The Executive Branch

The executive power in the USA belongs to the President and his Administration. The Presidency in the USA is the highest governmental office. President in the USA is the head of the state and the government, and also the commander-in-chief of the US Armed Forces.

The Vice-president and the Cabinet assist president. The President and Vice- president are elected for a term of four years and can be reelected. The President must be a natural-born citizen of the USA and at least 35 years old, and for at least 14 years resident of the USA. The term of office of the President begins on the 2nd of January. The Presidential elections are held in two stages – in November and December. Before the elections the candidates for Presidency tour the country, meeting people and delivering speeches.

The president, as the chief formulator of public policy, often proposes legislation to Congress. The president can also veto (forbid) any bill passed by Congress. The veto can be overridden by a two-thirds vote in both the Senate and House of Representatives. President conducts foreign affairs, signs documents, appoints diplomats, Cabinet Members, federal judges with the consent and advice of the Senate.

2. Read and describe the US party system.

The major political parties. The US began as a one party political system. But gradually two-party system appeared. The present-day Democratic Party was founded in 1828, representing southern states. It united slave owners. The Republican Party was founded in 1854 and united people from Northeast, who were against slavery. The emblem of the Democratic Party is a donkey. The emblem of the Republican Party is an elephant. The main task of the parties is to win elections. One of the reasons of stability at the two party systems is family tradition to inherit politics from fathers.

3. Read the passage, find all kinds of courts existing in the USA. What is their jurisdiction?

Judiciary. The judicial branch is headed by the Supreme Court, which is the only court specifically created by the Constitution. In addition, the Congress has established 11 federal courts of appeal and, below them, 91 federal district courts. Federal judges are appointed for life or voluntary retirement, and can only be removed from office through the process of impeachment and trial in the Congress.

Federal courts have jurisdiction over cases arising out of the Constitution: laws and treaties of the United States: maritime cases; issues involving foreign citizens or governments; and cases in which the federal government itself is a party. Ordinarily, federal courts do not hear cases arising out of the laws of individual states.

The Supreme Court today consists of a chief justice and eight associate justices. With minor exceptions, all its cases reach the Court on appeal from lower federal or state courts. Most of these cases involve disputes over the interpretation of laws and legislation. In this capacity, the Court's most important function consists of determining whether congressional legislation or executive action violates the Constitution.

DEVELOPING VOCABULARY

1. Make words from the following combinations of letters:

teuxecvie, ructo, melmeb, eztinic, tigellesrau, dalefer.

2. Finish up the sentences.

1) The US began as a one party political system, but gradually …

2) The Democratic Party represented southern states and it united …

3) The Republican Party united people from North-East, who were …

4) Federal judges are appointed for life or …

5) The Supreme Court today consists of a chief justice and …

6) The Court's most important function consists of determining if congressional legislation or executive action …

3. Complete the gaps with suitable words from the texts.

1) Vice-President and the Cabinet … president.

2) The president can also … (forbid) any bill.

3) The emblem of the Democratic Party is a …

4) Most judicial cases involve … over the … of laws and legislation.

5) President must be a … citizen of the USA.

LISTENING

1. Listen to the text of the Сonstitution of the USA. As you listen take , pay attention to its structure, identify its main parts, and briefly write down the content.

2. Listen to the text again and be ready to answer the following questions:

1) What section tells about the Сonstitution before you read it?

2) How many Articles are there in the Constitution?

3) What does Article 1 say about the legislative branch?

4) What powers are granted to the Congress?

5) By whom is the executive branch represented as stated in Article II?

6) What does Article III say about the judicial branch?

7) What does Article IV tell about the form of government in the states, and their rights?

8) What does Article V say how to amend the Constitution?

9) Why does Article VI state that the Constitution is the supreme law?

10) What does Article VII tell how to ratify the Constitution?

3. Discuss the following points in small groups:

• the concept of the US Constitution

• three main principles of the Constitution

• basic rights granted by the Constitution

• government by the people

• separation of power

4. Find common features of the US Constitution and the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus, and their differences.

TALK POINT

1. Compare political systems of the USA and any other country of your choice. Identify the differences and similarities.