2018-01-21
1180
One of the major characteristics of the Congress is the dominant role committees play in its proceedings. Committees have assumed their present-day importance by evolution, not by constitutional design, since the Constitution makes no provision for their establishment.
At present the Senate has 16 standing (or permanent) committees; the House of Representatives has 22. Each specializes in specific areas of legislation: foreign affairs, defense, banking, agriculture, commerce, appropriations and other fields. Every bill introduced in either house is referred to a committee for study and recommendation. The committee may approve, revise, kill or ignore any measure referred to it. It is nearly impossible for a bill to reach the House or Senate floor without first winning committee approval. In the House, a petition to discharge a bill from a committee requires the signatures of218 members; in the Senate, a majority of all members is required. In practice, such discharge motions only rarely receive the required support.
The majority party in each house controls the committee process. Committee chairmen are selected by a caucus of party members or specially designated groups of members. Minority parties are proportionally represented on the committees according to their strength in each house.
Bills are introduced by a variety of methods. Some are drawn up by standing committees; some by special committees created to deal with specific legislative issues: and some may be suggested by the president or other executive officers. Citizens and organizations outside the Congress may suggest legislation to members, and individual members themselves may initiate bills. After introduction, bills are sent to designated committees which, in most cases, schedule a series of public hearings to permit presentation of views by persons who support or oppose the legislation. The hearing process, which can last several weeks or months, opens the legislative process to public participation.
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Notes
play the dominant role — играть ведущую роль assume the present day importance by evolution — осознать своевременность в развитии
by constitutional design — соответствующий конституции make no provision for their establishment - не создать условия для
их сохранения
appropriation — конфискация; присвоение; ассигнование be referred to — быть связанным с refer to — ссылаться на
discharge a bill from a committee — отозвать закон из комитета be selected by a caucus of party members — избираться кокусом
членов партии caucus — совещание членов легистратуры, принадлежащих
к одной партии
be drawn up by standing committees - разрабатываться постоянно действующими комитетами
deal with specific legislative issues — заниматься отдельными правовыми вопросами
designated committees — назначенные комитеты support (to oppose) the legislation — поддерживать (выступать против) закон(а), законодательную(ой) инициативу(ы)
Упражнения
*21. Соотнесите слова в левой колонке с их определениями в правой.
1. approval a. the act of considering the need for something and
arranging for it.
2. provision b. to look at (something) for information or help
3. area с a good opinion of someone or something
4. refer to d. a particular subject or activity
5. adjust e. to organize and direct (a particular activity)
6. caucus f. to change something slightly to make it fit, work better
or be more suitable
7. conduct g. a meeting of the people who run a political party to
plan activities and to decide which people will support in an election; a group of people within a larger organ
