Test II

1. Переведите следующие слова и выражения:

Jurisdiction

Federal Court of Appeal

Chief Justice

Court of last resort

Minor trial court

Major trial court

State courts

To be appointed for life

District court

Circuit court

2. Дополните следующие предложения:

1. The American court is complex, mainly because of …

2. The state’s minor trial courts have various names: justice courts …

3. Federal courts are also organized in three tiers: …

4. … are appointed for life.

5. The decisions of the Supreme Court are …

3. Выполните следующий тест:

1. The structure of state courts:

1. Are fixed in all states

2. Varies from state to state

3. Are not complex

2. The state’s minor trial courts are called:

1. The courts of last resort

2. Circuit courts

3. Justice courts, small-claim courts, police courts, traffic courts, municipal courts, mayors’ courts

3. Federal courts are organized in:

1. Two tiers

2. One tier

3. Three tiers

4. All federal judges are appointed for:

1. Life

2. Two months

3. Ten years

5. The district courts are:

1. The highest ones

2. The lowest ones

3. Intermediate appellate ones

4. Переведите следующий отрывок из текста:

Federal courts are also organized in three tiers, like a pyramid: district courts, courts of appeals and the Supreme Court. All federal judges are appointed for life.

There are about ninety four district courts in different parts of the United States. The district courts are the lowest ones in the Federal court system. Most of the criminal and civil cases are tried by these courts. The district court is the only Federal court where trials are held, juries are used, and witnesses are called. There are about two hundred district judges in the USA.

All cases resolved in the district courts and all decisions of federal administrative agencies can be appealed to one of the thirteen federal circuit courts. There are no jurors, witnesses, cross-examinations and other features of the trial courts here. The judges sit in panels made up of three judges each, examining rulings made and procedures followed in the trial courts.

For most cases the circuit courts are the end of the line, but in some cases an appeal may be made to the highest court in the land: the U.S. Supreme Court.

5. Ответьте на следующие вопросы:

1. In what way are federal courts organized in the USA?

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

3. What cases are tried by district courts?

4. What cases can be appealed to federal circuit courts?

Test III

1. Переведите следующие слова и выражения:

Original jurisdiction

US Courts of Appeal

Government

Signed opinions

Judge

Municipal court

Murder

Lawyer

Supreme Court

Jury

2. Дополните следующие предложения:

1. … hear civil cases involving larger amounts of money than in minor trial courts.

2. Federal courts are organized in three tiers …

3. The structure of state courts varies …

4. All cases resolved in the … and all decisions of … can be appealed to …

5. The Supreme court has … headed by Chief Justice.

3. Выполните следующий тест:

1. There are major trial courts for …

1. Less serious cases

2. More serious cases

3. Small-claim cases

2. Some states have Justices of the Peace - :

1. Men and women who have never taken bar exams

2. Lawyers of high qualification

3. Senior pupils

3. The states with big or middle-sized population have a

1. Three-tier system

2. One-tier system

3. Two-tier system

4. The only Federal court where trials are held, juries are used, witnesses are called is:

1. The Supreme court

2. The Appellate court

3. The district court

4. Переведите следующий отрывок из текста:

The American court system is complex, mainly because of the federal system of government in the USA. Each state runs its own court system, and no two are identical. In addition, there is a separate system of federal courts, which operates alongside the state courts.

The structure of state courts varies from state to state. Usually there are minor trial courts for less serious cases, major trial courts for more serious cases, intermediate appellate courts and courts of last resort. The state’s minor trial courts have various names: justice courts, small-claim courts, traffic courts, police courts, municipal courts, mayors’ courts. The judges in these courts are usually quite professional, but some states still have Justices of the Peace – men and women who have never gone to law school and never taken the bar exam.

The next level of the pyramid is made up of state’s courts of general jurisdiction, which are the basic trial courts. These courts hear civil cases involving larger amounts of money than in minor trial courts. They also handle cases of serious crime, such as burglary, rape and murder. The judges are always lawyers.

5. Ответьте на следующие вопросы:

1. Why is the American court system complex?

2. What are the main courts in the USA?

3. What are the various names of the state’s minor trial courts?

4. Who works at the state’s minor trial courts?