The Constitutional Court

The duties of the Constitutional Сourt are:

- to decide whether federal laws, the President’s decrees and the Acts of the Council of Federation, the State Duma, the Government and the Russian Federation subjects agree with the Constitution. The following bodies are entitled to apply to the Constitutional Court: the President of Russia, the Council of Federation, the State Duma, a group of Parliament members (1/5 of the total number of the Council of Federation or the State Duma members), the Government, the Supreme Court, the Supreme Arbitration Tribunal, the legislative and the executive bodies of the Russian Federation subjects;

- to deal with the competence problems, i.e. Problems which arise when one body takes over the power of some other body. Such problems may arise between Federal bodies: the President, the Federal Assembly, the Government and federal courts;

- to explain the articles of the Constitution. If the Constitutional Court decides that this or that acts does not agree with the Constitution such acts cease to be laws;

- to take part in the President’s impeachment.

The Constitutional Court consists of two chambers, the first one includes ten and the second one includes nine Constitutional judges. The two chambers are equal.

Vocabulary

to decide decree the Acts the Council of Federation the Russian Federation subjects to agree with body to entitle to apply member to arise to explain right freedom to pass law to deal with … article to cease to take part equal.

Принять решение Декрет, указ, решение Акты, законы Совет Федерации Субъекты Российской Федерации Соответствовать Орган Давать право Применять Член Возникать Объяснять Право Свобода Принимать закон Иметь дело статья прекращать принимать участие равный

Exercise 1. Match a word on the left with a word on the right to make word partnerships from the text.

1. Constitutional a. of the Council of Federation

2. The Acts b. Arbitration Tribunal

3. The Supreme c. court

4. Legislative and executive d. decrees

5. The President’s e. bodies

6. The Russian Federation subjects f. subjects

Exercise 2. Choose the correct word from the option:

1. The following bodies are entitled …. to the Constitutional Court.

a) to accuse; b) to apply; c) to hear; d) to join.

2. The Constitutional Court takes part in the President’s …...

a) dispute; b) justice; c) misdemeanor; d) impeachment.

3. The Constitutional Court …… two chambers.

a) presides over; b) consists of; c) concerns; d) handles.