Vocabulary Notes

to adopt — принимать definition — определение

to violate — нарушать

basic freedoms, rights — основные свободы, права

to obey — повиноваться, выполнять

to make amendments — вносить поправки

to set forth — излагать

to establish — устанавливать

private domain — личная жизнь

to interfere — вмешиваться

Ex. 2. Приведите русские слова с таким же корнем.

base; constitution; regulation; political; standards; to form; satisfaction; guarantee; to consolidate; revolution; to control; oligarchy.

Ex. 3. Найдите в тексте английские эквиваленты следующих слов и выражений.

свод законов, правил, традиций; принять конституцию; двад­цать шесть поправок к Конституции; нарушать Билль о пра­вах; согласие болыпинства;перечислять; гарантировать; выс­ший закон, который все должны исполнять.

Ex. 4. Выразите согласие/несогласие со следующими утверждения­ми, используя выражения типа: I quite/completely/agree, I can't agree, I think it is not so, it/s wrong, on the contrary.

1. The American Constitution was adopted after the War of Independence and it remains unchanged so far.

2. The US Constitution consists of 10 articles and 50 amendments.

3. The US Constitution guarantees freedom of enterprise.

:& А. Переведите на русский язык.

1. freedoms proclaimed by the Constitution; constitution proclaiming freedoms

2. the judicial practice violating the Bill of Rights; the Bill of Rights violated by the judicial practice

В. Переведит& на английский язык.

1. конституция, гарантирующая свободу предпринимательству; права, гарантируемые конституцией

2. нормы, регулирующие работу правительства; работа пра­ вительства, регулируемая нормами

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3. олигархи, контролирующие работу правительства: ппави-тельство, контролируемое олигархами

ЁХ. 6. Поменяйте активный залог на пассивный и переведите пред­ложения на русский язык.

1. The USA adopted the Constitution in 1787.

2. The Constitution provides the set of rules, laws and regulations to regulate the work of the government.

3. Some historians regard the Constitution as a conservative document.

4. In some countries the oligarchy can control the government.

Ex. 7. Прочитайте текст без словаря и расскажите по-английски как принимаются поправки к Конституции. The Amendment Process

Wfe have a living Constitution. Men wrote it in 1787, and we still use it today. These men were intelligent. "The U.S. will change in the future" they thought. "We must find a way to let the Constitution change too." And they did.

They put in the amendment process. This process is important. Amendment can change part of an article in the Constitution or another amendment.

Two-thirds (2/3) of the Congress or of the state legislature must agree on an idea for an amendment. If three-fourth (3/4) of the states ratify the amendment, it becomes part of the Constitution.

Ex. 8. Ответьте на вопросы.

1. What does a "constitution" mean in American political language?

2. What is the aim of the US Constitution?

3. What does it consist of?

4. What is the Bill of Rights?

5. What do you think about the peculiarities of the US Constitution?

Ex. 9. Прочитайте и переведите текст. Text 2

ELECTIONS

Anyone who is an American citizen, at least 18 years of age, and is registered to vote may vote. Each state has the right to determine registration procedures. A number of civic groups, such as the League of Women Voters, are actively trying to register as many people as possible, \bter registration and voting among minorities has dramatically increased during the last twenty years, especially as a result of the Civil Rights Movement.

It

There is some concern, however, about the number of citizens who could vote in national elections but do not. In the national election of 1984, for instance, only 57.4 per cent of all those who could have voted actually did. In 1992 it was 61.3. But then, Amrericans who want to vote must register, that is put down their names in register before the actual elections take place. There are 50 different registration laws in the US - one set for each state. In the South, voters often have to register not only locally but also at the county seat. In European countries, on the other hand, "permanent registration" of voters is most common. Of those voters in the United States who did register in the 1988 Presidential elections, 86 per cent cast their ballots, in 1992-89.8 per cent.

The National Presidential elections consists of two separate campaigns. One is for the nomination of candidates at national party convention, the other is to win the actual election. The first stage is called "primaries". The party convention votes to select the party's official candidate for the presidency. Then starts Presidential campaigns bv the candidates. At last in Nobewmber, the voters go to the polls.