Government

Government is one of humankind’s oldest inventions. Government should provide for the lives, stability, economic and social well-being of citizens.

Montesquieu is the first to make the modern division of the three functions of government among three separate institutions. The concept of separation of powers is one of the principal doctrines of modern constitutionalism. Modern constitutions provide for the separate establishment of three branches for the government, i.e. legislative, executive and judicial. Government, accordingly, performs three broad functions: namely, the making laws, the administration of laws and the interpretation of laws.

The legislative power belongs to legislative bodies: parliaments. The legislature passes laws. The executive power is exercised by executive institutions: governments, Presidents and Prime Ministers. The executive carries out (enforces) laws. The judicial power is vested in judicial bodies: courts. The judiciary interprets laws and establishes justice.

According to Montesquieu no branch has more power than the other branches. They have balanced powers. Each branch has separate duties to check the powers of the other branches.

Such separation of powers and the system of checks and balances limits the power of government, safeguards liberty and protects from misusing power.

VIII. Read the text carefully and fill in the chart.

IX. Read the text again and complete the sentences.

1. Modern division among legislative, executive, and judiciary is the idea of ____ . 2. One of the principal doctrines of modern constitutionalism is the concept of ____ . 3. Government has three separate branches of power: ____, ____ and ____. 4. The legislative institution is ____ . 5. The legislature’s function is ____. 6. The executive bodies are ____, ____,____ . 7. The main function of the executive is ____ laws. 8. The judicial bodies are ____ . 9. The function of the judiciary is ____ and ____. 10. According to the system of checks and balances each branch ____ the powers of the two other branches. 11. The modern separation of powers safeguards ____ and protects from ____ power.

WORD FOCUS

X. Match the following.

A. Какой? 1. legislative 2. executive 3. judicial	B. Что? a. power b. body c. institution d. branch
C. Что делает? 1. establish 2. perform 3. make 4. administer 5. enforce 6. safeguard 7. check 8. pass 9. carry out 10. interpret	D. Что? a. functions b. laws c. liberty d. powers e. justice