Constitution Articles

The first three articles of the Constitution define the three branches of power and this is why they are called, correspondingly, the Legislative Article (Article 1), the Executive Article (Article 2) and the Judicial Article (Article 3). An important principle of American constitution is civilian supremacy over the military. This principle finds its constitutional basis in article II, section 2, which says that “the president shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States.” Thus, presidential command can move troops and promote and retire generals.

The most ominous reminder ¹ of the president’s role as Commander in Chief is a locked briefcase, sometimes called the “black box” or “football”. This briefcase, always kept near the president, contains the coded orders that authorize nuclear retaliation in the event of a nuclear attack on the United States or its bases abroad.

In the Constitution Article II, section 3, reads that the president “shall from time to time give to the Congress information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient ².” The president annually gives a State of the Union speech to Congress that outlines major legislative goals. Today it is the president’s detailed legislative program that drives the Congress.

By commanding prime network television time to deliver their addresses to Congress, presidents communicate their legislative ideas to the American public as well.

The Constitution gives the president the power to veto (refuse to sign) bills passed by Congress if the president acts within ten days. Congress can override an ordinary veto by a two-thirds vote in each house. Another presidential weapon is the pocket veto ³: a bill is automatically vetoed if the president chooses to take no action on it within a ten-day period. Congress has no opportunity to override ⁴ a pocket veto because the president does not return the bill to it. Usually a veto threat alone forces Congress to modify legislation to accommodate the president’s wishes.

Word list:

1. ominous reminder – угрожающее напоминание

2. “to judge necessary and expedient” – считать необходимыми и уместными

3. the pocket veto – «карманное вето» неподписание президентом США законопроекта до роспуска конгресса

4. override (overrode, overridden) – отвергать, не принимать во внимание

LESSON 6

1. Grammar and Practice:	Relative Clauses
2. Topic Activities:	The Legislative Power in the USA
3. Speaking:	Elections
4. Supplementary reading:	Functions of the Congress

Дата добавления: 2015-11-14