Контрольное задание n 4 Вариант 1

1. Напишите слова, от которых образованы данные: carefully, gaining, misusing, governmental, powerful, comparison, leader, majority, presidential, unconstitutional.

2. По формальным признакам определите группу подлежащего и сказуемого в предложении.

In fact and in practice, therefore, the President is not as powerful as many people outside the US seem to think he is.

3. Напишите транскрипцию следующих слов и запомните их чтение: government, power, law, official, judge, compromise, extremes, executive.

4. Прочитайте текст и найдите интернациональные слова, определите их значение.

Checks and Balances.

The Constitution provides for three main branches of government which are separate and distinct from one another. The powers given to each are carefully balanced by the powers of the other two. Each branch serves as a check on the others. This is to keep any branch from gaining too much power or from misusing its powers.

Congress has the power to make laws, but the President may veto any act of Congress. Congress, in its turn, can override a veto by a two-thirds vote in each house. Congress can also refuse to provide funds requested by the President. The President can appoint important officials of his administration, but they must be approved by the Senate. The President also has the power to name all federal judges; they, too, must be approved by the Senate. The courts have the power to determine the constitutionality of all acts of Congress and of presidential actions, and to strike down those they find unconstitutional.

The system of checks and balances makes compromise and consensus necessary. Compromise is also a vital aspect of other levels of government in the United States. This system protects against extremes. It means, for example, that new presidents cannot radically change governmental policies just as they wish. In the US, therefore, when people think of “the government”, they usually mean the entire system, that is, the Executive Branch and the President, Congress, and the courts. In fact and in practice, therefore, the President (i.e. “the Administration”) is not as powerful as many people outside the US seem to think he is. In comparison with other leaders in systems where the majority party forms “the government”, he is much less so.

V. Найдите в тексте английские эквиваленты следующих слов и словосочетаний:

1. получить слишком большую власть

2. зависеть от

3. политика правительства

4. партия большинства

5. отклонить вето президента

6. одобрить

7. по сравнению с

VI. Прочтите предложения. Выразите ту же мысль иначе.

1. The system of checks and balances protects against extremes.

2. Each branch serves as a check on the others and is dependent on the other two.

VII. Определите, соответствуют ли данные предложения содержанию текста:

1. The ultimate power under the Constitution is given to the President or to the executive branch.

2. The courts can’t declare presidential acts unconstitutional.

3. Any president can radically change governmental policies in the US.

VIII. Ответьте на вопросы:

1. How are the powers of the President (Congress, the Supreme Court) limited by the system of checks and balances?

2. What is the role of compromise in the American system of running the country?

3. Why do people abroad tend to exaggerate the power of the US President?

IX. Прочитайте текст. Заполните пропуски в тексте словами и словосочетаниями, используя их в соответствующей форме. Переведите текст на русский язык.

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constitution; federal; law;

structure; government; to govern;

voter; to vote; to be elected (2);

national; responsibility; to be appointed;

to name; violation; to be removed from office.

The United States is (a) ______ union of 50 states, with District of Columbia as the seat of the (b)______ government. The Constitution outlines (c)______of the national government and specifies its powers and activities. Other government activities are the (d)______ of the individual states, which have their own (e)______ and (f)______. Within each state there are counties, townships, cities and villages, each of which has its own elective (g)_____.

All government in the United States is “of, by and for the people”. Members of Congress, the President, state officials and those who (h)_____counties and cities (i)______by popular vote. The President (j)_____ the heads of federal departments while judges are either (k)______ directly by the people or (l)______ by elected officials. (m)______ mark unsigned ballots in private booths, so that no one else can find out for whom a citizen (n)______. Public officials may (o)______ for failing to perform their duties properly, as well as for serious (p)______ of law.