Task. 6. Answer the questions
1. What does the statement “supreme law of the land” mean?
2. How do American people exercise their authority?
3. How is the power of public officials limited?
4. What does “impeachment” mean and when is this measure taken?
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Text 3.
Task 1. Read and translate the text
The English Constitution
The English Constitution is the organic law of Great Britain providing for the form and powers of government. It is rooted in historic traditions and principles of liberty, which, in many respects, antedate the promulgation of the Magna Carta in 1215 and which since the 19th century, have been held to affirm popular sovereignty.
Unlike the US Constitution and most other constitutions, the English Constitution is not a systematic written statement of law but consists of a body of statutory law, customs and judicial interpretations; it is frequently called a customary or unwritten constitution. As an example, English law makes no provision for so essential a feature of the British government as the Cabinet, which originated in the 15th century as an advisory council to the king and developed in connection with the rise of representative government, to its present status as the executive branch of the government.
Unlike constitutions that make explicit provision for their amendment and are often difficult to change, the English Constitution may be changed easily. It may be altered, and in the past it has been altered, through the slow accretion of custom, by an act of Parliament, or by judicial interaction.
Historians emphasize the antiquity and flexibility of the English Constitution. Its uninterrupted development may be traced over a period of more than 900 years, from the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066. Throughout this period it remained adaptable, serving in turn the needs of medieval society and the rule of the bourgeoisie who established representative government and the former British Empire. It is now compatible with such recent liberal measures as comprehensive social insurance and the nationalization of basic industries and the Bank if England.
Task 2. Answer the questions.
1. What are the roots of the British Constitution?
2. What is the difference between the British and American Constitution?
3. What makes the British Constitution flexible?
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Text 4.
Task 1. Read and translate the text
US Constitution
The form of the US government is based on the Constitution of 1787 which was adopted after the War of Independence. A constitution is a set of customs, traditions, rules, and laws that sets forth the basic way a government is organized and functions. According to this definition of the word, every nation has a constitution but in some countries constitutions are very easily violated because the basic rights of their citizens are violated.
It is very important to understand that having a constitution does not mean that a nation has a constitutional government. If a constitution makes it possible to concentrate power by one or few, it is not the basis of a constitutional government. If a constitution says that the government’s power should be limited but doesn’t mention the ways how to do it, it is not the basis for a constitutional government.
In a constitutional government the constitution is a form of higher law that must be obeyed by everyone including those in power.
The US Constitution consists of 7 articles and 26 amendments.
According to the Founders of the American state a constitution or higher law should have the following characteristics:
· It sets forth the basic rights of citizens to life, liberty and property
· It establishes the responsibility of the government to protect those rights
· It establishes limitations on how those in government may use their powers with regard to
a. citizens’ rights and responsibilities
b. the distribution of resources
c. the control of conflict
· It establishes the principle of a private domain – which means that there are areas of citizens’ lives that are no business of the government and in which the government cannot interfere
· It can be changed with the consent of the most citizens. This is how the Constitution differ from the ordinary law that governments regularly create and enforce. The US Constitution has 26 amendments, the first 10 are called the Bill of Rights and it was adopted in 1791. The Bill enumerated basic freedoms and guaranteed them and declared what the government was not allowed to do.
Vocabulary notes
to obey повиноваться
to set forth излагать
private domain личная жизнь