Scan the text and answer the questions. The United States of America (USA), consisting of 50 States and the District of Columbia, is a presidential republic
The United States of America (USA), consisting of 50 States and the District of Columbia, is a presidential republic. The total area of the USA is over nine million square kilometers. The population of the USA is about 250 million people. The capital of the USA is Washington. American English is the official language of the USA.
The legislative branch of the US Government, or the Congress, represents all of the American states. It consists of two parts: the House of Representatives and the Senate. Each state has two senators, who are elected every 6 years. A senator must be at least 30 years old, a citizen for 7 years, and live in the state.
The job of the Congress is to make laws. The President can vote a bill. The Congress can pass the law anyway of it gets a two-thirds majority vote. The Congress can also declare war. The House of Representatives can also impeach the president. This means that the House can charge the President with a crime. In this case, the Senate will put the President on trial. The Senate votes to approve the justices that the President appoints to the Supreme Court.
The executive branch of the government puts the country’s laws into effect. The president of the United States is a member of the executive branch. He President must be at least 35 years old, and be a natural citizen of the USA. In addition, he must have lived in the USA for 14 years, and be a civilian. The President is elected every four years and can not serve more than two terms. The Vice-President of the USA is - president of the Senate. When the President receives a bill form the congress, he must sign it, and then the bill becomes a law. However, if he disagrees with the law, he can veto it. The President can also ask the Congress to declare war. He also appoints the justices to the Supreme Court. He must do his job according to the Constitution, or he may be impeached.
The Judicial branch of the Government is the system of courts in the United States. Its job is to enforce laws. The Supreme Court is the highest court in the country. It consists of 9 justices: one Chief Justice and 8 associate justices. The President appoints the justices but the Senate must approve them. The justices are appointed for life. The Supreme Court makes sure that people obey the law. The Supreme Court can also decide if a law is constitutional, that is, if it is in agreement with the legislative and executive branches to protect the Constitution and the – rights of people.
Three different lawmaking groups exist in the United States: 1) legislatures, 2) agencies, and 3) courts. Legislatures pass laws directly agencies develop laws that help put legislative rulings into effect, and courts establish laws as a result of case decisions.
The White House is the President’s residence.
The US national flag – Stars and Stripes – is red, white and blue, 13 stripes represent the original 13 states of the USA; the 50 stars represent the current number of states of the USA.
1. What is the total area of the United States of America?
2. What is the capital and official language of the country?
3. Why does the national flag of the United States have 13 stripes and 50 stars?
4. What are the major responsibilities of the President of the United States?
5. Explain how the Congress of the USA is formed.
6. What is the procedure of impeachment?
7. Why do you think the President of the USA should meet age and citizenship demands?
8. Name the major legislative, executive and judicial bodies in the USA.
DIALOGUE
A: Do you know anything about the USA?
B: And what interests you?
A: For example, how many states does the USA consist of?
B: So far as I know, the USA includes 50 states and the District of Columbia.
A: How does the US national flag look like and what does it represent?
B: The US national flag – Stars and Stripes – is red, white and blue. 13 stripes represent the original 13 states of the USA: the 50 stars represent the current number of states of the US.
A: Could you name the main political parties of the USA?
B: There are two main parties of the US: the Democratic Party and the Republican Party of the US.
A: Is the USA a constitutional monarchy or a presidential republic?
B: I know for certain, the US is a presidential republic.
A: What state body is the Congress?
B: The Congress is the highest law-making body of the US consisting of two chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives.
A: Who can be elected a member of a senate?
B: Each state has two senators, who are elected every 6 years. A senator must be at least 30 years old, a citizen of the United States for 9 years, and live in the state she or he will represent.
A: Who can be elected a Representative?
B: A representative must be at least 25 years old, a citizen of the United States for 7 years, and who must be an inhabitant of the state in which he shall be chosen.
A: What are the obligations of the Congress?
B: The Congress of the USA makes laws.
A: What is the number of Congressmen?
B: The Senate is composed of 2 members from each state. The number of Representatives in the lower House depends on the number of people in each particular state.
A: And how are laws adopted?
B: In order to become a law all bills must pass both the Houses and must be signed by the President.
A: What term is the President elected for?
B: The President is elected for a term of 4 years. He can be reelected for the second term but no longer.
A: And what about the highest judicial body?
B: The highest judicial body is the US Supreme Court.
A: What is the structure of power in each state?
B: Each state has its own Constitution similar to the US Constitution. And all the power in each state is divided into executive, legislative and judicial. The head of each state is the governor of the state.
A: Thanks a lot for a very interesting talk.
B: Not at all.
Grammar Exercises
Present Perfect