科普：英国政治体系全面解读

Healthcare, education, the environment, international aid, crime.
医疗保健、教育、环境保护、国际援助、犯罪问题。
Issues affecting all our lives are shaped and driven by Parliament.
这些关乎我们生活的问题都是由议会制定和推动实施的。
But how did it all begin, 
这一切从何开始，
what does Parliament do all day and how do you fit in?
议会的日常工作是什么，民众又如何参与呢？
Parliament has evolved throughout its long history to become what it is today, 
议会经过很长的历史发展时期才成为了如今我们看到的样子，
changing over time to meet the needs of the people.
议会会随着时代变化，为的是满足人民的需求。
Two key historical events began this process.
两个关键的历史事件确定了议会发展的开端。
In 1215, King John put his seal on Magna Carta,
1215年，约翰国王签署了《大宪章》，
and agreed to a list of 63 rules set out by a group of barons. 
对贵族男爵提出的63条规则表示同意。
This ensured for the first time that no-one, not even the king, was above the law.
这是第一次确立了法律之上人人平等的原则，哪怕是国王也不例外。
Fifty years later, Simon de Montfort, for the first time, 
50年后，西蒙·德·孟福尔伯爵首次，
invited representatives of the towns and shires to his 1265 parliament.
邀请城郡代表参加1265年的议会。
These events established the foundations for the representative democracy we have today,
这两起事件成为了我们如今代议制民主的基础，
and from this point onwards, the power to make decisions for the nation passed, over time, from the monarch to Parliament.
从那以后，随着时间的推移，国家决策的制定权就从国王转移到了议会手中。
Let's take a closer look at the UK Parliament today.
让我们仔细了解一下现如今的英国议会结构。
Parliament is made up of three parts, 
议会由三部分组成，
the House of Commons, the House of Lords, and the monarch.
下议院，上议院，君主。
The House of Commons is the elected chamber of Parliament. 
下议院是由民主选举产生的。
It debates big issues, proposes laws, amends existing ones, 
讨论重大问题，立法，修改现行法律，
and challenges the Government's work.
对政府工作进行督问。
There are 650 Members of Parliament, or MPs,
下议院议员为650名，
who each represent a constituency in the UK.
每一名议员代表一个英国的选区。
They belong to either a political party or are independent, 
这些议员可以是政党的成员，也可以是无党派人士，
and are elected by constituents of the area they want to represent.
由自己代表的选区选民选出。
The leader of the party that has the most MPs elected after a general election becomes the Prime Minister and heads up the Government.
大选结束后，拥有下议院议员人数最多的政党的领袖便成为英国首相，领导政府工作。
They choose a cabinet made up of 20 senior ministers who coordinate each Government department's work.
获胜党会选取20名高级官员组建内阁，由他们主持协调政府各部门工作。
Parties not in power are called the opposition.
未掌权的党称之为反对党。
MPs from the opposition and government question the Government on policy and proposed laws. 
反对党和执政党的下议院议员都要对政府政策和立法进行质询。
The Speaker keeps the house in order by chairing these debates.
下议院议长主持辩论，并维持秩序。
The House of Lords is the second chamber and shares the making and shaping of laws with the House of Commons. 
第二个议院为上议院，与下议院一同立法，修订法律。
It has around 800 members and it's made up mostly of life peers, 
上议院大约有800名议员，绝大多数都是终身贵族，
and also includes hereditary peers and bishops.
同时也包括世袭贵族和区主教。
Lords are selected for their knowledge and experience, 
上议院议员根据知识和经验选拔，
and hold Government to account by using their expertise to look at laws and issues in detail.
通过自身的专业知识对法律和具体问题进行监督，质问政府。
The monarch's role is mainly ceremonial.
君主的主要工作是扮演礼仪性角色。
They meet the Prime Minister once a week to hear what's going on in Parliament and formally agree every new law.
他们每周召见一次首相，听取议会的周报，并正式批准法律生效。
But that's not all.
但是并非仅此而已。
There are also people working behind the scenes who support the work of Parliament,
在议会背后，同样有一批工作人员支持议会工作，
clerks, librarians, researchers and many more.
文员、图书管理员、研究人员等等。
The Government has been elected to run the country, 
选举出来的政府管理国家，
and Parliament holds the Government to account for us, the public, but how?
议会为我们，也就是民众，对政府问责，但是具体过程呢？
Prime Minister's Questions and Ministerial Questions give MPs and Lords the opportunity to challenge the Government's policies.
议员在首相质问和部长质问环节对政府提出质疑。
It's in these debates that they can share the views of their constituents and the public and how new policies may affect them.
辩论期间议员会代选区和民众发表意见，并报告新政策对民众的影响。
Another important way Parliament can scrutinise, look in detail at the work of Government is through Select Committees.
另一种重要的方式是通过特别委员会对政府工作进行细节审查。
Select Committees analyse and scrutinise policy.
特别委员会负责分析和审查政策。
They are made up of either MPs, Lords or a mixture of both.
特别委员会由上下议院单独或共同组成。
Together committee members look at a particular subject and make recommendations on improvements.
委员会成员就特殊议题提出改进建议。
Witnesses with expertise in the area under scrutiny are called to give evidence, 
受审查领域的专家会被邀请担任顾问，
which is used to help shape the committee's enquiry.
以帮助委员会的质问工作。
Members of the public, like you, with a view on the subject can also give evidence for consideration.
我们这样的普通大众，如果对议题有见解同样可以参与其中。
At the end of an inquiry, 
质问结束后，
a Committee writes a report with recommendations that the Government usually responds to within 60 days.
委员会会撰写带有建议的报告，政府通常会在两个月内进行回复。
Both Houses in Parliament share responsibility for making and shaping laws. 
上下两院共同负责立法与法律修订。
But where do laws come from in the first place?
但是法律最初是怎么产生的？
A Bill is a proposal for a new law, 
法案提议新法律，
or to change an existing law, and comes from lots of places, 
或者提议更改现有法律，法案来源甚广，
like governing and opposition parties, public inquiries, civil servants or campaign groups.
诸如政府和反对党，公开调查，公务员，活动团体。
So how does an idea get turned into a law?
那么法案是如何变成法律的？
Imagine the Government wanted to place greater controls over the internet.
想象一下政府打算对互联网加大监管力度。
A proposal called a Green Paper is published, which presents the Government's ideas for future policy. 
一种名为“绿皮书”的文件由政府发布，用来阐述未来的政策。
This is open for public discussion with interested groups like internet service providers and others likely to be affected.
绿皮书对公众开放讨论，涉及此领域的组织，如网络服务供应商或者其他相关人员参与讨论。
Once findings are gathered a white paper is published which outlines a firmer plan for Government policy.
等到调查结果汇集后，就会出版白皮书，对政府政策进行更明确的概述。
Cabinet Ministers must agree whether the proposal is taken forward. 
内阁大臣必须对此议案是否实施达成一致。
Once agreed a Bill is drawn up,
一旦一致通过，就会起草法案，
and the Minister responsible for the policy introduces the Bill to Parliament for debate.
负责该法案的内阁部长会将法案提交议会辩论。
MPs and members of the House of Lords comment on, debate or amend the Bill through several stages, 
上下议会的议员通过多个步骤对法案发表意见，辩论，修正，
and at the end of the process, apart from very rare circumstances, it must be agreed by both houses.
除了极为罕见的情况，最后程序必须由上下议院共同同意。
It is then passed to the monarch who gives formal approval, or Royal Assent, 
and the Bill becomes law, called an Act of Parliament.
然后再提交给君主，进行正式审批，即御准，至此，法案就会成为法律，即国会法令。
In the UK, we live in a democracy which means power is in the hands of the people through our right to vote.
在英国，人民生活在民主之中，也就是权力通过投票权掌握在人民的手中。
Throughout history, lots of people in the UK have campaigned for the voting rights we have today.
纵观历史，英国很多人为了争取我们如今享有的投票权而进行抗争。
There are lots of different types of elections to vote in: general, local, European. 
英国有许多不同的投票选举：英国大选、地方选举、欧洲议会选举。
Let's take a closer look at how MPs are elected to the House of Commons through the General Election.
让我们仔细了解一下，下议院的议员是如何在大选中被选举出来的。
General elections take place in the UK usually once every five years and every seat is up for grabs.
大选在英国通常每五年举行一次，每一个席位都虚位以待。
On polling day, voters make a choice from a list of candidates. 
投票日，选民会在候选人名单中选取一位。
The candidate with the most votes then becomes that constituency's MP.
得票最多的候选人成为该区的议员。
OK, but how would I know who to vote for?
好吧，可我怎么知道该给谁投票好呢？
Before elections, candidates need to campaign to get people to vote for them. 
投票前，竞选人会发起竞选运动拉票。
Campaigning can involve handing out political leaflets,
宣传活动包括分发传单，
speaking in public debates, talking to people during door to door visits, and party political broadcasts.
公开辩论，登门拜访，与民众互动，政治宣传广播。
Parties standing for election publish a declaration of their policies during the campaign, called a manifesto.
参选政党会发在竞选期间发表施政内容，这被称之为竞选宣言。
Once elected an MP represents all their constituents, even the ones that didn't vote, or voted for a different candidate.
议员当选，他就是这个选区所有人的代表，无论选民把票投给了谁。
The party with the most MPs elected forms the Government, 
拥有议员人数最多的党组建政府，
and their leader becomes Prime Minister.
党主席便成为了英国首相。
And if there's a "hung Parliament",
如果出现“议会无多数”的情况，
where there's no clear winner, then a minority government or a coalition government may be created or a fresh election held.
也就是没有绝对领先的政党，那么就会成立多党政府或者联合政府，或者重新选举。
One way to have a say in how the country is run is to use your vote.
对国家运作享有发言权的方法就是行使投票权。
You have to be 18 or over to vote in General Elections, 
年满十八岁的英国公民可以在大选中投票，
but you can register from the age of 16.
不过在十六岁就可以进行登记，成为选民。
There are lots of other ways to get involved and have your voice heard whatever your age,
无论年龄几何，参政的方式还有很多，你的声音可以得到倾听，
remember MPs represent all of their constituents.
不要忘了议员代表的是他们的全体选民。
But how?
那怎么做呢？
You can visit an MP in their local constituency office, 
你可以在当地的选区办公室拜访议员，
or you can even travel to the Houses of Parliament to lobby them in central lobby.
或者你甚至可以去国会大厦的中央大厅进行游说。
Lords have knowledge and experience in specific subject areas. 
上议院对于专业领域的问题具备专业知识和经验。
You can look them up by policy interest on the Parliament website.
你可以通过国会网站的政策分类进行查找。
Anyone can contact any Lord or their local MP by letter, phone or email to discuss an issue that's important to them or their community.
任何人都可以给上议院或者当地的议员写信，打电话或者发电子邮件，讨论一些关乎自身或他人的重要社会问题。
Sometimes though there's strength in numbers,
不过有时候还是人多力量大，
so to get your voice heard you could join the youth section of a party, or the UK Youth Parliament.
所以，为了能够让你的声音得到倾听，你可以加入政党的青年团，或者青年议会。
If you're passionate about an issue you could start a petition for a cause either on paper or online, 
如果你对一个问题比较执着，你可以就这一问题写请愿书，纸质的和在线方式都可以，
or join an existing campaign, pressure or protest group to influence decision making.
或者加入现有的运动或者抗议团体来影响决策的制定。
These groups use different methods to get their voices heard, 
这些团体会用不同的方式让自己的声音得到倾听，
from lobbying to peaceful protest, all designed to bring about change.
从游说到和平抗议，一切都是为了能有所改变。
And don't forget, you can get your voice heard in school or college too by joining (or starting) a student council, a bit like a mini-Parliament.
不要忘记，你可以通过在学校加入学生会（或者成立一个）让大家听到你的声音和诉求，有点像小型议会。
So Parliament sits at the heart of UK democracy, debating the big issues of the day, 
所以说，议会是英国民主的中心，讨论日常重大问题，
making and shaping laws and holding the Government to account.
立法修法，质问政府。
By voting, petitioning, campaigning and more, you can also get involved with the work of Parliament.
通过投票、请愿、宣传运动等行为，民众也可以参与到议会工作中去。
What will you do?
那么你会怎样做呢？