England: - flag: red cross on the white ground, - capital: London, - the people: The English, - symbol: the red rose, - Patron Saint: St. George, - Saint’s day: April 23^rd.	Scotland: - flag: white diagonal cross on the blue ground, - capital: Edingburgh, - the people: The Scots, - symbol: the thistle, - Patron Saint: St. Andrew, - Saint’s day: November 30^th.
Wales: - flag: red dragon on the white-green ground, - capital: Cardiff, - the people: The Welsh, - symbol: the leek and the daffodil, - Patron Saint: St. David, - Saint’s day: March 1^st.	Northern Ireland: - flag: red diagonal cross on the white ground, - capital: Belfast, - the people: The Irish, - symbol: the shamrock and the harp, - Patron Saint: St. Patrick, - Saint’s day: March 17^th.

• Area: 240 000 square kilometers

• under 1000 km from south coast to the extreme north

• about 500 km across the widest part

• “0” longitude Greenwich

Shetland Islands --> 80 km the north-east of Orkneys Orkneys Islands --> the north of Scotland Hebrides Islands --> the west coast of Scotland Isle Of Man --> between England and Scotland John O’Groat’s --> the northest point in Great Britain Land’s End --> the southest point in Great Britain Edinburgh --> the south-east of Scotland Glasgow --> the west of Edingburgh Dundee --> the east of Scotland Aberdeen --> the north of Dundee Loch Lomond --> the north of Glasgow Ben Nevis -->the west of Scotland

LOCH LOMOND – the largest lake in Scotland BEN NEVIS – the highest mountain in Scotland and also in Britain LOCH NESS – also Scottish lake CLAN – type of Scottish family group (each clan has different pattern of kilt) Mc/Mac – it means “son of…”; Scots names begin in this way. HADRIAN’S WALL – Roman building across a whole country – it means Scotland; border between England and Scotland.

Highland Games:

• it lasts May to September,

• it is like Scottish Olympics,

• there are hundred games,

• the most important game is Braemar Gathering, because the royal family watches this kind of game,

• the place where the queen stays to watch this kind of game is Balmoral Castle,

• another games: tug of war, highland fling and sword dance which are dance competition.

The Scotland is famous for:

• kilt made of tartan,

• bagpipe (musical, Scottish intrument),

• Mc/Mac.

The Union Flag – or Union Jack – the emblems that appear on this flag are the crosses of three patron saints:

- the red cross of St George, for England, on a white ground,

- the white diagonal cross of St Andrew, for Scotland, on a blue ground,

- the red diagonal cross attributed to St Patrick, for Ireland, on a white ground.

Regions of Scotland:

- Northern Highlands,

- Central Lowlands,

- Southern Uplands.

The Highlands: - clan, - Mac/Mc, - kilt made of tartan, - Ben Nevis, - Loch Lomond, - Loch Ness, - tourism, fishing as main activities, - Highland Games, - Balmoral Castle.	Southern Uplands: - Hadrian’s Wall.

Central Lowlands:

- Edinburgh --> governmental, cultural, commercial, financial city:

• Royal Mile (very historical street between the Palace of Holyrood House and Endiburgh Castle),

• the Palace of Holyrood House (official residence where queen lives),

• Edinburgh Castle (royal residence before England and Scotland were united),

- Glasgow --> industrial centre: ship building, ship repairing; heavy industrial:

• the River Clyde (connects the Glasgow with sea),

• Burn’s cottage,

- Dundee --> heavy industrial city; fishing,

- Aberdeen --> the main port of transport, the centre connected with oil.

The Strait of Dover --> 20 miles (32 km)

The Channel Islands and The Isle Of Man --> crown dependent territories; queen is the head of these territories and British government is responsible for defence for them; they have own Parliament, tax system and government. Hebrides --> now they belong to Scotland, but at the beginning they belonged to Scandinavia. The Shetland Islands and the Orkney Islands --> in 15^th century these islands were given from Norway to Scotland without fight; Norway princess got married with English king.

The UK constitution is formed by: - Acts of Parliament, - Common Law (decisions made by judges which is repeated by people ), - convention (something should be done by President).

The House of Commons:

- is made up 650 elected members, each of whom on one area,

- they are elected at:

• general election (every 4 years – whole country),

• by-election (when MP represent resign or goes to House of Lords),

- the SPEAKER --> the chief officer (the most important person) in the House of Commons:

• he keeps order,

• he supervises voting (he gives announcement after voting – he talks who voted against or for),

• he announces the results (he doesn’t usually vote, only when there is the same number against and for),

- the Speaker has the Clerk of House whose helps him,

- session: one session last one year --> from October to November next year (everything has to be done),

- meeting: Monday-Thursday (2:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m.), Friday (9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.).

The House of Lords consist of:

- the CHANCELLOR --> it is important person in this House; he is responsible for courts’

- LORD SPEAKER --> the most important person in this House but not as powerful as the Speaker in House of Commons; he can vote like another members, he cannot stop discussion and he hasn’t any influence for it,

- LEADER OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS --> he is responsible for administration,

- LORDS SPIRITUAL --> 2 Archbishops of Cantenbury and York and 24 bishops of England,

- LORDS TEMPORAL --> hereditary peers (Earl of Marshal who organizes ceremonies; Lord Great Chamberlan who is responsible for the Westminster Palace and he is really important during the coronation; and 90 elected peers), life peers (titles don’t inherit by another relatives against of hereditary peers).

Work of the House of Lords:

- legislation,

- examining government work,

- examining European proposals.