Text 1с

I. Read and translate the text. Sum up the information you’ve learned from it: tha magna carta

In 1215, the English barons forced the English King John I to sign and adopt the Magna Carta, which provided for them certain guarantees and protection against unreasonable acts of the king. Later, the Magna Carta was revised, and other documents, such as the English Bill of Rights (1689), were adopted. When the thirteen American colonies broke away form Greta Britain after the Revolutionary War, the colonists adopted the principles of the Magna Carta and the common law. These principles became the foundation of the legal system of US federal government and of all the states. Today, the two great systems of law in the Western world are the Common law of the English-speaking world and the Roman civil law found on the continent of Europe. Both systems have the same objectives, but they differ in origins and methods. The Roman civil law originated in codes (systematic collections of written rules of law) imposed on the people by the emperors of ancient Rome. In contrast, the English common law originated in decisions of judges based on widely held customs of the people. Also, English common law uniquely provides for trial by a jury of one’s peers (equals). The English colonies in America recognized the English common law as governing until July 4, 1776. After that date, existing rules were retained, but further changes in the law were made in the courts of the newly formed American country. The Common Law, with its emphasis on judges making rules of law, continues to serve well till now.

Vocabulary notes:

the Magna Carta - Великая Хартия Вольностей	to provide for - предусматривать
to force – заставлять, вынуждать	Common law – общее право
to break away – отделиться	Roman civil law – римское гражданское право
Bill of rights – Билль о правах	peer – равный, ровня
unreasonable – неразумный, необдуманный	trial–судебное разбирательство; судебный процесс, суд
objective – цель	emphasis – акцент
in contrast- в противоположность	to adopt – принимать (закон, резолюцию)

II. Answer the following questions:

1. When was the Magna Carta adopted??

2. What did the Magna Carta provide?

3. What principles of law did first American states adopt after they broke away from Great Britain?

4. How do the two great systems of law, Common law and the Roman civil law, differ?

III. The word GOVERNMENT has the following meanings in Russian:

1. государственная власть

executive government – исполнительная власть

judicial government – судебная власть

legislative government – законодательная власть

2) управление, руководство

to carry out the government of a state – осуществлять

управление государством

2. форма правления, государственное устройство, политический строй

democratic/ republican/ federal/ parliamentary government – демократическая/ республиканская/ федеральная/ парламентская форма правления

constitutional government – конституционная форма правления

a system of government – система правления

4) правительство, правительственный аппарат

Liberal/ Labour/ Conservative Government – либеральное/ лейбористское/ консервативное правительство

to form the government – сформировать правительство

Match the following English expressions with their Russian

equivalents:

1. . military government	a. постановление правительства
2. authoritarian government	b. военная администрация
3. colonial form of government	c. парламентское правление
4. government investigation	d. правительство Её Величества
5. government of the day	e. правительственные учреждения
6. government offices	f. представительная форма правления
7. government official	g. временное правительство
8. government(al) department	h. авторитарная форма правления
9. government(al) regulation	i. правительственное ведомство
10. Her Majesty’s Government	j. правительственное расследование
11. parliamentary government	k. колониальная форма государственного устройства