Text 5 The System of Law in Russia
Pre-reading:Skim the text to complete the following statements:
a) This text considers the...
b) It discusses... (the categories of...)
c) It tells us how... (which...)
d) Each paragraph is about...
Law is a system of rules established by the state. The main aim of law is to consolidate and safeguard the social and state system and its economic foundation.
One important distinction made in all countries is between private or civil law and public law. CIVIL LAW concerns disputes among citizens within a country, and PUBLIC LAW concerns disputes between citizens and the state, or between one state and another.
The system of law in our country consists of different categories of law.
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW is a leading category of the whole system of law. Its principal source is the country's Constitution. It deals with social structure, the state system, organization of state power and the legal status of citizens.
ADMINISTRATIVE LAW is closely connected with constitutional law but it deals with the legal forms of concrete executive and administrative activity of a government and ministries.
CRIMINAL LAW defines the general principles of criminal responsibility, individual types of crimes and punishment applied tocriminals. Crimes are wrongs, which, even committed against an individual are considered to harm the well-being of society in general. Criminal law takes the form of a criminal code.
INTERNATIONAL LAW regulates relations between governments and also between private citizens of one country and those of another.
FINANCIAL LAW regulates the budget, taxation, state credit and other spheres of financial activity.
CIVIL LAW is connected with relations in the economic sphere of life, with relations involving property, its distribution and exchange. The right of property is the central institution of civil law.
The rules of EMPLOYMENT LAW include the legislation on the employment of industrial and office workers and regulate matters arising from employment relations.
Ex. 1Read the text in detail to find the answers to the "What" -questions below:
a) What is law?
b) What is the main aim of law?
c) What categories of law does the system of law in Russia consist of?
d) What is the principal source of constitutional law?
e) What category of law is closely connected with constitutional law?
f) What is the central institution of civil law?
g) What does criminal law define?
h) What form does criminal law take?
I) What is civil law connected with?
j) What rules does employment law include?
Ex.2Scan the text and match these words and phrases with their
definitions below:
| civil law, criminal law, administrative law, law, financial law, the rules of employment law, constitutional law |
a) is a system of rules established by the state.
b) is a leading category of the whole system of law.
c) deals with the legal forms of concrete administrative activity of government and ministries.
d) regulates the budget, taxation, state credit, ...
e) is connected with relations involving property...
f) include the legislation on the labour of industrial and office workers...
g) defines the general principles of criminal responsibility.
Ex. 3Match these words & phrases with their Russian equivalents:
a) to establish a system 1. рабочие (служащие)
b) a category (of a law) 2. принимать вид кодекса
c) the principal source of law 3. применять наказание
d) to deal with 4. основной источник права
e) the right of property 5. отрасль (права)
f) rule of law 6.право на имущество
g) industrial (office) workers 7. иметь дело с, заниматься
h) to arise from 8.общая (особенная) часть
i) individual types of crimes 9.устанавливать систем
j) to apply punishment 10.возникать и
k) to take the form of a code 11.отдельные виды преступлений
1) a general (special) part 12. норма права
Ex. 4What does "it" in line 9 refer to?
a) constitution
b) constitutional law
c) principal source
What does "its" in line 8 refer to?
a) constitutional law
b) leading category
c) system of law
What does "it" in line 11 refer to?
a) law
b) constitutional law
c) administrative law
What does "its" in line 25 refer to?
a) relations
b) property
с) sphere of life
Ex. 5Say if this is true or false:
a) In all countries there is no distinction between private and public law.
b) The main aim of law is to concern disputes among citizens and
the state.
c) Criminal law deals with all forms of responsibility.
d) The right of property is the central institution of civil law.
e) Financial law concerns social structure and organization of state power.
f) Law is a system of rules established by the state.
Ex. 6 Speaking.Make up a brief report about the main categories of law in Russia.