Text 5 the European court

ДЕРЖАВНА ПОДАТКОВА СЛУЖБА УКРАЇНИ

НАЦІОНАЛЬНИЙ УНІВЕРСИТЕТ ДЕРЖАВНОЇ ПОДАТКОВОЇ СЛУЖБИ УКРАЇНИ

НАВЧАЛЬНИЙ ПОСІБНИК

“ENGLISH FOR LAW”

Для студентів-юристів з курсу

“Іноземна мова за професійним спрямуванням”

Ірпінь 2013

Навчальний посібник “ENGLISH FOR LAW” для студентів-юристів з курсу “Іноземна мова за професійним спрямуванням” складено у відповідності до програми з дисципліни «Іноземна мова за професійним спрямуванням» для підготовки бакалаврів денної та заочної форми навчання галузі знань 0304 «Право» напряму підготовки 6.030401 «Право».

Автори: Н.В. Гомон, к. філол.н., доцент

Т.П. Дружченко, ст. викладач

Н. С. Дьома, ст. викладач

О. В. Лозинська, ст. викладач

Рецензенти: О.Б. Скляренко, к. філол. н., доцент кафедри іноземної філології і методики навчання ДВНЗ «Переяслав-Хмельницький державний педагогічний університет імені Григорія Сковороди»

Л. В. Чайка, к. філол. н., доцент, професор кафедри сучасних європейських мов НУДПСУ

Розглянуто і схвалено

на засіданні кафедри сучасних європейських мов,

протокол № 4 від 15 жовтня 2013р.

Завідувач кафедри Л.В. Онучак, к. п. н., доцент, професор

кафедри сучасних європейських мов НУДПСУ

Розглянуто і схвалено вченою радою факультету фінансів та банківської справи, протокол № 4 від 16 жовтня 2013р.

Завідувач навчально-методичного відділу О.О. Бойко-Слобожан

Реєстраційний №_______

ПЕРЕДМОВА

Навчальний посібник «English for Law» призначений для розвитку англомовних навичок і умінь студентів I – II курсів юридичних спеціальностей.

Посібник складено згідно з вимогами робочої навчальної програми дисципліни «Іноземна мова за професійним спрямуванням» для підготовки бакалавра та охоплює необхідний базовий лексичний мінімум.

Основною метою посібника є розвиток навичок роботи з літературою за фахом, з підготовкою студентів до самостійного читання, розуміння й перекладу оригінальної літератури юридичного спрямування, а також активізація мовленнєвої комунікації на основі засвоєної юридичної термінології. Цій меті підпорядкована структура передтекстових та післятекстових вправ, спрямованих на зняття мовних і мовленнєвих труднощів та кращого засвоєння професійної лексики.

Посібник побудований на поступовому ускладненні фахового матеріалу. Правова лексика вводиться тематично і закріплюється в різноманітних вправах. Завдання кожного циклу наступні: прочитати і вивчити нові слова і словосполучення; дібрати англійські еквіваленти до поданих слів і виразів; виконати вправи на підстановку пропущених слів у реченні; прочитати та перекласти тематичний текст; відповісти на запитання; перекласти фахові терміни.

Навчальний посібник «English for Law» містить у собі професійно орієнтовані оригінальні тексти, що охоплюють широкий спектр знань у галузі права. Таким чином, посібник має яскраво виражену професійну спрямованість і розрахований на повний курс навчання та адресований викладачам і студентам вищих навчальних закладів, де вивчення іноземної мови не є спеціальністю.

Матеріали, що були використані для читання і перекладу є результатом ретельної підбірки, що відповідає прагненню авторів представити якомога більший спектр правових матеріалів.

ЗМІСТ

Передмова. 2

Зміст. 4

UNIT 1 International Law.. 6

Text 1. International law............................................................................... 6

Text 2. The system of international law........................................................ 8

Text 3. Roman law...................................................................................... 11

Text 4. European Union law....................................................................... 13

Text 5. The European Court....................................................................... 16

Text 6. United Nations Organization.......................................................... 19

Text 7. International courts......................................................................... 21

UNIT 2 Judicial System and Law Enforcement Bodies of Ukraine. 24

Text 1 Judiciary in Ukraine......................................................................... 24

Text 2 Judicial system in Ukraine............................................................... 26
Text 3 The Supreme Court in Ukraine........................................................ 29
Text 4 The Constitutional Court in Ukraine............................................... 31
Text 5 Ministry of the Interior.................................................................... 34

Text 6 The Prosecutor’s Office................................................................... 36

UNIT 3 The Court System of Great Britain and the USA.. 39

Text 1. The court system of England and Wales......................................... 39

Text 2. Administrative tribunals in the UK................................................. 43

Text 3. Coroner’s courts in the UK............................................................ 45

Text 4. The structure of the US court system............................................. 48

Text 5. The state court systems.................................................................. 50

Text 6. How does the US court system work?............................................ 53

Text 7. Judges. Nature of the work............................................................. 56

UNIT 4 Criminal Law.. 60

Text 1 The nature of criminal law............................................................... 60

Text 2 Crime............................................................................................... 63

Text 3 Definition and elements of crime in English law.............................. 66

Text 4 Crime investigation in different countries........................................ 68

Text 5 Types of punishment....................................................................... 71

Text 6 Classification of crimes.................................................................... 75

Text 7 Criminal trial................................................................................... 78

Video “Law and order in Great Britain”..................................................... 82

UNIT 5 Financial Law.. 83

Text 1. What is financial law?..................................................................... 83

Text 2. The purposes of financial laws....................................................... 86

Text 3. Financial law: bank reforms............................................................ 89

Text 4 Finance and financial system.......................................................... 91

Text 5 The state budget of Ukraine............................................................. 94

UNIT 6 Monetary and Banking Systems in Ukraine. 97

Text 1 Banking systems.............................................................................. 97

Text 2 Money............................................................................................ 100

Text 3 Banks............................................................................................. 103

Text 4. Banking in Ukraine....................................................................... 105

Text 5. National Bank of Ukraine............................................................. 107

TEXT 6. Functions of the National Bank of Ukraine............................... 110

Unit 7 State Tax System in Ukraine. 112

Text 1 Taxation........................................................................................ 112

Text 2 Types of taxes............................................................................... 115

Text 3 State tax system in Ukraine........................................................... 119

Text 4 The state tax service...................................................................... 121

Text 5 Tax militia.....................................................................................124

Text 6 Tax legislation in Ukraine.............................................................. 128

Unit 8 Taxes ans Taxation in Ukraine. 133

Text 1 Taxation........................................................................................ 133

Text 2 Taxes and taxation in Ukraine....................................................... 135

Text 3 National taxes and obligatory payments....................................... 138

Text 4 Local taxes and duties.................................................................... 141

Text5 Taxpayer’s liabilities...................................................................... 143

Text 6 Taxpayer’s rights.......................................................................... 146

Reference List 150

UNIT 1 INTERNATIONAL LAW

TEXT 1 INTERNATIONAL LAW

Exercise 1.1 Study the vocabulary:

1) to regulate the affairs	1) врегулювати справи/проблеми
2) supranational organization	2) наднаціональні організація
3) domestic	3) внутрішній
4) political support	4) політична підтримка
5) enforcement	5) втілення в життя
6) binding	6) обов’язковий; обмежувальний
7) source	7) джерело
8) custom	8) звичка; звичай
9) treaty	9) договір, угода
10) failure	10) невдача, неуспіх, провал;
11) to prevent	11) попереджати, відвертати
12) lack the capacity	12) нестача, відсутність правоздатності
13) to penalize	13) карати, штрафувати
14) disobedience	14) непокора; супротив
15) framework	15) структура, рамки, межі
16) to be on track	16) намічати курс
17) mutual benefit	17) взаємна користь, вигода

Exercise 1.2 Read and translate the text:

International law regulates the affairs between sovereign nation states in everything from trade, to the environment, to military action. It can refer to three things; public-international law, private international law or conflict of laws and the law of supranational organizations.

There are some important differences between international laws and those created inside individual states. Domestic laws are passed by legislative bodies, most of which have some popular political support. International Laws, on the other hand, are created by agreements among governments. Enforcement of international law is also different. Many international agreements are not binding - for example. UN General Resolution.

International law can refer to three things: public international law, private international law or conflict of laws and the law of supranational organisations.

Public international law concerns relationships between sovereign nations. The sources for public international law development are custom, practice and treaties between sovereign nations, such as the Geneva Conventions. Public international law can be formed by international organisations, such as the United Nations (which was established after the failure of the League of Nations to prevent the Second World War), the International Labour Organisation, the World Trade Organisation, or the International Monetary Fund. Public international law has a special status as law because there is no international police force, and courts (e.g. the International Court of Justice as the primary UN judicial organ) lack the capacity to penalise disobedience. However, a few bodies, such as the WTO, have effective systems of binding arbitration and dispute resolution backed up by trade sanctions.

Conflict of laws (or "private international law" in civil law countries) concerns which jurisdiction a legal dispute between private parties should be heard in and which jurisdiction's law should be applied. Today, businesses are increasingly capable of shifting capital and labour supply chains across borders, as well as trading with overseas businesses, making the question of which country has jurisdiction even more pressing.

European Union law is the first and, so far, only example of a supranational legal framework. Given the trend of increasing global economic integration, many regional agreements – especially the Union of South American Nations – are on track to follow the same model. In the EU, sovereign nations have gathered their authority in a system of courts and political institutions. These institutions are allowed the ability to enforce legal norms both against or for member states and citizens in a manner which is not possible through public international law. As the European Court of Justice said in the 1960s, European Union law constitutes "a new legal order of international law" for the mutual social and economic benefit of the member states.

Exercise 1.3 Complete the sentences and choose the best variant:

1. International law regulates the affairs between …

a) neighbours

b) friends

c) states

2. Domestic laws are passed by …

a) legislative bodies

b) executive bodies

c) judicial bodies

3. International Laws are created by …

a) the Acts of the President

b) ordinary people

c) agreements among governments

4. The source for public International law are …

a) habits and traditions

b) customs, practice and treaties

c) constitutions and legal documents

5. European Union law is the example of …

a) international trade organization

b) a supranational legal framework

c) intergovernmental agreement

Exercise 1.4 Make up word-combinations using the words from two groups.

1) sovereign	a) organization
2) international	b) organ
3) police	c) dispute
4) judicial	d) nation
5) legal	e) force

Exercise 1.5 Fill in the gaps and translate in a written form:

A) organizations b) international law c) military action d) enforcement

E) legislative bodies

1 … regulates the affairs between sovereign nation states in everything from trade, to the environment, to 2 … It can refer to three things: public-international law, private international law or conflict of laws and the law of supranational 3....

There are some important differences between international laws and those created inside individual states. Domestic laws are passed by 4 …, most of which have some popular political support International Laws, on the other hand, are created by agreements among governments. 5 … of international law is also different. Many international agreements are not binding - for example UN General Resolution.

Exercise 1.6 Define whether the statements are true (T) or false (F):

1. Public international law concerns relationships between sovereign nations.

2. The sources for public international law development are regulations.

3. Public international law can be formed by international organizations.

4. Public international law has not a special status.

5. European Union law is the only example of a supranational legal framework.

TEXT 2 THE SYSTEM OF INTERNATIONAL LAW

Exercise 2.1 Study the vocabulary:

1) long-standing customs	1) давні звичаї
2) belligerent	2) воююча сторона
3) international tension	3) міжнародне напруження
4) enforcement of international law	4) примусове правозастосування міжнародного права
5) legal entity	5) юридична особа
6) legal equality	6) правова рівність (паритет)
7) restriction	7) обмеження
8) warfare	8) війна, прийоми ведення війни
9) environmental pollution	9) забруднення довкілля
10) global warming	10) глобальне потепління
11) to restore international security	11) відновлювати міжнародну безпеку
12) in certain respects	12) у певній мірі

Exercise 2.2 Read and translate the text:

International Law means principle, rules, and standards that govern nations and other participants in international affairs in their relations with one another. International law is the law of the international community. No single nation can create or modify international law. No statute of one nation or treaty between two nations can create global obligations. International law is not created, developed, or abolished by the demand of one country or a small group of countries. It exists as a result of the common consent and general acceptance of many nations.

Most international law consists of long-standing customs, provisions agreed to in treaties, and generally accepted principles of law recognized by nations. Some international law is also created by the rulings of international courts and organizations.

The rules of international law are generally divided into laws of peace, of war, and of neutrality. Peace is considered the normal relationship between nations. The laws of peace define the rights and duties of nations at peace with one another. Each country has a right to existence, legal equality, and jurisdiction over its territory, ownership of property, and diplomatic relations with other countries. Many of the laws of peace deal with recognizing countries as members of the family of nations and recognizing new governments in old nations. War is still recognized under traditional international law. Warring states are called belligerents. The laws of war provide define restrictions on methods of warfare. Under international law, belligerents are forbidden to move troops across neutral territory. Neutral waters and ports must not be used for naval operations.

The purposes of international law include resolution of problems of a regional or global scope (such as environmental pollution or global warming), regulation of areas outside the control of any one nation (such as outer space or the high seas), and adoption of common rules for multinational activities (such as air transport or postal service).

International law also aims to maintain peaceful international relations when possible and resolve international tensions peacefully when they develop, to prevent needless suffering during wars, and to improve the human condition during peacetime. Enforcement of international law is often difficult because nations are sovereign powers that may put their own interests ahead of those of the international community. Enforcement may be effectively achieved through the actions of individual nations, agencies of international organizations such as the United Nations (UN), and international courts. The United Nations Security Council can authorize economic sanctions, diplomatic sanctions, or military force to maintain or restore international peace and security.

International law began as a system governing the relations among sovereign states, and states have always been the primary legal entities affected by international law. As the global system has become more complex, however, international law has come to recognize and regulate international organizations, businesses, nonprofit entities, and individuals. The emergence of international human rights law and, more recently, international criminal law reflects the fact that individuals today are direct subjects of international law in certain respects.

Exercise 2.3 Complete the sentences and choose the best variant:

1. International law is the law of …

a) a small group of countries

b) the international community

c) one nation

2. International law exists as a result of …

a) neutrality of some countries

b) common concept of many nations

c) actions of individual nations

3. The purpose of international law include resolution of …

a) problems of a regional or global scope

b) domestic problems

c) labour conflicts

4. The laws of war provide …

a) existing, carried on between nations

b) agreements made between two parties

c) definite restrictions on methods of warfare

5. Warring states are called …

a) ownership of property

b) belligerents

c) legal entities

Exercise 2.4 Match the following terms with their definitions:

1) custom	a) having undisputed right to make decisions and act accordingly
2) rule	b) a generally accepted practice or habit, convention; long – established practice having the force of law
3) sovereign	c) a binding legal agreement or a moral responsibility
4) organization	d) an association or society of people working together to some end
5) obligation	e) an accepted method of behaviour or procedure a binding legal agreement or a moral responsibility

Exercise 2.5 Fill in the gaps and translate in a written form:

A) nation b) the demand c) courts d) principles e) govern

F) international g) community h) modify i) common j) law

International Law means principle, rules, and standards that 1 … nations and other participants in 2 … affairs in their relations with one another. International law is the law of the international 3 … No single 4 … can create or 5 … international law. No statute of one nation or treaty between two nations can create global obligations. International law is not created, developed, or abolished by 6 … of one country or a small group of countries. It exists as a result of the 7 … consent and general acceptance of many nations.

Most international 8 … consists of long-standing customs, provisions agreed to in treaties, and generally accepted 9 … of law recognized by nations. Some international law is also created by the rulings of international 10 … and organizations.

TEXT 3 ROMAN LAW

Exercise 3.1 Study the vocabulary:

1) Roman Law	1) Римське право
2) ancient Rome	2) античний Рим
3) BC (скор. before Christ)	3) до нашої ери
4) AD (скор. лат. anno Domini)	4) нашої ери
5) to comprise	5) охоплювати
6) legal glossary	6) юридична термінологія
7) to apply the law arbitrarily	7) застосовувати право довільно
8) to prevent	8) запобігати
9) the highest degree of perfection	9) найвищий рівень досконалості
10) the legal protection	10) правовий захист
11) testament	11) заповіт
12) to be fit	12) бути придатним
13) coherent system	13) чітка система
14) indispensable	14) дуже потрібний, обов’язковий

Exercise 3.2 Read and translate the text:

Roman law is the legal system of ancient Rome, and the legal developments which occurred before the 7th century AD – when the Roman-Byzantine state adopted Greek as the language of government. The development of Roman law comprises more than a thousand years of jurisprudence.

Historically, "Roman law" also denotes the legal system applied in most of Western Europe, until the end of the 18th century. In Germany, Roman law practice remained longer, having been the Holy Roman Empire (963-1806); thus the great influence upon the civil law systems in Europe. Moreover, the English and North American Common law also were influenced by Roman law, notably in the Latinate legal glossary.

The first legal text is the Law of the Twelve Tables, dating from mid-5th century BC. It was proposed in it that the law should be written, in order to prevent magistrates from applying the law arbitrarily.

The first 250 years of the current era are the period during which Roman law and Roman legal science reached the highest degree of perfection. The law of this period is often referred to as classical period of Roman law. The literary and practical achievements of the jurists of this period gave Roman law its unique shape.

There have been several reasons why Roman law was favoured in the Middle Ages. It was because Roman law regulated the legal protection of property and the equality of legal subjects and their wills, and because it prescribed the possibility that the legal subjects could dispose their property through testament.

Today, Roman law is no longer applied in legal practice. However, even where the legal practice is based on a code, many rules deriving from Roman law apply: No code completely broke with the Roman tradition. Rather, the provisions of Roman law were fitted into a more coherent system and expressed in the national language. For this reason, knowledge of Roman law is indispensable to understand the legal systems of today. Thus, Roman law is often still a mandatory subject for law students in civil law jurisdictions.

As steps towards a unification of the private law in the member states of the European Union are being taken, the old Commune, which was the common basis of legal practice everywhere, but allowed for many local variants, is seen by many as a model.

Exercise 3.3 Complete the sentences and choose the best variant:

1. Roman law is the legal system of …

a) Kyiv Russ

b) ancient Rome

c) Byzantine Empire

In the 7th century AD the Roman-Byzantine state adopted Greek as...

a) the language of government

b) the language of church

c) the official language

Roman law also denotes the … applied in most of Western Europe

a) political system

b) court system

c) legal system

4. The first legal text is …

a) the Law of the Twelve Tables

b) the Bill of Rights

c) Habeas Corpus

5. Today, Roman law is no longer applied in …

a) private life

b) legal practice

c) official documents

Exercise 3.4 Make up word-combinations using the words from two groups

1) law	a) system
2) legal	b) language
3) Roman	c) Union
4) civil	d) era
5) unique	e) subject
6) the Middle	f) law
7) national	g) practice
8) mandatory	h) Empire
9) current	i) shape
10) the European	j) Ages

Exercise 3.5 Fill in the gaps and translate in a written form:

A) Western Europe b) jjurisprudence c) the language of government d) civil law systems e) Roman law practice f) legal system

Roman law is the 1 … of ancient Rome, and the legal developments which occurred before the 7th century AD – when the Roman-Byzantine state adopted Greek as 2 … The development of Roman law comprises more than a thousand years of 3....

Historically, "Roman law" also denotes the legal system applied in most of 4 …, until the end of the 18th century. In Germany, 5 … remained longer, having been the Holy Roman Empire (963-1806); thus the great influence upon the 6 … in Europe.

Exercise 3.6 Match the following terms with their definitions:

1) code	a) the study of law and the principles on which laws are based
2) jurisprudence	b) a nation or territory considered as an organized political community under one government
3) tradition	c) a set of rules about how people should behave or about how something must be done
4) state	d) a custom or belief that has existed for a long time
5) law	e) the system of rules which a particular country or community recognizes as regulating the actions of its members and which it may enforce by the imposition of penalties

TEXT 4 EUROPEAN UNION LAW

Exercise 4.1 Study the vocabulary:

1)the unique legal system	1) унікальна правова система
2)operate	2) діяти, працювати
3)override	3) не брати до уваги, нехтувати
4)to constitute	4) встановлювати, засновувати
5)mutual benefit	5) взаємна користь, вигода
6)to evolve	6) розвиватися, еволюціонувати
7) toencompass	7) містити в собі
8)accession	8) поповнення, збільшення
9)regulation	9) інструкція, обов’язкова постанова
10)transpose	10) переносити, переміщувати
11)persuasive	11) спонука, мотив

Exercise 4.2 Read and translate the text:

The Law of the European Union is the unique legal system which operates alongside the laws of Member States of the European Union.

The EU law has direct effect within the legal system of its Member States, and overrides national law in many areas, especially in terms of economic and social policy.

The European Union is not a federal government, nor is it an intergovernmental organization. It constitutes a new legal order in international law for the mutual social and economic benefit of the Member States.It is sometimes classified as supernational law.

The European Union law has evolved gradually over the last 56 years. When the Treaty of Paris was signed in 1951, it established the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), and comprised just 6 Member States.

Five years later the European Economic Community (EC) was founded by the same six Member States, and then they signed EUROATOM (European Autonomic Energy Community Treaty).

The original aim of the Community was economic integration: to create a common market, later defined as a Single Internal Market, in which there could be free trade area, where Member States’ frontiers) between themselves, and a customs union, in which all members agreed to impose on goods coming into the area from non-member states a common level of duty (the Common Customs Tariff).

Now there are around 500 million EU citizens in 27 Member States subject to the EU law, making it one of the most encompassing modern legal systems in the world.

The sources of the EU law are:

1) the Treaties – primary legislation (the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (Lisbon Treaty), the Treaty on the European Union Maastricht Treaty;

2) secondary legislation enacted by the European Union (such as regulations and directives);

3) general principles, including fundamental human rights, and citizenship of the EU for every national of a Member State;

4) decisions of the European Court.

The EU Treaties are directly applicable in every Member State. Accession to the Community limits the power of national governments and affects national sovereignty – the power to govern. The European Union law has supremacy over, that is, overrides national law.

There are 5 types of legal acts the European Union uses:

· treaties;

· regulations;

· directives;

· decisions of the European Court;

· recommendations and opinions.

Exercise 4.3 Complete the sentences and choose the best variant:

1. The Law of the European Union is …

a) the unique legal system

b) the antique political system

c) the ancient economic system

The European Union Law overrides … in many areas

a) national interests

b) national law

c) national sovereignty

The European Union constitutes … in international law

a) general principles

b) social policy

c) a new legal order

4. The original aim of the Community was …

a) economic integration

b) to override national law

c) medical care

5. The EU law is one of the most encompassing modern legal systems in…

a) the Middle Ages

b) the world

c) the nearest future

Exercise 4.4 Match the following terms with their definitions:

1) a treaty	a) a governmental or ministerial order having the force of law
2) regulation	b) an official or authoritative instruction
3)recommendation	c) a conclusion or resolution reached after consideration
4) directive	d) a suggestion or proposal as to the best course of action, especially one put forward by an authoritative body
5) decision	e) a written agreement between countries in which they agree to do a particular thing or to help each other.

Exercise 4.5 Decide whether the statements are true or false (T/F)

1. The Law of the European Union operates alongside the laws of Member States of the European Union.

2. The EU law overrides national law in many areas.

3. The EU Treaties are directly applicable in every Member State.

4. There are fifty types of legal acts the European Union uses.

5. F rom the very beginning the aim of the European Economic Community (EC) was economic integration

Exercise 4.6 Fill in the gaps and translate in a written form:

A) economic and social policy b) government c) supernational law d) benefit e) member states

The Law of the European Union is the unique legal system which operates alongside the laws of 1 … of the European Union.

The EU law has direct effect within the legal system of its Member States, and overrides national law in many areas, especially in terms of 2 …

The European Union is not a federal 3 …, nor is it an intergovernmental organization. It constitutes a new legal order in international law for the mutual social and economic 4 … of the Member States. It is sometimes classified as 5 ….

TEXT 5 THE EUROPEAN COURT

Exercise 5.1 Study the vocabulary:

1)to avoid	1) уникати
2) matter	2) тема, питання, предмет обговорення
3) deliberation	3) обмірковування, обговорення
4) common accord	4) загальне схвалення
5) to hold office	5) обіймати посаду
6) beyond double	6) безсумнівно
7) uneven number	7) не парне число
8) to preside over the court	8) головувати в суді
10) ruling on	9) постанова, рішення суду
11) to supervise compliance	10) перевіряти відповідність

Exercise 5.2 Read and translate the text:

The European court is the highest court in the European Union. The Court was established in 1952 by the Treaty of Paris (1951) and is based in Luxemburg City- unlike most other Union institutions which are based in Brussels. The EC is the highest court of the European Union in matters of European Union law, but not national law with each Member having its own legal system. It make sure that EU-level legislation is interpreted and applied in the same manner across the whole European Union. This is to avoid national courts interpreting the same legislation differently. Its decisions are binding, ensuring Member States, and institutions follow the law. For example if a state fails to implement a directive or the Commission acts outside its power. The Court can also settle legal disputes between states, institutions, business and individuals. It is the responsibility of the European Court to ensure that the law is observed in the interpretation and application of the Treaties of the European Union and of the provisions laid down by the competent European Union institutions. To enable it to carry out that task, the Court has wide jurisdiction to hear various types of action.

The European Court is composed one judge per Member State and eight Advocates General. The Court is led by a President. The President of the European Court is elected from among the judges every 3 years. The President presides over hearings and deliberations, directing judicial business and administration (for example, the time table of the Court). The judges and Advocates General are appointed by common accord of the governments of the Member States and hold office for a term of 6 years.

They are chosen from legal experts whose independence is beyond doubt and who possess the qualifications required for appointment to the highest judicial offices in their respective countries or who are of recognized competence. However, as the European Court can only sit with an uneven number of judges, additional judges have been appointed at times when there was an even number of Member States.

The European Court sits as a full Court, in a great Chamber (13 Judges), or in chambers of three or five Judges. It sits in a Grand Chamber when a Member State or Community institution that is a partly to the proceeding so requests, or in particularly complex or important cases. Other cases are heard by a chamber of three or five Judges. The quorum for the full Court is 15. The Court acts as a collegiate body: decisions are made by the Court rather than by individual judges.

There are other courts that consider legal problems in the European Union. The other body of the European Union judicial system is the General Court which give rulings on certain cases, particularly those brought by private individuals, companies and some organizations. It also deals with competition law.

The Civil Service Tribunal deals with disputes between the European Union and the European civil service, and Court of Auditors considers problems of the Union’s accounts.

The European Court should not be confused with the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, which is part of the Council of Europe, which supervises compliance with the European Convention on Human Rights and functions are the highest European court for human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Exercise 5.3 Complete the sentences and choose the best variant:

1. The European court is the highest court in …

a) the Soviet Union

b) the European Union

c) the European Economic Community

2. The European Court is based in …

a) Brussels

b) Tokyo

c) Luxemburg

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