Московский государственный университет им.М.В.Ломоносова

Факультет иностранных языков

кафедра английского языка для гуманитарных факультетов Центр общественных наук

КХЛ.Гуманова В.А.Королева М.Л.Свешникова Е.В.Тихомирова

Just English

АНГЛИЙСКИЙ ДЛЯ ЮРИСТОВ

Учебное пособие под ред. Т.Н.Шишкиной

Ассоциация "Гуманитарное знание", "Теис" Москва 1997

ББК 81.2АНГЛ.—923

Рекомендовано

Ученым советом факультета иностранных языков МГУ

им.М.В.Ломоносова, Советом по правоведению и Советом по

иностранным языкам УМО университетов России

в качестве учебного пособия для высших юридических учебных заведений.

Рецензенты

доктор филологических наук, профессор С.Г.Тер-Минасова, доктор юридических наук, профессор Н.А.Крашенинникова

Директор издательского проекта А.Ф.Настасяк Ведущий менеджер ЮА.Холоденко

Художник Е.Ю.Осипова Компьютерная верстка Е.Е.Вострокнутовой

Just English. Английский для юристов: Учебное пособие/ Ю.Л.Гуманова В.А.Королева М.Л.Свешникова Е.В.Тихомирова; Под ред. Т.Н.Шишкиной.-М.: Гумани­тарное знание, ТЕИС, 1997.—198 с.

Учебное пособие подготовлено профессорско-преподавательским составом кафедры английского языка для гуманитарных факультетов МГУ им М В Ломоносова на основе учебной программы курса английского языка для юридических ВУЗов

ISBN 5—7218—0033—х

© Коллектив авторов, 1997

ПРЕДИСЛОВИЕ

Предлагаемое вашему вниманию учебное пособие предназначено для студентов-юристов и рассчитано на широкую аудиторию. В нем есть разделы и задания, которые могут успешно применяться при обучении студентов с разным уровнем знания. В учебнике используются современные аутентичные материалы, обработанные и адаптированные для студентов юридического профиля. Цель его - последовательно провести студентов по разделам специальной лексики и грамматики, на современных текстах ввести страноведческий материал и сформировать навыки работы с литературой по специальности.

Правовая лексика вводится тематически, закрепляется в разнообразных упражнениях и находит свое применение в дискуссиях и ролевых играх Дополнительная лексика и справочный материал содержатся в глоссариях к соответствующим главам Заключительные упражнения могут быть использованы как для самоконтроля, так и в качестве контрольных работ.

Учебник состоит из пяти глав и хрестоматии. В первой главе обсуждаются общие проблемы права и дается обзор правовых систем Великобритании и США Во второй главе детально рассматривается государственная и правовая системы Великобритании. Третья глава описывает государственную и правовую системы Соединенных Штатов. В четвертой главе анализируется система суда присяжных на примере США. Пятая глава посвящена проблемам уголовного права. В хрестоматию включены тексты различного уровня трудности на юридические темы.

Каждая глава снабжена заключительными упражнениями, страничкой юмора и глоссарием.

ТН Шишкина

Авторы выражают искреннюю благодарность рецензентам доктору филологических наук, профессору С.Г.Тер-Минасовой, доктору юридических наук, профессору НА.Крашенинниковой, преподавателям кафедры английского языка для гуманитарных факультетов МГУ Л.В.Александровой, Д.П.Карповой, Т.И.Тарасовой за помощь в работе над этой книгой.

Chapter I. LAW AND ORDER............................................................/W7

Unit I. The Need for Law............................................................................,.».*««Л

Unit II. An Outline of Lawmaking Process in Great Britain and the USA......*.*9

Unit III. The Court System of England and Wales............................................11

Unit IV. People in Law Cases in Great Britain...............................................».. 13

A. Types of Legal Professions...................................................................... 13

B. Solicitors and Barristers...........................................................................14

C. Judges in Great Britain....................................................................».......18

Unit V. The Court System of the USA........................,,....................................25

Unit VI. Attorneys in the USA...................................*₄₁.„..,.......„„................л.27

Unit VII. Language Activities.....................................,...................,..................30

A. Radio Phone-in.......................................................,...............................30

B. Spy Photo Case...............................................................................».*-..„ 33

Revision.............................................................................................................34

Just for Fun..............................................................................................40,^36

Glossary.....................................................................„..,.......»,,,.,,......_мн**4..,.**37

, ^! * *

Chapter II. GREAT BRITAIN,............................^.........,«.«>.^......:......43

Unit I. The System of Government......................,..4i«4,......_w.U*.W4i,.............43

Unit II. Parliament.......................................,.......,.,.*»,........»,;*,...»**<..,„..............45

Unit III. A Member of Parliament..................................................._k.................51

Unit IV. Elections..............................................................................................54

Unit V. The Royal Family..................................................................................59

Revision.............................................................................................................65

Just for Fun........................................................................................................68

Chapter III. THE USA..............................................................................71

Unit I. The Constitution....................................................................................Л1

Unit II. The System of Government..................................................................75

Unit III. The System of Checks and Balances...................................................85

Unit IV. American Federalism...........................................................................87

Unit V. Elections............................................................,..,.._f........„_Y,...,............90

Unit VI. Language Activities. Glimpses of American History...........,......,.......94

Revision.............................................................................................................96

Glossary to chapters II and III............................................................................97

Chapter IV. YOU - THE JURY...............................................................103

Unit I. A Handbook on Jury Service....................„...............................„.........103

Unit II. Justice?....................................................................................„.^.....115

Unit III. Language Activities. Lady Wyatt Accused of Shop-Lifting..,..,.......118

Revision...........................................................................................................121

Just for Fun.......................,............................................................................. 122

Glossary...........................................................................................................123

Chapter V. CRIME AND PUNISHMENT.............................................128

Unit I. Crime...................................................................................................128

Unit II. Punishment..........................................................................................131

Unit III. A Policeman and the Criminal World................................................135

Unit IV. The World of Crime........................................................................... 143

Unit V. Language Activities. Let's Do Justice...............................................151

Revision...........................................................................................................154

Just for Fun......................................................................................................158

Glossary...........................................................................................................159

Reader...................................................................................................164

Part I. Famous Lives. Crime and Justice..........................................................164

Part II. Law Stories..........................................................................................181

Part III. Tom Sawyer Testifies.........................................................................192

Some words with difficult pronunciation.........................................................197

Some names with difficult pronunciation........................................................198

Chapter I

Law and Order

Unit I. The Need for Law..........................................................................7

Unit II. An Outline of Lawmaking Process

in Great Britain,and the USA...................................................................9

Unit III. The Court System of England and Wales.................................11

Unit IV. People in Law Cases in Great Britain......................................13

A. Types of Legal Professions...........................................................13

B. Solicitors and Barristers................................................................14

C. Judges in Great Britain..................................................................18

Unit V. The Court System of the USA...................................................25

Unit VI. Attorneys in the USA...............................................................27

Unit VII. Language Activities................................................................30

A. Radio Phone-in............................................................................30

B. Spy Photo Case............................................................................33

Revision..................................................................................................34

Just for Fun.............................................................................................36

Glossary..................................................................................................37

Unit I THE NEED FOR LAW

TASKl. Read the text.

Mr. Jones, having murdered his wife, was burying her in the garden one night, when his neighbour, hearing the noise, asked him what he was doing.

"Just burying the cat," said Mr. Jones.

"Funny sort of time to bury a cat," said the neighbour.

"Funny sort of cat," said Mr. Jones.

Now it is obvious to everyone that, in a community such as the one in which we live, some kind of law is necessary to try to prevent people like Mr. Jones from killing their wives. When the world was at a very primitive stage, there was no such law, and, if a man chose to kill his wife or if a woman

8

succeeded in killing her husband, that was their own business and no one interfered officially

But, for a very long time now, members of every community have made laws for themselves in self-protection. Otherwise it would have meant that the stronger man could have done what he liked with the weaker, and bad men could have joined together and terrorized the whole neighbourhood.

If it were not for the law, you could not go out in broad daylight without the fear of being kidnapped, robbed or murdered. There are far, fai more good people in the world than bad, but there are enough of the bad to make law necessary in the interests of everyone.

There is no difficulty in understanding this but it is just as important to understand that law is not necessary just because there are bad people in the world. If we were all as good as we ought to be, laws would still be necessary. If we never told lies, never took anything that didn't belong to us, never ommitted to do anything that we ought to do and never did anything thai \ve ought not to do, we should still require a set of rules of behaviour, in other words laws, to enable us to live in any kind of satisfactory state.

How ts one good man in a motor-car to pass another good man also in a motor-car coming in the opposite direction, unless there is some rule of the road? People sometimes hover in front of one another when the> are walking on the pavement before they can pass, and they may even collide. Not much harm is done then, but, if two good men in motor­cars going in opposite directions hover in front of one another, not knowing which side to pass, the result will probably be that there will be two good men less in the world.

So you can see that there must be laws, however good we may be. Unfortunately, however, we are none of us always good and some of us are bad, or at any rate have our bad moments, and so the law has to provide for all kinds of possibilities. Suppose you went to a greengrocer and bought some potatoes and found on your return home that they were mouldy or even that some of them were stones, what could you do if there were no laws on the subject? In the absence of law you could only rely upon the law of the jungle. You could go back to the shop, demand proper potatoes and hit the shopkeeper on the nose if he refused to give them to you. You might then look round the shop to try to find some decent potatoes. While you were doing this,

the shopkeeper might hit you on the back of the neck with a pound weight. Altogether not a very satisfactory morning's shopping.

Or you might pay your money to go to see a film at a cinema. You might go inside, sit down and wait. When the cinema was full, there might be flashed on the screen: "You've had it, Chums". And that might be the whole of the entertainment. If there were no law, the manager could safely remain on the premises and, as you went out, smile at you and say: "Hope you've enjoyed the show, sir." That is to say, he could do this safely if he were bigger than you or had a well-armed bodyguard.

Every country tries, therefore, to provide laws which will help its people to live safely and as comfortably as possible. This is not at all an easy thing to do, and no country has been successful in producing laws which are entirely satisfactory. But we are far better off with the imperfect laws which we have, than if we had none at all.

TASK 2. Answer the questions.

Rules, laws, regulations - What is your personal understanding of these words? Is there any difference between them?

TASK 3. Work in groups. Make a list of arguments for and against the following statements.

1. Laws haven't changed since primeval times.

2. However hard people try, laws are always insufficient.

3. Laws are not for ordinary people, they are for lawyers.

TASK 4. Continue the list: chum, bloke, pal...

Unit II

AN OUTLINE OF LAWMAKING PROCESS IN GREAT BRITAIN AND THE USA

T.iSK 1. Read the following texts.

Britain

New legislation in Britain usually starts in the House of Lords. In each house a bill is considered in three stages, called readings. The first reading is

10

purely formajj to introduce the bill. The second reading is usuertrj? the occasion for debate. After the second reading the bill is examihedj ia detail by a committee. ' ^ _t<^ ^_v

The_f bill is then returned to one of the houses for the report stage, when it can be attended/ ilf passed after its third reading, it goes to the other house. Amendments made to a bill by the House of Lords must be considered by the Commons. If the House of Commons does not agree, the bill is altered and sent bask to the Lords. In the event of "persistent disagreement between the two houses, Commons prevails. *

Finally, the bill goes to the reigning monarch for the royal assent Nowadays the royal assent is merely a formality. In theory the queen could still refuse her consent, but the last monarch to use this power was Queen Anne, who vetoed the unpopular Scottish Militia Bill in 1707.

United States

The US Congress, the lawmaking arm of the federal government, consists of two houses: the House of Representatives and the Senate. Any congressman in either house, or the president, may initiate new legislation.

The proposed legislation, or bill, is first introduced in the House of Representatives, then referred to one of the standing committees, which organizes hearings on it and may approve, amend or shelve the draft. If the committee passes the bill, it is considered by the House of Representatives as a whole. If passed there, it goes to the Senate for a similar sequence of committee hearings and general debate.

In cases of disagreement, the House of Representatives and the Senate confer together. Once passed by the Senate as a whole, the bill has to be examined by two more standing committees - the Committee on House Administration and the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration - and is then signed by the speaker of the House and by the president of the Senate.

Finally, it must be signed by the president, who has the right to veto it. If the president vetoes a bill, it can still become a law - but only if it is passed by a two-thirds majority in both houses of Congress.

TASK 2. Answer the questions.

1. In which House does new legislation usually start? ^a) in Great Britain

b) in the USA

2. What is a bill ? How does a bill become a law ?

a) in Great Britain

b) in the USA

3. Who has the right of veto ?

11

a) in Great Britain

b) in the USA

; 11 " ^f

TASK 3 Work in groups. Find as many differences (similarities) in the lawmaking in GB and the USA as possible.

Unit III V THE COURT SYSTEM OF ENGLAND AND WALES

TASK 1 Read the text and examine the chart.

iThe most common type of law court in England and Wales is the magistrates' court. There are 700 magistrates' courts and about 30,000 magistrates. \Pfa t -

More serious criminal cases then go to the Crown Court, which has 90 branches in different towns and cities. Civil cases (for example, divorce or bankruptcy cases) are dealt with in County courts.'

Appeals are heard by higher courts. For example, appeals from magistrates' courts are heard in the Crown Court, unless they are appeals on points of law. The highest court of appeal in England and Wales is the House of Lords; (Scotland has its own High Court in Edinburgh, which hears all appeals from Scottish courts.) Certain cases may be referred to the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg. In addition, individuals have made the British Government change its practices in a number of areas as a result of petitions to the European Court of Human Rights.

The legal system also includes juvenile courts (which deal with offenders under seventeen) and coroners' courts (which investigate violent, sudden or unnatural deaths)! There are administrative tribunals which make quick, cheap and fair decisions with much less formality. Tribunals deal with professional standards, disputes between individuals, and disputes between individuals and government departments (for example, over taxation).

12

The legal system in England and Wales

(The system т Northern Ireland is similar, but the system in Scotland is quite different and separate)

The House of Lords

3 Law Lords

Civil courts

Criminal courts f ~i т

.----------1-----f.------П __________I______________

Court of Appeal 1-3 judges, no jury High Court 1-3 judges, no jury

7,,'

County Courts

1 judge, no juryU-J Crown Court 1 judge + jury [

Magistrates' Courts 3 magistrates, no jury

TASK 2. Find in the text the English equivalents for the words below.

- общее право;

- решение суда;

- уголовный кодекс;

- гражданский кодекс; _Л'

- мировой судья;

- Суд Короны;

- гражданское дело;

- суды графств;

- Европейский суд по правам человека;

- правовая система;

- суд по делам несовершеннолетних;

- правонарушитель;

- насильственная смерть;

- уголовное дело.

TASK 3. Use the information given above to answer the questions.

1. Who is responsible for making laws in Britain?

2. In the United Kingdom, what is the difference between criminal and civil law?

3. What is the most common type of law court in England and Wales ?

4. Name three other types of British courts.

13

TASK 4. Work in pairs and discuss the following.

Which courts do you think would deal with:

a) a bank robbery?

b) a divorce case?

c) a burglary committed by a fifteen-year-old?

d) a drowning?!^r-^' - <-

e) a case of driving too fast?

Unit IV PEOPLE IN LAW CASES IN GREAT BRITAIN

A. Types of Legal Professions

TASK 1. Read this classification.

SOLICITORS

There are about 50,000 solicitors, a number which is rapidly increasing, and they make up by far the largest branch of the legal profession in England and Wales. They are found in every town, where they deal with all the day-to­day work of preparing legal documents for buying and selling houses, making wills, etc. Solicitors also work on court cases for their clients, prepare cases for barristers to present in the higher courts, and may represent their client in a Magistrates' court.

* BARRISTERS

There are about 5,000 barristers who defend or prosecute in the higher courts. Although solicitors and barristers work together on cases, barristers specialize in representing clients in court and the training and career structures for the two types of lawyer are cfui'te separate. In court, barristers wear wigs and gowns in keeping with the extreme formality of the proceedings. The highest level of barristers have the title QC (Queen's Counsel).

JUDGES ,

There are a few hundred judges, trained as barristers, who preside in more serious cases. There is no separate training for judges.

JURY ,

С A jury consist of twelve people ("jurors"), who are ordinary people chosen at random from the Electoral Register (the list of people who can vote in

14

elections). The jury listen to the evidence given in court in certain criminal cases and decide whether the defendant is guilty or innocent. If the person is found guilty, the punishment is passed by the presiding judge. Juries are rarely used in civil cases. /

MAGISTRATES

There are about 30,000 magistrates (Justices of the Peace or JPs), who fjudge cases in the lower courts. They are usually unpaid and have no formal legal qualifications, but they are respectable people who are given some training.

CORONERS

Coroners have medical or legal training (or both), and inquire into violent or unnatural deaths.

, CLERKS OF THE COURT

Clerks look after administrative and legal matters in the courtroom. v **

TASK 2 Choose the correct definition for each legal profession mentioned in the text.

'\ (a) an officer acting as a judge in the lower courts. - (b) a public official with authority to hear and decide cases in a law court.

(c) a group of people who swear to give a true decision on issues of in a law court.

(d) an official who investigates the cause of any death thought to be violent or unnatural causes.

(e) a lawyer who has the right to speak and argue in higher law courts.

(f) a lawyer who prepares legal documents, advises clients on legal and | speaks for them in lower law courts.

B. Solicitors and Barristers

TASK 1 Before listening to thq Jape, read the following text

< , _J

^v England ^is almost unique in having two different kinds of lawyers, with separate Jobs in the legal system. The two kinds of lawyers are solicitors and barristers.*^ *'i«

If а рег«Ш1 has a legal problem, he will go and see a solicitor.

Almost every town will have at least one. In fact there are at least 50,000

^ ^xi solicitors in Britain, and the number is increasing

\

the

15

Many problems are delalt with exclusively by a solicitor. 'For'instance, solicitor deals with petty crimes and some matrimonial matters in

Magistrates' Courts, the lowest Courts. He prepares the case and the 'evidence. ^He Actually speaks {ц Court for you.

In a civH action he can speak in the County Court, when the case is one of divorce or recovering some deMs. In the County Court the solicitor wears a black gown over his ordinary clothes.

A ^olicitor also deals with matters outside Court. He does the legal work involved in buying a house, for Instance. He writes legal letters for you and carries or» legal arguments outside Court. If you want to make a will the best man to advise you is a solicitor.

To qualify as a solicitor, a young man or woman joins a solicitors a "clerk" and works for him whilst studying part time for the "Law Sdciery" exams. Interestingly enough, it is not necessary for you to go to university. When you have passed all the necessary exams, you can "practice", which means you can start business on your own.

Barristers are different from solicitors. Barristers are experts in the

f i J$V

interpretation of the Law. They are called in to advise on really difficult points. The barrister is also an expert on ^advocacy (the art of presenting cases in Court). Indeed,r if you desire" representation in any Court except* me Magistrates' Court, you must have a barrister, with one or two exceptions.

Barristers are rather remote figures. If you need one, for irisbnc'e, you never see him without your solicitor being with him. Barristers do not have public offices in any street They work in „wfyat are known as chambers', often in London. They all belong to institutions called Inns of Court, which are ancient organizations rather like exclusive clubs^ In many ways the remoteness they have and the job they do are medieval in conception. 71» To qualify as a barrister you have to take the examinations of the Bar

A U О <

Council. These are different from solicitors' examinations. There are pver f 5,000 barristers in England. A good one can earn 30,000 pounds a year.¹ Only "*" barristers can become judges in an English Court above a Magistrates' Court.

*Barristers are also found in South Africa and New South Wales (Australia)

TASK 2. Answer the questions

1. What is almost unique about the English legal system?

2. What kind of problems does a solicitor deal with? 3 How do you qualify as a solicitor?

4. What are barristers experts in?

5. When must you have a barrister?

16

6. What reasons are there for saying a barrister is rather remote?

7. How do you qualify as a barrister?

TASK 3. Read the following text and answer the questions

One of the most important figures in the British legal system is the solicitor.i-It is his job to advise you on legal matters of all kinds. If you get into 'trouble with the police you will probably ask a solicitor to help prepare your defence and, if the offence is to be heard in a Magistrates' Court, you can ask a solicitor to appear for you and argue your case. If the case goes to a higher Court, the solicitor still advises you, but you must get a barrister to appear for you. _} , ^ _ltl , v *л

On this tape a young solicitor discussed his experience: the reasons for theft, crimes of violence and how he feels when he knows the man he is

A* \A'i» ) >

defending is guilty. He gives his reason for defending someone in these circumstances.

K>Jc с

1. What are the two main jobs of a solicitor?

2. What does the young solicitor talk about on the tape?

TASK 4. Listen to Part 1 of the tape. /

The solicitor says why he thinks thefts occur and then gives his views on violence.

he

TASK 5 Match each word or expression on the left with the correct definition on the right.

a) motive

b) there's a patte)(h of...

c) we'll do that house

d) broken homes

TASK 6. Answer the questions.

1. the same thing occurs again and

^a§^ain

2. families in which either the father or mother has left

3.reason

4. we'll rob this house

1. What is the strongest motive for theft?

2. What pattern often occurs in lives of people involved in theft?

3. What house do robbers usually choose?

4. What background do robbers most often come from?

17

TASK 7. Listen to Part 2 of the tape.

The solicitor describes a case of a violent crime he has had to defend.

TASK 8. Explain the meaning of the following words and expressions.

a) fair degree of seriousness (of a crime);

b) to chase sb.;

c) to assault sb.

TASK 9. Answer the questions.

1. After what event in his life did the man become a criminal?

2. Why couldn't the man keep any job for very long?

3. How serious was the crime that this man committed?

4. Where did the crime occur?

5. Where was the elderly man sitting when the criminal beat him ? Why did the criminal beat him?

6. What information did the solicitor obtain about his defendant (before starting to work on the case)?

TASK 10 Listen to Part 3 of the tape

The solicitor explains why he defends people who admit they are guilty. Then he gives an example.

_7

TASK 11. Match each word or expression on the left with the correct definition on the right.

a) witness

b) crosis-examme

c) witness box

d) evidence

e) defence

f) allege

2-6858

1. everything witnesses say in court: facts, etc.

2. where witnesses stand in court.

3. someone who sees a crime or an accident

4. ask all witnesses involved in a case questions

5. to say something happened though the fact hasn't been proved yet

6. all the evidence, facts, things, etc. that a solicitor can use to prove a man is not guilty.

t «i A -т

18

TASK 12. Answer the questions.

1. What reputation does the solicitor's firm have?

2. Why does the solicitor defend people he knows are guilty?

3. Describe what he has been told in the case he has at the moment.

4. What will his client do in court?

5. What exactly will the solicitor do? What will he ask questions about?

6. How does the solicitor feel about what he has to do?

*' TASK 13. Discuss the following.

1. Are you satisfied with the solicitor's reasons for defending guilty people? Say why you are or are not.

2. What would happen if solicitors refused to do their best for people they think or know are guilty?

C. Judges in Great Britain

TASK 1. Before listening to the tape, read the following text and answer the questions.

In Britain, the vast majority of judges J (that is, the people who decide what should be done with people who commit crimes) are unpaid. They are called "Magistrates", or "Justices of the Peace" (JPs). / They are ordinary citizens >ho are selected not because they have any legal training but^because they have "sound common sense" and understand their fellow^Kuman befogs. They give up time voluntarily.

A small proportion of judges are not

Magistrates. They are called "High Court Judges" and they deal with the most serious crimes, such as those for which the criminal might be sent to prison for гагяге than a year. High Court Judges, unlike Magistrates, are paid зашпезо^ the State and have eonsiderable legal training.

Magistrates are selected by special committees in every town and district. Nobody, not even the Magistrates themselves, knows, who is on the special committee in their area. The committee tries to*araw\lviagistrates from as wide a variety of professions and social classes as possible. ,

19

i ^J On this tape, a Magistrate describes the sort of people who come before

him, gives examples of a few typical cases and finally talks about the difficulty of deciding between when to help a person and when to punish him.

1 . What kind of people are Magistrates?

2. Why are they selected?

3. Who would judge a person who had committed a crime like murder?

4. Who selects Magistrates and what is 'unusual about'the system?

5. What does the Magistrate on the tape talk about?

TASK 2. Listen to Part 1 of the tape.

Magistrate talks about the sort of people who come before him.

TASK 3. Match each word or expression on the left with the correct definition on the right.

a) inadequate 1. the main impression

b) punishment 2. not to have enough sympathy

c) overwhelming impression 3. treat too softly d)insufficiently concerned with 4. inadequacies

e) shortcomings 5. the prison sentence or fine given to a

criminal

f) molly - coddle 6. used for people who somehow lack

the necessary intelligence or maturity to make a success of their lives TASK 4. Answer the questions.

1. What word does the Magistrate use to describe most of the people who come before him?

2. How, according to him, do they react to situations?

3. What does he think most of them need?

4. What sort of things does the public say about criminals?

5. What sort of people has the public sympathy for?

6. What sort of people has the public not enough sympathy for?

20

TASK 5. Work in pairs. Discuss the following.

"Criminals should be punished." How do you feel about that?

TASK 6. Listen to Part 2 of the tape.

The Magistrate describes a serious case he had recently, in which it was difficult to decide what to do.

TASK 7. Match each -word or expression on the left -with the correct definition on the right.

a) forgery

b) post office savings book

c) put on probation

d) old age pensioner

e) seriously in debt

f) a fine

1. punishment in the form of money you have to pay the Court

2. owing other people a lot of money

3. an old person receiving a pension (money from the State )

4. allowed to remain free but only under supervision

5. signing a check or some other document with another person's name

6. many people have a post office savings account. They put sums of money in the post office. When they want to take money out, they take this small book to the post office with them

TASK 8. Answer the questions.

1. What exactly had the woman done? Give details?

2. What do you learn about the woman herself?

3. He could have sent her to prison or fined her. Did he?

4. What finally happened to the woman?

5. What were the reasons for this?

21

TASK 9. Discuss the following.

Do you agree or disagree with what the Magistrate did? Give your reasons.

TASK 10. Combine the folio-wing pairs of sentences into one according to the model.

MODEL: We had a case. A woman stole a post office savings book. We had a case of a. woman -who stole a post office savings book.

a) We had a case. Someone attacked a man.

b) I remember having a case. Three men broke into a house.

c) I've never had a case. A man robbed a bank.

d) A colleague had a case. A young boy took a motor cycle.

TASK 11. Listen to part 3 of the tape.

The Magistrate describes two less serious cases. In both of them, it was easier to decide what to do.

TASK 12. Match each word or expression on the left with the definition on the right.

1. being found guilty of anything before

2. she had planned what she was going to do

3. something that makes you feel pity

4. to be mixed up, unclear about what you aredoing or what is happening

e) she had set out on a deliberate 5. to be accused by the police in court expedition

a) charged with

b) pathetic

c) confused

d) previous convictions

TASK 13. Answer the questions. ^r

1. The two women were both the same in one way. In what way?

2. How does the Magistrate describe the first woman?

3. What exactly does he say about "sleeping pills" in her case?

4. What did he with her and why?

5. What was different about the second woman?

6. What happened to her?

22

TASK 14 Discuss the following.

1. "There is no definite proof about the sleeping pills and the first woman. The Magistrate would have been right to send her to prison". Discuss it.

2. Why was it easier to decide what to do with the second woman? '

TASK 15. 1. Make the sentences containing reported questions according to the model.

MODEL: How many had she taken? Nobody knew. Nobody knew how many she'd taken.

a) How confused was she? It's difficult to say.

b) When had she last had a pill? We couldn't find out.

c) Where had she got the pills? The doctor didn't know.

d) How many things had she stolen? The police couldn't say.

e) How much were the things worth? Nobody asked.

2. Make sentences containing the ing-form according to the model.

MODEL: There was no question of confusion of mind.(fming her) There was no question of fining her.

a) sending her to prison

b) putting her on probation

c) being to soft

d) not punishing her somehow

e) not knowing what she was doing

TASK 16. Listen to part 4 of the tape.

The Magistrate says why he gives help in some cases and punishment in others.

TASK 17. Explain the meaning of the expressions.

a) to feel desperate;

b) on the other hand.

TASK 18. Answer the questions.

1. Why does the Magistrate feel desperate sometimes?

2. What does he have to consider when he sees that someone needs help?

23

3. What would happen if some people were left free?

4. What does he say would happen if people were never punished?

TASK 19. Discuss the following.

From what the Magistrate has said throughout the tape, do you think he is too "soft", too "hard" or what? Why?

TASK 20. 1. Make sentences containing reported questions according to the model.

MODEL: It depends. How anti-social has their action been? It depends how anti-social their action has been.

a) It depends. What did he do?

b) You must consider. How much has a man done?

c) It all depends. How many times has a criminal been in prison?

d) I always consider. What is his background?

e) It depends. How serious is the crime?

2. Make conditional sentences according to the model. MODEL: People must be punished. If people were not punished crime would increase. Discipline must be taught. If discipline weren't taught, crime would increase.

a) Things like this must be done.

b) The law must be enforced.

c) Fines must be given.

d) People must be sent to prison.

e) Magistrates must be firm.

TASK 21. Read the text and answer the questions.

The Innocent and the Guilty

Imagine, if you can, that you have been arrested for somethingjlike shoplifting, or for dangerous driving, or for getting drunk and causing "a disturbance of the peace". You are in a Magistrates Court now.

You, "the accused", are in a kind of large, open box. The sides come up almost to your chin. It is on a raised platform almost in the centre of the court and is called "the dock". You are "in the dock". There are three

24

Magistrates "on the bench" in front of you. At least one of them is, £„woman. They are also on a raised platform, at desks, side by side. In frdnt of and below them there is another man. He is the "Clerk of the Court" and he, unlike them, is framed in the law and is paid for his work. During your case he will handle the administrative details and perhaps give advice to the Magistrates on legal points. „ /

The case begins. The policeman who arrested you gives evidence. He reads details from a small black notebook that he always carries. He tells the court when and why he arrested you, what you said, what he said, and so on. _tYour solicitor questions, or "cross-examines" hirrfoOne of the Magistrates speaking for all three, also asks questions.' Other witnesses appear. Perhaps you yourself say nothing at all. You do not have to speak in your defence. "Everyone is innocent urileVs proved guilty". In other words, you do not have to prove that you are innocent. The police have to prove you are guilty.

At the end the Magistrates probably do not even go out of the court. They discuss your case in low voices in front of you. You try to hear, but cannot. Then the Clerk of the Court tells you to stand>The Magistrate who has done the talking for the others tells you whether they have found you innocent or guiltv^He can sentence you to no more than six months in gaol for one offence, to a maximum of one year for two or more offences or to a fine of 400 pounds. , i

"^ДМоге serious cases are heard'in the Crown Court,-Avhere the Judge is always a legal expert and is also paid for his work. In the Crown Court you may, if you choose, be given a "trial by jury". Twelve ordinary people like yourself judge you. But the Judge himself always decides on the sentence.

Reporters for local newspapers often go to Magistrates' Courts; the next day articles appear in the paper and full names, ages, addresses and details of the case are given. Find such an article if you can from an English local newspaper. It will give you an idea of the kind of cases that can be tried in such a court.

1. What are the names of at least three offences (less serious than crimes) for which people are tried in a Magistrates' Court.

2. What exactly is meant by "the dock"?

3. If you are "in the dock", what and who do you see is front of you?

4. If you are the accused, describe what these people will do during your case.

a) the policeman who arrested you

b) your solicitor

c) one of the three Magistrates

d) the other two Magistrates

e) witnesses

25

5.In what way, with regard to framing and pay, is the Clerk of the Court different from the Magistrates?

6. What is the longest term a Magistrates' Court can sentence anyone to?

7. Where are more serious cases heard?

UnitV -t THE CeURT SYSTEM ФР THE USA

TASK 1. Examine the chart and read the text.

US Supreme Court Opinions

_Ut^ ^_______(Approximately 140 signed opinions)

Original jurisdiction

(Approximately 10 cases)

Request for review (Approximately 4200 petitions and ___ appeals) ___

From Federal Administrative Agencies___

US Courts of Appeals (36,000 cases)

State Courts of Last

Resort (60,000 cases)

State Intermediate Appellate

Courts (130,000 cases)

US District Courts

(94 Courts) (280,000 cases)

State Trial Courts (27,000,000 cases)

The Organization of the Federal Courts Today

C/^Hf I

The American court system is complex. It functions as part of the federal system of government. Each state runs its own court system, and no two are

26

<fc " т 1. In additic

identical. In addition, we have a system of courts for the national government. These federal courts coexist with the state courts.

Individuals fall under the jurisdiction of two different court systems, their state courts and federal courts. They can sue or be sued in either system, depending mostly on what their case is about. The vast majority of cases are resolved in the state courts.

i The federal courts are organized in three tiers, like a pyramid. At the bottom of the pyramid are the US district courts, where litigation begins. In the middle are the US courts of appeals. At the top is the US Supreme Court. To appeal means to take a case to a higher court. The courts of appeals and the Supreme Court are appellate courts,\ with few exceptions, they review cases that have been decided in lower courts. Most federal courts hear and decide a wide array of cases; the judges in these courts are known as generalists.

TASK 2. Find in the text the English equivalents for the -words below.

- сосуществовать;

- частные лица;

- суды штатов;

- подать иск;

- федеральные суды;

- подавляющее большинство;

- подпадать под юрисдикцию;

- разрешить дело в судебном порядке;

- ярус;

- Верховный суд;

- судебное разбирательство, тяжба;

- окружные суды;

- высшие суды;

- аппеляционные суды;

- исключение;

- низшие суды;

- суд последней инстанции;

- рассматривать дело.

TASK 3. Answer the questions.

1. Who is responsible for making laws in the US?

2. Name American courts in the descending order.

3. In what way are the federal courts organized?

4. Where does litigation begin?

27

5. What does the word "to appeal" mean? TASK 4. Fill in the blanks.

The Federal and State Court Systems

The federal courts have three tiers: (a)^/ * '⁽-*"' "' of (b)gijpf"' с;' /i and the (c) / "(xP/Vfc Court. The (d)_, was created by the Constitution; all other (e) created by Congress. Most litigation occurs in (f)t/iJiT> structure of (g)

(h)______

intermediate (j)

courts, courts

_/____Court

courts were ^courts. The

_____ courts varies from state to state; usually there are

for less serious cases, (i)________for more serious cases,

State courts

courts, and courts of last (k)_

were created by state constitutions.

Unit VI

ATTORNEYS IN THE USA

TASK 1. Read the following text.

Growth of the Profession

Today, the number of awyers in the United States exceeds 675,000. This translates to one lawyer for every 364 people. Twenty-five years ago, there was one lawyer for every 70P people. The rate at which the legal profession is growing will probably continue to outpace rate of population growth through the end of the century.

Why is a career in law so popular? Market forces account for some of the allure. We know that in 1984 the average salary of experienced lawyers was 88,000 dollars. If we could include in this average the salaries of all lawyer^, whatever their experience, the figure would probably be much lower, certainly well below the 108,000 dollars average salary of physicians. But lawyers' salaries are still substantially greater than those of many other professionals. Salaries for newly minted lawyers heading for elite New York law firms exceeded 71,000 dollars in 1987; some firms offered additional bonuses for clerkship experience in the federal courts and state supreme courts. The glamour of legal practice strengthens the attraction of its financial rewards.

There are other reasons for the popularity of the legal profession and the unquenchable demand for legal services. Materialism and individualism in American culture encourage dispute. Federalism gives separate legal

28

systems for each state plus the national government. Advertising can now create demand for legal services, too. Finally, the principles of separation of powers and of checks and balances make governing difficult and sometimes impossible. When political institutions act, they often are forced to compromise, deferring critical issues to the courts. Pluralist democracy operates when groups are able to press their interests on, and even challenge, the government. The expression of group demands in a culture that encourages lawsuits thrusts on the courts all manner of disputes and interests^ Is it any wonder that America needs all the lawyers it can train?

TASK 2. Find in the text the English equivalents for the words below:

- превышать;

- премия;

- адвокатская практика;

- уровень роста населения;

- средняя заработная плата;

- опытные юристы;

- система сдержек и противовесов;

- оставить спорные вопросы на рассмотрение суда;

- создать спрос на что-либо.

TASK 3. Answer the questions.

1. Why is the number of lawyers in the US increasing?

2. What factors create demand for legal services?

TASK 4. Read the text.

US Attorneys

The Justice Department is responsible for faithful execution of the laws under the president's authority. The main administrators of federal law enforcement are the ninety-four US attorneys, appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the Senate. Unlike federal judges, these appointees serve at the pleasure of the president and are expected to relinquish their positions when the reins of government change hands.

There is a US attorney in each federal judicial district. Their staffs of assistant attorneys vary in size with the amount of litigation in the district. US attorneys have considerable discretion, which makes them powerful political figures in any community. Their decision to prosecute or not affects the wealth, freedom, rights, and reputation of individuals and organizations in the district.

29

US attorneys are political appointees who often harbour political ambitions. Their position commands media attention and can serve political goals. In 1983 President Reagan appointed Rudolph Giuliani as US attorney for the Southern District of New York (covering a large portion of the New York metropolitan area). Over the next five years, Giuliani notched his briefcase with dozens of successful prosecutions of elected officials, judges, organized crime figures, and Wall Street inside traders. Giuliani's activities generated reels and reams of favourable press coverage, he even appeared on a Newsweek cover. This kind of public exposure qan helrj^a US

launch a potential

sucgessful career in elected office, opponentftjmliani's name must make

s a powerful some politicians

TASK 5. Paraphrase the following expressions.

a) faithful execution of laws;

b) under somebody's authority;

c) consent;

d) appointee;

e) to relinquish;

f) amount of litigation;

g) to prosecute; h) elected office; i) inside traders; j) press coverage;

k) to harbour political ambitions; 1) to launch a career.

TASK 6. Answer the questions.

1. What is an attorney in the US? How is he appointed?

2. When does an attorney resign?

3. What does the number of assistant attorneys in federal judicial districts depend on?

4. What makes attorneys so important in American communities?

5. How do attorneys in the US realize their political ambitions?

6. What example in the text proves that US attorneys harbour political ambitions?

30

TASK 7. Work in pairs. Discuss the difference between the American and British lawyers.

Unit VII LANGUAGE ACTIVITIES

A. Radio Phone-in

1. Have you ever had any legal problems ? Such as

- your neighbours' bathroom leaked into your ceiling, and they do not want to pay damages;

- you were delayed by a metro accident and missed an important business appointment;

- a couple you know intends to divorce but they cannot decide who their favourite pressure-cooker should belong to;-

- you rent an apartment and pay for 3 months in advance.At the end of the second month your landlady demands extra fee...

What are the ways to solve these problems?

TASK 2. Read the letters below from a weekly magazine. Choose the right decision to each problem.

A. Annoyed

The other weekend I bought a jacket for my son in a sale. When I got home he said it was too small and refused to wear it. So I went back the next day and asked them to exchange it for a larger size. Unfortunately they didn't have a larger size and when I asked for my money back they refused, saying

31

that no refunds wer$ given on sales goods. Are they within their rights to do this?

B. Worried

Myself and two friends have been renting a house near the college we go to for the last two years. The landlord has now decided he wants us to leave and has more or less said that we have to be out within the next two weeks. We have nowhere else to go and with exams coming up shortly we would rather stay where we are. Friends of ours are saying he can't get us out unless we have signed a contract agreeing to go. Is this right?

C. Exhausted

I have been living in what used to be a very quiet area for about a year now but in the last few months it has changed completely - if I had known this would happen I would never have bought my house. Opposite me there is now a fish and chip shop which fries day and night except for Sunday - the irhell is disgusting and so are all the empty paper bags all over the street. It doesn't close until after midnight so every night there are people shouting, radios blaring, car doors slamming - I never seem to get a night's sleep these days and it's beginning to affect my work. Is there anything I can do about it?

A: 1) They must give you your money back, or a credit note.

2) They are not obliged to do anything. B: 1) He can get you out if he needs the house back for his family.

2) Your friends are right. C: 1) There is nothing you can do except move.

2) If the disturbance happens regularly you can ask a solicitor to to them. Discuss your answers in groups.

TASK 3. Listen to the tape. A legal expert, Charles Andrews is answering the telephone calls. Match the caller with his or her letter. Put a circle round the appropriate letter below. First caller: ABC Second caller: ABC

TASK 4. The following words and phrases were used in the tape. Guess their meaning and explain them.

- rent book;

- to keep on sb.;

- to get sb. down;

32

- to keep pestering;

- a court order for possession;

- to sue for harassment;

- to regain possession of;

- a chance of staying put;

- a complex issue;

- Legal Aid;

- to be legally obliged;

- faulty;

- credit note;

- purchase.

TASK 5. Complete the following summaries, using the words listed below each summary.

a) Shops are not legally 1. back or 2.

______^ to give you your money

goods if the items are bought in a 3.____^_ although

most big stores would probably give you a 4.________£________if

you had a 5._________.

receipt; sale; credit note; obliged; exchange

b) Stephen is not 1.________an agreement but he pays 2._____

monthly. The 3. '____does not live in the house and 4._____no

services. He has to write formally asking them to leave - at least a

5._______ in advance. Unless he wants the house for himself or

6._______ j _______, Stephen is probably a protected

7.

month ; rent; provides; landlord ; tenant; his family ; signed

TASK 6. Write a letter of reply to "Exhausted", suggesting what she might do. Use expressions like:

if I were you

why don't you

you should

have you thought about

jng?

33

B. Spy Photo Case

LAli YEII: III TO SPESTO A HAY 188 THE 11ОЖ SI»Y |»HOTO CASE COVE.II LAST A WEEK

Di has given a witness statement and the case is expected to last a week.

Anthony Jylius, head of litigation at her solicitors Mishcon de Reya, said it was possible she would give evidence for up to a day.

Mr. Julius said: "The principle is that people who break confidences shouldn't profit from their bad behaviour."

Di has refused pleas to settle privately against New Zealander Mr. Taylor, who took the shots with a hidden camera, and Mirror Group Newspapers which published them.

The Princess wants an order against Mr. Taylor and MGN for profits they made.

Mr. Julius said the profits could top one million pounds - and that the Princess may well decide to give any money she recovered to charity.

Mr. Taylor's solicitor, Razi Mireskandari, said: "If she doesn't appear I would say her case is much, weakened." j

PRINCESS Diana could spend a whole day in the witness box in her battle over peeping-tom photos, her lawyer confirmed last night.

Di is determined to get public revenge and huge damages over sneakily-taken pictures of her exercising in a gym in a leotard.

Decide

Next February 13 has already эееп set as the date for the start of ler High Court hearing against Mirror Group Newspapers and ex-gym boss Згусе Taylor. /

TASK 1. Find in the text the English equivalents for the words and phrases below.

- свидетельское заявление;

- подтверждать ;

- свидетельская ложа; '*/ / 1 he ^! " *

- в суде; >

/ - слушание в Высоком Суде; jvqk

- публично отомстить; _v •> ^

- тяжба; ! -» ' /^

- адвокат; „ , • /

Jt

_о о '

с

34

- быть решительно настроенным что-либо сделать;

- получить компенсацию за убытки;

- вторгаться в частную жизнь;

- уладить дело в частном порядке;

- благотворительность; V С"4^f

- давать свидетельские показания;

- получать прибыль;

- возместить деньги в судебном порядке.

TASK. 2. Explain the meaning of the expression "peeping - torn photos".

TASK 3. Imagine yourself a journalist at a press-conference. Here are the people present:

- Princess Di

- ex-gym boss Bryce Taylor and photographer

- MGN representative

Ask them all sorts of questions.

Revision

TASK 1'. Complete the following sentences with the correct names of courts^,

A. ^

The most common type of Law Court in Great Britain is thfe¹'

(^a)^°<^'- court. More serious criminal cases then go to (b)____court.

Civil cases are dealt with in (c)___;__ courts. Appeals are heard by

(d)_t£ \_l courts. The highest court of appeal in England and Wales is

(e)_'i'^r Certain cases may be referred to (f)_____ in Luxembourg.

The legal system also includes (g)__ll__l ^co^urts (which deal with

offenders under seventeen) and (h)____(_(_ courts (which investigate violent,

sudden or unnatural deaths). There are also administrative (i)' ч >л •* which deal with professional standards, disputes between individuals, and disputes between individuals and government departments.

B.

courts.

1. Most litigation in the US occurs in___

2. The____Court was created by the Constitution, all other _

courts were created by Congress.

3. Cases are primarily heard in the courts of_____jurisdiction.

35

4. At the bottom of the system of American courts are the middle there are ' '

courts. In

court. They review cases

5. To appeal means to take a case to a that have been decided in courts.

TASK 2. Complete the following sentences with the words and phrases from the box, using them in the correct form.

to plead guilty; attorney; to recover; barrister; to cross-examine; civil action; to inquire into; advocacy; to sentence; at random; solicitor; the dock.

1. If a person in Britain has a legal problem, he will go and see a

^ - ' * In the US, he will go and see a_____. 2. A case of divorce is a

_____. 3. If you want to_____your debts, your case will be heard in the

County Court. 4._____is an expert in the interpretation of law. He is also

an expert on_____ (the art of presenting cases in Court). 5. Coroners who

have medical or legal training j;____violent or unnatural deaths. 6. A jury

consists of twelve jurors who are ordinary people chosen '** ¹ ^from the Electoral Register. 7. In a Magistrates' Court the accused is placed in

. 8. A defence lawyer in court the accused if he

the witnesses. 9. A judge

TASK 3. Give definitions of the following words and expressions.

a) to allege; b) forgery; c) to put on probation; d) witness-box; e) accomplice; f) appeal; g) bankruptcy; h) a gaol; i) litigation; j) damages.

TASK 4. Complete the following sentences by substituting the words and expressions in brackets for their synonyms.

1. Th£ president of the US has the right to (refuse the assent of) a bill.

2. To become a law a bill must not only be adopted in both houses of Parliament, but also get (the queen's approval).

3. A bill is first (put forward) in the House of Representatives, then referred to one of the standing committees which organizes (debates) on it and may (agree on it), (change it) or shelve the draft.

4. A bill can still become a law only if it is (enacted) by (the greater number of the members) (2/3) in both houses of Congress.

36

Just for Fun

,\Qt" "t

When asked to explain the difference between an ordinary citizen and a lawyer, a well-known barrister explained, "If an ordinary citizen gave you an orange, he would say, "I give you this orange." But if a lawyer gave you an orange, he would say, "I hereby give, grant and convey to you all my interest, right, title and claim of and in this orange, together with all its rind, skin, juice and pulp, and all right and advantage therein with full power to bite, cut, suck, or otherwise eat or consume the said orange, or give away or dispose of to any third party the said orange, with or without its rind, skin, juice and pulp, subject to any amendments subsequently introduced or drawn up to this agreement."

***

"Have you anything to say for yourself before I pass a sentence?" the judge frowned at the pickpocket. "Just what good have you ever done for

mankind?"

"Well, Your Honour", ventured the prisoner, "I've helped several

reporters, prison guards and you keep your jobs".

***

A woman visited her family solicitor and said, "I'd like to go over my will again, Mr Jenks. I'm a bit worried about..."

"Don't you worry about a thing, Mrs Smith", said the solicitor, "just

leave it all to me."

"I suppose I might as well," said Mrs Smith with a sigh. "You'll get it

all in the end!"

***

Visitor: "What terrible crime has this man committed?" Jailer: "He has done nothing. He merely happened to be passing by when "Gyp the Blood" tried to kill a man, and he is held in prison as a

witness"

V. "And where is "Gyp the Blood"?"

J. "He is out on bail".

***

"I don't want a lawyer to tell me what I cannot do; I hire him to tell me

how to do what I want to do."

J. Priepont Morgan

*** Murphy's Law: If anything can go wrong, it will.

37

Whistler's Law: You never know who's right, but you always know

who's in charge.

***

Oak's principles of law-making:

Law expands in proportion to the resources available for its enforcement.

Bad law is more likely to be supplemented than repealed.

Social legislation cannot repeal physical laws.

***

The rule of law:

If the facts are against you, argue the law.

If the law is against you, argue the facts.

If the facts and the law are against you, yell like hell.

Glossary

accuse (v)(of) - to charge with an offence, crime; to blame. Accuse/! (adj)- a person charged with an offence, the defendant in a criminal case.

accuser (n)- a person who accuses. Accusation (n)- charge of wrongdoing; allegation. advocate (n) - 1. a person who defends or supports a cause or proposal 2. a professional pleader before tribunal or court. advocacy (n) - 1. active support or pleading. 2. the function of an advocate. I/ allege (v)- to assert without proof or before proving.

- alleged (adj).

allegation (n) - statement of what one undertakes to prove. amend (v) - see Ch. 11,111.

/appeal (v) - to take a case to a higher court for rehearing and a new decision.

appeal (n) - a legal proceeding by which a case is brought to a higher court for review.

- Court of~.

appoint (v) - 1. to fix or name officially. 2. to select for an office or position.

- appointment (n).

appointee (n) - a person who is appointed. argue (v) - to consider arguments for and against; discuss. ~ a case.

38

assent (v) - to agree to sth. assent (n) - agreement.

- royal ~.

attorney (n) -1. sb. with legal authority to act for another.

2. (US) - lawyer. bankrupt (n) - a financially ruined person whose estate is administered

under the bankruptcy law for the benefit of his /her creditors.

bankruptcy (n) - 1. being bankrupt.

2. utter failure, impoverishment, or destitution. barrister (n)(Br.)-a lawyer who has the right to plead as an advocate in

an English or Welsh superior court. bench (n) - 1. any of the long seats on which members sit in parliament.

2. a judge's seat in court.

3. judges or magistrates hearing a particular case collectively. bill (n) - a formal proposal for a new law.

- to defeat a ~.

- to introduce a ~.

- to pass a ~

- Bill of Rights - see Ch. II, III.

branch (n) - ~ of government - a division of an organization of

government (e.g. the legislative, the executive, the judicial).

-of law- a distinct area of law (e.g. civil, criminal, etc.). burglary (n) - see Ch. V. "civil (adj) - relating to private rights and remedies sought'by civil.

actions (as contrasted with criminal proceedings).

~ action - action brought to enforce, redress or protect

private rights.

~ case - a court case that involves a private dispute arising

from such matters as accidents, contractual obligations and

divorce.

~ rights - powers or privileges guaranteed to individuals and

protected by the constitution.

~ servant - a government officer. commit (n) - ~ a crime - to carry out. consent (n) - compliance in or approval of what is done or proposed.

- consent (v).

consensus (n) - general agreement, unanimity. convict (v) (of) - to find or prove to be guilty.

'convict (n) - a person serving a prison sentence.

-conviction (n). coroner (n) - a public officer whose principal duty is to inquire into

the cause of any unnatural death.

39

~'s court. courtroom (n) - the portion of a courthouse in which the actual

proceedings take place. criminal (adj) - relating to crime or its punishment (as contrasted with

civil).

~ act - commission of a crime.

~ action - an action, suit or cause instituted to punish a criminal.

~ case - a court case involving a crime, or violation of public

order. criminal (n) - a person who has committed (or being convicted of)

a crime.

_cross-examine (v) - see Ch. V. damage(s) (n) - see Ch. V. debate (n) - see Ch. II, III. defend (v) - 1. to maintain by argument in the face of opposition or

criticism.

2. to act as a legal representative in court.

defence (n) (US defense) - a defending party or group in a court

of law.

~ lawyer, attorney

defendant (n) - a person, company, etc. against whom a criminal

charge or civil claim is made. dispute (v) - to argue, to call into question.

dispute (n) - legal controversy, debate. dock (n) - the prisoner's enclosure in a criminal court. enforce (v) - to put into execution.

-~a law

- enforcement. evidence (n) - see Ch. V. fine (n,v) - see Ch. V. forgery (n) - see Ch. V.

guilt (n) - responsibility for offence.

guilty (adj) (of) 1. having committed a crime, or other breach of

conduct.

2. responsible for a crime or tort or other offence or fault.

to find sb. ~ - to prove sb's guilt in court.

to plead ~ - to admit one's guilt in court (vs. to plead not ~). hearing (n) - a trial in court. innocence (n) - being free from guilt or sin.

- innocent (adj).

introduce (v) -1. to present formally.

2. to announce formally or by an official reading.

,/jur

40

- ~ a bill, a law. investigate (v) - see Ch. V. jail (n) (Br. also gaol) - a prison.

to jail (v). judge (n) - a public official authorized to decide questions brought

before a court.

judge (v) - to act as a judge. jurisdiction (n) (of a court) - the power, right or authority to apply the

law.

original - - the authority of a court to hear a case before any

other court does.

appellate ~ - the authority of a court to hear cases that have

been tried, decided, or reexamined in other courts. juror (n), jury (n) - see Ch. IV. justice (n) - 1 . proper administration of laws.

2. title given to judges (e.g. the US Supreme Court, appellate

courts).

Justice of the Peace - see Ch. 11 juvenile (adj) (court) - a court with special jurisdiction over

delinquent and dependent young people. kidnap (v) - see Ch. V.- VbOX ^7 u&

(n) - 1 . a rule of conduct formally recognized as binding or

enforced by authority. '

2. the whole body of such rules.

lawful (adj) - allowed by law, legal.

lawsuit (n) - a noncriminal case in a court of law.

lawyer (n) - a person licensed to practice law. legal (adj) - 1. recognized and permitted by law.

-Aid- the system of payments from public funds to those who

cannot afford legal advice or representation. litigate (v) to carry on a lawsuit. к litigation (n) - a lawsuit.

litigant (n) - a person engaged in litigation. magistrate (n) 1 . (Br.) an inferior judicial officer, such as Justice of the

Peace.

2. (US) (since 1 99 1 ) a judicial officer appointed by judges of federal

district courts having many but not all of the powers of the judge

(they may conduct civil or misdemeanour criminal trials). majority (n) - see Ch. II, III. matrimonial (adj) - relating to marriage. ~ matters %&k \«b£&v <- _ ^7 murder (v,n) - see Ch. V/ Ц051

0

41

offence (n) (US offense) - an illegal act or omission punishable under

criminal law.

offender (n) - a person who has committed an offence. order (n) (court ~) - a written direction of a court or judge which

determines some point or directs some step in the proceedings. pass (v) (a bill, law) - to enact or to sanction the adaptation by the

majority of votes.

~ a sentence - to pronounce judicially. petition (n) - a formal written request to a superior.

- petition (v).

- petitioner (n).

petty (adj) - small, minor, of less or inconsiderable importance.

~ offence - a minor crime, the maximum punishment for which is

generally a fine or a short term in jail.

~ sessions (petty sessional courts) - Magistrates' court, plaintiff (n)-see Ch.IV. plea (n) - 1. an allegation made by a party in support of his/her

case.

2. an accused person's answer to an indictment. "" plead (n) - 1. To argue a case as an advocate in a court.

2. to make or answer an allegation in a legal proceeding.

3. to make a specified plea. (~ guilty/not guilty).

pleading (n) - a formal written allegation made by a party in a legal

action.

preside (v) - to exercise guidance, authority or control over. probation (n) - see Ch. V. ЦбиЬ^ТЦКм⁵ £L proceedings (n) - the form and manner of conducting juridical business

in a court.

prosecute (v),prosecution (n),prosecutor (n) - see Ch. IV. punishment (n) - see Ch. V. ^Ц Ь^-УЛ^СиС. reading (n) - an act of formally reading of a bill that constitutes any of

the three successive stages of approval by a legislature. recover (v) - to get back, regain possession or use of.

- ~ debt, money.

reign (v) - to hold office as head of state, although possessing little governing power.

- -ing monarch. rob (v) - see Ch.V.

shelve (v) (a draft) - to remove from active service, to put off or aside. shoplifting (n) - see Ch.V. Ц Q_{ №& 9 <lu*u ш ^u (\ q К solicitor (n) - a qualified lawyer who advises clients, represents them in

42

the lower courts, and prepares cases for barristers to try in higher courts.

standing committee (n) - a permanent congressional committee that specializes in a particular legislative area.

theft (n) - see Ch. V.2ofc<xx5 «&d

,tiy?v^"S&Ch.IV. tribunal (n) - a court dealing with professional standards, disputes

between individuals and government departments (e.g. over taxation). violence (n) - 1. unjust or unwarranted exercise of force, usually

accompanied with outrage or fury. 2. force unlawfully exercised against the laws and against public

liberty.

violent (adj) death - death caused by violent, external means, as

distinguished from natural death.

violation (n) - the act of breaching of right, duty or law. veto (n) -the president's disapproval of a bill that has been passed by

both houses of Congress.

- veto (v).

will (n) - a written legal declaration of the manner in which sb. would have his/her property disposed of after his/her death.

- to make a ~

witness (v) - to testify, to act as legal witness.

~ box (Br.); ~ stand (US) - an enclosure in which a witness testifies in court.

witness (n) - a person who testifies to what he has seen, heard or otherwise observed; a person whose declaration or affirmation under oath is received as evidence for any purpose.

43

Chapter II

Great Britain

Unit I. The System of Government.........................................................43

Unit II. Parliament..................................................................................45

Unit III. A Member of Parliament..........................................................51

Unit IV. Elections...................................................................................54

Unit V. The Royal Family.............................................................„........59

Revision..................................................................................................65

Just for Fun.............................................................................................68

Unit! THE SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT

TASK L Before reading the text, tell the class what you remember about the system of government in Great Britain.

TASK 2 Read the text.

In theory, the constitution has three branches: Parliament, which makes laws, the government, which "executes" laws, i.e. puts them into effect, and the law courts, which interpret laws. Although the Queen is officially head of all three branches, she has little direct power.

Parliament has two parts: the House of Commons and the House of Lords. Members of the House of Commons are elected by the voters of 650 constituencies. They are known as MPs, or Members of Parliament. The Prime Minister, or leader of the Government, is also an MP, usually the leader of the political party with a majority in the House of Commons.

The Prime Minister is advised by a Cabinet of about twenty other ministers. The Cabinet includes the ministers in charge of major government departments or ministries. Departments and ministries are run by civil servants, who are permanent officials. Even if the Government changes after an election, the same civil servants are employed.

44

The House of Lords consists of the Lords Temporal and the Lords Spiritual. The Lords Spiritual are the Archbishops of York and Canterbury, together with twenty-four senior bishops of the Church of England. The Lords Temporal consist of hereditary peers who have inherited their titles; life peers who are appointed by the Queen on the advice of the Government for various services to the nation^ and the Lords of Appeal (Law Lords) who become life peers on their judicial appointments. The latter serve the House of Lords as the ultimate court of appeal. This appeal court consists of some nine Law Lords who hold senior judicial office. They are presided over by the Lord Chancellor and they form a quorum of three to five when they hear appeal cases.

TASK 3. Analyze the chart Give Russian equivalents for the words in bold type. The System of Government

Sovereign

The Queen is head of government,

she makes laws with Parliament

and she is head of the courts

TASK 4. Answer the questions.

1. Which of these people are not elected: a peer, an MP> a civil servant, the Prime Minister?

45

2. What is the difference between life peers and hereditary peers, Lords Temporal and Lords Spiritual?

3. What are civil servants?

4. Which areas of government do these people deal with: the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Home Secretary, the Lord Chancellor?

5. Find two examples of executive organisations outside central government.

TASK 5. Work in pairs and discuss the following questions.

1. What differences are there between Parliament and the Government?

2. What are the similarities and differences between the UK parliamentary system and that of your your own country?

Unit II PARLIAMENT

TASK 1. Complete the following text with the words and expressions from the box.

The House of Commons

Cabinet;*benches; &.

backbenchers;," Budget; \ ^

Prime Minister; "r Speaker ; 6

ministers^; t^!- front bench

debates; -C^C Opposition;

Foreign Secretary; О Shadow Cabinet;

Home Secretary; ^Leader of the Opposition;

Chancellor of the Exchequer.

46

47

ЧлД,

This is the House of Commons, where Members of Parliament take their

i -.!

seats on the green leather (a)^ Г/ ^1 ь according to their party and position. One of them is chusen to be the (b) } _ , who acts as a kind of

Т, cliairman of the

which take place in the House. In front of him

•_.._;. The one who deals with financial matters and prepares the

j_______speech on the economic state of the country is called

£,.-..* Opposite this group sits the (n)________ (the

on his right sit the MPs of the biggest party, which forms the government, and

facing them sit the MPs of the parties who oppose them, the (d) ^ ______.

The leaders of these two groups sit at the front on each side. MPs without special positions in their parties sit behind their leaders at th,e back. They are called (e).l ^ . •'. *"* <, The leader of the government, the (f)_^_li_i____, sits

on the government (g)J_______, 'of course, next to his or her

(h)________. The most important of these form the (i) Л ^M> *____. The

minister responsible for relations with other countries is called the (j) '< '*0n".v.f лЗДэе one responsible for law and security is called the (k)___ nual (Г the (m)i#

main person in the largest party opposing the government) and the (о), ч > * , each member of which specializes in a particular area of government. ' * ''

TASK 2. Read the text.

Making New Laws: Bills and Acts

The functions of Parliament are: making laws; providing money for the government through taxation; examining government policy, administration and spending; debating political questions.

Every year Parliament passes about a hundred laws directly, by making Acts of Parliament. Because this can be a long process, Parliament sometimes passes a very general law and leaves a minister to fill in the details. In this way, it indirectly passes about 2,000 additional rules and regulations.

No new law can be passed unless it has completed a number of stages in the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The monarch also has to give a Bill the Royal Assent, which is now just a formality. Since 1707 no sovereign has refused a Bill. Whilst a law is still going through Parliament it is called a Bill. There are two main types of Bills - Public Bills which deal with matters of public importance and Private Bills which deal with local matters and individuals.

Public and Private Bills are passed through Parliament in much the same way. When a Bill is introduced in the House of Commons, it receives a formal first reading. It is then printed and read a second time, when it is debated but not

amended. After the second reading the Bill is referred to a committee, either a special committee made up of certain members of the House, or to the House itself as a committee. Here it is'discussed in detail and amended, if necessary. The Bill is then presented for a third reading and is debated. If the Bill is passed by the Commons it goes to the Lords, and provided it is not rejected by them, it goes through the same procedure as in the Commons. After receiving the Royal Assent the Bill becomes an Act of Parliament. In order to be enforced, it must be published in Statute form, becoming a part of Statute Law. ,The power of the Lords to reject a Bill has been severely curtailed. A money Bill must be passed by the Lords without amendment within a month of being presented in the House. The Act of 1949 provides that any Public Bill passed by the Commons in two successive parliamentary sessions and rejected both times by the Lords, may be presented for the Royal Assent, even though it has not been passed by the Lords. The Lords, therefore, can only delay the passage of a Public Bill, they cannot reject it.

TASK 3. Find in the text the English equivalents for the following expressions.

- абсолютное большинство;

- отклонить законопроект;

- выдвинуть законопроект;

- налогообложение;

- внести поправку в законопроект;

- обсуждать политические вопросы; / - королевская санкция;

* - ассигновать деньги для нужд правительства;

- принять закон;

- обсуждать законопроект;

- подробно обсудить;

- направить законопроект на рассмотрение;

- отложить принятие законопроекта.

TASK 4. Explain the meanings of the folio-wing expressions from the text.

' Statute Law;

- to be published in Statute form;

- to receive a formal reading;

- to enforce an Act of Parliament;

- to be severely curtailed;

- a money Bill.

48

TASK 5. Analyze the chart. Give Russian equivalents for the words in bold type. How Bills Go through Parliament

f First Reading \

Publication is

announced Second Reading General debate on

principles

Committee Stage

Detailed discussion

in committee

Report Stage

Committee reports to

the House Third Reading Formal review of contents of the Bill .

/^ If the Bill has Л^ been introduced in the

Commons, it is then reviewed in the Lords Some Bills start in the

Lords and then go to the Commons

The Lords have less

formal methods of

debating Bills They

can delay but not stop

v a Bill i

f The Bill is ^

signed by the Queen and becomes

law

The Royal Assent

is still read out in

Parliament in

Norman-French

\,"La reyne le veult'V

TASK 6. Answer the questions.

1. What is the difference between a Bill and an Act of Parliament?

2. What are the two types of Bills? Discuss the difference between them.

3. How many readings should a Bill receive to become an Act?

4. What is the role of the House of Lords in law-making process?

5. Which of the two Houses of Parliament has more power?

6. How does a Bill go through Parliament? How efficient and democratic is this process, in your opinion?

TASK 7. Read the text.

The Executive

The executive can be divided into the three parts.

The Privy Council: The Privy Council developed from a small group of royal advisers at court into the chief source of executive authority. But its position was weakened in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries as more of its functions were transferred to a developing parliamentary Cabinet.

49

Today its main role is to advise the monarch on a range of matters, like the resolution of constitutional issues and the approval of Orders in Council, such as the granting of Royal Charters to public bodies. The most important task of the Privy Council today is performed by its Judicial Committee. This serves as the final court of appeal from those dependencies and Commonwealth countries which have retained this avenue of appeal. It may also be used as an arbiter for a wide range of courts and committees in Britain and overseas, and its rulings can be influential.

The office of Privy Councillor is an honorary one, conferred, for example, on former Prime Ministers.

The Ministry: The Ministry is the government of the moment. The head of the Ministry is the Prime Minister. The functions of the Prime Minister are: leading the majority party; running the Government; appointing Cabinet Ministers and other ministers; representing the nation in political matters.

Upon accepting office the Prime Minister must form a government, that is, select a cabinet and ministry from among the Members of Parliament of his own party. The Cabinet constitutes the centre of the government and is composed of about 20 of the most important ministers. All major decisions of the Government are made by the Cabinet, and therefore it is the Cabinet which forms Government policy. Decisions made by the Cabinet must be unanimous, i It makes its decisions collectively and is collectively responsible to Parliament.

After the Prime Minister has formed his cabinet, he selects the rest of his ministry. Most of these ministers are the political heads of Government Departments and are members of one of the Houses.

Government Departments: Government departments are responsible for implementing Government policy. Each department is headed by two people: a political head who is usually the minister, and an administrative head from the Civil Service, called a permanent secretary. They are responsible for a permanent staff which is part of the Civil Service. There are many such departments, for example the Home Office, the Department of Education, the Ministry of Defence, etc. The most important department is the Treasury, and the Prime Minister is usually its political head. It is the Department which controls the economy of the nation.

As well as government departments there are government agencies formed to operate public services, e.g., the Post Office, British Rail, etc. Most of these agencies are subject to the control of one of the government departments.

V

TASK 8. Give Russian equivalents for the following words and expressions.

- The Privy Council;

- Royal Charters;

- Commonwealth;

4-6858

50

- The Ministry;

- Government Departments;

- Civil Service;

- The Home (Foreign) Office;

- The Treasury.

*TASK 9. Find in the text the English equivalents for the following expressions.

- вступать в должность;

- сформировать правительство;

- круг вопросов;

- почетная должность;

- единогласное решение;

- осуществлять политику правительства;

- подлежать контролю. 4

TASK 10. Answer the questions.

1 . What are the functions of:

a) Parliament;

b) the Prime Minister;

c) the Privy Council;

d) the Cabinet;

e) the Government Departments?

2. Who does the Cabinet consist of?

3. What is "collective responsibility"?

4. Who is each department headed by? What are their functions?

5. What is a government agency?

TASK 11. Work in pairs and discuss the following questions.

1 . What is the difference between the Constitutions of the United Kingdom and the United States? 2. If the Prime Minister wants to introduce a new law, what are the functions of the following: the Cabinet; the House of Commons; the House of Lords; the Queen? 3. What are the features of the British Constitution which you consider important? Compare them with the Constitution of your own country.

TASK 12. Write a description of the constitutional system of your own country, using the texts above as a model.

51

Unit Ml A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT

TASK I. Do you know? Work т groups and give answers to the following questions.

1. What are the main political parties in Great Britain? What is the difference between them?

2. What kind of people do you think might stand for Parliament in Great Britain?

TASK 2. Read the text.

Members of Parliament in Great Britain

Each Member of Parliament (MP) represents one of 650 constituencies in the UK. British elections are usually fought between political parties, not individuals. Therefore, people who want to be elected to Parliament need to be \nominated by one of the main political parties.

There is nothing to stop unconventional candidates from standing for election, however. A candidate has only to put down a deposit of 500 pounds and collect ten signatures from residents in the constituency where he wants to stand. A candidate who gets less than 5 per cent of the total votes loses his deposit. For somebody who is standing for election for publicity purposes, this is a small price to pay.

Although MPs will support a particular party, they are not controlled by that political party and theoretically do not have to vote with their party in Parliament. MPs represent everyone in the constituency, not just the people who voted for them.

A lot of MPs' work has nothing to do with voting in Parliament. There are hundreds of things MPs have to deal with in the day-to-day business of constituency life, such as housing or health care. MPs are there to help people and to try to make sure their rights under the law are not violated.

Some MPs hold an advice bureau in their constituencies, where people can go for advice. Anyone who feels that he has been unfairly treated by the central government can complain to their local MP who will do his best to see that the problem is solved.

Members of Parliament have been paid salaries since 1911. The rate has lately been nearly twice the average industrial worker's wages. Since 1965 the allowances for travel, living in London, and paying part-time secretaries and research assistants, have all been increased. Still many MPs insist that they

52

need to have outside earnings, through journalism, work in the law courts or business, to enable them to live up to the standard they expect.

TASK 3 Find in the text the English equvalents for the following phrases.

- обращаться за советом; f"'"

- баллотироваться в своем избирательном округе; ^

- нарушать права;

- выдвинуть свою кандидатуру от партии;

- собирать подписи; • с f ' ^N

- участвовать в избирательной кампании в рекламных целях;

- средняя зарплата рабочего; -\^{с {}

- несправедливо обойтись с кем-либо. \ ( , ,

TASK 4. Complete the following text with the words and expressions from the box, using them in the appropriate form.

A.

M»y.iiv '. --- • — to appoint; to elect(2);

prominent; proportion(3);

local councils; to appeal.

minority^1 M

Some people suppose that there are few women and members of the

ethnic (a)_______in Parliament. In 1979, Margaret Thatcher became the

first woman Prime Minister, yet she never (b) >> _ ^ a woman to her

Cabinet, and until 1983 the (c), / I "* of women (d)_______to the

House of Commons was under 5% In the election in 1992, 59 women (^e)^i__L__ ^to the House of Commons. This total is still below the (f)_______in other European countries.

Although the Conservatives choose few women as their candidates for the House of Commons' seats, women are very active in the affairs of the party

as a whole. The Labourists have also tried to (g)_______to women voters

by giving women (h)_______ positions. In all parties, a higher

(i)_______ of women is elected to (j)_ than the House of

Commons. B.
constituency; manifesto;	private sector; opposition; inflation; unemployment; general election.

1) The United Kingdom is divided into 650 parliamentary

2) A_____ takes place every four or five years.

53

3) Before an election, each party prepares a their policies.

which outlines

the >

4) An important Conservative policy was the rerurn of state industries to

5) During the period of Conservative government,____

4% for the first time in nearly thirty years.

6) However,__ continued to be unacceptably high.

fell to

official

7) While the Conservatives were in power, Labour formed the

TASK 5. Answer the questions.

1. Who can stand for elections in Great Britain?

2. What does the job of an MP consist of? Is it a job you would like to do?

3. Who does an MP represent?

4. Is the job of an MP a well-paid one?

5. Are there many women in Parliament in Great Britain? Can you compare this proportion to the proportion of women in the legislative body in your country?

TASK 6 Before listening to the tape read the following information and answer the question.

Diane Abbot is a member of Parliament for Hackney in North London. On the tape she describes life in the House of Commons. She is going to make a complaint about her job. In pairs, decide what you think is the most likely and the least likely complaint from the list.

- She isn't paid enough;

- She doesn't have any free time;

- She hasn't got a desk or a telephone;

- Her office is too small;

- There is too much work to do.

TASK 7 Listen to the tape and see if you were right in your answers to the questions in Task 6 Answer the questions

1. What is Diane Abbot's background?

2. What was one of her earliest ambitions?

3. How long had Ms. Abbot been an MP when the interview took place?

4. What four things does she dislike about her job?

5. What is unusual about her being an MP?

54

6. What three influences does Diane give for her interest in politics?

7. What three things does she like about her job?

8. When is she going to get her missing office equipment?

9. What two thing^ are noticeable about her fellow MPs*⁷

TASK 8. Explain the meanings of the folio-wing words and expressions used in the interview.

- to listen avidly;

- an underclass of British society;

- to be exposed to unfairness and injustice;

- an amateur place;

- a "clubby" atmosphere;

- backbiting;

- to get fed up with;

- a male-dominated place.

TASK 9. Work in pairs and discuss the following questions.

1. What is the equivalent of MPs in your country?

2. What does their work involve? List their responsibilities and write a short paragraph describing their work.

Unit IV ELECTIONS

TASK 1. Complete the following text with the words and expressions from the box.

election campaign; support; polling day; ballot box;

vote; predict; opinion poll; polling station; candidate.

People sometimes try to (a)

______the result of an election

weeks before it takes place. Several hundred people are asked which party they prefer, and their answers are used to guess the result of the coming election.

This is called an (b)_________. Meanwhile each party conducts its

(c)__________ with meetings, speeches, television commercials, and

party members going from door to door encouraging people to

55

(d).

(e)

called a (f)

(g)_____"

Jheir party. In Britain everyone over 18 is eligible to

__• The place where people go to vote in an election is

and the day of the election is often known as

and later they are counted. The (i) declared the winner.

TASK 2. Read the text.

. The voters put their votes in a (h)

with the most votes is then

The Election Timetable

The British government is elected for up to five years, unless it is defeated in Parliament on a major issue. The Prime Minister chooses the date of the next General Election, but does not have to wait until the end of the five years. A time is chosen which will give as much advantage as possible to the political party in power. Other politicians and the newspapers try very hard to guess which date the Prime Minister will choose.

About a month before the election the Prime Minister meets a small group of close advisers to discuss the date which would best suit the party.

The date is announced to the Cabinet. The Prune Minister formally asks the Sovereign to dissolve Parliament.

Once Parliament is dissolved, all MPs are unemployed, but government officers continue to function.

Party manifestos are published and campaigning begins throughout the country, lasting for about three weeks with large-scale press, radio and television coverage.

Voting takes place on Polling Day (usually a Thursday). The results from each constituency are announced as soon as the votes have been counted, usually the same night. The national result is known by the next morning at the latest.

As soon as it is clear that one party has a majority of seats in the House of Commons, its leader is formally invited by the Sovereign to form a government.

TASK 3. Find in the text the English equivalents for the phrases below.

- избирательный округ;

- правящая партия;

- вопрос первостепенной важности;

- дать кому-либо преимущество;

- сформировать правительство;

- широкое освещение предвыборной кампании в прессе;

56

- объявить дату выборов;

- объявить результаты выборов;

- иметь большинство мест в палате общин;

- распустить парламент;

- подсчитывать голоса;

- потерпеть поражение в парламенте.

TASK 4 Read the text.

Political Parties

The main parties in the UK are the Conservative party (right wing), the Labour party (left wing) and the Liberal Democrats (centre).

The Conservative party goes back to the Tories, or Royalists, who originated in King Charles' reign (1660-1685). The Tories were the party that supported Church and King; the other main party at the time were the Whigs, who were a group eager for political reform. The Tory party gave way to its successor, the Conservative party, in around 1830.

The Conservative party believes in free enterprise and the importance of a capitalist economy, with private ownership preferred to state control.

In 1899 the Trade Union Congress summoned a special conference of trade unions and socialist bodies to make plans to represent labour in Parliament. The proposal for such a meeting had come from Thomas Steels, a member of the Independent Labour Party which had been formed in 1893. The conference met in February 1900 in London and has always been looked on as the foundation of the Labour Party. The Labour party believes that private ownership and enterprise should be allowed to flourish, but not at the expense of their traditional support of the public services.

There has been a Liberal party in Great Britain since 1868 when the name was adopted by the Whig party. The Whig party was created after the revolution of 1688 and aimed to subordinate the power of the Crown to that of Parliament and the upper classes. In 1981 a second centre party was created by 24 Labour MPs. It was called the Social Democratic party, and soon formed an alliance with the Liberal party. They formed a single party which became the Liberal Democrats after the 1987 election.

The Liberal Democrats believe that the state should have some control over the economy, but that there should be individual ownership.

There are other political parties within the UK. The Green party offers economic and industrial policies that relate directly to the environment. The Scottish Nationalist Party wants independence for Scotland within the European Community. Plaid Cymru - the Welsh Nationalist Party - is determined to preserve the Welsh language and culture as the foundation of a distinctive

57

Welsh identity within the UK. Its radical wing has resorted to arson attempts as a means of protest.

TASK 5. Explain the meanings of the folio-wing words and expressions.

- free enterprise;

- to flourish;

- at the expense of;

- to subordinate;

- environment.

TASK 6. Answer the questions.

1. What are the origins of the main political parties in Great Britain?

2. What political priorities do the main political parties in Britain have?

TASK 7. Work in pairs and compare the major (the minor) political parties in Britain to those in your own country.

TASK 8. Read the text. Choose the statement that you like most and develop the idea.

The 1987 General Election

From the Conservative Party From the Labour Party Manifesto Manifesto

The National Health Service: "Because we have created a sound economy, we are in a position to spend more than ever before on the National Health Service." Defence: "We will keep the nuclear deterrent and invest in a new nuclear system with Trident." Unemployment: "As long as we continue with our successful policies for a sound economy and more training schemes, unemployment will fall to acceptable levels."

The National Health Service: "We will spend more money on the NHS and recruit more staff.

Defence: "We will ban all nuclear weapons on British soil."

Unemployment: "We will increase expenditure on civil works, more training schemes and more jobs in the state sector, creating a million jobs in the next two years."

58

Taxation: "We will raise taxes to fund our plans for reducing unemployment." Education: "We will spend more on equipment and reduce class sizes. Teachers will regain the right to strike."

Taxation: "We wttl continue to cut

taxes."

Education: "We will set a basic

syllabus with new examinations and

tests to ensure that our children are

learning."

Priorities: "The most important

problem facing the next government

of Britain is to ensure the continued

growth of the economy."

TASK 9. Answer the questions.

1. In 1987 which of the biggest British political parties supported the following policies?

a) a ban on nuclear weapons;

b) cuts in taxation;

c) a basic national education syllabus;

d) more jobs in the state sector;

e) an increase in taxation.

2. How is the date of a British general election decided?

TASK 10. Work in pairs and discuss the following question.

If you were a British voter, which party do you think you would vote for and why?

TASK 1. Read the texts.

59

UnitV THE ROYAL FAMILY

The Sovereign

"Her Most Excellent Majesty Elizabeth the Second by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith."

/The Queen is the official Head of State and, for many people, a symbol of the unity of the nation. For a thousand years England (and later the whole of the United Kingdom) has been united under one sovereign, a continuity broken only after the Civil War, by the republic of 1649 to 1660. The hereditary principle still operates and the Crown is passed on to the sovereign's eldest son (or daughter if there are no sons).

The Queen has a central role in state affairs, not only through her ceremonial functions, such as opening Parliament, but also because she meets the Prime Minister every week and receives^copies of all Cabinet papers.

_ki However, she is 'expected to be impartial or

"above politics", and any advice she may offer the Prime Minister is kept secret.

Functions of the Sovereign:

- opening and closing Parliament;

- approving the appointment of the Prime Minister;

- giving her Royal Assent to bills;

- giving honours such as peerages, knighthoods and medals;

- Head of the Commonwealth;

- Head of the Church of England;

- Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.

60

The Royal Family

v ) С1 С *"

Many members of the Royal Family'undertake official duties in Britain ana abroad. Their various responsibilities reflect tradition, their own personal interests and Britain's former imperial status. For example, among her many titles the Princess Royal (Princess Anne) is Chancellor of the University of London, Colonel-in-Chief of eleven Army regiments, including the 8th Canadian Hussars and the Royal New Zealand Nursing Corps, and President of the Save the Children Fund, for whom she has travelled widely.

The Royal Family's money comes from two sources government funds and their own personal wealth, which is considerable. On the one hand the Queen is certainly one of the richest women in the world, while on the other her power is limited by the fact that so many of her expenses are paid for by government money. Parliament has had effective control of the monarch's finances since the seventeenth century.

TASK 2. Look at the chart

The Royal Family

Numbers show order of succession to the Crown

1

1

The Queen

Pnnce Philip The Duke of Edinburgh

Princess Margaret 11

Prince

Princess

Princess

Captain

Prince

Sar^h

Prince

Charles The Prmte of

Г

Diana The Princess

Anne The princess

Г

Mark Philips

Andrew Т he Duke of

Г

Duchess of York

Edward

Wales

of Wales

Royal

York

1

X

4

1

|

Prince

Prince

Peter

Zara

Princess

Princess

William

Henry

Philips

Philips

Beatrice

Eugenie

2

3

9

10

5

6

TASK 3. Answer the questions

1. What powers does the Queen have in government?

2. Who is next in line to the British crown after Prince Charles?

61

3. How can Parliament control the Royal Family?

4. What connections can you find between the Royal Family and the world outside Britain?

5. Which member of the Royal Family has the highest number of public engagements?

TASK 4 Read the text.

The Queen is really a figurehead representing the country, but she has the power to prevent any politician from establishing a dictatorship. The Queen and her family are a symbol that people can identify with. The British public is obsessed with the details of the royal family life, and when people feel that the Queen has problems with her children, or her sister, they see her as a "real person" with the same worries and anxieties as themselves.

The monarchy has not always been popular. During the late 19th century there was a growing republican sentiment, but the personality and family image of the Queen, her father and grandfather have removed that feeling. The Queen is probably the wealthiest woman in the world, most of the money coming from family investments rather than the state. Her state salary (the Civil List) pays for her servants and transport. In recent years the Queen has become a roving ambassador for Britain, and if we calculate the increase in trade after a royal visit abroad, the nation probably makes a profit from her activities, and that does not take into account the income from tourism in Britain generated by the monarchy and great state events such as royal weddings.

Just how popular is she? In the late 1980s a newspaper conducted an opinion poll. People were asked, "If there were no monarchy, who would you vote for as President?" More than 80 per cent chose the Queen. Prince Charles came second, closely followed by his father, Prince Philip. The prime minister of the day was the fourth - with 2 per cent of the votes.

TASK 5 Explain the meanings of the following words and expressions.

- a figurehead;

- obsessed with;

- a growing republican sentiment;

- a roving ambassador;

- an opinion poll.

TASK 6 Listen to the interview and then read the tapescnpt

When it comes to selling newspapers, nothing increases the circulation figures more than a right royal scandal. There's no doubt about it. The British public are

62

fascinated by their figureheads. In fact, most people seem to feel quite strongly about the royal family, one way or another.

I spoke to Patrick Orman Ward from England and Jean O'Sullivan from Ireland about their feelings for the British monarchy. First, I asked Patrick if the royal family was important to him.

Interview

It's not important to me, personally, but I think it's important to the social structure of British society. And I think it's important also to the political structure of British society.

Why? They're apolitical, it's a hereditary institution, in what way is it important to the political structure?

Exactly. It's hereditary, OK, but it's, you say apolitical but in fact not apolitical. The British constitution is a very difficult constitution, because it doesn't exist. It exists by, through history, basically, through acquired points of reference, through acquired gentlemen's agreements, if you like. What is important about the royal family is that it's a figurehead, and, like other figurehead institutions, it performs a useful socio-political role.

But isn't it much better to have somebody elected which comes from the people, than somebody who simply inherits the title who could and has often been in English history somebody of dubious ancestry who is half-mad and who is not even English anyway?

Half-mad, yes, often; not even English, absolutely. I don't think that's important, in absolute terms. When, you know...let's face it - not English? What is English? I call myself an Englishman and I'm a quarter Dutch. The English Royal Family,after all, have German origins, yes, but they've been in England for, for, for five generations. Anybody who can count back five generations and be completely English is indeed very unusual and rare.

Its important function, its important role, is to, is to represent the state. And symbolically. To say that it, perhaps it's better to have somebody elected from the people, yes, but it's not part of British social tradition.

But the quality of the people produced, I mean, maybe we're lucky, maybe Prince Charles is going to be a wonderful king, but somewhere it's described that it's a very, the royal family is a very average, middle-class family, doing a boring job very well. Would you agree with that definition?

Yes, insofar as I think they are average in their talents, I think they are middle class in their aspirations, in their, in their tastes, let's say, doing a difficult job very well, yes, I think so, too. I, personally, would not like to do that job.

And Jean, would you like to do the job of a member of the royal family?

63

I certainly wouldn't mind being the Queen. She is the single largest landowner in all of Britain. And they have vast wealth, they own great estates, and at the same time they manage to take a goodly slice of the taxpayer's money. And I don't think that the expense is justified in keeping this family up just for show.

Their role to me is very mystifying; I can't understand why people want to read about Diana going to discos and Fergie taking flying lessons, and yet they seem to have this fascination for the British general public.

Why? Now, why is this? Why, why are people so fascinated by images of the royal family in the press?

I'll tell you my theory about the royal family. I think they are there to distract people from the social ills of present-day Britain. I think that when the unemployment level climbs to an unacceptable figure, the royal family will do something to distract. The Queen will abdicate; something will be done. There'll be a wedding; there'll be another baby. There's always something to keep the proletariat happy.

TASK 7. Answer the questions.

Obviously Patrick and Jean have very different opinions about the British royal family. How much did you understand of what they said?

Patrick said:

What is important about the royal family is that it's a figurehead.

Did he mean:

a sign? a symbol?

And now see what Jean said:

I certainly wouldn't mind being the Queen. She is the single largest landowner in all of Britain. And they have vast wealth, they own great estates, and at the same time they manage to take a goodly...of the taxpayers' money.

What word is used to describe the royal family's share of the taxpayers'

money:

a slice?

a portion? If you have great estates, do you have:

a lot of land?

a lot of businesses? And if you have vast wealth, do you have:

a lot of money?

a lot of free time?

64

Now see what Jean said:

I don't think that the expense is justified in keeping this family up just fo£

show.

Does "for show " mean: to entertain?

for appearances, to make an impression? Does "justified" mean: explained? proved to be right?

TASK 8. Find in the tapescript the English equivalents for the words and expressions below.

- тираж;

- наследственный;

- сомнительное происхождение;

- посредственный;

- стремления;

- деньги налогоплательщиков;

- пороки общества;

- поколение;

- выбранный из народа;

- расходы;

- отрекаться от престола.

TASK 9. Answer the questions.

\. Why does any information published about the royal family increase the circulation figures?

2. What makes the Britishers feel so strongly about the royal family?

3. How can you explain the fact that their opinions tend to be quite opposite? What social groups tend to favour the Queen and the royal family? Why?

TASK 10. A. List four countries which have monarchies.

B. Which of these adjectives do you associate with the British monarch •

ostentatious; greedy; modest; vulgar; hard-working; lazy; wealthy; dignified; popular.

65

TASK II. Listen to the tape. In this tape the speaker tells us avout his attitudes to the British monarchy.

TASK 12. Answer the questions

1. Does the speaker approve:

a) of the British monarchy?

b) of monarchies in general?

2. How does he compare monarchs and presidents?

3. Which monarchies does he praise? Why?

4. Does he feel sorry for the British Royal Family?

5. How does he compare monarchs and "soap operas" (popular television dramas)?

6. Which of the adjectives in TASK 10 does he associate with the British monarchy? Is your own list different?

TASK 13. Listen again and complete the quotations from the tape.

a) I used to............royal families in general.

b) I think now I...............the idea of a royal family.

c) I...............them personally, if you like.

d) I think I would...............a monarchy of the sort you find in

other countries in Northern Europe.

TASK 14. Answer the questions.

1. What do you see as the advantages and disadvantages of having a monarchy?

2. Would you exchange lives with a member of the British Royal Family? Why (Why not)? If so, which member would you swoop with?

Revision

TASK 1. Explain the meanings of these expressions from the unit. Make one sentence from each set of words, using them in any order, to describe the British system.

a) MPs election ; b) Prime Minister; c) majority ; d) bill ;

House of Commons, ministers Cabinet. House of Lords; Royal Assent;

hereditary. Act of Parliament.

5-6858

66

TASK 2. Turn the following nouns into adjectives.

constitution administration

ceremony empire

politics royalty

TASK 3. Complete the following text with the words and expressions from the box and translate them into Russian

cabinet; alliance; coalition; majority;

right-wing; prime minister; split; left-wing; opposition; one-party states.

In most countries, except (a) political parties. The one with the (b)

____, there are several different

____of seats normally forms the

government, and the parties which are against the government are called

(c)_______. Sometimes no single party wins enough seats, and several

parties must combine together in a (d)_______to form a government. The

principal ministers in the government from a group are called the

(e)_______. The leader of this group, and of the government, is the

(f)________. Of course, there are many different kinds of parties and

governments. A socialist or communist party is often described as

. A conservative party on the other hand, is usually said to be . Political situations are always changing. Sometimes in a party

(g)____

00____

or between two parties there is a big argument or deep difference of opinion.

This is called a (i)_________. When, on the other hand, two parties work

together, this is sometimes called an (j)________.

TASK 4 Explain the difference between

(a) pro- and anti-

(b) an election and a referendum

TASK 5. Complete the following sentences with the words from the box.

with;

for;

against;

in;

between

(a) I voted________

(b) Put your voting papers

the Liberal candidate.

________the ballot box.

the socialists.

(c) He's very right-wing, so he's_____

(d) She belongs________the Communist Party.

(e) The Liberals formed an alliance________the Social Democrats.

(f) There's a split

(g) There's a split

the two parties. _the party.

67

TASK 6. Complete the following text with the words and expressions from the box.

proportional representation; Member of Parliament; call an election; House of Commons; stand for election; General Election;

polling day; canvassing; secret ballot; constituents; constituencies; polling stations

by-election; eligible; campaigns; turn-out.

Middleford. Election Result. No. of registered voters: 100,000

Mr G. Smith (Labour) Mrs R. Green (Conservative) Miss L. Jones (Independent) Mr W. Woods (Communist)

30,000 votes 25,000 votes 10,000 votes 5,000 votes

A (a)______has just taken place all over the United Kingdom. These

must take place every five years unless the Prime Minister decides to

(b)_______earlier. Above is the result in Middleford, one of the

approximately 650 (c)_______into which the country is divided for this

purpose. (d)________was last Thursday, when the election

(e)_______and door-to-door (f)_______stopped and the people of

Middleford went to the (g)_______to make their choice, in a

(h).

(i)

0).

(k).

(1)

____________ ---- —-" «•Aivyxuv, in a

_, from the four candidates (anyone over the age of 21 can

__. Voting is not compulsory and the number of people

to vote in Middleford (everyone over 18) was 100,000, so the

was 70 per cent. Now Mr Smith will become the

_____for Middleford, which means he will represent the people of

Middleford in the (m)________in London. If he should die or be forced to

give up his seat, the people of Middleford will have to vote again, in a

(n)______to replace him. It is a very simple system and Mr Smith will try

to represent all his (o)_______fairly, whether they voted for him or not.

However, the fact remains that most voters in Middleford voted for candidates (and parties) other than Mr. Smith, and their votes are now lost. It is seats which are important in Parliament, not votes, and it is easy to see why smaller parties

would like a system of (p)_______, in which the number of votes they won

was reflected in the number of seats they received in Parliament.

68

Just for Fun

Here are some more facts about the Queen and her family.

The Queen meets thousands of people every year. She has to shake hands with each of them, and she has to find something interesting to say. If you meet the Queen you should call her "Your Majesty", then "Ma'am". The other Princes and Princesses are "Your Highness", then "Sir" or "Madam". When she wants to end a conversation, she takes a half step backwards, smiling broadly, then moves on.

Here are some favourite royal conversation starters.

1. "How long have you been waiting?" (The Queen).

2. "What exactly are you doing?" (Prince Charles).

3. "How long have you been working here?" (Princess Anne).

4. "Keep you busy, do they?" (Prince Charles).

5. "What's your job?" (Prince Philip).

At the reply: "I'm a postman," he will say "Oh, you're a postman, are you?"

6. "Where have you come from?" (The Queen).

7. "Pay you enough, do they?" (Prince Charles).

8. "Have you done this sort of thing before?" (Princess Anne).

How would you start a conversation with Her Majesty?

Ten things the Queen could do by using the royal prerogative

1. Dismiss the Government.

2. Declare war.

3. Disband the Army.

4. Sell all the ships in the Navy.

5. Dismiss the Civil Service.

6. Give territory away to a foreign power.

7. Make everyone a peer.

8. Declare a State of Emergency.

9. Pardon all offenders.

10. Create universities in every parish in the United Kingdom.

Eleven things the Queen takes on journeys

1. Her feather pillows.

2. Her hot water bottle.

3. Her favourite China tea.

4. Cases of Malvern water.

5. Barley sugar.

6. Cameras.

7. Her monogrammed electric kettle.

8. Her toilet soap.

9. A special white kid lavatory seat.

10. Jewellery associated with the countries she is visiting.

11. Mourning clothes and black-edged writing paper in case of bereavements.

The Queen's particular likes

1. Horse racing ("Were it not for my Archbishop of Canterbury, I should be off in my plane to Longchamps every Sunday").

2. Scottish country dancing.

3. Jigsaw puzzles.

4. Long-stemmed, deep-pink carnations.

5. Champagne.

6. Deerstalking.

7. Quiet evenings at home watching television with her supper on a tray.

8. Crossword puzzles.

9. Bright red dresses.

10. The Beatles film "Yellow Submarine".

11. Sandringham.

Dislikes of the Queen

l.Ivy.

2. Snails ("How can you like those beastly things?" she asked Prince Philip).

3. Tennis, including Wimbledon.

4. Milk pudding.

5. The cold.

6. Grouse.

7. Any talk of Edward VIII.

8. Charles Dickens.

9. Dictating letters.

11. Cigar smoke. '

12. Sailing.

70

13. Listening to aft^r-dinner speeches^,* Find these т the lists above.

1. The name of a famous French horse-racing track.

2. The name of the Queen's country house in Norfolk.

3. The title of the head of the Church of England.

4. The name of the sport of hunting deer.

5. A green plant which grows on the outside walls of houses.

6. A bird which is shot, and eaten, mainly in Scotland.

7. The name of the Queen's uncle, who gave up the throne to marry a divorced American woman.

8. The name of a famous nineteenth-century British writer.

9. The name of the first stone in a new building.

71

Chapter ill

The Usa

Unit I. The Constitution........................................................„................71

Unit II. The System of Government.......................................................75

Unit III. The System of Checks and Balances..........................*..............85

Unit IV. American Federalism...............................................................87

UnitV. Elections.....................................................................................90

Unit VI. Language Activities. Glimpses of American History..............94

Revision..................................................................................................96

Glossary to chapters II and III................................................................97

Unit I THE CONSTITUTION

TASK 1. Before reading the texts, tell the class what you remember about the system of government and the Constitution of the USA.

TASK 2. Read the text.

"Americans are a nation born of an idea; not the place, but the idea, created the United States Government."

(Theodore H. White)

A New Nation

In 1776, the thirteen weak British colonies in America came together, stood up, and told what was then the world's greatest power that from now on they would be free and independent states. The British were neither impressed nor amused, and a bitter six-year war followed, the Revolutionary War (1776-83). It's hard to appreciate today, over two centuries later, what a revolutionary act this was. A new republic was founded, turning into reality the dreams and ideals of a few political philosophers. Americans broke with an age-old tradition, and so sent shock waves back across the ocean: they decided that it

72

was their right to choose their own form of government. At that time, the statement that governments should receive their powers only "from the consent of the governed" was radical indeed. Something new was under the sun: a sv stern of government, in Lincoln's words, "of the people, by the people, for the people".

TASK 3. Do you know? Work in groups, and try to give answers to the following questions about the beginning of the US history.

1. When was America discovered?

2. Who were the original inhabitants of the American continent?

3. When did the first settlers from England arrive in America? What was the name of their ship?

4. Who were these people? Why do you think they left their homes for an unknown land?

5. What was the first state of the US?

6. What is the oldest big city in the US?

7. What was the first name of New York?

8. What is the name of the region where the oldest American states are situated?

9. Have you ever heard of the "Boston tea party"? What is it?

10. Why is America often called a "melting pot"?

TASK 4. Read the text.

The Constitution and the Bill of Rights

The former colonies, now "the United States of America", first operated under an agreement called the Articles of Confederation (1781). It was soon clear that this loose agreement among the states was not working well. The central, federal government \\as too weak, with too few powers for defence, trade, and taxation In 1787, therefore, delegates from the states met in Philadelphia. They wanted to revise the Articles, but they did much more than that. They wrote a completely new document, the Constitution, which after much argument, debate, and compromise was finished in the same year and officially adopted by the thirteen states by 1790.

The Constitution, the oldest still in force in the world, sets the basic form of government: three separate branches, each one having powers ("checks and balances") over the others. It specifies the powers and duties of each federal branch of government, with all other powers and duties belonging to the states. The Constitution has been repeatedly amended to meet the changing needs of the nation, but it is still the "supreme law of the land". All governments and

73

governmental groups, federal, state, and local, must operate within its guidelines. The ultimate power under the Constitution is not given to the President (the executive branch), or to the Supreme Court (the judicial branch). Nor does it rest, as in many other countries, with a political group or party. It belongs to "We the People", in fact and in spirit.

In this way, Americans first took for themselves the liberties and rights that elsewhere were the privileges of an elite few. Americans would manage their own laws And, of course, they would make their own mistakes.

They stated in the first ten Constitutional Amendments, known together as the Bill of Rights, what they considered to be the fundamental rights of any American. Among these rights are the freedom of religion, speech, and the press, the right of peaceful assembly, and the right to petition the government to correct wrongs. Other rights guarded the citizens against unreasonable searches, arrests, and seizures of property, and established a system of justice guaranteeing orderly legal procedures. This included the right of trial by jury, that is, being judged by one's fellow citizens.

The great pride Americans have in their Constitution, their almost religious respect for it comes from the knowledge that these ideals, freedoms, and rights were not given to them by a small ruling class. Rather, they are seen as the natural "unalienable" rights of every American, which had been fought for and won. They cannot be taken away by any government, court, official, or law.

The federal and state governments formed under the Constitution, therefore, were designed to serve the people and to carry out their majority wishes (and not the other way around). One thing they did not want their government to do is to rule them. Americans expect their government to serve them and tend to think of politicians and governmental officials as their servants. This attitude remains very strong among Americans today.

Over the past two centuries, the Constitution has also had considerable influence outside the United States. Several other nations have based their own forms of government on it. It is interesting to note that Lafayette, a ' его of the American Revolution, drafted the French declaration of rights when he return xl to France. And the United Nations Charter also has clear echoes of what onte was considered a revolutionary document.

TASK 5. Complete the following text with suitable words or phrases from the text above.

When the Constitution was written in 1787, there were only 13 states.

Because the (a)_____ of the Constitution saw that the future might bring a

. Over

need for changes, they (b)

a method of adding (c)

the years 26 amendments have been added, but the basic (d)

has not

74

been (e)

. The pattern of government planned so long ago for 13

states today meets the needs of 50 states and more than 57 times as many people.

The first 10 amendments to the Constitution, called the (f)________

assure individual (g)_____and (h)______. Added in 1791, they include

provisions for freedom of the (i)_____and of (j)______; the right of

citizens to (k)_____peacefully; the right to be (1)_______in one's own

home against unreasonable (m)_____ and (n)________ of person or

property; and the right of any person charged with (o) a speedy trial by a (p)____of fellow (q)_____.

the law to have

The Constitution (r) branches: the (s)___

the powers of the government into three

headed by the (t)_______; the (u)____, which

___ (the Senate and the House of

includes both houses of (v)____

Representatives) and the (w)_____which is headed by the Supreme Court.

The Constitution limits the role of each (x)_____to prevent any one branch

from gaining undue (y)_____.

TASK 6. Find in the text the English equivalents for the expressions below,

- вносить поправки в конституцию;

- пересмотреть документ;

- действовать в соответствии с соглашением;

- свобода совести;

- управлять своими собственными делами;

- принять конституцию;

- определить чьи-либо полномочия;

- действовать в рамках конституции;

- получить необоснованно большую власть;

- незаконный арест;

- свобода собраний;

- захват собственности;

- удовлетворять требованиям.

TASK 7. Answer the questions.

1. How does the American Constitution separate the powers of the government?

2. Has the text of the Constitution ever been changed? How did it become possible?

3. Does any governmental organ or official in the US have the ultimate power? Why?

4. What is the Bill of Rights?

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TASK 8. Work in pairs and discuss the folio-wing questions.

— ...-—,- 1. What is the difference between the American Constitution

тг~тт ^ _ШеВш of Rights?

2. What is the difference between the constitutions of the UK and the US?

TASK 9. Make a list of features of the American Constitution which you consider the most important and compare them with the Constitution of your country.

Unit II THE SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT

TASK 1. Read the text.

The American System of Government

The governmental systems in the United States - federal, state, county, and local - are quite easy to understand, that is, if you grew up with them and studied them in school. One foreign expert complained, for example, that the complexity of just the cities' political and governmental structure is "almost unbelievable." The "real Chicago," he explained ", spreads over 2 states, 6 counties, 10 towns, 30 cities, 49 townships, and 110 villages. Overlaid upon this complex pattern are 235 tax districts and more than 400 school districts..."

There are, however, several basic principles which are found at all levels of American government. One of these is the "one person, one vote" principle which says that legislators are elected from geographical districts directly by the voters. Under this principle, all election districts must have about the same number of residents.

Another fundamental principle of American government is that because of the system of checks and balances, compromise in politics is a matter of necessity, not choice. For example, the House of Representatives controls spending and finance, so the President must have its agreement for his proposals and programmes. He cannot declare war, either, Without the approval of Congress. In foreign affairs, he is also strongly limited. Any treaty must first be approved by the Senate. If there is no approval, there's no treaty. The rule is "the President proposes, but Congress disposes." What a President wants to do, therefore, is often a different thing from what a President is able to do.

TASK 2. Complete the following text with the words and phrases from the Aofie, using them in the appropriate form. I r

to divide; to be based on; to track down;	to manage; to follow; to deal with;	to warrant; to provide; to cross;
to be put; to break;	to be enforced; to be established;	to involve; to be presented.

The whole system of American government a)

the principles

b)____in the Constitution and Bill of Rights. The people believe that the

government should c)_____a framework of law and order in which they are

left free to run their own lives.

The state governments d)____much the same pattern as the federal

government. Each has a governor as the chief executive, with power e)_____

among the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches. State governments

f)____ such affairs as maintaining order, educating children and young

adults, and building highways. The federal government g)_____national

problems and international relations and with regional problems that h)____

more than one state. Laws aftecting the daily lives of citizens i)_____by

police in the cities and towns. Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation -

the famous FBI - j)___ criminals who k)___state borders or who 1)____

federal laws.

Before an accused person can m)___on trail for a serious crime in a

federal court - or in the courts of many states - the case must n)___o)____^

to a grand jury of private citizens who decide whether there is enough evidence of probable guilt p)___a trial.

TASK 3 Find in the texts the English equivalents jor the following words and expressions.

- избиратель;

- избирательный округ;

- объявлять войну;

- законодатель;

- международный договор;

- одобрение Конгресса;

- внешняя политика;

- глава исполнительной власти;

- проводить в жизнь закон;

- поддерживать правопорядок;

- выслеживать преступников;

- быть строго ограниченным;

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