Discussion

Ex. 1. Complete the sentences in part A by adding the phrases given in part B.

A:

1. No document in American history can ....

2. In Declaration one can find ....

3. Devised and amended in 1787, the Articles .....

4. The Bill of rights stated the right to be protected ....

5. The most striking feature of the Constitution is ....

6. A system of checks and balances ensured ....

7. All governments and governmental groups must operate ....

8. The great framers were wise enough but ....

B:

1. against unreasonable searches

2. the key ideas of future American generation

3. compare with Declaration of Independence.

4. the division of the legislative, executive and judicial branches

5. inspired a completely new document.

6. within “the supreme law of the land” guidelines.

7. that no one branch of the government would dominate the other.

8. could not foresee every problem.

Ex. 2. Choose the best way to complete the sentences. Expand the idea.

1. The Declaration of Independence is far more than .....

   1. the argument of governments.

   2. the announcement of the birth of a nation.

   3. the appointment of a new government

2. The Articles of Confederation were ...

   1. not working well.

   2. radical indeed.

   3. devised and amended.

3. The Bill of Rights .....

   1. stated fundamental rights of any American.

   2. revised the Articles.

   3. stated too few powers for defence, trade.

4. The most striking feature of the Constitution is ....

   1. breaking with an age-old traditions.

   2. the prevailing notion of separation of powers.

   3. a new form of government

5. A great deal of power is put in .....

   1. hands of the Supreme Court.

   2. hands of the Senate.

   3. hands of the President

6. The Constitution has been repeatedly .....

   1. adopted by some status.

   2. operated under federal government.

   3. amended to meet the changing needs of the nation.

7. Other amendments have expanded .....

   1. a vital aspect of the levels of government.

   2. the democratic nature of American society.

   3. local politics.

8. Those who followed the Constitution had ....

   1. to strike down the unconstitutional ones.

   2. to pass all laws.

   3. to adapt the document to new conditions.

Ex. 3. Mark the statements which are true. Prove your choice.

1. The Bill of Rights stated fundamental rights of any American.

2. The Articles inspired a completely new document, the Constitution.

3. The most striking feature of the Constitution is prevailing notion of President’s powers.

4. The Constitution didn’t recognise the notion of separation of powers.

5. The system of checks and balances was of no use.

6. The Constitution still in force hasn’t been changed.

7. Under the American Constitution all power belongs to the government.

8. The framers were clever enough to recognise that they couldn’t foresee every problem.

Ex. 4. Choose someone to act as an American citizen for answering the tourists’ questions:

What do you mean by What is (are) Could you explain to me Can you tell me When was (were) Where was (were) Why is it

the Declaration of Independence adopted; the place that it holds in the minds and hearts of Americans; far more than the announcement of the birth of a new nation; the key ideas of the document; the first ten amendments to the Constitution; the most striking feature of the Constitution; the function of a system of checks and balances; the oldest still in force; the great pride of the nation; the nature of other amendments.

Ex. 5. Speak on American Constitution. Include the following points: