Unit 4. Political system of the USA

8.4.1 Read and translate the text

Political system of the USA

The United States of America is a parliamen­tary republic. The people rule the country through the representatives they elect. Today any citizen who is at least 18 years old can vote. The Consti­tution of the USA was written in 1787. It is the basis for its laws.

The United States has a federalist system. There are fifty states in the USA. Each state has its own government and there is a federal or national government. Each state has its own constitution and can collect taxes. But only the national gov­ernment can print money.

The national government is divided into three branches. They are the legislative branch, the executive branch and the judicial branch.

The legislative branch is represented by the US Congress. The US Congress consists of two parts. They are the House of Representatives and the Senate. The congress's main function is to make laws. There are 100 senators (two from each state) and 435 representatives. The number of the rep­resentatives from each state depends on the size of the state's population.

Senators are chosen for six years. But one-third is re-elected or retired every two years.

The executive branch is headed by the Presi­dent and his Administration. The president of the USA is the head of the country. The executive branch administers the laws. The executive branch consists of departments and agencies. The US President is elected for a 4-year term. The US President commands the armed forces, conducts foreign affairs and recommends laws to the Congress.

The judicial branch is headed by the US Su­preme Court. The US Supreme Court has nine members. They are Chief Justice and 8 Associ­ate Justices. They are appointed for life. The ju­dicial branch interprets the laws and makes sure that new laws are in keeping with the Constitu­tion.

Each branch has certain controls over other branches. The US Congress makes laws, but the President can veto a law, and the Supreme Court can decide that the law is unconstitutional.

There are two main political parties in the USA. They are the Democtatic Party and the Republi­can Party. The Democratic Party is symbolized by a "donkey." The Republican Party is symbol­ized by an "elephant." There are no clear differ­ences between these parties. The Republicans are more conservative. They have more support among the upper classes. The Democrats are more liberal. They have more support among the work­ing class and the poor.

8.4.2 Post -Text Exercises

8.4.2.1 Pronounce the following words and geographic names

the United States of America (the USA) - Соединенные Штаты Америки

the US Congress - Конгресс Соединенных Штатов Америки

the Senate - Сенат

the US Supreme Court - Верховный Суд Соединенных Штатов

Chief Justice - председатель суда

parliamentary republic - парламентская республика

to rule - управлять

representative - представитель

to elect - выбирать

at least - по крайней мере

to vote - голосовать

law - закон

tax - налог

to print - печатать

to divide - разделять

function - функция

to depend on - зависеть от

to re-elect - перевыбирать

to retire - уходить в отставку

executive - исполнительный

legislative - законодательный

judicial - судебный

to head - возглавлять

to administer - управлять

department - министерство (амер.)

agency - учреждение

armed forces - вооруженные силы

to conduct - руководить

foreign affairs - иностранные дела

to appoint - назначать

associate justice - помощ­ник судьи

to interpret - объяснять

certain - определенный

to veto - наложить вето

support - поддержка

the upper classes – аристократия

8.4.2.2 Answer the questions

1 The USA is a parliamentary republic. What does it mean?

2 When was the Constitution of the USA written?

3 How many states are there in the USA?

4 How many parts is the national government divided into? What are they?

5 What is the US Congress? What does it con­sist of?

6 What is the main function of the US Congress?

7 How many senators and representatives are there in the US Congress?

8 What does the number of the representatives from each state depend on?

9 How many years are senators chosen for?

10 Who heads the executive branch?

11 What does the executive branch consist of?

12 For how many years is the US President elected?

13 What are the functions of the US President?

14 What is the third branch of the US government?

15 How many members does the US Supreme Court have? What are they?

16 How many years are the members of the US Supreme Court appointed for?

17 What are the functions of the judicial branch?

18 How many main political parties are there in the USA? What are they?

19 What is the symbol of the Democratic Party?

20 What is the symbol of the Republic Party?

21 What differences are there between the main parties of the USA?

8.4.2.3 Match the two parts of the sentences

8.4.2.4 Choose the right version

1 Senators are chosen for ... years.

2, 6, 10

2 The US Supreme Court has ... members.

three, eight, nine

3 The national government is divided into ... branches.

four, three, five

4 Today any citizen who is at least ... years old can vote.

18, 21, 16

5 There are ... senators and 435 representatives in the US Congress.

71, 100, 80

6 The Constitution of the USA was written in ....

1787, 1878, 1978

8.4.2.5 Read the beginning of the sentence and find its end in the text

1 The Congress's main function is ...

2 Each branch has certain controls over ...

3 The US Congress consists of two parts. They are ...

4 There are no clear differences ...

5 The judicial branch interprets ...

6 There are two main political parties in the USA. They are ...

8.4.2.6 Put in the missing words according to the text

1 The Republicans are more ... .

2 But one-third is ... or ... every two years.

3 Each state has its own constitution and can collect... .

4 They have more ... among the working class and ... .

5 The United States of America is ... .

6 The Democrats are more ... .

7 There are no clear ... between these parties.

8.4.2.7 Choose the correct verb for each blank: recommends, has, depends, is elected, conducts, commands, interprets, rule, are chosen

1 The people ... the country through the repre­sentatives which they elect.

2 The US President... for a 4-year term.

3 The number of the representatives from each state ... on the size of the state's population.

4 The judicial branch ... the laws.

5 The United States ... a federalist system.

6 Senators ... for six years.

7 The US President ... the armed forces, ... for­eign affairs, ... laws to the Congress.

8.4.2.8 Read and learn the dialogue by heart. Then act it out

Mark: May I speak to Fred?

Fred: Speaking. Is that Mark?

Mark: Yes, it's me. How are you?

Fred: It's OK. And how are you?

Mark: Fine. Are you free now?

Fred: Oh, yes. Why do you ask?

Mark: I know that you are very good at History. If it's not much of a trouble, can you tell me about the political system of the USA?

Fred: What exactly do you want to know?

Mark: Can I ask you several questions? I'm sure it'll be enough for my short report.

Fred: Yes, of course.

Mark: I know that the president is the head of the USA. Tell me please, what are his main functions?

Fred: Let me think for a moment. As far as I re­member, he commands the armed forces, conducts foreign affairs and recommends laws to the Congress...

Mark: For how many years is the US President elected?

Fred: I know for sure — every four years.

Mark: By the way, would I be able to elect the President if I were American?

Fred: If I'm not mistaken, any citizen who is at least 18 years old can vote.

Mark: What a pity! I'm sixteen.

Fred: Don't worry! You can elect the President of Russia.

Mark: OK. I think I have enough information for my short report. Thanks.

Fred: You're welcome.

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