- •Министерство Финансов Российской Федерации Всероссийская государственная налоговая академия Legal English - 1
- •Unit 2 What Law Is
- •Vocabulary
- •Chapter II sources of law Unit 3 Sources of English Law
- •The Sources of English Law
- •The Principal Sources
- •Legislation
- •Judicial precedent
- •The Subsidiary Sources
- •Customs
- •Books of authority
- •Vocabulary
- •Unit 4 Sources of Modern Law
- •Text a Historical and Political Background
- •Text b Common Law Systems
- •Vocabulary
- •Vocabulary tasks
- •For You to Know
- •Text d Sources of American law
- •Vocabulary
- •Text e Continental Systems
- •For You to Remember
- •Vocabulary
- •Chapter III constitutions Unit 5 The History of Constitution
- •Vocabulary
- •Text b Characteristics of Constitutions
- •Vocabulary
- •Unit 6 British Constitution
- •The Nature of the Constitution
- •Vocabulary
- •Vocabulary tasks
- •Unit 7 us Constitution
- •Founding of the United States
- •Vocabulary
- •13 States convention written constitution
- •Vocabulary tasks
- •Chapter IV the system of government Unit 9 The British Government of Today
- •Text a The Governmental Model
- •Vocabulary
- •Vocabulary tasks
- •Text b The British Parliament
- •Vocabulary
- •The System of Government
- •Stages of a Government Bill
- •The House of Commons
- •The House of Lords
- •Making New Law
- •Text d The Prime Minister and the Cabinet
- •Vocabulary
- •Unit 10 The American Government of Today
- •System of Government in the United States
- •Vocabulary
- •Vocabulary tasks
- •Unit 11 The System of Checks and Balances
- •Vocabulary
- •Vocabulary tasks
- •Checks and Balances
- •Unit 12 Law-making Process in the usa
- •Text a The Concept of Bicameral Legislature
- •How Congress Makes Laws
- •Vocabulary
- •Federalism
- •State and Local Government
- •Three Branches of Government
- •Unit 13 The State System of Russia. The Parliament of the Russian Federation
- •Text a The State System of Russia
- •Vocabulary
- •Text b The Parliament of the Russian Federation
- •Vocabulary
Chapter III constitutions Unit 5 The History of Constitution
Before you read
Study the following definitions of CONSTITUTION. Which of them best matches your understanding of the concept?
1 A body of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is acknowledged to be.
2 The body of doctrines and practices that form the fundamental organizing principle of a political state.
3 The basic principles and laws of a nation, state, or social group that determine the powers and duties of the government and guarantee certain rights to the people.
Text A
The Concept and History of Constitution
The idea of a constitution was first elaborated by Aristotle in his classification of governments as monarchies, tyrannies, aristocracies, oligarchies, democracies, and so on. For Aristotle, the best form of government – the best constitution – was that which combined elements of monarchy, aristocracy, and democracy in such a way that the citizens of every class were enabled to enjoy their respective privileges and encouraged to exercise their respective responsibilities in the interest of the whole society.
In its wider sense, the term constitution means the whole scheme whereby a country is governed; and this includes much else besides law. The constitutional lawyer must constantly keep glancing backward into constitutional history; he must also keep his eye on current political practice and the day-to-day working of political institutions. In its narrower sense, “constitution” means the leading legal rules, usually collected into some document that comes to be almost venerated as “The Constitution.”
Vocabulary
accountability n ответственность, подотчетность
adaptability n приспособляемость, способность к приспособлению
attribute n атрибут, неотъемлемое свойство, символ, отличительная черта
branch n ветвь, отрасль, отделение; branches of government «ветви» власти
compass n предел, граница; within the compass of… в пределах…
compress v сдавливать, сжимать
conduct n поведение, руководство
convention n условность, обычай
custom n обычай, привычка
day-to-day adj повседневный
distinct adj ясный, отчетливый, определенный
elaborate v детально/тщательно разрабатывать или обдумывать, вырабатывать
electorate n избиратели
enable v давать (кому-л.) возможность или право (что-л. сделать)
encourage v вселять мужество, надежду; воодушевлять
exercise v осуществлять, применять, использовать
extralegal adj не подпадающий под действие закона, не предусмотренный законом
govern v управлять, руководить; (the) governed n те, кем управляют/руководят
government n государственная власть, правительство
grow up v создаваться, возникать (об обычаях и т.п.)
inevitable adj неизбежный, неминуемый
judge v судить, делать вывод
keep glancing backward продолжать оглядываться назад
keep one’s eye on не спускать глаз с чего-л., неотступно следить за чем-л.
legitimacy n законность (власти )
monarchy n монархия
oligarchy n олигархия
privilege n привилегия, преимущество; enjoy privilege пользоваться привилегией
provision n положение, условие (закона), постановление
representation n представительство
respective adj соответственный, соответствующий (чему-л.)
responsibility n ответственность, обязанность, обязательство
tyranny n тирания, деспотизм
venerate v чтить, преклоняться
whereby adv посредством чего, с помощью которой
worthy adj достойный, заслуживающий
Reading tasks
A Answer these questions.
1 Who was the first person to introduce the idea of a constitution?
2 What kind of government did Aristotle consider to be the best?
3 What political provisions must a true constitution contain?
4 Why is constitutional government limited?
5 What is a chief function of a constitution?
6 What does the term constitution mean in a narrower sense and a wider sense?
С Mark these statements T (true) or F (false) according to the information in the text.
1 The idea of a constitution was first elaborated by English philosophers.
2 People’s interests didn’t play great role in Aristotle’s view of the best form of government and the best constitution.
3 A constitution must be adaptable to changes occurring in the life of a community.
4 Accountability of those in power to an electorate is one of the necessary provisions of a constitution.
5 Division of power among distinct branches of government is unnecessary in a democratic society.
6 A constitution is a kind of scheme whereby a country is governed.
7 The constitution of any country can be compressed within the compass of one document.