IV. Branches of the federal government of the united states

1. The Congress of the usa

The Congress of the United States is the legislative branch of the National Government, in effect, the national legislature, and consists of two branches – the Senate and the House of Representatives; its existence, authority and limitations are provided by the Constitution, adopted in September, 17, 1787.

The function of the legislative branch of the government is to make the laws and to finance the operation of the government through levying taxes and appropriating money requested by the executive branch of the government.

“Upper” and “lower” a commonly applied to the two branches of a bicameral legislature, the upper being the less numerous and higher in rank of the two¹.

A Congressman is a member of either the Senate or the House of Representatives. However, the member of the Senate is usually referred to as² a Senator and a member of the House of Representatives as a Congressman. The official title of a member of the House is “Representative in Congress”.

The 100 senators and the Vice-President are provided with offices in a building about 150 yards northeast of the Senate wing of the Capitol.

The 435 members of the House, except the Speaker and the party leaders (who have offices in the Capitol building) have offices in two buildings about 150 yards south of the Capitol.

There are no specifically defined duties for a member of Congress. He is required to be present³ when Congress is in session unless he is excused to perform official business elsewhere, or because of illness.

From the outset⁴ there arose in the United States a system of two major political parties, and this two-party system has dominated the political life of the country. The two major parties are the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. Although the political rivalry between the two parties is very keen, there is greater difference between the groups of conservatives and liberals within the same party than there is between the two parties.

“Bill” is the technical designation of a measure introduced in either House, and until it has been passed by that House. At that point it is reprinted as an Act, i.e. an act of one branch of Congress. The term “act” is, however, popularly used in referring to a measure which has been finally passed by both Houses and becomes law, whether by approval of the President or by passing over his veto. The president has power to approve or veto bills passed by Congress, vetoed bills becoming law if re-passed by a vote of two thirds of each House of Congress.

The Administration

The Presidency of the US is the highest governmental office. The executive branch, which includes the President, Vice-President, and the President’s Cabinet, is responsible for administering and executing the laws. The President must be a natural-born citizen, at least 35 years old, and for at least 14 years a resident of the United States. The US President is assisted in administration by a Cabinet of 10-12 members. Cabinet officials are appointees of the President and serve during his term. When the President’s service ends, it is customary for the Cabinet to resign, so that the new president can appoint new chiefs of executive departments. There are 12 executive departments. The State Department ranks ahead of the other departments in prestige and seniority. The political power of the Secretary of State is second only to that of the President. The Secretary of State has the duty of trying to maintain peace and to negotiate economic and political treaties.

The State Judicial Systems in the USA

Each of the fifty states is to a great extent a law in itself, because each of the original thirteen colonies insisted that it had the right to run its own internal affairs. Legal authorities differ in their opinions about whether the legislature or the courts should determine the detailed rules governing the conduct of legal actions and proceedings. In certain states the powers to make rules are vested in the legislature; in others the courts, by convention of judges, adopt specific rules for legal procedure.

State judicial systems consist of the following courts:

Courts of original jurisdiction, as indicated above, are those in which a legal action or a proceeding may be started. Courts exercising original jurisdiction may be divided into two groups; those of general or superior jurisdiction and those of limited, inferior or special jurisdiction.

Courts of general or superior jurisdiction have different names in the various states. In some states they are called circuit courts, in other states they are called district courts, superior courts, or courts of common pleas. In some states all courts of record are consolidated into one court.

Courts of special, limited, or inferior jurisdiction are not set up uniformly in the state judicial system. Some states have special courts to handle the estates of deceased persons; these are often called probate courts, orphans’ courts, or surrogates’ courts. A few states have courts of claims that have jurisdiction over claims against the state, although in the majority of cases states cannot be sued. Almost all states have special courts, such as juvenile courts, courts of crimes, police courts, domestic relations courts, courts of tax appeals, justice courts, and city courts.

Commentary

1. the upper being less numerous and higher in rank of the two – причем верхняя менее многочисленна и выше по положению

2. is usually referred to as – обычно называется

3. he is required to be present – его присутствие обязательно

4. from the outset – с самого начала

Active vocabulary

to finance the operation of the government

to levy taxes

bicameral legislature

to perform official business

to dominate

technical designation

to approve or veto bills

to assist

to resign

political treaties

internal affairs

by convention of judges

superior, inferior, limited jurisdiction

courts of common pleas

to handle the estates of deceased persons

probate courts

orphans’ courts

surrogates’ courts

courts of claims

Assignment I. Answer the questions.

1. What are branches in Congress of the USA?

2. What is the function of the legislative branch of the government?

3. How many members are there in the House of Representatives?

4. What power has the President of the USA?

5. What does the executive branch include?

6. When does the President and his Cabinet resign?

7. What courts does the state judicial system consist of?

Assignment II.

1. Congress of the USA.

2. The Administration.

3. The state judicial systems in the USA.