Vocabulary

checks and balances "сдержки и противовесы" (основной

принцип государственного управления

в США)

to abuse злоупотреблять (властью)

to override a veto преодолеть вето

amendment поправка

The White House. The Executive Branch

The President of the United States of America holds the most powerful and important position in the country. He or she is the chief governing official, the leader of the executive branch and the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The President is to preserve and defend the Constitution of the United States and is responsible for the execution of laws of the country. With the advice and consent of Congress, the President has the power to make treaties with other nations, appoint federal judges, diplomatic representatives and many other officials. The President proposes a full legislative program to Congress, although he or she is not and cannot be a member of Congress. As the commander-in-chief of the US armed forces, the President is empowered to repel foreign invasion and to fight wars overseas. In time of great public danger, the President can declare martial law. The Constitution also gives the President the power to grant pardons to those who are convicted of federal crimes.

As stated in the Constitution, any natural-born citizen who is at least 35 years old and has resided in the United States for 14 years can be elected the President of the USA for a term of four years and can only be reelected for one more term.

The President is assisted in his work by the Vice President and the members of his administration which consists of the heads of the departments. Among the major departments there are such departments as State, Defense, Justice, Treasury, Commerce, Labor, Health, Education and Welfare, Housing and Urban Development, Interior, Agriculture and Transportation.

The Vice President takes over the President in case of death, resignation or sickness. Vice Presidents have recently been given more important tasks, especially in foreign affairs.

The residence of the administration is the White House, also known as the Executive Mansion. In the media the White House is often used to mean the President and the executive power of the country.

Vocabulary

Departments: Департаменты (Министерства)

State Госдепартамент (внешнеполитическое

ведомство США)

Defense обороны

Justice юстиции

Treasury финансов

Commerce торговли

Labor труда и занятости

Education and Welfare образования и социального обеспечения

Housing and Urban Department жилищного строительства и городского

развития

Interior внутренних дел

Agriculture and Transportation сельского хозяйства и транспорта

Congress. The Legislative Branch

The legislative power belongs to Congress which is made up of two houses – The Senate and the House of Representatives. Congress meets in the Capitol whose white marble dome dominates the city of Washington, D. C. The Capitol was once hailed as the center and heart of America.

Though nowadays most major bills originate in the White House, they must be approved, rejected or amended by Congress. After a bill has been passed by the majority in each House the President has the power to veto a bill, but Congress can still make it a law if two-thirds of the members of each House approve it. Congress also controls the nation's finances by considering and changing the budget presented each year by the President.

The House of Representatives, the Lower House, consists of 435 members called Representatives or Congressmen/women, who are elected every two years by the people of a state to represent that state. The number of Representatives for each state depends on the size of the population of the state, and each state has at least one Representative.

The Chairperson of the House of Representatives, the Speaker, is elected by the House and has important responsibilities that give him or her a considerable influence over the passage of bills in the house. Moreover, in case of death, resignation or illness of the President and Vice President before the end of their terms, it is the Speaker of the House of Representatives who becomes the President.

In the Senate, which is the Upper House of Congress, there are 100 members called Senators. Each state has two senators who are elected every six years, but the elections are staggered so that one-third of the Senate is elected every two years. The Senate is more important politically than the House of Representatives. It is the Senate that has the power to impeach the President, to approve or disapprove presidential appointments and to ratify treaties. The Vice President acts as the chairperson of the Senate.