- •Утверждено и рекомендовано решением
- •В качестве учебного пособия
- •Chapter I law Unit 1 Introduction to Law
- •Introduction to Law
- •Vocabulary
- •Vocabulary tasks
- •The Aims of Law
- •In trouble with the law law-abiding my word is law
- •Unit 2 What Law Is
- •What Is Law?
- •Social Morality, Rules and Laws
- •Vocabulary
- •Chapter II sources of law Unit 3 Sources of English Law
- •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
- •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
- •Unit 6 British Constitution
- •The Nature of the Constitution
- •Vocabulary
- •Vocabulary tasks
- •Unit 7 us Constitution
- •Founding of the United States
- •Vocabulary
- •Vocabulary tasks
- •Unit 8 The Constitution of the Russian Federation
- •The New Russian Constitution
- •Amendments to the Constitution
- •Vocabulary
- •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
- •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 V law enforcement Unit 14 Law Enforcement Bodies
- •Text a Role of Government
- •Text b Role of Police Force
- •Vocabulary
- •Vocabulary tasks
- •Unit 15 Enforcing the Law in Britain
- •Text a The English Legal System
- •Vocabulary
- •Text b The British Police
- •Vocabulary
- •Vocabulary tasks
- •Identify showing murder investigation found dead
- •Unit 16 Law Enforcement in the usa
- •Text a Protecting the Rights of the Accused
- •Text b Police Technology in the usa
- •Vocabulary
- •Vocabulary tasks
- •Federal Bureau of Investigation
- •Vocabulary
- •Vocabulary tasks
- •Unit 17 Law Enforcement in the Russian Federation
- •Text a Law Enforcement of Today
- •Vocabulary
- •Text b Application of Law Enforcement
- •Vocabulary
- •Vocabulary tasks
- •Chapter VI the courts Unit 18 The Court System of the uk
- •Text a Judicial Institutions
- •Text b Classification of the English Courts
- •Text c The Hierarchy of the Courts
- •Restrictions
- •Vocabulary
- •It is useful to know
- •For you to know
- •Vocabulary tasks
- •Text d Courts of England and Wales
- •Judicial organization
- •Unit 19 The u.S. Court System
- •Text a Understanding the u.S. Court System
- •State Courts
- •A Typical State Judicial System
- •Federal Courts
- •Text b Jurisdictions of the Federal and State Court Systems
- •The Federal Judicial System
- •9 Justices
- •12 Circuits
- •Vocabulary
- •Vocabulary tasks
- •Text c The Miranda Warning
- •Vocabulary
- •Unit 20 The Court System of the Russian Federation
- •The Court Structure
- •Vocabulary
- •Vocabulary tasks
- •Text b Jurisdiction of Courts
- •The Constitutional Court
- •Jurisdiction of the Courts of General Jurisdiction
- •The Supreme Court of the Russian Federation
- •Vocabulary
- •Vocabulary tasks
- •Text c The Courts of the Subjects of the Russian Federation
- •Text d The Arbitrazh Court of the Russian Federation.
- •Jurisdiction of the Federal Arbitrazh Circuit Court as the Court of the First Instance
- •Vocabulary
- •Vocabulary tasks
- •Opening remarks at Meeting with the Judges of the Russian Court
- •Contents
- •Legal English - 1
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.
B Complete the text with an appropriate preposition from the box.
above against among by for
in of on within
|
There are also laws which enable citizens to take legal action 1) ______ the state – against, for example, a public authority or even against the government itself. These actions are part of constitutional law.
As knowledge of the law has increased 2) ______ the general public, so have the number and range of constitutional law cases.
A constitution is the political and ideological structure 3) ______ which a system 4) ______ laws operates. Most countries have a formal written constitution describing how laws are to be made and enforced. The French Constitution, for example, sets a seven year term of office 5)_____ the president; the US Constitution sets a four year term. In Switzerland, a referendum (national vote) must be held 6) ______ any issue for which a petition signed 7) ______ 10,000 people has been gathered; in Ireland, referenda are to be used only in the case of changes in the constitution itself. 8) ______ Germany, a change in the constitution requires a special majority vote in parliament, not the simple majority necessary for other laws. Many other countries put the constitution 9) _______ other laws by making it difficult to change.
Over to you
For discussion:
Can a person or society as a whole live without any constitution? Are there any examples of this?