Then answer the following questions.
1. Is it the upper chamber?
2. How many members are there in the chamber?
3. How many members are elected every election year?
4. Who presides in the chamber?
5. How many members constitute a quorum to do business in the chamber?
6. How many standing committees are there in the chamber?
7. What are the special powers of the chamber?
| THE SENATE
Membership
The Senate, the upper chamber of the US bicameral legislature, is composed of 100 senators. Each state is represented in the Senate by two senators without regard to density of population.
Elections
Although Congressional elections are held every two years, only one-third of the Senate is reelected, because Senators are elected to six-year terms, which overlap. Thus, in any election year two-thirds are members whose terms have not expired.
Presiding Officer
The Vice-President of the United States presides in the Senate. He is referred to in the Senate as ‘Mr. President’ as his title in that body is ‘President of the Senate’. The Vice-President does not participate in debates and can vote in the Senate only in case of a tie vote.
The Senate also elects from among its members a president pro tempore who presides during absences of the Vice-President of the United States. He participates in Senate debates and votes.
Transaction of Business
A majority (51) of membership constitutes a quorum to do business in the Senate.
Debate in the Senate is unlimited because of the freedom of debate in this body. Under existing rules, when a senator takes the floor, he can speak for unlimited time and it takes a two-thirds vote of the senators present to cut off debate.
The Senate rule of unlimited debate gives way to filibusters* who can literally “talk any bill to death”.
Committees
Most of the work of Congressmen is done in committee meetings. There are 16 standing(permanent) and several select (temporary) committees in the Senate. Each standing committee specializes in a particular area and consists of Congressmen who are experts in that field. The number of committee members varies from 9 to 25.
Powers
Under the Constitution, the US Senate has some special powers, not given to the House of Representatives. The Senate approves or disapproves major Presidential appointments of such high officials as ambassadors, Cabinet members, and federal judges. The Senate must also ratify, by a two-thirds vote, treaties between the USA and foreign nations.
| THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES
Membership
The membership of the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the US Congress, is 435. By the Constitution each state is entitled to be represented in the House by at least one member and all above this minimum number are apportioned according to population. The only constitutional limitation is that the number of Representatives shall not exceed one for every 30, 000 of population. And within this limit Congress has the say as to the size of the House.
Elections
In the House of Representatives the entire membership is elected every two years.
Presiding Officer
The Speakerof the House presides over the House of Representatives. He is nominated at a party meeting (caucusorconference)* and chosen by the members of the House. The Speaker may vote but usually does not, except in case of tie.
Transaction of Business
In the House of Representatives a quorum for transaction of business is a majority of the membership (218).
The length of time a member can have the floor is no more than one hour without unanimous consent.
Committees
There are 22 standing committees in the House of Representatives. Each committee works on the bills it is responsible for.
The number of select committees is not fixed as well as in the Senate. When the function of a select committee has been carried out it automatically expires.
Powers
The House of Representatives has a special power of its own. Only a member of the House can introduce a bill to raise revenue.
|
NOTES:
filibuster – organized obstructionist tactics in a legislative body with a view to delay or prevent a bill from voting.
pro-tempore (lat.)– temporary
2.1 Read the other part of the text quickly to decide if the following statements are true or false. Correct the false ones. Use the following expressions of agreement and disagreement:
| AGREEMENT
| DISAGREEMENT
|
| You are right
Absolutely right
That’s true
Exactly
That’s it
| No way
On the contrary
Not quite (right)
Absolutely wrong
Not exactly
Vice versa
|
Half right, half wrong
There is nothing in the text as far as that
1. Each state is represented in both Houses according to population.
2. Congressional elections are held every six years.
3. The Speaker presides in the Senate, the Vice-President – in the House of Representative.
4. The length of time a member can speak in a debate is limited in each House.
5. The number of standing committees in each chamber is different.
6. The Senate, being the upper chamber, has some special powers.
3.WORD STUDY.
3.1 Find a word or a phrase in the text that has a similar meaning. Suggest the Russian.
| Membership
is greater than
e...
Elections
come to an end (of a period of time)
e…
whole, complete
e...
Presiding officer
named as a candidate for an office
n…
party meeting of Democrats in Congress
c…
party meeting of Republicans in Congress
c…
| Transaction of business
speak in a debate
h… t… f…
number by which votes for one side exceed those for the other
m…
complete agreement
u… c…
Powers
agrees formally
a…
confirm (an agreement) by signature or other formality
r…
formal agreements between nations
t…
persons representing their government in a foreign country
a…
total annual income of the state
r…
|
3.2 Match the following verbs from the text to their Russian equivalents. Use the context of the text to help you.
| 1to be entitled to
2 to hold (elections, conference, etc.)
3 to overlap
4 to constitute
5 to take the floor
6 to have the floor
7 to cut off
| a) прекращать
b) выступать (в палате)
c) частично перекрывать (совпадать)
d) получить слово
e) проводить (выборы, конференцию и т.д.)
f) иметь право на
g) образовывать, составлять
|
3.3 In the exercise which follows, substitute a suitable word or phrase for the part of each sentence in italics.
Example: The US Congress consists of two chambers.
Answer: bicameral
a) The total number of members in the House of Representatives is 435.
b) Each state has the right to be represented in the House by at least one member and all above this minimum number are apportioned according to population.
c) The Vice-President can vote in the Senate only when the number of votes in favor and against is equal.
d) The Speaker is nominated at party meetings.
e) The number of persons who must be present at a meeting before its proceedings can have authority in both Houses is a majority of the membership.
f) Each standing committee specializes in a particular area and consists of Congressmen who have special knowledge in that field.
3.2 Fill in the synonyms from the list.
income; regardless of; to stop debate; whole/complete; in accordance with; talks on the floor;
| without regard to
debate
| according to
to cut off debate
| entire
revenue
|
3.4 Choose the words from the list to fill in the gaps.
debate; unanimous; tie; committees; bicameral; population; president; membership; terms; limitation;
| 1 ……………………. legislature
2density of ……………………..
3 six-year ……………………….
4 …………………………… vote
5 …………………… pro tempore
| 6freedom of …………………..
7 constitutional ……………….
8 the entire …………………….
9 ……………………… consent
10 standing and select ………….
|
3.5 Fill in the prepositions from the list where necessary.
to; in; without; off; over; of;
to be composed …; … regard …; according …; to be elected … six-year terms; to participate … sth; to preside … sth; … case … sth; to cut … debate; to talk a bill … death; to approve or disapprove … sth;
4. LANGUAGE STUDY: WORD FAMILIES.
4.1 The nouns below can all be used to form another noun which has a related, but slightly different meaning by adding the suffix -ship (member – membership). Complete the sentences which follow by choosing a suitable noun in - ship from the list below.
| Choose from:
| (1) member
(6) friend
| (2) scholar
(7) partner
| (3) citizen
(8) owner
| (4) relation
(9) dictator
| (5) leader
(10) author
|
a) The US Constitution provides for three parts of power to avoid ...
b) American … can be gained by birth, adoption, registration or naturalization.
c) Anita Morgan was extremely pleased when Smith and Jones, the owners of the company she had directed for five years, asked her to form a … with them.
d) ‘This country needs a strong … to tell people what to do and get things working again! ’
e) ‘That’s an exclusive club. May I see your … card, please, sir? ’
f) Home … is growing in Britain as more and more people are able to buy their own house.
g) Nothing is known of the … of the book.
h) It wasn’t easy for Martin to win a … to the University.
i) There were ties of closest … between them.
j) He admitted his affair with Susan could never develop into a lasting …
4.2 What do you suppose reelected in the phrase ‘only one-third of the Senate is reelected’ means? What does the prefix re - often indicate?
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