Reading 3: The History of English Law and Napoleon’s Code

Pre-reading task. Read words. Mind the stress. A):

΄ charter                        pro΄vide                             repre΄sentative

΄ liberty                 con΄sent                             guaran΄tee

΄ monarchy                  re΄garded                           une΄quivocally

΄ stipulate                 no΄torious                     authori΄zation

΄ justice                   a΄cquit                               inter΄ference

΄ warrant                            suc΄cession                         evo΄lution

B) Complete the word building table.

Noun                     Verb	Verb                 Noun
succession	to sign
representation	to treat
maintenance	to provide
authorization	to stipulate
interference	to acquit
threat	to declare
protection	to proscribe
prison	to prevent

C)

Verb                    Adjective	Verb                 Adjective
to represent	to declare
to authorize	to proscribe
to prevent	to provide

D)

Noun / verb      Person	Noun / verb      Person
to represent	monarchy
to guarantee	protection
to provide	succession
abuse	to eliminate
appeal	murder
moderation	to apply

E) Before you read look through the following words and phrases to make sure that you know them. Learn those that you don’t know.

representative [,repri´zentətiv] elected representative the House of Representatives	представник; представницький; обраний представник; палата представників;
threat [Өret] under threat of to carry out, fulfill a threat to issue, make a threat	загроза; погроза; під загрозою; виконати погрозу; погрожувати;
to sign [sain] to sign an agreement	підписувати; підписати; підписувати угоду;
treat [tri:t]/ treatment [΄tri:tmənt] Treat his grey hairs with reverence. treat as a joke cruel, harsh treatment brutal, inhumane treatment equal treatment uneven, unfair treatment fair treatment humane treatment brutal treatment of prisoners	відноситися; поводитися; / відношення; поводження; Відносьтесь з повагою до його старості. відноситись як до жарту; жорстоке поводження; нелюдяне /жорстоке поводження; рівне відношення; несправедливе відношення; справедливе відношення; людяне поводження; жорстоке поводження з в’язнями;
charter [t∫a:tə] The Great Charter United Nations Charter	хартія; грамота; Велика хартія вольностей; Статут ООН;
liberty [´libəti] to gain liberty individual, personal liberty civil liberties political liberty religious liberty	свобода; отримати свободу; особиста свобода; громадянська свобода; політична свобода; свобода віросповідання;
monarch [´monək] absolute monarch	монарх; абсолютний монарх;
monarchy [´monəki] to establish, set up a monarchy to overthrow a monarchy constitutional monarchy hereditary monarchy limited monarchy	монархія; заснувати монархію; скинути монархію; конституційна монархія; спадкова монархія; обмежена монархія;
unjust [Λn΄dЗΛst] It was unjust of him to accuse you without proof.	несправедливий; З його боку було несправедливим звинувачувати тебе без підстав.
consent [kən´sent] to give one's consent to by mutual / common consent ineffective consent lawful consent	згода; давати згоду на; за взаємною згодою; згода, яка не має юридичної сили; згода, яка має юридичну силу;
to stipulate [´stipjuleit] The contract stipulates that the work must be finished by the end of the year.	обумовлювати; За умовами контракту роботу треба закінчити до кінця року.
tax to levy[´levi] / to impose taxes to collect taxes to pay taxes free of tax, tax-free income / profits tax	податок; обкладати податками, оподатковувати; збирати податки; платити податки; неоподаткований; податок на прибуток;
to be regarded [ri΄ga:did] The plan was regarded with considerable suspicion.	відноситися; вважатися; До плану віднеслися зі значною долею підозри.
to guarantee [,gærən´ti:] to guarantee rights and freedoms I guarantee to pay back all the money.	гарантувати; гарантувати права та свободи; Я гарантую повернення всіх грошей.
notorious [nəu´to:riəs] notorious criminal	той, що користується дурною славою, славно відомій; запеклий злочинець;
rowdy [´raudi] There were rowdy scenes at the elections.	хуліганський; шумний, бурхливий; На виборах були хуліганські випадки.
to swear (swore, sworn) [sweə] to swear on the Bible They swore allegiance to the government. to swear like a trooper Don't swear at me, if you please!	1) лаятися; 2) клястися; клястися на Біблії; Вони поклялися у вірності уряду.   лаятися як візник; Не лайся на мене, будь ласка!
violently [´vaiələntli] She was violently afflicted with the seasickness.	сильно; Вона сильно страждала від морської хвороби.
justice of the peace [΄dЗΛstis]	мировий суддя;
jail [dЗeil] to commit to jail to go to jail	в’язниця; відправити до в’язниці; сісти у в’язницю;
to cause [ko:z] What caused his death? The loss of freedom and the growth of despotism caused the ruin of the empire.	визвати; бути причиною; спричинити; Що визвало його смерть? Втрата свободи та зміцнення деспотизму призвело до краху імперії.
outcry [´autkrai] public outcry to make, raise an outcry	протест; громадський протест; заявляти протест;
to acquit [ə´kwit] (of) The jury acquitted her of all charges.	виправдати; Присяжні виправдали її від всіх звинувачень.
warrant [´worənt] arrest warrant commitment warrant search warrant to serve a warrant on	ордер; ордер на арешт; ордер на ув’язнення; ордер на обшук; видати ордер (на чиєсь ім’я)
to reprimand [´reprima:nd] / reprimand to administer, issue a reprimand to be severely reprimanded to reprimand an employee for being late	винести догану; догана;   зробити зауваження; отримати сувору догану; винести догану службовцю за запізнення;
writ [rit] to serve writ on smb. writ of habeas corpus writ of election	повістка; наказ; відправити (судову) повістку комусь;  наказ про представлення заарештованого в суді; наказ про додаткові вибори;
Habeas Corpus Act [΄heibiəs΄ko:pəs ΄ækt]	Хабеас Корпус (англійський закон 1679 про недоторканість особи)
conditional	залежний; умовний;
arbitrary [´a:bitrəri] arbitrary government	деспотичний; автократія; деспотичний уряд;
unequivocally [,Λni´kwivəkli]	неоднозначно; чітко;
to declare [di΄klεə] to declare war on The court declared the law to be unconstitutional.	оголосити; оголосити війну комусь; Суд проголосив закон неконституційним.
to proscribe [prə´skraib]	оголосити поза законом; заборонити;
the royal prerogatives	королівські привілеї;
to dispense with [di΄spens] to dispense with smb.'s services	обходитися без; обходитися без чиїхось послуг;
maintenance [´meintənəns] the maintenance of peace and stability the maintenance of army	утримання; підтримка; підтримання миру та стабільності; утримання армії;
standing army	діюча армія; регулярна армія;
authorization [o:θərai´zei∫n] to give / grant authorization to revoke smb.'s authorization	уповноваження; санкція, дозвіл; схвалити, дати санкцію (дозвіл); анулювати чиїсь повноваження; відмінити дозвіл;
clause [klo:z] under clause 3 of the agreement contract clause	стаття, пункт (закону); відповідно пункту 3 угоди; стаття договору;
seek to (do something) (sought, sought) [si:k] [so:t] The European Commission seeks to uphold the interests of the Union as a whole	1. намагатися, прагнути (зробити); 2. шукати;   Європейська комісія прагне підтримувати інтереси Союзу в цілому.
interference [,intə´fiərəns] interference in smb’s business	втручання; втручання в чиїсь справи;
course of justice [ko:s]	хід впровадження правосуддя; відправлення правосуддя;
succession [sək΄se∫n]   proximate succession [proksimət] the succession to the throne	наслідування, порядок наслідування; право наслідування;  наступний спадкоємець; порядок успадковування трону;
provided (that)  Provided that all is safe, you may go.	при умові; При умові, що все в порядку, можеш йти.
heir [eə] (heiress [earəs]) the heir to the throne rightful heir	спадкоємець; спадкоємець престолу; законний спадкоємець;
to prevent (from) [pri´vent] Nothing shall prevent us from reaching our aim.	завадити; Ніщо не завадить нам досягти нашої мети.
to abuse [ə´bju:z]/ abuse [ə´bju:s] to abuse one’s authority to abuse one’s rights child abuse abuse of authority drug abuse	зловживати; зловживання; жорстоке поводження; зловживати своєю владою; зловживати своїми правами; жорстоке поводження з дитиною; зловживання владою; зловживання наркотиками;
diverse [dai´vəs]	відмінний; несхожий;
equal [´i:kwəl] equal rights	рівний; рівні права; рівноправність;
to spread (spread) [spred] to spread the news to spread to The epidemic spread to neighbouring countries.	поширювати, розповсюджувати; розповсюджувати новину; поширитися на Епідемія поширилась і на сусідні країни.

1. Read and translate the text.

At the heart of the English system there are two principles of government – limited government and representative government. The idea that government was not all-powerful first appeared in the Magna Carta, or Great Charter, that King John signed in 1215 under the threat of civil war. The Magna Carta established the principle of limited government, in which the power of the monarch, or government, was limited, not absolute. This document provided for protection against unjust punishment and loss of life, liberty, and property except according to law. It stipulated that no citizen could be punished or kept in prison without a fair trial. Under the Magna Carta, the king agreed that certain taxes could not be levied without popular consent. The Magna Carta came in time to be regarded as a cornerstone of British liberties. It is one of the oldest written constitutional papers.

In Britain, the United States, and many other English-speaking countries, the law of Habeas Corpus guarantees that nobody can be held in prison without trial. Habeas Corpus became a law because of a wild party held in 1621 at the London home of a notoriously rowdy woman, Alice Robinson. When a constable [΄kΛnstəbl] appeared and asked her and her guests to quiet down, Mrs. Robinson swore at him so violently that he arrested her, and a local justice of the peace committed her to jail. When she was brought to trial, Mrs. Robinson’s story of her treatment in prison caused an outcry. Such treatment was barbaric even by the harsh standards of the time. Public anger was so great that she was acquitted, the constable who had arrested her without the warrant was himself sent to prison, and the justice of the peace was severely reprimanded. And the case led to the passing of the Habeas Corpus Act in Britain in 1679. The law is still on the British statute books. Habeas Corpus is part of a Latin phrase – Habeas Corpus ad subjiciendum - that means ‘Let the body be brought before the judge,’ In effect, a writ of Habeas Corpus is an order in the name of the people (or, in Britain, of the sovereign) to produce an imprisoned person in court at once.

The Bill of Rights (1689) is one of the basic instruments of the British constitution, the result of the long 17th century struggle between the Stuart kings and the English people and Parliament. The revolution settlement made monarchy conditional on the will of Parliament and provided a freedom from arbitrary government of which most Englishmen were notably proud during the 18th century. The main purpose of the act was unequivocally to declare illegal various practices of James II. Among such practices proscribed were the royal prerogatives of dispensing with the law in certain cases, the complete suspension of laws without the consent of Parliament, and the levying of taxes and the maintenance of a standing army in peacetime without specific parliamentary authorization. A number of clauses sought to eliminate royal interference in parliamentary matters, stressing that elections must be free and that members of Parliament must have complete freedom of speech. Certain forms of interference of the course of justice were also proscribed. The act also dealt with proximate succession to the throne, provided the heirs were Protestants. It is the constitutional paper of great importance, which prevented the sovereign from abusing his authority.

The laws of much continental Europe owe their modern form largely to a man who never studied law. Napoleon Bonaparte established in 1800 five commissions to refine and organize the diverse legal systems of France. The resulting Code was a triumphant attempt to create a legal system that treated all citizens as equals without regard to their rank or previous privileges. It was also so clearly written that it could be read and understood by ordinary people. The code was adopted intact in most of the areas of Europe and spread from there across the Atlantic. Many of its principles are still in force.

2. Find in the text English equivalents for the following words and expressions.

обмежений уряд; представницький уряд; всемогутній уряд; загроза громадянської війни; передбачати захист; втрата життя, свободи та власності; утримувати у в’язниці; збирати податки; народна згода; славнозвісна; мировий суддя; ордер на арешт; варварське ставлення; повстання; вторгнення; невдоволення громади; заточити до в’язниці; викликати гнівний протест; привести до прийняття закону; отримати сувору догану; предстати перед судом; бути виправданим; бути призупиненим; від імені народу; особливо пишатися; свобода слова; автократія; наступний спадкоємець трону; хід здійснення правосуддя; утримання діючої армії; позбутися королівського втручання у парламентські страви; конституційний документ; зловживання владою; прийняти без змін; незважаючи на статус; удосконалити та організувати різноманітні правові системи; ставитися до громадян як до рівних; зрозумілий простим людям

3. A: Fill in the appropriate word from the list below.

warrants, proscribed, justices of the peace, provided for, threat, writ, monarchy, abuse, representatives, charter, liberty, representative, succession, notorious

1. _______ refers to the use or treatment of something (a person, item, substance, concept, or vocabulary) that is harmful. 2. _______ democracy is a form of government founded on the principles of the people’s _______. 3. Under the Law of Treaties (1969, Vienna) both the _______ and the use of force are prohibited. 4. A _______ is the grant of authority or rights. 5. _______ are typically issued by courts and are directed to the sheriff, constable or a police officer. 6. The _______ of habeas corpus is usually used to test the legality of a prisoner’s detention. 7. _______ is the freedom to act or believe without being stopped by unnecessary force. 8. In politics, order of _______ is the ascension to power by one politician or monarch after another, usually in a clearly defined order. 9. A _______ is a form of government in which supreme power is actually or nominally lodged in an individual, who is the head of state, often for life or until abdication. 10. Solon’s laws ________ death penalty for homicides. 11. Bonnie and Clyde were _______ outlaws, robbers, and criminals who made headlines across the country during the Great Depression. 12. A magistrates’ court in England and Wales is composed of a bench of (usually three) _______ or magistrates, who dispense summary justice. 13. Such practices were considered immoral and were _______ by law.

B: Fill in the appropriate preposition or adverb where necessary.

1. The Bill of Rights prevented the monarch ____ abusing his power. 2. England withdrew from any active interference ____ the struggles of the Continent. 3. The new Criminal Code provides ____ the replacement of the death penalty ____ the serious crimes ____ the life imprisonment. 4. His client dispensed ____ much help of his lawyer. 5. At the trial they were acquitted ____ the offence. 6. The employee was severely reprimanded ____ interfering ____ his employer’s business. 7. He gave false evidence ____ the threat of force. 8. No person can be imprisoned ____ a fair trial. 9. The Bill of Rights is regarded ____ a cornerstone of American liberties. 10. The justice ____ the peace committed Alice Robinson ____ jail and then she was brought ____ trial. 11. The constable was sent ____ prison because he had arrested her ____ the warrant. 12. The Miranda v. Arizona case led ____ the United States Supreme Court decision ____ the Miranda warning.  13. ____ Napoleon’s Code all citizens are treated as equals ____ regard ____ their rank.

4. Match the definitions in the right column to the words given in the left.                                  

1. representative	а. to rebuke smb severely and officially (for a fault, etc.);
2. warrant	b. to stipulate;
3. writ	c. a person elected or appointed to represent or act for others;
4. reprimand	d. to examine and accept;
5. pass	e. a written order issued in the name of a ruler to an official to do or not to do smth;
6. provide for	f. a written order giving official authority for smth;
7. equal	g. forbid, esp. by law
8. heir	h. a person entitled to property or rank as a legal successor of its former owner;
9. proscribe	i. having the same rights;

5. Find in the text a word or a phrase that means:

1. to make a bad or wrong use of something; 2. power or right to give orders and make others obey; 3. to do without; 4. to collect by authority or force; 5. complete paragraph in an agreement, contract, law; 6. to make promise with legal obligations; 7. ultimate, having complete or despotic power; 8. state of being free from captivity, slavery, imprisonment, despotic control, government by others; 9. breaking in other people’s affairs without right or invitation

6. Look through the text once more and decide whether the following statements are true or false.

1. The principles of limited and representative government were first set out in Habeas Corpus Act. 2. The Magna Carta provided for protection against unreasonable arrest. 3. The Great Charter is a cornerstone of British freedoms. 4. The Magna Carta was the first document to restrict the Monarch’s power. 5. The Habeas Corpus Act provided for prohibition of levying taxes without popular consent. 6. The Habeas Corpus Act is still in force in Great Britain and the USA. 7. To commit a person to jail an official must produce a writ of Habeas Corpus. 8. The Bill of Rights was passed as a result of constitutional confrontation between the Monarch and Parliament. 9. The Bill of Rights provided for prohibition of traditional rights of the English. 10. Napoleon’s Code provided for equality to all citizens.

7. Choose a word or a phrase (a, b, c or d) which best completes unfinished sentence.

1. Two of the main principles of the Magna Carta are ……

a) presidential and democratic government; b) provisional and authoritarian government; c) limited and representative government;

2. The Magna Carta protected the rights of …….

a) aristocracy; b) ordinary citizens; c) all classes of the society;

3. Habeas Corpus means that ……..

a) nobody can be arrested; b) everybody must be brought before the judge; c) taxes must be levied with popular consent;

4. The monarchy was made dependent on the will of Parliament under …….

a) the Magna Carta; b) the Habeas Corpus; c) the Bill of Rights;

5. The Bill of Rights provided for elimination of …….. in parliamentary matters.

a) royal interference; b) church interference; c) people’s interference.

6. The Napoleonic Code is the French….., established under Napoleon I.

a) criminal code; b) administrative code; c) civil code.

 

8. Complete the text using the words from the list.

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