2020-10-09
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The United States of America is a federal republic consisting of 50 states. Each state has its own government (“state government”). In some ways the United States is like 50 small countries.
The government of the USA acts according to the Constitution which was signed by the first thirteen representatives of thirteen original American states in 1787. The document was written in 1787 and since that time twenty six Amendments have been added. The first ten Amendments were simply rights or the Bill of rights. According to the Constitution the USA is a republic. So, the officials of any rank are elected by US citizens. Every citizen has rights which cannot be violated.
The Constitution proclaims a federal system of government which keeps both the states and the federal power from getting too much power. It means that the federal government is given certain powers, for example, to make peace or war, to issue money and to regulate the trade and so on.
The federal power is located in Washington, D.C. It is based on legislative, executive and juridical branches of power.
The legislative power is vested in Congress, which consists of two houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives, There are 435 members in the House of Representatives and 100 senators in Congress. Each state elects two members for the Senate.
The executive branch is headed by the President who is assisted by the Vice President. The President enforces federal laws, serves as commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces. The President can veto a bill unless Congress by a two-thirds vote shall overrule him. The Vice President, elected from the same political party as the President, acts as chairman of the Senate, and in the event of the death of the President, assumes the Presidency. The President of the USA is chosen in nationwide elections every 4 years together with the Vice-President. The President cannot be elected for more than two terms. The Cabinet is made up of Department Secretaries. The most important of them is the Secretary of State, who deals with foreign affairs.
The judicial branch is made up of Federal District Courts, 11 Federal Courts and the Supreme Court. Federal judges are appointed by the President for life.
Federal courts decide cases involving federal law, conflicts between citizens of different states.
Constitution has been amended twenty six times. The Bill of Rights guarantees individual liberties: freedom of word, religion and so on. Later amendments abolished slavery, granted the vote to women and colour people and allowed citizens to vote at the age of 18.
IV. Comprehension Check.
Match the words with their meanings.
1. amendment a. исполнительный
2. officials b. министры
3. proclaim c. государственный секретарь
4. legislative d. кабинет (министров)
5. executive e. отменять
6. judiciary f. должностные лица, чиновники
7. chairman g. поправка
8. Cabinet h. провозглашать
9. appoint i. судебный
10. abolish j. законодательный
11. Department Secretaries k. председатель
12. Secretary of State l. назначать
Answer the questions.
1. What is the main document of the USA?
2. When was the Constitution of the USA signed?
3. How many Amendments have been added to the Constitution since 1787?
4. What does the Constitution proclaim?
5. What powers is the federal government given?
6. Where is the federal government located?
7. Where is the legislative power vested?
8. How many members are there in the House of Representatives?
9. Who is the head of the executive power in the USA?
10. How often do the President's elections take place?
11. Who deals with foreign affairs in the USA?
12. What does the Bill of Rights guarantee?
Make a plan to the text.
V. Discuss the following with your groupmates.
Compare the state structures of the USA and the UK.
Main Cities of the USA
I. First thoughts. What cities of the USA do you know? What is its capital?
II. Study the words. Make sure you know them. Practice the pronunciation.
To be founded, skyscraper, Potomac, White House, to be located, Military department, to capture, to date, to be set on fire, mark.
III. Read the text and say what is unusual about Washington as a capital city?
Washington D.C. is known to be the capital of the United States. It is sometimes called the heart of America because it is the centre of its government. The capital was named after the first president George Washington. It was founded in 1790. It is situated on the Potomac River in the District of Columbia. Washington is not the largest city in the country. Its population is only 900 000.
There are a lot of long wide avenues, gardens, beautiful parks in Washington. But there are no skyscrapers. The White House is much written about. It's President's residence. All American presidents except George Washington lived there. It was built in 1799.
Washington is a large scientific and cultural centre. Big institutes and universities are located here. One of the most famous buildings is the Pentagon. It is known as the residence of the US Military department. It is situated to the South of Potomac.
Why is the White House white? For us to know it there is a historic event dated to 1812. We know England to have been at war with America at that period of time. The British captured the city and some of the buildings, including President's House, were set on fire. In 1814, for the marks of the fire to be hidden, the brown stone walls of President's home were painted white – and it has been the "White House" ever since.
IV. Comprehension Check.
Read the text again to decide if the statements are true or false. Correct the false ones with the facts from the text.
1. Washington is the capital of the USA.
2. It is the largest city in the country.
3. It was founded in 1799.
4. The White House was built in the 18th century.
5. All American presidents lived in the White House.
6. The Pentagon is the residence of the US Trade department.
7. The White House has been called so since 1814.
Study the information about the major cities of the USA.
