THE NATURE OF CRIMINAL LAW

The United States of America is a parliamentary republic, consisting of 50 states. New York City is the largest city in the United States. Washington, D.C, is the capital. The government is divided into three branches: legislative (the US Congress), executive (the President and his Administration) and judicial (the US Supreme Court). The supreme law of the land is the Constitution of the United States.

The Congress of the United States is composed of two houses, the Senate - the Upper house and the House of Representatives - the Lower House. The Senate is composed of 100 members – two from each of 50 states, who are elected for a term of 6 years. The House of Representatives has 450 members. The Senate represents the states and the House represents the population according to its distribution among the states. Congress has powers in domestic affairs, including the power to make laws, to tax, borrow money and pay debts, remove a Supreme Court judge, remove the President. Congress has the power to declare war, establish tariffs, and regulate commerce with foreign nations.

The US President is both head of state and government. He is also the head of his or her party, an important legislative leader, and the chief executive. He is elected for a four-year term. The President is assisted by Secretaries who are the heads of the executive departments. The executive branch has the power to:

- manage the government;

- suggest new laws;

- command the army and navy;

- appoint the Cabinet members, the Supreme Court judges, and other officials;

- approve or disapprove of the laws made by the Congress.

The Supreme Court is the highest court in the country and the head of the judicial branch of US government. It decides what a law means and whether a law of the Congress or an executive order of the President is constitutional or not. The Supreme Court consists of Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices who are appointed for life. The nine justices of the Supreme Court and the other federal judges are nominated by the president with the advice and consent of the Senate. The federal and state courts have the power of "judicial review."Also there are about ninety district courts in different parts of the United States. American judicial practice is firmly committed to the idea of jury trails. The Constitution guarantees them for both criminal and civil cases.

Each of the fifty states of the USA has a constitution similar to the Constitution of the entire nation, with its three divisions of power: executive, legislative and judicial. The head of each state is the governor - the chief executive of the state.

There are two main political parties in the USA: the Democratic (symbolized by a "donkey") and the Republican (its symbol is an "elephant").

Word list

II. Mark these statements T (true) or F (false) according to the text.

1. New York City is the capital the United States.

2. The legislative body of the USA government is called the Congress.

3. The Congress consists of two chambers.

4. The House of Representatives represents the states.

5. Congress has powers in foreign affairs, including the power to tax, borrow money and pay debts.

6. The US President is the head of its armed forces.

7. Presidential elections in the USA are held every five years.

8. The President of the U SA nominates nine justices of the Supreme Court.

9. The executive power in the USA belongs to the President and his Administration.

10. The Supreme Court is the head of the judicial branch of US government.

11. The Supreme Court consists of Chief Justice and eight hereditary Associate Justice.

12. Each of the fifty states of the USA has a constitution and the chief executive of the state.

III. Answer the questions:

1. What are the main branches of power in the USA?

2. What is Congress? What are its tasks?

3. Who does the executive power belong to?

4. What are the functions of the president?

5. What is the court system of the USA?

IV. Retell the text.

Federal Courts of Appeal

REPUBLIC Judicial Branch Supreme Court

Federal District Courts

Legislative

Executive Branch

Branch

Congress

Government House of Senate

Representatives

V Read and translate the text.

The President of the USA

The executive power in the USA belongs to the President and his Administration. The Presidency in the USA is the highest governmental office. President in the USA is the head of the state and the government, and also the commander-in-chief of the US Armed Forces.

The president, as the chief formulator of public policy, often proposes legislation to Congress. The president can also veto any bill passed by Congress. The veto can be overridden by a two-thirds vote in both the Senate and House of Representatives. As the head of his political party, with ready access to the news media, the president can easily influence public opinion. President conducts foreign affairs, signs documents, and appoints diplomats, Cabinet Members, federal judges with the consent and advice of the Senate. He outlines the course of his administration through Congress.

An extensive advisory system serves the president. The President's cabinet also serves as a source of information and advice. It consists of the heads of the governmental departments and a few other officials, such as the director of the Central Intelligence Agency and the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations (UN). The cabinet has no power of its own.

Presidential elections are held every leap year on first Tuesday after first Monday in November. He is elected for a four-year term. Inauguration of the President always takes place on the 20th of January. It is an official act of installing the President of the USA to his office. Inauguration is connected with some traditions. Thus the incumbent President gives dinner on the eve in honour of the President elected and conducts him through the White House. By 12 o'clock of the 2nd of January two participants of the ceremony and guests take their places in front of the Capitol. The central point of the ceremony is the taking of an oath by the President and the delivering of his Inaugural speech; it is regarded as a declaration of principles, proclaimed by the new administration. The ceremony ends in a military parade.

Word list

V. Mark these statements T (true) or F (false) according to the text.

1. The executive power in the USA belongs to the President and his Administration.

2. President in the USA is the head of the state and the government, and also the commander-in-chief of the UK Armed Forces.

3. The president can veto some bills passed by Congress.

4. The veto can be overridden by a two-thirds vote in the House of Representatives.

5. As the head of his political party, with ready access to the news media, the president can easily influence public opinion regarding issues and legislation that he deems vital.

6. President conducts foreign affairs, signs documents, and appoints diplomats, Cabinet Members, federal judges with the consent and advice of the Senate. He outlines the course of his administration through Congress.

7. Inauguration of the President always takes place on the 12th of January.

8. Inauguration is an official act of resigning of the President of the USA.

9. The incumbent President gives dinner on the eve in honour of the President elected and to conduct him through the White House.

10. The central point of the ceremony is the taking of an oath by the President and the delivering of his Inaugural speech.

VII. Answer the questions:

1. Who does the executive power in the USA belong to?

2. What does the president do as the chief formulator of public policy?

3. Who does the president appoint?

4. When does inauguration take place?

5. What traditions is inauguration connected with?

VIII. Write down the functions and duties of the President of Ukraine.

THE NATURE OF CRIMINAL LAW

I. WARMING UP

Exercice 1. Read and comment on the quotation by Edmund Burke (1729 - 1797), Irish-born British statesman and political philosopher: "Bad laws are the worst sort of tyranny".

Exercise 2. Answer the question: What is the main task of criminal law?

Exercise 3. Match the following English words and expressions with their Ukrainian equivalents:

Exercise 4. A. Divide the following words into two groups:

− those in which the letter combination– ea is pronounced as [i:];

− those in which the letter combination– ea is pronounced as [e].

lead, already, threaten, deal, peace, health, treating, death, least, European.

B. In the text below find the sentence with the wordconduct. What syllable is stressed in this word? When is the stress on the second syllable?

Exercise 5. Read the text.

Vocabulary Notes

Criminal Law

Date: 2015-01-02; view: 1057