Раздел 1

В данном разделе представлены тексты и задания для работы на занятиях под руководством преподавателя, а также после соответствующих консультаций для самостоятельной работы с целью приобретения умений и навыков, позволяющих студентам самостоятельно работать с литературой на языке оригинала.

TEXT I

The Constitution of Great Britain and the USA.

In one important respect England differs conspicuously from most other countries. Her constitution is to a large extent unwritten, using the word in much the same sense as when we speak of unwritten law. Its rules can be found in no written document but depend, as so much of English law does, on precedent modified by a constant process of interpretation.

A Constitution is the basic law of a state. The main elements of the constitution are the definitions of the legislature, the executive, and the judiciary.

In theory, the constitution has three branches: Parliament, which makes laws, the government, which "executes' law, i.e. puts them into effect, and the law courts, which interpret laws. Although the Queen is officially1 head of all three branches, she has little direct power. The Queen is a symbol of the unity of the nation. The hereditary principle still operates and the Crown is passed on to the sovereign's eldest son (or daughter if there are no sons). The Queen takes part in ceremonial functions of opening Parliament; she meets the Prime Minister every week and receives copies of all Cabinet papers.

The Parliament of Great Britain consists of two parts: the House of Commons and the House of Lords. Members of the House of Commons are elected by the voters of 650 constituencies. They are known as MPs, or Members of Parliament The Prime Minister, or leader of the Government, is also an MP, usually, the leader of the political party with a majority in the House of Commons.

The former colonies, now "the United States of America", first operated under an agreement called the Articles of Confederation (1781). It was soon clear that this loose agreement among the states was not working well. Delegates from the states met in Philadelphia They wanted to revise the Articles, but they did much more than that they wrote a completely new document, the Constitution. The US Constitution was adopted by the thirteen states by 1790. The US Constitution defines a federal system of government It gives certain powers to the national government All others powers belong to the states. The US Constitution has 26 amendments. The first 10, called the "Bill of Rights", established certain individual liberties. The White House, the President's residence is located in Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington.

Задание к тексту

1. Прочтите текст. Используя опорные, интернациональные и другие ранее известные вам слова, уясните содержание текста, кратко изложите его письменно на русском языке.

2. Переведите текст со словарем и запишите его перевод.

3. Выберите из текста существительные в функции определения, запишите их перевод.

4. Укажите, какую функцию выполняет окончание –s и 's в следующих словах и словосочетаниях: the main element, three branches, puts them into effect, she receives copies, the former colonies, all others powers, 26 amendments, the President's residence.

5. Выделите из текста глаголы to be и to have, укажите их временные формы.

6. Выпишите из текста Participle П в функции определения, дайте их русский перевод.

7. Переведите из текста сказуемые в Simple Passive, дайте их русский перевод.

8. Переведите глагольные сочетания, обращая внимание на варианты перевода одного и того же глагола:

1) to make a decision; to make a law; to make a plan; to make Mends; to make money; to make a journey; to make progress;

2) to pass a law; to pass a bill; to pass a resolution.

9. Переведите следующие предложения на русский язык, обращая внимание на перевод сказуемого в страдательном залоге:

The laws are passed by the highest legislative organs of the state.

A new republic was founded, turning into reality the dreams and ideals of a new political philosophers.

The U.S. capital was named after G.Washington.

The liberties of the American citizens were defined by The Bill of Rights".

The US President is assisted by a Cabinet of 10-12 members.

10. Ответьте письменно на вопросы по тексту:

What is a Constitution?

What does the British Constitution consist of?

What powers does the Queen have in government?

What is the difference between the Constitutions of the United Kingdom and the United States?

When was the American Constitution adopted?

How are the first ten amendments of the American Constitution called?

Text II

Congress of the USA.

Let’ s speak about Congress of the USA.

Congress is the supreme legislative branch of the federal government Congress is made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives. It has the power to levy taxes, regulate interstate commerce, set up post offices and federal courts, organize the Armed Forces, declare war, and determine the rules of procedure in Congress.

There are 100 Senators,, two from each state. The head of the Senate is the Vice-President. One third of the Senators are elected every two years for six-year terms of office.' The Senators represent all of the people in a state and their interests. The Senate has some special powers. It must approve the President's appointments and treaties between the US and a foreign state.

The House Representatives consists of 435 members, called Congressmen. They are elected every two years for two-year terms. The head of the House is the Speaker who presides over debate, appoints members of the committees and performs other leading duties.

The President of the United States is elected every four years to a four-year term of office, with no more than two full terms allowed. He must be a native-born citizen at least 35 years old. The political party with the most Senators and Representatives does not choose the President. This means that the President can be from one party, and the majority of those in the House of Representatives or Senate (or both) from another. The president is chosen in a national election by the voters (through state electors).

Under the US Constitution a sitting President may be removed from office before his term expires only by an impeachment process that begins with the House of Representatives. In accordance with the Constitution, Congress has the power to fix the number of judges sitting on the Court. The Supreme Court consists of a chief justice and eight associate justices. They are nominated by the President but must be approved by the Senate.