7. Translate the following sentences in writing into Russian:

1) At a minimum, the constitution establishes the au­thority of the national government, provides guarantees for fundamental human rights and sets forth the govern­ment's basic operating procedures.

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Part I

Political science

2. The world's oldest written constitution, that of theUnited States, consists of seven brief articles and 26 amend­ ments.

3. The U.S. Constitution is a brief statement of the general principles, powers and limits of government, to­ gether with specific provisions that differ little from the general body of legislation.

4. Under the Constitution, each state legislature has the power to decide how presidential electors, as well as representatives and senators are chosen.

5. Although the Constitution has changed in many as­ pects since it was adopted, its basic principles remain the same now as in 1789.

6. The authors of the Constitution were keenly aware that changes would be needed from time to time.

8. Make up a short summary of the text.

9. Compare the U.S. Constitution with that of Russia. Speak on their advantages and disadvantages.

10. Read the text and render its content in Russian:

GEORGE WASHINGTON AS CHAIRMAN When sufficient delegates had arrived in Philadelphia to make up a quorum for the Constitutional Convention, George Washington was unanimously elected president of the Con­vention. He accepted the honor reluctantly, protesting his lack of qualification. His opening remarks were addressed to the pride and idealism of the members: «Let us raise a stand­ard to which the wise and honest can repair.»

As presiding officer, Washington was firm, courteous but impassive, taking no part in the debates until the last day of the Convention. He remained such an impressive figure, both physically and morally, that one delegate remarked that Washington was «the only man in whose presence I felt my awe.»

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Учебное пособие для философов и политологов

Washington's support of a strong Union was rooted in hisexperience as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the Revolution. He recalled trying to persuade his New Jersy troops to swear allegiance to the United States. They refused, saying «New Jersy is our country!» During a recess of the Convention, Washington returned to the nearby Revo­lutionary battlefield at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, where he and his troops had passed a bitter winter because the states had been reluctant to contribute to the general cause.

When the Convention ended and the ratification process began, Washington abandoned his silence and worked ener­getically on its behalf, helping to persuade a number of Antiffederalists of his native state of Virginia to modify their position. He recognized the effectiveness of the critics in placing a Bill of Rights (which were later to become the first 10 amendments) before the electorate.

At the same time, he paid tribute to James Madison and Alexander Hamilton for their support of the Constitution in The Federalist Papers, when he wrote that they «have thrown new light upon the science of Government; they have given the rights of man a full and fair discussion, and explained them in so clear and forcible manner, as cannot fail to make a lasting impression.»

UNIT 4