representative democracy —

представительная демокра­тия

government — правительство

power — власть, полномочие, право

to rest with somebody — быть

возложенным на кого-л.

ultimately — в конечном счете, в

конце концов

to define — определять

framework — структура

possibility — возможность

separation — разделение

the system of checks and balances —

система «сдержек и противовесов»

(принцип взаимозависимости и взаимо­

ограничения законодательной,

исполнительной и судебной власти)

to restrict — ограничивать

authority — власть

Vocabulary

The division of government power among three separate but equal branches provides for a system of checks and balances. Each branch checks or limits the power of the other branches. For example, although Congress makes laws, the President can veto them and the Supreme Court checks whether they are constitutional. But even if the President vetoes a law, Congress man check the President by overriding his veto with a two-thirds vote. The Supreme Court can overturn laws passed by Congress, but the selection of federal and Supreme Court judges is made by the other two branches. With this system no branch of government has superior power.

Questions

to provide for — обеспечивать

defense — оборона

to declare — объявлять

to possess — обладать

term — срок (полномочии)

to be vested into — принадлежать

independent — независимый

to appoint — назначать

to deliver — передавать, вручать

message to Congress — послание

(президента) конгрессу

to adopt — принимать

inauguration day — день всту­пления

президента США в должность

(20января) to determine — определять

to violate — нарушать

are not subject to appeal — не подлежат

обжалованию

to overturn — отвергать, отменять

branch — ветвь

several — несколько

feature — черта, особенность

to establish — учреждать,

основывать

to conduct — проводить

marriage and divorce laws —

бракоразводные законы

concurrent — совпадающий

to tax — облагать налогом

division — разделение

legislative — законодательный executive — исполнительный judicial — судебный

representative — представитель

in the event of a tie — при равном

количестве голосов

regardless of — независимо от sparsely — редко

1. What does the US Constitution define? 2. What features guard against the concentration of power in the hands of a few? 3. How is power divided between the central government and the individual states? 4. How is power divided among the three branches of government? 5. What is the purpose of legislative branch? 6. What powers docs Congress have? 7. What is the purpose of executive branch? 8. What are the duties of the President? 9. What is the purpose of judicial branch? 10. What is the system of checks and balances? 11. Can you compare Russian and American govern­ments?

Political Parties

There are three features that characterize the party system in the USA: 1) two major parties (the Democrats and the Republicans) alternating in power, 2) lack of ideology (except for the Com­munists), and 3) lack of unity and party discipline.

The United States has had only two major parties throughout its history. When the nation was founded, two political groupings emerged — the Federalists and Anti-Federalists. Since then two major parties have alternated in power.

There are no clear differences between the Republican and Democratic parties. Democrats and Republicans support the same overall political and economic goals. Neither party seeks to shake the foundation of America's economy or social structure. In general, the Republicans tend to be more conservative. They are for business, low taxation and are usually sponsored by upper classes. The Democrats tend to be more liberal and to have more support among the working classes, homeless people, ethnic minorities, because they are for social programs. They are sponsored by trade unions.

There arc minor parties, also called "third parties". In most cases minor parties have been assimilated by the larger two or have just faded away.

The main function of the parties is to run the election campaign The sitting of the convention announces the candidate for the elections. The way candidates are elected explains why two major parties have come to dominate the American political scene. Elections are held according to the single-member district system based on the principle of "winner takes all". Under this system only one candidate — the one with the most votes — is elected to a given office from any district. Many people will not vote for a minor party candidate; they feel they are throwing away a vote since only one person wins.

The loose organization of America's political parties helps, explain the lack of unity within parties. In the USA parties are, decentralized. The membership is not fixed. The members of the parties have no membership cards, pay no membership dues and have no obligations to attend meetings or even vote for the party. Disagreement among members of the same party is common.

Political parties, interest groups and elections are opportunities' for citizens to participate in the democratic process. Many Americans, however, are politically uninvolved.