BRITISH AND AMERICAN LIFE AND INSTITUTIONS PRITISH AND AMERICAN HISTORY Explain the terms: the British Isles, the British Islands, Great Britain, the United Kingdom. Name the present-day political entities in the British Isles? Name three devolved parliamentary assemblies in the United Kingdom. What are the patron saints and official plant symbols of the four home nations of the United Kingdom. Describe the Royal Coat of Arms. Discuss the composition of the Union Jack. Name five sources of the British Constitution. Explain the differences between the statute and common law. Name five institutions headed by the Queen. Name five Queen s powers under the Royal Prerogative and their practical implementation. Discuss the present-day relations between the Queen and Parliament. Provide four examples of symbolic presence of the Monarchy in British public life. Name five members of the British Royal Family with their respective titles. What are the rules of succession to the British throne? What are the functions of the British Parliament? Characterize the position of the Speaker of the House of Commons. What is the present-day composition of the House of Lords? What are the powers of the House of Lords? What does the term first past the post mean in the context of UK general elections? Name four characteristics of the office of British PM. Name five members of the British Cabinet. Compare the traditional support of the main three political parties in the UK. Name four political parties in Northern Ireland (full names, please) What groups of UK citizens are not allowed to stand for Parliament in the UK? How many legal systems are there in the United Kingdom? What are they? What are the sources of the English legal system? Name three types of courts in the English and Scottish legal systems. Who are the Justices of the Peace? Explain the differences between a magistrates court and the Crown Court Name four powers of English solicitors. 1
Characterize the profession of barrister in England. Describe the structure of a police force in the UK Name three elements of British foreign policy after World War Two. Name four international conflicts involving Britain after WWII. Name five international organizations that Britain is a member of. What are the British Overseas Territories? Provide some characteristics. What are the major links between the UK and Commonwealth countries? Describe the role of the Queen as the Head of the Commonwealth. What are the Commonwealth realms? Give four examples. Define the concept of special relationship in British foreign policy. Why is Britain called a reluctant member of the European Union? What are the British state institutions responsible for social services? What are the three contributory benefits in the United Kingdom? How is the NHS financed? Name three natural resources in the United Kingdom. Where are the coal and oil reserves located in Britain? Name four functions of the Bank of England. Name four British commercial banks. Provide some characteristics of London merchant banks. Why is the Church of England an established church in the United Kingdom? List four links between the church and the state. Name three differences between the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church. What are the differences between the two strands of belief in the Church of England? What is the Anglican Communion? Name four Anglican Communion churches in the British Isles. Describe the administrative structure of the Church of Scotland. Name four Free Churches in Britain and briefly describe one of them. Describe the administrative structure of the Roman Catholic Church in the United Kingdom. What are the major non-christian churches in Britain. Provide four characteristics of British national newspapers. What are the main differences between tabloid, quality and Sunday papers in the United Kingdom? Name five British tabloids/broadsheets/sundays. What is the Press Complaints Commission? 2
Provide five major characteristics of the BBC? What are the five main free-to-air terrestrial TV channels in the UK? What are the BBC World Service and Reuters? Name five regional newspapers in the United Kingdom? Discuss the impact of the Butler Act of 1944 on the education system in Britain. What are types of state secondary schools England? Name four features of the school system in Northern Ireland. List five characteristics of English public schools. Name three famous English public schools. What are the four types of exams in the English state school system? What are the types of universities in the United Kingdom? Discuss the present-day territorial division of the United States. Name four territorial acquisitions of the United States until 1848. What is the status of Washington D.C.? Describe the obverse of the Great Seal of the United States. What is the historical background to the anthem of the United States? Define the following terms: Star-Spangled Banner, Stars and Stripes, Hail to the Chief, In God We Trust, E Pluribus Unum, Uncle Sam, Columbia? Discuss the symbolism of the Statue of Liberty. Discuss the symbolism of the Mount Rushmore National Monument. Define American federalism. Name four powers of the U.S. federal government. Describe the checks and balances system between the three branches of the U.S. federal government. What political institutions are described in the first three Articles of the U.S. Constitution? What is the American Bill of Rights? Describe the amending procedure of the U.S. Constitution. Name five presidential powers. Explain the following terms: judicial review, double jeopardy, filibuster, cloture, pocket veto. Expand the following abbreviations: NASA, IRS, FBI, CIA, FEMA, DEA. Describe the Senate and the House of Representatives in terms of their composition, terms of office and leadership. What are the exclusive powers of the Senate and the exclusive power of the House of Representatives? What are the three official presidential qualifications according to the U.S. Constitution? Name five U.S. Presidents and five U.S. Vice presidents after World War Two. 3
Name three differences between the systems of political parties in the United States and Europe. Characterize briefly the Republican Party. What are the four stages of the presidential elections in the United States? What is the difference between a primary and a caucus? Define the three functions of a national convention. What is the Electoral College? Name five types of U.S. courts of law below the Supreme Court? What are the three jurisdictions and composition of the Supreme Court of the United States? What are the functions of the U.S. Attorney General, Solicitor General and District Attorney? What is the Miranda warning? What two types of juries can be distinguished in the U.S. legal system? Name three federal jurisdiction and three state jurisdiction cases. Name four historical acts of Congress which contributed to the development of the education system in the United States. Briefly characterize one of them. What are the responsibilities of state boards of education in the United States? List three characteristics of American elementary schools. What is the flag salute? Name three core and three elective subjects in American secondary schools. What are the four types of U.S. institutions of higher education? Briefly characterize one of them. Provide three characteristics of college education in the United States. What are the types of American universities? Name five Ivy League universities. Provide four general characteristics of the U.S. media. What does the process of decentralization mean in reference to the American press? Name five U.S. daily papers and five U.S. magazines. What are the NPR and the BBG? What are the differences and similarities between these two institutions? Expand the following abbreviations: NBC, CBS, ABC, PBS, CNN. What are the differences between national (commercial) and public television networks in the United States? What is the FCC? What are its most important functions? Name three general characteristics of religious life in the United States? 4
Provide examples of references to God in American public life. What is the percentage distribution of the main American religions? What are the major differences between the mainline and evangelical Protestants in the United States? Name three Protestant churches belonging to each category. Describe briefly the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. Name three religious denominations founded in the United States. What are the six main regions of the United States? Describe New England in terms of geography, industry and agriculture. Describe the Midwest in terms of geography, industry and agriculture. Name the five biggest American cities and provide their popular nicknames. What are the names of the five Great Lakes? Name five American rivers. What American regions do these rivers flow across? Name five national parks in the United States. What are the major ethnic groups in American society? Who are the Hispanics in the United States? Who are U.S. citizens by definition and what are their public rights? List four major highlights of the Civil Rights Movement. 5