Great Britain

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GREAT BRITAIN.

Technically, Great Britain is one of the two main islands that make up the British Isles.
By this definition it includes the countries of England, Scotland, and Wales. Popularly, Great Britain is the shortened name for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. This includes England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. (See also British Isles; United Kingdom; England; Scotland; Wales; Ireland, Northern.)

BRITISH ISLES.

The British Isles lie off the northwestern coast of continental Europe. They include two main islands, Great Britain and Ireland; The Isle of Man; the Hebrides; the Orkney Islands; the Shetland Islands; and many smaller islands off their coasts. Home of four peoples--the English, Scots, Welsh, and Irish--they are divided into two independent nations, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland.
   The islands lie as far north as Labrador and Hudson Bay in northern Canada, but the climate is warmed somewhat by the Gulf Stream. The maritime winters are not usually severe, and the summer growing season is long enough to produce crops. In January the mean temperature is around 40o F (4o C), except in the mountainous portions. Few places have a mean July temperature of more than 60o F (16o C). The prevailing westerly winds from the Atlantic Ocean bring rainfall, which is heaviest on the west coasts, throughout the year. The rain produces dense forests, heathlands, moorlands, and peat bogs over much of the islands.
   The favorable climate has enabled the islands to support a population that has for centuries been very large for their land area and latitude. Ample supplies of coal and iron in England, Scotland, and Wales aided the people in the 19th century to lead in developing steam power, factories, and transportation.
   The British Isles lie on the continental shelf of Europe, and once were connected to the continent. This is evident from the similarity in geologic structure between the islands and the nearby continent. The rocky headlands of Scotland, for example, resemble the Norwegian coast, and the plains of southeast England are like the Dutch and French lands that they face. Further evidence that the islands were part of the continent is the shallowness of the water between them and the mainland. The average depth in the English Channel varies from 150 to 400 feet (45 to 120 meters).
   Their island position allowed the people to share in great cultural advances that originated on the continent and eliminated the need for a strong central government that would have to act quickly against an invading army. Therefore a democratic government and traditions of individual freedom were fostered early. As islanders, the people also developed skills as seafarers, which enabled them to spread their power and influence throughout the world.

How the Islands Changed Through the Ages

Long ages of geologic upheaval were required to form the British Isles of today. Through millions of years the region rose and fell. Sometimes it sank beneath the sea, then it would be pushed up and form a peninsula of Europe.
   In the Precambrian (Archeozoic and Proterozoic) eras, the region was repeatedly disturbed by volcanic eruptions. Mountains formed and were worn down by long ages of erosion. About 570 million years ago when the Paleozoic era began, the entire region was beneath the ocean. Rocks formed in the early periods have persisted and now form the so-called foundations of the islands.
   The study of these earth foundations early in the 19th century helped in the development of modern geology. The first three Paleozoic periods--the Cambrian, Ordovician, and Silurian--are named after rock formations found in Wales. The next period, the Devonian, is named for formations found on the Devon coast of England.
   In early Paleozoic times the British Isles were part of a large, single landmass that included North America and Europe. Some scientists believe that the early ancestors of the modern horse, camel, and many other animals had evolved before the continents drifted apart. Then in the Silurian period the rock strata southeast of this landmass were crumpled into mountain ranges. These stretched from Ireland and Scotland into Scandinavia. During the Carboniferous period great rivers carried rocky debris down from these mountains to form a giant delta. Here conditions were suited to the growth of tree ferns and other tropical vegetation. Crustal erosion covered the organic residues with sand, and, as sandstone formed over them, they developed into the coal beds of the Midlands.
   As the Mesozoic era (Age of Reptiles) opened about 225 million years ago, northwest Europe and the British Isles were desert land with some salty lakes. The level of the oceans eventually rose and the lakes gave way to seas. In one sea, beds of iron ore were deposited. Then the seas rose even higher, turning the region into low scattered isles. Vast beds of chalk then were formed.
   The Cenozoic (Modern) era began more than 65 million years ago. The oceans receded, and the scattered isles became larger. Volcanoes erupted in Ireland and Scotland. Lava flows built a plateau that reached at least as far as Iceland and maintained the land connection with North America. When the lava flows subsided, Europe and North America finally drifted permanently apart.
   Later, during the Pleistocene (Ice Age), some 2 1/2 million years ago, ice periodically covered much of the land. At least four successive sheets of glaciers spread over all of Ireland and Great Britain except that part of England south of the Thames-Severn valley. The ice scraped the soil from the highlands, leaving them of little use for agriculture. As the glaciers receded, they left behind lowland soil deposits that became some of Britain's most fertile land.
   Britain was still a peninsula of Europe until about 10,000 years ago when the North Sea joined the English Channel at the Strait of Dover. The British Isles now cover an area of 121,360 square miles (314,320 square kilometers) and are bounded by the English Channel, the Strait of Dover, the North Sea, and the Atlantic Ocean. (See also United Kingdom; Ireland; Ireland, Northern; Scotland; Wales.)

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the political union of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. It is not a federation but a unitary state, and its inhabitants elect members to represent them in a parliament that meets in London. Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, however, retain a degree of autonomy in running some of their own affairs.

History

The first union of separate states in the British Isles took place in 1301, when Wales was joined to England by the creation of the title of prince of Wales for the son of Edward I of England. Wales was not officially incorporated with England, however, until 1536. In 1603 James VI of Scotland became king of England (as James I), uniting Scotland and England under one ruler and creating the so-called Union of the Crowns. Despite this unification, Scotland retained its own parliament until 1707, when the parliaments of the two states were formally united.
   Although this union was opposed by many Scots, it ultimately gave them entry to the larger world of English politics and business. The name Great Britain was officially adopted for this union; when Ireland was added to Great Britain by the Act of Union of 1801, the title United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was introduced.
   As a result of Irish demands for independence, the Irish Free State was declared in 1922. The six northern counties of Ireland, which had a predominantly Protestant population, remained as part of the United Kingdom but were officially named Northern Ireland. The present title for the union of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland--the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland--dates from 1927. Northern Ireland sent representatives to the London Parliament but had its own legislature and executive to deal with domestic matters. In 1972, because of continuing political and religious problems (between the Roman Catholics and the Protestants) in Northern Ireland, the London Parliament suspended the Northern Ireland Parliament. The London Parliament then established its own direct control over this province.
   In 1885 a secretary of state was appointed to look after Scottish affairs. There are separate departments in Scotland for home affairs, health, agriculture, fisheries, education, and economic development. The Scottish legal system is also separate from the English system.
   In 1964 a Welsh Office was established to oversee matters of interest to Wales. The office is headed by a secretary of state for Wales.
   The Channel Islands and the Isle of Man do not belong to the United Kingdom. They are direct dependencies of the Crown, or sovereign, and have their own legislative and taxation systems. (For a general history, see England, "History.")

Constitution

The United Kingdom does not have a written constitution like that of the United States. The British constitution is formed partly by statutes, or legislative enactments of Parliament; partly by common law, based on decisions of courts of law; and partly by practices and precepts, which are known as conventions. These conventions are not part of the law of the country but are nevertheless necessary for running the machinery of government. Because the constitution is not written, it can be adapted as necessary either by an act of Parliament or by the general acceptance of a new convention.
There are three organs of government in the constitution: the legislature, the executive, and the judiciary. The legislature consists of Parliament, which is the supreme authority in the country. The executive consists of the Cabinet members and other ministers who make and direct the policy of the country, along with government departments and local authorities. The judiciary determines common law and also interprets statutes.

The Crown

The Crown is the supreme power in the legislature, the executive, and the judiciary. The sovereign is also the head of the established Church of England and is commander in chief of the armed forces. In practice, however, the present queen, Elizabeth II, acts only on the advice of her ministers and cannot reject or ignore their advice.
   These restrictions on the powers of the sovereign are the result of several centuries of confrontation and interaction between the sovereign and Parliament. In effect the United Kingdom is governed by her majesty's government in the queen's name.
   The queen still has several significant functions. She calls and dissolves Parliament, and she opens a new session with a speech from the throne. This speech is not written by her, however, but by the government in power, and it outlines the government's policy for the forthcoming session of Parliament. Similarly, the queen confers honors--in the form of peerages, knighthoods, and decorations--that are given on the advice of the government and that often reward people for services to the political party in power. She can award some honors herself, however--such as the Order of the Garter. She appoints judges, army officers, diplomats, and officials of the Church of England also on advice.
   Although the queen has in fact little authority of her own, she is kept informed of events and is sometimes consulted by the government in power. The queen has the advice of a Privy Council, which consists of ministers of the government and other persons recommended by the government in power. In the event of an inconclusive national election, the queen may be required to choose a new prime minister.
   In addition to her other functions the queen is head of the Commonwealth, which consists of a number of states that formerly belonged to the British Empire. The Commonwealth includes such countries as Australia, Canada, and New Zealand and a number of smaller states such as Jamaica, the Bahamas, and Fiji. The queen is represented in these countries by governors-general, who are not members of the United Kingdom government and who act independent of it. The United Kingdom government cannot interfere in the affairs of a Commonwealth country, except in the case of such dependencies as the Falkland Islands and Gibraltar, which have not achieved complete independence from the United Kingdom.
   The history of the monarchy plays a large part in the history of the British Isles. The present sovereign is a descendant of Sophia--the electress of Hanover--whose son came to the British throne in 1714 as George I. Sophia was the nearest Protestant descendant of James I, her grandfather. The Act of Settlement in 1701 provided for the accession to the throne of Sophia and her heirs in order to ensure a Protestant monarchy. By this act all sovereigns must be members of the Church of England. The act also strictly limited the role of the sovereign in the government of the country. In 1917 the royal family dropped their German titles and took the name of the House of Windsor because of the unpopularity of everything German during World War I.
   The queen and her family members are largely supported by the state. Parliament annually approves allowances for members of the royal family. The queen's private expenditures come partly from her own funds and partly from an inheritance known as the Duchy of Lancaster. The prince of Wales receives revenues from another estate--the Duchy of Cornwall.

Parliament

In theory the queen functions as the supreme legislative authority through Parliament. In practice, however, the queen and Parliament rarely come together, except at the openings of Parliament sessions. Parliament consists of two houses--the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
The House of Commons consists of 650 members--523 from England, 72 from Scotland, 38 from Wales, and 17 from Northern Ireland. The United Kingdom is divided into a number of constituencies, each of which returns one member to Parliament. All persons over the age of 18 are eligible to vote for a member from their local constituency. The number and size of constituencies occasionally change with variations in population. Members receive a salary and hold their seats for the duration of a Parliament. A general election for all members must be held at least every five years but may be called at any time within that period. For example, a government may face a general election if it is defeated in some major issue by a vote in Parliament.
   The speaker of the House of Commons is elected by the members and acts as the president of the House. Other elected and appointed officials look after the running of the House. Members of Parliament are controlled by their party whips, who round up members before a vote and organize debates in the Commons.
   Members of the House of Commons belong to one of the British political parties. The party that wins the majority of parliamentary seats forms a government with the party leader as prime minister. Of the remaining parties, the one with the largest number of seats becomes the official opposition.
   The party in power in the early 1990s was the Conservative party, led by John Major, who was selected in November 1990 to replace Margaret Thatcher as prime minister. Thatcher was the longest continuously serving prime minister in the 20th century. The Conservatives held power since 1979.
   The Labour party was the largest minority party in the government of the late 1980s. Its leader was Neil Kinnock. The Labour party advocates socialism and supports the nationalization of basic industries and services. In general it opposes the power of big business. Many of its members would like to abolish the House of Lords and the annual awards of titles and honors. The party supports higher rates of unemployment compensation, old-age pensions, and other forms of welfare. It was responsible for the establishment in 1948 of the United Kingdom's free medical service, known as the National Health Service. The party gains much of its support from the trade unions, but it has been troubled with internal divisions and decreasing numbers of trade-union members. It lost many votes in the 1987 election because of its controversial defense policy, which called for partial British unilateral disarmament. The main strongholds of Labour support are in the industrial north of England, in Scotland, and in southern Wales.
   The Social Democratic party (SDP) is an offshoot of the Labour party. Its members regard Labour and its policies as too left-wing. The SDP allied with the Liberal party in order to attract voters in the 1987 elections but gained fewer votes than it had hoped.
   There are small nationalist parties in Scotland and Wales--the Scottish National party and the Welsh Nationalist party, Plaid Cymru. In Northern Ireland there are several parties, including the Ulster Unionist party, the Ulster Democratic Unionist party, and the Social Democratic and Labour party. There are also some small far-left parties in Britain--such as the Communist party, the Socialist Workers' party, and the Workers' Revolutionary party--which play no real role in present-day politics.
The House of Lords has more than 1,100 members. These include hereditary peers, or nobles by inheritance or birth; life peers, or individuals with nonhereditary titles conferred by the Crown; law lords; and archbishops and senior bishops of the Church of England. All hereditary peers may attend sessions, but only those Irish peers who also hold an English or Scottish peerage may attend. Peers receive no salary. In practice no more than about 380 peers regularly attend sessions. In the House of Lords the lord chancellor fulfills the same role as does the speaker in the Commons.
The functions of Parliament are to make laws, to appropriate money for various state purposes, and to provide a forum for debate. Debates in the House of Commons are controlled by the speaker.
   Legislation is initiated by the introduction of bills in either house. In general most bills are introduced by the government, though members may introduce their own bills. Finance bills can only be introduced in the Commons. A bill is given three readings in the house in which it is introduced; if passed, it is sent to the other house, where it is submitted to the same procedure. If a bill is passed by both houses, it becomes law. In theory the sovereign has a right to veto a bill, but this has not occurred since the 18th century. Likewise the House of Lords has little power to stop or delay bills that have been passed by the Commons. It is hoped that the members of the Lords--often senior political figures who have been knighted for their services--will use their experience to suggest amendments to a bill. The Lords cannot interfere with a money bill or with a bill that has been passed by the Commons in two consecutive sessions.
   There has been talk of abolishing the House of Lords because of its limited role and because its members are not elected and represent, at least in part, an aristocracy that no longer plays a major role in British life. No action has been taken, however, except to limit further the power of the Lords.
   There are a number of committees appointed by the House of Commons to conduct various kinds of business. Some of these committees are permanent; others--the select committees--are appointed temporarily to examine special matters.

The Government

The head of the government is the prime minister. (The title of prime minister dates back to the 18th century.) The prime minister is the leader of the majority party in Parliament and has the power to appoint and dismiss ministers. The prime minister is the main representative of the government and recommends the appointment of some senior judges and of senior clergy of the Church of England. The prime minister also draws up the annual list of honors, which are usually awarded on New Year's Day.
   The prime minister selects a Cabinet of ministers. The Cabinet develops the government's policies, which are presented as proposed legislation to Parliament, and exercises control over government departments. Meetings of the Cabinet are held in private, and strict secrecy is maintained. Some matters are discussed by Cabinet committees, which consist of the ministers involved. The Cabinet Office handles the records of Cabinet meetings and provides information to ministers. To maintain stability the Cabinet must act as a collective group and issue unanimous statements and policies. If a minister does not agree with Cabinet policies, that minister must resign.
   Ministers head government departments and are responsible for the work of those departments. The ministers must be prepared to answer questions about their departments in the House of Commons. Ministers who sit in the House of Lords have a parliamentary secretary who answers questions raised in the Commons. This system of parliamentary control over government departments discourages inefficiency and irresponsibility.
   There are many government departments of various sizes and complexity. Major departments include the Treasury, which handles the country's finances; the Ministry of Defence; the Ministry of Health, which operates the National Health Service; the Home Office, which controls the police and other law-and-order institutions; the Foreign Office; and the Post Office. There are several Scottish and Northern Irish departments. A Welsh Department of the Ministry of Education deals with special aspects of Welsh education. Most of the work of government departments is carried out by members of the civil service. Because none of the positions held by civil servants is an elective or political appointment, a change in government does not affect a department's staff.

Local Government

Local government is carried out primarily by locally elected councils. There are numerous administrative divisions, each with its own council. The largest division is the county; it has a county council. There are also borough councils, rural district and urban district councils, district town councils (in Scotland), and parish councils. These councils are responsible for providing such services as garbage disposal, water supplies, sewerage, and street cleaning. They also administer the police and fire services as well as education, certain health services, and housing.
In 1974 seven metropolitan district councils were established for certain large cities and their regions, including London, Manchester, and Liverpool. These councils were abolished in 1980, and their work was passed to borough and district councils and to joint authorities. Members of councils are elected and generally belong to one of the major political parties. Councils in some of the large cities consist predominantly of Labour members. The controversial actions of some left-wing councils in London and Liverpool led to the Conservative government's breakup of the metropolitan councils in order to remove their influence.
Income for the operation of local government comes partly from the national government and partly from property taxes, or domestic rates. The introduction of the unpopular community charge, or poll tax, to replace the property taxes--in Scotland in 1989 and in England and Wales in 1990--was largely blamed for the sudden resignation of Prime Minister Thatcher. The government was forced to revise its tax program.

The Judiciary

The judiciary is independent of the legislature and the executive. No one--not even the sovereign--can control or influence the courts' operations or decisions. The judicial system is administered by the lord chancellor (who is a government minister) and by the home secretary. The lord chancellor recommends candidates for various judicial appointments.
   The legal system of Scotland differs in many ways from that of England and Wales; however, both systems have civil and criminal divisions, and both use the jury system for trying persons accused of serious crimes. The legal system of Northern Ireland is similar to that of England and Wales.
   In England and Wales the courts most often used for civil cases are the county courts. Cases that involve large sums of money, however, are heard in one of the divisions of the High Court of Justice. There is a Court of Appeal, from which a further appeal is possible to the House of Lords, the United Kingdom's Supreme Court of Appeal for civil cases.
   Criminal cases involving minor offenses may be tried without a jury in magistrate's courts. Other cases may be heard in Courts of Assize. These courts are served by judges who travel around county towns or by so-called Courts of Quarter Sessions, which convene four times a year in a number of counties and boroughs. In London the Central Criminal Court handles cases for the capital city and its surrounding districts. A Court of Criminal Appeal also exists.
   In Scotland most civil cases are heard in sheriff courts, which are similar to English county courts. Minor civil matters are often tried by a justice of the peace. The supreme civil court is the Court of Session, from which appeals may be made to the House of Lords. Minor criminal cases are handled by the sheriff courts, with or without a jury. More serious criminal cases go to the High Court of Judiciary in Edinburgh.

United Kingdom Fact Summary

Official Name. United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Capital. London, England. Coat of Arms. Quartered shield with England represented by two of the quarters and Scotland and Ireland each represented by one quarter; supported by a crowned golden lion for England and a unicorn for Scotland; a garter encircles the shield. The Royal motto, Dieu et mon droit is beneath the arms. Took present form in 1837. Anthem. 'God Save the King (Queen)'.

NATURAL FEATURES

Coastline. Total--5,130 miles (8,257 kilometers); England and Wales--2,410 miles (3,880 kilometers); Scotland--2,500 miles (4,023 kilometers); Northern Ireland--220 miles (354 kilometers). Natural Regions. Scottish Highlands, Lowlands, and Uplands; Lake District; Antrim Plateau; Lleyn Peninsula; Gower Peninsula. Major Ranges. Brecon Beacons, Cambrian Mountains, Grampian Mountains, Mourne Mountains, Pennines, Sperrin Mountains. Notable Peaks. Ben Nevis, 4,406 feet (1,343 meters); Snowdon, 3,560 feet (1,085 meters); Scafell Pike, 3,210 feet (978 meters); Ben Lomond, 3,192 feet (973 meters); Cader Idris, 2,927 feet (892 meters); Slieve Donard, 2,796 feet (852 meters); Plynlimon, 2,468 feet (752 meters). Major Rivers. Bann, Dee, Erne, Severn, Teifi, Thames, Towy, Trent, Tweed, Usk, Wye. Major Lakes. Bala, Lomond, Lower Lough Erne, Neagh, Upper Lough Erne, Vyrnwy, Windermere. Climate. Northern Ireland--temperate, maritime; cool and humid conditions. England--rainy and temperate; mild winters; cool summers. Scotland--cool, rainy, windy; winds from the southwest make the climate warmer than it would otherwise be so far north; autumn and winter are the wettest seasons; west coast receives the most rainfall. Wales--influenced by mountains and nearness to the sea; mild winters; cool summers; west coast has high rainfall; higher mountain regions can have cold winters with heavy snow.

THE PEOPLE

Population (1996 estimate). 58,784,000; 623.7 persons per square mile (240.8 persons per square kilometer); 89.5 percent urban, 10.5 percent rural (1995 estimate). Vital Statistics (rate per 1,000 population). Births--12.9; deaths-- 10.7; marriages--5.9. Life Expectancy (at birth). Males--74.4 years; females--79.7 years. Major Language. English (official). Ethnic Groups. white, Asian Indian, West Indian, Pakistani, African, Chinese, Bangladeshi, Arab. Major Religion. Protestantism.

MAJOR CITIES (1994 estimate)

London, England (Greater London, 6,967,500). Capital of the United Kingdom; international financial center; huge port; Buckingham Palace; Tower of London; Westminster Abbey; St. Paul's Cathedral; Houses of Parliament; National Gallery; British Museum (see London). Birmingham, England (1,008,400). Industrial center; metal manufacturing; machinery; engines; iron roofs; girders; railway cars; automobiles; Birmingham Repertory Theater; City Art Gallery; University of Birmingham (see Birmingham, England). Leeds, England (724,400). Wool cloth; iron; boots; shoes; felt; ready-made clothing; stock and corn exchanges; music festivals; Civic Theater; City Museum; City Art Gallery; University of Leeds (see Leeds). Glasgow, Scotland (680,000). Largest city in Scotland; center for commerce and industry; chief port city of western Scotland; textiles; food and beverages; tobacco; chemicals; engineering; printing; Kelvingrove Art Galleries and Museum; Hunterian Museum; Glasgow School of Art; University of Glasgow (see Glasgow). Sheffield, England (530,100). Fine steel cutlery; steel; plated ware; iron and brass goods; clothing; canned foods; paint and varnish; chemicals; shopping and cultural center; Sheffield University (see Sheffield). Bradford, England (481,700). Textile and clothing industries; Cartwright Memorial Hall; University of Bradford; Bolling Hall (see Bradford). Liverpool, England (474,000). Large port in industrial region; textiles; machinery; chemicals; flour milling; agriculture; shipbuilding and repair; engineering works; Walker Art Gallery; University of Liverpool (see Liverpool). Edinburgh, Scotland (443,600). Capital of Scotland; center of medicine, law, banking, insurance, tourism; Edinburgh Castle; National Gallery; Royal Scottish Academy; University of Edinburgh (see Edinburgh). Manchester, England (431,100). A leading seaport and industrial area of England; engineering; printing; electrical products; machine tools; chemicals; financial and banking center; railway hub; Manchester University (see Manchester, England). Bristol, England (399,200). Port city; industrial and educational center; sugar refining; tobacco processing; cocoa and chocolate making; wine bottling; glass, porcelain, and pottery making; aircraft design and construction; University of Bristol (see Bristol).

ECONOMY

Chief Agricultural Products. Crops--wheat, sugar beets, barley, potatoes, rapeseed, cabbage, carrots, oats. Livestock--sheep, cattle, pigs. Chief Mined Products. Limestone, iron, tin, lead, coal, crude petroleum, natural gas. Chief Manufactured Products. Food and beverages, paper, chemicals and chemical products, metals and metal products, transport equipment, machinery and equipment, textiles and leather products. Chief Imports. Metallic ores, except iron ore; food. Chief Exports. China, automobiles and other vehicles, woolen goods, steel, electrical and mechanical machinery, tractors, scientific instruments, chemicals, petroleum. Chief Trading Partners. United States, Germany, France, The Netherlands. Monetary Unit. 1 pound sterling = 100 new pence.

EDUCATION

Schools. Free, compulsory education for children ages 11 to 16. Literacy. Virtually 100 percent of population. Leading Universities. Cambridge University, Cambridge; Open University, Milton Keynes; Oxford University, Oxford; University of Birmingham; University of Edinburgh; University of Glasgow; University of Leeds; University of Liverpool; University of London; Victoria University of Manchester. Notable Libraries. Birmingham Public Libraries, Birmingham; British Library, Guildhall Library, Westminster City Libraries, London; Cambridge University Library, Cambridge; Glasgow District Libraries, Glasgow; Leeds City Libraries, Leeds; National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh; National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth; Oxford University Library, Oxford. Notable Museums and Art Galleries. British Museum, National Gallery, Natural History Museum, Science Museum, Tate Gallery, Victoria and Albert Museum, London; City Art Gallery, Birmingham; City Art Gallery, City Museum, Leeds; Hunterian Museum, Kelvingrove Art Galleries and Museum, Glasgow; National Gallery, Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh; Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool.

GOVERNMENT

Form of Government. Constitutional monarchy. Constitution. Partly unwritten and wholly flexible. Chief of State. Sovereign; inheritance of the Crown is governed by an order of succession under which the sovereign's sons and their descendants have precedence over the daughters. Head of Government. Prime minister; appointed by the sovereign. Cabinet. Consists of ministers, selected by the prime minister. Legislature. Parliament, composed of House of Lords and House of Commons; annual sessions. Lords--1,194 members, seats are inherited and appointed. Commons--651 elected members, term, 5 years. Judiciary. Each country has its own legal system; courts include House of Lords, High Court of Justice, Court of Appeal, Courts of Assize, Courts of Quarter Sessions, Central Criminal Court, Court of Criminal Appeal, sheriff courts, Court of Session, High Court of Judiciary. Political Divisions. England--39 nonmetropolitan counties; Northern Ireland--26 districts; Scotland--9 regions; Wales--8 counties. Voting Qualification. Age 18.

PLACES OF INTEREST

Bath, England. Resort city on the River Avon; one of the most elegant and architecturally distinguished of British cities; Georgian buildings; 16th-century abbey church; hot mineral springs. Belfast, Northern Ireland. Capital of Northern Ireland; port city; shopping, retail, educational, commercial, entertainment, and service center for Northern Ireland (see Belfast). Caernarfon, Wales. In Gwynedd County; castle has been the site, since 1911, of the investiture of the prince of Wales. Channel Islands. In English Channel off the northwest coast of France; famous for breeds of cattle that originated on them (see Channel Islands). Cornwall. County in southwestern England jutting into the Atlantic Ocean; popular resort area; contains Land's End, the traditional southwestern extreme of Great Britain. Fens. Reclaimed marshland area of about 1,400 square miles (3,600 square kilometers) in eastern England; rivers and drainage channels throughout the region; rich agricultural area; nature reserves. Giant's Causeway. Natural formation on the northern coast of Northern Ireland; thousands of columns of basalt rock. Lake District. In Cumbria County, England; scenic region and national park; mountains, lakes, valleys. Loch Lomond. On the southern edge of the Scottish Highlands; Scotland's largest lake; scenery ranges from rugged, glaciated mountains in the north to softer, well-wooded hills and islands in the south. Lough Neagh. In east-central Northern Ireland; largest lake in the British Isles; oldest recorded artifacts of humans in Ireland have been recovered from one of the lake's bays. Oxford, England. On the Thames River; home of Oxford University (see Oxford). Parliament Square. In London; site of the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey; the Parliament building has 1,100 rooms; the abbey, a Gothic church, is the site of the coronation of kings and queens. St. Andrews, Scotland. Home of the Royal and Ancient Club, the world's ultimate authority on golf, founded in 1754; Old Course is the most famous of the four main golf courses. Stonehenge. Prehistoric monument near Salisbury, England; circular setting of large standing stones surrounded by an earthwork; built about 1800-1400 BC; assumed to have been constructed as a place of worship; thought to have been a type of astronomical clock or calendar for predicting the seasons (see Stonehenge). Wight, Isle of . Tourist resort in the English Channel; known for its beauty and pleasant climate; golf, yachting (see Wight, Isle of). York Minster. In York, England; largest medieval church in England; built between the 13th and 15th centuries.
This article was contributed by Ian M. Matley, Professor of Geography, Michigan State University.

FURTHER RESOURCES FOR THE UNITED KINGDOM

Britain, an Official Handbook (Central Office of Information, annual). Evans, R.H. Government (Vista Books, 1964). Harvey, Jack and Bather, L. The British Constitution (St. Martin, 1964). Ingle, Stephen. The British Party System (Basil Blackwell, 1989). Whitaker's Almanack (Whitaker, annual). (See also bibliographies for England; Scotland; Wales.)

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