The British government model and laws.

 

THE GOVERNMENTAL MODEL IN THE UK.

The governmental model that operates in Britain today is usually described as constitutional monarchy, or parliamentary system. While a monarch still has a role to play on some executive and legislative levels, it is Parliament, which possesses the essential power, and the government of the day, which governs by initiating and controlling political policy and legislation. The correct constitutional definition of Parliament is “Queen-in-Parliament”.

The various branches of this political system, although easily distinguishable from each other, are not entirely separate. The monarch is formally head of the executive, the legislature and the judiciary.

The legislature, which consists of both Houses of Parliament and formally the monarch, is for most purposes the supreme law – making body.

The executive comprises the sitting government and its Cabinet, together with government ministers of departments headed by ministers or secretaries of state, who all act formally in the name of the monarch.

The judiciary is composed mainly of the judges of the higher courts.

 

THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT.

In theory, the constitution has three branches: Parliament, which makes laws, the government, which ‘executes’ i.e. puts them into effect, and the law courts, which interpret laws. Although the Queen is officially head of all three branches, she has little direct power.

Parliament has three elements: the House of Commons, the House of Lords and the Queen as its Head. Members of the House of Commons are elected by the voters of 659 constituencies. They are known as MPs, or Members of Parliament.

The House of Lords consists of the Lords Temporal and the Lords Spiritual. The Lords Spiritual are Archbishops of York and Canterbury, together with twenty – four senior bishops of the Church of England. The Lords Temporal used to consist of hereditary peers who inherited their titles; life peers who are appointed by the Queen for various services to the nation; and the Lords of Appeal who become life peers on their judicial appointments.

 

THE ROLE OF THE MONARCH IN BRITAIN.

The continuity of the English monarchy has been interrupted only by Cromwellian rule from 1649 to 1660. The Crown is one of the oldest secular institutions in Britain and there is automatic hereditary succession to the throne, but only for Protestants.

Since 1689 the monarch’s executive powers have been limited. But the monarch still has a number of formal constitutional roles, and serves as head of state, head of the executive, judiciary and legislature, commander – in – chief of the armed forces, and ‘supreme governor’ of the Church of England. Ministers and officials of the central government are the monarch’s servants, and judges, military officers, peers and bishops of the Church of England swear allegiance to the Crown.

However, for all practical purposes the monarch acts only on the advice of political ministers, which cannot be ignored. The monarch cannot make laws, impose taxes, spend public money or act unilaterally. Contemporary Britain is governed by Her Majesty’s Government in the name of the Queen.

But the monarch still performs some important executive and legislative duties. These include the summoning, opening, proroguing and dissolving of Parliament; giving the Royal Assent to bills which have been passed by both Houses of Parliament; appointing government ministers and other public figures; granting honors; and fulfilling international duties as head of state.

In the United Kingdom the Queen is really a figurehead representing the country, but she has the power to prevent any politician from establishing a dictatorship.

 

 

THE SPEAKER OF HOUSE OF COMMONS.

The Speaker acts as Chairman during debates, and sees to it that the rules laid down by the House for the carrying on of its business are observed. It is the Speaker who selects (or calls) Members to speak. He or she acts as the House’s representative in its corporate relations with the other elements of Parliament, the House of Lords and the Crown, The Speaker is also responsible for protecting the interests of minorities in the House.

 

THE ENGLISH LEGAL SYSTEM.

It is often that the English legal system looks very fair in theory, but in practice it is difficult for ordinary people to use. Firstly, it is extremely expensive: a good lawyer costs two hundred pounds per hour. Secondly, it is very formal with all sorts of rules in the court. Until recently the judge and the lawyers used to wear extraordinary old – fashioned costumes: black robes, high white collars and white wigs. The inside of the court is rather like a church, with the judge looking down from a seat above the court.

The English legal system gives the judge a lot of freedom in deciding on the sentence. The lightest sentence possible is community service.

There are also fines for smaller things like parking in the wrong place.

But fines can be used for serious crimes, too. The standard punishment for serious offences is prison. There is no death penalty in Britain. It was abolished more than 40 years ago.

 

THE ENGLISH CONSTITUTION.

The English Constitution is the organic law of Great Britain providing for the form and powers of government.

Unlike the US Constitution and most other constitutions, the English Constitution is not a systematic written statement of law, but consists of a body of statutory law, customs, and judicial interpretations; it is frequently called a customary or unwritten constitution.

Unlike constitutions that make explicit provision for their amendment the English Constitution may be changed easily. It may be altered by an act of Parliament or by judicial interpretation.

 

Exercise 1 Answer the following questions:

1. What role does the Sovereign play in constitutional monarchy?

2. Why are the branches of the British political system not entirely separate?

3. What are the functions of the three branches of power?

4. What elements does the British Parliament consist of?

5. Who sits in the House of Lords?

6. What period in the British History interrupted the hereditary succession to the throne?

7. What are the duties of the Speaker?

8. Why is the legal system in Britain difficult for ordinary people to use?

9. What is the lightest sentence possible in Britain?

10. In what cases is an offender liable to a fine in Britain?

 

Exercise 2

Find English equivalents for the followings: исполнительная власть; законодательный уровень; юрисдикция; ветви власти; легко различимый; осуществлять (приводить в жизнь); светские члены палаты Лордов; духовные лица; получать титулы по наследству; наследственный; назначение министров в правительство; штраф; легкое наказание; смертная казнь; судья; право, выраженное в законе(статутное право).

 

Exercise 3.Say if it is right or wrong:

1. Britain is a parliamentary republic today

2. Queen has no direct power on the country.

3. The government and the cabinet of Ministers execute the laws.

4. Parliament has the Queen as its head.

5. The Archbishops and bishops are the members of the House of Commons.

6. The monarch has an absolute power in Britain.

7. The British legal system is very expensive.

8. The lightest sentence in Britain is a fine.

 

Exercise 4 Give antonyms for the following words and phrases:

1. To make laws- a. betrayal

2. Democracy (democratic)- b. ancient

3. Easy teasily- c. to break law

4. Allegiance- d. private

5. Contemporary- e. difficult

6. public- f. autocracy

7. to appoint- g. to hire

 

Tenses of Verbs

Time	Form
Indefinite	Continuous	Perfect
Present Past Future	Present Indefinite Past Indefinite Future Indefinite	Present Continuous Past Continuous Future Continuous	Present Perfect Past Perfect Future Perfect

Сводная таблица употребления времен в действительном залоге

 

Present	Past	Future	Употребляется
Indefinite	Инфинитив без частицы to.В 3-ем лице единственного числа окончание –(е)s Ask Asks	Инфинитив без частицы to+ -ed,2-я форма неправильных глаголов Asked wrote	Shall, will + Инфинитив без частицы to Shall, will= ask	Действие относится к настоящему, прошедшему или будущему времени, но без точного указания момента его совершения.
Continuous	Am, is, are + Participle 1 Am, is, are + asking	Was, were + Participle 1   Was, were + asking	Shall, will = be+ Participle 1 Shall, will= be asking	Действие продолжается в какой-то момент настоящего, прошедшего или будущего времени.
Perfect	Have, has + Participle 2 Have, has + asked	Had + Participle 2   Had asked	Shall, will = have+ Participle 2     Shall, will= Have asked	Действие уже закончено к какому-то определенному моменту в настоящем, прошедшем или будущем времени.
Perfect Continuous	Have, has = been + Participle 1   Have, has + been asked	Had been+ Participle 1   Had been asking	Shall, will = have been+ Participle 1   Shall, will = have been asking	К какому-то моменту действие длилось в течение указанного периода времени.

 

Exercises

A) Underline the predicates, write down in what tenses the verbs are used and translate the sentences into Russian:

1. They often publish information on economic crimes ……………………………………

2. I do not know when she will give evidence. …………………………………………..

3. Do you believe all she has said?……………………………………………………...

4. The newspapers write he is staying in prison in Switzerland……………………………

5. I am sure he will make a good lawyer…………………………………………………..

6. Is he studying law at the University? ……………………………………………………

7. I have never been to any court, criminal or civil. ………………………………………

Read the text translate it and do exercises:

Madame Tussaud’s.

Madame Tussaud’s is the best known and most visited waxwork exhibition in the world.

In the Chamber of Horrors which is a part of Madame Tussaud’s every exhibit deals with the subject it crime and punishment- it is a rogues gallery of dangerous and evil criminals.

In a dark, dank Victorian street, where Jack the Ripper stalked his prey, the torn and twisted body of one of his victims, Cathrine Eddowes, lies mutilated in a pool of blood.

Jack the Ripper was never brought to justice but other were, villians and murderers who met their ends by guillotine, gallows or garrotte.

Madame Tussaud first arrived in England in 1802 from Germany, where she was born in 1761. She brought with her gruesome souvenirs of the French Revolution, the instruments of death and death masks of their victims. *The death masks of Louis 16 and Marie Antoinette are still on display next to the very guillotine blade that beheaded the French queen.

More recent means of execution include the firing squad and the electric chair. American murderer Gary Gilmore is seen facing a hail of bullets. Bruno Hauptman electrocuted in New Jersey, USA in 1936 can be seen here too.

Acid – bath murderer John George Haigh who killed at least nine people and disposed of the bodies in an acid bath, stands in the clothes he wore before his *execution. Many prisoners or their relatives bequeathed or sold the clothes or some items which belonged to the murderers to dress their portraits at Madame Tussaud.

And the “Brides in the Bath” George Joseph Smith Leans over a victim in the actual bathtub in which he drowned his well-insured brides.

Notorious mass-murderer John Christie is at work in a replica of the tiny West London kitchen were he concealed the bodies of three of the seven women he killed.

Contemporary criminals in Britain no longer face the death penalty – instead they must spend years behind bars. The exhibition shows a bleak modern prison block with contemporary murderers which are standing before their cells*.

Guy Thorne’s 1912 description of the murderers in the Chamber of Horrors is still true today: “Row upon row of faces which differ in very way one from another and yet are dreadfully alike. For these great sinister dolls, so unreal and so real, have all a likeness. The smirk of cruelty and cunning seems toile upon their waxen masks. Colder than life, far colder than death they will give forth emanations which will strike the very heart with woe and desolation”

 

Vocabulary notes

Horror ужас

Waxwork восковая фигура,муляж

Rogues злой

Evil 1)зло,вред,2)злой, вредный

To stalk smb подкрадываться к кому -либо

Prey добыча, жертва

To mutilate увечить, калечить, уродовать

Villain злодей

Guillotine гильотина(орудие казни,названное

по имени изобретателя)

Gallows виселица

Garrotte гаррота(орудие казни,похожее на

ошейник)

gruesome ужасный, отвратительный

means of execution средство исполнения, способ

экзекуции

means of communication средство связи

means of transport транспортные средства

means of payment платежные средства

means of employment средства обеспечения

занятости

means of instruments орудие и средства

производства

by all means любым способом, любыми

средствами

bullet пуля

acid кислота

to bequeath завещать,передавать

bride невеста

bridegroom жених

notorious пользующийся дурной

славой, отъявленный, пресловутый

replica точная копия,репродукция

to conceal скрывать, умалчивать, утаивать

contemporary современный, современник

cell камера

row upon row бесконечный ряд,

бесконечная вереница

sinister зловещий, злой

 

smirk самодовольная улыбка

cruelty жестокость, безжалостность

cunning хитрый, коварный

to give forth объявлять, обнародовать

emanation излучение, испускание

woe горе, скорбь, несчастье

desolation горе, отчаяние

 

 

Exercise. 1Answer the following question:

1.What is name of the exhibition described?

2. How did Madame Tussaud start her carrier in England?

3.What are the crimes of:

Jack the Ripper

Gary Gilmore

Jonh George Heigh

George Joseph Smith

Jonh Christie?

4.Is the death penalty still in law in the UK?

5.How are contemporary criminals shown at the exhibition?

6. What did Guy Thorne say about his impression of the Chamber of Horrors? When did he write those words?

 

Exercise. 2

Find in the text sentences with * and define verbs tenses. For example:

 

Acid-bath murderer John George Haigh who killed at least nine people and disposed of the bodies in an acid bath, stands in the clothes he wore before his execution.

 

Killed –Past Simple;

Disposed –Past Simple;

Stands –Present Simple;

Wore –Past Simple om “ wear ”.

 

UNIT 3

Text

The United States of America

The United States of America is the 4^th larges country in the world after Russia, Canada and China. The country consists of 3 parts: the continental part is in the center of the North America continent, the Hawaii and Alaska. Its total area is over 9 mln sq. km. The country borders on Canada in the north and on Mexico in the south. It also has a sea-border with Russia.

The country is washed by 3 oceans: The Arctic, the Atlantic and the Pacific. The country has many lakes, including the Great Lakes and many rivers, the longest of which are the Mississippi, the Missouri, the Columbia and others. The highest mountains are the Columbia and others. The Appalachi, the Cordillera and the Sierra Nevada. The highest peak, Mount McKinley, is in Alaska.

The climate conditions are rather different. The country is rich in natural and mineral resources: oil, gas, iron ore, coal and various metals.

The USA is a highly developed industrial and agricultural country. The main industrial branches are aircraft, rocket, automobile, electronics, radio-engineering and others.

Americans are made up from nearly all races and nations. The country population is over 250 mln. The official language of the state is English. The national symbol of the USA is the national flag “Stars and Stripes”, having 50 white stars and 13 white and red stripes on its field, symbolizing the number of the original and present day states.

Officially the country comprises 50 states and 1 district – Columbia. The states differ in size, population and economic development. Each state has its own capital. The capital of the USA is Washington. It is situated in the District of Columbia on the banks of the Potomac river and is named after the 1^st US President – George Washington. There are many large cities in the country: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Detroit, San Francisco, Boston and some others.

The United States of America is a federal state, headed by the President. According to the US Constitution the powers of the Government are divided into 3 branches: legislative, executive and judicial.

The legislative power belongs to the Congress consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Senate represents the states while the House of Representatives – population. The executive power belongs to the President and his Administration (Vice-President and Cabinet of Ministers). The judicial power belongs to the Supreme Court and the system of federal courts.

There are several political parties in the USA. The largest of them are the Republican (symbolized by a donkey) and the Democratic (symbolized by an elephant).

Nowadays the USA is one of the leading powers of the world due to its economic, political and military influence.

Task 1: Are these statements corresponded to the text:

1. The USA is the largest English speaking country.

2. It occupies the whole North American continent.

3. The country borders on Russia, Canada and Mexico.

4. The US territory is over 9 mln. sq. km.

5. There are many lakes and rivers on the territory of the country.

6. The country climate is rather different.

7. The US is one of the highly developed industrial powers of the world.

8. There are 2 official languages in the country – English and French.

9. The national symbol of the US is the “Union Jack”.

10. The capital of the country is New York.

11. The head of the state is the President.

12. The legislative branch of the US Government is the Congress consisting of 2 chambers: the House of Lords and the House of Commons.

13. The President controls all the government branches.

 

Task 2: Translate into English:

1) крупнейшая англоязычная страна; 2) иметь морские границы; 3) занимать центральную часть континента; 4) омываться тремя океанами; 5) страна рек и озер; 6) различные климатические условия; 7) страна богата различными минеральными ресурсами; 8) высокоразвитая промышленная держава; 9) разные расы и нации; 10) официальный язык государства; 11) звездно-полосатый флаг; 12) 50 штатов и один округ; 13) количество первоначальных штатов; 14) назвать в честь первого президента страны; 15) исполнительная / законодательная / судебная власть; 16) принадлежать Конгрессу; 17) Сенат / палата представителей; 18) система федеральных судов; 19) вице-президент / кабинет министров; 20) ведущая держава.

Task 3: Translate these questions into English and answer them:

1. США – одна из крупнейших стран мира, не так ли?

2. Где расположена эта страна?

3. С чем она граничит?

4. Какова ее территория?

5. Какими океанами омывается США?

6. Назовите столицу США. Где она расположена? В честь кого названа?

7. И этой стране много рек и озер, не так ли? Какие из них вы знаете?

8. США – высокоразвитая промышленная держава или нет?

9. Расскажите об основных отраслях промышленности.

10. Население США больше, чем население России?

11. Назовите крупные города США.

12. Сколько штатов в США?

13. Кому принадлежит законодательная / исполнительная / судебная власть?

14. Кто является главой государства?