Text 3. The executive power of belarus

VOCABULARY PRACTICE

1. Study the active vocabulary of the text:

implement – исполнять, осуществлять

subordinate to –подчинённый к-то

responsible to –ответственный перед к-то

accountable to –подотчётный перед к-то

2. Match the words (1-4) with their definitions (a-d):

1. budget 2. implement 3. subordinate 4. responsible

a. inferior, dependable, less important, of lower rank b. accountable, answerable, in charge, in control c. fulfill, carry out, exercise d. total amount of money

3. Match two parts:

1. Council of Ministers 2. Ministry of Home Affairs 3. Ministry of Foreign Affairs 4. Ministry of Justice 5. Ministry of Defense

a. Министерство Обороны b. Министерство Юстиции c. Министерство Внутренних Дел d. Совет Министров e. Министерство Иностранных Дел

READING PRACTICE

Read and translate the text, pay special attention to the active vocabulary:

The executive power of the Republic of Belarus in accordance with the Constitution of the state belongs to the Government.Its main function is to implement the laws, adopted by the Republic of Belarus. TheGovernmentis represented by the Council of Ministers.

The Council of Ministers is responsible for effective development of economic, social and political situation in Belarus. It

· works out and implements fundamental principles of Home and Foreign policy; and

· controls the activity of state management bodies at all levels.

The Council of Ministers consists of the Prime Minister, his deputies and ministers, the heads of ministries (Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Defense and others).

The Prime Minister is the Head of the Government. He is appointed by the President with the approval of the House of Representatives and is fully subordinated to the Head of the state. The Prime Minister:

· manages the work of the Council of Ministers and has personal responsibility for its activities;

· informs the President about all most important Government decisions.

The activity of the Council of Ministers is controlled by the President. The Government is accountable to the President and responsible to the Parliament of the Republic of Belarus.

The executive power system in Belarus includes state-level and local-level bodies of power. The local-level authorities(starting from village, regional and district level) are subordinatedto higher-level executive powerbodies(on the state and up to the President level).

COMPREHENSION PRACTICE

1. Agree or disagree:

1. The Prime Minister is appointed by the House of Representatives.

2. The Government is responsible to the President.

3. The Council of Ministers is accountable to the Parliament.

4. The ministers inform the President on the most important Government decisions.

5. The President personally signs all the acts of the Government.

6. State-level bodies are the only components of the executive power system.

Answer the questions

1. Which branch of power in Belarus is given to the Government?

2. What are the structural elements of the Council of Ministers?

3. Who is the Head of the Council of Ministers?

4. The heads of what ministries are the Council of Ministers members?

5. Who holds personal responsibility for the Government activities?

6. Can the President appoint the Prime Minister without approval?

7. Does the President control the activity of the Council of Ministers?

8. Who is the Government accountable to?

3. Give the English equivalents:

исполнять = осуществлять, вертикальная исполнительная власть, местные советы, правительство, Совет Министров, Министерство внутренних дел, Министерство Иностранных Дел, Министерство Юстиции, Министерство Обороны, государственный бюджет, глава министерства, личная ответственность, с одобрения, полностью в подчинении, подписывать акты, в соответствии с законом, выполнять функции, быть подотчётным к-то, быть ответственным перед к-то.

4. Complete the sentences to make a short review of the topic:

1. The executive power of the Republic of Belarus belongs to …

2. Its main function is …

3. The Government is represented by …

4. The Council of Ministers is responsible for …

5. The Council of Ministers provides …

6. The Council of Ministers consists of …

7. The Prime Minister as the Head of the Government is appointed by …

8. The Prime Minister is fully subordinated to …

9. The Prime Minister’s functions are …

10. The activity of the Council of Ministers is controlled by…

11. The Government is responsible to …

12. The executive power system in Belarus includes …

SPEECH PRACTICE

LOCAL AUTHORITIES

Work in pairs. Read the texts, ask and answer questions:

According to Belarusian law, the executive state power system in Belarus includes also local administration, created on the level of territorial units. Local administration works in the interests of both the Government and the interests of the local population they represent.

The system of local authorities is composed of Executive Committees and Local Councils.

The Local Councils are elected by the citizens of the territorial units through general elections for 4 years.

Local executive committees are independent from the Local Councils. They are subordinated to higher-level executive bodies. The structure of this system is called “vertical”. It means the “vertical subordination” of the local-level authorities(starting from village, regional and district level) to higher-level executive powerbodies(on the state and up to the President level). Chief Officers of the local executive committees are appointed and dismissed by the President of the Republic of Belarus.

Ask students:

1. what the structure of the local authorities in Belarus is;

2. in whose interests local administration works;

3. if Local Councils are appointed or elected;

4. by whom Chief Officers of the local executive committees are appointed;

5. if the local executive committees depend on the Local Councils;

6. what the “vertical” executive power system mean.

WRITING PRACTICE

FOREIGN POLICY OF BELARUS

Translate the text and put questions in writing:

Belarus is a member of the United Nations Organization (UN) and a number of other international organizations.

Foreign policy of the Republic of Belarus is based on the principles of: