01 The United Kingdom

01 The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

TERMINOGY OF THE ISLANDS

• British Isles = everything (Great Britain + Ireland + Man)

• Physical division

  • Ireland

  • Great Britain

• Political division

  • Ireland = Republic of Ireland (Dublin) + Northern Ireland

  • Great Britain = England + Wales + Scotland

• The United Kingdom

  • lies on both islands

  • Great Britain + Northern Ireland

CAPITALS

• England: London

• Wales: Cardiff

• Scotland: Edinburgh

• Northern Ireland: Belfast

SYMBOLS

• England

  • patron: St. George – St. George’s cross

  • national flower: rose

  • color: white

• Wales

  • patron: St. David – not in the flag – dragon in green and white field

  • national flower: leek and daffodil

  • color: red

• Scotland

  • patron: St. Andrew – St. Andrew’s cross

  • national flower: thistle

  • color: blue

• Ireland

  • patron: St. Patrick – St. Patrick’s cross

  • national flower: shamrock

  • color: green

OTHER SYMBOLS of The United Kingdom

• Anthem

  • God save the Queen

  • God save the King

• Capital: London

• Currency: british pound

• Official language: English – not written anywhere

• Recognized languages: regional languages of Scots, Scottish Gaelic, Welsh, Irish, Cornish

• doubledecker, post box, telephone box, Big Ben, tea, football, golf …

UK FLAG

• The Union Jack

  • Britain + Scotland + Northern Ireland

  • St. George’s cross + St. Andrew’s cross + St. Patrick’s cross

  • Original Union Flag: without Ireland, United in 1606 for use at sea

  • Current Union Flag: Britain United with Northern Ireland 1801 = new flag

POLITICAL MAP

• situated on archipelago British Isles = GB + Ireland

• only one land border – with Ireland

• maritime borders – Belgium, Denmark + Faroe Islands, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Norway

• linked with France via Channel Tunnel beneath English Channel

• there are 9 official regions (Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales, North East, North West, Yorkshire and the Humber, West Midlands, East Midlands, South West, South East, East of England, Greater London

• area of 242 900 km2 – half the size of Spain

• population 66 mil: 55.6 mil England, 5.4 mil Scotland, 3.1 mil Wales, 1.9 mil Northern Ireland

• life expectancy for both genders is 81.8 years

• religion: mostly Christianity (most common Anglicans, Catholics), Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, Judaism, Buddhism

GOVERNMENT

• unitary state

• Her Majesty’s Government

• led by Prime Minister (Boris Johnson) who selects other ministers, HEAD OF GOVERNMENT

• Cabinet = decision-making committee, PM + senior ministers

• residence of Parliament = Palace of Westminster

• Parliament = House of Commons & House of Lords

• House of Commons

  • the lower house

  • elected body consisting of 650 members of Parliament

• House of Lords = House of Peers

  • the upper house

  • membership by appointment or heredity or official function, 785 members

• the Government is dependent on Parliament

• election is held every five years for the House of Commons

• after election current monarch (Queen Elisabeth II) selects the PM the leader of the party most likely to command the confidence of the House of Commons