- •Министерство финансов Российской Федерации
- •Утверждено и рекомендовано решением
- •В качестве учебного пособия
- •Введение
- •Chapter I law Unit 1 Introduction to Law
- •Introduction to Law
- •Vocabulary
- •Vocabulary tasks
- •The Aims of Law
- •In trouble with the law law-abiding my word is law
- •Unit 2 What Law Is
- •What Is Law?
- •Social Morality, Rules and Laws
- •Vocabulary
- •Vocabulary tasks
- •Chapter II sources of law Unit 3 Sources of English Law
- •Sources of English Law
- •The Principal Sources
- •The Subsidiary Sources
- •Vocabulary
- •Vocabulary tasks
- •Unit 4 Sources of Modern Law
- •Text a Historical and Political Background
- •Text b Common Law Systems
- •Vocabulary
- •Vocabulary tasks
- •Text c Common Law and Equity
- •Historical Development
- •Vocabulary
- •Vocabulary tasks
- •Text d Sources of American Law
- •Vocabulary
- •Vocabulary tasks
- •Text e Continental Systems
- •For You to Remember
- •Sources of Civil Law
- •Vocabulary
- •Vocabulary tasks
- •Chapter III constitutions Unit 5 The History of Constitution
- •Vocabulary
- •Text b Characteristics of Constitutions
- •Vocabulary
- •Vocabulary tasks
- •Unit 6 British Constitution
- •The Nature of the Constitution
- •Vocabulary
- •Vocabulary tasks
- •Unit 7 us Constitution
- •Founding of the United States
- •Vocabulary
- •13 States convention written constitution
- •Vocabulary tasks
- •Unit 8 The Constitution of the Russian Federation
- •The New Russian Constitution
- •Amendments to the Constitution
- •Vocabulary
- •Vocabulary tasks
- •Chapter IV the system of government Unit 9 The British Government of Today
- •Text a The Governmental Model
- •Vocabulary
- •Vocabulary tasks
- •1) Государственная власть
- •2) Управление, руководство
- •3) Форма правления, государственное устройство, политический строй
- •4) Правительство, правительственный аппарат
- •Text b The British Parliament
- •Vocabulary
- •Parliamentary Control
- •Vocabulary tasks
- •The System of Government
- •The House of Commons
- •Parliamentary Debates
- •Text c Law-making Process in the uk
- •Stages of a Government Bill
- •The House of Commons
- •The House of Lords
- •The Royal Assent
- •Bill And Law
- •How Bills Go through Parliament
- •Vocabulary
- •Making New Law
- •Types of Bills
- •Vocabulary task
- •Text d The Prime Minister and the Cabinet
- •Vocabulary
- •Vocabulary tasks
- •Text e The Role of the Monarch in Britain
- •Vocabulary
- •The Richest Woman in the World
- •Vocabulary task
- •Unit 10 The American Government of Today
- •System of Government in the United States
- •Vocabulary
- •Vocabulary tasks
- •Unit 11 The System of Checks and Balances
- •Vocabulary
- •Checks and balances
- •Vocabulary tasks
- •Checks and Balances
- •Unit 12 Law-making Process in the usa
- •Text a The Concept of Bicameral Legislature
- •How Congress Makes Laws
- •Vocabulary
- •Vocabulary tasks
- •Text b The Political System of the usa
- •The Political System
- •The Constitution
- •Federalism
- •State and Local Government
- •Three Branches of Government
- •Two-Party System
- •Unit 13 The State System of Russia. The Parliament of the Russian Federation
- •Text a The State System of Russia
- •Vocabulary
- •Vocabulary tasks
- •Text b The Parliament of the Russian Federation
- •Vocabulary
- •Article 97
- •Article 98
- •Article 99
- •Vocabulary tasks
- •Chapter V law enforcement Unit 14 Law Enforcement Bodies
- •Text a Role of Government
- •Text b Role of Police Force
- •Vocabulary
- •Vocabulary tasks
- •Unit 15 Enforcing the Law in Britain
- •Text a The English Legal System
- •Vocabulary
- •Text b The British Police
- •Vocabulary
- •Vocabulary tasks
- •Identify showing murder investigation found dead
- •Unit 16 Law Enforcement in the usa
- •Text a Protecting the Rights of the Accused
- •Text b Police Technology in the usa
- •Vocabulary
- •Vocabulary tasks
- •Federal Bureau of Investigation
- •Vocabulary
- •Vocabulary tasks
- •Unit 17 Law Enforcement in the Russian Federation
- •Text a Law Enforcement of Today
- •Vocabulary
- •Text b Application of Law Enforcement
- •Vocabulary
- •Vocabulary tasks
- •Chapter VI the courts Unit 18 The Court System of the uk
- •Text a Judicial Institutions
- •Text b Classification of the English Courts
- •Text c The Hierarchy of the Courts
- •Restrictions
- •Vocabulary
- •It is useful to know
- •For you to know
- •5) Cause – судебный процесс, судебное дело, тяжба
- •6) Controversy – гражданский судебный процесс, правовой спор,
- •7) Process – судебный процесс, процедура, порядок, производство дел, судопроизводство, процессуальные нормы
- •8) Proceeding(s) – судебный процесс, рассмотрение дела в суде, судебное разбирательство, судебная процедура, производство по делу, судопроизводство
- •Vocabulary tasks
- •Text d Courts of England and Wales
- •Judicial organization
- •Unit 19 The u.S. Court System
- •Text a Understanding the u.S. Court System
- •State Courts
- •A Typical State Judicial System
- •Federal Courts
- •Text b Jurisdictions of the Federal and State Court Systems
- •The Federal Judicial System
- •9 Justices
- •12 Circuits
- •Vocabulary
- •Vocabulary tasks
- •Text c The Miranda Warning
- •Vocabulary
- •Unit 20 The Court System of the Russian Federation
- •The Court Structure
- •Vocabulary
- •Vocabulary tasks
- •Text b Jurisdiction of Courts
- •The Constitutional Court
- •Jurisdiction of the Courts of General Jurisdiction
- •The Supreme Court of the Russian Federation
- •Vocabulary
- •Vocabulary tasks
- •Text c The Courts of the Subjects of the Russian Federation
- •Text d The Arbitrazh Court of the Russian Federation.
- •Jurisdiction of the Federal Arbitrazh Circuit Court as the Court of the First Instance
- •Vocabulary
- •Vocabulary tasks
- •Opening remarks at Meeting with the Judges of the Russian Court
- •Contents
- •Legal English - 1
Unit 11 The System of Checks and Balances
Before you read
Discuss these questions.
Is gaining undue power by some governmental organization dangerous?
What can it lead to?
Do you think the control is necessary in all spheres of our life?
The US Constitution provides for three main branches of government: executive, legislative and judicial. They are separate and distinct from one another.
Each branch is to some extent dependent on the other two and there is a partial interweaving of their functions.
The powers given to each branch are carefully balanced by the powers of the other two. Each branch serves as a check on the others. This is to keep any branch from gaining too much power or from misusing its powers.
Congress has the power to make laws, but the President may veto any act of Congress. Congress, in its turn, can pass a law over a veto by a two-thirds vote in each house. Congress can also refuse to provide funds requested by the President. The President can appoint important officials of his administration, but they must be approved by the Senate. The President also has the power to name all federal judges; they, too, must be approved by the Senate.
In 1973 the legislature limited the President’s powers as commander-in-chief by prohibiting commandment of armed forces abroad for combat without specific congressional approval.
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.
The system of checks and balances makes compromise and consensus necessary. This system protects against extremes. It means, for example, that new presidents cannot radically change governmental policies just as they wish. In the US, therefore, when people think of "the government", they usually mean the whole system, that is, the Executive Branch and the President, Congress, and the courts.
The national government's power is not limited by states' power. The only powers the states have are those the Federal government has not reserved for itself. But in a dispute the Federal government can and will use military force if necessary.
The powers of the national and state governments are limited by certain constitutional guarantees of civil liberties for individual citizens. These guarantees are known as the Bill of Rights. They are amendments to the original constitution. They forbid the government from restricting or limiting such civil liberties as freedom of speech, of religion, and of the press, and they guarantee to all citizens (at least in principle) certain legal procedures and rights.
The powers of the federal (national) government include the right to declare war, the right to tax, the right to borrow and coin money, and to regulate its value, the right to regulate commerce between the states, the right to maintain a postal system.
Vocabulary
armed forces вооруженные силы
Bill of Rights билль о правах, первые десять поправок к конституции США
(совокупность конституционных норм, гарантирующих права граждан в их
взаимоотношениях с органами государственной власти)
checks and balances система «сдержек и противовесов», принцип
взаимоограничения властей (законодательной, исполнительной и судебной)
combat n бой, сражение
commander-in-chief n главнокомандующий
commandment n приказ
congressional adj относящийся к конгрессу
constitutionality n соответствие с конституцией, конституционность
extreme n 1 крайность; 2 чрезмерность
forbid v 1 запрещать, не давать разрешения; 2 препятствовать
interweaving n перемешивание
misuse v 1 неправильно употреблять; 2 злоупотреблять
offence n 1 правонарушение; 2 преступление
override a veto отвергнуть вето; преодолеть вето
pardon n помилование
prohibit v запрещать
restrict v ограничивать
strike down v отклонять
tyranny n тирания, деспотизм
Reading tasks
A Answer these questions.
1 What is the role of the US Constitution in the structure of the US government?
2 How are the powers of each branch of government limited by the system of checks and balances?
3 What is the role of compromise in the American system of running the country?
4 How does the legislature exercise a check on the executive branch?
5 In what way does the executive branch exercise a check on the legislative branch?
6 In what way does the judicial branch exercise a check on the other two branches?
7 What limits the powers of the national and state governments?
B Choose the best answer (a, b, or c) according to the information in the text.
1 Why is the system of checks and balances necessary?
because it separates the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government
because it keeps any branch from using too much power or misusing it and makes each branch check on the others
c) because it limits the President's powers.
2 What is the role of compromise in the American system of running the country?
a) it helps the Congress to pass a law
b) it protects against extreme in government policies
c) it helps the President to veto any act of Congress.
What is known as the Bill of Rights?
the rights of Congressmen to impeach the President
the rights of judicial power to declare congressional legislation unconstitutional
constitutional guarantees of civil liberties for individual citizens.
What are the powers of the federal government?
the right to tax
the right to regulate business within the states
the right to make criminal laws.
What are the powers of the state government?
the right to borrow money
the right to regulate local governments
the right to maintain postal system.
C Speak about the system of checks and balances using the chart.