Topics for discussion.
1. How does the role of political parties in Britain differ from their role in your country?
2. Why does Britain not have a written constitution? Does it need one?
3. Why does the British Prime Minister continue to 'advise' and 'request ' the Queen, when everybody knows that he or she is really telling her what to do?
4. The attitude of the British people towards their royal family has changed over the last quarter of the twentieth century. In what way has it changed, and what demonstrates that there has been a change? Why do you think this has happened?
5. Would you advise the British to get rid of their monarchy?
6. Do you have a monarch in your country, or someone who fulfils a similar role? If you do, how does their position compare with that of the British monarch? If you don't, do you think your country would benefit from having a figure head who could perform the functions of a monarch?
7. How does the relationship between central and local government in Britain compare with that in your country?
8. Local government in Britain is responsible for most of the things that affect people in everyday life. So why do you think so few people bother to vote in local elections in Britain?
9. Many of the members of the House of Lords are hereditary aristocrats. Why do the British put up with such an undemocratic element in their parliamentary system?
10.Britain has 'single-member constituencies'. This means that one MP alone represents one particular group of voters (everybody in his or her constituency). Is this a good system? Or is it better to have several MPs representing the same area? What are the advantages and disadvantages of the two systems?
11.Do you think that Britain should adopt the electoral system used in your country? Or perhaps you think that your country should adopt the system used in Britain? Or are the two different systems the right ones for the two different countries? Why?