英美概况教案

英美概况

An Introduction to Britain and America

使用教材：

来安方•英美概况•河南人民出版社，2002.

任课教师：施海霞任课班级：英语051

Teaching Objectives: This course is mainly to make known to the studentsthe

British politics, culture as well as societyat large, and its

position in the world as far as its long history is concerned.

(It might be difficult for the students to understand the

British political system, its people and its cultural

differences because of religious reasons. Thus, some emphasis

should be laid on its religious background.)

Time Allocation: 4 periods

Focal Points: The Country of today, Understanding of Different Names

I.G en eral In troducti on

Great Brita in, the dominant in dustrial and maritime power of the 19th cen tury, played a leading role in developing parliamentary democracy and in advancing literature and scienee. At its zenith (极盛时期),the British Empire stretched over one-fourth of the earth's surface. The first half of the 20th century saw the UK's strength seriously depleted in two World Wars. The second half witnessed the dismantling (瓦解)of the Empire and the UK rebuilding itself into a modern and prosperous Europea n n ati on.

As one of five permanent members of the UN Security Council (China, France, Russian Federation, United Kingdom and United States), a founding member of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization), and of the Commonwealth, the UK pursues a global approach to foreign policy; it currently is weighing the degree of its integration with continental Europe. A member of the EU (European Union), it chose to rema in outside the Econo mic and Mon etary Un io n for the time being. Constitutional reform is also a significant issue in the UK. The Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales, and the Northern Ireland Assembly were established in 1999, but the latter is suspe nded due to bickeri ng (argue) over

the peace process.

Official n ame：The Un ited Kin gdom of Great Britai n and Northern Irela nd. Form of government Constitutional monarchy

Legislature: Bicameral legislature with two legislative houses

1. House of Lords [675 members (con sisti ng of approximately

500 life peers, 92 hereditary peers and 26 clergy);

2.

House of Commons (646 seats since 2005 elections;

members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year

terms unless the House is dissolved earlier)

Note: 1) Elections: House of Lords - no elections;

House of Commons - last held 5 May 2005 (next to be held

by May 2010)

2) Election results: House of Commons - percent of vote by party - Labor

35.2%, Conservative 32.3%, Liberal Democrats 22%, other 10.5%; seats by

party - Labor 356, Conservative 197, Liberal Democrat 62, other 31 Capital: London, England.

National holiday: the UK does not celebrate one particular national holiday

Constitution: unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice

Chief of state: Sovereign (君主).

Present Queen: Elizabeth II (since February 1952);

Head of government: Prime Minister.

Present Prime Minister: Anthony (Tony) Blair (since 2 May 1997) (Labor Party) Cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the prime minister; National Anthem: God Save the King (Queen)

God Save the Queen

God save our gracious Queen, Long live our noble Queen, God save the Queen!

Send her victorious,

Happy and glorious,

Long to reign over us, God save the Queen!

O lord God arise, Scatter our enemies, And make them fall! Confound their knavish tricks, Confuse their politics, On you our hopes we fix, God save the Queen!

Not in this land alone, But be God's mercies known, From shore to shore!

Lord make the nations see, That men should brothers be, And form one family, The