Text 2. The Need for Law

I. Read and translate the text.

People need laws, because they can't live according to the law of the jungle. Without laws, criminals could terrorise the whole society by robbing and murdering innocent people.

So, laws protect people from robbers and murderers. They also help the citizens to solve their conflicts without violence.

People regulate the life of society by laws. But laws are not perfect. So, legislators in all countries are making new and better laws, which, nevertheless, get imperfect with the time. But imperfect laws are better than no laws at all.

Vocabulary

the law of the jungle robber murderer violence perfect legislator

законы джунглей грабитель убийца насилие совершенный законодатель

II. Answer the following questions.

1. Why is society in need of law?

2. What could happen to people if there were no laws?

3. How do laws help people to regulate their life?

4. Can laws be perfect all the time?

5. Who are new laws made by?

Text 2. Solon

I. Read and translate the text.

Solon was an outstanding Greek statesman and lawgiver. He revised Draco's severe code of laws and drew a more humane code. In Draco's code nearly all crimes were punished by death, no matter how serious they were. In Solon's code, only murder was punished by death.

Solon's code of laws helped his countrymen to solve their social, economic and political problems. It prevented a revolution and dictatorship in Athens. Solon believed in law and reform, and not in revolution, which he considered to be very dangerous for society.

Vocabulary

statesman lawgiver Draco code

государственный деятель законодатель Драконт, афинский государственный деятель (7 в. до н. э.) кодекс

II. Answer the following questions.

1. What was Solon and what country did he live in?

2. Which of his doings brought him fame?

3. How did Solon’s code differ from Draco’s one?

4. In what way was Solon’s code useful for his countrymen?

5. What did Solon believe in?

Text 3. The Magna Carta

I. Read the text and do the tasks following it.

The Magna Carta is an important document that played a great role in the life of British society. It was signed by King John in 1215. The King had to sign the Magna Carta in order to prevent a civil war.

The Magna Carta limited the power of the monarch. Under the Magna Carta, the King could not punish his citizens without a fair trial. It also protected people from unjust imprisonment and loss of property. Besides, the King had to agree that certain taxes could not be levied without popular consent.

The Magna Carta originally was meant to protect one class, the aristocracy, but with the time, it became the basis of British democracy. It is one of the oldest written constitutional papers.