Unit 4 the republic of belarus (political system)

GETTING STARTED

• Have you studied the political system of Belarus at school?

• What are the English terms to call our major political institutions?

USEFUL VOCABULARY

1. Study the following words and word-combinations. Check their pronunciation with your dictionary.

House of Representatives Council of the Republic amendment n foreign and domestic policy impeachment trial consistency n gradualness n continuity n gear v suffrage n secret ballot consent n dissolve v delineation n

Палата представителей Совет Республики поправка внешняя и внутренняя политика испытание импичмента последовательность постепенность непрерывность приспосабливать избирательное право тайное голосование согласие распасться, распустить план, очерчивание

READING

1. Read the text about political system of the Republic of Belarus carefully.

Belarus is a presidential republic, governed by a president and the National Assembly. In accordance with the constitution, the president is elected once every five years. The National Assembly is a bicameral parliament comprising the 110-member House of Representatives (the lower house) and the 64-member Council of the Republic (the upper house).

The House of Representatives shall consist of 110 deputies. The election of deputies to the House of Representatives shall be carried out in accordance with the law on the basis of universal, equal, free, direct electoral suffrage and by secret ballot.

The House of Representatives has the power to appoint the prime minister, make constitutional amendments, call for a vote of confidence on the prime minister, and make suggestions on foreign and domestic policy.

The Council of the Republic shall be a chamber of territorial representation. The Council of the Republic consists of eight deputies from every region (oblast) and the city of Minsk, elected at the meetings of deputies of local Councils of deputies of the base level of every region (oblast) and the city of Minsk from their ranks. Eight members of the Council of the Republic shall be appointed by the President of the Republic of Belarus. The Council of the Republic has the power to select various government officials, conduct an impeachment trial of the president, and accept or reject the bills passed by the House of Representatives. Each chamber has the ability to veto any law passed by local officials if it is contrary to the Constitution of Belarus.

The Parliament - the National Assembly is a representative and legislative body of the Republic of Belarus. Elections for a new composition of the chambers of Parliament shall be set no later than four months and held no later than 30 days prior to the expire of the powers of the current Parliament.

Executive power in the Republic of Belarus shall be exercised by the Government - the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus - the central body of state administration. The Government in its activity shall be accountable to the President of the Republic of Belarus and responsible to the Parliament of the Republic of Belarus. The Government of the Republic of Belarus shall consist of the Prime minister, his deputies and ministers. The heads of other central bodies of state administration may be members of the Government.

The Prime minister shall be appointed by the President of the Republic of Belarus with the consent of the House of Representatives. The decision to this order shall be taken by the House of Representatives within two weeks since the nomination of the candidacy of the Prime minister. If the House of Representatives rejects the submitted nomination of the Prime minister twice, the President shall appoint the acting Prime minister on his own, and dissolve the House of Representatives and call new elections.

Since 1994, Alexander Lukashenko has been the president of Belarus.

The courts shall exercise judicial power in the Republic of Belarus. The judicial system shall be based upon the principles of territorial delineation and specialization.

The judiciary comprises the Supreme Court and specialized courts such as the Constitutional Court, which deals with specific issues related to constitutional and business law. The judges of national courts are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Council of the Republic. For criminal cases, the highest court of appeal is the Supreme Court. The Belarusian Constitution forbids the use of special extrajudicial courts.

2. Decide if the following statements are true or false. Correct the wrong ones.

1) The National Assembly shall consist of 110 deputies.

2) The election of deputies to the House of Representatives shall be carried out in accordance with the law on the basis of universal, equal, free, direct electoral suffrage and by open ballot.

3) Eight members of the Council of the Republic shall be dismissed by the President of the Republic of Belarus.

4) The Government in its activity shall be accountable to the Prime Minister.

5) The judges of national courts are appointed by the president and confirmed by the House of Representatives.

DEVELOPING VOCABULARY

1. Give synonyms to the following words.

impeachment

ballot

delineation

a House of Parliament

to be subject to

2. Insert suitable words into the gaps.

1) The … of the Republic consists of eight … from every … (oblast) and the city of Minsk.

2) The … of deputies to the House of Representatives shall be … in accordance with the law on the basis of universal, equal, free, direct electoral … and by secret… .

3) The heads of other central … of state administration may be members of the… .

4) The President shall … the acting Prime minister on his own, and … the House of Representatives and … new elections.

5) The … system shall be based upon the principles of territorial … and… .

LISTENING / WATCHING

1. Watch a video about the relations between Belarus and the European Union. Discuss the following issues:

• the strategy of the Republic of Belarus in relation to the EU voiced by its Foreign Minister Mr. Martynov

• the approaches of the critics of the European integration of Belarus

• Republic of Belarus as a bridge on the main crossroads between the East and the West

• the double standards used by the European Union hindering the development of the bilateral fruitful co-operation

2. Assume that you are politicians, in groups of four decide what must be done to fully normalize the relations between Belarus and the EU. Share your views with the whole class.

TALK POINT

Describe the political system of the Republic of Belarus briefly.

WRITING

Express your point of view about the most perspective directions of Belarus foreign relations development in a written form.