Law. Police. Society (Право. Полиция. Общество). Часть III. Учебное пособие по английскому языку

UNIT 2

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW

STARTING UP

Task 1. Read the definition of the word “constitution” from Collins English Dictionary. What meaning of the word is the most interesting for a lawyer?

1)the act of constituting or state of being constituted;

2)the way in which a thing is composed; physical make-up; structure;

3)the fundamental political principles on which a state is governed, esp. when considered as embodying the rights of the subjects of that state;

4)(often capital) (in certain countries, esp. Australia and the US) a statute embodying such principles;

5)a person's state of health;

6)a person's disposition of mind; temperament.

Task 2. Compare this definition with the one from Wikipedia. What definition is more detailed?

A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together make up, i. e. constitute, what the entity is. When these principles are written down into a single or set of legal documents, those documents may be said to comprise a written constitution (http://en.wikipedia. org/wiki/Constitution).

Task 3. Do you study Constitutional Law at the Academy? What do you know about it? Try to give the example of violation of the Constitution.

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LANGUAGE ACTIVITIES

I. Grammar Review. The Composite Sentence. The Compound Sentence

The Composite Sentence (Сложное предложение)

Сложное предложение состоит из двух или более простых предложений, которые могут соединяться:

Существует два типа придаточных предложений: сложносочиненные и сложноподчиненные.

The Compound Sentence (Сложносочиненное предложение)

Для соединения простых предложений в сложносочиненное могут использоваться следующие союзы:

Task 1. Read and translate the following sentences paying attention to conjunctions.

1. He received the order, and they decided to act immediately. 2. Go there at once or you will be late. 3. There are a lot of people in the library and I’m short of time. 4. A policeman tried to catch the criminal but he managed to drive away. 5. She was preparing for the exam while her friends were watching TV. 6. Put on warm clothes otherwise you’ll get cold. 7. This senior lieutenant works as a detective whereas his fellow officer is an investigator. 8. Policemen located the criminal so it was quite time to apprehend him.

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Task 2. Find the ending of the sentences in the right column, add appropriate conjunctions.

II. Reading

Text A

Task 1. Read the text “What is Constitutional Law?” Find the definitions of Constitutional Law. Do you know anything about the doctrine of Stare Decisis? Try to understand it from the text.

What is Constitutional Law?

(1) That branch of the Public Law of a state which treats of the organization and frame of government, the organs and powers of sovereignty, the distribution of political and governmental authorities and functions, the fundamental principles which are to regulate the relations of government and subject, and which prescribes generally the plan and method according to which the public affairs of the state are to be administered. (2) That department of the science of law which treats of constitutions, their establishment, construction, and interpretation, and of the validity of legal enactments as tested by the criterion of conformity to the fundamental law. (3) A Constitutional Law is one which is consonant to, and agrees with, the constitution; one which is not in violation of any provision of the constitution of the particular state.

Constitutional Law is based on the written text of the state and federal constitutions. It is the body of judicial precedent that has gradually developed through a process in which courts interpret, apply, and explain the meaning of particular constitutional provisions and principles during a legal proceeding. Executive, legislative, and judicial actions must conform with the norms prescribed by a constitutional provision.

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In deciding their cases, courts look to these constitutional provisions and principles for guidance. Once a court has interpreted a constitutional provision in a certain fashion, it becomes a precedent. Under the doctrine of Stare Decisis, the judicial branch is required to adhere to existing precedent in all future cases presenting analogous factual and legal circumstances, unless it has a compelling reason for deviating from the precedent or overruling it.

A state or Federal Law is said to be constitutional when it is consistent with the text of a constitutional provision and any relevant judicial interpretations. A law that is inconsistent with either the written text or judicial interpretation of a constitutional provision is unconstitutional.

Constitutional Law encompasses any law or right that originates from the United States Constitution. American Constitutional Law is the body of law that regulates the federal, state, and local governments of the United States. Constitutional Law is most often associated with fundamental rights like equal protection, the right to bear arms, freedom of religion, and the right to free speech. The US Supreme Court is the authority on all constitutional law issues. Only a Constitutional Amendment approved by three-fourths of the states can override a decision made by the Supreme Court.

Glossary to the text “What is Constitutional Law?” adhere to… — придерживаться (чего-либо), соблюдать, следовать administer — управлять, вести дела

be consistent with… — быть сообразным, согласующимся с… body — масса, главная часть (чего-либо), основная часть compelling reason — веская причина, уважительная причина conformity — согласованность, подчинение

consonant — совместимый, сообразный, созвучный deviate from… — отступить от…, уклониться, отходить

enactment — закон, указ, статут, законодательный акт, правовое предписание

encompass — охватывать, содержать, включать frame — структура, система, основа

guidance — руководство к действию, консультация

issue — проблемный момент, вопрос обсуждения, спорный вопрос judicial precedent — судебный прецедент

once — как только

override — иметь приоритет перед, доминировать, отвергать overrule — отвергать решение по ранее рассмотренному делу с созданием новой нормы прецедентного права, отменять

prescribe — предписывать, назначать provision — положение (договора, закона и т. д.)

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relevant — относящийся к делу, важный, соответственный sovereignty — суверенность, независимость, верховная власть

the doctrine of Stare Decisis — доктрина судебного прецедента (юр., лат. «стоять на решенном»)

treat — иметь дело (с кем-либо), обращаться, рассматривать unless — кроме тех случаев, когда; только в случае, если validity — обоснованность, правильность, законность violation — нарушение (права, закона, договора)

Task 2. Revise the meaning of some useful English prefixes:

Task 3. Try to remember word-building elements. Read and translate the following word families:

constitute — constitution — constitutional — unconstitutional — constitutionalism

sovereign — sovereignty fund — fundamental interpret — interpretation valid — invalid — validity act — enact — enactment

conform — conformity — conformist provide — provision

violent — violate — violation establish — establishment

fund — fundamental — fundamentalism judge — judgement — judicial

precede — precedent — unprecedented less — unless

deviate — deviant — deviating rule — overrule — ruling

consist — consistent — inconsistent

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pass — compass — encompass origin — original — originate reason — reasonable — unreasonable

aggress — aggressive — aggressor — transgress — transgressive — transgressor

evolve — evolving — evolution flex — flexible — inflexible

relate — relation — relative — relationship

Task 4. Make up word combinations and translate them into Russian:

Task 5. Find in the text English equivalents to the following word combinations:

отрасль публичного права; политические и правительственные органы власти; фундаментальные принципы; регулировать отношения правительства и субъекта; общественные дела государства; обоснованность юридических законов; критерий подчинения основному закону; какое-либо положение конституции; постепенно развился; суды толкуют, применяют и разъясняют значение определенных конституционных положений и принципов; исполнительные, законодательные и судебные действия должны согласовываться с нормами; для руководства к действию; как только суд истолковал конституционное положение определенным образом; он становится прецедентом; согласно доктрине судебного прецедента; придерживаться существующего прецедента; во всех будущих делах, представляющих аналогичные фактические и юридические обстоятельства; он имеет вескую причину; для отступления от прецедента или его отмены; или написанный текст, или судебное толкование; равная защита; право носить оружие; свобода вероисповедания; право свободы слова; по всем спорным вопросам конституционного права; одобренный тремя четвертями штатов; может отвергнуть решение, принятое Верховным судом.

Task 6. Answer the questions to the text “What is Constitutional Law?”:

1.What definition of Constitutional Law do you prefer?

2.What is Constitutional Law based on?

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3.What is a precedent?

4.How do you understand the doctrine of Stare Decisis?

5.When is a state or Federal Law said to be constitutional / unconstitu-

tional?

6.What does Constitutional Law encompass?

7.What does the American Constitutional Law regulate?

8.What fundamental rights is Constitutional Law most often associated

with?

9.What is the authority on all Constitutional Law issues?

Text B

Task 7. Read the text “What is a Constitution?” Divide it into logical parts. Entitle them.

What is a Constitution?

It is the fundamental law, written or unwritten, that establishes the character of a government by defining the basic principles to which a society must conform; by describing the organization of the government and regulation, distribution, and limitations on the functions of different government departments; and by prescribing the extent and manner of the exercise of its sovereign powers.

The Constitution is a legislative charter by which a government or group derives its authority to act.

The concept of a constitution dates to the city-states of ancient Greece. The philosopher Aristotle (384–322 B.C.), in his work Politics, analyzed over 150 Greek constitutions. He described a constitution as creating the frame upon which the government and laws of a society are built.

A constitution may be defined as an organization of offices in a state, by which the method of their distribution is fixed, the sovereign authority is determined, and the nature of the end to be pursued by the association and all its members is prescribed. Laws, as distinct from the frame of the constitution, are the rules by which the magistrates should exercise their powers, and should watch and check transgressors.

In modern Europe, written constitutions came into greater use during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Constitutions such as that of the United States, created in 1787, were influenced by the ancient Greek models. During the twentieth century, an increasing number of countries around the world concluded that constitutions are a necessary part of democratic or republican government. Many thus adopted their own constitutions.

In its ideal form, a constitution emanates from the consent and will of the people whom it governs. Besides establishing the institutions of government and the manner in which they function toward each other and toward

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the people, a constitution may also set forth the rights of the individual and a government's responsibility to honor those rights.

Constitutions, whether written or unwritten, typically function as an evolving body of legal custom and opinion. Their evolution generally involves changes in judicial interpretation or in themselves, the latter usually through a process called amendment. Amendment of a constitution is usually designed to be a difficult process in order to give the constitution greater stability. On the other hand, if a constitution is extremely difficult to amend, it might be too inflexible to survive over time. The ongoing evolutionary nature of constitutions explains why England may be described as having a constitution even though it does not have a single written document that is designated as such. England's constitution instead inheres in a body of legal custom and tradition that regulates the relationship among the monarchy, the legislature (Parliament), the judicial system, and Common Law. Although England's constitution is, in a sense, unwritten because it does not originate in a single document, many written laws have been instrumental in its creation, and England in fact has one of the oldest traditions of constitutionalism.

In a truly constitutional form of government, public officials are subject to constitutional rules and provisions and may not violate them without punishment. Such constitutional governments are also called limited governments because the constitution restricts the scope of their power over the people.

Glossary to the text “What is a Constitution?”

amendment — поправка (к конституции, закону, в документе, в договоре) charter — хартия, грамота, привилегия, устав

city-state — город-государство, полис

consent — согласие, разрешение, дозволение, позволение emanate from… — происходить от…, проистекать

evolve — развивать, развертывать, развиваться, эволюционировать inhere — быть неотъемлемым, принадлежать, быть присущим pursue —действовать (по плану), преследовать цель

scope — пределы, рамки, границы (возможностей и т. п.), масштаб subject — (прилагательное) подчиненный, зависящий (от чего-либо) transgressor — нарушитель закона, правонарушитель

will — желание (воля, усмотрение)

Task 8. Answer the questions to the text “What is a Constitution?”:

1.What definition of a Constitution do you prefer?

2.What does the concept of a constitution date to?

3.What name is it associated with?

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4.When did written constitutions come into greater use in modern

Europe?

5.What does a constitution in its ideal form emanate from?

6.What does the evolution of a Constitution generally involve?

7.Why may England be described as having a constitution even though it does not have a single written document that is designated as such?

8.How can you explain that England in fact has one of the oldest traditions of constitutionalism without a written Constitution?

9.Are public officials subject to constitutional rules and provisions?

Text C

Task 9. Read the text “The US Constitution”. Try to understand its main idea.

The US Constitution

The text of the US Constitution is marked by four characteristics: a delegation of power, in which the duties and prerogatives of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches are delineated by express constitutional provisions; a Separation of Powers, in which the responsibilities of government are divided and shared among the coordinate branches; a reservation of power, in which the sovereignty of the federal government is qualified by the sovereignty reserved to the state governments; and a limitation of power, in which the prerogatives of the three branches of government are restricted by constitutionally enumerated individual rights, Unenumerated Rights derived from sources outside the text of the Constitution, and other constraints inherent in a democratic system where the ultimate source of authority for government action is the consent of the people.

The US Constitution is the highest law in the land and the foundation on which all US law has been built. By establishing a structure for the federal government and preserving certain areas of sovereignty for the states, the Constitution has created a system of government that has allowed every area of civil, criminal, and administrative law to evolve with the needs of society. The federal Constitution became binding on the US people in 1788 when New Hampshire, pursuant to Article VII, became the ninth state to vote for ratification.

The federal Constitution comprises seven articles and 26 amendments. Articles I, II, and III set forth the basic structure of the US government. Article I defines congressional lawmaking powers, Article II sets forth the presidential executive powers, and Article III establishes federal judicial powers. The first ten amendments to the US Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights, enumerate certain individual liberties that must be protected against government infringement. The rest of the Constitution contains other miscellaneous

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provisions, many of which are intended to maintain a federalist system of government in which the federal Constitution is the supreme law of the land and the federal government shares sovereignty with the states.

Glossary to the text “The US Constitution”

allow — позволять, разрешать, допустить что-либо, предусматривать delineate — очерчивать, набрасывать, изображать

infringement — нарушение (прав, закона, норм) miscellaneous — разнообразный, разный

pursuant — соответственно, в соответствии, согласно

Task 10. Answer the questions to the text “The US Constitution”:

1.What four characteristics is the text of the US Constitution marked by?

2.What system of government has the Constitution created?

3.When did the federal Constitution become binding on the US people?

4.What does the federal Constitution comprise?

5.What is known as the Bill of Rights?

Text D

Task 11. Read the text “The US Constitutional Rights”. Enumerate the most important ones from your point of view.

The US Constitutional Rights

The following are important constitutional rights:

Freedom of Speech — One fundamental right guaranteed under the First Amendment is the right to freedom of speech and press. Both the federal and state governments are generally prohibited from limiting an individual's right to expression, with only a few limited exceptions. Today, governmentsponsored censorship is a controversial topic in Constitutional Law.

Freedom of Religion — Another significant right protected by the First Amendment is the right to freedom of religious choice. The First Amendment explicitly prohibits the establishment of a government religion, such as a state church. Today, school sponsored prayer is one of the most controversial topics invoking the freedom of religion clause.

Right To Bear Arms — The Second Amendment grants the people “the right to keep and bear arms”. No other constitutional right is more hotly debated than the right to have and bear a gun. The Supreme Court is still in the process of clarifying what the Second Amendment exactly means. Thus, debates continue as to whether the government can implement gun control laws and how extensive those laws can be.

Freedom from Unreasonable Search and Seizure — The Fourth Amendment protects citizens from government trespass without a courtissued warrant. This protection extends to houses and papers. Today, police

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