Unit 8 Political System of the usa Task 1. Read and memorize the active vocabulary to the text

“The State System of the USA”

to enter – вступати

to comprise – охоплювати

branch of power – гілка влади

executive– виконавча

legislative– законодавча

judicial– судова

tocarryoutthelaws– виконувати закони

Commander-in-Chief–ВерховнийГоловнокомандувач

torun– відбуватись, виставляти свою

кандидатуру на виборах, змагатись

tobevested(in) – наділені, надані

toratifyappointments– ратифікувати призначення

toinitiate– ініціювати

withtheexceptionof– за винятком

amendment– виправлення, поправка

majorityparty– партія більшості

intheline– в черзі

incaseof– у випадку

tosettledisputes– врегульовувати суперечки

todependon– залежати від

toholdhearings – проводити слухання

toparticipate – приймати участь

Task 2. Read and translate the text, write down all the unknown words

The State System of the usa

The USA is a federative republic. In 1776 when the independence of the USA was declared, 13 "founding" states entered the federation; from 1959 the federation comprises 50 states.

Washington D. C. is the seat of the Federal Government of the United States. The Federal Government is made up of three branches - the Executive, the Legislative and the Judicial. The function of the Executive Branch is to carry out the laws of the nation. It consists of the President, Vice - President and the President's Cabinet. The members of the Cabinet are chosen by the President. Most of them are called Secretaries: the Secretary of State, Agriculture, Labour, Transportation, etc.

The President is head of the state and of the executive department. He is also a Commander - in - Chief of the Army and Navy of the USA. The President and Vice - President are elected for a term of 4 years. No person can be elected to the office of President more than twice. The President is elected indirectly in two stages: first electors are chosen in their respective states, and these elect the President and Vice -President, running together on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November.

All legislative powers are vested in Congress, which consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Members of the House of Representatives (435 persons) are chosen every second year. Senators (100 persons) are elected for a term of six years, 2 senators from each state. The Senate ratifies international appointments. The Senate may also initiate any bill with the exception of financial ones; these may be introduced only by the House of Representatives. The Senate may not adopt any bill introduced by the House of Representatives or make amendments to it.

In the House of Representatives the presiding officer is the Speaker, who is elected by the members and is always a member of the majority party in the House. The Speaker is now first in the line to become President in case of the death of both President and Vice — President.

In the USA Congress the Speaker plays a very important role in party policies. He appoints members of Congressional Committees, for example, to work on the bills or to settle disputes between the House of Representatives and the Senate.

The decision on some of the most important issues may therefore depend on who is chosen by the Speaker to participate in the Committees.

The main work of the Congress is done in committees. The Congressional Houses have a system of committees - 16 in the Senate and 20 in the House of Representatives. Every bill is worked out there. Special Committees hold hearings on different issues, some of them open and others secret, depending on the subject matter.

Two main parties dominate the political scene of the USA - the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. Neither of them have а permanent membership, membership being determined by election vote.

Task 3. Answer the following questions:

1. What are the functions of the USA Senate?

2. Who is elected by the members and is always the member of the majority party?

3. Where is the main work of the Congress done?

4. What are the main political parties in the USA?

5. When was the independence of the USA declared?

6. How many “founding” states entered the federation?

7. What are the three branches the Federal Government is made up of?

8. Whom are the members of the President’s Cabinet chosen by?

9. What term are the President and Vice-President elected for?

10. When does the election take place in the USA?

Task4. Pick out from the text all the word combinations with the following words and give their Ukrainian equivalent

Branch of power, carry out, the executive department, to be vested in, to make amendments, financial bills, to settle disputes

Task 5. Translate the following sentences and pay special attention to the underlined words or phrases

1. The President of The USA has the responsibility of enforcing federal laws, appointing and removing high federal officials.

2. The vice - President of the US presides over the Senate. The Senate has certain exclusive powers. It alone can sit as a court of impeachment to try federal officials impeached by the house of Representatives.

3. The American people have a strong voice in their government. They can exercise their democratic rights by voting in national, state and local elections, and by working in political parties and campaigns.

4. The United States has two major political parties, the Democratic and the Republican. Members of these two parties hold almost all the offices in the national, state and local governments.

5. The federal law must not violate the US Constitution. All state laws must conform to or be in harmony with the federal Constitution as well as with the constitution of the state.

Task 6. Translate the sentences into English: mind the suitable Tense Forms of the verbs

1. Я знаю, що мій друг незабаром прийде.

2. Я знаю, що він прийде через деякий час.

3. Я не знав, чи він прийде до п’ятої години.

4. Я був впевнений, що зустріну її в бібліотеці.

5. Чи сказала вона тобі, що ми будемо писати залікову контрольну роботу завтра о дванадцятій годині?

6. Чи ти знаєш, що вибори членів комісії відбудуться до кінця місяця?

7. Хто повідомив вас про те, що Миколу буде призначено секретарем?

8. Всі зрозуміли, що ця поправка була прийнята багато років тому.

9. Студенти усвідомлювали, що вона працювала тут раніше.

10. Було зрозуміло, що законопроект все ще обговорюється членами комісії.

Task 7. Complete the following expressions choosing a suitable prеposition; find the best way of expressing them in Ukrainian

1. To be elected … a term … 4 years;

2. Powers are vested … Congress;

3. To consist … the senate and the House … Representatives;

4. Two senators … each state;

5. The Speaker is now first …the line;

6. To work … the bills;

7. Depending … the subject matter.

8. Every bill is worked … … the committees;

Task 8. Give synonyms to the words in bold type

1. How many states joined the federation in 1776?

2. Who is chosen by the speaker to take part in the work of the committees?

3. The federation includes 50 states nowadays.

4. You don`t need much effort to solve this problem, do you?

5. We are sure of the great responsibility of lawyers fulfilling their professional duties.

6. The federal Government consists of three branches. Do you know what they are?

Task 9. Make the following sentences complete by translating the phrases in brackets

1. The ultimate power under the Constitution is not given to the President (виконавча гілка), or to the Congress(законодавча гілка) or to the Supreme Court (судова гілка). (Вона належить Людям).

2. The President must be able to convince Congressmen of his point of view. /В цьому полягає відмінність американської системи влади від парламентарської/.

3. TheBillofRightsdeterminesthefundamentalrightsofAmericans; свободу віросповідання, слова, преси, право мирного зібрання, щоб відстоювати свої інтереси.

4. The division of power between the states and the national government /називається федералізмом. Деякі повноваження належать включно федеральному уряду/.

5. The system by which each branch of government can check-limit the power of the other two branches /називається системою стримування і противаг/.

6. The President can check the lawmaking power of Congress / з допомогою вето/.

7. Congress can check the President’s veto by overriding a veto /двома третинами голосів в обох палатах.

8. The Supreme Court can check both the President and Congress / проголошенням їхніх дій неконституційними/.

Task 10. Read and translate the texts, answer the questions