Language practice and comprehension check.

TASK I Active Vocabulary

a) Consult a dictionary to find the meanings of the following words and word combinations.

autocratic(adj.)

bind together(v.)

conspicuous(adj.)

compel(v.)

subservient(adj.)

eligible(adj.); eligibility(n.)

precise(adj.)

at the helm of

vest in(v.)

override(v.)

b) Insert the missing words from the list above.

1. The new president established an … control over the White House staff.

2. Your own needs must be … to that of the group.

3. The campaign had been a … success.

4. The company flourished with such a famous lawyer ….

5. Are you … for social security benefits?

6. The mayor felt … to resign because of the allegations on press.

7. The … details of the sale have not yet been released.

8. In most countries the right to make new laws is … in the people’s representation.

9. Their shared experience in war helped to … the two communities together.

10. The principal … the teacher’s rule and let the children stay outside.

TASK II Complete the following table:

NOUN	VERB	ADJECTIVE
?	?	autocratic
?	to obey	?
Occupant	?	?
?	?	vague
?	to execute	?
confidence		?
?	to expand	?
?	To describe

TASK III Match the words to their synonyms and use them in the sentences of your own.

1. to establish a. develop, elaborate

2. to bind b. honest, reliable

3. subservient c. launch, set going

4. conspicuous d. subordinate

5. entire e. connect, secure

6. to expand f. flawless; authentic

7. perfect g. complete, unbroken

8. faithful h. apparent, evident

9. initiate i. constitute

10. extraordinary j. bizarre, marvelous

TASK IV Add adjectives to the following nouns to use them in a broader context:

a------- rule

u------ power

p--------- office

u------ nation

f---- powers

n----- leadership

s---- executive

p----- description

m---- duties

i----- directives

r------ officer

c-------- declaration

TASK V Prove the same or contrary using the following phrases to express agreement or disagreement.

I agree I don’t really agree

It’s perfectly right Of course, not

Precisely That’s absurd

That’s true That’s not really how I see it

1. The delegates of the Constitutional Convention wanted to guarantee a non- dictatorial rule.

2. The Articles of Confederation failed to create a unified state.

3. The newly established Congress compelled the states to obey its legislation.

4. The task of the framers was to establish an American royalty.

5. ‘Checks and balances’ philosophy is reflected in the idea of presidency.

6. The Congress and courts have rights to limit presidential powers.

7. The requirements for the presidency are set forth in Article I of the Constitution.

8. The constitutional description of the president’s duties is precise and clear-cut.

9. Washington was sure to be elected the first president.

10. Congress cannot override presidential veto.

11. Presidents never initiated military actions without the approval of the Congress.

TASK VI

a) Consider the definition of an idiom.

idiom form or expression peculiar to a language or person,

peculiarity of phraseology approved by usage though

having no meaning not deducible from those of the

separate words

(The Concise Oxford Dictionary)

b) Find the sentence in the text which contains an idiom that means “ in charge or in control” e. g. There is a new man in charge of the company

c) Use the idiom in a broader context.

TASK VII Comment on the following quotation:

Oh, if I could be President and Congress too for just ten minutes. Theodore Roosevelt to Franklin D. Roosevelt

Text 2 The Power of Appointment

The president's power to appoint and remove those subordinate officials was a necessary complement to his power to manage the executive branch. Members of the president's administration are responsible for carrying out the duties of the office they have been selected to fill and to serve the president who appointed them.

Article II, section 2, provides that the president

...shall nominate, and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall appoint ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, judges of the Supreme court and all other officers of the United States, whose appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by law; but the Congress may by law vest the appointment of such inferior officers, as they think proper, in the Presidents alone, in the courts of law, orin the heads of departments.

The clause provided four methods of appointment: presidential appointment with Senate confirmation, presidential appointments without Senate confirmation, appointments by courts of law and appointments by heads of departments. Congress exercisesno power to appoint executive officers though it may set qualifications for offices established by statute. Congressional requirements usually have pertained to citizenship, grade, residence, age, political affiliation and professional competence.

The appointment power of the president has been exercised in conformance with a blend of historical precedents, custom, constitutional requirements and statutory provisions establishedby Congress.

Congress has narrowed the range of officers over whom the president has the discretionary appointment power. The creation of the Civil Service Commission and the steady addition of positionsto the professional civil service list have reduced the scope of the president's exercise of the appointment power. Moreover, the establishment of a professional foreign service and the enumeration of the list of diplomatic posts available forpresidential appointments also narrowed the president's range of appointments.

The court has decided only a few cases with respect to the appointment process but the decisions made, beginning with Marbury v. Madison, control the president's power to nominate and appointand limit his discretionary exercise of the removal power.

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