Task 2. Produce the whole sentence in English

Task 1. Read the text “George Washington” and try to understand its contents without consulting a dictionary.

George Washington

George Washington had been the obvious choice to be the first president of the United States, and indeed, many people had supported ratification of the Constitution on the assumption that Washington would be the head of the new government. By all measures, Washington proved himself a capable, even a great, president, helping to shape the new government and leading the country skilfully through several crises, both foreign and domestic.

Washington, like many of his contemporaries, did not understand or believe in political parties, and saw them as fractious agencies subversive of domestic tranquillity. When political parties began forming during his administration, and in direct response to some of his policies, he failed to comprehend that parties would be the chief device through which the American people would debate and resolve major public issues. It was his fear of what parties would do to the nation that led Washington to draft his Farewell Address.

The two parties that developed in the early 1790s were the Federalists, who supported the economic and foreign policies of the Washington administration, and the Jeffersonian Republicans, who in large measure opposed them. In foreign affairs, both sides wanted the United States to remain neutral in the growing controversies between Great Britain and France, but the Federalists favoured the English and the Jeffersonians the French.

Washington set out his vision of what would make the United States a truly great nation. He called for men to put aside parties and unite for the common good. The United States must concentrate only on American interests, and while the country ought to be friendly and open its commerce to all nations, it should avoid becoming involved in foreign wars. The United States must “act for ourselves and not forothers”.

Many Americans, especially in subsequent generations, accepted Washington's advice as gospel, and in any debates between neutrality and involvement in foreign issues would invoke the message as dispositive of all questions. Not until 1949, in fact, would the United States again sign a treaty of alliance with a foreign nation.

Task 2. Mark the statement which are true.

1.George Washington was unable to cope with the problems the country was facing in international and domestic fields.

2.The population of the country hoped that the new government would be headed by G. Washington.

3.G. Washington’s attitude to political parties was negative.

4.Political parties in the USA appeared long before G. Washington’s administration.

5.Due to the existence of the political parties the Americans could influence the resolution of important public issues.

6.Farewell Address drafted by G. Washington was caused by some international problems.

7.The federalists favoured G. Washington’s administration.

8.The attitude of both parties to foreign affairs coincided completely.

9.G. Washington knew what to do to make the USA a great nation.

10.G. Washington thought that the country should not be neutral in any foreign issues to be strong.

Task 3. Complete the following sentences.

1.Many people supported ratification of the Constitution on the assumption that ….

2.Washington proved himself a capable president helping ….

3.His contemporaries didn’t understand or believe in political parties and saw them as ….

4.G. Washington failed to comprehend that ….

5.The two parties that developed in the early 1790s were ….

6.The Federalists supported ….

7.Both parties wanted the United States ….

8.G. Washington wanted the United States to concentrate on ….

9.The country ought to be friendly and open its ….

10.Many Americans, especially in subsequent generations, accepted ….

Task 4. Read the text below and think of the word which best fits each space.

The (1) … president of the United States, George Washington has been called “the father of his country”. Son (2) … a wealthy Virginia plantation owner, Washington inherited several profitable estates.

During the War of Independence, which was fought (3) … Britain, Washington showed himself (4) … a prominent officer in the Continental armed forces. Then he got married and settled down to the omfortable life of a country gentleman.

(5) … 1774 he took part in the Continental Congress, which organized the confrontation (6) … the American colonies and their British rulers. Chosen to lead the American Continental Army, Washington commanded it throughout the entire (7) … of Independence.

After the defeat of the British, Washington retired to private life on his plantation, declaring his wish to live and die an honest man on his own farm.

(8) … being a national hero, he did not want to serve but he was persuaded to return to political duties. He presided over the drafting of the United States Constitution, and in 1789 he was unanimously (9) … the first president of the United States. Reluctantly, he accepted the office.

Washington (10) … for two terms as president and would certainly have been elected again had he not refused to run for a third term.

By the time of his death, Washington was universally admired for his honesty, dignity, and patriotism. After his death, he was described as being “first in war, (11) … in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen”.

Task 5. Give short answers to the following questions.

1.What assumption influenced people’s support of the ratification of the US Constitution?

2.What kind of president did G. Washington prove to be?

3.Why was G. Washington’s attitude to political parties negative?

4.What was the direct response to some of G. Washington’s policies?

5.What was his Farewell Address caused by?

6.Who did the Jeffersonians favour?

7.What was Washington’s vision of making the US a truly great nation?

8.Why was the treaty of alliance signed only in 1949?

Vocabulary Check

Task 1. Fill in the gaps with the correct preposition.

1.Americans have the great pride … their Constitution.

2.The American Constitution is the oldest still … force in the world.

3.Under the American Constitution all power belongs … the people.

4.All governments and governmental groups must operate … constitutional guidelines.

5.The first ten amendments … the Constitution stated fundamental rights of any American.

6.State legislatures must conform … the state constitution.

7.A great deal of power is put … the hands of president.

8.US president is assisted in Administration … a Cabinet of 12 members.

9.Cabinet secretaries correspond to European ministers, they are heads of different departments and directly and fully responsible … President.

10.The Supreme Court watches … the other two branches.

11.Congress has the power to fix the number of judges sitting on the Court, but it cannot change the powers given … the Supreme Court … the Constitution itself.

12.A decision of the Supreme Court cannot be appealed … any other court.

13.All other cases which reach the Court are appeals … lower courts.

14.One third of the Senators are elected every two years … six-yearterms of office.

15.A Senator must be … least 30 years old, a citizen of the US for nine years and a resident of the state from which he is elected.

16.The Senate is elected … a population basis.

17.Congressmen … a committee are experts … certain fields.

18.The representatives in Congress must please the people in their districts, or they will find themselves … a job.

19.The legislative branch takes the lead … formulating the structure and duties of the other two branches.

20.There are light specific limitations … Congress’s powers noted in Article I Section 9 of the Constitution.

21.A statute can be about any subject that law touches ….

22.The statute also contains a message to some legal authority, giving instructions about carrying … the law.

23.Today the Democrats are thought of as associated … labour and the Republicans with business.

24.The Department of State advises the President … foreign relations, the Department of Justice deals … legal matters.

 

Task 2. Produce the whole sentence in English.

1.The Constitution may be defined as a system or body (основных прин-

ципов, согласно которым государство устанавливается и управляется).

2.The American Constitution for over 200 years has provided the basis for (политическую стабильность, свободу всех граждан, экономический рост и социальный прогресс).

3.The Constitution (установила федеральную систему) with a strong central government.

4.(Система сдержек и противовесов обеспечивает) that no one branch of the government would dominate the others.

5.(Поправки были внесены в) the American Constitution twenty-sixtimes.

6.The amendments to the Constitution (право на судебное разбиратель-

ство судом присяжных, право быть защищенным против необоснованных преследований и арестов, конфискация имущества) stated the fundamental rights to any American.

7.State governments arrange such affairs as (поддержание порядка, обра-

зования детей).

8.Laws (влияющие на повседневную жизнь граждан) are enforced by police in the cities and towns.

9.Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation track down criminals who (пересекают государственную границу или нарушают федеральные законы).

10.A decision of the supreme Court (не может быть обжаловано) to any other court.

11.Although the three branches are presumably coequal, (законодательная ветвь) takes the lead in (формирование структуры и обязанностей двух других ветвей).

12.Some statutes are long, (сложные и важные) some are short.

13.The President has the authority (назначать глав всех департаментов исполнительной власти) and agencies, together with hundreds of other highranking officials.

14.The important function of the President is that he can grant full or conditional pardon to (любому, обвиненному в нарушении федерального закона, сократить срок приговора) and reduce fines.

15.During the impeachment process the President is to (подвергнутся судебному разбирательству в сенате) with the Chief Justice as the judge.

16.At every level of political life the Republican and Democratic parties (борются за господствующее положение в обществе).

17.The Republicans place more emphasis on private enterprise and (часто обвиняют демократов в создании слишком либерального правительства).