Revise Grammar: change the sentences using Passive Voice.

Model:   The district court try most of the criminal and civil cases.

          Most of the criminal and civil cases are tried by the district court.

1. The executive, legislative and judicial branches of power compose the government of the USA.

2. A Federal Court of Appeals serves each judicial circuit.

3. So-called «lobbyist» play an important role in the American legislation.

4. Electors from each state elect the President of the USA.

5. The President recommends much of the legislation to the Congress.

6. The President appoints Federal Judges, ambassadors to other countries.

Read, translate and reproduce he dialogue.

Two students speak about executive branch of power in the USA.

A: The President is the head of the executive branch of power, isn’t he?

B: That’s right.

A: What term of office is the President elected for?

B: For a term of 4 years. He may be reelected but no longer than for two terms.

A: Who can be elected a President?

B: Any native-born citizen at least 35 years old and a resident of the country for 14 years can.

A: What are the President’s functions?

B: The President is empowered to recommend legislation to the Congress, he appoints Federal Judges, heads of government departments, ambassadors to other countries and so on.

Complete the following text with the words and phrases from the box, using them in the appropriate form

voter;                               responsibility;             to govern;

to name;                          violation;                     to be elected (2)

to be appointed;              to be removed from office

All government in the USA is «of, by and for people». Members of Congress, the President, state officials and those who (a)___ counties and cities (b) __ by popular vote. The President (c) ___ the heads of federal departments while judges are either (d) ___ directly by the people or (e) ___ by elected officials. (f)___ mark unsigned ballots in private booths, so that no one else can find out for whom a citizen (g)__. Public officials may (i) __ for failing to perform their duties properly, as well as for serious (j) ___ of law.

14. Answer the following questions:

1. What branches is the government of the USA composed of?

2. Who does the highest executive power in the USA belong to?

3. What kind of person must the President of the USA be?

4. What are some of the functions of the President?

5. Who is the legislative power vested in?

6. How many chambers does the Congress consist of?

7. What must all bills and resolutions pass in order to become a law?

8. What is the head of judicial branch of power?

9. Where are most of the criminal and civil cases tried?

Retell the text with the help of the table.

US Government

Branch	Member	How chosen	Term	Powers
1 legislative (Congress)-	2 Senate (Two senators from each state)	3 State election	4 6 years	5 -Writes new laws. -Sets federal taxes. -Approves Presidential appointments. -Overrules Presidential vetoes. -Approves treaties. -Declares war. -Impeaches the President.
	House of Representatives (Numbers of Representatives varies according to state population)	State election	2 years
Executive	President	national election	4 years	-Enforces federal laws. -Appoints and remove high federal officials. -Commands the armed forces. -Conducts foreign affairs. -Recommends laws to Congress. -Approves or vetoes new laws.
	Executive Departments	Presidential appointment	No set term	-Conducts the administration of the national government
	Independent Agencies	Presidential appointment	No set term	Oversees government regulations
Judicial	Supreme Court Nine Justices	Presidential appointment	Life	-Interprets laws according to the Constitution. -May declare actions of the Executive and Legislative branches unconstitutional
	Lower federal Courts	Presidential appointment	Life	-Decides cases that involve the Constitution and federal laws

Тема №9

Конгресс США

1. Some new words to the text:

District             район, округ

Election            выборы

To win              выигрывать, побеждать

Winner             победитель

Compromise     компромисс

Tax                   налог

To set               устанавливать

Naturalization   акклиматизация

Declare             объявить, заявить

Read and translate the text

Congress

            Congress, the legislative branch of the federal government, is made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives. There are 100 Senators, two from each state. One third of the Senators are elected every two years for six-year terms of office. 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 represents.

       The House of Representatives has 435 members. They are elected every two years for two-year terms. They represent the population of «congressional districts» into which each sate is divided. A representative must be at least 25 years old, a citizen for 7 years, and live in the state. The number of Representatives from each state is based upon its population. For instance, California, the state with the largest population, has 45 Representatives, while Delaware has one. There is no limit to the number of terms a Senator or a Representative may serve.

        Almost all elections in the United States follow the «winner-take-all» principle: the candidate who wins the largest number of votes in a Congressional district is the winner.

        Congress makes all laws, and each house of Congress has the power to introduce legislation. Each can also vote against legislation passed by the other. Because legislation only becomes law if both houses agree, compromise between them is necessary. Congress decides upon taxes and how money is spent. The Congress can also declare war. And the House of Representatives can also impeach the President. This means that the House can charge the President with a crime. In addition, Congress regulates commerce among the states and with foreign countries. It also sets rules for the naturalization of foreign citizens.

3. Translate the following word-combinations:

- «congressional districts»

- almost all elections

- «winner-take-all» principle

- six-year terms

- a citizen of the United States

- the number of representatives

- the largest number of votes

- foreign citizens.

4. Make up as many different word-combinations as you can with the next verbs:

- to make                                                             

- to introduce

- to vote against

- to become

- to declare

- to impeach

- to set .

5. Translate from Russian into English using the information of the text above:

Законодательная ветвь власти, состоять из, создавать законы, голосовать против, объявлять войну, обвинить в каком-либо преступлении, налоги, подвергнуть президента импичменту.

6. Complete the sentences according to the text:

1. Congress is made up of … and … ….

2. One third of the Senators are elected … … …  for six-year terms of office.

3. The House of Representatives has … … .

4. The number of Representatives from each state is based upon … .

5. Each house of Congress has the power … … .

6. Congress also sets rules for the naturalization of foreign … .

7. How can you call in one word:

a) a member of a congress;

b) a member of a senate.

8. Here is the definition of the word. Guess the meaning:

 … is the highest law-making body of the US, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

 9. Complete the following text by translating the words or expressions in brackets. 

       The (законодательная ветвь) - (конгресс) – consists of the (Сенат) and the (Палата Представителей). Each (сенатор) is elected for six years and each (представитель) for two years, with no limitation on the number of (сроков).

       Each of the 50 states elects two (сенатор) under a system in which one-third of the (Сенат) is elected every two years. A (сенатор) must be (старше) 30 years old and must have been an American citizen for (по меньшей мере) years.

       The (Палата Представителей) has 435 members. Each state is divided into congressional districts of roughly (равное) population, and the (избиратели) of each district elect one (представитель) to (Конгресс). A member must be (старше) 25 years of age and must have been an American citizen for at least seven years.

        Both (палата) of (Конгресс) must (одобрить) bills before they become law. The (Сенат) alone (утверждает) the President’s (кандидаты) for high-level official positions and (ратифицирует) treaties with other nations.

10. Read, translate and reproduce the following dialogue:

Two students speak about the US state structure before the lesson

A: Can you tell me, what is the legislative body in the USA?

B: It’s US Congress.

A: Does it consist of two or three chambers?

B: Congress is composed of two chambers: Senate and the House of Representatives

A: What is the number of Congressmen?

B: The Senate consists of 2 members from each state. The number of Representatives in the House depends on the people in each particular state.

A: And how are laws adopted?

B: In order to become a law all bills must pass both the Houses and must be signed by the President.