英美文化考试试题附答案

1.What are the differences in political system between the UK and the USA? Differences

F irst the political party system .Britain appears the earliest bourgeois party

in the world and it is the first country to establish and implement two-party system: two-party system combined with the British cabinet system. The cabinet consists of the political party which gains the majority at a general election. The largest opposition party is the House of Commons which can establish a shadow cabinet. The organization of British Party is strict and there are many party members. Britain's two political parties are two different political factions in the parliament at first. On the contrary, the internal organization of American political party is very loose. The ruling par ty masters executive power, but doesn’t master the legislative power. American's two political parties aim at supporting and opposing federalism. The party's main activity is the presidential campaign. The two-party system is stable. This kind of system will cause the United States parties which are in the middle of the internal organization is very weak.

S econd comparison is the Constitution. Up until now, t the Britain does not have

a single document called the Constitution but its constitutional provisions are scattered over various Acts of Parliament. The British constitution is the product of a long-term historical evolution. It is the sum total of the common law over the years. The basic principle of the British Constitution is obscure. However, the United States has a written constitution which is very difficult to change. The United States Constitution is the fundamental law of America, which establishes the legal basis for the American political system.The US Constitution has four major principles: separation of powers, federal system, doctrine of constitutional supremacy and equality. The two purposes of the United States constitution are limiting the power of the government and protecting people's freedom.

T hird is the legal system. American and British legislative systems have the same

principles in general Parliament is the center of the British political stage and is Britain's top legislative branch. The government is elected from the parliament and it should be responsible for the parliament. Parliament is a bicameral legislature. The House of Commons and the House of Lords constitute the British Parliament. In the meantime, the U.S. congress is the highest legislative branch, which consists of the senate and the House of Representatives. The main powers of congress are legislative power, supervisory power of judicial administration, examination and approval authority and amending power. In addition, congress can pass the resolution which does not need the president to sign.

2.What is the role of the Monarch in the UK?

Monarchy is the oldest form of government in the United Kingdom.