The US political parties

TEXT A. US GOVERNMENT

The USA is a presidential republic. 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 of the United States for 9 years, and live in the state he or she will represent. A representative must be at least 25 years old, a citizen for 7 years, and live in the state.

The job of the Congress is to make laws. The President can veto a bill. The Congress can pass the law anyway if 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. The President must be at least 35 years old and be a natural citizen of the USA. In addition, he must have lived in the US for at least 14 years, and be a civilian. The President is elected every four years and cannot serve more than two terms. The Vice-President of the USA is president of the Senate. When the President receives a bill from the Congress, he must sign it, and then the bill becomes a law. However, if he disagrees with the law, he can veto it. ThePresident 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 laws. The Supreme Court can also decide if a law is constitutional, that it is in agreement with the Constitution. The judicial branch works together with the legislative and executive branches to protect the Constitution and the rights of people.

Vocabulary Notes

the legislative branch of the government – законодательная власть

to represent — представлять

the House of Representatives — Палата представителей

the Senate – Сенат

to elect, election— избирать, выборы

to make laws — создавать законы

to enforce a law – проводить закон в жизнь

to obey a law — исполнять закон

to pass the law — провести закон

to veto a bill – наложить вето на законопроект

majority/minority – большинство/меньшинство

to declare war — объявить войну

to impeach the President — подвергнуть президента импичменту

to charge- обвинить в каком-либо преступлении

to vote — голосовать

executive branch – исполнительная власть

a term – срок полномочий

the Supreme Court – Верховный Суд

justice – судья

Chief Justice – Главный судья

Associate Justice – Член Верховного Суда

to appoint – назначать

the judicial branch – судебная власть

Text B. US GOVERNMENT

By the Constitution of 1787 the government of the USA is composed of three branches: the executive one, the legislative one, and the judicial one.

The highest executive power in the United States is with the President of the US, who is elected for a term of 4 yearsby electors of each state. The President of the USA must be a native-born citizen, resident in thecountry for 14 years and at least 35 years old.

The President is to carry out the programmes of the Government, to recommend much of the legislation to the Congress. The President is also responsible for

• carrying out and enforcing laws made by Congress;

• nominating people for federal offices;

• negotiating treaties with other nations;

• conducting wars.

In addition, the president is given the power

• to pardon people convicted of crimes

• to send and receive ambassadors to and from other countries.

Veto. The president shares in the legislative power through the veto. Although the president can veto a bill passed by Congress, the bill can still become a law if two-thirds of both houses of Congress vote to override the veto.

Appointments. The power to appoint executive branch officials and federal judges is shared with Congress. The president has the power to nominate persons to fill those positions, but the Senate has the right to approve or disapprove of the persons nominated. To prevent corruption of Congress, members of Congress are not allowed to hold another federal office.

The legislative power belongs to the Congress of the United States consisting of two chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Senate is composed of two members from each state elected for a term of 6 years, one third being elected every two years. The number of representatives from each state to the House of Representatives depends on the number of people in each particular state.

In order to become a law all bills and resolutions must pass both the Houses and must be signed by the President.

The Supreme Court is the highest judicial organ of the United States and the head of the judicial branch of power. The Supreme Court consists of the Chief Justice of the USA and a number of Associate Justices.

There are about 90 district courts in different parts of the United States. The district courts are the lowest ones in the Federal court system. Most of the criminal and civil cases are tried by these courts.

Each state has a constitution similar to the Constitution of the USA 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.

Each state has its own system of courts similar to that of the Federal courts.

Vocabulary Notes

electors – выборщики

to carry out- выполнять

to enforce a law — проводить закон в жизнь

to negotiate – вести переговоры

to pardon - помиловать

to override — не принимать во внимание

to (dis)approve ~ (нe) одобрять

a chamber – палата

in order to — для того, чтобы

similar (to) — подобный

to try a case – рассматривать дело

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State and Local Governments

The fifty states are quite different in size, population, climate, economy, history, and interests. The fifty state governments often differ from one another too. Because they often approach political, social, or economic questions differently, the states have been called "laboratories of democracy". However, they share certain basic structures. The individual states all have republican forms of government with a senate and a house. All have executive branches headed by state governors and independent court systems. Each state also has its own constitution. But all must respect the federal laws and not make laws that contradict those of the other states. Likewise, cities and local authorities must make their laws and regulations so that they fit their own state's constitution.

The Constitution limits the federal government to specific powers, but modern judicial interpretations of the Constitution have expanded federal responsibilities. There has always been a battle between federal and slate's rights. The traditional American district of a too powerful central government has kept the battle going over the years. The states and local communities in the US have rights that in other countries generally belong to the central government.

Local governments are different from state and federal governments because they do not have constitutions. Local governments receive a charter (a plan of government) from the state government. There are different types of local governments: city, county, town and village. The local charter tells us about the organization of the government.

One of the most important functions or duties of local government is the provision of public schools. People often want to take part in making decisions about the schools because they want their children to get a good education. There are special school boards where parents are the members. The school board makes decisions about teacher's salaries, the curriculum and other administrative aspects. They give their opinions about what needs to be done at school.

Local governments have a court system which considers local problems, such as traffic laws and small disputes. Sometimes cases maybe appealed to the state courts. Judges in local courts are sometimes called justices of peace or judge and magistrate. Local courts usually specialize in one area of law, for example, family law, to be sure that a judge is very competent on the subject. Local courts provide efficient legal service.

THE US POLITICAL PARTIES

The Democratic Party is the oldest party in the United States. In 1829, Andrew Jackson became the first Democratic President. Since that time, the issues of the nation and the ideas of the party have changed. Both the major parties have liberal and conservative members but in general people consider the Democrats today more liberal than the Republicans. Democrats often want the government to establish social programs for people in need, such as the poor, the unemployed, and the elderly. They usually say they believe in equal rights (or women and minorities and they oppose nuclear weapon and too much military spending. The symbol of the Democratic Party is the donkey.

The Republican Party, sometimes called the G.O.P, (the Grand Old Party), began in 1854 over the issue of slavery. Republicans oppose slavery. The first Republican candidate to become President was Abraham Lincoln. After the Civil War, Republicans gotinterested in farm, land, and business issues. In general, Republicans vote more conservatively than Democrats. They want government to support big business but not to control the lives of citizens. They often oppose government spending for social programs but support military spending. The party symbol is the elephant.

Vocabulary Notes

nuclear weapon — ядерное оружие

slavery — рабство

ELECTIONS

Anyone who is an American citizen, at least 18 years оf age, and is registered to vote may vote. Each state has the right to determine registration procedures. A number of civic groups, such as the League of Women Voters, are actively trying to register as many people as possible. Voter registration and voting among minorities has dramatically increased during the last twenty years, especially as a result of the Civil Rights Movement.

There is some concern, however, about the number of citizens who could vote in national elections but do not. In the national election of 1984, for instance, only 57.4 percent of all those who could have voted actually did. In 1992 it was 61.3. But then, Americans who want to vote must register, that is put down their names in register before the actual elections take place. There are 50 different registration laws in the US – one set for each state. In the South, voters often have to register not only locally but also at the county seat. In European countries, on the other hand, "permanent registration" of voters is most common. Of those voters in the United States who did register in the 1988 Presidential elections, 86 per cent cast their ballots, in 1992 – 89.8 per cent.

The National Presidential elections consist of two separate campaigns. One is for the nomination of candidates at national party convention, the other is to win the actual election. The first stage is called "primaries". The party convention votes to select the party's official candidate for the presidency. Then starts Presidential campaigns by the candidates. At last in November, the voters go to the polls.

Vocabulary Notes

to register to vote – зарегистрироваться дня голосования

procedure — процедура

minority – меньшинство (зд. национальное)

dramatically – значительно

that is— т.е.

lo set я law – создать закон

county – избирательный округ

to cast a ballot – проголосовать

nomination — выдвижение кандидата

In November voters in each state give their votes for candidates. By practice the electors must vote for the candidate who gets majority of votes in their state even if his majority is very small. Before voting in November every citizen must register in accordance with the laws of his state. This gives him the right of participating in «primaries»². The US constitution guarantees every cit­izen the right to vote but the states with the help of numerous qualifications deprive a lot of people of this right. And those who do vote can only make their choice practically between two sets of candidates — Democrats and Republicans whose political platforms are practically alike.

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