英美文化教程

英美文化教程复习资料

一、知识点：英国部分

1、英国组成，国旗，国歌：

The United Kingdom of Great Britian and Northern Ireland is a union made up of four constituent countries: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

The Union Jack is the national flag and God Save the King/Queen is used as the national anthem.

2、英国语言经历点阶段：he history of the English language has generally been divided into Old English, spoken by the

ancient Germans lasting from 450 to 1150; Middle English from 1151 to 1500; and Modern English beginning from 1501.

3、抵抗丹麦的皇帝：Alfred the Great, King of Wessex

大宪章：The Great Charter

The Great Charter is a most important document in England history. It has been called “the corner stone” of English history. The Great Charter provides that the king should permit merchants to move about freely and should observe the privileges of the various towns, which were growing in number and size.

4、宪章运动In 1837 the London Workingman’s Association worked out the famous document, The People’s Charter

The People’s Charter constituted six points:（人民宪章）

(1)Votes for all males.

(2)Annual election of Parliament (instead of general election every seven years).

(3)Payment of Members of Parliament (so that poor men could afford to take part in political activities).

(4)Secret voting (so that to avoid bribery and intimidation).

(5)Abolition of property qualifications for Parliament Members (so that workers could seek to be elected).

(6)Equal electoral districts (so that the large population of the workers could enjoy a corresponding share of the

votes).

The People’s Charter was formally adopted at a meeting of workers held on August 8, 1838, on Newhall Hill.

In 1840, the Chartist Movement witnessed the second upsruge.

In 1848, the Chartist Movement expericenced the third and last upsruge.

5、英国两院制上议院、下议院(议会)

The parliament(议会) is bicameral (两院制), with an upper house, the non-elected House of Lords, and a lower house, the elected House of Commons.

The House of Lords includes two different types of members: the Lords Spiritual and the Lords Temproal.

The House of Lords today is more a place of discussion and debate than one of substantial power. It main functions include debating the issues of the day and improving certain non-tax bills inadequately considered by the Commons before they are passed into low. In some rare cases, it may delay the passage of bills approved by the Commons, but only for up to a year.

The House of Commons is a democratically elected chamber with elections to it, held at least every 5 years. The two Houses meet in separate chambers in the Palace of Westminster, in the City of Westminster in London. House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the UK. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 646 members. The leader of the party with the majority of seats becomes the Prime Minister, head of the government. He or she then chooses an inner cabinet of key ministers and appoints junior ministers in various ministers.

Power:1.Legislative(立法权)：The House of Commons has the supreme authority of the legislation, their motion can directly get Royal Assent.

2.finace power(财政权)：only the house of commons has the right to propose the motion on tax or supply(只有下议院才

有权力提出税收及供应的权力)

3.Suprvise the government (监督政府)：as the head of the government, if the prime minister wants to continue in office, he/she must be admitted by the House of Commons. It has the right to impeach(弹劾) the prime minister or the government. Functions: Members of Parliament are involved in considering can drafting new laws.

MPs can use their position to ask government ministers questions about current issues.

To supervise, or oversee finance.

6、两大政党The Conservative Party: 1 relatively rich and privileged;2 maintenance of the existing institutions as its