Task 1. Read the text carefully and agree or disagree with the statements given below

1. We call a set of agreed rules a Constitution.

2. The United States of America has an unwritten constitution.

3. In Britain the monarch is not limited by the rules of the state.

4. The Sovereign`s office is hereditary.

5. In France the head of the state is not elected.

6. Originally the House of Lords was a very powerful body.

7. The House of Commons is indirectly elected by the people of Britain.

8. Parliament means much more than just the House of Commons.

Task2. What is missing?

1. An unwritten constitution means that it is not written in a __________ official handbook.

2. Britain is a __________ monarchy.

3. In a __________ the head of the state is elected.

4. The __________ is the oldest part of the British Constitution.

5. The Lords` powers are strictly __________ .

6. The most powerful of the three elements which form part of the British Constitution is the __________ .

7. The Queen, the Lords and the Commons form __________ .

UNIT 4

THE SYSTEM OF LAW IN RUSSIA

Scan the text and answer the questions.

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 to criminals. 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.

1. What is law?

2. What is the main aim of law?

3. What categories of law does the system of law in Russia consist of?

4. What is the principal source of constitutional law?

5. What category of law is closely connected with constitutional law?

6. What is the central institution of civil law?

7. What does criminal law define?

8. What form does criminal law take?

9. What is civil law connected with?

10. What rules does employment law include?

DIALOGUE

Chaiman: Good morning, everybody. We have two points on the agenda today. Point 1 is our visit to Moscow to get acquianted with the work of a local court. We have been offered a quite interesting programme. You all have it. Do you want to put forward any proposals or amendments? Well, who`d like to start the ball rolling?

Personnnel Manager: May I begin? First of all I am strongly for the cooperation which seems to be mutually beneficial. Being Personnel Manager I would like to know more about their labor regulations.

Chairman: All right, John. We`ll notify our Russian colleagues about that. Who`s netx?

Company Secretary: As far as I am Company Secretary and deal with most legal matters, I`m interested in structure of their legal department and its activities such as contracts, insurance, compensation, guarantees, and so on.

Chairman: I think it is all on the programme.

Company Secretary: Yes, but I`d like to discuss it in detail.

Chairman: All right. And now let us discuss Point 2: coordinating the activities of the various departments of the company.

Personnel Manager: I have a suggestion. Let us vote on this issue. I think we are all in favour.

Grammar Exercises