Xaverians in Great Britain

Great Britain: Country Profile

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Great Britain

Great Britain is a country in northwestern Europe, northwest of France and east of Ireland. It is also know as the United Kingdom; the kingdom includes England, Scotland, and Wales, and Northern Ireland. The total area of the kingdom is 94,251 sq mi. The capital and largest city is London. Great Britain is a country in northwestern Europe, northwest of France and east of Ireland. It is also know as the United Kingdom; the kingdom includes England, Scotland, and Wales, and Northern Ireland. The total area of the kingdom is 94,251 sq mi. The capital and largest city is London. is a country in northwestern Europe, northwest of France and east of Ireland. It is also know as the United Kingdom; the kingdom includes England, Scotland, and Wales, and Northern Ireland. The total area of the kingdom is 94,251 sq mi. The capital and largest city is London. Great Britain is a country in northwestern Europe, northwest of France and east of Ireland. It is also know as the United Kingdom; the kingdom includes England, Scotland, and Wales, and Northern Ireland. The total area of the kingdom is 94,251 sq mi. The capital and largest city is London.

The population is 57,591,677 (1997 estimate). About 94 percent of Britons are English, Scottish, Irish, or Welsh; minority groups include Indians, West Indians, Pakistanis, Africans, Bangladeshis, Chinese, and Arabs. The Church of England (or Anglican Church) has 48 percent of the population as members, and the Roman Catholic Church has 16 percent. The country's official language is English.

This nation is primarily an industrial and commercial nation and a world leader in international trade. Industry, including manufacturing, construction, and mining, employs 25 percent of the workforce. Leading manufactures are food products, transportation equipment, non-electrical machinery, chemical products, and metal products. Scotland and Northern Ireland are noted for their production of whiskeys and linen, and England has a large brewing industry. A great deal of the country's land is not suited to farming, and more than three-fifths of the food supply must be imported. Agriculture, forestry, and fishing employ only about 2 percent of workers. The unit of currency is the pound sterling.

Great Britain (or the United Kingdom) is a parliamentary monarchy with an unwritten constitution consisting of historic documents such as the Magna Carta, the Petition of Right, and the Bill of Rights; statutes; judicial precedents (common law); and custom. The constitution is flexible and may be changed by an act of Parliament. The British monarch is head of state, but executive power is wielded by a prime minister and a committee of ministers called the Cabinet. Cabinet ministers are selected from members of the two houses of Parliament.

Parliament consists of the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The House of Lords is composed of hereditary peers and peeresses, 2 Anglican archbishops, 24 bishops, and life peers, whose titles are not hereditary. The full House of Lords numbers more than 1200. Bills from the House of Commons are sent to the House of Lords for discussion, but a vote from the House of Lords is not needed to pass legislation. This house often suggests revisions and provides a forum for debate free from party politics. Members of the House of Commons are elected from geographical constituencies. In England, Scotland, and Wales, each constituency approximates a population of 60,000. In Northern Ireland the population base is somewhat larger. Total membership in the House of Commons is about 650. Elections are held every five years unless called earlier or postponed by special statute in times of war or national emergency.

Service, mission, work, news, and presence of the Xaverian Missionaries in Great Britain