Пособие по английскому языку

Факультет Международных отношений

 

Пособие по английскому языку

для студентов 2 курса

(3 семестр)

(Уровень: Advanced, Upper-Intermediate, Intermediate)

The Political Systems of the UK and the USA

Санкт –Петербург

TOC \O "1-3" \P " " \H \Z \U

HYPERLINK \L "_TOC270847505" UNIT I. UK AND US POLITICAL SYSTEMS…………………………………………… PAGEREF _TOC270847505 \H 3

HYPERLINK \L "_TOC270847506" VOCABULARY LIST 1. POLITICAL SYSTEM…………………………………………. PAGEREF _TOC270847506 \H 3

HYPERLINK \L "_TOC270847507" LESSON 1. A CONSTITUTION OR A CONSTITUTIONAL MONARCHY………………………………. PAGEREF _TOC270847507 \H 4

HYPERLINK \l "_Toc270847508" Reading for vocabulary 1.1………………………………………………………………………………….. PAGEREF _Toc270847508 \h 4

HYPERLINK \l "_Toc270847509" LISTENING I…………………………………………………………………………………………………. PAGEREF _Toc270847509 \h 6

HYPERLINK \l "_Toc270847510" Reading for vocabulary 1. 2. ………………………………………………………………………………... PAGEREF _Toc270847510 \h 6

HYPERLINK \l "_Toc270847511" DEBATES I……………………………………………………………………………………………………. PAGEREF _Toc270847511 \h 9

HYPERLINK \l "_Toc270847512" WRITING I……………………………………………………………………………………………………. PAGEREF _Toc270847512 \h 9

HYPERLINK \l "_Toc270847513" TEXT TRANSLATION I…………………………………………………………………………………….. PAGEREF _Toc270847513 \h 9

HYPERLINK \L "_TOC270847514" LESSON 2. LEGISLATIVE BRANCH OF POWER………………………………………………………….. PAGEREF _TOC270847514 \H 11

HYPERLINK \l "_Toc270847515" Reading for Vocabulary 2.3. …………………………………………………………………………….….. PAGEREF _Toc270847515 \h 11

HYPERLINK \l "_Toc270847516" Reading for Vocabulary 2.4. ……………………………………….……………………………………….. PAGEREF _Toc270847516 \h 13

HYPERLINK \l "_Toc270847517" LISTENING II. …………………………………………………………………………………………….. PAGEREF _Toc270847517 \h 16

HYPERLINK \l "_Toc270847518" Reading for Vocabulary 2.5………………………………………………………………………………... PAGEREF _Toc270847518 \h 16

HYPERLINK \l "_Toc270847519" Reading for Vocabulary 2.6……………………………………………………………………………….... PAGEREF _Toc270847519 \h 21

HYPERLINK \l "_Toc270847520" TEXT TRANSLATION II. ………………………………………………………………………………….. PAGEREF _Toc270847520 \h 23

HYPERLINK \L "_TOC270847521" LESSON 3. EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF POWER…………………………………………………………… PAGEREF _TOC270847521 \H 24

HYPERLINK \l "_Toc270847522" Reading for vocabulary 3.7. ………………………………………………………………………………... PAGEREF _Toc270847522 \h 24

HYPERLINK \l "_Toc270847523" Reading for vocabulary 3.8. ………………………………………………………………………………... PAGEREF _Toc270847523 \h 26

HYPERLINK \l "_Toc270847524" Reading for vocabulary 3.9. ……………………………………………………………………………….. PAGEREF _Toc270847524 \h 29

HYPERLINK \l "_Toc270847525" TEXT TRANSLATION III…………………………………………………………………………………. PAGEREF _Toc270847525 \h 31

HYPERLINK \l "_Toc270847526" VOCABULARY TEST I …………………………………………………………………………………….. PAGEREF _Toc270847526 \h 31

HYPERLINK \l "_Toc270847527" HOMEREADING LIST I… ………………………………………………………………………………... PAGEREF _Toc270847527 \h 33

HYPERLINK \L "_TOC270847528" UNIT II. ELECTIONS………………………………………………………………………. PAGEREF _TOC270847528 \H 34

HYPERLINK \L "_TOC270847529" VOCABULARY LIST 2. ELECTIONS…………………………………………………... PAGEREF _TOC270847529 \H 34

HYPERLINK \L "_TOC270847530" LESSON 4. ELECTIONS IN UK ………………………………………………………………………………. PAGEREF _TOC270847530 \H 35

HYPERLINK \l "_Toc270847531" Reading for vocabulary 4.10………………………………………………………………………………. PAGEREF _Toc270847531 \h 35

HYPERLINK \l "_Toc270847532" DEBATES II………………………………………………………………………………………………….. PAGEREF _Toc270847532 \h 37

HYPERLINK \l "_Toc270847533" WRITING II …………………………………………………………………………………………………. PAGEREF _Toc270847533 \h 37

HYPERLINK \l "_Toc270847534" Reading for vocabulary 4.11. ……………………………………………………………………………... PAGEREF _Toc270847534 \h 37

HYPERLINK \l "_Toc270847535" Reading For Vocabulary 4.12. ……………………………………………………………………………... PAGEREF _Toc270847535 \h 41

HYPERLINK \l "_Toc270847536" LISTENING III. ……………………………………………………………………………………………. PAGEREF _Toc270847536 \h 43

HYPERLINK \L "_TOC270847537" LESSON 5. ELECTIONS IN THE USA………………………………………………………………………... PAGEREF _TOC270847537 \H 45

HYPERLINK \l "_Toc270847538" Reading for vocabulary 5. 13 ………………………………………………………………………………. PAGEREF _Toc270847538 \h 45

HYPERLINK \l "_Toc270847539" LISTENING IV. ……………………………………………………………………………………………. PAGEREF _Toc270847539 \h 47

HYPERLINK \l "_Toc270847540" Reading for vocabulary 5. 14. ……………………………………………………………………………… PAGEREF _Toc270847540 \h 48

HYPERLINK \l "_Toc270847541" VOCABULARY TEST II. …………………………………………………………………………………… PAGEREF _Toc270847541 \h 51

HYPERLINK \L "_TOC270847542" HOMEREADING LIST II. …………………………………………………………………………………. PAGEREF _TOC270847542 \H 52

UNIT I. UK AND US POLITICAL SYSTEMS

VOCABULARY LIST 1. POLITICAL SYSTEM

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, 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

Princess Diana

Reading for vocabulary 1.1.

Constitution

 

Before you read. Think over the following questions:

What are the basics of a state? Why do most countries have

Constitutions?

What do you know about the history of US Constitution?

 

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, ни 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.

LISTENING I.

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 Sovereignno 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 еще не 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.

DEBATES I.

WRITING I.

TEXT TRANSLATION I.

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.

George W. Bush

 

Reading for Vocabulary 2.3.

 

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 body

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 16^th 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

Give the equivalents of the following:

Обсуждать и принимать законы; голосовать за; взимание налогов; опрос общественного мнения; средневековые правители; апелляционный суд; выиграть выборы; Норманское 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 III; занять место в Парламенте; политический курс

 

Find as many synonyms as you can:

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

Reading for Vocabulary 2.4.

Exercises

1. Find the equivalents for the following:

закон; королевская санкция; обсуждать законопроект; голосование; профсоюз; палата Парламента; гильотинирование прений; 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

LISTENING II.

Reading for Vocabulary 2.5.

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 HYPERLINK "http://www.parliament.uk/works/parliament.cfm" \l "sdemonfo" early history.

Following the House of Lords Act 1999 there are only 92 peers who sit by virtue o f hereditary peerage. The majority of members are now life peers and the Government has been HYPERLINK "http://www.dca.gov.uk/constitution/holref/holrefindex.htm" consulting on proposals and HYPERLINK "http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/notes/snpc-02973.pdf" 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 HYPERLINK "http://www.parliament.uk/works/newlaw.cfm" bills go through both Houses before becoming Acts, and may start in either House. Normally, the HYPERLINK "http://www.parliament.uk/works/newproc.cfm" \l "newother" 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, HYPERLINK "http://www.parliament.uk/works/parliament.cfm" \l "parlacts" the Parliament Act of 1911 ended their power to reject legislation. A power of delay was substituted, which was further curtaile d by the HYPERLINK "http://www.parliament.uk/works/parliament.cfm" \l "parlacts" 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 HYPERLINK "http://www.parliament.uk/works/locomp.cfm" \l "woolsack" 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:

a new HYPERLINK "http://www.dca.gov.uk/" Department for Constitutional Affairs incorporating most responsibilities of the former Lord Chancellor's Department; this came into immediate effect.

a new 'Supreme Court' to replace the existing system of Law Lords operating as a committee of the House of Lords and an independent commission to recommend candidates for appointment as judges. A HYPERLINK "http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200304/ldbills/030/2004030.htm" Constitutional Reform Bill to this effect was introduced in the 2003-04 session; under a rarely used procedure a HYPERLINK "http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/reformbill.cfm" Lords Select Committee was set up to consider the bill and instructed to report back to the House by 24th June 2004.

changes to Standing Orders enabling a new Speaker - who is not a Minister - to be chosen in the House of Lords. A Select Committee on the HYPERLINK "http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/lords_committee_on_the_speakership_of_the_house.cfm" Speakership of the House was appointed in July 2003 to consider future arrangements. Its recommendations were published in the HYPERLINK "http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld/ldsphouse.htm" first report of the committee, November 2003, and agreed by the House on 12 Jan 2004.

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 HYPERLINK "http://www.parliament.uk/works/" \l "pallow" \t "_self" reimbursement of their expenses, within maximum limits for each day on which they attend the House. The HYPERLINK "http://www.parliament.uk/faq/lords_cofp.cfm" 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 followingthe HYPERLINK "http://www.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts1999/19990034.htm" 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 HYPERLINK "http://www.parliament.uk/works/parliament.cfm" \l "fourteenth" 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 HYPERLINK "http://www.houseoflordsappointmentscommission.gov.uk/index.htm" 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 HYPERLINK "http://www.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts1999/19990034.htm" 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 HYPERLINK "http://www.parliament.uk/works/lords.cfm" \l "loorg" office holders or have ceremonial offices.

The most senior judges also sit in the House of Lords as Lords of Appeal ('Law Lords').

Exercises

Reading for Vocabulary 2.6.

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 проходит 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.

TEXT TRANSLATION II.

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

Reading for vocabulary 3.7.

 

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.