THE UNITED KINGDOM
OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND
IMPORTANT DAYS IN THE BRITISH YEAR
5th November - Guy Fawkes Day. G. F. was a catholic conspirator who
wanted to blow up the Parliament and kill the king in 1605. He was caught
and executed. People make figures from old clothes and paper and then they
burn them. Children collect money, there a lot of fireworks and bonfires.
CONTENTS
11 November – Remembrance Day. Victims of the world wars are
commemorated.
Guy Fawkes Day
30th November – St. Andrew´s Day, the patron saint of Scotland.
Mountains...........................................................................................................................................5
th
24th December – Christmas Eve. There are office parties, children hang up their stockings and
expect that Father Christmas or Santa Claus fills them with small presents. People do the last
shopping and decorate their Christmas trees.
GEOGRAPHY...................................................................................................................................5
Rivers and lakes..................................................................................................................................5
Climate...............................................................................................................................................5
Population..........................................................................................................................................6
ECONOMY AND MINERAL RESOURCES....................................................................................6
25th December – Christmas Day. Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus. People go to church in the
morning. Then they have Christmas dinner, sing carols and open presents. The Queen gives a
speech to the nation.
NATIONAL SYMBOLS....................................................................................................................7
26 December - Boxing Day. People give boxes with money to newspaper boys, milkmen,
dustmen, and postmen. Children visit pantomime shows. People visit friends and have parties.
Emblems, patron saints and their days................................................................................................7
31st December - New Year´s Eve. People welcome New Year. In Scotland it is called Hogmanay
which is more important than Christmas.
HISTORY...........................................................................................................................................8
th
Flags...................................................................................................................................................7
National anthem.................................................................................................................................7
Early invasions...................................................................................................................................8
11th - 15th centuries...........................................................................................................................8
16th century - The Tudors .................................................................................................................8
17th century – The Civil War.............................................................................................................9
18th and 19th centuries – The Industrial Revolution and the growth of the British Empire...............9
20th century........................................................................................................................................9
POLITICAL SYSTEM.....................................................................................................................10
The Monarch....................................................................................................................................10
The Parliament.................................................................................................................................10
The Government...............................................................................................................................11
General election, political parties.....................................................................................................11
PLACES OF INTEREST..................................................................................................................11
London.............................................................................................................................................11
England............................................................................................................................................13
Wales................................................................................................................................................14
Scotland............................................................................................................................................14
EDUCATION...................................................................................................................................14
HOUSING........................................................................................................................................15
FOOD...............................................................................................................................................16
SPORTS...........................................................................................................................................17
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IMPORTANT DAYS IN THE BRITISH YEAR..............................................................................17
FOOD
Lunch is between 12 and 1 o´clock. It is a light meal – sandwiches, fish and chips, crisps, fruit and
something to drink.
Afternoon tea is a special English tradition. They have tea with milk, coffee, biscuits, cakes or
scones.
Dinner is the main meal of the day. It consists of the starter (soup, salad), the main meal (some
meat, vegetables) and the dessert (sundae, pancake, cake).
Christmas menu comprises roast turkey, mashed or baked potatoes, cranberry sauce, vegetables,
mince pies and Christmas pudding.
SPORTS
The British Isles are home of many modern sports. The rules for many games were written here,
especially at public schools, e.g. Rugby. The most popular spectator sport is football. Some of the
richest and most successful clubs of the world come from England (Manchester United, Chelsea,
Arsenal). Cricket is still the national sport because it is quiet and reminds of peaceful country life.
Other popular sports are rugby (it is the most popular sport in Wales) and horse racing. A rowing
race between Oxford and Cambridge universities is a big event in the British sporting calendar. In
Scotland there some of the finest golf courses in the world. And this sport is probably of Scottish
origin.
IMPORTANT DAYS IN THE BRITISH YEAR
1st January – titles and decorations are conferred by the Queen.
14th February – St. Valentine´s Day
1st March – St. David´s Day, the patron saint of Wales.
17th March – St. Patrick´s Day, the patron saint of Ireland. It is celebrated not only in Ireland but all
over the world , especially in the USA where many people have got Irish roots.
Easter – people welcome spring and Christians remember the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ
(Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Easter Monday). Children look for eggs which were hidden by their
parents in the garden or the house. They prefer chocolate eggs.
23rd April – St. George´s Day, the patron saint of England
Last Monday in May – Spring Bank Holiday, it is a public holiday, people do not go to work, banks
and shops are closed.
Saturday after 9th June – the Queen´s Official Birthday
Last Monday in August - Summer Bank Holiday
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HOUSING
GEOGRAPHY
Semidetached – it has got one common wall with
another house. It also has got two storeys, a garden
and a garage. It is located nearer the center than the
detached house.
GEOGRAPHY
Semidetached house
Terraced – it is joined to other houses from both
sides. It has got 2 storeys, but it is smaller than above
mentioned houses. It can be found near the center or
in the center.
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is situated on
the British Isles. They are a group of about 5 000 islands. The largest of
them are Great Britain and Ireland. From the others which surround the
island of Great Britain we can mention the Shetlands and the Orkneys in
the north, the Hebrides in the north west, the Isle of Man in the Irish Sea,
the Isle of Wight, and the Channel Islands in the south. The coast is
washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea, the Irish Sea,
Ben Nevis
and the English Channel.
Mountains
Terraced house
Other types: bungalow (spacious, one-storey house), cottage (old house, but well kept, in the
village), council flat (cheap housing for those who cannot afford a house, but it is associated with
poverty and crime), mansion (large luxurious building owned by the very rich or aristocracy).
Inside the British home we can find a kitchen, a dining room and a sitting room with a fireplace
downstairs. Upstairs there is a bathroom and bedrooms. There might be more bathrooms. In the
bathroom there is usually a toilet and hot and cold waters are separated. A garden is an inseparable
part of the house. The back garden is larger with trees, shrubs or vegetable patches. The front garden
is small with a lawn and flowerbeds.
The island of Great Britain can be roughly divided into two zones – the highland zone in the north
and west and the lowland zone in the south and east. Scotland, Wales and the west of England are
mostly mountainous while the east and the south of England are flat or hilly areas. The highest point
in the UK is Ben Nevis in the Scottish Grampian Mountains (part of the Highlands) – 1 342 m. The
highest mountain ranges in England are the Pennines (called the backbone of England), the Cheviot
Hills and the Cumbrian Mountains. The highest peak in Wales is Snowdon in the Cambrian
Mountains – 1 085 m. Most of the Northern Ireland is situated in a valley.
Rivers and lakes
The longest rivers in the UK are the Severn and the Thames. The
most important river in Scotland is the Clyde. The British Isles
can be proud of many beautiful lakes. The most famous of them is
of course Loch Ness in Scotland. The largest Scottish
(and British) lake is Loch Lomond. Tourists in England love
visiting the Lake District in the northwest and there they can see
for example Lake Windermere. But the largest lake in the UK is in
the Northern Ireland – Lough Neagh – 396 sq km.
Loch Lomond
FOOD
British cooking has got a reputation for overcooked vegetables and unhealthy fried foods. This
situation has improved in recent years because foreign foods have become popular, especially from
India and southern Europe. Perhaps the most famous British specialties are roast beef with
Yorkshire pudding, shepherd´s pie, fish and chips, steak and kidney pie.
Climate
The British Isles have got a mild climate throughout the year. The Gulf Stream brings warm water
and southwesterly winds bring rains and moderate the temperatures. The result is that the winters in
the UK are not very cold and the summers are not very hot. The weather is changeable and it often
rains.
Traditional English breakfast consists of fried bacon, eggs, sausage, tomatoes and toasts. But only
few people have got enough time for such big meal in the morning rush. So they usually have
cereals (cornflakes) or toast with marmalade. They drink tea with milk or coffee.
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5
GEOGRAPHY
EDUCATION
Population
Compulsory education starts at the age of 5 (4 in Northern Ireland) and finishes at the age of 16.
Mostly at 11 pupils move to secondary education. There are various types of secondary schools:
most common for 90 % of pupils are comprehensive schools; they take students of all abilities.
Then there are grammar schools; they prepare students for university studies. Most of these two
types are state schools. The most famous British schools are public schools (or independent
schools), e.g. Eton, Harrow, Rugby. They are private schools. Only 7 % of students attend them.
They are boarding schools which means that students study and live there (they go to school on
Saturday). These schools are very expensive. In the past they were single-sex, nowadays most of
them are mixed. Pupils and students in all types of schools wear uniforms. At the age of 16 students
take GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) tests. Then they decide whether they will
stay or leave school. If they leave, they find low-level jobs. If they stay, the prepare for A-level
(Advanced level) tests which are taken at the age of 18. The results are very important for their
future university studies. They usually take 3 A-levels. Students are marked with letters, not
numbers (A - D are passing grades).
The United Kingdom has got a population of over 60 million. It is a diverse population, mixed
ethnically and religiously as well. Over 90 % of the people are white. There are 50 million of the
English, 5 million of the Scottish, and 3 million of the Welsh. The people of the Northern Ireland
are the Irish and the Ulster (Irish Protestants), there are 1.5 million of them.
Since the WW II many immigrants have arrived in the UK. They have been coming mostly from
India, Pakistan, China, Africa, and the Caribbean. Together they make up more than 3 % of the
whole population. These minorities live mostly in big cosmopolitan cities like London or
Birmingham.
The capital cities of the four countries within the UK are: London (England and the UK too),
Edinburgh (Scotland), Cardiff (Wales), and Belfast (Northern Ireland). The biggest cities are
London (over 7 million), Birmingham (1 million), Leeds (700 000), Glasgow (600 000), Sheffield
(500 000), Newcastle (500 000), Manchester (400 000), Liverpool (400 000).
ECONOMY AND MINERAL RESOURCES
Britain was the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution. In the 19th century Britain had the strongest
economy in the world. The traditional industries included coal and iron mining, shipbuilding, iron
and steel industries, textile industry. In the second half of the 20th century these traditional industries
lost their importance and declined. Now most people (75 %) work in services, like finance,
retailing, insurance, tourism, transport and education. The most important manufacturing industries
are oil mining, electronics, and chemicals.
There about 90 universities in th UK. The oldest type is Oxbridge (Oxford
and Cambridge). They consist of
colleges. Then there are redbrick
universities built in 19th century. And finally modern universities of 20th
century. Students are accepted on the basis of their A-level results, there are
no entrance exams, except the studies of medicine and architecture. Students
who study for degrees are called undergraduates. The degrees are: Bachelor
(B.A. - Bachelor of Arts; B.Sc. - Bachelor of Science; M.B. - Bachelor of Cambridge University
Medicine), Master (M.A.; M.Sc.), Doctor (Ph.D. - Doctor of Philosophy; M.D. - Doctor of
Medicine). Students who finish successfully are graduates. University studies are not free, the cost
is about 1 200 a year. But students can borrow money from a bank. Those who come from poor
families get some money from the state or have got their education free of charge.
Only 1 % of the workforce is employed in agriculture. The main products are wheat, barley,
potatoes, vegetables. British farming have been struck by the epidemics of foot-and-mouth disease.
Farmers keep mostly cattle, sheep and poultry. Fishing is also important. In recent years British
farms have been struck by foot-and-mouth disease.
The most important mineral resources are now natural gas and oil (North Sea).
HOUSING
The UK is a member of G 8 – group of most developed countries in the world.
The British prefer living in houses because they like privacy. About 80 % of them live in houses and
about 66 % own their houses. To buy a house they borrow money from the bank, it is called
a mortgage.
The most common types of houses:
Detached – is an independent large two-storey house
with two gardens and garages. It is located the
furthest from the center or in the country.
Detached house
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PLACES OF INTEREST
NATIONAL SYMBOLS
Liverpool is an important port, home of the Beatles and the famous
Steeplechase.
NATIONAL SYMBOLS
The Lake District is a national park with wonderful valleys and lakes. It
inspired romantic poets (they were called Lake Poets) Wordsworth and
Coleridge.
Flags
Hadrian´s Wall was built by the Romans as a protection against the Celts. Brighton Royal Pavilion
Now it is in ruins.
The flag of the UK is called Union Jack. It is a combination of flags of 3 countries: England,
Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Wales is not represented in the common flag.
Wales
Cardiff is the capital of the country, the home of a university and a large castle.
Union Jack
Welsh flag – red dragon on white
and green
In Caernarvon Castle the Princes of Wales are invested.
Saint David´s is the seat of the most famous cathedral in Wales named after the patron saint of the
country.
Scotland
Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland. On the hill above the city there is the oldest building – the
Castle from 12th century. The Palace of Holyroodhouse is the monarch´s official residence in
Scotland. The city organizes Festival of Drama and Music every year.
Loch Ness is the most famous lake not only because of the monster but also for its beautiful
location. Loch Lomond is the largest lake in Scotland.
English flag – red cross on white
cross
crown
Scottish flag – white cross on blue
Northern Irish flag - red
on white, star, hand,
EDUCATION
Emblems, patron saints and their days
Higher education (18 - )
University
GCSE - 16
Further education (16-18)
Secondary education (11/13-16)
A levels - 18
Comprehensive / Public / Grammar / Secondary Modern school
Emblem
Patron Saint
Celebrated on
England
red rose
George
23 April
Scotland
thistle
Andrew
30 November
Wales
leek, daffodil
David
1 March
Ireland
shamrock
Patrick
17 March
Elementary / Preparatory school
National anthem
Primary education (5 – 11/13)
Kindergarten
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The anthem of the UK is called God Save the Queen.
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HISTORY
PLACES OF INTEREST
HISTORY
The East End (not a borough) is traditionally thought of as the residential area of the poor working
class and immigrants and also the place of crime. The infamous criminal Jack the Ripper murdered
his victims here.
The Docklands (not a borough) is the area which is undergoing
big changes and is being turned from its original purpose to
a new financial and residential district. There stands the tallest
building in Britain – Canary Wharf Tower.
Early invasions
In the 1 millennium BC the British Isles were settled by the Celts who came from central Europe.
They were brave warriors and great craftsmen. They lived in tribes and their priests were called
druids.
st
The Celts were driven away to Scotland and Wales by another invaders – the Romans. They came in
AD 43. They established a lot of towns, e.g. London, built roads, baths etc. To protect themselves
from the Celts they constructed Hadrian´s Wall. The Romans left Britain in the 5th century when
their empire was collapsing.
They were followed by Germanic tribes – The Angles (they gave the country its name – England),
the Saxons, the Jutes, and later by the Vikings. Britain was not centralised; a lot of kingdoms existed
there.
The final invasion came in 1066. The Normans led by William of Normandy (William the
Conqueror) defeated the English king Harold at the battle of Hastings. The Normans brought feudal
system, central government, new laws, French culture and the French language (it was spoken at the
court).
11th - 15th centuries
Magna Carta – this important document was signed in 1215. It was an agreement between the king
and his nobles about sharing power. It was the beginning of the English Parliament.
Two famous universities were founded: Oxford (1167) and Cambridge (1229).
In the southern part of central London we
can find a large area full of theatres. The
reconstructed Globe Theatre (looks like
in Shakespeare´s days) stands there as well as The National Theatre, the
Old Vic (the oldest existing theatre in London) and the Royal Festival Hall
Old Vic
(concert hall).
Canary Wharf Tower
Some new attractions were built to celebrate the coming of the new millennium: London Eye (a big
wheel from which you can see much of the city), the Millennium Bridge (only for pedestrians), and
the Millennium Dome.
From the places outside central London we should mention Greenwich. There you can visit the Old
Royal Observatory with Greenwich Prime Meridian where the Greenwich Mean Time is calculated.
It is also a home for Cutty Sark, the famous clipper which carried tea from Asia. Another popular
sight is Windsor Castle belonging to the royal family but also open to public. It displays a great
collection of fine arts. Near Windsor there is Eton College, the famous public school.
England
In the 14th and 15th centuries England was involved in a long war (Hundred Years´ War) with its old
rival France. The English won a few battles but the final victory belonged to the French. England
lost all its French territories except Calais.
Stratford-upon-Avon is the birthplace of William Shakespeare. You can see
the house where he was born, visit the church where he is buried or enjoy
his plays in numerous theatres.
An internal English conflict evolved in the 15th century. It was called the Wars of the Roses because
the two opposing families, the Lancasters and the Yorks, both had roses in their emblems. The final
battle took place in 1485. The king Richard III was killed and Henry Tudor came to the throne.
Oxford and Cambridge are old university towns.
Canterbury and York are both medieval cities which can be proud of
beautiful cathedrals. They are both in Gothic style. These cities are also the
seats of archbishops.
Winchester is another city with a beautiful cathedral (the longest in Europe).
16th century - The Tudors
Henry VIII was a very ambitious king. He wanted to have absolute power and so he oppressed any
opposition. He had six wives and two of them he had executed. He could not have a son with his
first wife so he asked the Pope for a divorce, but the Pope disagreed. Henry broke the ties with the
Catholic Church and established the Church of England. In 1536 Wales was incorporated in the
union with England.
Shakespeare´s birthplace
Hastings is a place where tourists remember the most important battle in
English history.
Cornwall and Devon in the southwest are known for their beautiful landscape.
Stonehenge is a stone monument which is about 5 000 years old. It consists of 2 circles and
2 horseshoes. We still are not sure why it was built. It might have been an observatory or a ritual
place.
Bath is the home of Roman spas.
Brighton is a seaside resort and you can find there one of the finest sights in Britain – the Royal
Pavilion, built in oriental style.
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PLACES OF INTEREST
The City is the historical center of London. It is a financial heart with stock exchanges and banks.
The Tower of London is one the landmarks. It was built in 11th century by William the Conqueror. It
served as a royal home, prison, mint, and an execution site. Now it is
a museum with the Crown Jewels. It is “guarded” by the Yeomen
(Beefeaters) in Tudor uniforms. A legend says that when ravens that live in
the complex leave the Tower, the monarchy will collapse. The Tower
Bridge was built in the 19th century. It opens in the middle and ships can sail
under
it. St. Paul´s Cathedral was built by Christopher Wren after the Great
The Tower of London
Fire which destroyed much of the city in 1666. It is the largest church in
London. A lot of ceremonies have been held there, funerals and weddings (Prince Charles and
Princess Diana). The Whispering Gallery has got unique acoustics – you can hear what is whispered
against the wall on the other side.
The City of Westminster is a political and religious center of power.
Westminster Abbey, the most famous church in the country, has always been
connected with the monarchy. It is used for state occasions - coronations and
royal funerals. It was begun in 11th century and rebuilt in 13the century. It
also contains Coronation Chair and the Poet´s Corner where many of the
nation´s literary personalities are remembered or even buried. The Houses of
Parliament originated in 19th century. The most famous part of this large
complex is Big Ben, a clock tower with its world Buckingham Palace
known bell sound. 10 Downing Street is the official
residence of the Prime Minister. Buckingham Palace is a permanent
residence of the monarch. It was constructed in 18th century but the first
sovereign who lived there was Queen Victoria whose statue is in front of the
complex. It is partly open to public who can admire a lot of its 600 rooms
and large gardens. Changing of the Guard outside the Palace is a popular
Trafalgar Square
tourist attraction. Trafalgar Square is the most popular square in London. In
the center stands Nelson´s Column, remembering his victory over Napoleon at the battle of
Trafalgar. There is also the National Gallery with a lot paintings by famous artists of different
periods. The square is often a place of protests and demonstrations. Londoners welcome New Year here.
The West End (not a borough) is the center of shopping and entertainment. The busiest shopping
areas are Oxford Street and Regent Street with a lot of expensive and famous shops (the Selfridges,
Marks and Spencer). Piccadilly Circus is a busy traffic junction and a meeting place decorated with
a statue of Eros. Soho and Covent Garden are home of
many theatres, cinemas, cafés and bars. In this part of
London you can visit the British Museum. It contains
large displays of antiquities and important documents.
The British Library is also part of the museum. A large
complex of the University of London is situated in the
northern part of the West End as well as the most famous British Museum
of the city´s museums – Madame Tussaud´s with a
collection of wax figures of famous and infamous people. Nearby there is a sight commemorating
the most famous detective – Sherlock Holmes Museum in Baker Street. And we must not forget
London parks of which some are located in this area. Hyde Park is probably the most popular due to
its Speaker´s Corner, a place of free speech. Regent´s Park is very elegant with its gardens, lakes
and a zoo.
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Elizabeth I, one of Henry´s children, was a very successful sovereign.
The time when she ruled is called the Elizabethan Age. England
became a very strong and respected country. English ships defeated
Spanish Armada in 1588 and this victory enabled the start of the
British colonial power because Britain became the leading power on
the sea. Elizabeth died unmarried and without children.
17th century – The Civil War
The Stuarts, a Scottish dynasty, united the English and the Scottish
throne. Charles I had a lot of plans and ambitions. He needed money
for wars, but the Parliament did not want to give him any. This was
one of the causes of the later Civil War between the king and the Elizabeth I
Parliament. Finally, the Parliament won and the king was executed. Britain became republic for
eleven years under the leadership of Oliver Cromwell. Then the monarchy was restored by Charles II.
18th and 19th centuries – The Industrial Revolution and the growth of the British
Empire
In 1707 England and Scotland were formally united. In 1800 Ireland officially joined England,
Wales and Scotland and the formation of the UK was completed.
Britain took part in Napoleonic Wars. Admiral Nelson defeated
French ships at the battle of Trafalgar. Wellington defeated
Napoleon at the battle of Waterloo.
Britain was the cradle of modern industry. The revolution
changed the whole country and society. A lot of people left
villages and moved to cities to work, but they had to live in very
bad conditions. Children worked too. So this time brought
wealth but also caused a lot of social problems. Queen Victoria Steam Engine
ruled for 64 years (Victorian England).
The British Empire prospered and grew. Under the British control were Canada, India, New
Zealand, Australia, some parts of Africa and the Caribbean.
20th century
In the two world wars Britain was on the winning side. In WW I Britain formed Alliance with
France, Russia, and the USA (the same happened in WW II). Together they defeated their chief
enemy Germany.
When WW II broke out, Britain was the only state in Europe which resisted Germany. The Prime
Minister was Winston Churchill. In the memorable Battle of Britain Czech pilots took part as well.
After the war Britain became very close ally of the new superpower, the USA. Britain lost much of
its influence in the world, partly because of the fact that most of its colonies gained independence.
The UK became member of NATO and EU.
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POLITICAL SYSTEM
POLITICAL SYSTEM
The UK is a parliamentary monarchy. The head of state is a monarch with limited powers. The
system is divided into three branches: executive (government, the House of Commons), legislative
(the Parliament) and judicial (courts of different levels). The UK has not got constitution written as
a single document. It is a set of several documents (Magna Carta, Bill of Rights), laws, customs etc.
Electors
House of Commons
The House of Commons is more powerful than the House of Lords. Its members are elected all over
the UK.
The Government
It is formed after general election by the winning party. Ministers are appointed by the monarch on
the advice of the Prime Minister. The official seat of the PM is 10 Downing Street, London. The
government offices are in Whitehall, London.
Monarch
Parliament
Members of the House of Lords are not elected. They are hereditary peers, life peers (they are
appointed by the monarch for what they did for the country), lords spiritual (2 archbishops and
24 bishops), and law lords (they also form something like the highest court). The House of Lords is
undergoing some changes now.
House of Lords
General election, political parties
General election must be held every five years. Minimum voting age is 18. Only the candidates who
win in their constituencies get the seats in the House of Commons. The main political parties are
Labour Party, Conservative Party and Liberal Democrats.
Government
PLACES OF INTEREST
The Monarch
The sovereign (now Elizabeth II) reigns, but does not rule. She is the head
of state and the Commonwealth(group of about 50 countries and
dependencies – mostly former British colonies).Her role is mostly
representative and symbolic. She opens the Parliament, she appoints the
ministers and ambassadors, she is the commander-in-chief of the armed
forces, the head of the Church of England.
London
The surname of the royal family is Windsor. The Queens´s husband is Elizabeth II
Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. They have got four children: Charles, Anne,
Andrew, and Edward. Charles, Prince of Wales, is the heir to the throne. Their official seat is
Buckingham Palace in London.
The Parliament
It is the capital of the UK, the seat of
government, financial and cultural centre
of the country. The population is 7 million
(12 million with conurbation).In this large
city you can travel by underground, called
the tube (one of the oldest in the world),
black taxi or bus. There are several
airports, the largest of them is Heathrow.
London is divided into 33 political units –
32 boroughs and the City of London.
It consists of the Monarch, the House of Lords and the House of Commons.
The seat of the Parliament is in the Houses of Parliament, Westminster,
London. The main task of the Parliament is to make laws and check the
work of the government. In 1999 national parliaments in Scotland, Wales
and Northern Ireland were created. They have got limited powers.
The Houses of Parliament
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