Vocabulary Exercises

3. Fill in the appropriate word(s) from the list, then make sentences using the completed phrases.

operate, Bill, meet, correct, guard the citizens, unreasonable, guarantee, right, carry out, serve

to ……………… the changing needs to………………. against smth.

to ……………… wrongs to………………. legal procedures

the …………….. of Rights the………………of trial by jury

………………… searches to………………. within one’s guidelines

to………………. majority wishes to……………….. the people

4. A) Match the English and Russian equivalents.

in force	свободa			in spirit	гордость
elsewhere	неоднократно			supreme	считать
unalienable	отношение			to rest	мирный
repeatedly	где-то еще			peaceful	сограждане
liberty	в действии, в силе			pride	по духу
attitude	улучшить, вносить поправки			to consider	верховный
toamend	неотчуждаемый, неотемлемый			fellow citizens	опираться, основываться

4. B) Fill in the correct word(s) from the list.

fundamental, property, ultimate, Assembly, Amendments

1. The Bill of Rights consists of ten ………………………. . (corrections, improvements)

2. The right of trial by jury is one of the ………………………. rights of the man. (essential)

3. The power of Stalin was …………………… . (highest, supreme)

4. They’re going to take part in the International ……………………. . (meeting)

5. If you’ve lost something go to the lost…………………office. (something owned)

Speaking

5. Read the text again, then make notes under these headings. Use your notes to talk about the Constitution of the United States of America.

• The Constitution as the “supreme law of the land”

• The Bill of Rights

• The fundamental rights of any American

• The attitude of Americans to their governments

Reading

6. You are going to read a text about us Congress. Five sentences have been removed from the text. Choose the sentence (a - e), which fits each gap.

A. Each can also vote against legislation passed by the other.

B. In foreign affairs, he is also strongly limited.

C. One third of the Senators are elected every two years for six-year terms of office.

D. Congress, in its turn, can override a veto by a two-thirds vote in each house.

E. They represent the population of “congressional districts” into which each state is divided.

Congress

C

1

ongress, the legislative branch of the federal government, is made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives. There are 100 Senators, two from each state. The Senators represent all of the people in a state and their interests.

T

2

he House of Representatives has 435 members. They are elected every two years for two-year terms. The number of Representatives from each state is based upon its population. For instance, California, the state with the largest population, has 45 Representatives, while Delaware has only one. All election districts must have about the same number of residents. So one of the basic principles, which are found at all levels of American government is the “one person, one vote” principle which says that legislators are elected from geographical districts directly by the voters. There is no limit to the number of terms a Senator or a Representative may serve.

A

3

lmost all elections in the United States follow the “winner-take-all” principle: the candidate who wins the largest number of votes in a congressional district is the winner.

Congress makes all laws, and each House of Congress has the power to introduce legislation.

B

4

ecause legislation only becomes law if both Houses agree, compromise between them is necessary. Congress decides upon taxes and how money is spent. In addition, it regulates commerce among the states and with foreign countries. It also sets rules for the naturalization of foreign citizens.

Congress has the power to make laws, but the President may veto any act of Congress.

Congress can also refuse to provide funds requested by the President.

The President has the power to name all federal judges, but they must be approved by the Senate. The courts have the power to determine the constitutionality of all acts of Congress and of presidential actions, and to strike down those they find unconstitutional.

T

5

he House of Representatives controls spending and finance, so the President must have its agreement for his proposals and programs. The President cannot declare war, either, without the approval of Congress. Any treaty must first be approved by the Senate. If there is no approval, there is no treaty. The rule is “the President proposes, but Congress disposes”.