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СПИСОК ЭКЗАМНАЦИОННЫХ ТЕМ ДЛЯ СТУДЕНТОВ ИНСТИТУТА ПРАВА

1. History of Law

2. Law as my Future Profession

3. Ukraine

4. Constitution of Ukraine

5. Great Britain

6. UK Political System

7. Lawmaking Process in Great Britain

8. The Court System of England and Wales.

9. Types of Legal Professions in Great Britain.

10. Political Parties in Great Britain.

11. The English Constitution.

12. The USA.

13. The US Political System.

14. Federal and State Court System.

15. Lawmaking Process in the USA.

16. The President of the USA and Federal Departments.

17. Political Parties of the USA.

КЛАССИЧЕСКИЙ ПРИВАТНЫЙ УНИВЕРСИТЕТ

Кафедра иностранных языков

СБОРНИК ТЕМ И ТЕКСТОВ ДЛЯ ЧТЕНИЯ

для студентов института права

Составитель: ст. преподаватель Качановская Л.П.

Запорожье

TEXT 1

HISTORY OF LAW

One of the earliest systems of laws of which we have knowledge is the collection of laws, known as the Code of Hammurabi, the Babylonian king, which was carved in stone about 1900 b.c., and which can be seen in the British Museum in London. Another early code is the code of Hebrew law, contained in the Book of Exodus in the Bible.

In Greece each city state had its own law. Some laws were common to many states, such as the laws relating to family life. In the seventh century b.c. the Greeks began to put their laws into writing. About 594 b.c. Solon, the famous Athenian law-giver, provided a new code of law. The Athenians did not consider it necessary to have legal experts for non-criminal cases. In a civil case the verdict was given by a jury, which might number anything from 201 to 2,500. The members of the jury listened to speeches made by the persons who had brought the case before them and by their friends. Barristers were not allowed, but speeches were sometimes prepared by professional speech-writers.

Roman law is one of the greatest systems that has ever existed. It was based upon custom, and by a.d. 528 the quantity of Roman Law had become so immense that the Emperor Justinian in Constantinopole ordered a clear, systematic code of all the laws to be made.

Roman law has had a deep influence upon the law of the world. The law of most European countries is based upon it, and it has had some influence on Anglo-Saxon law, which is the other great law system of the world. For many years Roman law seemed to be lost or forgotten, but it reappeared in the eleventh century, when there was a great revival of learning. Many European countries began to use Roman law in their courts. In France, however, until Napoleon codified the law in 1804, each province had its own laws. The Napoleonic Code was a splendid achievement, and it has been copied in many countries in Europe and in the South America.

TEXT 2

LAW AS MY FUTURE PROFESSION

There are some higher educational institutions in our city. Some of the higher schools are state-subsidized, the others are non-state-subsidized, i.e. based on the principles of a new financial mechanism – self-financing.

Zaporozhye Classic Private University was founded in 1992 and since then it has become one of the best non-state higher schools of Ukraine. It has several institutes and prepares highly qualified specialists of different specialities. I am a student of the Institute of Law. This Institute trains legal advisers who can work at some institutions and enterprises, notaries and barristers. The graduates of this Institute can also work as managers of personnel departments in different institutions. Here we can learn to combine the basic skill of legal analysis with a critical appreciation of law’s role in society. We are encouraged to discover the law for ourselves, to grasp its principles and apply them to contemporary problems and to evaluate it in the context of changing social conditions. At the end of the course we should have the ability to think clearly, develop a reasonable agreement and communicate effectively. We should also be able to see how the subjects that we have studied at university are relevant to everyday life, commerce, government or international affairs.

During the course we must study a number of basic subjects that the Institute regards to be essential to any interpretation of law. We shall study Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Administrative Law, Commercial Law, Tax Law and a lot of other subjects.

After finishing the course we shall have the opportunity to get different types of legal professions: lawyers, judges, prosecutors, notaries, etc.

UNIT I

TEXT 3

Vocabulary

to extend – простираться to stretch – простираться

to border – граничить to be divided into – делиться на

to be washed by – омываться meadow – луг

frontier – граница peninsula – полуостров

black-soil steppelands – чернозёмные степи rival – соперник, соперничать

to admire – восхищаться, любоваться favourable – благоприятный

picturesque – живописный moderate – умеренный

slope – склон

endless steppes – бесконечные степи

representative – представитель

fauna – фауна

TEXT 4

KYIV

Kyiv is the capital of Ukraine.It isone of the oldest cities of Europe and therefore there are many historical places in it.!t was the capital of ancient Rus,the cradle of three fraternal peoples - the Russian, the Ukrainian and the Byelorussian.

Nowadays itis a large political, industrial, scientific and cultural centre of Ukraine. Its population equals nearly 3 million people, it is theseat of the Supreme Rada and the Cabinet of Ministers.

Kyiv is famous not only for its history but for its beauty, for the abundance of places of historic interest in it. It is situated on the picturesque banks of the Dnieper River.

Kyiv's monuments of the past attrect a lot of visitors. They are impressed by Kyiv-Pechersky Monastery which stands on the green hill above the Dnieper and itssparkling gold cupolas can be seen from outside the capital. The huge gateway from Volodymyrska Street opens on the territory of another ancient monument St. Sophia's Cathedral which is a state architectural and historical preserve. It was founded in 1037 during thereign of Yaroslav theWise. On the other corner of Volodymyrska Street you can see the Golden Gate. Shevchcnko Memorial, Vydubetsky Monastery, Askold's Grave, Church of St. Andrew are really worth sightseeing too. Inthe Park of Immortal Glory there is a Tomb of Unknown Soldier, over which an eternal fire burns.

There are a lot of museums in Kyiv: the Historical Museum, the Museum of Ukrainian Art, the Museum of Russian Art, the Museum of Western and Oriental Art, Shevchenko Museum, Lesya Ukrainka Memorial Museum and others.

Kyiv is the centre of Ukrainian culture.Many research institutesand highereducational establishments are to be found here. Jt is famous for its theatres and concert halls such as Taras Sevchenko Opera and Ballet Theatre, Musical Comedy Theatre. Puppet Theatre, Conservatoire and Philarmonics, the Concert Hail "Ukraine". The performances staged at these theatres are always of great demand.

The picturesque green banks and hills, plentiful flowerbeds withmillions of different flowers, wonderful beaches of the Dnieper, Kreshchatic,one of the widest and most beautiful streets in our country - all this adds up to the beauty of me Ukrainian capital.

Vocabulary

ancient – древний, старинный

cradle – колыбель

fraternal – братский

abundance – обилие

to impress – поражать, производить впечатление

sparkling – сверкающий, искрящийся

cupola – купол

huge – огромный, гигантский

gateway – ворота, вход

preserve – заповедник

reign – правление

worth sightseeing – стоит посмотреть

immortal glory – вечная слава

tomb – могила, надгробие

eternal – вечный, неугасимый

research – исследовательский

higher educational establishments – высшие учебные заведения

performance – спектакль, представление

to be of great demand – пользоваться большим спросом, быть популярным

TEXT 5

THE CONSTITUTION OF UKRAINE

Governed by the Act of Ukraine’s Independence of August 24, 1991, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on behalf of the Ukrainian people adopted the Constitution – the Fundamental Law on June 28, 1996.

The Costitution establishes the country’s political system, assures rights, freedoms and duties of citizens, and is the basis for its laws.

It asserts that Ukraine is a sovereign and independent, democratic, social, legal state. It is a unitarian state with single citizenship.

Ukraine is a republic. The people are the only source of power which is exercised directly and through the bodies of state power and local self-government.

The land, mineral raw materials, air space, water and other natural resources which are on the territory of Ukraine are objects of the property right of Ukrainian people.

The state language in Ukraine is Ukrainian.The state symbols of Ukraine are the State Flag, the State Emblem and the State Anthem of Ukraine. The State Flag is a blue and a yellow banner made from two equal horizontal stripes. The main element of the Great State Emblem of Ukraine is the Sign of the State of Prince Volodymyr the Great (the Small State Emblem of Ukraine). The State Anthem of Ukraine is the national anthem with the music of M.Verbytsky.

The capital of Ukraine is Kyiv.

The Constitution states that every person has the right to the free development of his/her personality, and has obligations before society where free and full development of the personality is assured. Citizens have equal Constitutional rights and freedoms and are equal before the law. There are no privileges or restrictions based upon face, color of skin, political and other beliefs, gender, ethnic and social origin, property, ownership, position, place of residence, language, religion.

The articles of the Constitution guarantee the rights to life, personal inviolability and the inviolability of dwelling, noninterference in private and family life, free choice of residence, work, rest, education, social security, housing, health protection, medical care and medical insurance, legal assistance, a safe and healthy environment.

Defence of the Motherland, of the independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and respect respect for the state’s symbols are duty of citizens. Citizens of Ukraine perform military services in compliance with the law. No person may damage the environment, cultural heritage. Every person shall pay taxes and duties in the order and amount determined by law.

The Constitution outlines the structure of the national government and specifies its powers and duties. Under the Constitution the powers of the government are divided into three branches – the legislative which consists of the Verkhovna Rada, the executive, headed by the President, and the judicial, which is led by the Supreme Court.

The parliament – the Verkhovna Rada is the only body of the legislative power in Ukraine. There are 450 people’s deputies who are elected for a term of four years on the basis of universal, equal and direct suffrage by secret ballot.

The Verkhovna Rada’s main function is making laws. Law drafting work is performed by its Committees.

The Verkhovna Rada adopts the State Budget for the period from January 1 to December 31 and controls the execution of it. The monetary unit of Ukraine is the Hryvnia.

The President of Ukraine is the head of the state and speaks on behalf of it. He is elected directly by the voters for a term of five years with no more than two full terms.

The highest body of the executive power is the Cabinet of Ministers. It is responsible to the President and is accountable to the Verkhovna Rada. It carries out domestic and foreign policy of the State, the fulfillment of the Constitution, as well as the acts of the President, develops and fulfills national programs on the economic, scientific and technological, social and cultural development of Ukraine.

Justice in Ukraine is exercised entirely by courts. It is administered by the Constitutional Court and by the courts of general jurisdiction. The Supreme Court of Ukraine is the highest juridical body of general jurisdiction.

The Constitution defines the territorial structure of Ukraine. It is composed of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, 24 oblasts, rayons, cities, rayons in cities, settlements and villages. Cities of Kyiv and Sevastopol possess a special status determined by law.

The Constitution of Ukraine consists of 15 chapters, 161 articles.

The day of its adoption is a state holiday – the Day of the Constitution of Ukraine.

Vocabulary

governed by – руководствуясь

on behalf of – от имени

to adopt – принимать

to assure – гарантировать, обеспечивать

duty – долг, обязанность

legal – юридический, правовой

citizenship - гражданство

to exercise – осуществлять, выполнять

body – орган, свод, кодекс

anthem - гимн

banner – знамя

stripe - полоса

obligation – обязанность, обязательство

full development – всестороннее развитие

restriction – ограничение

gender – пол (муж., жен.)

origin – происхождение

ownership – имущественное положение

position – должность

inviolability – неприкосновенность

dwelling – жилище

noninteference – невмешательство

residence – место жительства

housing – жильё

medical care – медицинская помощь

insurance – страхование

environment – окружающая среда

territorial integrity – территориальная целостность

in compliance – согласно, в соответствии

damage – ущерб, повреждение

heritage – наследие

taxes and duties – налоги и сборы

amount - количество

outline – намечать, очерчивать

specify – точно определять

branch – ветвь, отрасль

legislative – законодательный

executive – исполнительный

judicial – судебный

Supreme Court – Верховный Суд

suffrage – избирательное право

UNIT II

TEXT 6

GREAT BRITAIN

Great Britain (official name - the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) is situated on two large islands, the larger of which is Great Britain, the smaller is Ireland. In addition to these two islands Great Britain includes over 500 small islands. The total area of Great Britain is 240,000 sq. kms, its population is 56,000,000 people.

In the north-west and west the country is washed by the Atlantic Ocean and the Irish Sea, in the east - by the North Sea. The island of Great Britain is separated from France by the English Channel. Northern Ireland, which is a part of Great Britain and which is situated on the island of Ireland, is separated from Great Britain by the North Channel.

The island of Great Britain is divided into two parts: mountainous (in the north and west of the island) and lowland (in the south and east).

There are no very long rivers in Great Britain. The most important rivers are the Thames (the deepest) and the Severn (the longest). Some of the British greatest ports are situated in the estuaries of the Thames, Mersey, Trent, Tyne, Clyde and Bristol Avon.

The rivers seldom freeze in winter. Due to the moderating influence of the sea Great Britain has an insular climate, rather humid and mild, without striking discrepancy between seasons.

Great Britain consists of four main parts: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Administratively Great Britain is divided into 55 counties. The biggest cities of Great Britain are London, Birmingham, Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester, Edinburgh and Cardiff.

England is the largest part of Great Britain (it occupies over 50% of the territory and its population amounts to 83% of the total population of Great Britain). Wales is a peninsula in the south-west of the island of Great Britain. It occupies about 9% of its territory with the population of 4.8% of the total population. Scotland is the most northern part of Great Britain with the territory of 32% of the total territory and with a population of 9% of the total population of Great Britain. Northern Ireland occupies the north-east part of the island of Ireland. It's territory amounts to 5.2% of the total territory of Great Britain. The main cities of Northern Ireland are Belfast and Londonderry.

The Welsh have their own language. However, many Welsh people donot know Welsh, and English is spoken by everyone in Wales. Scotland and Ireland also have their own languages, but these are rarely spoken and English is known by everyone there.

There are no high mountains in Great Britain. In the north the Cheviots separate England from Scotland, the Pennines stretch down North England along its middle, the Cambrian mountains occupy the greater part of Wales and the Highlands of Scotland are the tallest of the British mountains.

There is very little flat countryexcept in the region known as East Anglia, Great Britain is not very rich in mineral resources, it has some deposits of coal and iron ore and vast deposits of oil and gas that were discovered in the North Sea.

Great Britain is a highly industrialized country.New industries have been developed in the last three decades. The main industrial centres are London, Birmingham, Mancheter, Leeds, Liverpool, Glasgow and Bristol. The capital of the countryis London. The main fields of British industry are machine-building, ship- building, metallurgy and electronics.

Great Britain is a parlimentary monarchy. Officially the head of state is the Queen (or the King). However, the power of the Queen in Great Britain is not absolute. She acts only on the advice of the ministers and Parliament. There is no written constitution in Great Britain. British legislation does not provide written guarantees of individual political rights.

Parliament in Great Britain has existed since 1265 and is the eldest Parliament in the world. It consists of two Houses - the House of Lords and the House of Commons. The House of Lords consists of 1000 peers who are notelected by the people. The House of Commons is a nation-wide representative body which is elected by the people at a general election, within 5 years of the last election. After the general election theQueen appoints the head of the government - the Prime Minister. As a rule the Prime Minister is the leader of the party that has won the election. The Prime Minister appoints the ministers to make up thegovernment.

There are two main political parties in Great Britain: the Conservative party and the Labour party. The Conservative party came into being in the 19^th century as a result of the evolution of the Tory party. The Labour party was founded in 1900. Since 1906 it has borne the name of the Labour party. The Labour party won the election for the first time in 1945.

Vocabulary

in addition – в дополнение

to divide – разделять

mountainous – горный

lowland – равнина, низменность

estuary – устье

seldom – редко

to freeze – замерзать

moderating influence – смягчающее влияние

insular – островной

humid – влажный

mild – мягкий

to strike – поражать

discrepancy – различие

peninsula – полуостров

the Cheviots – Чевиотские горы

the Pennines – Пеннины

the Highlands – Высокогорье

decade – десятилетие

advice – совет

legislation – законодательство

to exist – существовать

to elect – избирать

House of Lords – Палата Лордов

House of Commons – Палата Общин

representative body – представительский орган

general election – общие выборы

to appoint – назначать

TEXT 7

Vocabulary

invader – завоеватель, захватчик

narrow – узкий

trading centre – торговый центр

possibility – возможность

entertainment – развлечение

to attract – привлекать

cosy – уютный

mansion – особняк

to inhabit – населять

soot – сажа, копоть

church – церковь

sovereign – монарх

to bury – хоронить

to admire – восхищаться, восторгаться

achievement – достижение

to exhibit – демонстрировать, выставлять

to destroy – уничтожать

devastating – разрушительный

TEXT 8

UK POLITICAL SYSTEM

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a constitutional monarchy. It means that the government of the United Kingdom is by a hereditary sovereign, an elected House of Commons and a partly hereditary House of Lords.

The sovereign has the title of King (or Queen). The Sovereign has very few functions that really matter, such as the function of the arbiter of last resort in some matters. These matters can be dissolution of Parliament and invitations to form a government when there is no clear majority.

The supreme legislative power is vested in the Parliament, which sits for 5 years unless sooner dissolved. The Parliament has two chambers: the House of Lords with about 830 hereditary peers, 26 spiritual peers, about 270 life peers and peeresses, and the House of Commons. The House of Сommons has 650 popularly elected members. The House of Commons is the real governing body of the United Kingdom. In order to become a law, a new bill proposed by the Cabinet must be approved by both houses of the Parliament. The Lords cannot veto a bill, but they can delay it for a maximum of one year. Financial bills cannot be delayed by the House of Lords.

The executive power of the Crown is exercised by the Cabinet, headed by the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, normally the head of the party commanding a majority in the House of Commons, is appointed by the Sovereign. Prime Minister appoints the rest of the Cabinet. All ministers must be members of one or the other houses of the Parliament. They are individually and collectively responsible to the Crown and the Parliament. The Cabinet proposes bills and arranges business of the Parliament.

Government in Britain since 1945 has alternated between only two political parties, the Conservatives (the Tory) and the Labour Party. No other party has been in office at all since 1945 and there have been no coalitions. The third long-established party, the Liberals, enjoyed the moments of success, but no member of the Liberal Party has held government office since 1945.

Vocabulary

a constitutional monarchy конституционная монархия

the government of управление (чем-либо)

a hereditary sovereign наследственный монарх

elected House if Commons выборная палата общин

partly hereditary House of Lords частично наследственная палата лордов

the title of King (or Queen) титул короля (королевы)

the arbiter of last resort арбитр последней инстанции

dissolution of Parliament роспуск парламента

to form a government сформировать правительство

clear majority чёткое большинство

the supreme legislative power высшая законодательная власть

to be vested in принадлежать

to dissolve something распустить (парламент)

a chamber палата

a hereditary peer наследственный пэр

a spiritual peer епископ – член парламента

a life peer or peeress пожизненный пэр или пэресса

a popularly elected member член парламента, избранный всенародным

голосованием

the real governing body орган, обладающий реальной властью

to propose a bill внести законопроект

to be approved by быть одобренным (кем-либо)

to veto a bill наложить вето на законопроект

to delay a bill for отложить рассмотрение законопроекта на

the executive power of the Crown исполнительная власть монарха

to be exercised by осуществляться (чем-либо)

to be headed by возглавляться (кем-либо)

Prime Minister премьер-министр

to command a majority обладать большинством

to appoint назначить

to be individually and collectively responsible to нести индивидуальную и коллективную

ответственность перед (кем-либо)

the Conservatives (the Tory) консерваторы (тори)

the Labour Party лейбористская партия

to be in office быть у власти

a long-established party давно существующая партия

the Liberals либералы

to hold government office быть у власти (о правительстве)

TEXT 9

IN GREAT BRITAIN

New legislation in Britain usually starts in the House of Lords. In each house a bill is considered in three stages, called readings. The first reading is purely formal, to introduce the bill. The second reading is usually the occasion for debate. After the second reading the bill is examined in detail by a committee.

The bill is then returned to one of the houses for the report stage, when it can be amended. If passed after its third reading, it goes to the other house. Amendments made to a bill by the House of Lords must be considered by the Commons. If the House of Commons does not agree, the bill is altered and sent back to the Lords. In the event of persistent disagreement between the two houses, Commons prevails.

Finally, the bill goes to the reigning monarch for the royal assent. Nowadays the royal assent is merely a formality. In theory the queen could still refuse her consent, but the last monarch to use this power was Queen Anne, who vetoed the unpopular Scottish Militia Bill in 1707.

TEXT 10

TEXT 11

TYPES OF LEGAL PROFESSIONS

Solicitors

There are about 50,000 solicitors, a number which is rapidly increasing, and they make up the largest branch of the legal profession in Great Britain. They are found in every town, where they deal with all the day-to-day work of preparing legal documents for buying and selling houses, making wills, etc. Solicitors also work on court cases for their clients, prepare cases for barristers to present in the higher courts, and may represent their client in a Magistrates’ court. It is his job to advise you on legal matters of all kinds. If you get into trouble with the police you will probably ask a solicitor to help prepare your defence.

Barristers

There are about 5,000 barristers who defend or prosecute in the higher courts. Although solicitors and barristers work together on cases, barristers specialize in representing clients in court, and the training and career structures for the two types of lawyer are quite separate. Barristers are experts in the interpretation of law. To qualify as a barrister you have to take the examinations of the Bar Council. The highest level of barristers have the title QC (Queen’s Counsel).

Judges

There are a few hundred judges, trained as barristers, who preside in more serious cases such as those for which the criminal might be sent to prison for more than a year. There is no separate training for judges. Judges are paid salaries by the State.

Jury

A jury consist of twelve people (“jurors”), who are ordinary people chosen at random from the Electoral Register (the list of people who can vote in elections). The jury listen to the evience given in court in certain criminal cases and decide whether the defendant is guilty or innocent. If the person is found guilty, the punishment is passed by the presiding judge. Juries are rarely used in civil cases.

Magistrates

There are about 30,000 magistrates (Justices of the Peace or JPs), who judge cases in the lower courts. They are usually unpaid and have no formal legal qualifications, but they are respectable people who are given some training. They have “sound common sense” and understand their fellow human beings. They give up time voluntarily. Magistrates are selected by special committees in every town and district. Nobody, not even the Magistrates themselves, knows who is on the special committee in their area. The committee tries to draw Magistrates from as wide a variety of professions and social classes as possible.

Coroners

Coroners have medical or legal training (or both) and inquire into violent or unnatural deaths.

Clerks of the court

Clerks look after administrative and legal matters in the courtroom.

TEXT 12

TEXT 13

THE ENGLISH CONSTITUTION

In most Western countries the constitution, using the term in the narrower sense, is the scheme of government that has been deliberately adopted by the people. Examples are the Constitution of the United States, drawn up in 1787, the constitution of the Weimar republic or that of the Federal Republic of Germany, brought into force in 1949 and the constitutions that France has had since the Revolution.

In England there is no one document that can be described as a “constitution” in the sense that has been discussed above. The absence of any such document has led to the suggestion that there is no constitution in England. Certainly the English constitution has no existence apart from the ordinary law: it is indeed part of that very law. Magna Carta, the Petition of Right Act, the Bill of Rights and others are the leading enactments, but they are in no sense a constitutional code.

The sources of English constitution are diffuse – statutes, judicial precedent, textbooks, lawbooks, the writings of historians and political theorists, the biographies and autobiographies of statesmen, the columns of every serious newspaper. This is what is meant by saying the English constitution is ‘unwritten’: it is not formally enacted. Similarly, it is flexible, and here the contrast is with the rigid constitution. There are no special safeguards for constitutional rules: constitutional law can be changed, amended or abolished just like any rule of private law.

UNIT III

TEXT 14

Vocabulary

to stretch – простираться

rest – остальная часть

to differ – различаться

Rocky Mountains – Скалистые горы

Great Lakes – Великие озёра

border – граница

Gulf of Mexico – Мексиканский залив

copper – медь

oil – нефть

iron ore – железная руда

coal – уголь

armaments – вооружение

furniture – мебель

House of Representatives – Палата представителей

TEXT 15

WASHINGTON

Washington, the capital of the United States of America, is situated on the Potomac River in the District of Columbia. The district is apiece of land ten miles square and it does not belong to any separate state but to all the states. The district is named in honour of Columbus, the discoverer of America.

The capital owes much to the first President of the USA - George Washington. It was George Washington, who chose the place for the District and laid in 1790 the comer-stone of the Capitol, where Congress sits. Washington is not the largest city of the USA. It has a population of about 900,000 people.

Washington is one-industrycity. The industry is government. It does not produce anything except very much scrap paper. Every day 25 railway cars leave Washington loaded with scrap paper. The city's main output are laws and government decisions. Besides, Washington is the residence of the President and the Congress of the United States.

The White House is the President's residence. All American presidents except George Washington (the White House was not yet built in his time) have lived in the White Hall. It is a two-storeyed building which was built in 1799.

Not far from the Capitol there is the Washington Monument, which looks like a very big pencil. It rises 160 metres and is hollow inside. A special lift brings visitors to the top in 70 seconds from where they can enjoy a beautiful view of the whole city.

The Jefferson Memorial was built in memory of the third President of the USA, Thomas Jefferson, who was also the author of the Declaration of Independence. The memorial is surrounded by cherry-trees.

The LincolnMemorial is devoted to the memory of the 16^th President of the USA, the author of Emancipation Proclamation, which gave freedom to Negro slaves in America.

On the other bank of the Potomac lies the Arlington National Cemetry where President Kennedy was buried. American soldiers and officers, who died in World WarI and II are buried here too.

Washington is a large scientific and cultural centre. There are five universities, alot of research institutes, the National Academy of Sciences and the Library of Congress. Among its well-known buildings is Pentagon, the residence of the US Military department.

Vocabulary

to ow – быть обязанным

comer-stone – первый камень

scrap paper – макулатура

railway car – железнодорожный вагон

government decisions – правительственные решения

hollow – пустой, полый

Emancipation Proclamation – Прокламация об Освобождении

slave – раб

cemetry – кладбище

buried – похоронен

Military Department – Военный департамент

TEXT 16

US POLITICAL SYSTEM

The USA is a presidential republic.

The legislative power of the USA is vested in the Congress of the USA. The Congress was created by the Article I of the Constitution, adopted in 1787. It consists of two chambers – the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The Senate is made up of 100 members (2 from each state), elected for a term of 6 years. One third of the Senate is elected every two years. To be elected a Senator, a person must be at least 30 years old and have been the citizen of the USA for at least 9 years.

The House of Representatives comprises representatives from each state, elected for a two-year term. The number of representatives from each state depends on its population, but every state is represented. To be elected a representative, a person must be at least 25 years of age and have been a citizen of the of the USA for at least 7 years.

The presiding officer of the Senate is the Vice-President of the USA. The presiding officer of the House of Representatives, the Speaker, is elected by the House. The work of preparing and considering laws is done by the committees of both Houses. There are 15 standing committees in the Senate and 19 in the House of Representatives.

The Congress assembles at least once a year.

The executive branch of the government consists of the President, the Vice-President and the Cabinet. The President’s term of office is four years, together with the Vise-President, chosen for the same term. The President is the head of the executive branch of the government; he appoints the members of the Cabinet. The Cabinet advises the President on many matters and is composed of the heads of ten executive departments: Secretary of State, Secretary of Treasury, Secretary of Defence and others.

The judicial branch of the government is headed by the Supreme Court which settles disputes between the states. The Supreme Court may veto any law passed by the Congress if it contradicts the Constitution of the USA.

The United States is a federal union, and the President is the head of the Federal government which deals with international problems and national matters. But every state has its own constitution and the state government headed by the Governor and managing their local affairs. Their laws and decisions must not contradict the Constitution of the USA.

The US national flag – Stars and Stripes – is red, white and blue. Thirteen stripes represent the original 13 states of the USA; the 50 stars represent the current number of states.

Vocabulary

the legislative power

is vested

elected for a term of

have been the citizen of the USA for

comprises representatives from

the presiding officer of

preparing and considering laws

standing committees

the executive branch

term of office

is composed of