Name all the rights given to American people by the Bill of rights. How do you understand them?

4.Give the definitions to:

-the Articles of Confederation;

-the Constitution;

-an amendment;

-the Bill of Rights;

-the system of “checks and balances”;

-freedom of speech, religion, press;

-the trial by jury.

4.Answer the questions:

a)Why did the delegates from the thirteen states meet in Philadelphia in1787?

b)What does the US Constitution specify?

c)Whom does the ultimate power in the USA belong to under the Constitution?

d)What rights are stated in the Bill of Rights?

e)What for were the federal and state governments formed under the Constitution?

5.Complete the following text with the words and phrases using them in the appropriate form (you may use the text above):

jury; branch; Bill of Rights; to adopt; religion; to guard; power; Congress; to divide; amendments; to assemble; citizens; President; arrests; executive; rights; seizures; document; speech; legislature; freedoms; judiciary; founding fathers; system of.

 

When the Constitution was written in 1787, there were only 13 states. Because the a) ____ of the Constitution saw that the future might bring a need for changes, they b) ____ a method of adding c) ____. Over the years 26 amendments have been added, but the basic d) ____ has not been written. The pattern of government planned so long ago for 13 states today meets the needs of 50 states.

The first 10 amendments to the Constitution, called the e) ____ assure individual f) ____ and g) ____. Added in 1791, they include provisions for freedom of the h) ____ and of i) ____; the right of citizens to j) ____ peacefully; the right to be k) ____ in one’s own home against unreasonable l) ____ and m) ____ of person or property; the right of any person charged with n) ____ the law to have a speedy trial by a o) ____ of fellow p) ____.

The Constitution q) ____ the powers of the government into three branches: the r) ____ headed by the s) ____; the t) ____, which includes both houses of u) ____ (the Senate and the House of Representatives) and the v) ____ which is headed by the Supreme Court. The Constitution limits the role of each w) ____ to prevent any one branch from gaining undue x) ____.

 

 

11. Speak on:

1. The Constitution of your country.

 

 

II. THE BILL OF RIGHTS

1.Read the words correctly. See the dictionary if necessary: an amendment, religion, assembly, a soldier, a search, a trial with a jury, a lawyer, punishment, naturalized, a liquor, an official.

Vocabulary

to quarter	квартировать, селиться
a warrant	Ордер
to deprive	Лишать
Fair Trial [feə r]	справедливый суд
a bail	залог, освобождение под залог
a fine	денежное взыскание, штраф
slavery	Рабство
an income tax [’ɪ nkə m]	подоходный налог

1. Read and translate the text:

On December 1791, the Congress put in the amendment process and adopted 10 amendments to the Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights. Amendments can change or add rights and restrictions to the Constitution.

Amendment 1. Freedom of Religion, Speech, the Press and Assembly

We can follow any religion: we can say our thoughts, write articles in newspapers, meet in groups.

Amendment 2. The Right to Have Guns

We can have guns for protection. State governments make laws about buying and keeping guns.

Amendment 3. No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

Amendment 4. Searchers and Warrants

Police need a court order (search warrant, issued by a judge) to make any search or any arrest.

Amendment 5. Rights of People Accused of a Crime, and Protection of Private Property.

No person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property, without due process of law.

No person shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself.

Amendment 6. Right to a Fair Trial and Witness.

If you are accused of a crime, you have the right to know why. You have the right to a speedy and public trial with a jury. You can have the trial in the state where the crime happened. You can have the private lawyer or the court will give you a lawyer.

Amendment 7. Assures trial by jury in civil cases.

Amendment 8. Bails, Fines and Punishment

A judge cannot make you pay an unfair bail or an unfair fine. A judge or jury or the police cannot give you unfair punishment.

Amendment 9. The People Keep Some Right

The Constitution lists many rights of the people, but it doesn’t list all the rights. The People have other rights, too.

Amendment 10. The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

Amendments 11-26

Amendment 11. Citizens of one state or a foreign country cannot bring a case against another state in a federal court.

Amendment 12. We elect the President and Vice-President separately.

Amendment 13. There is no more slavery in the U.S.

Amendment 14. All people born or naturalized in the U.S. are citizens.

Amendment 15. Black people have the right to vote.

Amendment 16. Congress can make a law for an income tax.

Amendment 17. We elect Senators directly with our votes.

Amendment 18. Prohibition of intoxicating liquors.

Amendment 19. Women have the right to vote.

Amendment 20. A new President takes office on January 20.

Amendment 21. The terms of Senators and Representatives begin on January, 3.

Amendment 22. We can elect the same President for two terms. Each term is for 4 years.

Amendment 23. Citizens of Washington, D.C., can vote for the President and the Vice president.

Amendment 24. We do not have to pay a voting tax.

Amendment 25. If the President dies or resigns, the Vice-President becomes President. This amendment also tells the order for other important government officials to become President if something happens to the Vice-President.

Amendment 26. Citizens eighteen years old or older can vote.

 

Give English equivalents to the Russian words and phrases: высказывать свои мысли, без согласия владельца, предписанный законом, надлежащий законный процесс, обвиненный в преступлении, суд присяжных, судебное дело, принявший гражданство, запрет, вступить в должность.

 

2. Answer the questions:

1. What is the Bill of Rights?

2. What rights does the first amendment guarantee?

3. Who can be called a citizen of the U.S.A.?

4. When does a new President take office?

5. For how many terms can the same President be elected?

 

3. Discuss the following questions:

1. What is the difference between the American Constitution and the Bill of Rights?

2. What amendment would you add to the Constitution of the U.S.A.?

 

 

III. CHECKS AND BALANCES

1.Remember all the examples when:

-the President of the USA is dependent on the Senate;

-the Supreme court is dependent on the President and the Senate;

-the Congress is dependent on the President.

Vocabulary:

checks and balances	система сдержек и противовесов
separation of powers	разделение полномочий
to favour [’feɪ və r]	Поддерживать
in comparison with [kə m’pæ rə sə n]	по сравнению с
to request	Требовать

 

1. During 10 minutes look through the first paragraph of the text and render it in Russia without a dictionary. During other 10 minutes translate paragraph # 2 in written. Read and translate the rest of the text:

The U.S. Constitution establishes three branches for the federal government: executive, legislative, and judicial. The three branches work together to help the country. Each branch has its own responsibilities and powers. No branch has more power than the other branches. They have balanced powers. Each branch has separate duties to check the powers of the other branches.

When a new state- the U.S.A. - was born, the Founders of the state thought that if there was no balance of power among different branches of a government it would lead to tyranny. The problem was how to create a system of government with balanced powers. That’s why James Madison (1751-1836) favoured the Constitution that limited government by means of

a) separation of powers

b) a system of checks and balances, where checks- limitation of the duties of each branch, and balances- separate powers to each branch.

Congress has the power to make laws, but the President may veto any act of Congress. Congress, in its turn, can pass a law over a veto by a two-thirds vote in each house. Congress can also refuse to provide funds requested by the President. The President can appoint important officials of his administration, but they must be approved by the Senate. The President also has the power to name all federal judges: they too must be approved by the Senate.

The system of checks and balances makes compromise and consensus necessary. This system protects against extremes. It means, for example, that new presidents cannot radically change governmental policies just as they wish. In the US, therefore, when people think of “the government”, they usually mean the whole system, that is, the Executive Branch and the President, the Congress, and the Courts.

In fact and in practice, therefore, the President (i.e. “the Administration”) is not as powerful as many people think he is. In comparison with other leaders in systems where the majority party forms “the government”, he is even less powerful.

 

1. Give the English equivalents for: сбалансированные полномочия; посредством; ограничение обязанностей; обеспечить фондами; защищать против крайностей; правительственная политика; в свою очередь; на практике; партия большинства.

 

2. Choose the correct answer:

1. Why is the system of checks and balances necessary?

a) because it separates the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government

b) because it keeps any branch from using too much power or misusing it and makes each branch check on the others

c) because it limits the President’s powers.

2. What is the role of the compromise in the American system of running a country?

a) it helps the Congress to pass a law

b) it protects against extremes in government policies

c) it helps the President to veto any act of the Congress

 

3.Finish the phrases:

a) The Congress is dependent on the President because…

b) The President is dependent on the Congress because…

c) The Supreme Court is dependent on both the President and the

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