Listen to the talk given by Hillsdale College Professor Dr. David Bobb in 2008 and answer the questions.

1) What does professor Bobb compare the constitution with? Why?

2) Why is it important to constitutionalise political decisions? How do you understand the word “constitutionalise”?

3) Why did the Founders argue with Jefferson?

4) What did Abraham Lincoln worry about?

5) What solution did he suggest?

 

                                     Text 2 Monarchy

 

Before you read. Think over the following questions:

-What British monarchs do you remember? What are they famous for?

- Does monarchy in Britain have any future or is it a fading institution?

Read the following text. Translate the underlined passages into Russian.

Monarchy is the oldest form of government in the United Kingdom.

In a monarchy a king or queen is Head of State. The British monarchy is known as a constitutional monarchy. This means that, while The Queen is Head of State, the ability to make and pass legislation resides with an elected Parliament.

As a system of government, constitutional monarchy has many strengths. One is that it separates out the ceremonial and official duties of the Head of State from party politics. Another is that it provides stability and continuity, since the Head of State remains the same even as governments come and go.

The Sovereign governs according to the constitution - that is, according to rules, rather than according to his or her own free will. Although the United Kingdom does not have a written constitution which sets out the rights and duties of the Sovereign, they are established by conventions. These are non-statutory rules which can bind just as much as formal constitutional rules. However, the Sovereign retains an important political role as Head of State, formally appointing prime ministers, approving certain legislation and bestowing honours. The Queen also has official roles to play in other organisations, such as the Armed Forces and the Church of England.

The origins of constitutional monarchy in Britain go back a long way. Until the end of the seventeenth century, British monarchs were executive monarchs, which means that they had the right to make and pass legislation. But even in early times there were occasions when the Sovereign had to act in accordance with the law and take into account the will of his people.

With the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215, for example, the leading noblemen of England succeeded in forcing King John ( John Lackland ) to accept that they and other freemen had rights against the Crown.

In the seventeenth century, the Stuart kings propagated the theory of the divine right of kings, claiming that the Sovereign was subject only to God and not to the law. Widespread unrest against their rule led to civil war in the second half of the seventeenth century. In 1688-9 Parliamentarians drew up a Bill of Rights, which established basic tenets such as the supremacy of Parliament. The constitutional monarchy we know today really developed in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

Although the British Sovereign no longer has a political or executive role, he or she continues to play an important part in the life of the nation. As Head of State, The Queen undertakes constitutional and representational duties which have developed over one thousand years of history. There are inward duties, with The Queen playing a part in State functions in Britain. Parliament must be opened, Orders in Council have to be approved, Acts of Parliament must be signed, and meetings with the Prime Minister must be held.

There are also outward duties of State, when The Queen represents Britain to the rest of the world. For example, The Queen receives foreign ambassadors and high commissioners, entertains visiting Heads of State, and makes State visits overseas to other countries, in support of diplomatic and economic relations.

 In addition to these State duties, The Queen has a less formal role as 'Head of Nation'. She acts as a focus for national identity, unity and pride; officially recognises success and excellence; and supports the ideal of public and voluntary service. Through her engagements and walkabouts, The Queen is able to meet people from every walk of life. Occasions such as the State Opening of Parliament, Trooping the Colour and Garter Day are some of the most colourful and exciting events of the year.

Members of the Royal Family support The Queen in her many State and national duties, as well as carrying out important work in the areas of public and charitable service, and helping to strengthen national unity and stability. Those who undertake official duties are members of The Queen's close family: her children and their spouses, and The Queen's cousins (the children of King George VI's brothers) and their spouses. Younger members of the Royal Family who are presently in education or military training - such as Prince William and Prince Harry - do not undertake official duties full-time, but often play a role in important national events and commemorations. Members of the Royal Family also often represent The Queen and the nation in Commonwealth or countries, at events such as State funerals or national festivities, or through longer visits to strengthen Britain's diplomatic and economic relations.

Flags, stamps and coins all represent the Crown in different ways, while symbols such as the Crown Jewels exert a powerful fascination.

The Sovereign's coat of arms has evolved over many years and reflects the history of the Monarchy and of the country. The function of the Royal coat of arms is to identify the person who is Head of State. In the design the shield shows the various Royal emblems of different parts of the United Kingdom: the three lions of England in the first and fourth quarters, the lion of Scotland in the second and the harp of Ireland in the third. It is surrounded by a garter bearing the motto Honi soit qui mal y pense ('Evil to him who evil thinks'), which symbolises the Order of the Garter, an ancient order of knighthood of which the Queen is Sovereign. The shield is supported by the English lion and Scottish unicorn and is surmounted by the Royal crown. Below it appears the motto of the Sovereign, Dieu et mon droit ('God and my right').

The Union Flag, or Union Jack, is the national flag of the United Kingdom. It is so called because it combines the crosses of the three countries united under one Sovereign - the kingdoms of England and Wales, of Scotland and of Ireland. The flag consists of three heraldic crosses. The cross of St George, patron saint of England since the 1270's, is a red cross on a white ground. After James I succeeded to the throne, it was combined with the cross of St. Andrew in 1606.

The cross of St Andrew, patron saint of Scotland, is a diagonal white cross on a blue ground. The cross of St Patrick, patron saint of Ireland, is a diagonal red cross on a white ground. The Welsh dragon does not appear on the Union Flag. This is because when the first Union Flag was created in 1606, the Principality of Wales by that time was already united with England and was no longer a separate principality.

The Union Flag is flown on Government buildings on days marking the birthdays of members of the Royal Family, Commonwealth Day, Coronation Day, The Queen's official birthday, Remembrance Day and on the days of the State Opening and prorogation of Parliament.

 

Exercises:

1. Give equivalents of the following:

Княжество; святой покровитель; унаследовать престол; глава государства; конституционная монархия; государственный флаг Соединенного Королевства; Билль о Правах; герб; содружество; коронация; перерыв в работе Парламента; рыцарство; празднование; дипломатические отношения; День памяти погибших; щит; Великая Хартия Вольностей; рыцарский орден; марка; монарх; представительские функции; монета; благотворительная организация; создавать и принимать законы; беспорядки; член парламента; дворянин; писаная конституция; принц; воздавать почести; устанавливать права и обязанности; принадлежать, возлагаться (о правах); избранный Парламент; Англиканская Церковь; гражданская война; Вооруженные Силы; королевская семья; Акт Парламента; подданный; посол; Премьер Министр

2. Find as many synonyms as you can:

to succeed to the throne; prorogation; Union Flag; festivity; monarch; to make legislation; to set out; colours; Parliamentarian; bill; Head of State; unrest; to reside with; convention; origins; voluntary service; nobleman; to draw up a bill; to bestow honours

 

3. Translate into English:

1. В Великобритании право давать санкцию на принятие законопроектов находится в руках королевы. 2. Вместе с архиепископом Кентерберийским королева возглавляет англиканскую церковь. 3. Дипломатические обязанности правящего монарха заключаются в приеме послов и глав государств, а также в нанесении официальных визитов в зарубежные страны. 4. Драгоценности короны, выставленные в лондонском Тауэре, привлекают внимание множества туристов. 5. Государственный флаг Великобритании не отражает символику

княжества Уэльского, так как к моменту создания флага, оно уже объединилось с Англией. 6. Государственные символы, которые включают в себя флаг, щит, герб и прочие, имеют длительную историю. 7. Принцесса Диана пользовалась любовью народа во многом потому, что много времени и сил отдавала благотворительной деятельности. 8. Великая Хартия Вольностей, которую был вынужден подписать король Иоанн Безземельный, явилась первым шагом в ограничении власти абсолютной монархии. 9. Билль о правах, наряду с Конституцией, устанавливает основные принципы управления государством. 10. Участившиеся беспорядки, в конце концов вылились в гражданскую войну. 11. Такие события, как вынос знамени и открытие сессии парламента, как правило, являются красочными и яркими событиями, которые народ воспринимает как настоящий праздник 12. Существует мнение, что смерть Елизаветы II станет концом конституционной монархии в Великобритании, так как ее наследники не пользуются популярностью у народа. 13. В такие даты, как День Содружества, День памяти погибших, день рождения королевы и членов королевской семьи, на правительственных зданиях вывешивают государственные флаги. 14. Покровителем Англии является Святой Георгий. 15. Монарх играет большую роль для национальной идентичности граждан Британии.   

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