- •«Political Systems of different countries»
- •Us legislative branch of power
- •Exercises
- •1. Give equivalents of the following:
- •2. Find as many synonyms as you can:
- •3. Translate into English:
- •4. Translate the underlined passage into Russian.
- •Uk Legislative Branch of Power: Law-making in theory and practice
- •Exercises
- •1. Find the equivalents for the following:
- •2. Give as many synonyms as you can:
- •3. Translate into English:
- •4. Translate the underlined passage into Russian.
- •Listen, read and discuss Exercises
- •Describe the procedure of legislating in the British Parliament.
- •Listen to the text and consider this particular case.Say what other factors should be taken into consideration for a bill to become a law. Listening I.
- •Read the article and discuss it. Before you read,
- •David Steel attacks Nick Clegg's reform of the House of Lords
- •Disscussion Point 1
- •Executive Branch of Power of the usa
- •Exercises
- •1. Give the equivalents to the following:
- •2. Give as many synonyms as you can:
- •3. Translate into English:
- •4. Translate the underlined passage into Russian.
- •The British Government: The Structure of Her Majesty's Government
- •Exercises
- •1. Read the text and complete these sentences:
- •2. Speak about these appointments and their responsibilities. Translate the names of the titles into Russian.
- •3. What is the difference between Ministers of State, Junior Ministers and Non-Departmental Ministers? The Cabinet
- •1. Find equivalents of the following:
- •2. Give as many synonyms as you can:
- •3. Translate into English
- •4. Translate the underlined passage into Russian.
- •Listen, read and discuss
- •Speak about Presidential powers and the ones of a Prime Minister.
- •Listen to the text and consider this particular case. Say what powers are exercised by the Monarch and by the British Prime Minister. Listening II
- •Read the article and discuss it. Before you read,
- •Us legal system
- •Exercises
- •1. Find equivalents of the following.
- •2. Give as many synonyms as you can.
- •3. Translate into English
- •4. Translate the underlined passage. Lesson 10. Uk legal system
- •Exercises
- •1. Answer the following questions.
- •Speak about criminals which should be sentenced to death penalty. Do you think there have been more or less hard criminals recently?
- •Read the article and discuss it. Before you read,
- •Miscarriages of justice are slipping off the public radar
- •Judicial systems of different countries
- •Elections in the usa
- •1. Find equivalents of the following:
- •2. Continue the following phrase as you wish:
- •3. Translate into English
- •4. Translate the underlined passage into Russian.
- •General elections in the United Kingdom
- •Polling Day
- •Exercises
- •Speak about Barack Obama’s electoral campaign. Which party does he represent? Who were his main rivals? What do you know about their political careers?
- •Listen to the text and answer the following questions. Listening IV.
- •Read the article and discuss it. Before you read,
- •Analysis: European elections can bring a cash bonanza for the far Right
Exercises
1. Give the equivalents to the following:
система сдержек и противовесов; неразумный; вводить закон; голосовать в поддержку; не иметь более юридической силы; оспаривать в суде как неконституционный; подтвердить назначение на должность; по Конституции; широкие полномочия; подлежат утверждению Сенатом; когда появляются вакансии; глава исполнительной власти; внушительный; наложить вето на законопроект; преодолеть вето; считать что-л. жизненно важным; равный счет голосов; легкий доступ к ч.-л.
2. Give as many synonyms as you can:
confirm appointments; enact the law; unwise; formidable; challenge the law as unconstitutional; to be subject to; deem smth vital
3. Translate into English:
1. Согласно одной из поправок к Конституции, президент США не может выставлять свою кандидатуру на выборах, если он занимал этот пост два срока подряд. 2. Считается, что благодаря системе сдержек и противовесов, ни одна из трех существующих ветвей власти не может обладать чрезмерными полномочиями. Такая система разработана для того, чтобы не позволить какой-либо ветви узурпировать власть. 3. Все назначения, производимые президентом, будь то глава министерства или федеральный судья, подлежат одобрению Конгрессом. 4. Вице-президент председательствует в Конгрессе, но не имеет права выразить свое мнение в отношении различных вопросов, за исключением тех случаев, когда голоса разделяются поровну. 5. Билль о правах – это дополнение к Конституции, которое гарантирует личные права человека. 6. Президент может наложить вето на принятый Конгрессом законопроект, но это вето может быть преодолено двумя третями голосов в Сенате и Палате представителей. 7. Поскольку Президент имеет легкий доступ к СМИ, он может формировать общественное мнение по всем вопросам, которые он считает жизненно важными для общества. 8. Являясь главой исполнительной власти, президент имеет широкие полномочия по изданию различного рода распоряжений и директив относительно функционирования различных департаментов и ведомств правительства США.
9. Совместно с Государственным Секретарем они разрабатывают основные принципы внешней политики государства и руководят ею.
10. Верховный Суд имеет полномочия провозгласить закон неконституционным и , следовательно, заявить, что он не имеет более юридической силы.
4. Translate the underlined passage into Russian.
Lesson 6.
The British Government: The Structure of Her Majesty's Government
Before you read. Think over the following questions:
-Why are governments usually referred to as executive power? What do they execute?
- Who is the head of the executive power in the UK? In the USA? In this country?
Read the following text.
Her Majesty's Government is the body of ministers responsible for the conduct of national affairs. The Prime Minister is appointed by the Queen, and all other ministers are appointed by the Queen on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. Most ministers are members of the Commons, although the Government is also fully represented by ministers in the Lords. The Lord Chancellor is always a member of the House of Lords.
The composition of governments can vary both in the number of ministers and in the titles of some offices. New ministerial offices may be created, others may be abolished, and functions may be transferred from one minister to another. The Prime Minister The Prime Minister is also, by tradition, First Lord of the Treasury and Minister for the Civil Service. The Prime Minister's unique position of authority derives from majority support in the House of Commons and from the power to appoint and dismiss ministers. By modern convention, the Prime Minister always sits in the House of Commons.
The Prime Minister presides over the Cabinet, is responsible for the allocation of functions among ministers and informs the Queen at regular meetings of the general business of the Government. The Prime Minister's other responsibilities include recommending a number of appointments to the Queen. These include:
1. Church of England archbishops, bishops and deans
2. Senior judges, such as the Lord Chief Justice; 3. Privy Counselors; 4. Lord-Lieutenants
They also include certain civil appointments, such as Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, Poet Laureate, Constable of the Tower, and some university posts; and appointments to various public boards and institutions, such as the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), as well as various other institutions.
The Prime Minister also makes recommendations for the award of many civil honors and distinctions.
The Prime Minister's Office at 10 Downing Street, the official residence in London, has a staff of civil servants who assist the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister may also appoint special advisors to the Office to assist in the formation of policies.
Departmental Ministers Ministers in charge of government departments are usually in the Cabinet; they are known as 'Secretary of State' or 'Minister', or may have a special title, as in the case of the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Non-Departmental Ministers The holders of various traditional offices, namely the Lord President of the Council, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, the Lord Privy Seal, the Paymaster General and, from time to time, Ministers without Portfolio, may have few or no department duties. They are therefore available to perform any duties the Prime Minister may wish to give them.
Lord Chancellor and Law Officers The Lord Chancellor holds a special position, as both a minister with departmental functions and the head of the judiciary. The four Law Officers of the Crown are: for England and Wales, the Attorney General and the Solicitor General; and for Scotland, the Lord Advocate and the Solicitor General for Scotland.
Ministers of State and Junior Ministers
Ministers of State usually work with ministers in charge of departments. They normally have specific responsibilities, and are sometimes given titles which reflect these functions. More than one may work in a department. A Minister of State may be given a seat in the Cabinet and be paid accordingly.
Junior Ministers - generally Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State or, where the senior minister is not a Secretary of State, simply Parliamentary Secretaries - share in parliamentary and departmental duties. They may also be given responsibility, directly under the departmental minister, for specific aspects of the department's work.