UNIT 4. The Constitution of the Russian Federation

1.Подумайте и ответьте на вопросы:

Think of several bad things that a government could do to its citizens. Give examples.

How can citizens prevent a government from doing these things?

What is a constitution?

What basic principles are contained in a constitution?

Why is a constitution the supreme law of any country?

2. Прочитайте и переведите текст

THE CONSTITUTION OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

Constitution of the Russian Federation is Russia's supreme law, passed through a national vote. It contains the basic principles of the Russian constitutional system. Constitution:

·defines the federative structure of the Russian Federation;

·establishes the principles of sovereignty and independence of the Russian Federation;

·defines the principle of separation of powers between legislative, executive and judicial branches;

·establishes equality of ideologies and religions;

·defines the Russian Federation as a secular state.

The Constitution of the Russian Federation defines the rights and freedoms of a human and a citizen, sets their priority when handling any questions, and proclaims the principle of equality before law and court. As for the federative structure, the Constitution contains the list of component units of the Russian Federation, covers the questions that are in the jurisdiction of the Russian Federation and those that are in the joint jurisdiction of federal and local authorities. Articles are devoted to the bodies of federal power: the President of the Russian Federation, the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, and the Government of the Russian Federation and also the judicial power of the Russian Federation. In these articles, the order and the terms of appointed and elected officials and the limits of their competence are defined according to the principle of separation of powers. The Constitution accepted on December 12, 1993 at the all-Russia referendum, full authority in the RF belongs to the President and bodies of legislative (two-chamber parliament - Federal Assembly), executive (Government of the Russian Federation) and the judicial authority, which work independently. President of the Russian Federation is the Head of the State; the duties of the President are listed, including his status of the Supreme Commander of the military forces of the Russian Federation. The Constitution also contains the text of the oath taken by the President of the Russian Federation when entering the post. Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation (the Federation Council and the State Duma) represents the legislature. The order of electing representatives for these chambers, their competence, terms of office are provided by the Constitution. Government of the Russian Federation is the executive branch. The Constitution determines the extent of its jurisdiction and also defines the order and the terms of office of government officials. Power is implemented by means of constitutional, civil, administrative, and criminal legal proceedings. The Constitution establishes the principles of independence, irremovability and immunity of judges, thus providing for objectiveness and impartiality of the court. System of courts of the Russian Federation consists of:

·the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation;

·the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation;

·the Higher Arbitration Tribunal of the Russian Federation.

Separate articles are devoted to the office of Public Prosecutions of the Russian Federation with functions of supervision and control, and to the procedure for adoption of Constitutional amendments. The Constitution regulates the questions of local self-government, including its authority and sphere of activity.and Final provisions regulating the promulgation of the Constitution and its enforcement are included in Part 2 of the Constitution.

3. Переведите на русский язык следующие слова и словосочетания из текста

.to establish the principles of sovereignty and independence

.to cover the questions

.to be devoted to the bodies of federal power

.competence

.legislative authority

.executive authority

.judicial authority

.to list the duties

.military forces

.to represent the legislature

.to determine the extent of the jurisdiction

.immunity of judges

. objectiveness and impartiality of the court.

. supervision and control

. promulgation of the Constitution and its enforcement

4. Найдите в тексте английские эквиваленты следующим русским словам и словосочетаниям

.суверенитет

.принимать закон

.независимость

.светский

.разбирать вопрос

.провозглашать

.равенство

.судопроизводство

.сроки полномочий

.вступать в должность

.исполнять

.чиновник (должностное лицо)

.несменяемость (постоянство)

.предусматривать

.беспристрастность

.приносить присягу

5. Ответьте на вопросы по тексту

1.What does the Constitution of the RF define and establish?

2.What provisions does the Constitution have regarding the federative structure?

.What are the bodies of federal power?

.Who does the full authority belong to under the current Constitution?

.What provisions concerning the legislature are provided by the Constitution?

.What is the executive branch of the RF?

.How is judicial power implemented in the RF?

8.What does the system of courts consist of?

6. Подберите синонимы из правой колонки к словам в левой колонке

1. fundamental 2. power 3. independently 4. establish 5. duty 6. solemn promise 7. term 8. elect 9. objective 10. belong to

a)impartial b)period of time c)be vested in d)choose e)obligation f)basic g)separately h)oath i)set up j) authority

 

7. Закончите предложения согласно содержанию текста

1) Constitution establishes …

·the principles of independence and partial sovereignty of the RF

·equalities of ideologies but not religions

·the principle of separation of powers

2) As for the federative structure, the Constitution …

·covers the questions that are exclusively in the jurisdiction of the RF leaving out the competence of federal and local authorities

·contains the list of component units of the RF

·covers only those questions that are in the joint jurisdiction of federal and local authorities

3) The bodies of federal power are…

·the Federal Assembly of the RF and the judiciary of the RF

·the President of the RF and the Government of the RF

·all the bodies mentioned above in a) and b)

4) The Federal Assembly of the RF represents

·the legislature

·the judiciary

·the executive branch

5) The Constitution determines…

·the extent of the jurisdiction of the executive branch

·the order and the terms of office of the governmental officials

·both

6) Judicial power is implemented by means of …

·civil and criminal legal proceedings

·constitutional and administrative legal proceedings

·all the proceedings mentioned in a) and b)

7. Переведите предложения, используя слова и словосочетания из текста

1.Конституция Российской федерации - главный нормативный акт, имеющий высшую юридическую силу.

2.Конституция устанавливает основы социального, экономического и политического устройства России.

3.Конституция провозглашает идею приоритета прав и свобод человека.

4.Носителем суверенитета и единственным источником власти в РФ является ее многонациональный народ.

5.Все граждане России равны перед законом и судом.

6.Статья 10 Конституции Российской Федерации предусматривает принцип разделения государственной власти на законодательную, исполнительную и судебную.

7.Судебная власть осуществляется посредством конституционного, гражданского, административного и уголовного судопроизводства.

8.Согласно Конституции судьи обладают независимостью, несменяемостью и неприкосновенностью.

9.Компетенция Прокуратуры включает надзор за исполнением законов всеми учреждениями, должностными лицами и гражданами.

10.При вступлении в должность Президент Российской Федерации приносит присягу.