It’s interesting to know

“Uncle Sam”

The nickname for the American government is Uncle Sam. That name belonged to a man who lived in the United States at the end of the 18^th and the beginning of the 19^th century. In 1815 he marched in a parade in the style of dress that has been copied for the ‘Uncle Sam”, which people can see in newspaper drawings in all countries of the world. His name was Samuel Wilson, and he was born in Arlington, Massachusetts, in 1776. Later he settled in Troy, New York.

During the war of 1812 – 1814 Wilson was an inspector of provisions for the American Army, he supplied beef stamping his barrels with the letters “U.S.” this beef became known to the army as Uncle Sam’s and the soldiers thought that the abbreviation meant his name. Later on this familiar name became associated with the US Government.

Laugh

1

The presiding judge leans towards one of the other judges and says to him in his ear:

“This case must be held behind closed doors.”

“Why?”

“Because from that door there’s a cursed draught.”

2

“I warn you,” says the presiding judge solemnly, “that demonstrations of any kind are prohibited; therefore whoever shouts “Long live! Hurrah! Or “Down with! Will be sent outside.”

The accused from his cage begins to shout: “Hurrah! Down with! Hurrah! Down with!”

3

“Who, father, is that gentleman? said the small boy, pointing to a man standing on the dais of the

National House of Representatives.

“That, my son,” said the father “is the chaplain of the House.”

“Does he pray for the members? asked the small boy.

The father thought a minute and then said: “No, my son; when he goes into the House, he looks around and sees the members sitting there and then he prays for the country.”

4

A western politician running for office was very much incensed at certain remarks which had been made about him by the leading paper of the town. He burst into the editorial room like a dynamite bomb, and exclaimed, “You are telling lies about me in your paper, and you know it!”

“You have no cause for complaint,” said the editor coolly,

“What in the world would you do if we told the truth about you?”

Unit 10.

Vocabulary

3. bourgeoisie – буржуазия

4. amorphous – бесформенный, аморфный, некристаллический

5. enforcement –давление, принуждение

6. descendant – потомок

7. doctrinal – относящийся к доктрине, содержащий доктрину

8. gulf – бездна, пропасть, пучина, водоворот

9. supremacy –верховенство, примат, супрематия

10. dramatically – живо, ясно, наглядно, драматично, ярко, волнующе

11. to split- делить на части, раскалывать, расщеплять

12. primary - первичный, главный, первостепенный

13. caucus – предвыборный митинг сторонников партии; закрытое собрание одной из фракций конгресса

Task1. Read and translate the text.

The State and Local Government.

The Constitution created a complicated governmental system of the United States. Alongside with the Federal (National) government there are 50 state governments plus the government of the District of Columbia. Next come still smaller units: county, city, town and village governments. The federal system was the last step in a long evolutionary process.

One of the first tasks of the early English settlers was the creation of governmental units for small settlements they established along the Atlantic coast. Then there were the governments of the separate colonies (later states), which were governed separately by the English Crown. After the declaration of independence (1776) and the adoption of the Constitution (1787) a strong federal union was formed, but the states received certain rights and powers. In general, matters that lie within state borders are the exclusive concern of state governments. They include communications, regulations relating to property, industry, business, education, the state criminal code, working conditions within the state.

Each of the fifty states has a constitution, which has a similar structure with that of the Federal Constitution. The central place in the state constitution is occupied by the questions of forming the spheres of activity and the division of power: legislative, executive and judicial, like in the Federal Government.

The chief executive of a state is a governor, who is elected by popular vote; usually for a four-year term (although in a few states the term is two years). He is assisted by secretaries. The state legislatures consist of two houses (except Nebraska which has a single-house legislative body). The upper house is usually called the Senate and the lower house the House of Representatives, House of Delegates or the General Assembly. In most states senators serve four-year terms, and members of the lower house serve two-year terms. The judicial power of each state is headed by the State Supreme Court.

The state legislatures collect taxes, elect their officers, approve state government officials and pass state laws. However, no state may pass a law contrary to the Constitution of the United States or federal laws. According to the doctrine of “national supremacy”, when there is a conflict between federal and state authority, the federal authority should prevail.

Each state creates units of local government. The chief unit of local government is the country, of which there are more than 3,000.

The county is a subdivision of the state, usually containing two or more towns and several villages. In most counties, one town or city is the county seat where the government offices are located and where the board of commissioners or supervisors meets. In small counties, boards are elected as a whole. In the larger ones, supervisors represent separate districts or townships. The board levies taxes, fixes the salaries of county employees, supervises elections, builds and maintains highways and bridges, and administers national, state and county welfare programmes.

The counties maintain public order through the sheriff and his deputies. The sheriff is the chief law enforcement officer of the county. He is also officer of the court: he serves papers, enforces orders and maintains the jail. The sheriff’s deputy is appointed by the sheriff. He assists the sheriff in law enforcement and in some states may act in place of the sheriff.

The United States is today a highly urbanized country, and more than three-quarters of its citizens now live in towns, large cities or the suburbs. All this makes city governments very important. The city directly serves the needs of the people, providing everything from police and fire protection to health, education, public transportation, and housing.

To run big America’s cities is very difficult. Only seven states of the country, for example, have populations larger than that of New York City. In many respects the cities function independently of the states. However, for most big cities cooperation with both state and federal organizations is very important to meeting the needs of their residents. There are three types of city government in the United States: the mayor-council, the commission and the city manager.

MAYOR-COUNCIL. This is the oldest form of city government in the United States, and until the beginning of this century was used by almost all American cities. Its structure consists of an elected mayor as chief of the executive branch, and an elected council forming the legislative branch. The mayor appoints heads of city departments and other officials, sometimes with the approval of the council. He has the right of veto and is responsible for preparing the city’s budget. The council passes the laws of the city, sets the tax rate on property and is responsible for the city’s purse.

THE COMMISSION. This type of city government combines both legislative and executive functions in one group of officials, usually three and more in number, who are elected. Each commissioner supervises the work of one or more city departments. One is named chairman of the body and is often called the mayor, although his power is equal to that of his fellow commissioners.

THE CITY MANAGER is a response to the increasing complexity of urban problems, which require high management experience not often possessed by elected officials. That is why it has been decided to entrust most of the executive powers, including law enforcement and provision of services, to a highly trained and experienced professional city manager.

Under this type of city government, a small, elected council carries on the city economic and social policy, but hires a paid administrator, also called a city manager, to enforce its decisions. The manager is in charge of the city budget and supervises most of the departments. The manager’s term of office is not fixed: he serves as long as the council is satisfied with his work.

Annotations

Governor – the executive head of a state; county – a division of a country or state for administrative purposes; levy – collect taxes; sheriff – chief law enforcement officer; city manager – one in charge of the city authority.

Task 2. Fill in the blank with the correct word:

1. One of the first tasks of the early English settlers was the creation of governmental … for small settlements they established along the Atlantic coast.

2. The chief executive of a state is the … who is elected by popular vote, usually for a four-year term.

3. The chief unit of local government is the …, of which there are more than 3,000.

4. The counties maintain public order through the … and his deputies.

5. The mayor has the right of veto and is responsible for preparing the city’s … .

6. Each commissioner … the work of one or more city departments.

Task 3. Find out whether the statement is true or false according to the information in the text:

1. After the declaration of independence and the adoption of the Constitution a strong federal union was formed, but the states received certain rights and powers.

2. In general, matters that lie within state borders are the exclusive concern of the national government.

3. The counties maintain public order through the governor and his deputies.

4. The city directly serves the needs of the people, providing everything from police and fire protection to health, education, public transportation, and housing.

5. Only five states of the country, for example, have populations larger than that of New York City.

Task 4. Answer the following questions.

1. Describe the governmental system of the United States, created by the Constitution.

2. What rights were received by states after the declaration of independence and the adoption of the Constitution?

3. Examine the government structure of a state (the three branches of power).

4. Describe the main functions of the state legislatures.

5. What is the chief unit of local government in each state (its structure and responsibilities)?

6. Describe other types of city government, the Commission and the City Manager.

Task 5. Read and translate the text.

The Major Political Parties.

The popularity of George Washington, who wanted the country to stay a one-party political system, and the good effects of the Constitution on trade, prevented the organization of opposing parties until the end of Washington’s second term. Then the question of who should be the new President began to divide the people into political organizations backing opposing candidates. Thus the one-party Revolutionary government of the United States split up into a two-party system.

The present-day Democratic Party was founded in 1828, representing Southern planters –slave owners and part of Northern bourgeoisie, as well as groups of petty bourgeoisie and farmers. The Republican Party was founded in 1854. It united industrial and trade bourgeoisie from North-East, farmers, workers, craftsmen who were interested in destroying the political power of the South. During Lincoln’s Administration, Republicans supported the agricultural reforms and the abolishment of slavery. Yet after the Civil War of 1861-1865 the party lost its progressive character and the differences between the two parties disappeared.

The parties chose their own names, Republican and Democratic, but not their party emblems. The cartoonist Thomas Nast invented the Republican elephant and the Democratic donkey in the early 1870s and they soon became fixed types. The parties are not divided by any doctrinal gulf. It is hard to say what the “Republican Party view” or the “Democratic Party view” of any political issue is. Outsiders often complain that they find it difficult to distinguish between the two major political parties of the US, which appear to support such similar policies.

The main task of the parties is to win elections. Every four years the American parties come together as national bodies in the Presidential nominating conventions and make up the party programs. But once a President is chosen, the parties again become amorphous bodies. This traditional two-party system is favoured by big business, for it creates an illusion that voters are free to choose between candidates from two parties whereas both of them faithfully serve big business interest.

What distinguishes the two parties is not so much opinion as position. In 1887 James Russell Lowell said, “No thoughtful man has been able to see any other difference between the two great parties … than that the one was in and wished to stay there and the other was out and didn’t wish to stay there.” It is also true today.

One of the reasons of the stability of the two-party system is family tradition. Each new generation of Americans inherits its politics and party loyalty from their fathers. National origin plays a role, too. Descendants of northern Europeans tend to the Republican Party while those of southern and eastern Europeans prefer the Democratic Party.

1.Lowell, James Russell (1819-1891) – американский поэт, публицист, дипломат

Task 6. Explain the difference between the two major parties in the US.

Task 7. Look through the lists of general ideas and supporting details. Find the details to support each of the general ideas.

General Ideas

1. Both the Republican and the Democratic parties emerged to reflect the interests of different social groups.

2. The parties are not divided by any contradictions or differences in the political outlook.

3. The parties become most active during the presidential elections.

4. The two-party system retains its stability as never before.

Supporting Details

1. The Republican Party was led by the industrial bourgeoisie of the North and supported by workers and farmers.

2. The area in which one lives is still an important factor in determining one’s vote.

3. The slave owners and farmers of the southern states showed a strong tendency to vote Democratic.

4. Both the biggest parties of the country are financed by big business.

5. After the Civil War, the Republican Party lost its progressive character.

6. People elect Presidents, but the party machines nominate their candidates.

7. Family tradition makes people vote for the same party for generations.

8. The two parties are distinguished only by their position.

Task 8. Summarize the content of the text using the general ideas as an outline.

Task 9. Read the text.

Elections

Anyone who is an American citizen, at least 18 years of age, and is registered to vote may vote. Each state has the right to determine registration procedures. A number of civic groups, such as the League of Women Voters, are actively trying to get more people involved in the electoral process and have drives to register as many people as possible. Voter registration and voting among minorities has dramatically increased during the last twenty years, especially as a result of the Civil Rights Movement.

There is some concern, however, about the number of citizens who could vote in natural elections but do not. In the natural election of 1984, for instance, only 53.3 per cent of all those who have voted actually did. But then, Americans who want to vote must register, that is put down their names in register before the actual elections take place. There are 50 different registration laws in the US – one set for each state. In the South, voters often have to register not only locally but also at the county seat. In European countries, on the other hand, “permanent registration” of voters is most common. Of those voters in the United States who did register in the 1984 presidential elections, 73 per cent cast their ballots.

Another important factor is that there are many more elections in the US at the state and local levels than there are in most countries. If the number of those who vote in these elections (deciding, for example, if they should pay more taxes so a new main street bridge can be built) were included, the percentage in fact would not be that much different from other countries. Certainly, Americans are much more interested in local politics than in those at the federal level. Many of the most important decisions, such as those concerning education, housing, taxes, and so on, are made close to home, in the state or county.The national presidential elections really consist of two separate campaigns: one is for the nomination of candidates at national party conventions. The other is to win the actual election. The nominating race is a competition between members of the same party. They run in a succession of state primaries and caucuses (which take place between March and June). They hope to gain a majority of delegate votes for their national party conventions (in July or August). The party convention then votes to select the party’s official candidate for the presidency. Then follow several months of presidential campaigns by the candidates.

In November of the election year (years divisible by four, e.g. 1988, 1992, 1996, etc.), the voters across the nation go to the polls. If the majority of the popular votes in a state go to the Presidential (and vice-presidential) candidate of one party, then that person is supposed to get all of that state’s “electoral votes”. These electoral votes are equal to the number of Senators and Representatives each state has in Congress. The candidate with the largest number of these electoral votes wins the election. Each state’s electoral votes are formally reported by the “Electoral College”. In January of the following year, in a joint session of Congress, the new President and Vice-President are officially announced.

Task 10. Find in the text the English equivalents for the words and expressions below:

• зарегистрироваться для голосования

• президентские выборы

• избиратели

• избирательный бюллетень

• избирательная кампания

• кандидат в президенты

• коллегия выборщиков

• утверждение кандидата

• первичные выборы в партийных организациях

• первичные выборы на партийных форумах

• партийный съезд

• избирательный участок

Task 11. Answer the following questions:

1. Which American citizens may vote?

2. Why do you think many people who could vote in the national election don’t do it?

3. Why are most Americans more interested in local politics than in those at the federal level?

4. What parts does the national presidential election consist of?

5. Describe the process of electing the President.

Task 12. Role Play

Election Campaign.

Imagine you are a candidate of one of the major parties: you have already been elected your party’s official candidate for the presidency. Write your programme and organize your election campaign. Persuade as many people in the group as possible to vote for you.

Task 13. Topics for discussion:

1.The federal and state governments: the division of powers.

2. The role of the sheriff in the county.

3. Can a country be governed without political parties?

4. Do the chief American political parties have clear political platforms?

5. What is informal party membership? Are you in favour of it or not?

СРСП 10.