Vocabulary Notes

the Bill of Rights – Билль О Правах

checks and balances – сдержки и противовесы (принцип взаимозависимости

и взаимоограничения трех ветвей государственной

власти в США)

the executive branch – исполнительная власть

the legisla­tive branch – законодательная власть

the United Nations Charter – устав Организации Объединенных Наций

Exercise 1. Answer the questions:

1. What was the first agreement the former colonies first operated under?

2. Was this agreement working well?

3. Where did the delegates from the states meet in 1787?

4. When was the Constitution officially adopted?

5. Is unlimited power given to the President under the Constitution?

6. What liberties and rights were given to Americans under the Constitution?

7. How did Americans consider their government?

Exercise 2. Are these statements true or false? Correct the false statements:

1. The British colonies, now "the United States of America," first operated under an agreement called the Articles of Confederation (1781).

2. The central, federal government was not strong enough, with too few powers for defense, trade, and taxation.

3. The Constitution is the oldest one being still in force in the world.

4. Americans first took for themselves the liberties and rights that elsewhere were the privileges of an elite few.

5. All governments and governmental groups, federal, state, and local, should operate within the guidelines of the Constitution.

6. Over the past two centuries, the Constitution hasn’t had any considerable influence outside the United States.

7. The first American Constitution is not in force now.

Exercise 3. Check your vocabulary. Write these words from the text correctly, make up your own sentences with the words:

Rwope, mrugatne, tctosntinoui, reelfda, tiisrp, hncarb, nioilerg, ytpporre, idocbneirasel.

Exercise 4. Make up your own sentences with the following words and expressions:

The federal government, under the Constitution, the legisla­tive branch, agreement,

separate, atti­tude, a ruling class, governmental officials, declaration, echo.

Exercise 5. Translate into Russian:

The United States Constitution written in 1787 established the country’s political system and is the basis for its laws. In 2000 year, the USA has experienced enormous growth and change. Yet the Constitution works as well today as when it was written. One reason is that the Constitution can be amended or changed. (For example, the Fifteenth amendment gave Black Americans the right to vote.) Another reason is that the Constitution is flexible: its basic principles can be applied and interpreted differently.

Exercise 6. Retell the text “The Constitution and the Bill of Rights”.

Text 3 The American System of Government

The governmental systems in the United States is federal, state, county, and local - are quite easy to understand. They are quite easy to understand, that is, if you grew up with them and studied them in school. One foreign expert complained, for example, that the complexity of just the cities' political and governmental structure is "almost unbelievable." The "real Chicago," he explained, "spreads over 2 states, 6 counties, 10 towns, 30 cities, 49 townships, and 110 villages. Overlaid upon this complex pattern are 235 tax districts and more than 400 school districts..."

There are several basic principles which are found at all levels of American government. One of these is the "one person, one vote" principle which says that legislators are elected from geographical districts directly by the voters. Under this principle, all election districts must have about the same number of residents.

Another fundamental principle of American government is that because of the system of checks and balances, compromise in politics is a matter of necessity, not choice. For example, the House of Representatives controls spending and finance, so the President must have its agreement for his proposals and programs. He cannot de­clare war, either, without the approval of Congress. In foreign affairs, he is also strongly limited. Any treaty must first be approved by the Senate. If there is no approval, there's no treaty. The rule is "the President proposes, but Congress disposes." What a President wants to do, therefore, is often a different thing from what a Presi­dent is able to do.

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