Учебно-методическое пособие для поступающих в аспирантуру тгамэуп экономических, социологических и юридических специальностей (стр. 8 из 13)

3. The two — chamber system has long been a feature of British parliamentary government, although over the years the balance between the two Houses has undergone a complete change. In modern practice the center of parliamentary power is in the Commons. Limitations on the Lords' powers of legislative veto are based on the belief that the main function of the House is to complement the Commons and not to rival it.

4. General elections to choose MPs and the next Government must be held at least every five years. Voting, which is not compulsory, is by secret ballot and is from the age of 18. The candidate polling the most votes in a constituency is elected — there is no form of proportional representation.

5. Under the traditional two-party system governments are formed by the party which has majority support in the Commons.

I. Прочитайте и устно переведите весь текст. Перепишите и письменно переведите абзацы 1, 2, 3.

II. Выпишите из абзацев 4, 5 предложения со словосочетаниями, в которых определение выражено существительным, и переведите их на русский язык.

III. Прочитайте следующие предложения, перепишите и переведите письменно предложение, которое правильно передает содержание текста.

1. General elections to choose MPs and the next Government must be held at least every four years.

2. General elections to choose MPs and the next Government roust be held at least every five years.

Text3

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

1. The leader of the Government, the Prime Minister, chooses a number of ministers, including 20 or so in the Cabinet. The second largest party traditionally forms the official Opposition with its own leader and 'shadow cabinet'. Ministers are collectively responsible for government decisions, and individually responsible for their own departments.

2. Government departments are staffed by politically neutral civil servants who serve the Government of the day regardless of its political complexion.

3. As a member of the European Community, Britain recognizes the various forms of Community law, and elects 81 of the 434 members of the European Parliament.

4. Local government is carried out by elected authorities which deal with planning and housing, education, personal social services, police, fire brigades and many other local services.

5. The authorities are given their powers by Parliament and have considerable freedom to govern local affairs in their own way. They levy locally some of the finance for their current expenditure, the rest being met by central government grants, rents and other forms of income. Capital expenditure is financed mainly by borrowing.

I. Прочитайте и устно переведите весь текст. Перепишите и письменно переведите абзацы 1, 2, 3.

II. Выпишите из абзаца 4 предложение со словами, оформленными окончаниями -s, и переведите его на русский язык.

1. The authorities are given their powers.

2. The authorities give their powers.

Text 4

The European Community

1. As a member of the European Community, Britain is part of the world's largest trading area, the ten member states comprising about 270 million people and accounting for over a third of world trade. The Community has abolished internal tariffs and certain other trade barriers, established a common customs tariff and a common policy for agriculture and made provision for the free movement of labour, capital and services. Overseas countries having special links with the Community, especially the 60 or so developing countries which are signatories of the Lome Convention, are accorded preferential treatment in aid and the development of trade. Member states contribute to a budget which finances, among other things, agricultural support, a European Social Fund, a Regional Development Fund and assistance for developing countries.

2. Through the development of political cooperation machinery, to which Britain attaches considerable importance, Community members seek to co-ordinate their foreign policies and have adopted common positions on a number of issues.

3. Membership has its critics in Britain but the Government is wholeheartedly committed to playing a full role in the Community's development. In a referendum in 1975, after renegotiation of the terms of membership, the British people voted to stay in the Community by a majority of more than two to one.

I. Прочитайте и устно переведите весь текст. Перепишите и письменно переведите абзац 1.

II. Выпишите из абзаца 3 предложение со словами, оформленными окончаниями -s, и переведите его на русский язык.

1. In a referendum 1975, after renegotiation of the terms of membership the British people voted not to stay in the Community by a majority of more than two to one.

2. In a referendum in 1975, after renegotiation of the terms of membership, the British people voted to stay in the Community by a majority of more than two to one.

Text 5

Overseas Relations of Great Britain

Britain's varied overseas relationships reflect its position as a major trading and maritime nation, heavily dependent on its ability to sell its goods abroad; its status as a world financial center; and its concern to help to secure peace and social progress through international co-operation. It has diplomatic relations with some 150 countries and is a member of over 120 international organizations, including, in particular, the United Nations, the European Community and the Commonwealth. In an inter - dependent world, overseas interests are seen as best provided for through co-operation on a regional or global basis.

A permanent member of the Security Council, Britain makes support for the United Nations a central feature in pursuit of its foreign policy objectives the peaceful resolution of disputes, disarmament and arms control, the protection of human rights, and the promotion of the rale of law.

The Commonwealth

Since 1945 Britain has given independence to about 50 countries. Nearly all are now members of the Commonwealth, a voluntary association of 46 states accounting for about a quarter of the world's population. Commonwealth members share a common language, similar systems of law, and close professional, academic and commercial links.

They also represent a cross-section of mankind in all stages of political and economic development, their peoples being drawn from practically all the world's main races and from all continents. The Queen is recognized as head of the Commonwealth, and is head of State in 17 member countries.

I. Прочитайте и устно переведите весь текст. Перепишите и письменно переведите абзац 1.

II. Выпишите из текста «The Commonwealth» предложения со словами, оформленными окончаниями -s, и переведите их на русский язык.

1. A permanent member of the Security Council, Britain doesn't make support for the United Nations a central feature in pursuit of its foreign policy objectives.

2. A permanent member of the Security Council, Britain makes support for the United Nations a central feature in pursuit of its foreign policy objective.

Text 6

The United States of America

1. In 1776, the thirteen weak British colonies in America came together, stood up, and told what was then the world's greatest power that from now on they would be free and independent states.

2. The British were neither impressed nor amused, and a bitter six-year war followed, the Revolutionary War (1776-83). It's hard to appreciate today, over two centuries later, what a revolutionary act this was. A new republic was founded, turning into reality the dreams and ideals of a few political philosophers.

3. Americans broke with age-old tradition, and so sent shock waves back across the ocean: they decided that it was their right to choose their own form of government.

4. At that time, the statement that governments should receive their powers only «from the consent of the governed» was radical indeed.

5. Something new was under the sun: a system of government, in Lincoln's words, «of the people, by the people, for the people».

6. The former colonies, now “the United States of America”, first operated under an agreement called the Articles of Confederation (1781). It was soon clear that this loose agreement among the states was not working well.

7. The central, federal government was too weak, with too few powers for defence, trade, and taxation.

8. In 1787, therefore, delegates from the states met in Philadelphia. They wanted to revise the Articles, but they did much more than that. They wrote a completely new document the Constitution, which after much argument, debate, and compromise was finished in the same year and officially adopted by the thirteen states by 1790.

6. The Constitution, the oldest still in force in the world, sets the basic form of government: three separate branches, each one having powers (“checks and balances”) over the others. It specifies the powers and duties of each federal branch of government, with all other powers and duties belonging to the states.

I. Прочитайте и устно переведите весь текст. Перепишите и письменно переведите абзацы 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

II. Выпишите из абзаца 7 предложение с независимым причастным оборотом и переведите его.

III. Прочитайте еще раз весь текст. Перепишите и закончите следующие предложения.

1. The thirteen weak British colonies in America...

2. In 1787, the central, federal government...

3. In the same year delegates from the states...

4. By 1790 the Constitution...

5. The American Constitution the oldest still in force in the world, sets...

IV. Найдите ответы в тексте и напишите их.

1. Why did the thirteen weak British colonies in America come together in 1776?

2. How many years was the Revolutionary War waged?

3. Why did Americans break with an age-old tradition?

4. What completely new document did delegates from the states write in 1787 in Philadelphia?

5. What does the Constitution of the USA set?

Text 7

The United States of America

1. The Constitution of the USA, the oldest still in force in the world, has been repeatedly amended to meet the changing needs of the nation, but it is still the «supreme law of the land». All governments and governmental groups, federal, state, and local, must operate within its guidelines. The ultimate power under the Constitution is not given to the President (the executive branch), or to the Congress (the legislative branch), or to the Supreme Court (the judicial branch). Nor does it rest, as in many other countries, with a political group or party. It belongs to “We’re the People”, in fact and in spirit.

2. In this way, Americans first took for themselves the liberties and rights that elsewhere were the privileges of an elite few. Americans would manage their own affairs in their own interests. They would elect their own representatives and make their laws, and, of course, they would make their mistakes.

3. They stated in the first ten Constitutional Amendments, known together as the Bill of Rights, what they considered to be the fundamental rights of any American. Among these rights are the freedom of religion, speech, and the press, the right of peaceful assembly, and the right to petition the government to correct wrongs. Other rights guarded the citizens against unreasonable searches, arrests, and seizures of property, and established a system of justice guaranteeing orderly legal procedures. This included the right of trial by jury, that is, being judged by one's fellow citizens.

4. The great pride Americans have in their Constitution, their almost religious respect for it, comes from the knowledge that these ideals, freedoms, and rights were not given to them by a small ruling class. Rather, they are seen as the natural “unalien-able” rights of every American, which had been fought for and won. They cannot be taken away by any government, court, official, or law.

5. The federal and state governments formed under the Constitution, therefore, were designed to serve the people and to carry out their majority wishes. One thing they didn't want their government to do is to rule them.

6. Americans expect their governments to serve them and tend to think of politicians and governmental officials as their servants. This attitude remains very strong among Americans today.

I. Прочитайте и устно переведите весь текст. Перепишите и письменно переведите абзацы 1, 2, 3, 4.

II. Выпишите из абзацев 5, 6 предложения с инфинитивным оборотом «Сложное дополнение».

III. Прочитайте еще раз весь текст. Перепишите и закончите следующие предложения.

1. The Constitution has been...

2. The ultimate power under the Constitution of the USA...

3. Americans first took for themselves...

4. Americans didn't want...

5. Americans expect...

IV. Напишите ответы на следующие вопросы.

1. Why has the Constitution of the USA been repeatedly amended?

2. Who does the ultimate power under the Constitution of the USA belong to?

3. What is the Bill of Rights?

4. Why do Americans have the great pride in their Constitution?

5. What attitude among Americans today remains very strong and why?

Text 8

The United States of America

1. Over the past two centuries, the Constitution of the USA has had considerable influence outside the United States. Several other nations have based their own forms of government on it. It is interesting to note that Lafaette, a hero of the American Revolution, drafted the French declaration of rights when he returned to France. And the United Nations Charter also has clear echoes of what once was considered a revolutionary document.

2. The governmental systems in the United States — federal, state, county, and local — are quite easy to understand. They are quite easy to understand. One foreign expert complained, for example, that the complexity of just the cities' political and governmental structure is “almost unbelievable”. The «real Chicago», he explained, «spreads over 2 states, 6 counties, 10 towns, 30 cities, 49 townships, and 110 villages. Overlaid upon this complex pattern are 235 tax districts and more than 400 school districts...».

3. There are, however, several basic principles which are found at all levels of American government. One of these is the “one person, one vote” principle which says that legislators are elected from geographical districts directly by the voters. Under this principle all election districts must have about the same number of residents.

4. Another fundamental principle of American government is that because of the system of checks and balances, compromise in politics is a matter of necessity, not choice. For example, the House of Representatives controls spending and finance, so the President must have its agreement for his proposals and programs. He cannot declare war, either, without the approval of Congress.

5. In foreign affairs the president is also strongly limited. Any treaty must first be approved by the Senate. If there is no approval, there is no treaty. The rale is ‘the President proposes, but Con

gress disposes’. What a President wants to do, therefore is often a different thing from what a President is able to do.