Britain is a founder member of the United Nations' and one of the five permanent members of the Security Council^г. Britain is fully com­mitted to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.

Britain is a member of the European Union³.

Notes on the Text

¹ the United Nations (the UN) - Организация Объединенных Наций ¹ the Security Council - Совет Безопасности ¹ the European Union - Европейский Союз

Vocabulary List

State System — система государствен­ной власти

constitutional monarchy — конституци­онная монархия

monarch n — монарх

queen n — королева

king n — король

absolute adj - абсолютный

parliament n — парламент

comprise v — включать

ruling body — орган управления

ancient adj — древний

the executive n — исполнительная власть

integral part — неотъемлемая часть the legislature « - законодательная власть

the judiciary " — судебная власть reign v — царствовать rule v - править

summon v — созывать (парламент) prorogue v — назначать перерыв в ра­боте парламента

dissolve v - распускать парламент make appointments -делать назначения dismiss у—освобождать от должности

conclude a treaty - заключить дога вор cancel а treaty — аннулировать договор declare war — объявлять войну make peace — заключать мир supreme legislative body - высший за­конодательный орган legislate bills — издавать законы chamber n — палата (парламента) the House of Lords — палата лордов the House of Commons - палата общин elect v — выбирать, избирать inherit v — наследовать universal suffrage - всеобщее избира­тельное право

term n — срок, срок полномочий department и — зд. министерство abolish v — ликвидировать, упразд­нять

transfer v- зд. переводить, передавать функции

founder n — основатель

permanent member — постоянный член

be committed to - быть привержен­ным чему-л.

charter n - хартия, устав

Comprehension

• Read Text В and give answers to the questions.

1. What does the constitutional monarchy mean?

2. What bodies does the British state system consist of?

3. How old is the monarchy in the UK?

4. What role does the monarch play?

5. What specific powers does the monarch have?

6. What is the supreme legislative body of the UK?

7. How do the House of Commons and the House of Lords differ?

8. What body is responsible tor the administration of national affairs?

9. Who are the ministers and the prime minister appointed by? 10. What organisations is the UK a member of?

Grammar and Lexis

E\. 7. Write out from Text В international words (e.g. monarchy), transcribe and Irans-lalc them.

Ex. 8. a) Rewrite the sentences from Text В about the monarch's powers saying what is done/can be done by the British monarch.

far example: Parliament is summoned by the Queen.

b) Rewrite the sentences from Text В about the functions of Parliament saying what is done by Parliament.

Ex. 9. Practise these words and word combinations.

to comprise

Syn. to consist of, to contain, to make up

1. Translate into Russian:

1. Fifteen republics comprised the USSR.

2. The United Kingdom comprises England, Wales, Scotland, and North­ ern Ireland.

3. The US consists of 50 states.

4. The book is made up of separate stories.

5. The course is comprised of separate modules.

2. Rewrite these sentences keeping a similar meaning. Use the synonyms.

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federal government — wi система феде­ральной власти branch of power — ветвь масти

body (зд. орган власти)

1. Make sure you know Ihe word combinations, then make up your own sentences with them:

governing

ruling

legislative

executive body

judiciary

professional

official

2. Answer the questions, compare your answers with a partner.

1. What is the main legislative body in Russia?

2. What is the main executive body in Russia?

3. What is the main judiciary body in Russia?

4. Do you know any professional bodies in Russia?

to appoint, appointed, to have (make, keep) an appointment

1. Study the illustrative sentences:

1. I have an appointment with my dentist at ten o'clock tomorrow.

2. Can ] make an appointment with the doctor for Friday?

3. I'm sorry ] can't keep the appointment.

4. He has been appointed managing director. He is proud of his appoint­ ment.

5. The president makes the most important appointments.

2. Answer the questions:

1. What do you do when you can't keep an appointment?

2. What do businessmen do when they can't keep an appointment?

to elect

1. Answer the questions:

1. What kind of people do we elect to governing bodies?

2. Are all members in our Parliament elected?

3. Are all British MPs elected?

4. What kind of people are elected to preside at meetings?

2. Translate into English. Remember that zero article (нулевой артикль) is used with nouns in Ihe singular meaning position nr title after the verbs: to elect, to appoint, to make. For example: They made him head leather.

1. Он был назначен премьер-министром.

2. Она была выбрана председателем комитета.

3. Его сделали управляющим компании.

4. Его сделали секретарем компании.

5. Она была назначена главой делегации.

to cancel

Complete the sentences:

4. The visit will he cancelled ....

5. The treaiyhas been cancelled..,.

1. The contract was cancelled ....

2. The meeting will be cancelled....

3. The hockey match was cancelled

to transfer

Translate into Russian:

1. The teacher transferred the class to the next week.

2. He was transferred to anolher department.

3. Our office will be transferred to a new building soon.

4. The required sums of money were transferred to the municipal authority.

5. Let's transfer to another classroom.

6. The young football player is hoping to transfer to another team,

Ex. 10. a) Inserl the articles where necessary, b) Write questions to the text, e) Compare ynnr questions with your partner's questions.

The United States is ... federal union of 50 stales plus one independent district - the District of Columbia. Forty-nine stales, including Alaska, form ... continental United Slates. The 50"¹ state is the state of Hawaii which is... group of islands in ... Pacific Ocean. The capital city - Washington - is situ­ated in the Dislricl of Columbia. Washington is... seat of the Federal Govern­ment.

The Federal Government is made up of three branches of power - the executive, the legislative and the judicial branches. The executive power is vested in ... President Vice-Presidem and the Presidenl's Cabinet. Secretar­ies who form the Cabinei conducl the administrative business of... nation. The whole legislative power is vested in the Congress, consisting of Ihe Senate and the House of Representatives. It is where ... laws are made and adopted.

The judicial branch is headed by ... Supreme Court.

Words and word combinations you may need

vest v — облекать пластью

the Supreme Court - Верховный суд

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Ex. 11, я) Open the brackets pulling the verbs in the correct form, b) Compare respon­sibilities of local governments in England with those of Russian local govern­ments.