxon and English speaking population→the next few hundred years followingthe Norman invasion was a process of joining together the various parts of theBritish Isles under English rule; at the same time, power was gradually transferred(转移)from the monarch (君主)to parliament(议会,国会).→1640-1651,England was ruled by parliament’s leader, Oliver Cromwell(克伦威尔)→in 1651, the monarch was restored.→in 1688,the parliament invited Williamand Mary (from Holland) to take the throne, thus finally establishing parliament’s dominance over the thron(1689年,议会通过权利法案,限制国王权力,从此确立延续至今的君主立宪制)4. How do you understand that Britain has a “special relationship” with the US?The British foreign policy is also affected by its relationship with the United States.During World War II, the two countries were closely allied and continued to work together closely in the postwar years, because they had many things in commonabout the past and the world situation.Even today, British and American policy-makers share the general ideas in many aspects. However, Britain’s “special relationship” with the USA has gone through upsand downs. The British are beginning to realize that their own foreign policy actionscan be limited by the United States. But both sides have worked hard to maintain the “special relations”.As a part of its NATO commitments, the British host a large American military presence. There are 63 American military bases in Britain.5.What are some of the major powers of each of the three branches of the US government?How are the three branches supposed to check and balance each other?The three branches—the Executive, headed by the president; the Legislative,including both houses of Congress (the Senate and the House ofRepresentative) and the Judicial, headed by the Supreme Court.The Federal courts have jurisdiction over cases arising out of the Constitution andother cases which do not arise out of individual states. (联邦法院对涉及联邦宪法的案件有审判权)The Supreme Court consists of nine Justices: the Chief Justice of the United Statesand eight Associate Justices. They have equal weight when voting on a case and theChief Justice has no casting vote (决定票) or power to instruct colleagues.The Supreme Court has the judicial review power, the power determining whether congressional legislation or executive action violates the Constitution. 重要职能包括决定国会法案或行政法令是否违宪。