The United states of America

The United States of America (the U.S.A. or the U.S.) is a federal republic comprising 50 states, and the District of Columbia (D.C.).

The national capital is Washington, D.C., situated on the Potomac river.

The main political parties of the country are the Republican and Democratic parties.

The Government of the U.S.A. consists of the President and Cabinet, Congress and a judicial system. The basis of the legal system is the modified British law and local customs. Each state has its own government and its own capital. All states consist of counties and municipalities.

The U.S.A. originated in 1776 when on the 4-th of July, 13 American colonies, fighting a war against England, adopted the Declaration of Independence.

The flag of the U.S.A., popularly called «The Stars and Stripes and Old Glory», consists of 13 red and white stripes equal to the number of original states, and a blue field with 50 white stars symbolizing 50 nowaday states. The red stripes proclaim courage (мужество), the white stripes proclaim liberty (свобода), the field of the blue stands for loyalty (верность).

Упр. 5. Ответьте на вопросы к тексту

1. What kind of state is the U.S.A.?

2. What does the Government of the U.S.A. consist of?

3. What is the basis of the U.S. legal system?

4. What are the main political parties of the U.S.A.?

5. When did the U.S.A. originate?

6. How many colonies did the state consist of at that time?

7. In what way does the national flag reflect the history of the U.S.A.?

Упр. 6. Составьте словосочетания из прилагательных (А) и существительных (В)

A B

federal party

national state

political government

judicial system

legal

local

Упр. 7. Переведите следующие предложные словосочетания

the basis of the legal system; under the British law; a war against Britain; about the Declaration of Independence; in the articles (статьи) of the Declaration of Independence; from the District of Columbia; on the Potomac river; the War of Independence; by the President and his Cabinet

Упр. 8. Переведите сочетания существительного с причастием.

a) a state comprising 50 states; the Cabinet consisting of 20 ministers; the colonies fighting against England; the flag consisting of stars and stripes; the stars symbolizing 50 states; the developing countries;

b) the United States; the United Kingdom; the United Nations; the developed states; the underdeveloped states; the modified legal system; the adopted Declaration; the elected President; colonies governed by Britain; the state originated in 1776.