Скачати підручник

Скачати підручник

Скачати підручник

Скачати підручник

Скачати підручник

THE POLITICAL SYSTEM OF THE USA 

            The USA under the Constitution is a republic. This means that its citizens elect those people who govern them. The USA is also a democracy. It means that the citizens have certain rights.

Under the constitution the federal government is divided into three branches: the legislative, the executive and judicial.

The legislative branch is made up of elected representatives from all the states and it is the only branch that can make federal laws, declare war or put foreign treaties into effect.  It consists of Congress that is divided into two groups called houses: the House of Representatives and the Senate. The members of the House of Representatives are elected for two-year period term. Each House member represents a district of his or her home state. The House has 435 members. The Senate has 100 members: two for each state. The Senators are elected for a period of 6 years. Americans who are not yet 25 years old have no rights to be elected to the House of Representatives and those who are under 30 cannot be elected to the Senate.

The main duty of the Congress is to make laws. A law begins as a proposal called “a bill”. It is read, studied, commented on and amended in the Senate or in the House. Then it is voted upon.

The second branch of power is executive. The chief executive of the United States is the President, who together with   the Vice President is elected for a four-year term. A President can be elected for only two terms. Election Day is always in November on the first Tuesday of the month.

The President appoints the heads of the government departments: Defense, Justice, Agriculture, Education, Energy, and others. He also appoints federal judges, ambassadors and is responsible for foreign relations with other nations - he represents the United States abroad.

The judicial branch is headed by the Supreme Court.

Compare political systems of Ukraine, Great Britain and the USA.

	LEGISLATIVE			EXECUTIVE	JUDICIAL
Responsibility	Make laws			Carries out (executes) laws	Interprets the constitution and reviews laws. It determines whether laws are in accordance with the Constitution.
Ukraine – parliamentary presidential republic	The Verkhovna Rada			The President & the Government (Cabinet of Ministers)	Supreme Court & Constitutional Court
Great Britain – parliamentary monarchy	Parliament			Monarch &  the Government (Cabinet of Ministers)
	The House of Lords	The House of Commons
The USA  – federal republic	Congress			The President	Supreme Court
	The House of Representatives		Senate

to say

to tell

- never has a person as an object - you say smth say + something     - you say smth to smb say + smth + to + smb     - is often used when you are giving smb's exact words: '    Sit down', she said. Ann said (that) she was tied. What did he say to you? - you say smth about  (NOT say about):    I want to say a few words about my family. - used with a clause when the person you are talking to is not mentioned:     She didn't say what she intended to do.    She said that she was busy.

- usually has a peson as the object and often has two objects:      Have you told him the news yet? tell + somebody + something           I told to him my name.    I told my name to him - is often used with 'that' clauses:   Ann told me (that) she was tired. - is used when smb is giving facts or information, often with what, where, when, etc. Can you tell me when the movie starts? - is also used when you are giving smb instructions: tell + smb + to do + smth        The doctor told me to stay in bed. OR The doctor said (that) I had to stay in bed. NOT The doctor said me to stay in bed. tell a story tell the time tell the truth tell a lie tell a secret

Speak

Talk

- is little more formal than talk and suggests that smb is using their voice or that one person is saying smth to a group:   I was so shocked I couldn't speak.   Could you speak louder?   A doctor spoke to the class about stress. speak + a language         He speaks Italian. speak + about / on something          Speak on this point, please. speak  + to /with smb     is often used in polite requests, for example when you are making a phone call:      Hello, could I speak to Michael?      I'd like to speak to / with the manager.       (To speak with is more formal) I’d like to speak to mr.Pitt. The President refused to speak to the waiting journalists. How many languages do you speak? speak for someone speak up speak your mind speak out (about something) speak up for someone speak volumes speak well of someone this speaks for itself

- is more common in spoken English and usually suggests that two or more people are having a conversation or discussing smth:     We talked on the phone for nealy an hour.     John and I habe been talking about     our  families. talk + with smb                                                                           more formal than talk + to smb           He refused to talk with / to reporters. talk + about something         They are talking about some problems. Who did you talk to? We talked on the phone for over an hour. What are you talking about? talk back money talks talk down to someone talk about your job talk the talk talk things over talk tough talk away talk nonsense