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[1] Санкт-Петербургский государственный университет [2] Пособие по английскому языку [3] для студентов 2 курса [4] ( 3 семестр) [4.1] (Уровень: Advanced, Upper-Intermediate, Intermediate) [5] The Political Systems of the UK and the USA [6] Санкт –Петербург [7] 2010 [8] UNIT I. UK AND US POLITICAL SYSTEMS [9] VOCABULARY LIST 1. POLITICAL SYSTEM [9.1] LESSON 1. A CONSTITUTION OR A CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY [9.1.1] Reading for vocabulary 1.1.
[9.1.2] [9.1.3] Reading for vocabulary 1. 2. [9.1.4] DEBATES I. [9.1.5] WRITING I. [9.1.6] TEXT TRANSLATION I.
[9.2] [9.3] LESSON 2 . LEGISLATIVE BRANCH OF POWER. [9.3.1] Reading for Vocabulary 2.3. [9.3.2] Reading for Vocabulary 2.4.
[9.3.3] [9.3.4] Reading for Vocabulary 2.5. [9.3.5] Reading for Vocabulary 2.6.
[9.3.6]
[9.4] [9.4.1] Reading for vocabulary 3.7. [9.4.2] Reading for vocabulary 3.8.
[9.4.3]
[9.4.4] [9.4.5] VOCABULARY TEST I [9.4.6] HOMEREADING I.
[10] [11] UNIT II. ELECTIONS [12] VOCABULARY LIST 2 . ELECTIONS [12.1] LESSON 4. ELECTIONS IN UK [12.1.1] Reading for vocabulary 4.10. [12.1.2] DEBATES II. [12.1.3] WRITING II. [12.1.4] Reading for vocabulary 4.11.
[12.1.5] [12.1.6] LISTENING III. [12.2] LISTENING III (part 2)
[12.3] [12.3.1] Reading for vocabulary 5. 13 [12.3.2] LISTENING IV.
[12.3.3] [12.3.4] VOCABULARY TEST II. [12.4] HOMEREADING II.
[13]
[14] |
The UK
1) Coronation, abdication, to abdicate
To succeed to the throne
Knight, knighthood
2) legislative, executive, judicial branch
the Houses of Parliament, a Member of Parliament (MP)
the House of Lords, the Lords, the Lords Chamber, the Upper House
the House of Commons, the Commons, the Commons Chamber, the Lower House
3) hereditary peers, to inherit a title, peers by heredity; life peers, to make someone a life peer, to grant peerage
Lords Spiritual, bishops of the Church of England, Archbishop of Canterbury
The Law Lords (judges);
Lords Temporal
The Lord Chancellor, the Woolsack, the Mace, the Sergeant at Arms
4)The Speaker; to call to order
The State Opening of Parliament; session, sitting, question time
5)A legislative draft/bill; to introduce/bring in a bill, to debate a bill, to pass a bill, to defeat/reject a bill, to amend a bill; to submit a bill to
First, second, third reading
Unanimous consent
To give/receive Royal Assent; to enter into the Statute book
Aye lobby, No lobby, division, to call for a division
6) The Government, the Opposition, Shadow cabinet, Shadow minister
A front-bencher, a back-bencher
Maiden speech
The USA
7) President, incumbent/acting president, lame duck
the Congress: the Senate, the House of Representatives
Commander-in-Chief
The Vice President, Senator, Congressman
8) To set and collect taxes, to regulate commerce, to coin and issue money, to declare war
System of Checks and Balances
9) Constitution: articles and amendments
Bill of Rights
Bicameral legislature
Two-party system, political rivalry
Party caucus
Majority/minority leader
10) President’s Cabinet
To resign, to choose/appoint the successor
Term in office
Assassination
“It's vital that the monarchy keeps in touch with the people. It's what I try and do.”
Princess Diana
Constitution
Before you read. Think over the following questions:
Constitutions?
Read the following text.
After peace came, the Congress, established during the war, asked each state to send delegates to a convention in Philadelphia, the city where the Declaration of Independence had been signed, to discuss the changes which would be necessary to strengthen the previous agreements.
The smallest state, Rhode Island, refused, but delegates from the other 12 states participated. The meeting, later known as the Constitutional Convention, began in May of 1787. George Washington, the military hero of the War of Independence, was the presiding officer. Fifty four other men were present. Some wanted a strong new government. Some did not.
In the course of the Convention, the delegates designed a new form of government for the United States. The Constitution set up a federal system with strong central government. A federal system is one in which power is shared between a central authority and its constituent parts, with some rights reserved to each. The Constitution also called for the election of a national leader, or president. It provided that federal laws would be made only by a Congress made up of representatives elected by the people. It also provided for a national court system headed by a Supreme Court.
In writing the Constitution, the delegates had to deal with two main fears shared by most Americans. One fear was that one person or group, including the majority, might become too powerful or be able to seize control of the country and create a tyranny. To guard against this possibility, the delegates set up a government consisting of three parts, or branches, the executive, the legislative and the judicial. Each branch has powers that the others do not have and each branch has a way of counteracting and limiting any wrongful action by another branch.
Another fear was that the new central government might weaken or take away the power of the state governments to run their own affairs. To deal with this the Constitution specified exactly what power the central government had and which power was reserved for the states. The states were allowed to run their own governments as they wished, provided that their governments were democratic.
Though the Convention delegates did not think it necessary to include such explicit guarantees, many people felt that they needed further written protection against tyrannny. So, a “Bill of Rights” was added to the Constitution. In the Bill of Rights, Americans are guaranteed freedom of religion, of speech and of the press. They have the right to assemble in public places, to protest government actions and to demand change. They have the right to own weapons if they wish. Because of the Bill of Rights, neither police nor soldiers can stop and search a person without good reason. Neither can they search a person’s home without legal permission from a court to do so.
Exercises:
1. Give equivalents of the following:
свобода печати, не допустить, защититься от..; неправомерные действия; закрепить достигнутые соглашения; председатель, составная часть, сформированный из..; собираться в общественных местах; захватить власть; без достаточных оснований исполнительная, законодательная и судебная ветви власти; точно определять, детально описывать; управлять своими делами; при условии что; определенные гарантии, свобода вероисповедания, свобода слова; право ношение оружия;
2. Find as many synonyms as you can:
made up of, to assemble in public places, without good reason, wrongful action, explicit, specify, run their own affairs, to seize control, to guard against.
3. Translate into English:
1. Представители различных групп населения заявили о том, что хотели бы закрепить достигнутые соглашения в форме закона. 2. Председатель собрания заявил, что хотел бы, чтобы законодательный орган страны состоял бы из представителей всех территорий, являющихся составными частями нового государства. 3. Отцы - основатели США, понимая, что одна из ветвей власти может захватить контроль над государством, приняли меры предосторожности, чтобы предотвратить эту возможность. 4. Разделение властей на законодательную, исполнительную и судебную ветви существует практически во всех государствах. 5. Закон четко определяет, что такое неправомерное действие. 6. Каждый штат имеет правительство для управления собственными делами. 7. Граждане США имеют целый ряд демократических свобод главными из которых являются свобода слова, свобода печати и свобода вероисповедания. 8. Ни полицейские и военнослужащие США не могут задержать гражданина США без достаточных оснований. 9. Он был слишком труслив, чтобы не воспользоваться правом на ношение оружия. 10. Демонстранты воспользовались правом собирать в общественных местах, чтобы высказать свой протест против войны США в Ираке.
4. Translate the underlined passage into Russian.
Listen to the text and answer the following questions.
Monarchy
Before you read. Think over the following questions:
-What British monarchs do you remember? What are they famous for?
- Does monarchy in Britain have any future or is it a fading institution?
Read the following text.
Monarchy is the oldest form of government in the United Kingdom.
In a monarchy a king or queen is Head of State. The British monarchy is known as a constitutional monarchy. This means that, while The Queen is Head of State, the ability to make and pass legislation resides with an elected Parliament.
As a system of government, constitutional monarchy has many strengths. One is that it separates out the ceremonial and official duties of the Head of State from party politics. Another is that it provides stability and continuity, since the Head of State remains the same even as governments come and go.
The Sovereign governs according to the constitution - that is, according to rules, rather than according to his or her own free will. Although the United Kingdom does not have a written constitution which sets out the rights and duties of the Sovereign, they are established by conventions. These are non-statutory rules which can bind just as much as formal constitutional rules. However, the Sovereign retains an important political role as Head of State, formally appointing prime ministers, approving certain legislation and bestowing honours. The Queen also has official roles to play in other organisations, such as the Armed Forces and the Church of England.
The origins of constitutional monarchy in Britain go back a long way. Until the end of the seventeenth century, British monarchs were executive monarchs, which means that they had the right to make and pass legislation. But even in early times there were occasions when the Sovereign had to act in accordance with the law and take into account the will of his people.
With the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215, for example, the leading noblemen of England succeeded in forcing King John (John Lackland) to accept that they and other freemen had rights against the Crown.
In the seventeenth century, the Stuart kings propagated the theory of the divine right of kings, claiming that the Sovereign was subject only to God and not to the law. Widespread unrest against their rule led to civil war in the second half of the seventeenth century. In 1688-9 Parliamentarians drew up a Bill of Rights, which established basic tenets such as the supremacy of Parliament. The constitutional monarchy we know today really developed in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
Although the British Sovereign no longer has a political or executive role, he or she continues to play an important part in the life of the nation. As Head of State, The Queen undertakes constitutional and representational duties which have developed over one thousand years of history. There are inward duties, with The Queen playing a part in State functions in Britain. Parliament must be opened, Orders in Council have to be approved, Acts of Parliament must be signed, and meetings with the Prime Minister must be held.
There are also outward duties of State, when The Queen represents Britain to the rest of the world. For example, The Queen receives foreign ambassadors and high commissioners, entertains visiting Heads of State, and makes State visits overseas to other countries, in support of diplomatic and economic relations.
In addition to these State duties, The Queen has a less formal role as 'Head of Nation'. She acts as a focus for national identity, unity and pride; officially recognises success and excellence; and supports the ideal of public and voluntary service. Through her engagements and walkabouts, The Queen is able to meet people from every walk of life. Occasions such as the State Opening of Parliament, Trooping the Colour and Garter Day are some of the most colourful and exciting events of the year.
Members of the Royal Family support The Queen in her many State and national duties, as well as carrying out important work in the areas of public and charitable service, and helping to strengthen national unity and stability. Those who undertake official duties are members of The Queen's close family: her children and their spouses, and The Queen's cousins (the children of King George VI's brothers) and their spouses. Younger members of the Royal Family who are presently in education or military training - such as Prince William and Prince Harry - do not undertake official duties full-time, but often play a role in important national events and commemorations. Members of the Royal Family also often represent The Queen and the nation in Commonwealth or countries, at events such as State funerals or national festivities, or through longer visits to strengthen Britain's diplomatic and economic relations.
Flags, stamps and coins all represent the Crown in different ways, while symbols such as the Crown Jewels exert a powerful fascination.
The Sovereign's coat of arms has evolved over many years and reflects the history of the Monarchy and of the country. The function of the Royal coat of arms is to identify the person who is Head of State. In the design the shield shows the various Royal emblems of different parts of the United Kingdom: the three lions of England in the first and fourth quarters, the lion of Scotland in the second and the harp of Ireland in the third. It is surrounded by a garter bearing the motto Honi soit qui mal y pense ('Evil to him who evil thinks'), which symbolises the Order of the Garter, an ancient order of knighthood of which the Queen is Sovereign. The shield is supported by the English lion and Scottish unicorn and is surmounted by the Royal crown. Below it appears the motto of the Sovereign, Dieu et mon droit ('God and my right').
The Union Flag, or Union Jack, is the national flag of the United
Kingdom. It is so called because it combines the crosses of the three countries united under one Sovereign - the kingdoms of England and Wales, of Scotland and of Ireland. The flag consists of three heraldic crosses. The cross of St George, patron saint of England since the 1270's, is a red cross on a white ground. After James I succeeded to the throne, it was combined with the cross of St. Andrew in 1606.
The cross of St Andrew, patron saint of Scotland, is a diagonal white cross on a blue ground. The cross of St Patrick, patron saint of Ireland, is a diagonal red cross on a white ground. The Welsh dragon does not appear on the Union Flag. This is because when the first Union Flag was created in 1606, the Principality of Wales by that time was already united with England and was no longer a separate principality.
The Union Flag is flown on Government buildings on days marking the birthdays of members of the Royal Family, Commonwealth Day, Coronation Day, The Queen's official birthday, Remembrance Day and on the days of the State Opening and prorogation of Parliament.
Exercises:
1. Give equivalents of the following:
Княжество; святой покровитель; унаследовать престол; глава государства; конституционная монархия; государственный флаг Соединенного Королевства; Билль о Правах; герб; содружество; коронация; перерыв в работе Парламента; рыцарство; празднование; дипломатические отношения; День памяти погибших; щит; Великая Хартия Вольностей; рыцарский орден; марка; монарх; представительские функции; монета; благотворительная организация; создавать и принимать законы; беспорядки; член парламента; дворянин; писаная конституция; принц; воздавать почести; устанавливать права и обязанности; принадлежать, возлагаться (о правах); избранный Парламент; Англиканская Церковь; гражданская война; Вооруженные Силы; королевская семья; Акт Парламента; подданный; посол; Премьер Министр
2. Find as many synonyms as you can:
to succeed to the throne; prorogation; Union Flag; festivity; monarch; to make legislation; to set out; colours; Parliamentarian; bill; Head of State; unrest; to reside with; convention; origins; voluntary service; nobleman; to draw up a bill; to bestow honours
3. Translate into English:
1. В Великобритании право давать санкцию на принятие законопроектов находится в руках королевы. 2. Вместе с архиепископом Кентерберийским королева возглавляет англиканскую церковь. 3. Дипломатические обязанности правящего монарха заключаются в приеме послов и глав государств, а также в нанесении официальных визитов в зарубежные страны. 4. Драгоценности короны, выставленные в лондонском Тауэре, привлекают внимание множества туристов. 5. Государственный флаг Великобритании не отражает символику
княжества Уэльского, так как к моменту создания флага, оно уже объединилось с Англией. 6. Государственные символы, которые включают в себя флаг, щит, герб и прочие, имеют длительную историю. 7. Принцесса Диана пользовалась любовью народа во многом потому, что много времени и сил отдавала благотворительной деятельности. 8. Великая Хартия Вольностей, которую был вынужден подписать король Иоанн Безземельный, явилась первым шагом в ограничении власти абсолютной монархии. 9. Билль о правах, наряду с Конституцией, устанавливает основные принципы управления государством. 10. Участившиеся беспорядки, в конце концов, вылились в гражданскую войну. 11. Такие события, как вынос знамени и открытие сессии парламента, как правило, являются красочными и яркими событиями, которые народ воспринимает как настоящий праздник 12. Существует мнение, что смерть Елизаветы II станет концом конституционной монархии в Великобритании, так как ее наследники не пользуются популярностью у народа. 13. В такие даты, как День Содружества, День памяти погибших, день рождения королевы и членов королевской семьи, на правительственных зданиях вывешивают государственные флаги. 14. Покровителем Англии является Святой Георгий. 15. Монарх играет большую роль для национальной идентичности граждан Британии.
4. Translate the underlined passages into Russian.
Agree or disagree with these statements.
Write an essay covering one of the issues. 300-350 words.
Translate this text from Russian into English:
Болгария попала под контроль коммунистов в конце Второй мировой войны, когда, будучи союзником нацистской Германии, была оккупирована советскими войсками. 9 сентября 1944 было сформировано коалиционное правительство Отечественного фронта. 15 сентября 1946 провозглашена Народная Республика Болгария (НРБ), правительство которой возглавил известный лидер коммунистов Георгий Димитров. В 1948 коммунисты добились полного контроля над Отечественным фронтом, уничтожив все оппозиционные силы для того, чтобы осуществить «диктатуру пролетариата в форме народной демократии». Диктатура партийного аппарата превратила государство и все его политические органы в «приводные ремни» для выполнения решений коммунистического руководства, которое с 1954 по 1989 возглавлял Тодор Живков. Партийный аппарат слился с государственным в «номенклатуру» – организацию нового правящего класса по советскому образцу, которая управляла всеми сферами общественной жизни в стране.
Коммунисты, не ограничивая себя в политической практике никакими законами, сохранили конституционные формы правления. 4 декабря 1947 Великим народным собранием (полномочным учредительным собранием) была принята конституция, названная Димитровской. Она заменила Тырновскую конституцию 1879. Третья конституция была принята референдумом 16 мая 1971. Она закрепила положение о ведущей роли коммунистической партии в обществе и государстве. В ней декларировались основные конституционные принципы: суверенитет народа, ведущая роль рабочего класса, демократический централизм, социалистическая законность, приоритет общественных интересов, равенство прав и социалистический интернационализм. Избирательное право предоставлялось всем гражданам старше 18 лет; выборы должны были проводиться путем тайного голосования. Однако, поскольку номенклатура контролировала политические процессы в стране, включая выдвижение кандидатов на все посты, демократические принципы конституции действовали в значительной мере только на бумаге.
К концу 1980-х годов режим столкнулся с сильной политической оппозицией, которая после отставки Живкова 10 ноября 1989 с поста генерального секретаря Центрального комитета Болгарской коммунистической партии и главы государства приобрела организованные и легитимные формы. Массовые демонстрации, возглавляемые демократической оппозицией, заставили парламент отменить статью конституции о ведущей роли коммунистической партии. Под давлением оппозиции правящая партия вынуждена была серьезно реформироваться и согласиться с политическим плюрализмом. Представители коммунистов и оппозиции договорились о трех главных законопроектах (о дальнейших поправках к конституции, о политических партиях и о новых парламентских выборах), которые были одобрены парламентом в апреле 1990. Наиболее важным достижением этих переговоров о демократических преобразованиях явилось признание необходимости принятия новой конституции. Четвертая конституция Болгарии была принята 12 июля 1991 Великим Народным собранием 7-го созыва, избранным в июне 1990 на первых после 1944 свободных выборах.
Сегодня Болгария - республика с парламентским управлением. Главой государства является президент, а постоянно действующим верховным органом законодательной власти - однопалатное Народное собрание.
I am mindful of the difference between the executive branch and the legislative branch. I assured all four of these leaders that I know the difference, and that difference is they pass the laws and I execute them.
George W. Bush
Order, order
Before you read. Think over the following questions:
- What are the main UK and US legislative bodies?
- Do you know how and why Parliament became the core legislative bode
in the UK?
- What is the main function of Parliament?
Read the following text.
Today a new Member of Parliament is due to take his seat in the House of Commons. David Belotti, who won the Eastbourne by-election for the Liberal Democrats last Thursday, will take the place held by Ian Gow before his assassination in July.
Mr Belotti’s victory was his party’s first since the last General Election, and surprised many commentators. An opinion poll earlier this month had suggested that the Conservative candidate would retain the seat.
The new MP may be in for some other surprises when he enters the House of Commons. Many newcomers find the rules, conventions and traditions of the House – which reassembled after its 11-week summer break last week – difficult to follow.
Parliament is made up of three institutions: the Houses of Commons and Lords, and the monarchy. Its buildings are officially called the Palace of Westminster, as monarchs used to live there from before the Norman Conquest until the 16th century. Some people still live there today, including the Speaker, who has the job of ensuring that MPs stick to the Commons’ rules.
The word parliament derives from the Latin parliamentum, which medieval rulers used for the advisers they summoned to Westminster. In 1265 King Henry III was forced to acknowledge the first Parliament.
Parliament, the heart of British democracy, is based on the principle that the people hold ultimate power, which they exercise every five years, or less, by voting for the MP of their choice. Tax collection has to be approved by Parliament, which must also challenge the work of government. It can do this by questioning government ministers during debates, or by examining their policies in detail in special committees. In addition, the House of Lords acts as Britain’s highest legal Court of Appeal. But Parliament’s main role is to debate and pass laws; these are rules which determine what citizens can and cannot do.
Exercises
Обсуждать и принимать законы; голосовать за; взимание налогов; опрос общественного мнения; средневековые правители; апелляционный суд; выиграть выборы; Норманнское завоевание; прения; спикер; получить одобрение Парламента; призывать, созывать; дополнительные выборы; обладать властью; занимать должность; Вестминстерский дворец; кандидат от консерваторов; политическое убийство; всеобщие выборы; сохранить место в Парламенте; парламентские каникулы; вновь собираться; проявлять, использовать власть, полномочия; король Генрих; занять место в Парламенте; политический курс
Ruler, to pass laws, to debate laws, to take a seat, to retain a seat, to hold power, to exercise power, to reassemble, to stick to rules, monarch
1. В Великобритании в случае отставки или смерти депутата Палаты Общин в его округе проводятся дополнительные выборы. 2. Опрос общественного мнения показал, что место получит кандидат от консерваторов. 3. Парламент состоит из трех институтов: палаты лордов, палаты общин и монархии. 4. Парламент контролирует работу правительства, изучая его политику в специальных комитетах. 5. Палата лордов состоит из наследственных пэров, унаследовавших свой титул, пожизненных пэров, получивших титул в награду за службу, и лидеров англиканской церкви, епископов и архиепископов. 6. Наследные пэры - это люди, чей титул перешел к ним по наследству после смерти их родителей. 7. Пожизненные пэры – это люди, получившие свой титул в качестве награды за их вклад в жизнь общества, но их дети не могут наследовать этот титул. 8. По конституции народ обладает абсолютной властью и может осуществлять ее посредством голосования на выборах. 9. Депутат от этого округа был убит вскоре после того, как занял свое место в парламенте. 10.Парламент в Британии появился всего лишь через несколько веков после Норманнского завоевания. 11. В прежнем составе парламента место от этого округа занимал депутат от либеральных демократов, однако, недавние выборы изменили ситуацию. 12. Каждый депутат британского парламента должен придерживаться правил и традиций, складывавшихся столетиями. 13. Во время парламентских каникул произошел правительственный кризис и депутаты были вынуждены собраться раньше срока. 14. Сбор налогов – очень щекотливый вопрос, и принятие налогового законодательства всегда требует долгих обсуждений. 15. Вчера, после долгих обсуждений, законодательный орган Ленинградской области принял закон, запрещающий продажу алкоголя после девяти часов вечера. Видимо, это было сделано вслед за петербургской городской Думой, принявшей аналогичный закон на прошлой неделе. 16. Чудовищное убийство депутата от консерваторов вызвало огромный общественный резонанс. 17. Средневековые короли призывали советников в свою резиденцию, что было предтечей современного парламента. 18. Парламентские комитеты изучают политику, которую вырабатывают министры правительства, и либо одобряют ее, либо критикуют и просят правительство пересмотреть свою точку зрения. 19. Хотя политические обозреватели официально не наделены властью, они довольно влиятельны, так как не только отражают текущие политические события, но и стараются влиять на их развитие через прессу. 20. Именно король Генрих III был первым монархом, официально признавшим парламент.
4. Translate the underlined passage into Russian.
Law-making in theory and practice
Before you read. Think over the following questions:
- Can you describe the way a bill becomes a law in your country (or any other country of the world)?
- Is keeping to old traditions in such procedures as adopting legislative drafts really justified?
Read the following text.
Parliament’s main role is to approve legislation. That sounds simple in theory. But in practice the process of turning an idea into a law is long and immensely complicated.
Laws begin life as legislative drafts, or bills, which are put before Parliament for amendment and approval. There are two types of bill – public and private. Public bills are far more important as they relate to matters of general concern and have to be introduced to Parliament by an MP or peer. Private bills deal with issues affecting a specific individual, group or company, and are introduced by the affected party themselves.
Private Members’ bills are drafted by individual MPs who can only introduce them if their names are picked out of a hat. There is little chance of these ever becoming law, unless they have the backing of the government of the day. The main route to legislation is through government bills, which account for most of the debates in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords. These are put forward by the government, made up of the Prime Minister and about 90 Cabinet and junior ministers whom she or he selects.
Bills may range from proposals for simple administrative reforms to highly controversial political changes such as the privatisation of nationalised industries and restriction of trade union practices. The recommendations behind them may come from government ministers themselves, or from their civil servants and informal party advisers. If the government is worried about the public response to their ideas, they may test the water first by issuing a Green or White Paper which sets out the proposals for consultation and discussion. The bill is then drafted by legal officials several months before it is laid in front of Parliament. It can be introduced into the House of Lords, but it is usually first debated in the Commons.
When a bill is introduced it automatically obtains its first approval, or “reading”. This term originated in the days before printing, when bills had to be read aloud. The first stage at which a bill is properly debated is called the “second reading”. This stage focuses on the principles behind the bill and does not consider its finer details. Bills are always opposed during their passage through the House of Commons.
MPs have an old-fashioned system for voting. Votes are called a division, because members divide into two rooms on either side of the chamber – the Aye (Yes) and the No lobbies. They then file back into the chamber and are counted as they do so by clerks. A division can take up to 20 minutes to complete, and if there are many votes in a single reading MPs can be kept up all night. Then the bill is examined in detail by a group of about 20 specially selected MPs in a “standing committee”, one of a number of parliamentary committees. These committees can make amendments to the bill, although they rarely make major changes. They can take from a few minutes to three months to consider it.
When the standing committee has completed its discussions it “reports” back to the full House of Commons. This opens the “report stage” in which any new amendments are debated. The Speaker of the House chairs debates in the Commons. His is the voice heard shouting “Order, order!” when MPs are unruly. MPs can only address the House if they are called by the Speaker.
The last hurdle a bill has to pass in the Commons is the “third reading”. It is unusual for a bill to be rejected at this stage. The government may use its majority to cut short debate through a “guillotine motion”, which orders one or more stages of a bill to be completed by a fixed date or within a fixed number of sittings of the House or committee.
From the Commons, the bill passes through the same process of first and second readings, committee and report stages and third reading in the House of Lords. As a final check, a bill passes back to the Commons, where MPs discuss any changes made in the Lords. It receives the Royal Assent which is granted automatically. At last the bill becomes an act.
The process from first reading to Royal Assent can take from a matter of days for urgent bills where MPs are in agreement, to up to 11 months in the case of controversial legislation.
Exercises
1. Find the equivalents for the following:
закон; королевская санкция; обсуждать законопроект; голосование; профсоюз; палата Парламента; гильотинирование прений( предложение о фиксировании времени голосования); реакция общественности на; большинство голосов; представить законопроект на рассмотрение; разделение при голосование в Британском Парламенте; голоса за и против в Британском Парламенте; спикер палаты; палата общин; первое, второе и третье чтения; общественный законопроект; личный законопроект; правительственный законопроект; составить законопроект; постоянный комитет; поддержка; существующее правительство; внесение поправок; вопросы, касающиеся общества в целом; выступать против законопроекта; председательствовать; отклонить законопроект; член парламента; пэр; консультант, административные реформы
2. Give as many synonyms as you can:
Bill, law, to reject a bill, to approve a bill, chamber, hurdle; the House of Lords, the House of Commons, government of the day, backing, to introduce a bill, to draft a bill, to debate a bill
1. Основная роль парламента – обсуждать и принимать законы. 2. Закон начинает свое существование как законопроект, который представляется в парламент для внесения поправок Кабинет 3. Когда законопроект представляется в парламент, он автоматически получает первое одобрение или чтение. 4. Законопроекты могут варьироваться от предложений простых административных реформ до очень противоречивых политических изменений. 5. Спикер палаты общин председательствует во время дебатов. 6. В среднем, британский парламент заседает 150 дней в году. 7. Каждый законопроект проходит три чтения, как в Палате Общин, так и в Палате Лордов. 8. После внесения определенных поправок законопроект, прения по которому продолжались почти полгода, наконец был принят и получил королевскую санкцию. 9. Даже после внесения значительных изменений в законопроект, он не прошел второе чтение в палате общин. 10. Если бы не предварительное фиксирование времени прений, так называемое «гильотинирование» их, обсуждение некоторых законопроектов могло бы продолжться бесконечно. 11. Для того, чтобы депутат мог обратиться к палате, необходимо, чтобы спикер, председательствующий во время дебатов, дал ему слово. 12. Несмотря на все попытки премьер-министра и правительства протащить этот законопроект, палата лордов все же отклонила его. 13. Многие начинания, которые в дальнейшем получили успешное развитие, изначально встречали противодействие. 14. Несмотря на то, что правительство информирует население о своих законодательных инициативах в специальных бюллетенях, реакция общественности бывает непредсказуемой. 15. Поддержка правительства может оказаться решающим фактором для принятия или отклонения законопроекта. 16. Степень коррумпированности госслужащих в последнее время приобрела пугающий масштаб. 17. Профсоюзное движение всегда было весомой силой в формировании государственной политики. 18. Закон о приватизации национализированных отраслей промышленности, принятый в начале 90-х, привел к неоднозначным последствиям. 19. Чтобы обеспечить адекватную работу в области принятия законов, нужно преодолеть множество препятствий. 20. Если во время заседания депутаты ведут себя неподобающим образом, спикер, согласно своим обязанностям, должен призвать их к порядку.
4. Translate the underlined passage into Russian.
Listen to the text and answer the following questions.
The House of Lords
Before you read. Think over the following questions:
- What do you know about the structure of the House of Lords?
- Why is there an opinion that this institution is obsolete?
Read the following text and then entitle its parts.
The House of Lords is the second chamber of the U.K. Houses of Parliament. Members of the House of Lords (known as 'peers') consist of Lords Spiritual (senior bishops) and Lords Temporal (lay peers). Law Lords (senior judges) also sit as Lords Temporal. Members of the House of Lords are not elected. Originally, they were drawn from the various groups of senior and influential nobility in Britain, who advised the monarch throughout the country's early history.
Following the House of Lords Act 1999 there are only 92 peers who sit by virtue of hereditary peerage. The majority of members are now life peers and the Government has been consulting on proposals and attempting to legislate for further reform of the Lords.
There were 666 peers in total on 1st March 2004.
1_________________________________
In general, the functions of the House of Lords are similar to those of the House of Commons in legislating, debating and questioning the executive. There are two important exceptions: members of the Lords do not represent constituencies, and are not involved in matters of taxation and finance. The role of the Lords is generally recognised to be complementary to that of the Commons and it acts as a revising chamber for many of the more important and controversial bills.
All bills go through both Houses before becoming Acts, and may start in either House. Normally, the consent of the Lords is required before Acts of Parliament can be passed, and the Lords can amend all legislation, with the exception of bills to raise taxation, long seen as the responsibility of the Commons. Amendments have to be agreed to by both Houses. The House of Lords is as active as the Commons in amending bills, and spends two-thirds of its time revising legislation.
Following the Lords' rejection of the Liberal Government's budget of 1909, the Parliament Act of 1911 ended their power to reject legislation. A power of delay was substituted, which was further curtailed by the Parliament Act of 1949. The House of Commons can present a bill (except one to prolong the life of Parliament) for Royal Assent after one year and in a new session even if the Lords have not given their agreement. There is also a convention (known as the 'Salisbury' convention) that the Government's manifesto commitments, in the form of Government Bills, are not voted down by the House of Lords at second reading.
The House of Lords is also the final court of appeal for civil cases in the United Kingdom and for criminal cases in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Only the Lords of Appeal (Law Lords) - of whom there are 12 employed full-time - take part in judicial proceedings.
2____________________________________________
The Speakership of the House of Lords has traditionally been performed by the Lord Chancellor. The Lord Chancellor's powers as Speaker have been very limited compared with those of the Speaker of the House of Commons, since the Lords themselves control the proceedings under the guidance of the Leader of the House. Lords business is expected to be conducted in an orderly and polite fashion without the need for an active Speaker. The Lord Chancellor sits on a special seat called the Woolsack except when the House is in committee, but does not call upon members to speak and has no powers to call the House to order.
The Woolsack is a seat stuffed with wool on which the Lord Chancellor sits. It was introduced by King Edward III (1327-77) and originally stuffed with English wool as a reminder of England's traditional source of wealth - the wool trade - and as a sign of prosperity. Today the Woolsack is stuffed with wool from each of the countries of the Commonwealth, to symbolise unity.
3_____________________________________________________
This has been due in part to the Lord Chancellor's constitutionally unique position: that of being simultaneously the Speaker of the House of Lords, a Cabinet minister with departmental responsibilities and the head of the judiciary in England and Wales. The government are now intent on a separation of these powers and on the abolition of the office of Lord Chancellor.
The proposed reforms, announced on the 12th June 2003, include:
Other office holders in the House of Lords include government ministers and whips, the Leader and Chief Whip of the main opposition party, and two Chairmen of Committees. The Leader of the House occupies a special position in the House of Lords: as well as leading the party in government he has a responsibility to the House as a whole. It is to him, and not the Lord Chancellor, that members have turned for advice and leadership on points of order and procedure.
These office holders and officers, together with the Law Lords, receive salaries. All other members of the House of Lords are unpaid, but they are entitled to reimbursement of their expenses, within maximum limits for each day on which they attend the House. The Clerk of the Parliaments, a role like that of a chief executive, is head of the administration. The Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod has ceremonial and royal duties and is in charge of security, access and domestic matters. Members of the House of Lords are not elected and, with the exception of bishops who leave the House on retirement, they retain their seats for life.
4____________________________________________________________
The composition of the House of Lords is different from that of the House of Commons. There was traditionally a large number of Conservative peers in the Lords but this is no longer the case since the majority of hereditary peers were excluded from membership of the House following the House of Lords Act 1999.
About two thirds of the Lords align themselves with a political party. A distinctive feature of the House of Lords is the presence of crossbench peers who are not affiliated to any party group. Even those who are aligned may not attend the House regularly. The overall numbers and membership of the House of Lords changes more frequently than they do in the House of Commons.
Some Lords are former Members of the House of Commons who have been elevated to the Lords in recognition of distinguished service in politics or because one of the political parties wishes to have them in the House. People who have especially distinguished themselves in other parts of public life, such as industry, the trade unions, education, science, the arts and local government, are often brought into the House of Lords.
5________________________________________
Until the Reformation in the 16th century, the Lords Spiritual made up the majority of members of the House of Lords. They included archbishops, bishops and mitred abbots.
However, with the dissolution of the monasteries in the 16th century, there were no abbots to attend, and with limitations being placed on the number of bishops entitled to sit in the Lords, the number of spiritual peers is now reduced to 26. They include the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, the Bishops of Durham, London and Winchester, and the 21 next most senior Church of England Bishops.
6____________________________________________
Up to 1958, the Lords Temporal were all either hereditary peers (those who inherited their titles) or Law Lords (appointed for life to discharge the judicial functions of the House). In 1958 the Life Peerages Act was passed, which entitled the Queen to grant non-hereditary titles or life peerages to both men and women. The Queen exercises this prerogative on the advice of the Prime Minister. From May 2000 an Appointments Commission has operated a nominations system for cross-bench peers. The first of these nominated peers (sometimes referred to as 'People's Peers') were appointed in April 2001.
Since the House of Lords Act 1999, only 92 peers sit by virtue of hereditary peerage, 75 of whom were elected by their respective party groups. The remaining 17 are office holders or have ceremonial offices.
The most senior judges also sit in the House of Lords as Lords of Appeal ('Law Lords').
Exercises
1. Read the text and entitle its parts. Choose the headings from the list
|
1________________________ 2________________________ 3________________________ 4________________________ 5________________________ 6__________________________ |
A Lords Spiritual |
2. Put up questions to these sentences : a)a general question
b) 2-3 special questions
3. Give definitions for the following .Translate the names of the titles marked with asterisk into Russian.
Lords Spiritual*
Lords Temporal
Law Lords
Royal Assent
Lords of Appeal*
Lord Chancellor
Chief Whip*
The Leader of the House
The Clerk of the Parliaments*
The Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod*
4. Check yourself and fill in the gaps without looking into the text. See how much you have coped with.
1) Only 92 peers sit in the Upper House __ ____of ______________ _______________. 2) The majority of members are now _________ ________. 3) Normally, the _________ of the Lords is required before Acts of Parliament can be passed, and the Lords can _______all ____________, with the exception of bills to _________ _________, long seen as the responsibility of the Commons. 4) A ________ of _________was_______________, which was further ___________ by the Parliament Act of 1949. 5) Government's_________ _________, in the form of Government Bills, are not __________ _______by the House of Lords __ __________ __________. 6) Lords business is expected to be conducted __an ______ and polite _________ without the need for an active Speaker. 7) All other members of the House of Lords are ____________, but they are _____________ ___ __________________________of their expenses. 8) About two thirds of the Lords _________ ______________with a political party. 9) Some Lords are former Members of the House of Commons who have been _____________ _______the Lords __ _________ __distinguished service in politics. 10) Law Lords are appointed for life to ____________ the ___________ ____________of the House). 11) The Queen grants ____________titles or life peerages to both men and women. 12) The Queen ____________ this prerogative ____ the _______________of Prime Minister.
US legislative branch of power
Before you read. Think over the following questions:
-What is the main legislative body of the USA? What are the names of its two chambers?
- What are the main stages for the bill to become a law in the USA?
Read the following text.
The legislative branch is made up of elected representatives from all of the states and is the only branch that can make federal laws, levy federal taxes, declare war or put foreign treaties into effect. It consists of a Congress that is divided into two groups, called houses.
The House of Representatives comprises lawmakers who serve two-year terms. Each House member represents a district in his or her home state. The number of districts in a state is determined by a count of the population taken every ten years. The most heavily populated have more districts and, therefore, more representatives than the smaller states, some of which have only one.
The Senate comprises lawmakers who serve six-year terms. Each state, regardless of population, has two senators. That assures that the small states have an equal voice in one of the houses of Congress. The terms of the senators are staggered, so that only one third of the Senate is elected every two years. That ensures that there are some experienced senators in Congress after each election. The main duty of the Congress is to make laws, including those which levy taxes that pay for the work of the federal government. A law begins as a proposal called a “bill”. It is read, studied in committees, commented on and amended in the chamber in which it was introduced. It is then voted upon. If it passes, it is sent to the other house where a similar procedure occurs. Members of both houses work together in “conference committees” if the chambers have passed different versions of the same bill. Groups that try to persuade congressmen to vote for or against a bill are known as “lobbies”. When both houses of Congress pass a bill on which they agree it is sent to the president for his signature. Only after it is signed does the bill become a law.
Exercises
1. Give equivalents of the following:
Состоит из..; взимать федеральные налоги.., приводить в исполнение договоры с иностранными державами; законодатели; штаты с большим количеством населения; независимо от; обеспечивает равное право голоса; сроки полномочий сенаторов…. устанавливаются в «шахматном порядке»; происходит практически то же самое; согласительный комитет, комитет по согласованию расхождений; на подпись
2. Find as many synonyms as you can:
made up of; levy taxes; put treaties into effect; comprise; lawmakers; serve a term; a count of the population; heavily populated; regardless of; assures; terms of the senators are staggered; occur
3. Translate into English:
1) Конгресс состоит из Палаты представителей и Сената. 2) Как орган законодательной власти Конгресс имеет право принимать законы, взимать федеральные налоги, объявлять войну и давать силу договорам, заключенным с иностранными державами. 3)Количество избирательных округов штата определяется по числу населения, подсчет которого, проводится каждый год. 4) Сенаторы исполняют обязанности шесть лет. Каждый штат имеет двух представителей в Сенате, что обеспечивает штатам с немногочисленным населением равное право голоса при принятии законов. 5) Сроки службы сенаторов определены таким образом, что только одна третья Сената переизбирается каждые два года. Это делается с той целью, чтобы обеспечить присутствие опытных законодателей в Сенате. 6) Для того чтобы стать законом, законопроект представляется на рассмотрение Палаты. Его читают, изучают, в него вносят поправки и затем выносят на голосование. Затем он направляется в другую палату, где он проходит те же этапы. 7) Если существует несколько версий законопроекта, тогда члены обеих палат работают над ним в комитетах по согласованию расхождений. Только после того, когда законопроект проходит в обеих платах, он направляется на подпись президента.
4. Translate the underlined passage into Russian.
Translate this text from Russian into English:
В Британском Парламенте - законопроекты подразделяются на частные или общественные. Первые являются законодательными актами, относящимися к юридической жизни частных лиц или учреждений и издаваемыми по их о том просьбе, которая представляется той или другой палате одним из ее членов.
Публичными биллями называются те, которые имеют в виду общественные нужды целого народа и касаются вопросов общего законодательства и государственного управления. Чаще составлению законопроекта предшествует особое исследование, возбуждаемое то правительством, назначающим для этого королевскую комиссию, то одною из палат или же обеими вместе, сообща избирающими для этой цели смешанную комиссию. Пэры, не входящие в состав членов палаты лордов, могут присутствовать в подобных заседаниях, но без права голоса, точно также как и члены палаты общин - на заседаниях назначаемых ею комиссий.
Один из членов палаты общин сообщает последней, что он намерен в определенный день обратиться к ней с ходатайством о разрешении ему внести Б.; это ходатайство (motion) излагается устно, и если оно принимается, Б. вносится в палату, которая назначает день первого чтения, после которого обсуждается и ставится на голосование принципиальный вопрос о принятии Б. или устранения его в целости. В случае принятия его в общих чертах, назначается день второго чтения.
В этот день обсуждаются отдельные части и подробности билля, Палата часто находит нужным внести в Б. значительные изменения, после чего назначается день третьего чтения, после которого Б. вносится клерком в палату лордов. Если после сего верхняя палата, обсудив представление нижней, отказывается от каких-либо изменений, то Б. поступает на утверждение короля, в случае же разноглася между палатами он считается провалившимся (dropped). Королевское утверждение, придающее Б. законную силу, сообщается лично или письменно с приложением большой королевской печати
“
The executive power of our country is not an imperial power.”
Caroline Fredrickson, Director of the American Civil Liberties Union's Washington Legislative Office.
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 Counselours;
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.
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.
the Lord Chief Justice
Privy Counselours
Lord-Lieutenants
Poet Laureate
Constable of the Tower
the Chancellor of the Exchequer
the Lord President of the Council
the Lord Privy Seal
the Paymaster General
Law Officers of the Crown
Ministers of State
Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State
3. What is the difference between Ministers of State, Junior Ministers and Non-Departmental Ministers?
The Cabinet
Before you read. Think over the following questions:
- Do you know how the Cabinet work? How do the members of the
Cabinet cope with the workload of their everyday duties?
-What do you know about Her Majesty’s Privy Council and Privy
Counselours?
Read the following text.
The Cabinet is the committee at the centre of the British political system and is the supreme decision-making body in government. The functions of the Cabinet are to initiate and decide on policy, the supreme control of government and the co-ordination of government departments. The exercise of these functions is vitally affected by the fact that the Cabinet is a group of party representatives, depending upon majority support in the House of Commons.
Every Thursday during Parliament, Secretaries of State from all departments as well as other ministers - meet in the Cabinet room in Downing Street to discuss the big issues of the day. The Prime Minister chairs the meetings, selects its members, and also recommends their appointment as ministers by the Monarch.
The present cabinet has 23 members (21 MPs and two peers), but a further three ministers attend the meetings, two peers and one MP. The Secretary of the Cabinet is responsible for preparing records of its discussions and decisions.
To keep the Cabinet’s workload within manageable limits, a great deal of work is carried on through the committee system. This involves referring issues either to a standing Cabinet committee or to an ad hoc committee composed of the ministers directly concerned.
The Cabinet Office is headed by the Secretary of the Cabinet, a civil servant who is also Head of the Home Civil Service, under the direction of the Prime Minister. It comprises the Cabinet Secretariat and the Office of Public Service and Science (OPSS). The Cabinet Secretariat serves ministers collectively in the conduct of Cabinet business, and in the co-ordination of policy at the highest level.
The doctrine of collective responsibility means that the Cabinet acts unanimously even when Cabinet ministers do not all agree on a subject. The policy of departmental ministers must be consistent with the policy of the Government as a whole. Once the Government's policy on a matter has been decided, each minister is expected to support it or resign. The individual responsibility of ministers for the work of their departments means that they are answerable to Parliament for all their departments' activities. They bear the consequences of any failure in administration, any injustice to an individual or any aspect of policy which may be criticised in Parliament, whether personally responsible or not. Since most ministers are members of the House of Commons, they must answer questions and defend themselves against criticism in person. Departmental ministers in the House of Lords are represented in the Commons by someone qualified to speak on their behalf, usually a junior.
The Privy Council
The main function of the Privy Council is to advise the Queen on the approval of Orders in Council, including those made under prerogative powers, and those made under statutory powers. Responsibility for each Order, however, rests with the minister responsible for the policy concerned, regardless of whether he or she is present at the meeting where approval is given.
The Privy Council also advises the Sovereign on the issue of royal proclamations, such as those summoning or dissolving Parliament.
Membership of the Council, which is retained for life, except for very occasional removals, is granted by the Sovereign, on the recommendation of the Prime Minister, to people eminent in public life in Britain and the independent monarchies of the Commonwealth. Cabinet ministers must be Privy Counsellors and, if not already members, are admitted to membership before taking their oath of office at a meeting of the Council. There are about 400 Privy Counsellors.
Exercises
1. Find equivalents of the following:
Тайный совет; дать клятву; распустить Парламент; палата Лордов; палата Общин; созывать Парламент; министр (брит.); постоянный комитет; законодательный орган; председательствовать; специальный комитет; представитель партии; кабинет министров; полномочия, предоставляемые законом; единогласно; поддержка большинства; уходить в отставку; член тайного совета; быть ответственным за; назначать на должность; пэр; член парламента; преимущественные полномочия; даровать (титул, звание)
2. Give as many synonyms as you can:
MP; to take oath; to summon; the House of Lords; the House of Commons; decision-making body; to grant; Downing Street; to chair; secretary; to resign; to be answerable to; party representative; to appoint
3. Translate into English
1. В Великобритании понятия правительства и кабинета не совпадают: термин "правительство" означает совокупность всех глав центральных исполнительных ведомств, в то время как кабинет представляет собой более узкую коллегию, основной орган, ответственный за принятие решений. 2. Все основные проблемы обсуждаюися кабинетом. На заседаниях председательствует премьер-министр, в обязанности которого также входит назначение министров на пост. 3. Тайный совет, coвещательный орган при британском монархе, когда-то являлся главным элементом в структуре исполнительной власти, но теперь служит в основном для придания юридической силы королевским указам в совете. 4. Каждый министр, являющийся членом тайного совета, несет ответственность за все королевские указы в совете, находящиеся в его компетенции, независимо от того, принимал ли он участие в их обсуждении. 5. Если член кабинета не согласен поддержать политику правительства по тому или иному вопросу, он должен подать в отставку. 6. работа правительства распределяется с помощью системы постоянных и специальных комитетов, каждый из которых призван решать определенный круг вопросов. 7. Тайный совет обсуждает с монархом и такие вопросы как созыв и роспуск парламента. 8. Одним из необходимых условий проведения своей политики для правительства является поддержка большинства. 9. Весь штат секретариата кабинета отчитывается перед его главой. 10. Членами тайного совета могут становиться не только выдающиеся граждане Великобритании, но и подданные стран Содружества.
4. Translate the underlined passage into Russian.
Executive Branch of Power of the USA
Before you read. Think over the following questions:
- Do you know how the Cabinet work? How do the members of the
Cabinet cope with the workload of their everyday duties?
-What do you know about Her Majesty’s Privy Council and Privy
Counselors?
Read the following text.
The chief executive of the United States is the president, who, together with the vice-president, is elected to a four-year term. Under a Constitutional Amendment passed in 1951, a president can be elected to only two terms. Except for the right of succession to the presidency, the vice-president’s only Constitutional duties are to serve as the presiding officer of the Senate; the vice-president may vote in the Senate only in the event of a tie.
The powers of the presidency are formidable, but not without limitations. The president, as the chief formulator of public policy, often proposes legislation to Congress. The president can also veto any bill passed by Congress. The veto can be overridden by two thirds vote in both the Senate and House of Representatives. As the head of his political party, with ready access to the news media, the president can easily influence public opinion regarding issues and legislation that he deems vital.
The president has the authority to appoint federal judges as vacancies occur, including members of the Supreme Court. All such court appointments are subject to confirmation by the Senate.
Within the executive branch, the president has broad powers to issue regulations and directives regarding the work of the federal government’s many departments and agencies. He also is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
Under the Constitution, the president is primarily responsible for foreign relations with other nations. The president appoints ambassadors and other officials, subject to Senate approval, and, with the Secretary of State, formulates and manages the nation’s foreign policy.
Checks and balances
When Americans talk about their three-part national government, they often refer to what they call its system of “checks and balances”. This system works in many ways to keep serious mistakes from being made by one branch or another. Here are a few examples of checks and balances:
If Congress proposes a law that the president thinks is unwise, the president can veto it. That means the proposal does not become law. Congress can enact the law despite the president’s views only if two thirds of the members of both houses vote in favour of it.
If Congress passes a law which is then challenged in the courts as unconstitutional, the Supreme Court has the power to declare the law unconstitutional and therefore no longer in effect.
The president has the power to make treaties with other nations and to make all appointments to federal positions, including the position of Supreme Court justice. Yet the Senate must approve all treaties and confirm all appointments before they become official. In this way the Congress can prevent the president from making unwise appointments.
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.
Translate this text from Russian into English:
КАБИНЕТ или кабинет министров - название правительства в целом либо его части, либо совокупности министров в некоторых государствах. В ряде стран (например, в Великобритании) понятие правительства и Кабинет не совпадают. В этих странах термин "правительство" означает совокупность всех глав центральных исполнительных ведомств (министерств, департаментов) и некоторых высших государственных чиновников, в то время как Кабинет представляет собой более узкую коллегию, состоящую из руководителей важнейших министерств. Кабинет возглавляется главой правительства (в Великобритании, ФРГ, Италии и др. Парламентарных государствах) или главой государства (в США и др. Президентских республиках). В Великобритании в состав Кабинета входит лишь часть министров. Кабинет является органом, обычно не упоминаемым в конституциях. Его состав определяется премьером, который может не только вводить в состав Кабинета тех или иных министров, но и определять его численность. Английский Кабинет - орган, сосредоточивающий фактически в своих руках всю полноту государственной власти. В некоторых странах учреждается орган, по своему составу еще более узкий, чем Кабинет. Это "внутренний КАБИНЕТ " в Великобритании или "кухонный КАБИНЕТ " в США. Они представляют собой очень узкие коллегии, состоящие из лиц, наиболее приближенных к главе правительства, и возглавляемые соответственно премьер-министром или президентом. Деятельность этих органов негласна. В некоторых странах правительство называется КАБИНЕТ, когда оно действует без участия президента, и советом министров, когда на его заседаниях председательствует президент.
Translate these sentences from Russian into English:
Translate this text from Russian into English:
Официально главой государства Белиз является британский монарх, которого представляет генерал-губернатор, однако функции его чисто церемониальные. Законодательная власть принадлежит Национальному собранию, которое состоит из Палаты представителей (29 депутатов, избираемых на 5 лет) и Сената из 8 назначаемых членов. Исполнительную власть в стране осуществляет правительство во главе с премьер-министром; правительство подотчетно Национальному собранию. Премьер-министр является лидером партии, имеющей большинство в Палате представителей.
В стране действуют две основные политические партии: Народная объединенная партия (НОП) и Объединенная демократическая партия (ОДП). Первая из них находилась у власти с 1961 по 1984, позднее контроль над правительством часто переходил от одной партии к другой.
Translate this text from Russian into English:
Бельгия – федеративное государство, являющееся конституционной парламентской монархией. Глава государства – монарх. Он официально называется «королем бельгийцев». Конституционная поправка 1991 предоставила женщинам право занимать трон. Монарх обладает ограниченными полномочиями, но служит важным символом политического единства.
Исполнительная власть осуществляется королем и правительством, которое несет ответственность перед палатой представителей. Король назначает премьер-министра как главу правительства, семь министров, говорящих по-французски, и семь министров, говорящих на нидерландском языке, и ряд государственных секретарей, представляющих политические партии в правящей коалиции. За министрами закрепляются конкретные функции или руководство управлениями и отделами правительства. Члены парламента, которые становятся членами правительства, утрачивают статус депутата вплоть до очередных выборов.
Законодательная власть осуществляется королем и парламентом. Бельгийский парламент двухпалатный, избирается сроком на 4 года. Сенат состоит из 71 сенатора: 40 избираются прямым всеобщим голосованием (25 от фламандского населения и 15 – от валлонского), 21 сенатор (10 от фламандского населения, 10 – от валлонского и 1 от немецкоязычного) делегируются советами сообществ. Эти две группы кооптируют еще 10 членов Сената (6 нидерландоязычных, 4 франкоязычных). Помимо вышеперечисленных лиц, членами Сената, согласно Конституции, имеют право стать достигшие совершеннолетия дети короля. Палата представителей состоит из 150 депутатов, избираемых прямым, всеобщим тайным голосованием на основе пропорционального представительства. Один депутат избирается примерно от каждых 68 тыс. человек. Каждая партия получает число мест, пропорциональное числу поданных за нее голосов: ее представители отбираются в порядке, зафиксированном в партийных списках. Участие в голосовании обязательно, уклоняющимся грозит штраф.
Министры правительства руководят своими ведомствами, набирают в штат личных помощников. Кроме того, в каждом министерстве существует постоянный штат государственных служащих. Хотя их назначение и продвижение по службе регулируются законами, при этом также учитывается их политическая принадлежность, владение как французским, так и нидерландским языками, и, конечно, квалификация.
1/David McDowell. Britan in Close-up: an In-Depth Study Of Contemporary Britain. – Third impression, 2001
Chapters:
The system of government, pp.28-38
Government and politics:debate and change, pp.38-49
2/ E. Fielder, R.Jansen, M.Norman-Rish. America in Close-up
Chapter: The political system, pp. 142- 148
1. Election to (Parliament); to elect smb to.../for a term of ... general, universal, local, parliamentary, congressional, presidential, mid-term, nation-wide, primary, runoff election(s)
by-election
to hold, schedule, call an election
to fix/to rig an election; vote-rigging
to win/lose an election; to sweep a state
2. election campaign; to run, launch, organize a campaign
the run-up to the election
election agent, canvassing, to conduct canvassing,
a presidential bid/a bid for presidency
3. to nominate a candidate (for presidency), a nominee, to nominate smb as...; to put forward a candidate,
to stand for election /to run for (a post)
4. opinion poll/exit poll, to conduct, to take a poll
to predict /forecast election results
pollster, respondent
a candidate's approval /popularity rating; a front runner
5. to vote; to vote Conservative, Labour,etc.
the right to vote/ suffrage
popular/electoral vote, to be entitled to vote
educational, residential, property, age qualification
to abstain/ stay away from the polls
to be up for election/ re-election
6. polling/election day; to go to the polls polling station/ booth; ballot box; to cast a ballot,
voting turnout; heavy, big, light, poor turnout
heavy /light poll, invalid ballot paper to vote by proxy
7. constituency/ electoral district
one-member constituency;
safe/ marginal seats (constituences)
8. to win by a huge (small) margin of... seats
absolute/ overall/ clear majority majority /minority party
hung parliament; coalition parliament
9. electoral systems: a simple majority system; proportional representation (PR),
10. cabinet reshuffle; to resign/to quit,
resignation
lame duck/front runner/dark horse
People never lie so much as after a hunt, during a war or before an election.
Otto von Bismarck
General elections in the United Kingdom
Before you read. Think over the following questions:
-Have you ever participated in the elections? What kind of elections were those?
- Do you think there is any difference between general elections in the
UK and the RF? What is it?
Read the following text.
Elections to the House of Commons, known as parliamentary (or general) elections, form the basis of Britain's democratic system. Britain is divided into 650 areas, called constituencies. Each constituency is a one-member constituency, as it is rep resented by one Member of Parliament (MP) in the House of Commons. The leader of the party which has the most MPs in Parliament becomes the Prime Minister.
General elections take place at least every five years. In practice, elections are held before the end of the five-year term. In exceptional circumstances, such as during the two world wars, the life of a Parliament has been extended beyond the five-year term.
The decision on when to hold a general election is made by the Prime Minis ter. The procedure involves the Queen, acting on the Prime Minister's advice, dis solving Parliament and calling a “new” Parliament. The Prime Minister usually an nounces the dissolution and calls the general election. Voting takes place within 17 days of the dissolution, not including Saturday and Sundays and public holidays: therefore, election campaigns last for three to four weeks.
All British citizens may vote provided they are aged 18 years or over and are not legally barred from voting. All voters must be registered as resident in a constituency on a specified date. Voting in elections is voluntary. On average about 75 per cent of the electorate votes. People who are not allowed to vote include:
- peers, and peeresses in their own right, who are members of the House of Lords
- foreign nationals ;
- people kept in mental hospital;
- people serving prison sentences;
- people convicted within the previous five years of corrupt or illegal election
practices.
Anybody over 21 can stand for election, providing they are not disqualified. Those disqualified include:
- people who are bankrupt
- people sentenced to more than one year's imprisonment
- clergy of the Church of England, Church of Scotland, Church of Ireland and the Roman Catholic Church
- members of the House of Lords; and
- a range of public servants and officials, specified by law. They include judges, civil servants, some local government officers, full-time members of the armed forces and police officers.
Candidates do not have to live in the constituencies for which they stand. Most candidates in elections and almost all winning candidates belong to one of the main political parties. Candidates who are members of smaller political parties or groups, or who do not belong to any party, may also stand. Since the Second World War the great majority of MPs have belonged to either the Conservative or the Labour party. There is also an influential centre party called the Liberal Democrats, and another much smaller centre party known as the Social Democratic Party (SDP). There are also nationalist parties from Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.
Polling Day
Polling for parliamentary elections takes place on Thursdays. The hours of voting are 7.00 to 22.00, no break is allowed. Each voter goes to a polling station in his/her constituency. Voters have their names checked against the election register before they are given ballot papers. The paper lists the names of candidates in al phabetical order, with a brief description of the candidates or their political parties. Voting takes place in booths, which are screened to maintain secrecy. Voters mark their ballot papers with a cross in the box opposite the name of the candidate of their choice and then fold the paper to conceal the vote, before placing it in the ballot box. Voters who spoil their ballot papers by mistake can vote using a fresh ballot paper once the first ballot paper is cancelled
After the end of polling the ballot boxes are sealed to prevent further votes from being added. The votes must be counted as soon as possible after the end of polling. The candidates and their agents have the 'right to be present. The number of papers in the box is counted and checked against the ballot paper account. After this, papers are sorted according to the candidates for whom they are marked.
Doubtful papers are put aside and the returning officer decides whether they are valid. If the result is close, candidates or their agents may seek a recount; the deci sion is made by the returning officer. If the number of votes 'is equal, the winner is decided by drawing lots
Let us imagine that the result was as follows:
Adams Con 25,000
Johnson SDP 7,000
Maxwell Lab 19,000
Thomas LibDem . 11,000
The winner is Adams, even though the total of the votes for the other candidates was greater. Adams, then, will represent the constituency in the House of Com mons. If this type of result is repeated in other constituencies, the make-up of the House of Commons will not necessarily accurately reflect the way that people voted across the country. This voting system is commonly called the first-past-the-post system. It favours a two-party system, particularly when tie parties' support is concentrated geographically, as is the case with the Conservative and Labour par ties. It doesn't favour parties whose support is spread across constituencies, such as the Liberal Democrats, as they tend to accumulate relatively small numbers of votes in each constituency and consequently do not win many seats.
Exercises
1. Describe how the first-past-the-post system works.
2. Speak about the polling day.
3. What is a one-member constituency?
4. What is the difference between the House of Lords and the House of Commons as regards the elections?
5. What are the main political parties in Britain?
Do you consider it to be a sound practice that:
- the voting age in Britain is 18;
- voting in elections is voluntary;
- members of the House of Lords are not allowed to vote or stand for
election;
- people can stand for election at the age of 21
Write an essay covering one of the issues. 300-350 words.
Read the following text and entitle its parts after reading.
Elections in the United Kingdom
1____________________________________
The United Kingdom has five distinct types of elections: UK general elections, elections to national/regional parliaments and assemblies, elections to the European Parliament, local elections and mayoral elections. Elections are traditionally held on Thursdays.
General elections do not have fixed dates, but must be called within five years of the opening of parliament following the last election. Other elections are held on fixed dates though in the case of the devolved assemblies and parliaments, early elections can occur in certain situations.
United Kingdom general elections are the elections held when the Members of Parliament (MPs) forming the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom are elected. Following the Parliament Act 1911, parliamentary sessions last a maximum of five years, and are ended with the dissolution of Parliament. The next election is due on or before 3 June 2010.
2______________________________________
Anyone who is a citizen of the UK, the Republic of Ireland, or of a Commonwealth country, who is legally resident in the UK, and who is over 18 is eligible to vote. All voters should be on the electoral register.
Those who are currently members of the House of Lords, imprisoned for a criminal offence, mentally incapable of making a reasoned judgement, an undischarged bankrupt, or have been convicted of corrupt or illegal practices in connection with an election within the previous five years are not qualified to vote.
Voting is not compulsory. In addition, whilst UK, Irish and Commonwealth citizens may register to vote in all elections, European Union nationals resident in the UK may register to vote in local, European, Scottish and Welsh elections.
3____________________________________________________
Traditionally, the UK effectively has had a two party system, arising from the use of the First-Past-The-Post system for general and local elections.
Before World War I, Britain had a true two-party system, the main parties being the Tories (which became the Conservative Party) and the Whigs (which became the Liberal Party). After World War II, the dominant parties have been Conservative and Labour. No third party has come close to winning a parliamentary majority.
Only in 2005 the Liberal Democrats won 62 of the 646 seats in the House of Commons and some spectators started to regard the Westminster parliament as a "two and a half" party system.
4______________________________________________________
Candidates aim to win particular geographic constituencies in the UK. Each constituency elects one MP by the first past the post system of election. At the 2005 general election, there were 646 constituencies, thus 646 MPs were elected to Parliament. The party with the most seats, i.e. the most MPs, usually forms the government, and the second largest party forms Her Majesty's Opposition.
Exercises
1. Read the text and entitle its parts. Choose the headings from the list
|
1________________________ 2________________________ 3________________________ 4________________________ |
A Returns B Voting Qualifications C Two –party system? D Types of election and their scheduling |
2. Put up questions to these sentences : a)a general question
b) 2-3 special questions
1) The United Kingdom has five distinct types of elections.
2) General elections do not have fixed dates.
3) General elections must be called within five years of the opening of parliament following the last election.
4) Parliamentary sessions last a maximum of five years.
5) The next election is due on or before 3 June 2010.
6) Anyone who is a citizen of the UK legally resident in the UK, and who is over 18 is eligible to vote.
7) These citizens are not qualified to vote.
8) Voting is not compulsory.
9) The UK effectively has had a two party system.
10) Candidates aim to win particular geographic constituencies in the UK.
11) Each constituency elects one MP by the first past the post system of election.
12) The second largest party forms Her Majesty's Opposition.
3. Give definitions for the following:
mayoral elections
devolved assemblies
early elections
dissolution of Parliament
eligible to vote
electoral register
bankrupt
to be qualified to vote.
the Tories
the Whigs
constituency
4. Check yourself and fill in the gaps without looking into the text. See how much you have coped with.
1) After World War II, the dominant parties have been _________and __________. 2) _______________won 62 of the 646 seats in the House of Commons and some spectators started to regard the Westminster parliament as a ___________________. 3) Traditionally, the UK effectively has had a ______________________, arising from the use of ______________
______________ for general and local elections. 4) Candidates aim to win particular ___________________in the UK. 5) The party with the most seats, i.e. the most MPs, usually_____________________. 6) Irish and Commonwealth citizens may __________________________in all elections. 7) Those who are currently imprisoned for a criminal offence are not____________________. 8) All voters should be on the ______________
___________9) Parliamentary _______________are ended with the _______________of Parliament. 10) General elections do not have ______________.
Calls for a change of system
Before you read. Think over the following questions:
Read the following text.
In the run-up to the next general election much will be debated about specific policies. But some groups and individuals believe that Britain’s entire system of government itself needs to be reformed, as it gives too much power to the government and not enough to the ordinary citizen.
Many of these groups want substantial changes of the system. One of the most influential groups calling for change, Charter 88, has called for a detailed number of reforms. These include a new system for electing MPs and selecting judges, more openness about the way in which government is run, and separate assemblies (or law-making bodies) for Scotland and Wales.
Charter 88 also wants a written constitution. A constitution consists of the laws, principles and rules which govern the way the country is run. It sets out the relationship between the law-makers (Parliament), the executive (the government, which executes the laws agreed in Parliament) and the judiciary (the judges and courts of law). All independent states have constitutions; most of these are written. States which do not have written constitutions include the UK, Israel and New Zealand.
Britain’s “unwritten constitution” has developed over centuries. An important stage in its development was the 1688 constitutional settlement agreed between King William of Orange (1650-1702) and Parliament. This laid the basis of a constitutional monarchy – the sharing of power between king and Parliament. Parliament was made sovereign: the supreme source of law of the country. This system has developed over the last three centuries according to events. The power of the monarchy has gradually diminished, whereas the power of Parliament has grown. In the 19th century working-class people campaigned vigorously for the right to vote. Women over 30 won the right to vote in 1918.
The development of the party system within British politics has also made government more powerful. In the early 19th century political parties were looser and individuals more likely to vote on non-party lines. The development of mass parties – such as the Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat parties – led to greater party organisation and discipline. Any government with a strong majority in Parliament is almost certain of passing a law through the House of Commons. In recent years some reformers have argued that such power has allowed governments to introduce genuinely unpopular measures such as what has become known as poll tax.
Several factors have increased the pressure for reform in recent years. Pressure to allow Scotland and Wales to govern themselves – called devolution – grew from the early 1970s and has revived since 1987. Criticism of government secrecy has also grown. In 1984 Sarah Tisdall, a civil servant, was prosecuted under the Official Secrets Act and jailed for revealing details about the arrival of Cruise missiles at a Berkshire air base. In the same year Clive Ponting, a senior civil servant, was prosecuted for disclosing information about the sinking of an Argentinian ship, the General Belgrano, during the Falklands war.
In the last few years, local authorities have lost significant power to central government. In 1986 the Government abolished one tier of metropolitan government including the Greater London Council. Groups such as Charter 88 argue that local authorities need greater power if people are to be properly served.
Two of the three main political parties have supported some of these reforms. In July 1990, the Liberal Democrats published their own written constitution. It contained 79 articles, which included giving more power to local authorities, promoting a Freedom of Information Bill, and turning the House of Lords into an elected Senate. The party also wants a system of proportional representation, which more accurately reflects the popular vote in elections in the number of MPs a party has. The Labour Party has rejected a written constitution but it supports other reforms including a Freedom of Information Act and reform of the House of Lords.
Constitutional reformers believe that they are gaining public support. In a 1991 poll more than half of those questioned said they wanted some significant reforms. These include a Freedom of Information Act, a change in the voting system and fixed-term Parliaments. This would prevent governments from calling elections at a time to their advantage. The survey suggested that nearly three-quarters of the population supports a bill of rights; 77 per cent want a Freedom of Information Act.
But opponents of reform argue that Britain’s system works well as it is. In July this year, John Patten, Minister of State for Home Affairs, said that the Government would resist most calls for reform. He came out strongly against abolition of the House of Lords, a bill of rights and a written constitution. “Written constitutions are meaningless unless they exist within a country which has a political culture that renders them viable”, he said.
Exercises
1. Find the equivalents of the following:
Министр внутренних дел; закон о свободе информации; продвигать законопроект; законодательная, исполнительная и судебная ветви власти; подушный налог; система пропорционального представительства; назначать выборы; избираемый сенат; преследовать в судебном порядке; предвыборная гонка; вводить меры; органы местного самоуправления; всеобщие выборы; неписаная конституция; билль о правах; центральное правительство; разглашать информацию; военно-воздушная база; право голоса; крылатая ракета; уступать кому(чему)-либо власть; государственный служащий; партии консерваторов, лейбористов и либерал демократов; парламент, избираемый на определенный срок; Вильгельм Оранский; конституционное соглашение; законодательный орган; конституционная монархия; управлять страной; суд; нуждаться в реформировании; существенные изменения; верховный, наивысший; Соединенное Королевство; заключать в тюрьму; право голоса; разделение власти (полномочий)
2. Give as many synonyms as you can:
To govern, to call for change, to jail, to reveal, to introduce measures, to lose power to, pressure for reform, to promote a bill, right to vote, sovereign, settlement, law-making body, substantial changes
3. Translate into English:
Явка избирателей на выборы в органы местного самоуправления нередко бывает очень низкой. 2. Во время предвыборной гонки практически все кандидаты отправляются в поездки по небольшим городам и деревням, где они общаются с избирателями. 3. За разглашение секретных сведений государственные служащие преследуются по закону о государственной тайне. 4. Во время предвыборной гонки, кандидаты, как правило, стараются представить свои политические убеждения и политический курс, которого они намереваются придерживаться, в наилучшем свете. 5. Конституционное соглашение, заключенное королем Вильгельмом Оранским и Британским Парламентом, считается важнейшим моментом в формировании неписаной Конституции Соединенного Королевства. 6. Основные политические партии Великобритании поддерживают призывы к проведению серьезных реформ. 7. Местное управление в Британии представлено советами, которые занимаются мелкими вопросами. Местное правительство занимается законами, принятыми на уровне города или округа. 8. Процесс передачи полномочий самостоятельному законодательному органу Шотландии начался много лет назад и длится по сей день, причем вызывает много споров. 9. Считается, что система пропорционального представительства, в отличие от мажоритарной системы, более точно отражает народное волеизъявление. 10. Введение подушного налога вызвало народный протест и массовые беспорядки. 11. Возникновение и становление политических партий, таких как социально-демократическая, лейбористская и консервативная, внесло больше организованности и дисциплины в работу парламента. 12. Партии сложно провести интересующий ее законопроект в Палате Общин, если она не обладает парламентским большинством. 13. Иногда, долгосрочные экономические задачи требуют от правительства введения непопулярных мер, например, повышения налогов. 14.
В течение многих веков определенные категории граждан были лишены права голоса и отчаянно боролись за то, чтобы его получить. 15. Закон о государственной тайне приобретает особую значимость во время войны, когда раскрытие любой информации может повлечь за собой последствия, фатальные для госудрства.16. Чтобы правительство не имело возможности назначать выборы в удобное ему время, необходимо, чтобы парламент избирался на определенный срок.
Listen to the text and answer the following questions:
2) Now fill in the gaps:
Part 1
The British Prime Minister Tony Blair has suffered a shock defeat in_______
___________, losing ___________________ supposedly on a path to self destruction driven by scandals over sex and alcohol.
What's worse is the 16 per cent _______________Labour came in a supposedly __________________that's also the home of Tony Blair's Chancellor or Treasurer Gordon Brown, who campaigned ____________ in the _______________- to seemingly little effect.
Part 2
Number 11 _____________is where the _______________Gordon Brown lives, next door to the man whose job he'll take over within the next two years - after waiting with excruciating patience, just like his Australian contemporary Peter Costello.
But that barbed message will sting. Because of _________electoral____________, Gordon Brown actually lives in the seat that Labour lost, and he'd _____________________________________a seat that Labor was sure they'd win.
Part 3
But it's only a by-election, and ___________________is still three and half years ____________at least - and ______________Labor comfortably_________.
But since coming to power in 1997, Tony Blair had never ____________in Parliament, until recent ____________anti-terrorism were defeated.
The latest was lost because so many ____________were busy campaigning in Scotland for this by-election that the party lost track of how many votes it had in_______________________. 100 years since the modern British Labour party was created, Tony Blair's supporters hope he won't lose track of how he managed to be the first Labor leader to win three____________________ elections.
3) Study the idioms: “to pull one’s punches”,“ to come as a thunderbolt” “ to lose track of”and make up your own sentences with them.
Vote for the man who promised the least. He’ll be the least disappointing.
Bernard Mannes Baruch (1870 –1965)
American businessman and president adviser In M. Berger “New York”(1960)
Elections in the USA (part I)
Before you read. Think over the following questions:
Read the following text.
The nature of the electoral system in the United States of America is complex as there are many elections and not all of which are held at the same time. The president and vice-president, one-third of the Senate, and every member of the House of Representatives are elected at the same time every four years, and two years later the mid-term elections involve all representatives and one-third of the Senate. Voters must meet a number of legal requirements or qualifications. Candidates who appear in the ballot must also have qualified under state law.
Voting is a basic right guaranteed by the US Constitution, but individual states set many requirements for voting, concerned with residence, the need to register, the holding of primary elections, and the form of the ballot.
The US Constitution provides for the popular election of members of the House of Representatives, but senators initially were appointed by state legislatures.
All members of the House are elected every two years, as well as one-third of the Senate is elected also every two years. A senator’s full term in office is six years. The Constitution does not provide for the popular election of the president.
Instead of voting directly for a president, the Constitution provides that each state shall appoint electors equal in number to their representation in Congress, and the electors’ votes are cast every four years in early November .
The presidential candidate receiving the most votes in a state obtains the whole of the Electoral College vote of that state. Each state sends its results to Washington, where the electoral votes are counted by Congress in joint session on 6 January. The candidate with a majority of the electoral votes is elected president.
The presidential election is the most important election, and it can, and has, been criticized on several grounds.
First, the fact that if a candidate carries a state by a handful of votes he or she wins all of the electoral votes of that state. It is therefore possible for a president to be elected if he has not received the largest number of popular votes.
Second, the ‘winner-takes-all’ system further distorts the popular vote in that some small states have a larger electoral college vote than their population might warrant (each state having two senators irrespective of population), while candidates are tempted to seek to win in the populous states with large electoral college votes, perhaps appealing to small voting blocs whose support could be decisive in these states.
Third, electors are not constitutionally bound to vote for the candidate to whom they are ostensibly pledged. In 1968 and 1972 single electors did defect. It is also possible for no candidate to win a majority of the electoral college vote necessary for election. Should this occur, the election is decided by the newly elected House of Representatives, each state delegation having one vote.
Exercises
1. Find equivalents of the following:
electoral system, the House of Representatives, mid-term elections, legal requirements,qualifications, in the ballot, qualified under state law.
primary elections, popular election, electors, on several grounds, carries a state by a handful of votes, the ‘winner-takes-all’, to distort the popular vote, warrant, irrespective of, populous states, voting blocs, bound to vote, ostensibly, pledge, single electors, newly elected
2. Continue the following phrase as you wish:
Should this occur....
e.g.
Should this occur the local authorities will have to resign.
3. Translate into English
«победитель получает все», коллегия выборщиков, избирательная система, Палата представителей, голоса избирателей или прямое голосование, избирательный ценз, независимо от, якобы, по-видимости; служить основанием для ч.-л., промежуточные выборы; первичные выборы; небольшое количество голосов (горстка); подсчитывать голоса, вновь избранный
4. Translate the underlined passage into Russian.
5. Translate this text into English.
Президентские выборы в Штатах проходят по принципу «победитель получает все». Каждый штат, пропорционально количеству избирателей, дает «электоральные голоса». Чем больше избирателей в штате, тем больше голосов.
Такая система выборов заставляет кандидатов не просто агитировать все население Америки, а анализировать ситуацию в каждом штате, чтобы определить, возможно ли набрать большинство в этом штате и получить все электоральные голоса штата, или имеет смысл переключить внимание на штаты, где шансы набрать большинство существенно выше
Выборная система США давно подвергается критике. Во-первых, некоторые ее считают недемократичной, поскольку, хотя и есть заметная корреляция между голосованием отдельных людей и итогами выборов, в конечном счете, всё определяется Коллегией выборщиков. Во-вторых, она приводит к неравенству голосующих в разных штатах. Но дает возможность учитывать интересы менее заселенных штатов. Про многие штаты может быть заведомо известно, за какого кандидата они отдадут голоса, поэтому политики, концентрируясь на остальных штатах (англ. swing states).
Listen to the text and answer the following questions.
1) Where was campaigning to intensify after political conventions? Why were some staes called “battleground states”?
2) Was the 2008 nomination of MacCain his first nomination? When was the first? Who did he lose to?
3) What was the main idea of MacCain’s acceptance speech?
4) What did he belive to be his advantage compared to Barack Obama?
5) What did he promise to Americans if having been elected?
6) What is extraodinary in MacCain’s candidacy?
7) What kind of message did he have for Obama’s supporters?
8) How did Sara Palin fight off liberal bloggers’ claim that her daughter is pregnant out of marriage?
9) What kind of responsibilities had Sara Palin had before becoming Alaska’s governor?
10) Who is Senator Joe Biden? Why was Sara Palin to meet him on October? The second?
Elections in the USA( part II)
Before you read. Think over the following questions:
-Have you been watching the primaries of US Presidential
elections of 2008?
-Who were the main contenders? What were their most striking differences?
Read the following text.
1_______________________________
The election of the president consists, in fact, of a network of elections, nominations, and campaigns beginning some nine months before election day.
There are three stages. First, there is a series of party primary elections within the parties required by state law. Potential presidential candidates seek the nomination of one or other of the major parties, who select their candidates at national party conventions. The delegates to these conventions represent state party organizations, and are chosen by a variety of methods, but increasingly they are elected, and are committed to supporting a particular presidential candidate.
2_____________________________________
Thus the party primaries may be of critical importance in determining the final party nomination, and potential candidates can be eliminated or improve their chances of becoming the party candidate at this stage. Laws concerning participation in party primaries (which are also held for elections to Congress) differ from state to state, most being party caucuses (for registered party voters only), but some remain open to any registered voter.
3__________________________________
The national party conventions choose presidential nominees by a complex system of voting by delegates. In this respect the candidates of the major parties chosen to compete for election to the presidency in November must probably already have undergone two ‘elections’, the party primaries and the voting at the national convention.
State and local elections need not be held at the same time as national ones, but in many instances they are. State governors are elected for varying terms, not necessarily at the same time as national office-holders, the nature of state elections being determined by state law.
4_________________________________
Given the many offices elected at the national, state, and local level, ballot papers are often long and complicated, and voting machines are used in most stages. A majority of states also use the party-column ballot, listing the candidates of each party in a column, beside or under the party name or emblem. An alternative ballot form lists candidates by office, making straight party-ticket voting very difficult. Although some 40% of US citizens do not vote in presidential elections, the federal system and the tradition of electing even minor officials at the local level means that US elections are more frequent and are held for a larger number of political (and even administrative and judicial) offices than in most other countries.
Exercises
1. Read the text and entitle its parts. Arrange them in the list below.
1)
2)
3)
4)
2. Put up questions to these sentences : a)a general question
b) 2-3 special questions
1) The election of the president consists, in fact, of a network of elections, nominations, and campaigns.
2) There are three stages in the presedential elections.
3) Potential presidential candidates seek the nomination of one of the major parties, who select their candidates at national party conventions.
4) The delegates to these conventions increasingly are committed to supporting a particular presidential candidate.
5) The party primaries may be of critical importance in determining the final party nomination.
6) Potential candidates can be eliminated or improve their chances of becoming the party candidate at this stage.
7) The national party conventions choose presidential nominees by a complex system of voting by delegates.
8) State governors are elected for varying terms, not necessarily at the same time as national office-holders
9) Ballot papers are often long and complicated, and voting machines are used in most stages.
10) An alternative ballot form lists candidates by office, making straight party-ticket voting very difficult.
3. Give definitions for the following:
nomination
campaign
primary elections
party caucus
national office-holders
ballot paper
voting machines
the party-column ballot
4. Check yourself and fill in the gaps without looking into the text. See how much you have coped with.
1) Virtually the presidential elections consist of________________1, nominations, and _____________2 beginning _______________3 before__________4.
2) There are___________5 stages. First, there is ______________6 party primary elections within the parties required_____________7.
3) Potential presidential candidates _____________8 of one or other of the major parties, who ____________9 their candidates at______________10. Laws concerning participation in ____________11(which are also held for elections to Congress) differ from state to state, most being _______________12 (for registered party voters only), but some remain open to any registered voter.
4) State and local elections ______________13at the same time as national ones, but in many instances they are. State governors are elected for_______________14, not necessarily at the same time as_____________
_____________________15.
5)_____________16 the many offices elected at the national, state, and local level, _______________17 are often long and___________18, and ___________________19 are used in most stages. An alternative ballot form_______________________________________________20, making straight party-ticket voting very difficult.
1.Всеобщими являются выборы в Парламент Соединенного королевства, в конгресс США, президентские выборы и другие выборы в законодательные органы различных демократических стран.
2. На предварительных выборах казалось, что у него нет шансов. В ходе избирательной кампании он завоевал голоса в штатах, которые не имели политических предпочтений, и одержал сокрушительную победу на последнем туре выборов с участием двух ведущих кандидатов.
3.Выборы были назначены на первый вторник ноября. Голосование проходило как обычно на избирательных участках и с участием наблюдателей. Но на следующий день помощники проигравшего претендента заявили о том, что имело место подтасовка голосов и объявили результаты выборов недействительными.
4. Это был самый молодой человек, который предложил свою кандидатуру на пост президента. Когда его помощники проводили агитацию в «неблагонадежных штатах» в ходе предвыборной кампании, они всячески подчеркивали этот факт.
5. Он баллотировался на пост президента уже не первый раз. Его кандидатуру выдвигали на закрытом заседании партии на предыдущих выборах.
6. В ходе предвыборной кампании социологи регулярно проводили опрос общественного мнения с тем, чтобы сопоставить рейтинги популярности кандидатов, определить лидирующего кандидата и предсказать результаты выборов.
7. Молодые люди часто более охотно участвуют в выборах и реализуют свое избирательное право. По-видимому, тот факт, что они соответствуют требованиям, выдвигаемым такими избирательными цензами как: образовательный, возрастной, имущественный и ценз оседлости повышает их самооценку.
8. В день выборов избиратели отправляются на избирательные участки, берут избирательные бюллетени и отправляются в кабинку для голосования. Там они обычно отмечают галочкой, те кандидатуры, которые они выбирают и опускают бюллетень в специальную урну. Эта процедура подтверждает, что они отдали свои голоса за данных кандидатов.
9. Явка на выборы не всегда бывает высокой. В случае низкой явки у организаторов выборов появляется возможность для подтасовки голосов и объявления ряда бюллетеней недействительными.
10. Они не смогли выиграть с большим перевесом голосов и сформировали коалиционное правительство, в состав которого вошло несколько партий меньшинства.
11. В настоящее время политологи часто спорят о преимуществах простой мажоритарной системы перед системой пропорционального представительства.
12. В ходе перестановки в британском правительстве, министром иностранных дел был назначен человек, о котором было мало известно даже политическим аналитикам.
1/David McDowell. Britan in Close-up: an In-Depth Study Of Contemporary Britain. – Third impression, 2001
Chapter: Government and politics:debate and change, pp.49-53
2/ E. Fielder, R.Jansen, M.Norman-Rish. America in Close-up.-Thirteenth impression, 2004
Chapter: The political system, pp. 148-151
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[1] Санкт-Петербургский государственный университет [2] Пособие по английскому языку [3] для студентов 2 курса [4] ( 3 семестр) [4.1] (Уровень: Advanced, Upper-Intermediate, Intermediate) [5] The Political Systems of the UK and the USA [6] Санкт –Петербург [7] 2010 [8] UNIT I. UK AND US POLITICAL SYSTEMS [9] VOCABULARY LIST 1. POLITICAL SYSTEM [9.1] LESSON 1. A CONSTITUTION OR A CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY [9.1.1] Reading for vocabulary 1.1.
[9.1.2] [9.1.3] Reading for vocabulary 1. 2. [9.1.4] DEBATES I. [9.1.5] WRITING I. [9.1.6] TEXT TRANSLATION I.
[9.2] [9.3] LESSON 2 . LEGISLATIVE BRANCH OF POWER. [9.3.1] Reading for Vocabulary 2.3. [9.3.2] Reading for Vocabulary 2.4.
[9.3.3] [9.3.4] Reading for Vocabulary 2.5. [9.3.5] Reading for Vocabulary 2.6.
[9.3.6]
[9.4] [9.4.1] Reading for vocabulary 3.7. [9.4.2] Reading for vocabulary 3.8.
[9.4.3]
[9.4.4] [9.4.5] VOCABULARY TEST I [9.4.6] HOMEREADING I.
[10] [11] UNIT II. ELECTIONS [12] VOCABULARY LIST 2 . ELECTIONS [12.1] LESSON 4. ELECTIONS IN UK [12.1.1] Reading for vocabulary 4.10. [12.1.2] DEBATES II. [12.1.3] WRITING II. [12.1.4] Reading for vocabulary 4.11.
[12.1.5] [12.1.6] LISTENING III. [12.2] LISTENING III (part 2)
[12.3] [12.3.1] Reading for vocabulary 5. 13 [12.3.2] LISTENING IV.
[12.3.3] [12.3.4] VOCABULARY TEST II. [12.4] HOMEREADING II.
[13]
[14] |
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