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Race, term historically used to describe a human population distinguishable from others based on shared biological traits.

All living human beings belong to one species, Homo sapiens. The concept of race stems from the idea that the human species can be naturally subdivided into biologically distinct groups. In practice, however, scientists have found it impossible to separate humans into clearly defined races. Most scientists today reject the concept of biological race and instead see human biological variation as falling along a continuum. Nevertheless, race persists as a powerful social and cultural concept used to categorize people based on perceived differences in physical appearance and behavior.

Caucasianor Caucasoid are terms used by anthropologists to refer to a racial group consisting primarily of the light-skinned peoples of Europe, North Africa, western Asia, and India. The designation Caucasian was first used in the 18th century by scholars who believed that white Europeans originated in Caucasia a region in southeastern Europe and southwestern Asia.

Caucasian peoplesare more than 50 various ethnic groups, ranging from language communities with only a fewhundred speakers to large national groups numbering millions.

The languages of the Caucasus belong to four different families: Caucasian (or Pale Caucasian), Indo-European, Turkic, and Semitic. Whereas speakers of the latter three groups are known to have migrated to the Caucasus in historical times, speakers of the Caucasian languages occupied the area at the dawn of history. Slavs (mostly Russians and Ukrainians) make up about one third of the population. Traditionally, the major religions in the Caucasus have been Islam (notably the Turkic groups), the Eastern Orthodox Church (chiefly Georgians), the Armenian Gregorian church, and Judaism. There are also numerous minority sects.

 

SEMINAR 3

“American Institutions”

1. There are three main values Americans have:

    1. _______________________
    2. _______________________
    3. _______________________

Why is loyalty to their country among the most important American values?

 

2.Constitution: the 2 principles that guarantee the stability and elasticity of constitution are: (1) it should be made difficult to change the Constitution; (2) the Constitution will survive if it is subject to a wide interpretation. The preamble to the American Constitution is “We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and to our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution of the United States of America .”

ü What is the history of the Constitution in the USA?

ü What do the first 10 Amendments guarantee?

ü What is the role of the Constitution in American government?

ü The American Constitution was hardly changed throughout history, and this gives rise to a number of ridiculous laws that exist in different states. Provide examples of the laws of this kind.



ü Compare the preambles to American & Russian Constitutions. Do they reveal the attitude to the country and government?

 

3. The American Constitution, the oldest in force in the world, sets the basic form of government: 3 separate branches each one having powers over the other – the system of checks and balances

PRESIDENT   CONSTITUTION   CONGRESS SUPREME COURT   SENATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES  

 

Explain how this system works: speak of the rights and duties of each branch and the way they limit the powers of one another.

4.President (the executive branch)

“A President must be many things.

He must be a shrewd protector of America’s interests; and he must be an idealist who leads those who move for a freer and more democratic planet.

He must see to it that government intrudes as little as possible in the lives of the people; and yet remember that it is right and proper that a nation’s leader takes an interest in the nation’s character.

And he must be able to define – and lead – a mission. ” from George Bush’s Nomination Acceptance Speech (New Orleans, August 18, 1988)

ü What requirement should a person possess to be President of the USA?

ü What is the structure of presidential elections?

ü President is supported by the Cabinet: What are its departments? How does it work? Which of the departments are peculiarly American?

 

5.Federal governmentvs. Local government (the legislative branch)

When the federal government of the USA was being founded, many people were fearful of a strong central government. The convention nearly broke up over the issue of representation. One proposal would have based representation on population. But the small states would be swallowed up by such a plan, and they wanted each state to be considered equal. After heated debate, a compromise proposal was accepted: there would be two Houses (= Chambers) – a bicameral system – a Senate and a House of Representatives.

ü Explain how this bicameral system works, what its function is.

ü The country under discussion is called not America but United States, each having its own local government and system of laws. How do the functions of federal and local governments differ?

6.Law (the judicial branch)

ü Explain how state and federal courts differ.

ü What are the functions of the Supreme Court?

ü What is the Miranda law?

ü What are the rights of the suspects and the accused: self-defense; the structure of a trial.

7. PROJECT WORK: Political Parties in the USA

Is this division historically bound? Does it matter nowadays?

What are the main proposals of each party?

What do the images of the parties tell us?

Do you remember the last ten presidents in America? Which party did they belong to?

Name Years in office Party
1.    
2.    
3.    
4.    
5.    
6.    
7.    
8.    
9.    
10.    

“Facing real George Washington”: read the information in the supplement and look through the pictures carefully .

 

6.Economy.

“My father taught me to work, but not to love it” (Abraham Lincoln)

ü Changes throughout history:

1) Pioneers and do-it-yourself principle

2) The industrial growth of the 19th century

3) Jazz Age and the Great Depression

4) Franklin Roosevelt and his program the New Deal (1933)

5) Consumer culture (yuppies) and beatniks as their counterpart

ü The role of the government and free business:

1) Corporations and entrepreneurs

2) Labour Unions

ü America and the world

7.Social welfare.

ü living in credit/ bills

ü health system/ insurances

SOURSES: 1) “America in Close-Up”, chapters 4, 6, 9, 10 / articles: p.152 “Perspective of a Public Man” / p. 179 “America and the World”

2) Video “Focus on American Culture” # 192 (episodes # 11)

Lectures


Date: 2016-03-03; view: 1285


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