UNIT 1

Introduction

Preliminary discussion

1. The President of Russia and the English Queen are the heads of their countries.

2. There are many differences between their constitutional rights.

3. Legislative power in Russia is vested in the two chambers of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation. The 628-member parliament, termed the Federal Assembly, consists of two chambers, the 450-member State Duma (the lower house) and the 176-member Federation Council (the upper house).

4. The President of the Russian Federation and the highest legislative body are independent from each other.

5. Despite the fact that the Constitution of Russia does not explicitly determine the President as the head of the executive branch, the Executive power is de facto split between the President and the Prime Minister, who is the head of government.

Judges are approved by the President after being nominated by the qualifying collegia, which are assemblies of judges.

6. The Russian government system is closer to American system.

Lesson 1.

Exercises

1. Reading

1.

1. The Union Flag, popularly known as the Union Jack, is the national flag of the United Kingdom. It is called the Union Flag because it symbolizes the administrative union of the countries of the United Kingdom. It is made up of the individual Flags of three of the Kingdom's countries all united under one Sovereign - the countries of 'England, of 'Scotland' and of 'Northern Ireland' (since 1921 only Northern Ireland has been part of the United Kingdom). As Wales was not a Kingdom but a Principality it could not be included on the flag.

It is made of 3 crosses, each representing the patron saints of its main nations. England is represented by the red cross of St. George. Scotland is represented by the flag of St. Andrew (a diagonal white cross form (called a saltire) on a blue field). Ireland is represented by the cross of St. Patrick (a diagonal red cross on a white background.)

2. A unitary state is a sovereign state governed as one single unit in which the central government is supreme and any administrative divisions (subnational units) exercise only powers that the central government chooses to delegate.

3. A limited (constitutional) monarchy is a form of government in which a monarch acts as head of state within the parameters of a written (i.e., codified), unwritten (i.e., uncodified) or blended constitution.

4. The Royal Standard, the monarch’s flag, shows 3 English gold lions against red background, the red Scottish lion against gold background, and the Irish gold harp against black background.

5. A Sovereign (monarch) is the person who heads a monarchy, a form of government in which a country or entity is usually ruled or controlled by an individual who normally rules for life or until abdication, and typically inherit the throne by birth.

6. Anglo-Saxons is the term usually used to describe the invading Germanic tribes in the south and east of Great Britain from the early 5th century AD, and their creation of the English nation, to the Norman conquest of 1066.

7. The Celts were a group of peoples that occupied lands stretching from the British Isles to Gallatia. Over the 500 or so years leading up to the first Roman invasion a Celtic culture established itself throughout the British Isles.

8. The Romans were the people from a city called Rome in what is now Italy. The Romans arrived in Britain in 55 BC. The Romans invaded Britain in AD 43.

9. The Danes, also called Vikings, another british invaders.

10. The overlord - sovereign, master

11. The Code of English Law – the collection of the all old customs and laws followed by the Anglo-Saxons, created by the order of Alfred the Great.

2.

1. The monarchical history of England begins with the Anglo-Saxons, the invaders from the Continent who began to raid the towns and villages of the Celtic inhabitants of the British Isles in the 5^th century AD, after the departure of the Romans. – История английской монархии берет свое начало с Англо-Саксов, захватчиков с Континента, которые начали совершать набеги на города и села Кельтских жителей Британских островов в 5 веке до н.э., после ухода Романцев.

2. The invaders drove the Celts, who lived on the island, to Wales and Cornwall – the mountainous districts in the West – and to the northern part of the island, where Scotland is situated now. – Захватчики вытеснили Кельтов, живших на островах, к Уэльсу и Корнвеллу – горным районам на Западе – и к северной части островов, где сейчас расположена Шотландия.

3. It was in their common interests because new invaders began to threaten them – the Danes, also called Vikings. – Это было в их общих интересах потому что новые захватчики начали представлять для них опасность - Датчане, также называемые Викингами.

4. The legend says that once he was defeated in a battle against the Danes and had to hide in a little hut of a shepherd, whose wife asked him to look after the cakes, which she was baking. – Легенда гласит, что однажды он потерпел поражение в битве против Датчан и вынужден был скрываться в маленькой хижине пастуха, жена которого пекла пироги и попросила его присмотреть за ними.

5. When the woman returned, she got angry and, knowing nothing about his being king, she scolded him well. – Вернувшись, женщина разозлилась и, не зная что он король, долго его бранила.

6. During a feast held in honour of St. Augustine he saw among the guests a certain outlaw, and, in his attempt to seize him, was stabbed with a dagger and died. - Во время праздника, проводимого в честь Св. Августина, он увидел среди гостей нарушителя закона и, в попытке связать его, получил ранение кинжалом и умер.

3.

1) A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person. Patron saints, because they have already transcended to the metaphysical, are believed to be able to intercede effectively for the needs of their special charges. Some consider it a special devotion to God by displaying humility in asking a saint for intercession instead of being answered themselves.

2) Legislative Branch - The elected law-making branch of government. The legislative branch can initiate and rescind laws and is the only authority able to approve proposed laws, although the constitution of many jurisdictions allow persons or agencies of the executive branch to propose laws.

The executive branch is the administrative arm of government; the one with the most employees as it operates, implements and enforces all the laws created by the legislative branch, and as adjusted, from time to time, by the judiciary.

Judicial Branch - A branch of government; judges. Members of courts of law; a special independent group of people tasked within the constitution of a nation, with the resolution of disputes in regards to the constitution or any other law, or the interrelation thereof, and in regards to any private disputes in regards to the entitlements of persons under the laws as set by the legislative branch as well as the hearing and sentencing of any person of whom the executive branch, on behalf of the government, has alleged the commission of a crime.

3) Invaders from the continent - three powerful Germanic nations: Saxons from northern Germany and Holland; Angles from the south of the Danish peninsula, an area still known as Angeln; and Jutes from Jutland. The invaders are thus usually termed Anglo-Saxons. The first Anglo-Saxons to reach Britain came by invitation, possibly even before the Roman govern­ment had collapsed. They came in war bands, under their own chiefs, as mercenaries to help defend Britain against attacks from Ireland, Scotland and the Continent. These first small groups later combined into larger units and began to colonize Britain, sending word to their home­lands of the easy pickings. Larger-scale invasions followed.

4) A hereditary ruler – a monarch, that get the authority by right of inheritance.

5) A warrior – is a person experienced in or capable of engaging in combat or warfare, especially within the context of a tribal or clan-based society that recognizes a separate warrior class.

6) Ambitious - 1. having ambition; eagerly desirous of achieving or obtaining success, power, wealth, a specific goal, etc.: ambitious students.

2. showing or caused by ambition: an ambitious attempt to break the record.

3. strongly desirous; eager: ambitious of love and approval.

4. requiring exceptional effort, ability, etc.: an ambitious program for eliminating all slums.

7) To reign – 1. to possess or exercise sovereign power or authority.

2. to hold the position and name of sovereign without exercising the ruling power.

3. to have control, rule, or influence of any kind.

4. to predominate; be prevalent.

8) An alliance - a formal agreement or treaty between two or more nations to cooperate for specific purposes.

9) To succeed – to come next in time or succession; follow after another; replace another in an office or a position: She succeeded to the throne. (наследовать)

10) An outlaw – a person excluded from normal legal protection and rights. ( лицо, объявленное вне закона)

11) A contemporary – a person belonging to the same time or period with another or others.

12) A heir – a person who inherits or has a right of inheritance in the property of another following the latter's death; a person who inherits or is entitled to inherit the rank, title, position, etc., of another.

13) Ill-advised – performed, carried out, or done without the benefit of wise counsel or careful prior deliberation. (опрометчивый, неразумный, неблагоразумный, необдуманный)

4.

1) The Anglo-Saxons are the invaders from the Continent who began to raid the towns and villages of the Celtic inhabitants of the British Isles in the 5^th century AD, after the departure of the Romans.

2) The Celts were the tribes, who lived on the island. The invaders drove them to Wales and Cornwall and to the northern part of the island.

3) The Romans invaded Britain in AD 43. It was to take over the island. The Romans were to stay for many years. The emperor Claudius sent an army of 40,000 men. It landed safely. The emperor sent not only foot soldiers but cavalry as well. Many tribes in Britain realised the sheer power of this army and made peace quickly with the Romans. Some took on the might of the Roman army. These clashes went on for many years and in parts of Britain, the Romans never actually gained full control. Though the Roman army has achieved fame for its effectiveness as a fighting force, the Britons were skilled and ferocious warriors.

4) In 828 Egbert, King of Wessex, was acknowledged as the overlord by Mercia and Northumbria. This was really the beginning of the united kingdom of England.

5) It was necessary for the Saxon kingdom to unite because new invaders began to threaten them – the Danes.

6) Alfred the Great lived in 9^th century.

7) The legend of “burnt cakes”says that once he was defeated in a battle against the Danes and had to hide in a little hut of a shepherd, whose wife asked him to look after the cakes, which she was baking. Being preoccupied with his own thoughts, Alfred did not see how the cakes were burnt. When the woman returned, she got angry and, knowing nothing about his being king, she scolded him well.

8) There are few things we know about Alfred for sure. We know that he was twenty-two, when he came to the throne. Like his brothers, he was a great warrior, but he was also a man of learning. He fought when he had to fight, but never a day longer than if was necessary. And he turned immediately to restore his kingdom, to organize its administration. He ordered that the old customs and laws followed by the Anglo-Saxons should be collected in the first Code of English Law. Above all, he tried to preserve and develop culture. He himself, in his middle age, began to study Latin in order to translate books "which arc most needful for my men to know". Alfred the Great died in 899.

9) Athelstan wanted to unite the entire island. Many British rulers envied him, and a strong alliance was formed against him, but he defeated them and had a quiet reign until his death in 939.

10) Edmund I, Edred and Edward the Martyn reiged especially briefly.

11) The King Aethelred was given nickname “the Unready”, which means “ill-advised” – first by his mother, then by the other advisers with those help he ruled the country so badly that the Danes conquered most of its territory and from 1016 till 1042 England was ruled by the Danish kings.

12) In 1042 the Saxon royal line was restored on the English throne by Edward the Confessor. It came to an end in 1066 when began the Norman Conquest of England.