Political system of the USA.

The USA is a federative republic with presidential form of ruling. The basic law is the constitution, adopted in 1787. Each state has its government and all of them have the dual character of both Federal and State government.
The political system of the USA is divided into three branches: judicial, legislative and executive.

The legislative branch. Supreme legislative power in the American government is vested in Congress: the Senate, and the House of the Representatives. Every state has its own government - State Assemblies or, Legislatures with two houses. According to the constitution of the USA, all citizens over 18 years have a right of voting. The main task of Congress is to make federal laws, to levy federal taxes, to make rules for trade, to declare war, or put foreign treaties into effect.

US Senate has some special powers approves or disapproves the main presidential appointments: Ambassadors, Cabinet Members and federal judges. The House of Representatives has a special power to invent a bill to raise money.
The Senate is composed of 100 members - two from each of 50 states, who are elected for a term of 4 years. Although congressional elections take place every two years, only 1/3 of the Senate is reelected. A Senator must be at least 30ty years old, a citizen of the USA for 9 years and a resident of the state from which he is elected.

The House of Representatives has 450 members. The number of Representatives depends on the population of each state. A Representative must be at least 25 years age, a US citizen for 7 years and live in the state from which he is elected.
A Congress at work. A new Congress session begins on the 3rd of January each odd number year and continues for two years. But most of the work is done in committee meetings. Members of both houses work together in "conference committees", if the chambers have passed different versions of the same bill. If President disapproves it, he vetoes and refusing to sign it, and sends it back to Congress. President’s objection are read and debated. To overcome the President's veto, the bill must get a 2/3 majority in each chamber.

The executive branch. The executive power in the USA belongs to the
President and his Administration. President in the USA is the head of the state and the government, and also the commander-in-chief of the US Armed Forces.

Vice-president and the Cabinet assist the president. The President and Vice- president are elected for a term of four years and can be reelected.
President must be a native-born citizen of the USA and at least 35 years old, and for at least 14 years resident of the USA. Presidential elections are head in two stages - in November and December. The president can veto any bill passed by Congress. President conducts foreign affairs, he signs documents, appoints diplomats, Cabinet Members, federal judges with the consent and advice of the Senate. A Cabinet of 12 members assists the US President. Cabinet secretaries correspond to European ministers. They are heads of different departments and are responsible to President. The House of Representatives may bring charges against the President, by means of impeachment.

Judiciary. The judicial branch is headed by the Supreme Court, which is the only court specifically created by the Constitution. In addition, the
Congress has established 11 federal courts of appeal and 91 federal district courts. Federal judges are appointed for life or voluntary retirement, and can only be removed from office through the process of impeachment and trial in the Congress. The Supreme Court today consists of a chief justice and eight associate justices.

Exercise 1.Complete the sentences with the answer (a,b,c)

1. The Senate is composed of 100 members - two from each:

1. District
2. Constituency
3. State

1. The number of Representatives depends on:

1. The territory
2. Party membership
3. Population

1. But most of the work is done in:

1. The Senate
2. The House of Representatives
3. The committee

1. Each House has the right to introduce bills on…

1. Home policy
2. Foreign policy
3. Any subject

1. The House of Representatives has:

1. 2 representatives from the state
2. ¾ proportion from the number of senators
3. 450 deputies

1. If President is disapproves, he vetoes and refusing to sign it, and sends it back to

1. The Supreme Court
2. Congress
3. House of Representatives

1. Federal judges are appointed for:

1. At least 9 years
2. For 7 years
3. For life period

Exercise 2. Find the synonyms to the words:

Ruling, basic, adopt, government, dual, character, three branches, Supreme, a right of voting, special powers, to be is composed of, begins, to veto, a resident.

Exercise 3. Read and translate the international words:

Federative, republican, form, presidential, form, basic, constitution, effect, a resident, session, conference, committee, bill, a President documents, December.

Exercise 4. Find the antonyms to the words:

Democratic, federative, significance, conflict, independently, internal, suspend, Supreme, to appoint, to form, basic, State government, a native-born citizen, disapprove.

Exercise 5. Match these words and combinations with Russian.

1. the Federative republic 1. помогать
2. To assist 2. Коренной (гражданин)
3. Native - born 3. воплощение
4. congressional elections 4. Федеративная республика
5. Bill 5. Назначение
6. appointment 6. Выражение недоверия

h impeachment 7. законопроект

i) objection 8. протест

j) bring charges 9) добровольная отставка

k) voluntary retirement 10) выдвигать обвинения

Exercise 6. Translate into English the following sentences:

1. У каждого штата своё правительство: Ассамблея штата, состоящая из двух палат.
2. Согласно конституции, любой гражданин старше 18 лет обладает избирательным правом.
3. Хотя выборы в конгресс проходят каждые два года, 2/3 сенаторов переизбирают.
4. Количество членов в пату представителей зависит от населенности штата.
5. Президент – глава государства и правительства, он также является главнокомандующим вооруженных сил США.
6. Президент может приостановить любой законопроект, принятый конгрессом.
7. Дополнительно конгресс создал 11 федеральных аппеляционных судов и 91 федеральный окружной суд.

Exercise 7. Translate into Russian paragraphs 2, 3 and 6, 9.

Exercise 8. Answer the questions:

1. Do you think that the role of the head of state in the USA is ceremonial like in Great Britain?
2. Which institutions represent the legislative and executive branches of power in the USA?
3. Who is the head of the executive branch in the USA?
4. Which officials in the USA are elected and which are appointed?
5. Is the head of state elected directly by the people in the USA?
6. Can the people of the USA exercise their power through their representatives?
7. Can the people of the USA exercise their power through their representatives?
8. What activities are the 2 branches of power involved in?
9. Which institution represents the judicial branch of government?
10. Why do we say that the USA judicial branch is more powerful than in some other countries?

Ex ercise 9. Give definition of the American Parliament.

Exercise 10. Render the text.

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