Английский язык (стр. 4 )

More serious criminal cases then go to the Crown Court. It has 90 branches in different towns and cities. A Crown Court is presided over by a professional judge. The cases are held before a jury of twelve citizens. There is the Central Criminal Court in London (the Old Bailey).

The main civil courts are County Courts. They deal with not very serious civil matters such as contract disputes, divorce or bankruptcy cases. Most serious civil cases are held in the High Court of Justice (High Court). It’s a central court which consists of three divisions: Queen’s Bench, Chancery and Family. They deal with those matters which are connected with property rights, family relations, business etc. The judges of the civil courts are always professionals. They try cases without the jury.

Appeals are heard by higher courts. For example, appeals from magistrates’ courts are heard in the Crown Court. Appeals can also go to the Court of Appeal. It hears both criminal and civil appeals. The highest court of appeal is the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom under Constitutional Reform Act 2005. The Lord Chancellor is the chief judicial officer of the nation.

Find in the text the English equivalents for the words and expressions below

- обычные граждане;

- работать полный рабочий день;

- заключение в тюрьму на шесть месяцев;

- штраф;

- возглавлять суд;

- дело о банкротстве;

- Канцлерское отделение Высокого Суда;

- семейные отношения;

- рассматривать дело без суда присяжных;

- Верховный Суд.

Answer the questions

1. What are the two main types of court in England and Wales?

2. What courts try the majority of criminal cases?

3. Who are magistrates?

4. Where do more serious criminal cases go?

5. What is the Old Bailey?

6. What are the main civil courts?

7. What does High Court deal with?

8. What courts can hear appeals?

9. What is the highest appellate tribunal?

Text 6.2.

Words and expressions

elections - выборы

to support - поддерживать

to believe - верить

free enterprise – свободное предпринимательство

private ownership – частная собственность

Trade Unions - профсоюзы

to flourish - процветать

public services – государственные услуги

majority - большинство

minority - меньшинство

Plaid Cymru –партия Уэльса

Ulster Unionist party – Ольстерская юнионистская партия

POLITICAL PARTIES IN UK

The political system in the UK is based on organized political parties. Most candidates in elections belong to one of the main parties. Nowadays the main political parties in the UK are the Conservative party (right wing), the Labour party (left wing) and the Liberal Democrats (centre).

The Conservative party is the oldest in Britain. It goes back to the Tories, or Royalists. The Tories were the party that supported Church and King. The other main party at that time (the seventeenth century) were the Whigs. They supported political reforms. Then the Tories gave way to the Conservative party. The Conservative party believes in free enterprise and the importance of private ownership.

The Labour party was founded by the Trade Unions in 1900. They believe that private ownership and enterprise should be allowed to flourish, but they should support the public services.

There is one more important political party in the country: the party of Liberal Democrats formed in 1988 as a result of the unity of the Liberal party (or Whigs) and Social Democratic party. The Liberal Democrats believe that the state should have some control over the economy, but there should be individual ownership.

Since 1945 either the Conservative party or the Labour party has held the power. The leader of the party that has a majority at a general election becomes Prime Minister. The Prime Minister forms a new government. The party in the minority is called the Opposition.

There are other political parties in the UK: the Green party, the Scottish Nationalist party, Plaid Cymru (the Welsh Nationalist party). In Northern Ireland there are a number of parties; the largest of them is the Ulster Unionist party.

Find in the text the English equivalents for the words and expressions below

- принадлежать к политической партии;

- поддерживать Церковь и Короля;

- в результате объединения;

- контролировать экономику;

- находиться у власти;

- всеобщие выборы;

- партия, имеющая меньшинство голосов.

Answer the questions

1. What are the main political parties of the UK?

2. What do you know of the Tories and the Whigs?

3. What does the Conservative party support?

4. When was the Labour party founded?

5. Which is the youngest of the main British parties?

6. Who becomes Prime Minister?

7. What is the Opposition?

8. What other political parties of the UK do you know?

Text 7.2.

Words and expressions

legal profession – юридическая профессия

barrister – адвокат, выступающий в суде

solicitor - поверенный

to make a will – составить завещание

to represent a client – представлять клиента

chamber – (зд.) контора адвоката

Inns of Court – «Судебные инны» (корпорации барристеров)

Queen’s Counsel - Королевский адвокат

THE LEGAL PROFESSION IN BRITAIN

The legal profession in England and Wales is divided into two main groups: barristers and solicitors. Barristers do the court work and solicitors do the office work. But in practice, a lot of court work is done by solicitors and barristers do much “office” work. Being a barrister still sounds a much more glamorous occupation than being a solicitor.

If a person has a legal problem, he will go and see a solicitor. There are over 50000 solicitors in Britain. They have public offices in any streets. Solicitors deal with many problems. They give general advice to their clients. They prepare cases and evidence. If a person wants to make a will, the best man to advise him is a solicitor. Solicitors may represent a client in Magistrates’ courts and the County courts.

Barristers are different from solicitors. They give legal opinions to solicitors and their clients. They are experts in the interpretation of the law. Barristers may represent clients in higher courts. Barristers do not have public offices. They work in chambers, often in London. They all belong to institutions called Inns of Court, which are ancient organizations rather like exclusive clubs. About one in ten barristers is a “Queen’s Counsel”. This title is given by the Queen on the recommendation of the Lord Chancellor. There are over 5000 barristers in Britain.

Find in the text the English equivalents for the words and expressions below

- выполнять работу, связанную с судебным делопроизводством;

- занятие, профессия; вопрос юридического характера;

- давать совет клиентам;

- готовить дело и показания;

- отличаться от;

- дать правовую точку зрения;

- толкование законов;

- представлять клиента в суде.

Answer the questions

1. What are the two main groups of the legal profession in Britain?

2. How many solicitors are there in Britain?

3. What are the problems the solicitor deals with?

4. Where do barristers work?

5. Where can barristers represent their clients?

6. What are Inns of Court?

Text 8.2.

Words and expressions

distinctive – отличительный, характерный

to apprehend - задерживать

would be criminals – потенциальные преступники

councilor - советник

Criminal Investigation Department – Уголовный розыск

traffic warden – инспектор дорожного движения

to obey parking regulations – соблюдать правила дорожного движения

to carry guns –носить оружие

firearms – огнестрельное оружие

THE BRITISH POLICE

The British police officer – sometimes called the “bobby” after Sir Robert Peel, the founder of the police force – is a well known figure to anyone who has visited Britain or who has seen the British films. Policemen keep law and order in towns and cities, walking the streets or driving in cars (known as “panda cars” because of their distinctive markings). The duties of the police are varied, ranging assisting at accidents to safeguarding public order and dealing with lost property. One of their main functions is, of course, apprehending criminals and would be criminals.

The police in Britain are organized very differently from many other countries. Britain has no national police force. Instead, there is a separate police force for each of 52 areas into which the country is divided. Each has a police authority - a committee of local county councilors and magistrates.

The forces co-operate with each other only when there has been a very serious crime. A Chief Constable (the most senior police officer of a force) may sometimes ask for the assistance of London’s police force, based at New Scotland Yard – known simply as “the Yard”.

Each police force has its own Criminal Investigation Department (CID). Members of CIDs are detectives, they do not wear uniform. Traffic wardens are also ununinformed. Their job is to make sure that drivers obey parking regulations. They are responsible for controlling offences like speeding, careless driving and drunken driving.

In most countries, the police carry guns. The British police generally do not carry firearms, except in Northern Ireland. Only those who guard politicians and diplomats or who patrol airports are regularly armed.

Find in the text the English equivalents for the words and expressions below

- охранять закон и порядок;

- обязанности полиции;

- оказывать помощь при несчастных случаях;

- задерживать преступников;

- государственная полиция;

- сотрудничать друг с другом;

- нести ответственность за;

- неосторожное вождение.

Answer the questions

1. Who was the founder of the British police?

2. Why are police officers in Britain sometimes called “bobbies”?

3. What are the duties and functions of the police?

4. What do we mean when we say that the police in Britain are organized very differently from many other countries?

5. What is New Scotland Yard?

6. What are the duties of traffic wardens?

7. What police officers are regularly armed?

Part three. The United States of America

Text 1.3.

Words and expressions

settler – поселенец

judiciary - судебная система

the House of Representatives – Палата представителей

to declare war – объявить войну

executive department – исполнительный департамент, министерство

to veto a bill – наложить вето на законопроект

system of checks and balances – система сдержек и противовесов

approval - одобрение

to pass the law – принять закон

THE AMERICAN SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT

The first European settlers who came to America wanted a political system that offered stability but limited the power of individuals, so they set up a democratic system. The American democratic government was established in 1789 in the Constitution of the United States. In this system, rights and powers are divided between the individual states and the central – or federal – government. The federal government has three branches: the executive, the legislative, and the judiciary.

The legislative branch of the US Government is the Congress. It consists of two parts: the House of Representatives and the Senate. Each state has two senators, who are elected every 6 years. The job of the Congress is to make laws. The Congress can also declare war. The House of Representatives can also impeach the President.

The executive branch of the government puts the country’s laws into effect. This branch in the USA is represented by a number of executive departments. Each department is responsible for a specific area (i. e. agriculture, education, energy etc.). The heads of these departments (Secretaries) are appointed by the President. They are called “the President’s Cabinet”. 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. The President is elected every four years and cannot serve more than two terms. The President can veto a bill. He can also ask the Congress to declare war. He also appoints 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.

The power of each branch is carefully balanced by the powers of each of the others. Because of this system of checks and balances, compromise in politics is a matter of necessity, not choice. For example, the President cannot declare war without the approval of the Congress. On the other hand, the Congress cannot pass the law without the approval of the President. The President appoints the justices, but the Senate must approve them. The Supreme Court can declare laws and actions of the government unconstitutional.

Each of the fifty states has its own government, with a governor, a legislative assembly, and a judiciary. Each state also has its own constitution, but all states must respect federal laws.

Find in the text the English equivalents for the words and expressions below

- обеспечить стабильность;

- исполнительная ветвь;

- законодательная ветвь;

- создавать законы;

- обвинять в ненадлежащем исполнении обязанностей;

- гражданин по рождению;

- срок выполнения полномочий;

- назначать судей в Верховный суд;

- в соответствии с Конституцией;

- одобрение Конгресса;

- с другой стороны;

- уважать федеральные законы.

Answer the questions

1. When was the American government established?

2. What branches does the government of the USA consist of?