The political system of the United States of America

1. The political system of the United States of America

"Americans are a nation born of an idea; not the place, but the idea,
created the United States Government."
(Theodore H. White)

2. a) Match the words in the column with the words from the box

Избиратели
voters
Большинство
Отклонить законопроект
majority
to reject a bill
Внести законопроект на рассмотрение
to introduce a bill
Налогообложение
taxation
Внести поправку в законопроект
to amend a bill
Отсылать, передавать законопроект
to refer a bill
Принять закон
Баллотироваться в избирательном округе
to pass a bill
to stand in the constituency
Собирать подписи
to collect signatures
Участвовать в избирательной кампании
Королевская санкция
to stand for election
Royal Assent
Создание законов
Making laws
Обсуждать законопроект
to debate a bill
voters; majority; to refer a bill; Making laws; Royal Assent; to collect signatures; to stand for
election; to debate a bill; to introduce a bill; taxation; to reject a bill; to stand in the
constituency; to amend a bill; to pass a bill

3. b) Complete the table «The system of Government in Great Britain»

Sovereign
Government
Government
Parliament
Parliament
House
Lords
House of
of Lords
Cabinet
Cabinet
Lord Chancellor
Chancellor
Lord
Prime
Prime Minister
Minister
Ministers
House of Commons
Treasure
Foreign
Office
Speaker
MP’s
Lords
Spiritual
Temporal
Home Office
Hereditary
peers
Life
peers
Law lords

4. с) Complete the text «Parliament» with the words and expressions from the box, using them in the appropriate form.

Some people suppose that there are few women and members of the ethnic (a)
_________________in
Parliament. In 1979, Margaret Thatcher became the first
minority
woman Prime Minister, yet she never (b)____________a
woman to her Cabinet, and
appointed
proportion
elected
until 1983 the (c)____________of
women (d)_________to
the House of Commons was
were elected
under 5%. In the election in 1992, 59 women (e)_____________to
the House of
Commons. This total is still below the (f)_______________in
other European countries.
proportion
Although the Conservatives choose few women as their candidates for the House of
Commons' seats, women are very active in the affairs of the party as a whole. The
Labourists have also tried to (g)____________to
women voters by giving women
appeal
(h)____________positions.
In all parties, a higher (i)____________of
women is elected
prominent
proportion
to (j)______________than
the House of Commons.
local councils
to appoint;
`
prominent; local councils; minority; to elect (2);
proportion (3); to appeal.

5. Political system of the USA

"Americans are a nation born of an idea; not
the place, but the idea, created the United
States Government."
(Theodore H. White)

6.

The USA is a federal republic consisting of 50 states. Each state has its
own government. In some ways the USA is like 50 small countries.
The government of the USA acts according to the Constitution which was
signed in 1787. According to the Constitution the USA is a republic and
there is a federal system of government. So, the officials of any rank are
elected by US citizens.
The federal power is located in Washington, D.C. It is based on legislative,
executive and judicial branches of power.
The legislative power is vested in Congress, which consists of 2 houses:
the Senate, which makes laws and the House of Representatives, which
introduces legislation, established federal taxes. There are 435 members in
the House of Representatives and 100 senators in Congress. Each state
elects 2 senators. They are elected for 6 years. Representatives to
Congress are elected every 2 years. The House has 435 members. They
represent the population of "congressional districts" into which each state is
divided. The number of Representatives from each state is based upon its
population. For instance, California, the state with the largest population,
has 45 Representatives, while Delaware has one.

7. The executive branch is headed by the President who is assisted by the Vice President. The President enforces federal laws,

commanded of the
Armed Forces. The President can veto a bill unless congress by a 2-3 vote
shall overrule him. The Vice President acts as chairman of the Senate, and in
the event of the death of the President, assumes the Presidency. The
President of the USA is chosen in nation-wide elections every 4 years
together with the Vice President. The President can’t to be elected more than
twice. The national presidential election consists of 3 stages:
the Primaries, the Conventions and the General election.
The judicial branch is made up of Federal District Courts, 11 Federal Courts
and the Supreme Court. Federal judges are appointed by the President for
life. Federal Courts decide cases involving federal law, conflicts between
citizens of different states and watches over the other 2 branches.
USA has 2 party system.
There are 2 leading parties: The Democrats (are associated with labor) and
the Republicans (are associated with business and_industry).
Symbol of the Democrats is a donkey and the Symbol of the Republicans is
an elephant.

8. Match the words in the column with the words from the box

according to
Согласно
the officials of any rank
Служащие любого ранга
to base on
Основываться на
to be vested in
Принадлежать
to be headed by
Возглавляться
to assist
to overrule
Помогать
Аннулировать
to assume
Принимать обязанности
to be made up
Состоять из
to be appointed by
Назначаться
involving
Касающиеся
to watch over
Надзирать
citizens
Граждане
the legislative branch
Законодательная власть
the judicial branch
Судебная власть
the executive branch
Исполнительная власть
Законодательная
власть;
Граждане;
Помогать;
Служащие любого
ранга;
Аннулировать;
Принимать
обязанности;
Состоять из;
Назначаться;
Надзирать;
Судебная власть;
Согласно;
Основываться на;
Принадлежать;
Возглавляться;
Касающиеся;
Исполнительная власть.

9. Decide whether the following statements are true or false

F
F
T
F
T
T
The government of the USA acts according to the
Constitution which was signed in 1778.
There are 100 members in the House of
Representatives and 435 senators in the
Senate
Congress consists of 2 houses: the Senate and
the House of Representatives.
There are 2 leading parties: The Democrats and
the Labors
The Vice President acts as chairman of the
Senate, and in the event of the death of the
President, assumes the Presidency.
The executive branch is headed by the President
who is assisted by the Vice President.

10.

a
b
d
c
e
g
f
h

11. Complete the table «Three branches of power in the USA»

Power
The legislative branch
The executive branch
The judicial branch
The Congress
President,
his cabinet
Federal District Courts,
Federal Courts and the
Supreme Court.
the
Senate
the House of
Representatives