The legislative power

The sole body of legislative power in Ukraine is the Parliament-the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. The constitutional composition of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine consists of 450 National Deputies of Ukraine who are elected for a four-year term on the basis of universal, equal and direct suffrage, by secret ballot. The authority of National Deputies of Ukraine commences from the moment of the taking of the oath and they are guaranteed parliamentary immunity. The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine is competent on the condition that no less than two-thirds of its constitutional composition has been elected. There are the Special and Regular elections of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine works in sessions (Regular and Special ). Decisions of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine are adopted exclusively at its plenary meetings by voting.

The executive power

The President of Ukraine is the Head of State and the guarantor of state sovereignty, territorial indivisibility of Ukraine and the observance of the Constitution of Ukraine and human and citizens' rights and freedoms. He is elected by the citizens of Ukraine for a five-year term, on the basis of universal, equal and direct suffrage, by secret ballot. The President enjoys the right of immunity during the term of authority.

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine is guided in its activity by the Constitution and the laws of Ukraine and by the acts of the President of Ukraine and it is composed of the Prime Minister of Ukraine, the First Vice Prime Minister, three Vice Prime Ministers and the Ministers. The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, within the limits of its competence, issues resolutions and orders that are mandatory for execution.

The Prime Minister of Ukraine is appointed by the President of Ukraine with the consent of more than one-half of the constitutional composition of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. The executive power in oblasts, districts, and in the Cities of Kyiv and Sevastopol is exercised by local state administrations.

The judicial power

Justice in Ukraine is administered exclusively by the courts. Judicial decisions are adopted by the courts in the name of Ukraine and are mandatory for execution throughout the entire territory of Ukraine. The independence and immunity of judges are guaranteed by the Constitution and the laws of Ukraine. Judicial proceedings are performed by the Constitutional Court of Ukraine and courts of general jurisdiction. The people directly participate in the administration of justice through people's assessors and jurors. The Supreme Court of Ukraine is highest judicial body in the system of courts of general jurisdiction. The respective high courts are the highest judicial bodies of specialized courts. Courts of appeal and local courts operate in accordance with the law. Justice is administered by professional judges and, in cases determined by law, people's assessors and jurors. The High Council of Justice consists of twenty members.

Task 1. Translate the following words & word-combinations into Ukrainian.

the sole body, constitutional composition, four-year term, by secret ballot, be determined by law, regular elections, special elections, take the oath, parliamentary immunity, enjoy the right of immunity, the observance of the Constitution, judicial body, operate, in accordance with .

Task 2. Match the Ukrainian terms with the English equivalents.

determine	судовий
immunity	голосування
suffrage	визначати
legislative	виборче право
executive	виконавчий
judicial	законодавчий
ballot	недоторканість

Task 3. Use the following expressions in the sentences of your own:

under the Constitution, to be adopted, to be elected, to be represented, direct suffrage, voting, on the basis of, in accordance with

Task 4. Match the synonyms from the box below.

supreme exercise area power mandatory operate

authority obligatory administer territory highest act

Task 5. Match the equivalents of the words used in the text.

Deputy	a person having executive duties a member of legislative authority
Judge	a person having legislative duties a member of judicial authority
to guarantee	to give security to promise(without legal obligation
to constitute	to give legal authority to amount to
session	number of persons who have come together a meeting of persons to make decision

Task 6. Encircle the suffixes & translate the following words.

legislative executive judicial

legislature executor judiciary

legislate execute judicious

legislation execution judge

legislator executioner

Task 7. Complete the sentences & translate them.

The Constitutional Court is …	the only body of legislative power.
A Prime-Minister is ….	administered exclusively by courts.
Justice is …	represented by the Cabinet of Ministers.
Constitution is…	appointed by the President.
Parliament is …	sole body of constitutional jurisdiction.
Executive is …	a document of great importance for the people

Task 8. Give the written definitions in English of the following terms.

1. legislature judiciary

2. a voter a judge

3. suffrage a plaintiff

4. a defendant citizenship

Task 9. Give English equivalents to the following words & expressions.

верховна владa, судова влада, парламент, таємне голосування, народний депутат, прийняття конституції, внесення поправок, обов’язковий для виконання, внутрішня політика, зовнішня політика, законодавча ініціатива, судовий орган, загальна юрисдикція, конституційний склад

Task 10. Choose the words that best complete the sentence.

1) The Cabinet of Ministers carries out…

a) designating Presidential elections

b) domestic and foreign policy

c) territorial integrity

2) The Ukrainian Parliament has authority over….

a) declaring people’s incomes

b) deciding cases of special jurisdiction

c) conforming the President’s appointment of Prime-Minister

3) The right of… … belongs to the President of Ukraine.

a) hearing small value claims

b) legislative initiative

c) constitutional jurisdiction

4) The system of courts of general jurisdiction is formed in accordance with the … .

a) dwelling and education

b) territorial principle

c) ideology and belief

5) The Constitutional Court of Ukraine provides… .

a) carrying out national programs

b) appointing the Prime-Minister

c) the official interpretation of the Constitution

6) Justices of the Constitutional Court will be evenly appointed by … .

a) special assembly of judges

b) the President and the Verkhovna Rada

c) the Supreme Court of Ukraine

Task 11. Summarize the text you have read on the basis of the following supportive words & expressions.