Lesson four politics and government

I. Memorize the following words and expressions:

branches of power – ветви власти

to check – регулировать

to balance – уравновешивать

be vested in – быть возложенным на

chamber – палата

Federal Assembly – Федеральное Собрание

Council of Federation –Совет Федерации

bill – законопроект

to veto – налагать вето, запрещать

to override veto – преодолевать вето, аннулировать вето

to enforce laws – обеспечивать соблюдение (исполнение) законов

to appoint – назначать

appointment – назначение, определение (на должность)

by popular vote –при всеобщем голосовании

Supreme Court – Верховный суд

Arbitrary Court – Арбитражный суд

national coat of arms – национальный герб

succession – преемственность

Byzantine Empire - Византия

II. Read the text.

The Russian Federation has been set up by the Constitution of 1993.

Under the Constitution Russia is a constitutional republic with President as Head of State. The Federal government consists of three branches of power: the legislative, the executive and the judicial. Each of them is checked and balanced by the President. The President controls only the executive branch of power – the government, but not the Supreme Court and Federal Assembly

The legislative power is vested in the Federal Assembly. It consists of two chambers. The Upper Chamber is the Federati9on Council. The Lower Chamber is the State Duma (Parliament). Each chamber is headed by the Speaker. Legislature is initiated in the Lower Chamber. But to become a law a bill must be approved by the Lower and Upper Chambers and signed by President. The President may veto the bill and the State Duma may override the veto.

The President makes treaties, enforces laws, and appoints the Prime Minister to be approved by the State Duma.

The members of the State Duma are elected by popular vote for a four-year period. The Council of Federation is not elected. It is formed of the heads of regions.

The executive power belongs to the Government (the Cabinet of Ministers) headed by the Prime Minister. The first action of the Prime Minister on appointment is to form the Government.

The judicial branch is represented by the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court, the Arbitrary Court and federal courts.

Russia has a multiparty system.

Today the state Russian banner is three coloured. It has three horizontal stripes: white, blue and red. The white stripe symbolizes the earth, the blue one stands for the sky, and the red one signifies liberty. It was the first state symbol that replaced the former symbols in 1991. The hymn of Russia was created by Alexandrov and Mikhalkov. Now the national coat of arms is a two-headed eagle. It is the most ancient symbol of Russia. It originates from the heraldic emblem of the Ruirickovitch signifying the successions of the Russian state from the Byzantine Empire.

III. Study the diagram below and use it to answer the questions .

The system of government of the russian federation

1. How is the government of Russia organized?

2. Can you name the branches of government? Who is in each branch?

3. Do we have a president? A prime minister?

4. How is the President of the Russian Federation elected?

5. Who can be president of our country?

6. What does the Federal Assembly consist of?

7. How many members are there in the State Duma (Parliament)?

8. How often do we re-elect the State Duma?

9. Who makes the Council of Federation?

10. What can you say about the structure of the executive branch?

11. Do we have any political parties?

12. Does the party that wins most sits in the State Duma choose the Prime Minister?

13. What is the way of appointing the Prime Minister in our country?

14. Who forms the Cabinet of ministers?

15. What is the judicial branch represented by?

HEAD OF THE STATE

THE PRESIDENT

Elected for 4 years by direct popular vote (over 35 years old; a citizen of Russia, a resident of the country for at least 10 years)

LEGISLATIVE AND REPRESENTATIVE BRANCH

FEDERAL ASSEMBLY

Council of Federation State Duma

Head of each 450 members elected for 4 years

subject of Federation

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

GOVERNMENT of the RUSSIAN FEDERATION

Prime Minister Cabinet

appointed by the President formed by the Prime Minister

approved by State Duma approved by the President

JUDICIAL BRANCH

CONSTITUTIONAL SUPREME ARBITRATION

COURT COURT COURT

all appointed by the Council of Federation

4. Translate into English.

1. Российская Федерация – это государство, построенное на федеральной

основе. Она состоит из субъектов федерации, включающих автономные республики и другие территориальные образования.

2. В соответствии с Конституцией, принятой в 1993 году, государственную

власть в Российской Федерации осуществляют Президент Российской Федерации, Федеральное Собрание, Правительство России и суды.

3. Конституция гарантирует основные права и свободы граждан.

4. Президентом может быть гражданин Российской Федерации не моложе

35 лет, постоянно проживающий в России не менее 10 лет.

5. Президент назначает премьер-министра, который становится главой

правительства (кабинета министров).

6. Президент является Верховным Главнокомандующим Вооруженными

силами. Он формирует и возглавляет Совет Безопасности Российской Федерации.

7. Президент обладает полномочиями назначать выборы Государственной

Думы, распускать Думу, вносить законопроекты на рассмотрение в Госдуму, подписывать и обнародовать федеральные законы.

8. Федеральное собрание состоит из двух палат – Совета Федерации и

ГосударственнойДумы.

V. Speak on the system of government in Russia.