What is law?

People on Earth live in contact with other people (in social groups), and this explains the need for laws: they must work and cooperate with each other. Unfortunately, some people in society behave in anti-social ways. Some individuals become irritable, some angry, some selfish, some aggressive, and some even violent. Imagine for a moment a world without laws. Someone bigger, stronger or faster could steal or take away your mobile phone, car or money or could attack or kill you. You would have to live by the law of the jungle.

on Earth – на планете Земля

unfortunately – к сожалению

irritable – раздражительный

angry – сердитый

selfish – эгоистичный

to imagine – представлять (себе)

you would have – вам бы пришлось

Laws protect people from bad» actions. The idea of law is to put limits on people’s greed and emotions, sometimes on people’s rights. As a famous judge once said, «Your right to swing your fist ends at the point where the other fellow’s nose begins».

greed – алчность, жадность

your right to swing your fist ends at the point

where the other fellow’s nose begins – твое право размахивать руками заканчивается там, где начинается нос другого человека

To ensure the security of law-abiding citizens the government provides the legal machine with the weapons of compulsion – police, courts and prisons. The police enforce the law and catch those who break it, courts apply the law and establish guilt or innocence, and prisons – punish offenders.

weapons of compulsion – орудия принуждения

to catch – ловить

to break – нарушать

Laws have several other aims. They set rules for our life. For example, laws guarantee to people who buy and sell goods, make wills and so on that the state will enforce these private arrangements. If necessary, laws will help people to settle their disputes peacefully.

aims – цели

and so on – и так далее

Finally, laws establish the system of government. The basic law of every state is its constitution. It describes the structure of government and lays down the rights and obligations of the citizens.

F. Прочитайте текст еще раз и определите, справедливы ли данные высказывания (T – true) или нет (F – false). Исправьте неверные утверждения:

1. People on Mars live in contact with each other .

2. People on Earth have to cooperate with each other.

3. Life in social groups helps people to live a better life.

4. All people live peacefully.

5. Some people can be aggressive and violent.

6. Nobody can harm your life or property.

7. The law of the jungle can’t protect all people.

8. The law limits the freedoms and rights of individuals.

9. Laws ensure the security only law-abiding citizens.

10. Police, courts and prisons are weapons of compulsion of the government.

11. The police punish offenders.

12. Courts apply the law.

13. Laws help people settle disputes peacefully.

14. The basic law of any country is its constitution.

15. The structure of government is written in the constitution.

G. Заполните пропуски в резюме (summary) текста подходящими по смыслу словами. Переведите подчеркнутые выражения:

The text explains the need for laws in society. Laws have several … . The first aim of the law is to … life and property of law-abiding citizens. That is why the government has to limit our rights and freedoms. The second aim of the law is to … the system of government. Every state provides a legal machine with the weapons of compulsion – …, …. and … . The basic law of the state is the … . It lays down the rights and obligations of the … . To sum it up, the law has an important role to play in our life.

H. Ответьте на вопросы:

1. Do you feel that the law protects you?

2. Does the law limit your personal freedom?

3. Would you like to live under the law of the jungle?

4. Who are anarchists? Do you know any famous anarchists?

5. Can you give examples of people’s anti-social behaviour?

6. Have you ever been attacked by hooligans?

7. Are you a law-abiding citizen?

8. Do you always obey (подчиняться) the rules set at your college? What are these rules?

9. What weapons of compulsion provides the government its legal machine with?

10. What does each weapon do?

11. Are there weapons of compulsion on other planets (in fantasy movies)?

12. What other functions (except protection) have laws?

13. What is the basic law of any state?