The Political System of the United States of America

In the USA there is a court system composed of a federal judiciary and 50 state judiciaries. The federal judiciary consists of the Supreme Court of the US and the System of federal courts. The Supreme Court is to decide whether a bill of the Congress or Executive order of the President is " constitutional". The judicial power of the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court and in such inferior courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. The judges, both of the supreme and inferior courts, hold their offices during good behavior, and, at stated times, receive for their services, a compensation, which isn't diminished during their continuance in office. The judicial power extends to all cases, in law and equity, arising under the Constitution, the laws of the United States, and treaties made, or which are made, under their authority; to all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls; to all cases of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction; to controversies to which the United States may be a party; to controversies between two or more states; between a state and citizens of another state; between citizens of different states; between citizens of the same state claiming lands under grants of different states, and between a state, or the citizens thereof, and foreign states, citizens or subjects.

In all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, and those in which a state may be party, the Supreme Court has original jurisdiction. In all the other cases before mentioned, the Supreme Court has appellate jurisdiction, both as to law and fact, with such exceptions, and under such regulations as the Congress makes.

The trial of all crimes, except in cases of impeachment, is by jury; and such trial is held in the state where the said crimes have been committed; but when not committed within any state, the trial is at such place or places as the Congress may by law have directed. Treason against the United States, consists only in levying war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort. No person shall be convicted of treason unless on the testimony of two witnesses, to the same overt act, or on confession in open court. The Congress has power to declare the punishment of treason.

Task 2: Give the translation.

Court system; federal judiciary; state judiciaries; the System of federal courts; inferior courts; equity; public ministers and consuls; admiralty and maritime jurisdiction; original jurisdiction; appellate jurisdiction; trial; jury; committed; treason; enemies; the testimony of two witnesses; on confession in open court.

Task 3: Answer the questions to the text.

1. What is the court system in the USA composed of?

2. What is the Supreme Court to decide?

3. Is the judicial power of the USA in the Supreme Court and inferior courts?

4. How long do the judges of the Supreme Court and inferior courts hold their ffices?

5. What cases does the judicial power deal with?

6. When does the Supreme Court have original jurisdiction?

7. When does it have appellate jurisdiction?

8. Where are the trials of different crimes held?

9. What is " treason"?

10. Does the Congress have power to declare the punishment of treason?

Task 4: Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the word.

to begin, to be presented, to sign, to be responsible, to approve, execute, to choose, to elect, to return.

The executive branch is vested in the President, Vice-President and the President's Cabinet. They ___________ for administering the country and executing the laws. Every bill which has passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, must, before it become a law, ____________ to the President of the United States; if he __________ he signs it, but if not he ________ it. If any bill isn't returned by the President within ten days (Sundays excepted) after it has been presented to him, the same will be a law, in like manner as if he had _________ it, unless the Congress by their adjournment prevents its return, in which case it will not be a law. The President and Vice-President are _________ for 4-year term. The Presidential elections in the USA are held in two stages, first the voters ____________ electors and then the latter elect the President. The President must be a natural-born citizen, at least 35 years old, and or at least 14 years a resident of the United States. The term of office of the President _________ at noon on January 20, every 4 years. Before he enters on the execution of his office, he shall take the following oath or affirmation: " I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully ____________ the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

Task 5: Read and translate the text. Make sure you know the underlined words.

Civil Rights

A civil right is an enforceable right or privilege, which if interfered with by another gives rise to an action for injury. Examples of civil rights are freedom of speech, press, assembly, the right to vote, freedom from involuntary servitude, and the right to equality in public places. Discrimination occurs when the civil rights of an individual are denied or interfered with because of their membership in a particular group or class. Statutes have been enacted to prevent discrimination based on a person's race, sex, religion, age, previous condition of servitude, physical limitation, national origin and in some instances sexual preference. The most important expansion of civil rights in the United States was the enactment of the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendments. The Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery throughout the United States. In response to the 13th Amendment, various states enacted " black codes" which were intended to limit the civil rights of the newly free slaves. In 1868 the 14th Amendment was passed to counter the " black codes" and ensure that no state " shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of the citizens of the United States [or] deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, [or] deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." Congress was also given the power by section five of the Fourteenth Amendment to pass any laws needed for its enforcement. During the " reconstruction era" that followed Congress enacted numerous civil rights statutes. Many of these statutes are still in force today and protect individuals from discrimination and from the deprivation of their civil rights. The most prominent civil rights legislation since reconstruction is the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Decisions of the Supreme Court, at the time limited Congressional enforcement of the 14th Amendment to state action. (Since 1964 the Supreme Court has expanded the reach of the 14th Amendment in some situations to individuals discriminating on their own). Therefore, in order to reach the actions of individuals, Congress, using its power to regulate interstate commerce, enacted the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Discrimination based on " race, color, religion, or national origin" in public establishments that had a connection to interstate commerce or was supported by the state is prohibited. Public establishments include places of public accommodation (e.g., hotels, motels, trailer parks), restaurants, gas stations, bars, taverns, and places of entertainment in general. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and subsequent legislation also declared a strong legislative policy against discrimination in public schools and colleges, which aided in desegregation. The Civil Rights Act also prohibits employment discrimination where the employer is engaged in interstate commerce. Congress has passed numerous other laws dealing with employment discrimination.

Task 6: Complete the sentences using the information from the text given above.

1. Civil rights are powers or privileges which if...

2. Civil rights protect such human needs and interests as...

3. Statutes prevent discrimination based on...

4. The most important expansion of civil rights in the United States is contained in...

5. By section five of the Fourteenth Amendment Congress has power to...

6. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is the...

7. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits such discrimination as …

Task 7: Answer the questions.

1. What is a civil right?

2. What examples of civil rights can you name?

3. When does discrimination occur?

4. What does discrimination base on?

5. What amendments give the most important expansion of civil rights in the United States?

6. What do the 13 and 14 amendments say about?

7. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 declares a strong legislative policy against discrimination in different areas, doesn't it? Name these areas.

8. What are the powers of the Supreme Court and the federal courts in interpreting the extent of the civil rights?

9. What institutions provide further protection of civil rights?

10. What international agreement on civil rights has been recently adhered in the USA?

Task 8: Match Russian and English equivalents.

1. дискриминация civil right

2. голосовать injury

3. несправедливость to vote

4. законодательство to prevent

5. вступить в силу discrimination

6. запрещать an amendment

7. рабство to enforce

8. поправка legislation

9. предотвращать to prohibit

10. гражданское право slavery

Тексты для 1 курса юридического факультета

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