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Unit I. SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT



ФГБОУ ВПО «АЛТАЙСКИЙ ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫЙ УНИВЕРСИТЕТ»

 

ЮРИДИЧЕСКИЙ ФАКУЛЬТЕТ

 

КАФЕДРА ИНОСТРАННЫХ ЯЗЫКОВ

ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКОГО И ЮРИДИЧЕСКОГО ПРОФИЛЕЙ

 

 

ENGLISH FOR LAW

 

(учебное пособие для бакалавров и магистрантов

юридических специальностей)

 

 

Издательство Алтайского государственного университета

 

Барнаул 2011


Авторы-составители: канд. фил. наук, доцент Э.В. Губернаторова

канд. пед. наук, доцент Н.Д. Усвят

 

Рецензенты: док. юрид. наук, профессор Т.А. Плаксина

канд. юрид. наук, доцент Т.В. Якушева

 

 

Учебное пособие предназначено, главным образом, для бакалавров высших учебных заведений, продолжающих изучение английского языка на базе средней школы по направлению подготовки 030900.62 юриспруденция (бакалавриат) по заочной форме обучения. Пособие составлено в соответствии с требованиями «Рабочей программы учебной дисциплины (английский язык) для бакалавров заочного отделения высших учебных заведений неязыковых специальностей», которая определяет главную цель обучения как «формирование умения самостоятельно читать литературу по специальности с целью извлечения информации из иноязычных источников».

Данное учебное пособие также содержит материал, предназначенный для магистрантов, продолжающих свое обучение по направлению 030900.68 (магистратура) по заочной форме обучения.

Тексты учебного пособия заимствованы из современной английской и американской юридической литературы, сети Интернет, периодических изданий и переработаны авторами.

 

Рекомендуется к печати кафедрой иностранных языков экономического и юридического профилей Алтайского государственного университета

 

 

Подписано в печать 20.12.2011. Формат 60× 84/8

Усл. печ. л. 14, 0. Тираж 500 экз. Заказ 5.

 

 

Типография Алтайского государственного университета:

656049, Барнаул, ул. Димитрова, 66

 

Условные обозначения:

 

словарь, обязательный для изучения

 

тексты для изучающего чтения

 

упражнения для закрепления лексических навыков

 

задания на следующую сессию  
задания для магистрантов     задания на составление ментальных карт или карт памяти

Contents

Предисловие…….……………………………………………………………………………….5

Unit 1. SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT ………………………………………………………..6

Vocabulary ……………………………………………………………………………………….6

Text 1. The State Body Structure………………………………………………………………..10

Text 2. The President of the Russian Federation…………………………………………….…..10

Text 3. The Governmental Model in the UK……………………………………………….........13

Text 4. Members of Parliament in Great Britain……………………… …………………….….13

Text 5. US Government……………………………………………………………………….…15

Text 6. Checks and Balances………………………………………………………………….…16

Master’s Programme..………..…………………………………………………………………..18

Tasks for the next session (Bachelor’s Programme) ……….…………………………………..23

Variant I………………………………………………………………………………………….23

Variant II……………………………………………………………………………………........27

Tasks for the next session (Master’s Programme)……………………………………………….32

Unit II. CONSTITUTION ………………………………………………………………….. …39

Vocabulary ………….……………………………………………………………………….......39

Text 1. What is Constitutional Law? ………………………………………………………….....43

Text 2. The Constitution as Supreme Law ……………………………………………………...44

Text 3. The English Constitution ……………………………………………………………......45

Text 4. US Constitution……………………………………………………………………….....46

Master’s Programme……………………………………………………………………………..48

Tasks for the next session (Bachelor’s Programme) ……………………………………….…..51

Variant I…………………………………………………………………………………….……51

Variant II……………………………………………………………………………………..…..54

Tasks for the next session (Master’s Programme)…………………………………………….....58

Unit III. CRIMINAL LAW ………………………………………………………………..….. 63

Vocabulary ……………………………………………………………………………………....63

Text 1. Crime.. ………………………………………………………………………………....66

Text 2. Criminal Law ………………………………………………………………………..….67

Text 3. Criminology…..……………………………………………………………………….....68

Text 4. Criminal Punishment………………………………………………….………………....69

Text 5. Punishment……………………………………………………………………………....70

Master’s Programme……………………………………………………………………………..72

Tasks for the next session (Bachelor’ s Programme)…………………………………………....77

Variant I……………………………………………………………………………………….....77

Variant II…………………………………………………………………………………………82

Tasks for the next session (Master’s Programme).……………………………………………...86

Unit IV. COURT SYSTEM …………………………………………………………….…….92

Vocabulary Exercises……………………………………………………………………………92

Text 1. Judiciary in the Russian Federation...…………………………………………………....93

Text 2. The Court System of England and Wales.....……………………………………….…....94

Text 3. Courts in the United States………………………………………………………….…...95

Text 4. The Court of Justice..……………………………………………………………….…....96

Text 5.The European Court of Human Rights………………………………………………..…97

Master’s Programme………………………………………………………………………….....99

Tasks for the next session (Bachelor’s Programme)…………………………………………...106

Variant I………………………………………………………………………………………...106

Variant II…………………………………………………………………………………….….111

Tasks for the next session (Master’s Programme)………………………………………….…..114

.

Предисловие

 

Данное учебное пособие предназначено для студентов юридического профиля, обучающихся по направлению подготовки 030900.62 юриспруденция (бакалавриат) и направлению подготовки 030900.68 (магистратура), на заочном отделении, а также для всех изучающих и совершенствующих юридический английский язык.

Навыки, отрабатываемые в пособии, соответствуют квалификационным требованиям владения английским языком, предъявляемым к бакалаврам и магистрам в области юриспруденции.

Пособие направлено на решение следующих конкретных учебных задач:

· значительно расширить словарный запас студентов по изучаемым темам как активный, так и пассивный;

· совершенствовать умения и навыки ознакомительного, просмотрового, поискового и изучающего чтения;

· совершенствовать умения и навыки разных видов говорения, в том числе ведения беседы и дискуссии, выступления с сообщением и докладом;

· совершенствовать умения и навыки письменной речи, включая эссе, доклады, аналитические обзоры с критической оценкой материала, реферирование, аннотирование.

Названные задачи определяют структуру пособия, которое состоит из 4 тематических разделов, а также заданий на промежуточную аттестацию.

Тематика текстов, подобранных из оригинальных и отечественных источников различного стиля изложения – книг, научных статей газетных и журнальных публикаций, дает возможность повысить общий уровень эрудированности и профессиональный уровень студентов. Работу с текстами облегчает стройная система упражнений, которая включает:

· подстановочные упражнения, целью которых является правильное коммуникативное использование готовых вариантов;

· ситуационно обусловленные коммуникативные упражнения на завершение ситуации, аргументирование, выражение своего отношения и т.д.;

· упражнения, стимулирующие свободное высказывание, а также задания, которые требуют многократного обращения к тексту.

Задания, представленные в пособии, нацелены на развитие способности к критическому мышлению и анализу текста, формирование и совершенствование навыков изложения полученной информации, письменного аргументированного выражения мыслей и идей. Некоторые виды заданий на промежуточное тестирование предусматривают освоение форматов международных экзаменов на английском языке.

В качестве источников были использованы следующие материалы:

Немировская Э.А. и др. Английский язык для юристов;

Гуманова Ю.Л. и др. Английский для юристов;

Губернаторова Э.В., Луганова А.Б. English for Law;

Brookes M., Holden D., Hutchinson W., Treutenaere C. English for Law;

Cao D. Translating Law;

Evans V., Edwards L. Upstream Advanced C1;

Krois-Lindner A., Firth M. Introduction to International Legal English;

The Official LSAT PrepTest by Law School Admission Council;

TOEFLiBT Kaplan Publishing;

материалы сети Интернет.

 

 

Vocabulary

accept принимать
accept the rules принимать правила
administer управлять, отправлять (правосудие)
adopt принимать
adoption принятие
apply обращаться, применять
application применение, обращение
application of the law применение закона
approve одобрять
attempt попытка
authority власть, полномочие
behave поступать, вести себя
behavior поведение
forms of behavior формы поведения
barrister барристер, адвокат
break нарушать
break the law нарушать закон
case случай, судебное дело, прецедент
Case Law прецедентное право
claim претендовать, заявлять право
  code кодекс, свод законов
  Criminal Code уголовный кодекс
  codify составлять кодекс, приводить в систему
  codified кодифицировать
  commit совершать
  commit a crime совершать преступление
  conduct поведение, образ действия
  confirm подтверждать, утвердить, ратифицировать
  court суд
  court decision решение суда
  create творить, создавать
  creation создание, творение
  crime преступление
  criminal уголовный
  custom обычай
  customary обычный, привычный, основанный на опыте
  customary rules обычные нормы
  customary law обычное право
  deal общаться, иметь дело
  define определять, иметь дело
  draft составлять законопроект
  enforce оказывать давление
  enforce law принуждать выполнять закон
  evolve развиваться, эволюционировать
  express определять, точно выражать
  govern управлять, править
  government правительство
  judge судья
  law закон, право
  branch of law отрасль, вид права
  civil law (syn. private law) гражданское право
  criminal law уголовное право
  constitutional law конституционное право
  administrative law административное право
  international law международное право
  ecological law экологическое право
  labor law трудовое право
  Common law общее право
  Statute law статутное право, писаный закон
  domestic law местное, региональное законодательство
  descriptive laws описательные законы
  prescriptive laws предписывающие законы
  lawmaker законодатель
  legal юридический, правовой
  legal rights законные права
  legislator законодатель
  memory память
  obedience послушание, повиновение
  observe соблюдать нормы
  observance соблюдение
  pass принимать (закон, резолюцию)
  pass a law принимать закон
  pattern   образец, модель
  pattern of behaviour шаблон, модель поведения
  pattern делать по образцу
  penalty наказание
  suffer penalty нести наказание
  power могущество, власть
  in power правящий, у власти
  bodies of power органы власти
  branches of power ветви власти
  legislative законодательная
  executive исполнительная
  judicial судебная
  power of the police власть полиции
  government in power правительство, находящееся у власти
  prevail преобладать
  propose предлагать, вносить предложение
  propose a bill внести законопроект
  realm королевство
  reduce сводить, приводить (к)
  reduce to writing выразить в письменной форме
  refuse отказывать, отвергать
  regulate регулировать, упорядочивать
  regulate relations регулировать отношения
  relation отношение, связь
  rule правило, норма, образец
  source источник
  source of law источник права
  suffer страдать, испытывать, претерпевать
  verdict вердикт
  veto a bill - наложить вето на законопроект

 

Vocabulary Exercises

Exc. 8. Cross-one out

1. behaviour, conduct, manners, amendment

2. monarchy, authority, republic, dictatorship

3. executive, civil, criminal, international

4. criminal, wrongdoer, mischief-maker, politician

5. to adopt, to pass, to vote for, to elect

6. prescriptive, judicial, executive, legislative

7. civil law, Case law, administrative law, labor law

8. customs, traditions, rules, laws

9. criminal, case, court, parliament

10. to elect, to vote, to support, to adopt

Text 1.

The State Body Structure

Russia is a democratic federative law-governed state with a republican form of government. The population of Russia is about 140 million people and the territory is 17 million square kilometers. The Russian Federation consists of 89 constituent entities (republics, krays, oblasts, cities of federal significance, an autonomous oblasts and autonomous okrugs, which have equal rights). The authorities of the constituent entities have the right to pass laws independently from the federal government. These laws are valid on the territory of the appropriate federative division, but they cannot contradict the federal laws. In case of conflicts between federal and local authorities, the President uses consensual procedures to resolve the problem. In the event a consensus is not reached, the dispute is transferred to the appropriate court for its resolution. The Russian President has the right to suspend acts passed by local executive authorities in case that these acts conflict with federal laws of Russia, its international commitments, or if they violate the human and civil rights and freedoms until the issue is resolved by appropriate court.

State power in Russia is carried out by dividing power into three independent branches: legislative, executive and judicial. Legislative power belongs to the Federal Assembly (the Parliament). Executive power belongs to the central and local governments. Judicial power is provided by appropriate judicial system and by civil, administrative and criminal legislation.

 

 

Text 2.

Text 3.

Text 4.

Task 1. Translate the text

Task 4. Make the sentences

1. British elections/ fought/ political parties/ not.

2. Candidate/ put down/ pounds/ signatures/ residents/ to stand.

3. Represent/ in / constituency/ people/ voted.

4. There/ hundreds/ to deal / day-to-day/ constituency/ life.

5. Parliament/ have/ paid/ since.

 

Text 5.

US Government

The USA is a presidential republic. The legislative branch of the US Government, or the Congress, represents all of the American states. It consists of two parts: the House of Representatives* and the Senate*. Each state has two senators, who are elected every 6 years. A senator must be at least 30 years old, a citizen of the United States for 9 years, and live in the state he or she will represent. A representative must be at least 25 years old, a citizen for 7 years and live in the state.

The job of the Congress is to make laws. The President can veto a bill. The Congress can pass the law anyway if it gets a two-thirds majority vote. The Congress can also declare war. The House of Representatives can also impeach the President. This means that the House can charge the President on trial. The Senate votes to approve the justices that the President appoints to the Supreme Court.

The executive branch of the government puts the country’s laws into effect. The President of the United States is a member of the executive branch. The President must be at least 35 years old, be a natural citizen of the USA. In addition, he must have lived in the US for at least 14 years, and be a civilian. The President is elected every four years and cannot serve more than two terms. The Vice-President of the USA is president of the Senate. When the President receives a bill from the Congress, he must sign it, and then the bill becomes a law. However, if he disagrees with the law, he can veto it. The President can also ask the Congress to declare war. He also appoints the justices to the Supreme Court. He must do his job according to the Constitution, or he may be impeached.

The judicial branch of the government is the system of courts in the United States. Its job is to enforce laws. The Supreme Court is the highest court in the country. It consists of 9 justices: one Chief Justice* and 8 Associate Justices*. The President appoints the justices, but the Senate must approve them. The justices are appointed for life. The Supreme Court makes sure that people obey the laws. The Supreme Court can also decide if a law is constitutional, that it is in agreement with the Constitution. The judicial branch works together with the legislative and executive branches to protect the Constitution and the rights of people.

Vocabulary notes

the House of Representatives Палата представителей

the Senate Сенат

Chief Justice Главный судья

Associate Justice Член Верховного Суда

 

Task 2. Find the words in the text that correspond to the following verbs:

 

to elect, to appoint, to sign, to consist, to protect, to become, to vote

 

Text 6.

Checks and Balances

The US 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 USA – 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, 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.

 

Text 1.

The State System of Russia

Russia is a democratic federative law-governed state with a republican form of government. The Russian Federation consists of 89 constituent entities (republics, territories, regions, cities of federal significance, the autonomous region and autonomous areas, which have equal rights). The authorities of the constituent entities have the right to pass laws independently from the federal government.

The laws and other normative legal acts of the subjects of the Russian Federation may not contradict federal laws. The President of the Russian Federation is the head of state. The President of the Russian Federation has the right to suspend the actions of acts of executive bodies of Russian Federation members if they contradict the Constitution of the Russian Federation, federal laws, or the international obligations of the Russian Federation.

State power in the Russian Federation is exercised on the basis of its separation into legislative, executive, and judicial branches. The Federal Assembly - the Parliament of Russia - is the supreme representative and legislative body of the Russian Federation. Executive power belongs to the central and local governments. Justice in the Russian Federation is administered by the courts of law only. Judicial power is effected by means of constitutional, civil, administrative, and criminal judicial proceedings.

The President is elected to office for a term of four years by the citizens of the Russian Federation on the basis of universal, direct and equal suffrage by secret ballot. One and the same person cannot serve as President for more than two terms in succession. The President stops performing his duties ahead of time if he resigns, because of impeachment, or if he cannot continue to carry out his duties due to poor health. Elections of a new President are to take place within three months and in the meantime his duties are acted upon by the Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation.

The President of the Russian Federation:

- appoints, with the consent of the State Duma the Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation, chairs the meetings of the government, accepts the resignation of the government;

- nominates for approval by the State Duma the Chairman of the Central Bank;

- nominates judges to the Constitutional Court, Supreme Court, and Court of Arbitration of the Russian Federation, and the Prosecutor-General of the Russian Federation for appointment by the Federation Council;

- organizes and chairs the Security Council of Russia;

- is the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and appoints and dismisses the supreme commanders of the Armed Forces;

- appoints diplomatic representatives for approval by the Parliament. He confers supreme military and supreme special titles and honorary titles of the state;

- has the right to show mercy and to decide on issues of citizenship;

- has the right to introduce the state of emergency throughout the country or in a particular territory within the Russian Federation;

- dissolves the State Duma;

- announces elections ahead of time and passes the decision to conduct a referendum on federal issues, etc.

 

Text 2.

Variant I.

   

The Question of Law

Jurisprudence* is the philosophy of law, or the science which deals with positive law and legal relations. The study of jurisprudence asks questions such as: What is law? Where does it come from? Why do we have it? When do we first meet it? Where have you met it? In my opinion, no nation that does not have an informed populace in jurispru­dence can be strong and free.

Fundamentally, law may be called rules governing behavior between people.

Purposes for law include: to regulate human relations; to determine ownership/control of property; to fix parameters of freedom in community and relationships by restraining anarchy (for without law there is only anarchy); to produce justice. But so long as we agree and live out our agreements, we do not need written law. But when we disagree, we must have a system designed to restore us to agreement or decide be­tween us so we do not fall into blood feuds. To have a system we must recognize need for a Rule of Law*.

But who decides what is or is not justice? A legislature* passing laws? Public opinion directing legislators? Judges? Juries? Money? Lawyers? Yes, but No - each individual will decide, inside him, when in conflict, whether he will accept the outcome as justice or not.

Law can be spoken of in many different ways: Political*, Criminal, Civil, and Equitable*, or Constitutional, Statutory* and Procedural*. Or case precedent (stare decisis*) or local custom (tradition); or in a vertical manner - international, then national, then district, then city, etc.; or re­pressive, democratic, autonomous, common, etc. Yet all law will, at times, seem arbitrary and capricious. That is because people make the decisions, not the law - the law is not self-acting. Rule of Law asks the question: " Are these decisions of people made in a framework of law, or a framework of no law? "

The problem always was, and is: What is an adequate base for law? What is adequate so that a human desire for freedom can exist without anarchy and yet be gentle enough to provide a form that will not become arbitrary tyranny?

Jurisprudence has to do with administration, or weighing of justice, ' or right values. All pronouncements of right and wrong are moral concerns, at their base religious. In recent years we have witnessed numerous marches on Washington in which one group or another demanded new " rights"; not freedom from state control but entitlement to state action, protection, or subsidy. In creating rights a state inevitably enlarges its bureaucracy. As a state creates new rights, it necessarily diminishes some rights for others. The modern secular view holds that individuals have just such rights as laws give them. Rights must have a reference point and specific context or they are meaningless; reference point determines the nature of the right exercised, defines who possesses it and sets limits to others who must respect it.

When we fail to live at peace, we need compulsion - so the law exists to compel. It does this by punishment.

Man's methods of law place two people in combat against each other, using advocates (lawyers) who, in the normal setting, keep the parties separate from one another. In this, we say that we search for the truth of the case.

Vocabulary notes

 

jurisprudence юриспруденция, правоведение

rule of law принцип господства права, правовая норма, за­конность

legislature законодательная власть, законодательный орган

Political Law государственное право

Equitable Lawправо справедливости

Statutory Law право, выраженное в законодательных кодифицированных актах, статутное право, statute - закон в письменном виде, принятый законодательной властью, в отличие от неписанных законов и прецедентных решений судов - устных и письменных

Procedural Law процессуальное право

stare decisis (Lat.) судебный прецедент, обязывающая сила прецедентов, букв, «стоять на решенном»

About English Law

" Even when laws have been written down, they ought not always to remain unaltered."

These words by Aristotle, the famous ancient Greek philosopher, could have been written to describe English law and its sources. Where else would you find constitutional laws without any constitution? (N.B. The British Constitution is unwritten) Most people have heard of the Magna Carta. The Magna Carta is the charter of liberty and political rights obtained from King John of England (" Lackland" )* by his rebellious barons at Runnymede in 1215, which came to be seen as the seminal* document of English constitutional practice. It is often described as the corner stone of liberty and the chief defence against arbitrary and unjust rule in England by establishing for the first time a very significant constitutional principle, namely that the power of the King could be limited.

Through the ages this principle has continued to be upheld in spite of various monarchs, civil war and riots resulting in Parliament making itself sovereign and representing the will of the people.

As a result, all (1) ……… power is vested in Parliament, which consists of two parts, the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The buildings where the British parliament does its work are also called the Houses of Parliament. There is no legal limit to the power of Parliament and the courts are bound by all legislation that is enacted by Parliament. So, what is the role of the (2) ………..?

The courts interpret the law, which means that although Parliament (3) ……….. the law, the courts decide how they are to be applied. These decisions are treated as precedents and (4) ……….. courts will follow these decisions if they have similar issues to determine.

This (5) ………..of precedent developed from common law which itself is based on custom and dates from ‘time immemorial’* (or at least 1189). Often before government wrote new laws, judges applied local and ancient customs, and in order ensure that (6) ……….. were consistent relied on decisions made in previous cases. This has also led to the principle that a judge is (7) ………..by the decision of a superior court when reaching a decision in a similar case.

Judges do not exercise their discretion* in an (8) ………..* way. They rest their judgements upon the general (9) ………..of case law and can have influence upon the development of enacted law. Accordingly, the courts can exercise a considerable degree over the practical application of statutes although governments make new laws or statutes which (10) ………..or clarify the common law.

by Nigel Haines

Macmillan Publishers Ltd, 2007

Vocabulary notes

 

King John of England (" Lackland" ) король Англии Иоанн Безземельный

seminal плодотворный; конструктивный, продуктивный

‘time immemorial’ с незапамятных времён, испокон веков

discretion усмотрение

arbitraryпроизвольный, случайный

Task 5.Make a written annotation to the text “About English Law” in Russian

Аннотация представляет собой сжатое описание материала и ставит своей целью дать читателю представление о том, что сообщается в первоисточнике. Автор аннотации дает лишь общее представление о содержании оригинала, отмечая важнейшие позиции, но не раскрывая их сути.

Variant II.

 

Law-making machine

Queen in Parliament

This is the formal title of the British legislature, which consists of the Sovereign, the House of Lords and the House of Commons. The Commons, a majority of whom normally support the government of the day, has the dominant political power.

As constitutional monarch, the Sovereign is required, on the advice of Ministers, to assent to all Bills. The Royal Assent (that is, consenting to a measure becoming law) has not been refused since 1707. The role of the Sovereign in the enactment of legislation is today purely formal, although The Queen has the right to be consulted, to encourage and to warn.

The Queen in Parliament is most clearly demonstrated in the State Opening of Parliament, when The Queen opens Parliament in person, and addresses both Houses in The Queen's Speech. This speech, drafted by the Government and not by The Queen, outlines the Government's policy for the coming session of Parliament and indicates forthcoming legislation. Each session therefore, begins with The Queen's Speech, and the Houses cannot start their public business until the Speech has been read.

Queen and Prime Minister

The Queen retains certain residual powers, notably to appoint a Prime Minister, and to decide whether or not to grant a dissolution of Parliament. The Prime Minister is normally the leader of the party which has a majority in Parliament, but there still could be exceptional circumstances when The Queen might need to exercise the discretion she still retains to ensure that her Government is carried on.

These days, however, The Queen's influence is mainly informal. She has a right and a duty to express her views on government matters to the Prime Minister at their weekly audiences, but these meetings - and all communications between the Monarch and her Government - remain strictly confidential. Having expressed her views, The Queen abides by the advice of her Ministers.

Queen and Privy Council

The Privy Council is the oldest form of legislative assembly still functioning; its origins date from the Norman Kings' Court, which met in private. Until the 17th century, the king and his Council were the Government, with Parliament's role limited to voting funds. Today, the Privy Council has limited, formal executive functions which retain some significance.

On the advice of the Privy Council, The Queen formally approves a large number of Orders in Council (which, by Acts of Parliament, enact subordinate legislation ranging from constitutions of dependent territories to international pollution). The Queen also approves Proclamations (formal notices which cover areas such as the dissolution of Parliament, coinage and dates of certain Bank Holidays). The Privy Council also has certain judicial functions.

There are 400 Privy Councillors, consisting of all members of the Cabinet, a number of middle-ranking government ministers, leaders of the opposition parties in both Houses of Parliament, senior judges and some appointments from the Commonwealth.

Queen and the law/judiciary Sovereign as 'Fount of Justice'

The rendering of justice is one of the oldest of royal functions. From late Anglo-Saxon times, the concept of the Sovereign as the 'Fount of Justice' grew in importance as it helped to ensure that a single system of justice prevailed over competing local, civil and ecclesiastical jurisdictions. [...]

This accumulated legislative power placed responsibilities on the king as a dispenser of justice to ensure order and punish crime. From William the Conqueror (reigned 1066-87) onwards, royal justice was more effectively enforced by the king's appointment of local sheriffs, travelling justices and other officials to administer justice in the Sovereign's name throughout the kingdom. A chronicler of 1179 wrote of Henry II (reigned 1154-89): 'he appointed wise men from his kingdom and later sent them through the regions of the kingdom assigned to them to execute justice among the people... This he did in order that the coming of public officials of authority throughout his shires might strike terror into the hearts of wrongdoers.'

The royal courts were therefore at the centre of the administration of justice in both civil and criminal cases, and Sovereigns themselves took an active part in their own courts, with the king sometimes presiding over the proceedings. By the fifteenth century, the central courts had settled at Westminster, and the Courts of Justice remained housed at Westminster Hall (built in 1097 and renovated in 1394) until 1882.

However, there were limits to royal enforcement of justice or 'the king's peace'. These limits included the geographical distance of the more remote shires (particularly on the troubled borders of the Welsh Marches and Scotland), the independent jurisdiction of 'palatine counties' (where royal powers were granted in franchise to an individual), ecclesiastical jurisdictions and, above all, the Sovereign's reliance on local barons and gentry to uphold the law in the regions - which was liable to break down in times of civil war.

Moreover, as Parliament's legislative role grew and day-to-day power came to be exercised by Ministers in Cabinet, so the Sovereign's role in actually administering justice declined. The Bill of Rights (1689) [...] confirmed the fundamental constitutional principle that the Sovereign no longer had any right to administer justice. The Sovereign's responsibilities regarding the judiciary also waned - under the Act of Settlement (1701), judges were to hold office during good behaviour rather than by the Sovereign's will. (Judges can be removed by the Sovereign on the advice of Ministers, either following an address presented by both Houses of Parliament or without an address in cases of official misconduct or conviction of a serious offence.) The Act therefore established judicial independence. [...]

 

Task 5. Draw the mind map of the text

Mindmapping (составление ментальных карт или карт памяти)это удобная и эффективная техника визуализации мышления при помощи графических схем. Автором методики является психолог Тони Бьюзен. Она отражает все стороны мыслительного процесса и позволяет выделить все главные аспекты проблемы, пробелы в понимании вопроса, ассоциативные связи.

Лист бумаги предпочтительно располагать горизонтально, что позволит расширять и модернизировать рисунок-конспект. В центре листа располагается образ всей проблемы/задачи/области знания. От него разноцветными линиями расходятся «ветки» - различные аспекты этого предмета. На каждой ветке располагаются по 3-4 слова – ассоциации с каждым аспектом, также связанные между собой ветками разных цветов.

Основные ветви далее разделяются на более тонкие. Все ветви подписываются ключевыми словами, заставляющими вспомнить то или иное понятие. Связи между отдельными идеями показываются стрелками.

Соблюдайте следующие рекомендации:

  • Используйте печатные буквы.
  • Размещайте ключевые слова над соответствующими линиями.
  • Следите за тем, чтобы длина линии примерно равнялась длине соответствующего ключевого слова.
  • Соединяйте линии с другими линиями и следите за тем, чтобы главные ветви карты соединялись с центральным образом.
  • Делайте главные линии плавными и более жирными.
  • Отграничивайте блоки важной информации с помощью линий.

 

Task 6. On the basis of the material above present the structured powers and responsibilities of the Russian president in writing

For the next session (Master’s Programme)

Why the Monarchy Must Go

Vocabulary notes

to jettison игнорировать, пренебрегать

implacablyнепреклонно, неумолимо

to dump избавляться, бросать

giddyпустой, несерьёзный

tailspin резкий спад в экономике; хаос, паника, потеря контроля

grouse moor куропаточья пустошь (на севере Англии и в Шотландии; в частном владении крупных землевладельцев-аристократов; куропатки разводятся специально для охоты)

indispensable важный, необходимый

bunk чушь, ахинея

reverence уважение; почитание

genie джинн (из арабских сказок)

dignified достойный

Why the Monarchy Must Stay

Vocabulary notes

at the helmу власти, у кормила правления

aptly как надо; надлежащим, подходящим образом

habitualпривычный

waiveотказываться (от права, требования)

to be even-handedбеспристрастный, объективный, справедливый

stanceпозиция, установка

costlyзатратный

continuityнепрерывность, неразрывность,

целостность, последовательная смена

treasuryгосударственное казначейство

laudableпохвальный, достойный похвалы

burstsвсплески

Task 2. Draw two mind maps of the texts “Why the Monarchy Must Go” and “Why the Monarchy Must Stay”

Mindmapping (составление ментальных карт или карт памяти)это удобная и эффективная техника визуализации мышления при помощи графических схем. Автором методики является психолог Тони Бьюзен. Она отражает все стороны мыслительного процесса и позволяет выделить все главные аспекты проблемы, пробелы в понимании вопроса, ассоциативные связи.

Лист бумаги предпочтительно располагать горизонтально, что позволит расширять и модернизировать рисунок-конспект. В центре листа располагается образ всей проблемы/задачи/области знания. От него разноцветными линиями расходятся «ветки» - различные аспекты этого предмета. На каждой ветке располагаются по 3-4 слова – ассоциации с каждым аспектом, также связанные между собой ветками разных цветов.

Основные ветви далее разделяются на более тонкие. Все ветви подписываются ключевыми словами, заставляющими вспомнить то или иное понятие. Связи между отдельными идеями показываются стрелками.

Соблюдайте следующие рекомендации:

  • Используйте печатные буквы.
  • Размещайте ключевые слова над соответствующими линиями.
  • Следите за тем, чтобы длина линии примерно равнялась длине соответствующего ключевого слова.
  • Соединяйте линии с другими линиями и следите за тем, чтобы главные ветви карты соединялись с центральным образом.
  • Делайте главные линии плавными и более жирными.
  • Отграничивайте блоки важной информации с помощью линий.

Task 3. Make up a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation “The British monarchy: the past and the present” (approximately 16-18 slides) in accordance with the following plan:

 

  • the definition of the monarchy
  • its major types (an absolute monarchy, an estate-representative monarchy or limited monarchy, a constitutional monarchy)
  • through the ages (historical aspects of the British monarchy)
  • the British monarchy nowadays
  • the official names of the monarch
  • Her Majesty’s official address
  • the Queen’s role in the modern state
  • the monarch as the head of state
  • the Royal prerogatives
  • state your argumentative point of view on the issue whether the monarchy “must stay” or “must go”. Support your opinion with reasons and/or examples from your own observations, and/or reading

 

Unit II. CONSTITUTION

Vocabulary


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