Vocabulary Notes

electors — выборщики

to carry out — выполнять

to enforce a law — проводить закон в жизнь

to negotiate — вести переговоры

to pardon — помиловать

to override — не принимать во внимание

to (disapprove - (не)одобрять

a chamber - палата

in order to — для того, чтобы

similar to — подобный

to try a case — рассматривать дело

Ex. 8. Скажите, отражает ли данная схема информацию, приведен­ную в тексте.

Duties of the president and vice-president

Is commander-in-chief of military

Makes foreign policy

Approves or vetoes laws

L 1 President | J

Appoints judges, advisors & ambassadors

Advises congress

Pardons

Goes to meeting with the President and advisors

Уюе president

Acts as president if the president can't

Is president of the senate

Votes in the senate if necessary

Ex. 9. Прочитайте предложения и укажите, которые из них соответ­ствуют действительности.

The President...

1. makes plans for foreign policy

2. appoints people to the Supreme Court

3. writes taxes for states

4. votes in the Senate

5. sends soldiers to war.

Ex. 10. Расскажите о:

1. the President of the USA

2. the Congress

3. the Supreme Court.

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Ex. 11. Изучите схему организации правительства штата. При необхо­димости пользуйтесь словарем.

Three Branches Of State Giovemment I

EXECUTIVE

Governor

• is chief of National Guard • suggests state laws • can veto state laws • states have different terms, but usually Governor = 2 or 4 years

Lieutenant Governor

• substitutes for the Governor if he or she is absent or dies in office

Advisors: Attorney General, Secretary of State, Treasurer

[LEGISLATIVE]

Senate + House of Representatives or Assembly

• pass state laws • approve state budget • states have different terms, but usually Senate = 4 years, Representatives = 2 years

State Supreme Court

• hears appeal cases

State District or Superior or Circuit Courts

• hear trial cases (civil and criminal)

Local Courts

• hear special trial cases like: traffic, family, juvenile

• hear cases about state laws • hear cases between citizens of the same state

• usually have a judge and jury at trial cases

Ex. 12. Пользуясь известной информацией, выберите правильный

Yes No

ответ.

1. Do state governments have three branches of government? □ □

2. Does the head of a state have advisors? □ П

1. Are the Circuit Courts of Appeals part of the state court □ □ system?

3. Do most states have two houses in the legislature? □ □

4. Can a state court hear cases about federal laws? □ □

Ex.13. Переведите письменно.

Правительство штата имеет почти такую же организацию (pattern), как и Федеральное правительство. Каждый штат име­ет свою Конституцию, за исключением штата Небраска (Nebraska). Штат принимает свои законы, но они не должны

противоречить Конституции государства. Штаты имеют свою полицию и судебную систему.

Штат подразделяется на отдельные территории, которые на­зываются округами и которые имеют местное самоуправле­ние (local governments).

Ex. 14. Прочитайте текст без словаря и расскажите по-русски его со­держание.

Text 2

TYPES OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Local governments are different from state and federal governments because they do not have constitutions. Local governments receive a charter (a plan of government) from the state government. There are different types of local governments : city, county, town and village. The local charter tells us about the organization of the government.

One of the most important functions or duties of local government is the provision of public schools. People often want take part in making decisions about the schools because they want their children to get a good education. There are special school boards where parents are the numbers. The school board makes decisions about teacher's salaries, the curriculum and other administrative aspects. They give their opinions about what needs to be done at school.

Local governments have a court system which considers local problems, such as traffic laws and small disputes. Sometimes cases may be appealed to the state courts. Judges in local courts are sometimes called justices of peace or judge and magistrate. Local courts usually specialize in one area of law, for ex, family law, to be sure that a judge is very competent on the subject Local courts provide efficient legal service.

Ex. 15. Прочитайте и переведите.

Local Services

Name Responsibilities

Water Department • makes sure drinking water is safe

Roads/Highway Department • repairs local roads, signs, and bridges

Board of Education • hires teachers, decides salaries, curriculum, funding

Clerk's Office • keeps records (marriage licences, birth certificates)

Sanitation Department • collects trash, keeps area clean

Fire & Rescue Department • stops fires, saves people, in emergencies

Police Department • protects people, makes sure laws are not broken

Treasury or Tax Department • collects money to provide for services and programs

Courthouse • hears cases about local laws, family problems, traffic laws

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Ex. 16. Пользуясь информацией текста, а также схемой, расскажите о деятельности органов местного самоуправления

Переведите письменно со словарем:

Federalism: State and Local Governments

The fifty states are quite different in size, population, climate, economy, history, and interests. The fifty state governments often differ from one another too. Because they often approach political, social, or economic questions differently, the states have been called "laboratories of democracy". However, they share certain basic structures. The individual states all have republican forms of government with a senate and a house. All have executive branches headed by state governors and independent court systems. Each state also has its own constitution. But all must respect the federal laws and not make laws that contradict those of the other states. Likewise, cities and local authorities must make their laws and regulations so that they fit their own state's constitution.

The Constitution limits the federal government to specific powers, but modern judicial interpretations of the Constitution have expanded federal responsibilities. There has always been a battle between federal and state's rights. The traditional American district of a too powerful central government has kept the battle going over the years. The states and local communities in the US have rights that in other countries generally belong to the central government.

Ex. 17. Прочитайте текст и найдите ответы на следующие вопросы.

1. What kind of a person may be elected a senator?

2. Who are the presiding officers of the Senate and the House of Representatives?

3. What body is the head of the judicial branch of the government? Text3

US POLITICAL SYSTEM

The USA is a presidential republic. Supreme legislative power lies with Congress which consists of a Senate or upper House and a House of Representatives. The Senate is composed of 100 members, 2 from each state who are elected for a term of 6 years. One-third of the Senate is elected every 2 years. The House of Representatives has representatives from each state depending on population, but every state no matter how small it is, has at least one representative in the chamber.

Both Senators and Representatives must be residents of the State from which they were chosen. In addition, a Senator must be at least 30 years old

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and a citizen of the USA for at least 9 years. A Representative accordingly -25 years and 7 years.

The presiding officer of the Senate is the Vice-President of the USA. The presiding officer of the House of Representatives, the Speaker, is elected by the house. The work of preparing and considering laws is done by the committees of both Houses. There are 15 standing committees in the Senate and 19 in the House of Representatives.

The Congress assembles at least once a year.

The executive branch of the government consists of the President, the Vice-President and the Cabinet. The President's term of office is four years, together with the Vice-President, chosen for the same term. The President is the head of the executive branch of the government; he appoints the members of the Cabinet. The Cabinet advises the President on many matters and is composed of the heads often executive departments: Secretary of State, Secretary of the Treasury, Secretary of Defence and others, committees of both Houses. There are 15 standing committees in the Senate and 19 in the House of Representatives.

The Congress assembles at least once a year.

The judicial branch of the government is headed by the Supreme Court which settles disputes between the states. The Supreme Court may veto any law passed by the Congress if it contradicts the Constitution of the USA.

The United States is a federal Union, and the President is the head of the Federal government which deals with international problems and national matters. But every state has its own constitution and the state government headed by the Governor managing its local affairs. Their laws and decisions must not contradict the Constitution of the USA.