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*Данные сайта http://www.pe-a.ru/uk/uk-main

PART II

Unit 1. The U.S. Constitution

Exercise 1. Read and give Russian equivalents of the following words and word combinations. Use them in your own phrases.

The Supreme Court, executive, legislative, judicial, Bill of Rights, constitution, principle, to protect, government.

Exercise 2. Read the text and translate it.

The Constitution of the United States of America was written in 1787. This document established the country’s political system and it is the basis of law. The Constitution works nowadays as well as when it was made. There are two possible reasons of it. The first one is that the constitution allows to make amendments. Another reason is a flexibility of the Constitution: its basic principles can be applied and interpreted differently at any times. It is lays upon three main principles. The first principle guarantees basic rights – freedom of speech and religion. The second principle is about a government by the people. The third principle deals with three branches of the U.S. government – the legislative, the executive and judicial branches.

The constitution is based on three main principles:

It includes Preamble, seven articles and 26 amendments which help to make some changes and add some new ideas. The first ten amendments are called the Bill of Rights.

Preamble

“We the people of the United States in order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to

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ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America”.

Exercise 3. Read the introduction (Preamble) to the American Constitution. Which of the underlined phrases mean the same as the following?

1.Defend the people.

2.Make sure that there is peace in the country.

3.Make sure that we and the people that come after us are free.

4.Make sure that the people are treated in a fair way.

5.Look after the people’s needs.

Exercise 4. Match a word on the left with a definition on the right.

Exercise 5. Match English words with their Russian equivalents.

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Unit 2. The Bill of Rights

Exercise 1. Read and give Russian equivalents of the following words and word combinations. Use them in your own phrases.

Amendment, to add, restrictions, to adopt, freedom, citizen, elect, voting age, carry guns, freedom of speech and religion, political, governor of the state

Exercise 2. Read the following text and translate it.

The Bill of Rights

On December 1791, the Congress offers the amendment process and decided to adopt ten amendments to the Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights. They tell about the freedom of speech, of the press and of worship; the right of citizens to meet peacefully; the right to be secure in one’s own home against unreasonable searches and seizure of person or property; and the right of any person charged with breaking the law to have a speedy trial by a jury of fellow citizens. Amendments can change or add rights and restrictions to the Constitution. Twothirds of the Congress or of the state legislature must support an idea for an amendment. If three-thirds of the states ratify the amendment, it becomes part of the Constitution.

The Amendments

These are some of the 27 amendments which were added to the Constitution by different governments over the years

Amendment I 1791

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, of abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Amendment II 1791

A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed.

Amendment XIII 1865

Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude … shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.

Amendment XIX 1920

The right of citizen of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.

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Amendment XXV 1967

In case of the removal of the President from office or of his death or registration, the Vice President shall become President.

Amendment XXVI 1971

The right of citizens of the United States, who are 18 years of age or older, to vote, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state on account of age.

Exercise 3. Read the Amendments to the Constitution. Match them to these descriptions.

a.The abolition of slavery.

b.The lowering of the voting age from 21 to 18.

c.The right of the vice president to take command if the president is killed.

d.The right of women to vote.

e.The right of the people to carry guns.

f.The right of the people to free speech and religion, including political protest.

Exercise 4. Answer the questions.

1.What is the Bill of Rights?

2.How can the amendments change the Constitution?

3.What is necessary for ratification of any amendments?

4.What rights does the first amendment guarantee?

5.What is the second amendment about?

6.Who can be the citizens of the USA?

7.When does a new President take office?

8.At what age can Americans vote?

Exercise 5. Complete the sentences below.

1.Changes in the Constitution are called … .

2.The first … amendments to the Constitution are called … .

3.The … of Rights guarantees … of Religion.

4.The President … elected by … .

5.… state government has a … as the chief executive.

Exercise 6. Translate from Russian into English using active vocabulary.

1.Поправки к Конституции США называются Билль о правах.

2.Билль о правах гарантирует свободу вероисповедания.

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3.Президент избирается народом посредством всеобщего голосования.

4.Глава каждого штата-губернатор.

5.Поправки добавляют права и свободы гражданам США.

Unit 3. Political system of the USA

Exercise 1. Read and translate the following words and word combinations. Make up 5 sentences of your own.

Republic, federal district, power, check, the Congress, law, term, to be responsible for, department, to appoint, term of office, acts of law, to judge.

Exercise 2. Read and translate the following text. Speak about three main branches of the U.S. government.

Political system of the USA

The United States of America is Federal Republic that consists of 50 states. The federal district of Columbia is an independent territorial unit. The power of the government is divided into three branches according to the U.S. Constitution. They are the legislative, the executive and the judicial branches. It should be mentioned that powers given to each branch are attentively balanced by the powers of the other two. Thus every branch serves as a check on the others as well.

The legislative branch is implemented by the Congress. The Congress is composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives. There are 100 Senators, two candidates from each state. One third of the Senators should be elected every two years for a term of six years. 435 members compose the House of Representatives. Administering and executing laws are in the area of responsibility of the Executive branch. It is formed from the President, Vice-president and the Cabinet which contains fourteen Secretaries of the executive departments. The President appoints the chief of each department. He is also the head of the state and the government and the Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy of the U.S.A. He is elected every four years to a term of four years. No more than two full terms are allowed.

The Supreme Court of the United States and the system of federal courts form the judicial branch of the federal government. The Supreme Court includes a chief justice and eight associate justices who hold office for life. They are responsible for judging the constitutionality of acts of law.

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Exercise 3. Answer the questions.

1.What kind of state is the United State of America?

2.Enumerate the three branches of the U.S. government?

3.When was the U.S. Constitution adopted?

4.What is the legislative branch?

5.What is the role of the legislative branch?

6.What does the executive branch include?

7.What is it responsible for?

8.Describe the role of the President?

9.What does the judicial branch consist of?

10.What is its function?

Exercise 4. Say if the statements below true or false.

1.The President lives in the US Capitol.

2.The US Capitol is in Washington, D.C.

3.A President cannot be removed from office before his term.

4.There is no limitations on the number of terms for Senators.

5.The Senators are elected for two years.

Exercise 5. Speak about three main branches of the U.S. government. Use this scheme as a plan.

The Legislative branch

–the Congress (the House of Representatives ) – 435 members + the Senate (100 senators, two from each state)

The Executive branch

–President and Vice-President and his helpers (or advisors) for the Federal Government

The Judicial branch

–The Supreme Court (9 members), other courts and their judges

Exercise 6. Translate these phrases from Russian into English. Use active vocabulary.

1.Соединенные Штаты Америки состоят из 50 штатов.

2.Правительство делится на три ветви власти-законодатель- ную, исполни-тельную и судебную.

3.Конгресс США состоит из Сената и Палаты Представителей.

4.Исполнительная власть включает Президента, Вице-Пре- зидента и Кабинета Министров.

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5. Президент – глава государства и правительства, а также верховный главнокомандующий армии и военно-морского флота США.

Exercise 7. Match English words with their Russian equivalents.

Unit 4. Legislative branch: The Congress

Exercise 1. Read and give Russian equivalents of the following words and word combinations. Use them in your own phrases.

Trade, tax, citizenship, declare war, borrow money, representative, treaties, appointment, to impeach.

Exercise 2. Read and translate the following text. Discuss it in the group.

Legislative branch: The Congress

The legislative branch – Congress is formed by the Senate and the House of Representatives. To make laws performs the general function of the legislative branch. The Congress should make legislations about citizenship, taxes, trade and about District of Columbia as well. It is able to declare war, establish U.S. Post Office, maintain Army, Navy and Air Force, print and borrow money.

The Congress must meet regularly and these meetings take place in the Capitol Building in Washington.

In the House one can see 435 representatives. To be a member you should be at least 25 years. Each member should be an American citizen seven years or more. And each candidate for this position should live in

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