At the State Opening of Parliament in London, England, Queen Elizabeth II outlines the British government's plan for the upcoming year.

Discussion Questions

1. What is the British Parliament? Explain its composition. How does the British Parliament compare to the government of the United States? Explain Queen Elizabeth's role within the British government and the extent of her participation in the British Parliament.
2. What types of economic legislation will the House of Commons pursue in the upcoming year? How does the legislation Queen Elizabeth mentions compare to the economic legislation that the U.S. government has recently put forward?
3. Based on Queen Elizabeth's address, what issues do you think are of particular national importance in the United Kingdom? Which issue seemed to be the most prominent in her speech? What is the National Health Service (NHS)? How does the NHS compare to the current U.S. health care system?
4. Compare and contrast the issues mentioned by the Queen to those currently prominent in the United States.