I. Прочитайте текст и переведите его письменно.

The United States of America

After its 200th birthday the United States of America still holds the leading position in the western world. A country that inspired many appellations – "Land of Opportunity," "Melting Pot," is still referred to us as a land of superlatives – "the richest," "the greatest," "the most."

The United States of America is a parliamentary republic. The government is divided into three branches: legislative (the US Congress), executive (the President and his Administration) and judicial (the US Supreme Court).

There are two main political parties in the USA: the Democratic and the Republican. The US President is both head of state and government. He is elected for a four-year term. Presidential elections are held every leap year in November.

The Supreme Court consists of Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices. It is supposed to decide whether a law of the Congress or an executive order of the President is constitutional or not.

The Congress of the United States is composed of two houses, the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Senate represents the states and the House represents the population according to its distribution among the states.

The Supreme Court is the highest court in the country and the head of the judicial branch of US government. The federal and state courts have the power of "judicial review." Also there are about ninety district courts in different parts of the United States. American judicial practice is firmly committed to the idea of jury trials. The Constitution guarantees them for both criminal and civil cases.

Слова и словосочетания

a legislative branch – законодательная власть

the Supreme Court – Верховный суд

judicial – судебный, юридический

presidential elections – президентские выборы

the Chief Justice – Верховный Судья

to adopt – принимать

distribution – распространение, распределение

to compose – включать

district courts – районные суды

jury trials – судебные заседания с присутствием присяжных

civil cases – гражданские дела.

II. Дополните предложения из текста.

1. The Government is divided into ….

2. Presidential elections are held every ….

3. The Supreme Court consists of … .

4. The House of Representatives represents….

5. A trial by jury is guaranteed by….

6. The head of state and government is….

III. Найдите в тексте английские эквиваленты к следующим словам и словосочетаниям:

федеральный суд; удерживать позицию;

уголовные дела; високосный год;

исполнительная власть; юридическая власть;

основная партия; гражданские дела.

IV. Ответьте на следующие вопросы по содержанию текста:

1. What are the main political parties in the USA?

2. When are presidential elections held?

3. What does the Supreme court consist of?

4. How many district courts are there in the USA?

5.What does the Senate represent?

V. Поставьте глагол в The Present Continuous Tense или The Simple Future Tense для выражения будущего.

1. I (to take part) in the elections next year.

2. We (to become) lawyers in 5 years.

3. What are you doing tonight? – We (to go, to see) a play at the theatre.

4. Members of the Parliament (to go, to vote) for this Bill.

5. Who (to represent) this candidate at the meeting?

6. When (to consider) the Cabinet its policy?

7. You can tell me your secret. I (not to tell) anyone.

VI. Раскройте скобки, употребив глагол в Present Perfect.

1. The Prime-Minister just (to nominate) members of the government.

2. The US Congress already (to pass) this law.

3. It’s the New Year’s Eve and the president just (to make) his annual speech.

4. A lawyer (not to advise) Mr. Brown on new tax regulations yet.

5. They (not to debate) this issue yet.

6. A barrister already (to prepare) an argument for the court.

7. I (to learn) about a legal corporation when I was in London.

VII. Раскройте скобки, употребив глагол в Past Indefinite.

When Jack and Kelly Harman (to go away) on holiday, they (to leave) their teenage daughter alone in the house. Loe, aged 16, (to want) to stay at home because she (to be) a student. Her parents (to say) she (can ) have some friends to stay. However, Loe (to decide) to have a party. Suddenly things (to start) to go wrong. Forty uninvited guests (to arrive) with knives. They (to break) furniture, (to smash) windows and (to steal) jewellery.