Political system of Russia

The Russian Federation is a Presidential (or a constitutional) republic. The President is the head of the state and is elected directly by the people. In fact he has much power, he controls all the three branches of power. The President can even dissolve the Duma if he doesn't agree with his suggestions three times rinning. The President has his administration, but it's not part of the Federal Government. The President is involved in the work of the legislative and executive branches.

The Federal Assembly represents the Legislative branch of power. It's made up of the two houses: the Federation Counsil and the State Duma, which make laws. The Federal Assembly is also calld the Parlamrnt, but it's not its oficial name. Both chambers are headed by chairmen sometimes called speakers. The Duma consists of 450 deputies (one half is elected personally py the population, and the other half consists of the deputies who are appointed by their parties after voting). The members of the Federation Counsil are elected on a different basis. There are two representatives of each subject of the RF (89 subjects). Every law to be adapted must be approved by the State Duma, the Counsil of Federation and signed by the President. The President can veto laws passed by the Federal Assembly, but it can pass laws over the President's veto a two-thirds majority.

The Federal Government represents the executive branch of power. The President appoints its head, the Chainman of the Government, but the Dums must approve his appointment.

The juridical branch of power consists of the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court and lower Courts. The responsibility of the Constitutional Court is to analyse the new laws to make sure they correspond to the laws of the state. The Constitutional Court has tte right to declare actions of the President, the Federal Assembly and the Federal Government unconstitutional. The Supreme Court is the higest instance for civil and criminal cases.

Olya invites Mary to her house

Olya and Mary are schoolgirls. They study in an eleven-year school in Sosnovka.  Olya lives in Green Street. Her father is a doctor. The family lives near the hospital. There are two big houses there. They live in one of them. The house consists of five rooms. The doctor's family is large. There are six of them: Father, Mother, two sons and two daughters.  One day Olya invites Mary to show her their house and take tea with the family. Mary thanks Olya for her invitation. It is Saturday. The family is at home.  When Mary comes Olya welcomes her and says, "Good afternoon!" Mary answers, "Good afternoon!" Olya introduces Mary to her father, mother, sister and brothers.

Before they have tea Olya shows her friend their house. "This is the dining-room, it is the biggest room of the house. On the right you see Father's study, it is smaller than the other rooms. On the left there is the living-room, it is a little smaller than the dining-room. Opposite there are two bedrooms. This is our bedroom. My sister and I sleep in it. And that is my brothers' bedroom. The rooms are not large but we like them very much. This is the kitchen and that is our bathroom. And how many rooms are there in your house?" "We have three rooms. Our rooms are not so large as yours. We have a small house and a little garden behind the house. In the garden there are many beautiful flowers and beds with vegetables."