Для студентов II курса на 15 апреля 2020
The Constitution of the Russian Federation
1. Подумайте и ответьте на вопросы.
1. What is a constitution?
2. What basic principles are contained in a constitution?
3. Why is a constitution the supreme law of any country?
2. Прочитайте текст.
The Constitution of the Russian Federation is Russia’s supreme law, passed through a national vote. It contains the basic principles of the Russian constitutional system.
The Constitution:
· defines the federative structure of the Russian Federation;
· establishes the principles of sovereignty and independence of the Russian Federation;
· defines the principle of separation of powers between legislative, executive and judicial branches;
· establishes equality of ideologies and religions;
· defines the Russian Federation as a secular state.
The Constitution of the Russian Federation defines the rights and freedoms of a human and a citizen, sets their priority when deciding any issues, and proclaims the principle of equality before law and court.
As for the federative structure, the Constitution contains the list of component units of the Russian Federation, covers the issues that are within the jurisdiction of the Russian Federation and those that are within the joint jurisdiction of federal and local authorities.
Separate articles are devoted to the bodies of federal power: the President of the Russian Federation, the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, and the Government of the Russian Federation and also the judicial power of the Russian Federation. In these articles, the order and the terms of appointed and elected officials and the limits of their competence are defined according to the principle of separation of powers.
Under the Constitution adopted on December 12, 1993 at the all-Russia referendum, full authority in the Russian Federation belongs to the President and the bodies of the legislative (two chamber parliament – Federal Assembly), executive (Government of the Russian Federation) and the judicial authorities, which work independently. The President of the Russian Federation is the Head of the State; the duties of the President are listed, including his status of the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
The Constitution also contains the text of the oath taken by the President of the Russian Federation upon taking office. The Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation (the Federation Council and the State Duma) represents the legislature. The order of electing representatives for these chambers, their competence, terms of office are provided by the Constitution.
The Government of the Russian Federation is the executive branch. The Constitution determines the extent of its jurisdiction and also defines the order and the terms of office of government officials.
Judicial power is implemented by means of constitutional, civil, administrative, and criminal legal proceedings. The Constitution establishes the principles of independence, irremovability and immunity of judges, thus providing for objectiveness and impartiality of the court. The system of courts of the Russian Federation consists of:
· the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation;
· the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation;
· the Higher Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation.
Separate articles are devoted to the Russian Federation Prosecutor’s Office with functions of supervision and control, and the procedure for adoption of Constitutional amendments. The Constitution regulates the issues of local self-government, including its authority and sphere of activity. Transitional and Final provisions regulating the promulgation of the Constitution and its enforcement are contained in Part 2 of the Constitution.
3. Переведите на русский язык следующие слова и словосочетания из текста. (карточка 1)
1) to establish the principles of sovereignty and independence
2) to cover issues
3) to be devoted to the bodies of federal power
4) to define the federative structure
5) legislative authority
6) executive authority
7) judicial authority
8) to list duties
9) the Armed Forces
10) to represent the legislature
11) to determine the extent of the jurisdiction
12) immunity of judges
13) impartiality of the court
14) supervision and control
15) promulgation of the Constitution
4. Найдите в тексте английские эквиваленты следующим русским словам и словосочетаниям.
1) установить принцип суверенитета
2) принцип разделения властей
3) установить равенство религиозных конфессий
4) светское государство
5) в ведении федеральных и местных властей
6) провозглашать принцип равенства перед законом
7) Федеральное Собрание
8) рамки полномочий
9) судебная власть
10) глава государства
11) порядок избрания представителей
12) установить принцип несменяемости судей
13) Прокуратура Российской Федерации
14) беспристрастность суда
15) процедура принятия поправок к Конституции
5. Ответьте на вопросы по тексту.
1. What does the Constitution of the Russian Federation define and establish?
2. What provisions does the Constitution contain regarding the federative structure?
3. What are the bodies of federal power?
4. Who does the full authority in the Russian Federation belong to under the current Constitution?
5. What provisions concerning the legislature are provided by the Constitution?
6. What is the executive branch of power in the Russian Federation?
7. How is judicial power implemented in the Russian Federation? 8. What principles of judicial power does the Constitution establish?
9. What does the system of courts consist of?
10. Does the Constitution regulate the activities of local self-government?
6. Подберите синонимы из правой колонки к словам в левой колонке.
1) fundamental a) impartial
2) power b) period of time
3) independently c) be vested in
4) establish d) choose
5) duty e) obligation
6) solemn promise f) basic
7) term g) separately
8) elect h) oath
9) objective i) set up
10) belong to j) authority
7. Подберите антонимы из правой колонки к словам в левой колонке.
1) separation a) dependence
2) within b) reject
3) sovereignty c) unity
4) adopt d) beyond
5) secular e) religious
8. Закончите предложения согласно содержанию текста.
1. Constitution establishes …
a) the principles of independence and partial sovereignty of the RF.
b) equalities of ideologies but not religions.
c) the principle of separation of powers.
2. As for the federative structure, the Constitution …
a) covers the questions that are exclusively in the jurisdiction of the RF leaving out the competence of federal and local authorities.
b) contains the list of component units of the RF.
c) covers only those questions that are in the joint jurisdiction of federal and local authorities.
3. The bodies of federal power are…
a) the Federal Assembly of the RF and the judiciary of the RF.
b) the President of the RF and the Government of the RF.
c) all the bodies mentioned above in a) and b).
4. The Federal Assembly of the RF represents …
a) the legislature.
b) the judiciary.
c) the executive branch.
5. The Constitution determines …
a) the extent of the jurisdiction of the executive branch.
b) the order and the terms of office of the governmental officials.
c) both.
6. Judicial power is implemented by means of …
a) civil and criminal legal proceedings.
b) constitutional and administrative legal proceedings.
c) all the proceedings mentioned in a) and b).
для диктанта. Основной закон страны, установить принцип суверенитета, принцип разделения властей , установить равенство религиозных конфессий, светское государство, в ведении федеральных и местных властей, провозглашать принцип равенства перед законом, Федеральное Собрание , рамки полномочий, органы федеральной власти.
