I. Make up word combinations.

1. presidential 2. Federal 3. Federation 4. State 5. federal 6. Prime 7. branches

a. Minister b. Duma c. republic d. Council e. power f. assembly g. subject

 

II. Fill in the chart.

organizations	people	branches of power

 

Use the words:

chairman, Federal Assembly, judicial, Federal Council, Speaker, representative, legislative, deputy, Federal Government, Prime Minister, Cabinet, executive, President, State Duma.

 

III. Find the English equivalents in the text.

1. Федеральное Собрание 2. Совет Федерации 3. Государственная Дума 4. Создавать законы 5. субъект федерации 6. представитель 7. избирать 8. назначать 9. одобрять 10. исполнительная ветвь власти

11. глава государства 12. распустить 13. представлять 14. гражданское дело 15. уголовное дело 16. права 17. свободы

 

IV. Match:

1. to pass 2. the “Apple” 3. civil 4. the Liberal Democratic 5. the Supreme 6. the Communist 7. to veto 8. the Constitutional 9. criminal

court case laws party

 

V. Answer the questions.

1. What political system does the Russian Federation represent?

2. How many branches are there in the political system of Russia?

3. Which institutions exercise the legislative, executive and judicial power?

4. What is each branch of power responsible for?

5. How do the branches of power interact?

6. Who is the head of state in Russia? Does he have much power?

7. Are there many political parties in Russia?

8. What are the most well-known parties?

9. Can you compare Russian and American political systems?

10. Would you like to become the President of Russia? Why?

 

VI. Use the chart to speak about Russian political system.

Russian Federation

presidential republic

legislative		executive		judicial
Federal Assembly		the Federal Government		courts
the Federation Council	the State Duma	the Prime Minister	the Cabinet	the Supreme Court	the Constitutional Court
Speaker, 178	Speaker, 450 deputies			· civil cases, · criminal cases	laws   ) The Constitution

QUESTIONS

1 Make questions with who and what. In these sentences who/what is the subject.

1. Somebody broke the window. 2. Something happened. 3. Somebody is coming. 4. Somebody took my umbrella. 5. Something made me angry. 6. Somebody wants to see you. 7. Somebody told me about the accident. 8. Something went wrong.

Who broke the window? What happened? Who ………….? ……… your umbrella? ……… you angry? ………………….. me? ………… you ………..? ………………………?

2 Make questions with who and what. In these sentences who/what is the object.

1. I met somebody. 2. I'm doing something. 3. I'm reading something. 4. I saw somebody. 5. I want something. 6. I phoned somebody. 7. I'm going to cook something. 8. I bought something.

Who did you meet? What are you doing? What ……… you …….? Who …………………? ……………………….? ………………………? ……………………….? ………………………?

3 Make questions with who and what. Sometimes who/what is the subject, sometimes who/what is the object.

1. Somebody lives in that house. 2. Tom said something. 3. They have lost something. 4. Somebody cleaned the kitchen. 5. I asked somebody for money. 6. Somebody asked me for money. 7. Something happened last night. 8. Jack bought something. 9. Somebody telephoned me yesterday. 10. I telephoned somebody yesterday. 11. Somebody knows the answer. 12. Something woke me up this morning. 13. Somebody has got my pen. 14. Tom and Ann saw something. 15. Somebody saw the accident. 16. Somebody did the washing-up. 17. Jill did something. 18. This word means something.

Who lives in that house? What did Tom say? What Who Who Who What What Who Who Who What Who What Who Who What What

TAG QUESTIONS

4. Complete these sentences with a question tag (isn't it? / haven't you? etc.).

1. It's a beautiful day, isn’t it? 2. They're on holiday,………? 3. She was angry, ………? 4. You've been to Paris, ……? 5. You smoke, ………? 6. He looks very tired, ………? 7. You'll help me, …………?

Yes, it's lovely. Yes, they're in Portugal. Yes, very angry. Yes, many times. Yes, but not often. Yes, he works too hard. Yes, of course I will.

 

5. Complete these sentences with a question tag, positive (is it? / do you? etc.) or negative isn’t it? / don't you? etc.).

1. You haven't got a car, have you? 2. You aren’t tired, …………? 3. Carol is a very nice person, ……? 4. You can play the piano, ……? 5. You don't know Mr. Bond, ……? 6. Sally went to university, ……? 7. The film wasn’t very good, ……?

No, I can't drive. No, I'm fine. Yes, I like her very much. Yes, but not very well. No, I've never met him. Yes, she studied history. No, it was terrible.

 

6. Put a question tag at the end of these sentences.

1. Tom won't be late, will he? 2. You're tired, aren't you? 3. You've got a camera, …?   4. You weren't listening, …? 5. Sue doesn't know Ann, …? 6. Jack's on holiday, …? 7. Ann's applied for the job, …? 8. You can speak German, …? 9. He won't mind if I use his phone,...? 10. There are a lot of people here, …? 11. This isn't very interesting, …? 12. I'm too impatient, …? 13. You wouldn't tell anyone, …? 14. I shouldn't have lost my temper,...?

No, he's never late. Yes, a little. Yes, why? Do you want to borrow it? Yes, I was! No, they've never met. Yes, he's in Portugal. Yes, but she won't get it. Yes, but not very fluently. No, of course he won't. Yes, more than I expected. No, not very. Yes, you are sometimes. No, of course not. No, but never mind.

Court system in Russia

A

Russia belongs to the continental legal system, and a written law is the, main legal source. So, the supreme law in Russia is the Constitution. Other major legal sources include federal constitutional laws and federal laws. Any law cannot contradict the Constitution.

The Russian court system is composed of three independent parts. They are:

- the Courts of General Jurisdiction

- the Commercial (Arbitrazh) Courts

- the Russian Federation Constitutional Court

The Courts of General Jurisdiction include justices of the peace, District courts, Regional courts and the Supreme Court.

Justices of the peace resolve small claims at the local level. District (rayon) courts functions as courts of first instance and courts of appeals for decisions of justices of the peace. These courts make initial decisions in the majority of criminal and civil cases. Regional (oblast) courts serve as trial courts in more serious crimes and civil matters, and as appellate courts reviewing district court’s judgments.

As a result of the judicial reform of 2014, the Supreme Commercial Court of the Russian Federation has ceased to exist and its powers have been passed to the newly formed Supreme Court of Russia. The new Supreme Court is the highest judicial instance for both courts of general jurisdiction and the commercial courts. It can hear cases by way of supervision and for newly discovered circumstances. The Supreme Court may issue explanations on questions concerning judicial practice.

B

The military courts are included into the system of courts of general jurisdiction. They include garrison, district (navy) courts and the Military Chamber of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation.

The Commercial Courts adjudicate commercial and economic disputes between business entities. These courts are organized at the level of constituent components of the Russian Federation.

The RF Constitutional Court adjudicates matters governed by the RF Constitution. Rulings of the Constitutional Court are binding and final. Some subjects of the Russian Federation have their own “subject” constitutional courts (14 courts) and also charter courts (4 courts).

In all courts cases are tried in public. The participants in the trial (the prosecutor, the lawyers, the plaintiff, the judge, the defendant and the others) speak in the open court. The accused is guaranteed the right to defense. The press has the right to be present.

During the hearing of a case any citizen may enter the courtroom and be present during the trial from the beginning to the end. The hearing of cases in closed sessions is allowed only in exceptional cases. Closed sessions are only allowed if it is in the interests of both sides or for the necessity to keep state secrets. Trial without participations of both sides is not allowed. The judges are independent and they must obey the law.

 

Vocabulary Notes

supreme – верховный, высший

to contradict – противоречить

to be composed – состоять, быть составленным

justice of the peace – мировой судья

trial court – суд первой инстанции

judgment – решение

supervision – надзор, контроль

circumstances – обстоятельства, условия

to issue – выпускать

garrison – гарнизон

to adjudicate – судить, выносить решение

legal entity – юр. лицо

ruling – постановление, судебное решение

binding – обязательный

charter – устав, договор

prosecutor – обвинитель

plaintiff – истец

defendant – ответчик, обвиняемы, подсудимый, подзащитный

trial – судебное разбирательство

participation – участие

 

I. Translate into Russian:

A 1. the supreme law 2. legal sources 3. the Court of General Jurisdiction 4. the Commercial Court 5. the RF Constitutional Court 6. justice of the peace 7. District Court 8. Regional Court 9. The Supreme Court 10. claim 11. Court of the first instance 12. initial decision 13. court judgment 14. the highest judicial instance 15. circumstances

B 16. military courts 17. to adjudicate 18. legal entity 19. ruling 20. trial 21. case 22. participant 23. prosecutor 24. plaintiff 25. defendant 26. the accused 27. hearing of the case 28. courtroom 29. the right to defense 30. state secret

II. Answer the questions.

1. What’s the main legal source in Russia?

2. What does the Russian court system include?

3. Name the courts of General Jurisdiction. What do they deal with?

4. What are the duties of Commercial Courts?

5. What is the Constitutional Court responsible for?

6. Who are the participants in the trial?

7. Who can be present during trials/ hearings?

8. What right does the accused have?

9. When are closed sessions allowed?

10. What is not allowed?