24. National and public holidays in the usa

Each of the fifty states in the USA establishes their own legal holidays. The federal government, through the President and congress, can legally set holidays only for federal employees and for the District of Columbia. Most states however accept the federal legal holidays which are: the New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King’s Day, Washington’s Birthday, now called “President’s Day “ (the third Monday in February), Memorial Day (last Monday in May), Independence Day (July, 4^th), Labour Day (the first Monday in September), Columbus Day, Veterans Day (November, 11^th), Thanksgiving Day (the fourth Thursday in November), Christmas (December, 25^th) and Easter.

Most states have holidays, which are “observed” but not necessarily legal. The name of the holiday goes on the calendar for a state, yet it does not mean that businesses are always closed or children let out of school. For example, Confederate Memorial Day is celebrated on the last Monday in April only in Alabama and Mississippi.

There are also special days in most states, which are proclaimed but have no effect otherwise, for instance, Volunteer Fireman Day in New Jersey. This is also true at the national level. The President and Congress might proclaim a special day or week in order to bring attention to a certain concern, interest group or problem, like for example, National Employ the Handicapped Week.

Many religious holidays such as Good Friday, Hanukkah or Ramadan are observed by the religion but have no national or officially legal status. Rather each state sets, its own laws, and whether or not an employee is given time off also depends on individual company decisions.

There are many other traditional holidays, observed by a large number of Americans, which are neither legal nor official. Among them are Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day (not just people with Irish ancestry will “wear the green” on March, 17^th), Mother’s Day and Halloween.

Perhaps, the two “most American” of the holidays are the Fourth of July – Independence Day, and Thanksgiving Day. The first one is like a big nationwide birthday party. Some towns and cities have parades with bands and flags, the most politicians will try to give a patriotic speech, should anyone be willing to listen. But what makes this holiday special is the atmosphere and enjoyment of it, for instance, the family picnic with hot dogs, hamburgers and volleyball, fireworks and rockets at night (and often a sunburn and a headache the next morning). The nation’s birthday is also its great annual summer celebration.

Like Christmas, Thanksgiving is a day for families to come together. Traditional foods and prepared for the feast – turkey or ham, cranberry sauce, bread rolls and a pumpkin pie. At the same time Thanksgiving is a solemn occasion, a day to remember the many who are less well off, in America and throughout the world.

25. Court system of Great Britain

The process of criminal justice begins when the police arrest a suspect. Then they decide whether they have enough evidence to prosecute – to send the suspect for the trial. In serious cases this decision is made by the Director of Public Prosecutions, who is a senior law official.

If a person is prosecuted for a crime in Britain, he/she may meet the following people during the process through the courts:

• Magistrates

Magistrates are unpaid judges, usually chosen from well-respected people in the local community. They are not legally qualified. They are guided on the points of law by an official, the clerk. There are magistrates’ courts in most of towns.

• Solicitors

After the accused person has been arrested, the first person he or she needs to see is a solicitor. Solicitors are qualified lawyers who advise the accused and help to prepare the defence case. The solicitor may represent the accused in court. A person who is too poor to afford a solicitor will usually get Legal Aid – financial help from the state.

• Barristers

In some serious cases, or where there are special legal difficulties, it is usual for the solicitor to hire a barrister to defend the accused. The barrister is trained in law and in the skills required to argue a case in court. The barrister fro the defence will be confronted by his or her opposite number, the prosecuting barrister, who represents the state. Legal Aid is available to pay for defence barristers.

• Jurors

A jury consists of twelve men and women from the local community. They sit in the Crown court, with a judge, and listen to witnesses for the defence and prosecution before deciding whether the accused is guilty or innocent. In Britain a person is innocent unless found guilty: the prosecution has the burden of establishing guilt.

• Judges

Judges are trained lawyers, nearly always ex-barristers, who sit in the Crown court (and appeal court). The judge makes sure that the trial is conducted properly. He or she does not decide on the guilt or innocence of the accused – that is the jury’s job. However, if the jury finds the accused guilty, then the judge will pass sentence.

Sentencing

The most common sentences are fines, prison and probation. Probation is used with more minor offences. A person on probation must report to a local police station at regular intervals, which restricts his or her movement.

Magistrates and judges may also pass suspended sentences. This means that the person will not serve the sentence unless he or she commits another crime. A sentence of community service means that the convicted person has to spend several hours a week doing useful work in his locality.

Appealing

People who have been convicted can appeal if their lawyer can either show that the trial was wrongly conducted or produce new evidence. Appeal can also be made against the severity of a sentence. Appeals from a magistrates’ court are to the Crown Court and then up through the courts system to the Judicial Chamber of the House of Lords, the highest court in the country. From there, appeal is to the European Court of Justice.