Language practice and comprehension check

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TERMS AND NOTIONS

administration (often Administration)-the government of the country, especially the US.

Affiliation-a person’s connection with a political party.

Discretionary (power)-decided according to the judgment of a person in authority about what is necessary in each particular situation; not decided by rules.

The civil service-the government departments in a country, except the armed forces, and the people who work for them.

TASK I Consult a dictionary to find the meanings of the following words and word combinations in the text.

Active vocabulary.

official n., adj. officer n. executive officer

complement n., v.

remove v. removal n.

subordinate adj., n., v.

manage v.

nominate v.( smb. to / as smth.) nomination n. nominee n.

by (on, at, under) smb.’s advice

with consent

clause n.

confirmation n. confirm v.

qualification n. qualify v.

citizenship n.

competence n.

in conformance with smth.

precedent n.

provision n.

position n.

civil service

scope n.

available adj.

inferior adj.

TASK II Match the words with their definitions. Make up sentences about the major duties of the President of the Russian Federation using the words.

1. official n. a. to dismiss smb. from their position

or job.

2. confirmation n. b. an item in a legal document that says that a particular thing must or must not be done.

3. remove v. c. a thing that adds new qualities to

smth. in a way that improves it or makes it more attractive.

4. subordinate adj. d. to control or be in charge of a business, a team, an organization, etc.

5. manage v. e. a statement, letter, etc. that shows that smth. is true, correct or definite.

6. nominate v. f. having less power or authority than smb. else in a group or an organization.

7. complement n. g. a similar action or event that happened earlier.

8 clause n. h. a person who is in a position of authority in a large organization.

9. qualification n. i. the range of things that a subject, an organization, an activity, etc, deals with.

10. citizenship n. j. the government departments in a country, except the armed forces, and the people who work for them.

11. precedent n. k. lower in position.

12. civil service l. able to be had, obtained, used, seen,etc.

13. scope n. m. an ability, quality, or record of experience that makes a person suitable for a particular job or .position.

14. available adj. n. the legal right to belong to a particular country.

15. inferior adj. o. to choose smb. to do a particular job.

TASK III Fill in the correct word in the appropriate grammar form. Use the list of the active vocabulary.

1. There has been no official … of the report.

2. She has all the right … to be a good manager.

3. Such protests are without … in recent history.

4. We tried to find out the Senator’s opinion on this matter, but he was not … for comment.

5. The elections … the government from power.

6. You can apply for … after five years’ residency.

7. Our powers are limited in … .

8. The document doesn’t provide for this kind of … .

9. Who has the right to appoint … officers?

10. A fine wine is a good … to a good meal.

11. I … … … to the committee.

12. We need people who can … the project.

13. All other considerations are … to our need for steady profits.

TASK IV Find the Russian equivalents to the following words and word combinations. Reproduce the sentences with them from the text.

Challenging Vocabulary.

office n. 1) a room, set of rooms or building where peoplе work, usually sitting at desks.

2) an important position of authority especially in government, the work and duties connected with this.

pertain v. (to smth. )(formal) to have a connection with; concern.

affiliate v.(with / to smth.) to join or connect (especially to a larger group)

affiliation n. (with smth. )

political affiliation a person’s connection with a political party.

discretionary adj.(formal) decided according to the judgment of a person in authority about what is necessary in each particular situation, not decided by rules.

TASK V Fill in the correct word in the appropriate grammar form. Use the list of the challenging vocabulary.

1. The company is moving to new … in New York.

2. You may be eligible for a … grant for your university course.

3. Any inquires … to the granting of planning permission should be addressed to the Town Hall.

4. The group … not … to any political party.

5. Our party has been in … for three years.

TASK VI Add at least three nouns to each of the following verbs to form word combinations.

Appoint v., remove v., manage v., carry out v., fill v., nominate v., vest v., provide v., limit v.

TASK VII Change the form of the words by adding negative prefixes.

Subordinate adj., necessary, manage v., proper, professional adj., competence, steady, available.

TASK VIII a) Match the words on the left with their synonyms on the right. Make up sentences or word combinations with them.

1. power a. nominate

2. appoint b. duty

3. responsibility c. authority

4. to provide d. convention

5. statute e. to fulfill

6. to pertain f. position

7. in conformance with g. to restrict

8. custom h. in accordance with

9. to limit i. range

10. scope j. to be connected with

11. office k. to stipulate

12. to carry out l. law

b) Match the words on the left with their antonyms on the right. Make up sentences or word combinations with them.

1. to appoint a. to abolish

2. to manage b. to neglect

3. to narrow c. to increase

4. to create d. unavailable

5. to reduce e. refusal

6. available f. to wider

7. to carry out (duties) g. mismanage

8. consent n. h. superior

9. inferior i. to remove

TASK IX Make up sentences with the following phrases using the text.

• the president’s power to appoint and remove

• to manage the executive branch

• to be responsible for carrying out the duties

• the article provides that …

• to vest the appointment in

• appointment with (without) Senate Confirmation

• to exercise power

• statutory provisions established by

• to narrow the range

• the steady addition of positions

• the scope of the president’s exercise of the appointment power

• available for presidential appointments

• to decide cases

TASK X Complete the sentences using the verbs in the appropriate grammar form. Then consult the text and explain the usage. Translate the sentences into Russian.

1. Members of the president’s administration are responsible for carrying out the duties of the office they … … … (to select) to fill.

2. Article II provides that the president … … (to nominate), and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, … … (to appoint) ambassadors … .

3. Congress exercises no power to appoint executive officers though it may … (to set) qualifications for offices … (to establish) by statute.

4. The appointment power of the president … … … (to exercise) in conformance with a blend of historical precedents, custom, constitutional requirements and statutory provisions … (to establish) by Congress. … . 5. The court … … (to decide) only a few cases with respect to the appointment process but the decisions … (to make),… (to begin) with Marbury V. Madison, control the president’s power to nominate and appoint and limit his discretionary exercise of the removal power.

TASK XI Paraphrase the sentences paying attention to the underlined parts of the sentences. You may transform the structure of the sentences.

1. The president’s power to appoint and remove those subordinate officials was a necessary complement to his power to manage the executive branch.

2. The Congress may by law vest the appointment of such inferior officers in the Presidents alone, in the courts of law or in the heads of departments.

3. Congress exercises no power to appoint executive officers though it may set qualifications for offices established by statute.

4. Congressional requirements usually have pertained to citizenship, grade, residence, age, political affiliation and professional competence.

5. Congress has narrowed the range of officers over whom the president has the discretionary appointment power.

6. The creation of the Civil Service Commission and the steady addition of positions to the professional civil service list have reduced the scope of the president’s exercise of the appointment power.

TASK XII Study the information.

1) Article II, section 2, mentioned in the text, is an extract from the Constitution of the United States (1787).

2) Marbury v. Madison first decision of the Supreme Court of the USA (1803) to declare an act of Congress unconstitutional, thus establishing the doctrine of judicial review.

TASK XIII Translate into Russian.

1. The president’s power to appoint and remove those subordinate officials was a necessary complement to his power to manage the executive branch. Members of the president’s administration are responsible for carrying out the duties of the office they have been selected to fill and to serve the president who appointed them.

2. The president shall nominate’ and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate shall appoint ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, judges of the Supreme court and all other offices of the US, whose appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by law; but the Congress may by law vest the appointment of such inferior officers, as they think proper, in the Presidents alone, in the courts of law or in the heads of departments.

3. Congress exercises no power to appoint executive officers though it may set qualifications for offices established by statute. Congressional requirements usually have pertained to citizenship, grade, residence, age, political affiliation and professional competence.

4. Congress has narrowed the range of officers over whom the president has the discretionary appointment power. The creation of the Civil Service Commission and the steady addition of positions to the professional civil service list has reduced the scope of the president’s exercise of the appointment power.

TASK XIV Read the text again and answer the questions.

1. Which appointment power does the President exercise?

2. What methods of appointment does the Constitution provide for?

3. Is Congress authorized to appoint executive officers?

4. What is the scope of the president’s exercise of the appointment power? Which measures have narrowed the president’s range of appointments?

5. Has the court ever decided any cases with respect to the appointment process?

TASK XV Discussion points.

1. How important is the principle of the separation of powers in the USA?

2. What appointment power does the President of the Russian Federation exercise?

Compare his appointment powers with those of the American President.

Use the following phrases:

In my opinion... In my view… I would like to stress that… I would like to emphasize that… It should be noted that… In other words… I am certain… Among other things I would like to mention...