Language practice and comprehension check

TASK I Useful vocabulary:

adjourn, v. – to bring a meeting to a stop;

recess, n – a time for rest during a working day or year

cloture, n. – a way of ending an argument over a bill and forcing a vote on it;

rider, n – supplementary clause added to a document;

appropriation, n. – the process of setting aside money for a special purpose;

filibuster, v. – to try to delay or prevent action in lawmaking body by making very slow speeches;

an engrossed bill – the final draft of a bill

TASK II a.)Match the words on the left with their synonyms on the right:

1. to interpose a. to deprive

2. to debate b. to agree

3. to consent c. to discuss

4. to object d. to refrain

5. to abstain e. to register

6. to forfeit f. to interrupt

7. to enroll g. to oppose

b.)Match adjectives and nouns:

1. unanimous a. committee

2. immediate b. day

3. legislative c. bill

4. engrossed d. speeches

5. final e. action

6. unamended f. action

7. standing g. consent

8. available h. report

9. lengthy i. measure

TASK III Grammar to review

a.) Translate the following noun+noun combinations:

1. emergency situations

2. a unanimous consent request

3. a unanimous consent agreement

4. a time agreement

5. the five-minute limitation

6. the morning business

7. a yea-and-nay vote

b.) Translate the following passive phrases:

1. While a measure is being considered…

2. Before an amended measure is cleared for its return to the House of Representatives…

3. Each amendment is considered separately…

4. At that point consideration of the bill is discontinued…

5. Each Senator is entitled to speak once and for five minutes only…

6. Objection may be interposed at any stage of the proceedings…

7. At the time a bill is reported…

8. Bills that are not objected to are taken up in their order…

9. Once a Senator is recognized by the Presiding Officer… .

TASK IV Define the following notions:

• subject to amendment

• a legislative day

• the announcement of the close of the morning business

• to forfeit the Senator’s right to the floor

• filibustering

• cloture

• a rider

• enrollment

• the original engrossed House bill

TASK V Answer the following questions:

1. What principle does the Senate rely heavily on?

2. How may measures reported by standing committees be considered?

3. What kinds of unanimous consent are used?

4. What period does a legislative day cover?

5. When may a debate continue longer?

6. How long may a Senator speak on one question in debate?

7. How can filibustering be closed?

8. How do Senators vote?

9. What is the procedure of the engrossed bills?

TASK VI Issues to discuss:

1. The rule of the unanimous consent.

2. The legislative day.

3. The voting in the Senate.

TASK VII Agree or disagree with the following quotations:

Man is not free unless government is limited. As government expands, liberty ends.

Ronald Reagan, 1911-2004,

40^th President of the USA.