Кузнецова Н.Н. Английский язык. Под ред. И.А. Горшененой

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All these things can be changed by new Acts of Parliament, by the judges, and by new conventions.

The US Constitution was adopted in 1788. It consists of the Preamble and seven articles. The Federal Constitution defines the structure of the national government, its powers and activities. All other powers belong to the states, the counties and cities which have their own governments.

The US Constitution has 27 amendments. The first 10, called the «Bill of Rights», establish certain individual liberties.

Упр. 5. Ответьте на вопросы к тексту

1.What is a constitution?

2.What does it define?

3.What are the fundamental rights of the citizens?

4.What are the basic duties of the citizens?

5.What does the British Constitution consist of?

6.When was the American Constitution adopted?

7.How many amendments are there in the American Constitution?

8.How are the first ten amendments of the American Constitution called?

Упр. 6. Переведите словосочетания, обращая внимание на значение слов с отрицательными приставками -un, -in, -il

a developed state - an undeveloped child;

a written constitution – an unwritten law (Common Law); a usual day routine – an unusual decision;

a popular song – unpopular ideas; equal partners – unequal rights;

Constitutional Law – an unconstitutional law; an official symbol – an unofficial visit;

a dependent country – an independent state.

Упр. 7. Переведите на русский язык данные сочетания, обращая внимание на различные варианты перевода глаголов

1)to make a decision, to make a law, to make a plan, to make a living, to make friends;

2)to give information, to give a medal, to give a title, to give a lecture, to give fight, to give instructions;

3)to pass a law, to pass a bill, to pass a decision;

4)to adopt a resolution, to adopt certain tactics, to adopt a child;

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5)to change the address, to change the name, to change dollars into rubles;

6)to establish a state, to establish an international organization, to establish the facts of a crime, to establish the name of a person, to establish contacts;

7)to define the position of a person, to define the duties of police, to define the powers of a judge, to define the powers by law.

Упр. 8. Переведите следующие предложные сочетания

a)by a judge, by a new convention, by legislature, by the government, by Common Law;

b)судебными органами, исполнительной властью, актом парламента, государством, высшим законодательным органом, правительством.

Упр. 9. Переведите на русский язык представленные группы слов и определите, к какой части речи относится каждое из них

acceptance – to accept –accepted – accepting; adoption – to adopt – adopted – adopting; amendment – to amend – amended – amending; definition – to define – defined – defining; decision – to decide – decided – deciding;

establishmen – to establish – established – establishing; protection – to protect – protected – protecting.

Упр. 10. Определите права и обязанности граждан

1)right / duty to serve in the army;

2)right /duty to pay taxes;

3)right / duty to personal liberty;

4)right / duty to register a child's birth;

5)right / duty to freedom of religion;

6)right / duty to be protected from criminals;

7)right / duty to life;

8)right / duty to demonstrate;

9)right / duty to obey the laws;

10)right / duty to serve on a jury.

Упр. 11. Переведите следующие предложения

1. The state power is divided between three main branches: the legislature, the executive and the judicature. 2. A constitution can be changed by a special procedure. 3. The British unwritten Constitution has been devel-

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oping for over 700 years. 4. The first three Articles of the U.S. Constitution establish three main branches of power: legislative, executive, judicial. 5. The principle of separation of powers was developed by the French political philosopher Montesquieu in the 18th century. 6. The constitution defines the state flag, hymn, and coat of arms. 7. Under the constitution individual citizens have duties to the State and the State has certain duties to protect the human rights of the citizens. 8. Under the British unwritten Constitution there is no separation of power (that is, of the legislature and the executive). The British legislature and the executive mix together. Ministers sit and answer for their policy in both Houses of Parliament.

МАТЕРИАЛЫ ДЛЯ САМОСТОЯТЕЛЬНОГО ИЗУЧЕНИЯ

Прочитайте тексты и выполните упражнения к ним

ТЕКСТ А

Упр. 1. Прочитайте текст без словаря.

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW

Constitutional Law is the law that defines the governmental organization of a state, establishes its powers, and limits the use (применение) of these powers.

The subjects of the Constitutional Law are:

1)the definition of the structure of the government, including (включая) the qualification, duties and privileges of people holding (занимать) government offices;

2)the definition of the powers of the government, including the distribution (распределение) of legislative, executive, and judicial functions among separate (отдельный) organs;

3)the creation (создание) of a sphere of individual liberty (in a bill of rights);

4)provision (положение) for a legal method of making changes in the constitution.

It is common (общепринято) to include in Constitutional Law certain provisions relating (относиться) to education (образование), patents, copyrights (авторское право), the Armed Forces (силы), rules (правила) of judicial procedure, official salaries (оклад), taxation, and administration.

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Упр. 2. Подберите к представленным в колонке А словосочетаниям английские эквиваленты из колонки В

ТЕКСТ B

Упр. 3. Переведите текст с помощью словаря.

THE BILL OF RIGHTS (1791)

The first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution

First Amendment proclaims the rights of freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of press, freedom of assembly, and freedom to petition government.

Second Amendment declares «a well regulated militia» as necessary to the security of a free state, and the right of the people to keep and bear arms.

Third Amendment protects from using private homes as quarters for soldiers during peacetime without the consent of the owners.

Упр. 4. Выберите правильный вариант данных предложений.

1.The Bill of Rights consists of (8/10/12) amendments.

2.Military units may not be quartered in homes in time of (war/peace).

3.A person (can/cannot) petition the government.

4.Citizens (may have/may not have) arms.

Упр. 5. Переведите следующие словосочетания на русский

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ТЕКСТ С

Упр. 6. Прочитайте со словарем продолжение текста «Билль о правах»

THE BILL OF RIGHTS

(continued)

Fourth Amendment protects against searches, arrests, and seizures of property without a specific warrant.

Fifth Amendment establishes trial for a serious crime after indictment by a Grand Jury, protects against double jeopardy (repeated trials), defines that an accused person may not testify against himself, prohibits government from taking private property without just compensation.

Sixth Amendment guarantees a speedy public trial for criminal offence, guarantees the right to legal counsel for the accused. It also guarantees that the accused may have witnesses to attend the trial and testify in the presence of the accused.

Seventh Amendment establishes trial by jury in civil cases.

Eighth Amendment prohibits excessive bail or fines, and unusual punishment.

Ninth Amendment declares that the list of individual rights in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights is not comprehensive.

Tenth Amendment proclaims that powers delegated to the United States by the Constitution nor prohibited to the States, are reserved to the States or to the people.

Упр. 7. Выпишите из текста С и выучите английские эквиваленты следующих русских слов и понятий

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Parliament in Britain exists since 1265. It is one of the oldest parliaments in the world.

Parliament is the supreme legislative body. Only Parliament has the right to make or unmake any law. The British Parliament consists of two Houses: the House of Lords and the House of Commons.

The House of Commons is a nation wide representative body. It is the main source of the law. People are elected to the House of Commons during a General Election held every five years. There are 646 Members of Parliament (MPs).

The House of Lords, or the Upper House, consists of Peers. The members of the House of Lords must examine the law proposed by the House of Commons and suggest amendments to it if it is necessary.

Of the two great political British parties-Conservative and Labour – the party which gets the majority of seats in the House of Commons is called the Government, and the other the Opposition. The leader of the majority party becomes the Prime Minister.

Any member of the House of Commons may introduce a Bill. After three readings in the House of Commons it must be approved by the House of Lords. After that the Monarch signs the Bill and it becomes an Act of Parliament.

Упр. 6. Ответьте на вопросы к тексту

1.What is the supreme legislative body of Great Britain?

2.What are the Houses of Parliament?

3.How often is a General Election to the House of Commons held?

4.How many MPs are there in the House of Commons?

5.What are the duties of the Peers?

6.Who becomes the Prime Minister?

7.How does a Bill become an Act of Parliament?

Упр. 7. Выпишите в отдельные (а, в, с,) колонки:

a) существительные; b) прилагательные; c) наречия. Переведите их на русский язык

constitutional, legislative, restriction, officially, conservative, government, representation, majority, governmental, widely, constitution, introduction, existence, official, only, amendment, lawyer.

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and vote (голосовать) for their Member of Parliament. This takes place every 5 years.

People who want (хотеть) to be elected to Parliament are called candidates. A candidate who gets the most (большинство) votes in his constituency becomes an MP.

Every MP belongs to one of the two main political partiesConservative or Labour. The party which gets the majority of votes during the General Election becomes the Government.

Упр. 2. Выберите предложения, соответствующие содержанию текста. Дайте правильный вариант предложений с искаженной информацией.

1.The abbreviation «MP» means a Member of Police.

2.There are six hundred forty six constituencies in Great Britain.

3.The British can vote to Parliament since sixteen years of age.

4.The General Election takes place every five years.

5.If the Conservatives get the most votes during the General Election they form the Government.

ТЕКСТ В

Упр. 3. Переведите текст без словаря

VOTING IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS

The main duty of every Member of Parliament is to defend (защищать) the interests of all the people of his or her constituency, and to pass laws. They do it by voting in Parliament for every new law.

In many countries Parliament members vote by raising (поднятие) of hands (рука) or by standing up (вставать). In Russia and Sweden an electronic system of voting is used (применять). In the House of Commons during voting the MPs must leave (покидать) their seats and go out in two corridors, called Lobbies. As they go out they are counted (подсчитывать) by four persons, two on each side (сторона). The process lasts (длиться) from ten to fifteen minutes before the figures (цифры) are announced.

In Britain this method of voting is considered (считать) to be preferable (предпочтительный). The separation (разделение) of MPs into two groups, as they go out into Lobbies to vote gives time for passions (страсти) to cool down (остыть) and for tempers (вспыльчивость) to become calm (успокоиться).

Упр. 4. Подберите окончание (а, в, с) к каждому из предложений