The court system of England and Wales

The most common type of law court in England and Wales is the magis­trates' court. There are 700 magistrates' courts and about 30,000 magistrates.

More serious criminal cases then go to the Crown Court, which has 90 branches in different towns and cities. Civil cases (for example, divorce or bankruptcy cases) are dealt with in County courts.

Appeals are heard by higher courts. For example, appeals from magis­trates' courts are heard in the Crown Court. The highest court of appeal in England and Wales is the House of Lords. (Scotland has its own High Court in Edinburgh, which hears all appeals from Scottish courts.) Certain cases may be referred to the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg.

The legal system also includes juvenile courts (which deal with offenders under seventeen) and coroners' courts (which investigate violent, sudden or unnatural deaths). There are administrative tribunals which make quick, cheap and fair decisions with much less formality. Tribunals deal with dis­putes between individuals, and disputes between individuals and govern­ment departments (for example, over taxation).

Vocabulary Notes

magistrates' court — мировой суд

Crown Court - Суд Короны

case — судебное дело

County Court — суд графства

court of appeal — апелляционный суд

European Court of Justice — Европейский суд

juvenile court — суд по делам несовершеннолетних

violent — насильственный

coroners' court - суд, рассматривающий дела о насильственной

смерти

to make a decision — принимать решение fair — справедливый taxation - налогообложение

Ex. 4. Приведите 2-3 примера различных правонарушений и скажи­те, в каких судах они должны рассматриваться. Обоснуйте вашу точку зрения.

Ех.5. Выучите следующие слова и выражения.

a barrister — адвокат, выступающий в суде

a solicitor — поверенный

a judge — судья

advocacy — адвокатура

to examine the case - изучить дело

litigation - тяжба, гражданское дело

to rely on — полагаться на

self-employed — зд. иметь частную практику

the right of audience — право выступать в суде

Ваг — коллегия адвокатов

in house lawyer — юрист, постоянно работающий в компании

Их. 6. Прочитайте текст и расскажите по-русски о юридических про­фессиях в Великобритании.

Text3

There are about 66,000 practising solicitors and over 8,000 practising barristers in England and Wales. Solicitors and barristers work together on cases but the solicitor is the first point of contact with the law for a client in the UK. The solicitor listens carefully to the client and then explains the legal position and gives advice. Barristers will only see the client in the company of a solicitor who prepares all the documents relevant to the case which will be examined by the barrister.

The barrister is a specialist in advocacy and he has the right of audience. There are only a few solicitor who are allowed to present cases in the higher courts.

Barristers are self-employed in the independent Bar. Solicitors normally get salaries but sometimes they can get extra money in the profits if they are successful.

In addition to the barristers practising in England and Wales, there are 2000 barristers working as in-house lawyers.

Judges in England and Wales have been barristers for not less than 10 years. Since judges are appointed, they can't work as barristers.

Solicitors do a variety of work - property, private law, banking, finance, employment law and environmental law.

Ex. 7. Ответьте на вопросы:

1. What is the main difference between a barrister and a solicitor?

2. What kind of lawyers can become judges?

3. Is it better for a company to have an in-house lawyer or to invite a
lawyer in case of necessity? Give your reasons.

SECTION II

The United States of America

Unit One

Ex. 1. Прочитайте и переведите текст.

Textl

A. US GOVERNMENT

The USA is a presidential republic. The legislative branch of the US Government, or the Congress, represents all of the American states. It consists of two parts: the House of Representatives and the Senate. Each state has two senators, who are elected every 6 years. A senator must be at least 30 years old, a citizen of the United States for 9 years, and live in the state he or she will represent. A representative must be at least 25 years old, a citizen for 7 years, and live in the state.

The job of the Congress is to make laws. The President can veto a bill. The Congress can pass the law anyway if it gets a two-thirds majority vote. The Congress can also declare war. The House of Representatives can also impeach the President. This means that the House can charge the President with a crime. In this case, the Senate will put the President on trial. The Senate votes to approve the justices that the President appoints to the Supreme Court.

The executive branch of the government puts the country's laws into effect. 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. In addition, he must have lived in the US for at least 14 years, and be a civilian. The President is elected every four years and cannot serve more that two terms. The Vice-President of the USA is president of the Senate. When the President receives a bill from the Congress, he must sign it, and then the bill becomes a law. However, if he disagrees with the law, he can veto it. The President can also ask the Congress to declare war. He also appoints the 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. It consists of 9 justices: one Chief Justice and 8 Associate Justices. The President appoints the justices, but the Senate must approve them. The justices are appointed for life. The Supreme Court makes sure that people obey the laws. The Supreme Court can also decide if a law is constitutional, that it is in agreement with the Constitution. The judicial branch works together with the legislative and executive branches to protect the Constitution and the rights of people.

Vocabulary Notes

the legislative branch of the government - законодательная вда№»

to represent — представлять

the House of Representatives — Палата представителей

the Senate - Сенат

to elect, election — избирать, выборы

to make laws — создавать законы

to enforce a law — проводить закон в жизнь

to obey a law — исполнять закон

to pass the law — провести закон

to veto a bill - наложить вето на законопроект

majority/minority — большинство/меньшинство

to declare war — объявить войну

to impeach the President — подвергнуть президента импичменту

to charge - обвинить в каком-либо преступлении

to vote — голосовать

executive branch — исполнительная власть

a term — срок полномочий

the Supreme Court - Верховный Суд

justice — судья

Chief Justice — Главный Судья

Associate Justice — Член Верховного Суда

to appoint — назначать

the judicial branch — судебная власть

Ex 2. Выберите в тексте слова, которые являются юридическими тер­минами. Переведите их и запомните.

Ex. 3. Дайте возможные словосочетания с предлагаемыми глаголами, to elect; to appoint; to sign; to consist; to protect; to become; to vote.

Ex. 4. Найдите в тексте английские эквиваленты следующих русских слов и выражений.

в этом случае; обвинять; гражданин, имеющий американское подданство; одобрять; срок; быть в соответствии с; подписы­вать; защищать права; проводить в жизнь закон; гражданское лицо; гражданин страны по рождению.

Ex. 5. Закончите предложения в соответствии с текстом.

1. The job of the Congress is..................................................

2. The US President...............................................................

3. A senator must be..............................................................

4. The Supreme Court consists of..........................................

5. The judicial power is..........................................................

Ex. 6. Ответьте на вопросы.

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

2. Who does the highest executive power belong to?

3. Who represents the legislative power in the USA?

4. What is the judicial branch of the government? What is its job?.

Ex. 7. Прочитайте текст и выявите ту информацию, которой НЕ было в Тексте А. В. US GOVERNMENT

By the Constitution of 1787 the government of the USA is composed of three branches: the executive one, the legislative one, and the judicial one.

The highest executive power in the United States is with the President of the United States, who is elected for a term of 4 years by electors of each state. The President of the USA must be a native-born citizen, resident in the country for 14 years and at least 35 years old.

The President is to carry out the programmes of the Government, to recommend much of the legislation to the Congress. The President is also responsible for

• carrying out and enforcing laws made by Congress;

• nominating people for federal offices;

• negotiating treaties with other nations;

• conducting wars.

In addition, the president is given the power

• to pardon people convicted of crimes

• to send and receive ambassadors to and from other countries.
Veto. The president shares in the legislative power through the veto. Althougn

the president can veto a bill passed by Congress, the bill can still become a law if two-thirds of both houses of Congress vote to override the veto

Appointments. The power to appoint executive branch officials and federal judges is shared with Congress. The president has the power to nominate persons to fill those positions, but the Senate has the right to approve or disapprove of the persons nominated. To prevent corruption of Congress, members of Congress are not allowed to hold another federal office.

The legislative power belongs to the Congress of the United States consisting of two chambers: the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Senate is composed of two members from each state elected for a term of 6 years, one third being elected every two years. The number of representatives from each state to the House of Representatives depends on the number of people in each particular state.

In order to become a law all bill and resolutions must pass both the Houses and must be signed by the President.

The Supreme Court is the highest judicial organ of the United States and the head of the judicial branch of power. The Supreme Court consists of the Chief Justice of the USA and a number of Associate Justices.

There are about 90 district courts in different part of the United States. The district courts are the lowest ones in the Federal court system. Most of the criminal and civil cases are tried by these courts.

Each state has a constitution similar to the Constitution of the USA and all the power in each state is divided into executive, legislative, and judicial. The head of each state is the governor of the state.

Each state has its own system of courts similar to that of the Federal courts.

Vocabulary Notes

electors — выборщики

to carry out — выполнять

to enforce a law — проводить закон в жизнь

to negotiate — вести переговоры

to pardon — помиловать

to override — не принимать во внимание

to (disapprove - (не)одобрять

a chamber - палата

in order to — для того, чтобы

similar to — подобный

to try a case — рассматривать дело

Ex. 8. Скажите, отражает ли данная схема информацию, приведен­ную в тексте.

Duties of the president and vice-president

Is commander-in-chief of military

Makes foreign policy

Approves or vetoes laws

L---- 1 President |--- J

Appoints judges, advisors & ambassadors

Advises congress

Pardons

Goes to meeting with the President and advisors

Уюе president

Acts as president if the president can't

Is president of the senate

Votes in the senate if necessary

Ex. 9. Прочитайте предложения и укажите, которые из них соответ­ствуют действительности.

The President...

1. makes plans for foreign policy

2. appoints people to the Supreme Court

3. writes taxes for states

4. votes in the Senate

5. sends soldiers to war.

Ex. 10. Расскажите о:

1. the President of the USA

2. the Congress

3. the Supreme Court.

 

Ex. 11. Изучите схему организации правительства штата. При необхо­димости пользуйтесь словарем.

Three Branches Of State Giovemment I

EXECUTIVE

Governor

• is chief of National Guard • suggests state laws • can veto state laws • states have different terms, but usually Governor = 2 or 4 years

Lieutenant Governor

• substitutes for the Governor if he or she is absent or dies in office

Advisors: Attorney General, Secretary of State, Treasurer

[LEGISLATIVE]

Senate + House of Representatives or Assembly

• pass state laws • approve state budget • states have different terms, but usually Senate = 4 years, Representatives = 2 years

State Supreme Court

• hears appeal cases

State District or Superior or Circuit Courts

• hear trial cases (civil and criminal)

Local Courts

• hear special trial cases like: traffic, family, juvenile

• hear cases about state laws • hear cases between citizens of the same state

• usually have a judge and jury at trial cases

Ex. 12. Пользуясь известной информацией, выберите правильный

Yes No

ответ.

1. Do state governments have three branches of government? □ □

2. Does the head of a state have advisors? □ П

3. Are the Circuit Courts of Appeals part of the state court □ □
system?

4. Do most states have two houses in the legislature? □ □

5. Can a state court hear cases about federal laws? □ □

Ex.13. Переведите письменно.

Правительство штата имеет почти такую же организацию (pattern), как и Федеральное правительство. Каждый штат име­ет свою Конституцию, за исключением штата Небраска (Nebraska). Штат принимает свои законы, но они не должны

противоречить Конституции государства. Штаты имеют свою полицию и судебную систему.

Штат подразделяется на отдельные территории, которые на­зываются округами и которые имеют местное самоуправле­ние (local governments).

Ex. 14. Прочитайте текст без словаря и расскажите по-русски его со­держание.

Text 2