Federalism: State and Local Governments

The fifty states are quite different in size, population, climate, economy, history, and interests. The fifty state governments often differ from one another too. Because they often approach political, social, or economic questions differently, the states have been called "laboratories of democracy". However, they share certain basic structures. The individual states all have republican forms of government with a senate and a house. All have executive branches headed by state governors and independent court systems. Each state also has its own constitution. But all must respect the federal laws and not make laws that contradict those of the other states. Likewise, cities and local authorities must make their laws and regulations so that they fit their own state's constitution.

The Constitution limits the federal government to specific powers, but modern judicial interpretations of the Constitution have expanded federal responsibilities. There has always been a battle between federal and state's rights. The traditional American district of a too powerful central government has kept the battle going over the years. The states and local communities in the US have rights that in other countries generally belong to the central government.

Ex. 17. Прочитайте текст и найдите ответы на следующие вопросы.

1. What kind of a person may be elected a senator?

2. Who are the presiding officers of the Senate and the House of
Representatives?

3. What body is the head of the judicial branch of the government?
Text3

US POLITICAL SYSTEM

The USA is a presidential republic. Supreme legislative power lies with Congress which consists of a Senate or upper House and a House of Representatives. The Senate is composed of 100 members, 2 from each state who are elected for a term of 6 years. One-third of the Senate is elected every 2 years. The House of Representatives has representatives from each state depending on population, but every state no matter how small it is, has at least one representative in the chamber.

Both Senators and Representatives must be residents of the State from which they were chosen. In addition, a Senator must be at least 30 years old

and a citizen of the USA for at least 9 years. A Representative accordingly -25 years and 7 years.

The presiding officer of the Senate is the Vice-President of the USA. The presiding officer of the House of Representatives, the Speaker, is elected by the house. The work of preparing and considering laws is done by the committees of both Houses. There are 15 standing committees in the Senate and 19 in the House of Representatives.

The Congress assembles at least once a year.

The executive branch of the government consists of the President, the Vice-President and the Cabinet. The President's term of office is four years, together with the Vice-President, chosen for the same term. The President is the head of the executive branch of the government; he appoints the members of the Cabinet. The Cabinet advises the President on many matters and is composed of the heads often executive departments: Secretary of State, Secretary of the Treasury, Secretary of Defence and others, committees of both Houses. There are 15 standing committees in the Senate and 19 in the House of Representatives.

The Congress assembles at least once a year.

The judicial branch of the government is headed by the Supreme Court which settles disputes between the states. The Supreme Court may veto any law passed by the Congress if it contradicts the Constitution of the USA.

The United States is a federal Union, and the President is the head of the Federal government which deals with international problems and national matters. But every state has its own constitution and the state government headed by the Governor managing its local affairs. Their laws and decisions must not contradict the Constitution of the USA.

Vocabulary Notes

to be composed — состоять no matter how... — как бы... не the presiding officer - председатель (чего-л.) a standing committee - постоянно действующий комитет to advise — давать рекомендации Secretary of State - государственный секретарь Secretary of the Treasury - министр финансов Secretary of Defence - министр обороны to settle disputes — решать спорные вопросы to contradict — противоречить

to manage local affairs - заниматься, решать вопросы местного значения

Ex. 18. Переведите на русский язык схему работы Кабинета.

 

 

 

 

 

| The Cabinet
STATE •foreign police • treaties		TREASURY •tax collection • money		DEFENCE •military advice •Army,Navy, Air Force
VETERAN AFFAIRS • financial aid • VA hospitals	JUSTICE • legal advice	INTERIOR • National Parks •American Indians
AGRICULTURE • farming • food inspection	COMMERCE • business • trade	LABOR • rights of workers •job training
HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES • health services •social security				HOUSING & URBAN DEVELOPMENT • housing • city planning
TRANSPORTATION • travel safety • road,air, and train travel		EDUCATION • schools • financial aid		ENERGY • energy research • energy conservation

Ex. 19. Соотнесите комиссию Кабинета (левая колонка) с описанием ее обязанностей (правая колонка).

1. Education 2. Health & Human Services 3. Treasury 4. Justice

a. takes tax money from our paychecks

b. helps train people for employment
с plans for special classes

Ex. 20. Прочитайте текст без словаря. Text 4

The Democratic Party is the oldest party in the United States. In 1829, Andrew Jackson became the first Democratic President. Since that time, the issues of the nation and the ideas of the party have changed. Both the major parties have liberal and conservative members but in general people consider the Democrats today more liberal than the Republicans. Democrats often want the government to establish social programs for people in need, such as the poor, the unemployed, and the elderly. They usually say they believe in equal rights for women and minorities and they oppose nuclear weapon and too much military spending. The symbol of the Democratic Party is the donkey.

The Republican Party, sometimes called the G.O.R (the Grand Old Party), began in 1854 over the issue of slavery. Republicans oppose slavery. The first Republican candidate to become President was

 

Abraham Lincoln. After the Civil War, Republicans got interested in farm, land, and business issues. In general, Republicans vote more conservatively than Democrats. They want government to support big business but not to control

_____ i the lives of citizens. They often oppose government spending

for social programs but support military spending. The party symbol is the elephant.

Vocabulary Notes

nuclear weapon — ядерное оружие slavery — рабство

Ex. 21. С кажите, о какой партии идет речь в каждом предложении.

1. It is the oldest political party in the United States.

2. It is sometimes called the G.O.P.

3. Its first President was Abraham Lincoln.

4. Its first President was Andrew Jackson.

5. It is generally more liberal than the other party.

6. Its members usually prefer to spend tax money for military
purposes rather than for social programs.

7. Its members do not want the government to control the lives of
individuals.

8. The party symbol is donkey.

Ex. 22. Переведите письменно со словарем. Political Parties

The U.S.Constitution does not talk about political parties, but they be­gan during George Washington's term of office. On one side were the Fed­eralists. They wanted a strong federal government. On the other side, the Democratic-Republicans wanted to limit the power of the national govern­ment. Their leader was Thomas Jefferson, and their group later became the Democratic Party.

Some of the early political parties, such as the Federalists and the Whigs, no longer exist. Since 1854, the two major parties have been the Democrats and the Republicans. Smaller parties have lasted for only a short time. "Third parties" have won in local elections, but their candidates have never won a Presidential election.

Many people say that there is not much difference between the Republican and Democratic Parties. "Liberal" politicians usually favor reform (change) and progress. "Conservative" politicians usually oppose change. But both liberal and conservative members belong to the two major political parties, and their ideas often change with the times and the issues.

Unit Two

Textl

US CONSTITUTION

The form of the US government is based on the Constitution of 1787 which was adopted after the War of Independence. A constitution is a set of customs, traditions, rules and laws that sets forth the basic way a government is organized and functions. According to this definition of the word, every nation has a constitution but in some countries constitutions are very easily violated because the basic rights of their citizens are violated.

It is very important to understand that having a constitution does not mean that a nation has a constitutional government. If a constitution makes it possible to concentrate power by one or few, it is not the basis of a constitutional government. If a constitution says that the government's power should be limited but doesn't mention the ways how to do it, it is not the basis for a constitutional government.

In a constitutional government the constitution is a form of higher law that must be obeyed by everyone including those in power.

The US Constitution consists of 7 articles and 26 amendments.

According to the Founders of the American state a constitution or higher law should have the following characteristics:

• It sets forth the basic rights of citizens to life, liberty, and property

• It establishes the responsibility of the government to protect those
rights.

• It establishes limitations on how those in government may use their
powers with regard to

 

• citizens' rights and responsibilities

• the distribution of resources

• the control of conflict

 

• It establishes the principle of a private domain — which means that
there are areas of citizens' lives that are no business of the government and
in which the government cannot interfere.

• It can be changed with the consent of the most citizens. This is how
the Constitution differ from the ordinary law that governments regularly
create and enforce. The US Constitution has 26 amendments, the first 10
are called the Bill of Rights and it was adopted in 1791. The Bill enumerated
basic freedoms and guaranteed them and declared what the government
was not allowed to do.

Vocabulary Notes

to adopt — принимать definition — определение

to violate — нарушать

basic freedoms, rights — основные свободы, права

to obey — повиноваться, выполнять

to make amendments — вносить поправки

to set forth — излагать

to establish — устанавливать

private domain — личная жизнь

to interfere — вмешиваться

Ex. 2. Приведите русские слова с таким же корнем.

base; constitution; regulation; political; standards; to form; satisfaction; guarantee; to consolidate; revolution; to control; oligarchy.

Ex. 3. Найдите в тексте английские эквиваленты следующих слов и выражений.

свод законов, правил, традиций; принять конституцию; двад­цать шесть поправок к Конституции; нарушать Билль о пра­вах; согласие болыпинства;перечислять; гарантировать; выс­ший закон, который все должны исполнять.

Ex. 4. Выразите согласие/несогласие со следующими утверждения­ми, используя выражения типа: I quite/completely/agree, I can't agree, I think it is not so, it/s wrong, on the contrary.

1. The American Constitution was adopted after the War of
Independence and it remains unchanged so far.

2. The US Constitution consists of 10 articles and 50 amendments.

3. The US Constitution guarantees freedom of enterprise.

:& А. Переведите на русский язык.

1. freedoms proclaimed by the Constitution; constitution proclaiming
freedoms

2. the judicial practice violating the Bill of Rights; the Bill of Rights
violated by the judicial practice

В. Переведит& на английский язык.

1. конституция, гарантирующая свободу предпринимательству;
права, гарантируемые конституцией

2. нормы, регулирующие работу правительства; работа пра­
вительства, регулируемая нормами

3t

3. олигархи, контролирующие работу правительства: ппави-тельство, контролируемое олигархами

ЁХ. 6. Поменяйте активный залог на пассивный и переведите пред­ложения на русский язык.

1. The USA adopted the Constitution in 1787.

2. The Constitution provides the set of rules, laws and regulations to
regulate the work of the government.

3. Some historians regard the Constitution as a conservative
document.

4. In some countries the oligarchy can control the government.

Ex. 7. Прочитайте текст без словаря и расскажите по-английски как принимаются поправки к Конституции. The Amendment Process

Wfe have a living Constitution. Men wrote it in 1787, and we still use it today. These men were intelligent. "The U.S. will change in the future" they thought. "We must find a way to let the Constitution change too." And they did.

They put in the amendment process. This process is important. Amendment can change part of an article in the Constitution or another amendment.

Two-thirds (2/3) of the Congress or of the state legislature must agree on an idea for an amendment. If three-fourth (3/4) of the states ratify the amendment, it becomes part of the Constitution.

Ex. 8. Ответьте на вопросы.

1. What does a "constitution" mean in American political language?

2. What is the aim of the US Constitution?

3. What does it consist of?

4. What is the Bill of Rights?

5. What do you think about the peculiarities of the US Constitution?

Ex. 9. Прочитайте и переведите текст. Text 2

ELECTIONS

Anyone who is an American citizen, at least 18 years of age, and is registered to vote may vote. Each state has the right to determine registration procedures. A number of civic groups, such as the League of Women Voters, are actively trying to register as many people as possible, \bter registration and voting among minorities has dramatically increased during the last twenty years, especially as a result of the Civil Rights Movement.

It

There is some concern, however, about the number of citizens who could vote in national elections but do not. In the national election of 1984, for instance, only 57.4 per cent of all those who could have voted actually did. In 1992 it was 61.3. But then, Amrericans who want to vote must register, that is put down their names in register before the actual elections take place. There are 50 different registration laws in the US - one set for each state. In the South, voters often have to register not only locally but also at the county seat. In European countries, on the other hand, "permanent registration" of voters is most common. Of those voters in the United States who did register in the 1988 Presidential elections, 86 per cent cast their ballots, in 1992-89.8 per cent.

The National Presidential elections consists of two separate campaigns. One is for the nomination of candidates at national party convention, the other is to win the actual election. The first stage is called "primaries". The party convention votes to select the party's official candidate for the presidency. Then starts Presidential campaigns bv the candidates. At last in Nobewmber, the voters go to the polls.

Vocabulary Notes

to register to vote — зарегистрироваться для голосования

procedure — процедура

minority — меньшинство (зд. национальное)

dramatically — значительно

that is — т.е.

to set a law — создать закон

county — избирательный округ

to cast a ballot — проголосовать

nomination — выдвижение кандитата

Ex, 10. Найдите в тексте эквиваленты следующих слов и выражений, голосовать; процедура; избиратели; партийный съезд

Ex. 11. Просмотрите упомянутые в тексте цифры и проверьте, пра­вильно ли они объяснены в упражнении; при необходимости дайте правильный вариант

1. American citizens under 18 may vote.

2. In 1988, at the Presidential elections, only 86 per cent of the
registered voters took part in the elections.

3. There are 40 registration laws in the USA which are obligatory
for the country.

4. In 1990 only 50 per cent cast their ballots.

 

Ex. 12. А. Изучите схему, представляющую порядок проведения вы­боров в США. Проверьте термины по словарю. В. Расположите предложения, описывающие порядок прове­дения выборов, в логической последовательности.

1. U.S. adult citizens vote for a President in a national election.

2. At first, there are two or more candidates for the Republican
Party and two or more candidates for the Democratic Party.

3. After the party conventions, the candidates continue to
campaign.

4. The inauguration of the President is on January 20th.

5. In the summer, each party has a convention to choose one
candidate.