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12)(n.) indictment − официальное обвинение, предъявление обвинения в суде, обвинительный акт

13)(v.) bring in an indictment against smb. — предъявить кому-л. обвинение

14)separation of powers − принцип разделения властей

15)(v.) overlap − частично совпадать

16)(v.) make compromise and consensus − прийти к компромиссу и единодушию

17)(v.) propose laws − предлагать законопроект

18)the system of checks and balances − система сдержек и противовесов

19)(v.) refuse − отвергать, отказывать; отклонять

20)department – департамент, отдел

21)(v.) enforce laws − применить правовую норму, закон; обеспечивать соблюдение, исполнение закона; принудительно проводить закон в жизнь

22)(n.) Supreme Court Justice − судья Верховного суда

23)the Supreme Court − Верховный суд

24)(n.) Circuit Court of Appeals − окружной апелляционный суд

25)District Court − окружной суд (в США); федеральный районный суд (федеральный суд первой инстанции в США); местный суд (в ряде штатов США)

26)(v.) interpret the law − толковать закон

27)(n.) lawsuit – иск (syn. action)

28)(v.) make decisions in lawsuits − принимать решения по искам

29)(v.) declare the actions and laws unconstitutional − объявить действия и законы неконституционными

30)(v.) violate the principles of the Constitution – нарушать принципы Конституции

Exercise 4. Read the text and answer the questions.

1.When was the US Constitution adopted?

2.What does the US Constitution consist of?

3.How are the first 10 amendments to the US Constitution called?

Exercise 5. Read the underlined words, word combinations and expressions. Then read and translate the text.

THE US CONSTITUTION

The US government is based on the Constitution of 1787 which was adopted after the War of Independence. The US Constitution consists of 7 articles and 27 amendments. The first 10 amendments are called the Bill of Rights and were adopted in 1791 under popular pressure.

The Bill of Rights is a series of limitations on the power of the United States federal government, protecting the natural rights and liberties, property including freedom of religion, freedom of speech, a free press, free assembly, and free association, as well as the right to keep and carry arms. In federal criminal cases, it requires indictment by a grand jury for any capital crime, guarantees a speedy, public trial with an impartial jury composed of members of the state in which the crime occurred. The key feature of the US Constitution is federalism - the division of power between the national government and the states. Another major feature of the Constitution is the

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principle of the separation of powers within the national government. According to this principle the executive, legislative and judicial branches exercise powers that are largely separate and distinct. There is not a strict and complete separation of powers, the powers of the three branches overlap. Each branch has its own responsibilities, but no branch has more power than the other branches. There is the system of checks and balances, that is each branch has certain duties to check the powers of the other branches. This system was meant to protect against the extremes since it makes compromise and consensus necessary.legislative branch is called the Congress which consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives. It is the responsibility of the Congress to propose and pass laws. In the system of checks and balances, Congress can refuse to approve Presidential appointments and can override presidential veto. The executive branch consists of the President, the Vice President, the Cabinet and the 13 Departments, and also of the independent agencies. Its responsibility is to enforce laws. According to the principle of checks and balances, the President has the power of veto to reject the bill of the Congress. He also appoints all Supreme Court Justices. The judicial branch consists of the Supreme Court, 11 Circuit Courts of Appeals and 94 District Courts. This branch explains and interprets laws and makes decisions in lawsuits. It has the power over the other two branches and according to the principle of checks and balances can declare their actions and laws unconstitutional in case they violate the principles of the Constitution.

VOCABULARY AND COMPREHENSIVE EXERCISES

Exercise 6. Agree or disagree with the statements using one of the models.

c)I think it is true. The text tells us that ………

d)To my mind, it is false because …………

1.The US Constitution was adopted in 1918 after the World War I.

2.The first 10 amendments are called the Bill of Rights.

3.The Bill of Rights sets forth the structure of the Federal Government.

4.The key features of the US Constitution are federalism, the separation of powers and the system of checks and balances.

5.The legislative branch has more powers then the others.

6.The powers of the three branches don't overlap.

7.The system of checks and balances was meant to protect against the extremes.

8.The responsibilities of the Congress are to protect the rights of citizens and enforce laws.

9.The executive branch consists of the President, the Vice President, the Cabinet and the 13 Departments, and also of the independent agencies.

10.The judicial branch explains and interprets laws and makes decisions in lawsuits.

Exercise 7. Answer the questions.

1.What makes the US Constitution different from other constitutions?

2.What are the sources of the US Constitution?

3.What is the core principle of the US Constitution?

4.What bodies represent the three branches of power (executive, legislative and judiciary)?

5.What powers does the President have?

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6.What rights and liberties are protected under the Bill of Rights?

7.What is required in federal criminal cases?

8.What kind of trial is guaranteed by the Bill of Rights?

9.What are key features of the US Constitution?

10.What are the three branches of power according to the Constitution?

11.Is there a strict separation of powers?

12.Does any branch have more power than the others?

13.What duties does every branch have regarding the other branches under the principle of checks and balances?

14.What are the composition and powers of the judicial branch according to the US Constitution?

Exercise 8. Complete the sentences:

1.The US government is based on….

2.The Bill of Rights is …..

3.The key feature of the US Constitution is…

4.The executive, legislative and judicial branches exercise powers that are …

5.The system of checks and balances was meant to …

6.The Congress consists of …

7.The responsibility of the Congress is to ….

8.The executive branch consists of …

9.The responsibility of the executive branch is to …

10.The responsibility of the legislative branch is to …

11.The responsibility of the judicial branch is to …

Exercise 9. Fill in the gaps with the words from the box.

Constitution ,

executive, legislative, and

judicial,

supreme law, oath, rights,

Endurance,

in use,

changing conditions,

amendments,

vote, Congress,

legislatures,

adopted,

citizens, Bill of Rights,

ratified.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The U.S. ____________ is the framework of our government. It establishes______________,

____________ and ____________ branches. It is also the ___________ of the land, which all public officials are bound by ____________ to enforce. Moreover, the Constitution guarantees

each American certain basic _____________ . One remarkable feature of the U.S. Constitution is its

______________. It is the oldest written national constitution in the world that is still ___________. Another remarkable feature of the Constitution is its ability to adapt itself to _________. The Founders of the United States anticipated that the Constitution might have to be changed. Therefore, they provided two methods of proposing ______________ or changes, to the Constitution. The first method is by a two-thirds ____________ of both houses of Congress; the second is by a national convention called by _____________ at the request of the legislatures in two-thirds of the states. After it is proposed, an amendment does not take effect unless it is ratified either by the __________

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in three-fourths of the states or by special ratifying conventions in threefourths of the states. The original Constitution, ___________ in 1787, contained only a few provisions guaranteeing individual rights. However, ___________ pressured their leaders to add a _____________. In response, the first ten amendments were adopted by Congress in 1791 and quickly _____________

by the states.

Exercise 10. Translate the sentences into English:

1.Конституция США была принята 17 сентября 1787 года на Конституционной Конвенции в Филадельфии.

2.Конституция США состоит из Преамбулы и 7 статей, а также включает 27 поправок, принятых в разные годы.

3.По Конституции США вся законодательная власть передается Конгрессу США.

4.Исполнительная власть осуществляется Президентом США.

5.Судебная власть передается Верховному Суду и нижестоящим судам, которые может учреждать Конгресс.

6.Функционирование системы разделения властей дополняется и определяется действием системы “сдержек и противовесов”, особых конституционных методов и форм, позволяющих нейтрализовать либо сдержать действия какой-либо из ветвей власти.

7.Изменение конституции осуществляется путем поправок.

8.Преамбула к Конституции США содержит единственное предложение, которое вводит документ и его предназначение.

9.Преамбула не даёт какие-либо полномочия и не запрещает какие-либо действия.

10.Преамбула, особенно первые три слова («Мы, народ» — «We the people»), является одним из часто цитируемых разделов конституции.

DISCUSSION

Exercise 1. Read the text and discuss the problem:

A state law made it a crime to publish the name of any youth charged as a juvenile offender. A newspaper later published an article containing the name of a juvenile charged with the murder of another youth. The newspaper learned the name of the arrested youth by listening to the police radio and by talking to several witnesses to the crime.

1. What is the state’s interest in having and enforcing the law against publishing the name of any youth charged as a juvenile offender?

2. What is the newspaper’s interest in publishing the juvenile offender’s name?

3.How should the conflict be resolved? Explain your answer.

4.After completing an analysis of the Vietnam War, Defense Department official Daniel Ellsberg released portions of the study to the New York Times. The government tried to block its publication, claiming that national security would be threatened. Give an example of a government document whose release should be stopped by the courts.

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UNIT 7. THE UNITED KINGDOM LEGISLATION

WORD BUILDING. Suffix -hood

Suffix –hood is used to denote:

A condition or state of being the thing or being in the role denoted by the word it is suffixed to, usually a noun.

child - childhood

A group sharing a specified condition or state. Suffix -hood or example: brother - brotherhood neighbor - neighborhood

Exercise 1. Form the nouns with suffix –hood and translate the words:

Mother, child, monk, man, neighbor, queen, beggar, being, baby, victim, saint, brother, serf, father, self, boy.

VOCABULARY AND READING EXERCISES

Exercise 2. Read the words and practice their pronunciation. Translate the words.

Parliament ['pɑːləmənt], Westminster[ˌwes(t)'mɪn(t)stə], the monarch [ðə'mɔnək], the House of Commons [ðəˈhausəv 'kɔmənz], lord [lɔːd], similar ['sɪmɪlə], legislation [ˌleʤɪ'sleɪʃ(ə)n], scrutiny ['skruːtɪnɪ], debate [dɪ'beɪt], current ['kʌr(ə)nt], issue ['ɪʃuː], compose [kəm'pəuz], peer [pɪə], hereditary [hɪ'redət(ə)rɪ], private ['praɪvɪt], minister ['mɪnɪstə], individual [ˌɪndɪ'vɪdjuəl], passage ['pæsɪʤ], through [θruː], formality [fɔː'mælətɪ], title ['taɪtl], opportunity [ˌɔpə'tjuːnətɪ], theme [θiːm], proceed [prə'siːd], committee [kə'mɪtɪ], clause [klɔːz], determine [dɪ'tɜːmɪn], intent [ɪn'tent], impact ['ɪmpækt], parliamentary [ˌpɑːlə'ment(ə)rɪ], process ['prəuses], legislative 'leʤɪslətɪv], amendment [ə'men(d)mənt], immediately [ɪ'miːdɪətlɪ], pro forma [ˌprəu'fɔːmə], pass [pɑːs], consideration [kənˌsɪd(ə)'reɪʃ(ə)n], royal ['rɔɪəl], assent [ə'sent], announcement [ə'naun(t)smənt].

Vocabulary

1.The British Parliament – британский парламент

2.Westminster − британский парламент (здание парламента располагается в районе Вестминстер)

3.(v.) consist of − состоять из (чего-л.)

4.the monarch − монарх

5.the House of Lords − палата лордов (верхняя палата британского парламента)

6.

the House of Commons − палата общин

(нижняя палата британского

парламента)

 

7.(adj.) similar − похожий, подобный

8.(n.) legislation − законодательство; законодательная деятельность

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9.(n.) scrutiny − проверка правильности результатов голосования, исследование, наблюдение

10.debates − дебаты, дискуссия, обсуждение, прения

11.current issues текущие вопросы

12.(v.) be composed of – состоять из (чего-л.)

13.life peers and hereditary peers –пожизненные и наследственные пэры

14.(n.) Member of Parliament (Mps) − член парламента

15.(n.) Private Member's Bill − личный законопроект (внесённый рядовым членом парламента)

16.(n.) Minister of the Crown – государственный (королевский) министр

17.(n.) Government Bill − законопроект, внесённый правительством

18.Public Bill − публичный законопроект

19.(n.) individual − индивидуум; лицо, личность, особа, человек

20.the stage of a Bill’s passage through the House of Commons – этап, на котором законопроект рассматривается в палате общин

21.formality − формальная сторона, формальность (действие, процесс, процедура установленного порядка)

22.(v.) go through the formality — исполнять формальности

23.(n.) opportunity − возможность

24.(v.) debate – обсуждать, дискутировать, полемизировать; спорить ( about, on, upon - о

чем-л.; with - с кем-л.) principle

25.(n.) theme − тема, предмет, вопрос (обсуждения, лекции и т.п.)

26.(v.) proceed − переходить ( to - к чему-л., тж. с инф.) , направляться

27.committee stage − комитетская стадия, стадия рассмотрения законопроекта в комитете

28.detailed examination of the Bill – подробное изучение законопроекта

29.(v.) take place − случаться, происходить

30.clause by clause − постатейный (при обсуждении, голосовании)

31.(v.) propose – предлагать, вносить предложение

32.(v.) suggest amendments to the Bill –предлагать поправки к законопроекту

33.(v.) add – добавить

34.(v.) be referred to a Committee – передаваться на рассмотрение в комитет

35.(v.) pass through a consideration stage – проходить стадию рассмотрения

36.(v.) return to the House of Lords for consideration of any amendments – вернуться в палату лордов для рассмотрения поправок

37.(v.) go back and forth − двигаться взад и вперед

38.(v.) have Royal Assent – иметь королевское согласие

39.(v.) make the Bill into an Act – превратить законопроект в закон

40.(n.) announcement − объявление

Exercise 3. Answer the questions:

1. What does the term “constitutional monarchymean? 2. Is there a written Constitution in Great Britain?

Exercise 4. Read and translate the underlined words. Then read and translate the text.

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THE UNITED KINGDOM LEGISLATION

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a. constitutional monarchy. This means that Great Britain is governed by Parliament and the Queen is Head of State. The legislative power in the country is exercised by the Houses of Parliament, where British laws are made.

British Parliament sits at Westminster. The British Parliament consists of the monarch, the House of Lords, and the House of Commons. Their work is similar: making laws (legislation), checking the work of the government (scrutiny), and debating current issues. The House of Lords is composed of life peers and hereditary peers. The House of Common is composed of Members of Parliament (Mps). The members of the House of' Commons are elected by the people. They are elected from the constituencies in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The House of Commons is the real governing body of the United Kingdom.

The procedure of making a British law is well structured. The idea for a new law can come from a variety of sources: bills may be introduced by any member of either House (a Private Member's Bill), a Minister of the Crown (a Government Bill), by the general public (Public Bills), by an individual or small group of individuals (a Private Bill). The first reading is the first stage of a Bill’s passage through the House of Commons - usually a formality, it takes place without debate.

The short title of the Bill is read out and then the Bill is printed. The Bill is published as a House of Commons paper for the first time. Next stage is the second reading, the first opportunity for MPs to debate the general principles and themes of the Bill. The second reading is completed the Bill proceeds to committee stage. Committee stage is where detailed examination of the Bill takes place, clause by clause, determining the intent and impact of the bill’s language. This is therefore often considered the most important step in the parliamentary process for researchers aiming to determine legislative intent. It is at this stage that amendments are made. If the Bill has been amended the Bill is reprinted before its next stage.

When the committee stage is finished, the Bill returns to the floor of the House of Commons for its report stage, where the amended Bill can be debated and further amendments proposed. All MPs can suggest amendments to the Bill or new clauses (parts) they think should be added. The stage is normally followed immediately by debate on the Bill's third reading. Committee stage is where detailed examination of the Bill takes place, clause by clause, determining the intent and impact of the bill’s language. Amendments (proposals for change) cannot be made to a Bill at third reading in the Commons. The process in the House of Lords is very similar to the process in the House of Commons. The bill will have a pro forma first reading, then a second reading. After the second reading the bill will normally be referred to a Committee of the Whole House.

The bill then passes through a consideration stage and a third reading. In the House of Lords amendments may be made in the Committee of the Whole House, the consideration stage, and the third reading (this is different from the House of Commons where no amendments can be made in the third reading). If the Bill started in the Commons it goes to the House of Lords for its first reading. If the Bill started in the Lords it returns to the House of Lords for consideration of any amendments the Commons has made.

Both Houses must agree on the exact wording of the Bill. A Bill may go back and forth between each House (Ping Pong) until both Houses reach agreement. When a Bill has completed all its parliamentary stages in both Houses, it must have Royal Assent before it can become an Act of Parliament (law). Royal Assent is the Monarch's agreement to make the Bill into an Act and is a

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formality. When Royal Assent has been given to a Bill, the announcement is usually made in both Houses by the Lord Speaker in the Lords and the Speaker in the Commons.

The executive power is exercised by the Prime Minister and his Cabinet. The government is usually formed by the political party which is supported hy the majority in the House of Commons. The Prime Minister is the majority parly leader and is appointed hy the Queen. The Prime Minister chooses a team of ministers; twenty of the ministers are in the Cabinet. The second largest party becomes the official opposition with its own leader and the Shadow Cabinet. The two leading parties in Great Britain are the Conservative Party (the Tories) and the Labour Party.

The judiciary branch of the government determines common law and is independent both of the legislative and the executive branches. There is no writlen constitution in Great Britain, only precedents and traditions.

VOCABULARY AND COMPREHENSION EXERCISES

Exercise 5. Answer the questions:

1.What is the legislative body in the UK?

2.What does the legislative body consist of?

3.What are the steps in the legislative process?

4.What are the sources of bills?

5.Who can introduce the legislation?

6.What body exercises the legislative power in Great Britain?

7.How are the chambers of Parliament composed?

8.What body exercises the executive power?

9.How is the executive branch of the government formed?

10.What does the judiciary branch of the government do.

Exercise 6. Complete the sentences:

1.The British Parliament consists of ____________________.

2.During the first reading the short title of the Bill __________

3.The second reading is the first opportunity _______________

4.Committee stage is _______________________________.

5.Once committee stage is finished, the Bill returns to the floor of the House of Commons for its report stage, where __________________________.

6.Report stage is followed by ________________________.

7.The process in the House of Lords is ________________.

7.Royal Assent is _________________________________.

9.When Royal Assent has been given to a Bill, __________.

10.A Bill may go back and forth between ______________.

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Exercise 7. Fill in the table using the information from the text.

Topics

The Russian

The United States of

The United

 

Federation

America

Kingdom

The legislative body and its

 

 

 

structure

 

 

 

Members of each House

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Requirements for the members

 

 

 

of both Houses

 

 

 

Who can introduce the bill?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The number of steps in the

 

 

 

legislative process

 

 

 

Who signs the bill?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exercise 8. Match the words in the column A with their definitions in the column B:

 

A

 

B

 

 

 

 

1.

similar

a)

one of the two chambers of parliament in

 

 

 

Britain, whose members are elected to

 

 

 

represent a particular area of the country

 

 

 

2.

go back and forth

b) The stage, where the Bill can be debated but

 

 

 

further amendments can not be done.

 

 

 

3.

the Commons

c) looking or being almost the same, although

 

 

 

not exactly

 

 

 

4.

consideration stage

d) The stage, where the amended Bill can be

 

 

 

debated and further amendments proposed

 

 

 

5.

Westminster

e) a place where the Bill go for its first reading

 

 

 

if it is started in the Commons

 

 

 

 

6.

report stage

f)

seesaw

 

 

 

7.

the House of Lords

g) The UK parliament, or the part of London

 

 

 

where the parliament buildings are

 

 

 

 

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Exercise 9. Paraphrase the following sentences.

1.The UK public elects 650 Members of Parliament (MPs) to represent their interests and concerns in the lower house of the Parliament.

2.Committee stage is where thorough inspection of the Bill takes place.

3.Even though you know that your work would be approved, you should make a ritual of filling out all the documents.

4.The upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom meets in the Palace of Westminster.

5.They both went to Ivy League schools and have analogous backgrounds.

6.He offered a motion that the chairman resign.

7.There were only a few legal official procedures to be gone through, and he would be free to leave the country.

8.She's included a Picasso to her collection.

9.The official approval of a law by the British king or queen is called regal consent.

10.All the people in the study had low self-esteem and had running promlems at work.

Exercise 10. Translate into English:

1.Соединенное Королевство не имеет собственного текста конституции.

2.В 1998 году британский парламент утвердил Акт о правах человека, придающий Европейской конвенции по правам человека силу национального закона.

3.Акт о правах человека вступил в силу в октябре 2000 года.

4.Парламент Соединённого Королевства Великобритании и Северной Ирландии является высшим законодательным органом в Соединённом Королевстве.

5.Парламент включает в себя верхнюю палату, называемую Палата лордов, и нижнюю палату, называемую Палата общин.

6.Как общенациональный представительный орган парламент включает в себя не только обе палаты, но и монарха, «Королеву-в-Парламенте» (Crown-in-Parliament).

7.Палата лордов не выбирается, она включает в себя лордов духовных, лордов светских

(peers) и лорды по апелляциям (Lords of Appeal).

8.Палата общин − демократически избираемая палата.

9.Палата лордов и Палата общин собираются в разных помещениях Вестминстерского дворца в Лондоне.

10.По обычаю, все министры, включая премьер-министра, выбираются исключительно из состава парламента.

DISCUSSION

Exercise 1. Read the text and imagine that you are a member of the citizens advisory group to your town council. Your group has been asked to draft a new ordinance dealing with smoking