Text 10

1. Read and translate the text.

THE SYSTEM OF LAW IN RUSSIA

Law is a system of rules established by the state. The main aim of law is to consolidate and safeguard the social and state system and its economic foundation. The system of law in our country consists of different branches of law.

Constitutional law is the leading branch of the whole system of law. Its principal source is the country’s Constitution. It deals with social structure, the state system, organization of state power and the legal status of citizens.

Administrative law is closely connected with constitutional law but it deals with legal forms of concrete executive and administrative activity of the government and ministries.

Financial law regulates the budget, taxation, state credits and other spheres of financial activity.

Civil law is connected with relations in the economic sphere of social life, relations involving property, its distribution and exchange. The right of property is the central establishment of civil law.

The rules of labour law include legislation on the labour of industrial and office workers and regulate matters arising from labour relations.

Criminal law defines the general principles of criminal responsibility, individual types of crimes and punishment applied to criminals. Criminal law takes the form of a criminal code which consists of a general and special part.

II. Answer the questions.

1. What is law?

2. What is the main aim of law?

3. What branches of law does the system of law in Russia consist of?

4. What does each branch of law deal with?

5. What does Financial law regulate?

3. Find in the text the equivalents of the following words and expressions.

Устанавливать, отрасли права, источник права, принимать форму кодекса, применять наказание, нормы права ( господство закона), право собственности, происходить, рассматривать.

IV. Write down sentences with the following idioms.

1.Open confession is good for the soul. Откровенное признание облегчает душу.

2.Every crime brings its own punishment. Каждому преступлению последует наказание.

TEXT 11

1. Read and translate the text.

THE LAW AND THE FAMILY

Beyond the mere function of providing a new generation of children, the family is often promoted for its moral contribution to society. Despite a growing labour shortage, the Japanese government has passed very little legislation challenging the assumption that mothers should stay at home rather than go out to work. In Ireland, which is strongly influenced by the doctrines of the Catholic Church, divorce remains illegal.

In some societies the family is thought to be so important that there is very little legal intervention in family life. In many Islamic countries, for example, fathers, brothers and sons are allowed considerable authority over the females in their family.

In many parts of the world, the law now promotes the rights of individuals within the family unit, and regulates family relations through legislation. Raised from the taxes of the working population as a whole, Child Benefit is paid directly to the mother, and retirement pensions are paid to grandparents, so that they are less dependent upon financial support from a family member.

In Sweden, parents can be prosecuted for physical punishing their children and children have a limited capacity to divorce their parents. In Britain, as in many countries, there are special family courts with very strong powers to control and transfer private property in the interests of children. In general, the welfare of children is the biggest concern of family law. Much of the work of other courts is also directly relevant to family life. The laws in most countries places more emphasis upon marriages le­gally registered than social arrangements whereby people live together. In Japan, some couples prefer not to register their marriage because the law requires one of them to give up his or her name in favor of the other. In Britain, children born outside legitimate marriages have fewer rights to financial support from estranged fathers than legitimate children.

2. Answer the questions.

1. What is the main function of the family?

2. Is there the difference between the family law in some countries?

3. How does family law protect the welfare of children?

4. In what countries are there special family courts?

5. Can parents be prosecuted for physical punishing their children?

3. Find in the text the equivalents of the following words and expressions.

Законодательство, дефицит рабочей силы, правовое вмешательство, пособие на ребенка, преследовать в судебном порядке, физическое наказание, имеющий (прямое) отношение к семейной жизни.

IV. Write down sentences with the following idioms.

1.Stolen waters are sweet. Запретный плод сладок. С чужого огорода ягода слаще.

2.A good name is better than riches. Репутация лучше всех богатств.