I. US GOVERNMENT

The USA is a presidential republic. The legislative branch of the US Government, or the Congress, represents all of the American states. It consists of two parts: the House of Representatives and the Senate. Each state has two senators, who are elected every 6 years.

The job of the Congress is to make laws. The President can veto a bill. The Congress can pass the law anyway if it gets a two-thirds majority vote. The Congress can also declare war. The House of Representatives can also impeach the President. This means that the house can charge the President with a crime. In this case, the Senate will put the President on trial. The Senate votes to approve the justices that the President appoints to the Supreme Court.

The executive branch of the government puts the country laws into effect. The President of the United States is a member of the executive branch. The President is elected every four years and cannot serve more than two terms. The Vice-President of the USA is a president of the Senate. When the President receives a bill from the Congress, he must sign it, and then the bill becomes a law. However if he disagrees with the law, he can veto it. The President can also ask the Congress to declare war. He also appoints the justices to the Supreme Court. He must do his job according to the Constitution, or he may be impeached.

The judicial branch of the government is the system of courts in the United States. Its job is to enforce laws. The Supreme Court is the highest court in the country. It consists of 9 justices: one Chief Justice and 8 Associate Justices. The President appoints justices but the Senate must approve them. The judicial branch works together with the legislative and executive branches to protect the Constitution and the rights of people.

Vocabulary:

the House of Representatives- Палата представителей

the Senate- Сенат

to impeach the President- подвергнуть президента импичменту

to charge- обвинить в каком-либо преступлении

a term- срок полномочий

the Supreme Court- Верховный Суд

Chief Justice- Главный Судья

Associate Justice- Член Верховного Суда

2. Make up your own sentences with the following verbs. You may use the text:

to elect; to appoint; to sign; to consist; to become; to vote.

 

3. Finish the sentences according to the text:

1. The job of the Congress is………………………………………….

2. The President appoints……………………………………………..

3. The Senate votes.…………………………………………………...

4. The Supreme Court is………………………………………………

5. The Supreme Court consists of………………………………….....

6. The judicial branch is………………………………………………

 

4. Find the English equivalents for:

- представлять;

- накладывать вето на законопроект;

- приводить в действие;

- объявить войну;

- привлечь к суду (судебному разбирательству);

- проводить закон в жизнь;

- назначать.

 

5. Answer the questions:

1. What branches does the government of the USA consist of?

2. Who does the highest executive power belong to?

3. Who represents the legislative power in the USA?

4. What is the judicial branch of the government? What is its job?

5. What can you say about the Supreme Court of the USA?

 

6. Speak on:

1. The government in your country.

 

 

II. EXECUTIVE BRANCH: PRESIDENT, VICE-PRESIDENT AND THE CABINET

 

1. Read and translate the text:

The executive branch, which includes the President, the Vice-President and the Cabinet consisting of Secretaries of the executive departments, is responsible for administering and executing the laws.

The President of the United States is elected every four years to a four-year term of office, with no more than two full terms allowed. The President is elected directly by the voters (through state electors). He must be a native-born citizen at least 35 years old and live in the U.S. for not less than 14 years. The President is the head of the state and the government, and the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. He makes foreign policy, approves or vetoes laws, appoints judges, advisors and ambassadors, he can pardon a person for a federal crime (give amnesty).

If the President dies, or resigns, or can’t work, the Vice-President becomes the President. So the qualifications for the Vice-President are the same as for the President.

Within the Executive Branch, there are 14 executive departments. These are: the Departments of State, Treasury, Defense, Justice, Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, Labour, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, Education, Energy, and Veteran Affairs. Each department is established by law and is responsible for a specific area. The heads of the executive departments are Cabinet members, they are appointed by the President. These appointments, however, must be approved by the Senate. All the Secretaries of the executive departments make up the Cabinet and are Presidential assistants and advisors.

 

Executive Departments	Activities
State	foreign policy; treaties
Treasury	tax collection; money
Defense	military advice; Army; Navy; Air Force
Justice	legal advice; immigration; naturalization service
Interior	national parks; American Indians
Agriculture	farming; food inspection
Commerce	business; trade
Labour	rights of workers; job training
Health and Human Services	health services; social security
Transportation	travel safety; road, air, train travel
Education	schools; financial aid
Energy	energy research; energy conservation
Veteran affairs	financial aid; VA hospitals

 

Vocabulary notes:

Secretary of State	государственный секретарь
Department of Defense	министерство обороны
Department of Treasury	министерство финансов
Department of Interior	министерство внутренних дел
Department of Justice	министерство юстиции
Department of Commerce	министерство торговли
Department of Labour	министерство труда
Department of Health and Human Services	министерство здравоохранения и социального обеспечения
Department of Housing and Urban Development	министерство жилищного строительства и городского развития
Department of Transportation	министерство транспорта
Department of Education	министерство образования
Department of Energy	министерство энергетики
Department of Veteran Affairs	совет по делам ветеранов

 

President Barack Obama	Vice President Joe Biden

 

1. Complete the scheme below according to the information given above and try to retell the text.