Text a. State system of the Republic of Belarus

Read and translate the text.

The official name of the country is the Republic of Belarus. It was proclaimed an independent state in 1991. The Republic of Belarus is a unitary democratic legal state. The President of the Republic of Belarus elected by the all-people vote is the head of the state. His term of office is five years. The President is responsible for the organization of the executive powers in the fields of economy, foreign policy, defense, national security and other spheres. The President is commander-in-chief of the armed forces, he makes treaties, enforces laws, appoints ministers, ambassadors, grants citizenship and pardons.

According to the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus, which was adopted in 1994, there are three branches of power: the legislative power, the executive power and the judicial power. The legislative power belongs to Parliament which is called the National Assembly⁴. It consists of two chambers: the Upper Chamber⁵ (the Council of the Republic⁶) and the Lower Chamber⁷ (the Representatives⁸). Each Chamber is headed by the Speaker⁹. In the National Assembly there are full-time commissions. They are:

• Commission on defense and national safety;

• Commission on foreign affairs;

• Budget and finance commission;

• Economic reforms commission;

• Industrial commission;

• Commission on employment and social security.

Laws are made by Parliament. To become a law a bill must be approved by both Chambers and signed by the President. The President may veto the bill.

The Government or the Supreme executive power is the Council of Ministers¹⁰. It consists of the Prime-Minister, his deputies & ministers. The Prime-Minister, his deputies & the members of the Council of Ministers are appointed or dismissed by the President.

The Council of Ministers is responsible for the effective development of economic, social & political situation in Belarus in accordance with the laws adopted by the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus.

The judicial power is represented by the Supreme Court¹¹, the High Economic Court¹² & the Constitutional Court¹³.

There are local bodies of power, that is the Soviets of local deputies which solve local problems in the framework of their power.

Exercise I. Match English and Russian equivalents.

a unitary state all-people vote term of office in the fields of defense and national security to make treaties to enforce laws to grant citizenship branches of power a bill must be approved in accordance with the law

а) заключать международные договоры b) предоставлять гражданство c) законопроект должен быть одобрен d) унитарное правовое государство e) срок полномочий f) всенародное голосование g) в соответствии с законом h) ветви власти i) проводить законы в жизнь j) в сферах обороны и национальной безопасности

Exercise II. Choose the right word or word combination.

1. The President … the organization of the executive powers.

a) makes; b) is responsible for; c) approves.

2. … the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus there are three branches of power.

a) according to; b) in; c) under.

3. The legislative power … Parliament which is called the National Assembly.

a) governs; b) belongs to; c) appoints.

4. Each chamber … by the speaker.

a) head; b) heads; c) is headed.

5. The Soviets of local deputies … local problems.

a) solve; b) decide; c) avoid.

Exercise III. Complete the sentences according to the text.

1. The President is responsible for … .

2. According to the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus … .

3. To become a law … .

4. The Prime-Minister, his deputies and the members … .

5. There are local bodies of power … .

6. It consists of two Chambers: … .

7. The President of the Republic of Belarus … .

8. The judicial power is represented by … .

9. The Council of Ministers is responsible for … .

10. The Republic of Belarus is … .

Exercise IV. Answer the questions on the text.

1. What kind of state is the Republic of Belarus?

2. What are the main responsibilities of the President of the Republic?

3. When was our Constitution adopted?

4. How many branches of power are there in Belarus? What are they?

5. What is the highest legislative power?

6. How many chambers does the National Assembly consist of?

7. What full-time commissions do you know?

8. What is the Council of Ministers responsible for?

9. What is the judicial power represented by?

10. What bodies solve local problems?

Exercise V. Think and answer.

What problems do the local deputies’ Soviets solve?