RF State and government

RF State and government

1. The System of State and Government of

the Russian Federation

1. Ответьте на вопросы.

1. What do we study state systems for?

2. Are state systems the same in different countries?

3. Can the state system of a particular country undergo changes?

4. What types of state systems do you know?

Vocabulary

1. a constituent entity — субъект Федерации

2. to contradict federal laws — противоречить федеральным законам

3. to sign a treaty — подписывать договор

4. to enforce the law — обеспечить исполнение закона

5. to be subject to approval by smb — подлежать утверждению кем-то

6. to announce pre-term election — объявлять досрочные выборы

7. to introduce the state of emergency — вводить чрезвычайное положение

8. to suspend the acts — приостанавливать действие

9. to vest power in smb — возлагать власть на кого-либо

10. to combat crimes — бороться с преступлениями

11. state security — государственная безопасность

12. to be subject to the constitution — подчиняться конституции

2. Прочитайте и переведите текст.

The Russian Federation was established by the Constitution of 1993. Under the Constitution Russia is a democratic federative law-governed state with a republican form of government. The Russian Federation consists of 83 constituent entities (republics, regions, and territories, cities of federal significance, the autonomous regions and one autonomous area, which have equal rights). The authorities of the constituent entities have the right to pass laws independently of the federal government. The laws of the subjects of the Russian Federation may not contradict federal laws. In case of conflicts between federal and local authorities, the President uses consensual procedures to resolve the problem. In the event a consensus is not reached, the dispute is transferred to the appropriate court for its resolution.

The President of the Russian Federation is the head of state. He is the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. The President organizes and heads the Security Council of Russia, signs treaties, enforces the law. The President appoints ministers, who are subject to approval by the Federal Assembly. He nominates judges to the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court and the Higher Arbitration Court of the Russian Federation, and the Procurator-General of the Russian Federation. The President has the right to introduce the state of emergency within the Russian Federation. He announces pre-term elections. He has the right to suspend the acts of executive bodies of the Russian Federation members, if they contradict the Constitution of the Russian Federation, federal laws or the international obligations of the Russian Federation.

State power in the Russian Federation is exercised on the basis of its separation into legislative, executive and judicial branches. Each of them is balanced by the President.

The legislative power is vested in the Federal Assembly (the Parliament). It consists of two chambers: the Federation Council (the upper chamber) and the State Duma (the lower chamber). The two chambers of the Federal Assembly possess different powers and responsibilities, the State Duma being the more powerful.

The Federation Council includes two representatives from each constituent entity of the Russian Federation, one from the representative and one from the executive bodies of the subject of the Federation.

The State Duma consists of 450 deputies and is elected for a term of 4 years. In December 2008 the term was extended to 5 years. Each chamber elects a chairman (the Speaker) to control the internal procedures of the chamber.

The Federal Assembly is a permanently functioning body. The Federation Council and the State Duma sit separately. Their sessions are open (public). Each of the Houses forms committees and commissions and holds hearings on the appropriate issues. Bills may be initiated by each chamber. But to become a law a bill must be approved by both chambers and signed by the President. The President may veto the bill.

The executive power is exercised by the Government which consists of the Chairman of the Government (the Prime Minister), deputy chairmen and federal ministers. The Prime Minister is appointed by the President with the consent of the State Duma. Should the selected candidate be rejected three times, the President appoints the Prime Minister himself, dissolves the State Duma and announces new elections. The Prime Minister proposes to the President his candidates for the offices of federal ministers. The Government presents a draft budget to be discussed by the State Duma and provides its implementation as well as realization of financial, credit and monetary policies. It carries out measures to ensure legality, rights and freedoms of citizens, protects property, public order and combats crimes. The Government ensures state security and the realization of foreign policy. It pursues a uniform state policy in the sphere of culture, science, education, social security, health and ecology.

Justice in the Russian Federation is treated as a special type of state activity. It is administered by courts of law unified within a single judicial system which is independent of other state systems. The aim of justice in Russia is to safeguard both the citizens’ rights and interests as well as those of the state and individual institutions, enterprises and organizations. Judicial power is effected by means of constitutional, civil, administrative and criminal judicial proceedings. Judges are independent and subject only to the Constitution of the Russian Federation and federal law.

3. Подберите русские эквиваленты к следующим словам и выражениям из текста.

1) to be established by the Constitution

2) a law-governed state

3) a constituent entity

4) consensual procedures

5) a branch of power

6) to exercise power

7) to vest power in smb

8) to introduce a state of emergency

9) a draft budget

10) to dissolve Parliament

11) public order

12) to administer justice

13) to ensure legality

14) powers and responsibilities

15) to pursue a uniform state policy

4. Найдите в тексте английские эквиваленты.

1) республиканская форма правления

2) противоречить федеральным законам

3) подписывать договоры

4) постоянно действующий орган

5) представительный орган

6) кандидат на должность

7) быть избранным на срок

8) объявить новые выборы

9) проводить слушания

10) независимая государственная деятельность

11) судебная власть

12) государственная безопасность

13) исполнительная ветвь власти

14) внешняя политика

15) уголовное судопроизводство

16) обеспечивать права граждан

5. a) Образуйте соответствующие однокоренные слова и запишите их в таблицу.

	Verb	Abstract noun	Person	Adjective
1.	govern
2.		authority
3.			representative
4.	elect
5.				legislative
6.		execution		xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
7.	nominate		xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx	federal

б) Вспомните, в каких предложениях данные слова употреблялись в тексте.

6. Соотнесите русские словосочетания в левой колонке с их английскими эквивалентами в правой.

1) Совет безопасности 2) Федеральное Собрание 3) Генеральный прокурор 4) Помощник председателя 5) Совет Федерации 6) Совет Министров 7) Счетная палата 8) Верховный Суд 9) Субъект Федерации

a) the Accounting Chamber b) the Supreme Court c) the Federation Council d) constituent entity e) the Security Council f) the Procurator-General g) the Deputy Chairman h) the Council of Ministers i) the Federal Assembly

7. Закончите предложения.

1. Russia is …

a) parliamentary republic. b) a presidential republic. c) a constitutional monarchy.

2. The Parliament consists of …

a) one branch only. b) two chambers. c) several committees.

3. The Federation Council and the State Duma sit …

a) separately. b) together. c) with other governmental subcommittees.

4. Military Forces cannot be used outside the country without the approval of …

a) the State Duma. b) the Federation Council. c) the President.

5. The power to impeach the President is vested in …

a) the Federation Council. b) the Constitutional Court. c) the State Duma.

6. Charges against the President can be brought by …

a) the Government. b) the Deputy Chairman. c) the State Duma.

7. The Prime Minister candidate is appointed by …

a) the State Duma. b) the Federation Council. c) the President.

8. The state of emergency is introduced by …

a) the Federation Council. b) the Prime Minister. c) the President.

9. The Security Council of Russia is headed by …

a) the Prime Minister. b) the Procurator-General. c) the President.

10). Ministers are subject to approval by …

a) local authorities. b) constituent entities. c) the Federal Assembly.

8.   Прочитайте текст еще раз и определите, справедливы ли данные утверждения.   Исправьте неверные утверждения. 

1.   The Russian Federation was established by the Constitution of 1995.

2.   The Government consists of the federal ministers only.

3.   The authorities of the constituent entities don’t have the right to pass laws independently of the Federal Government.

4.   Should the selected candidate be rejected three times, the President appoints the Prime Minister himself.

5.   A draft budget is to be discussed by the State Duma.

6.   To become a law a bill must be signed by the President.

7.   Judges are subject to the President only.

8.   The Prime Minister heads the Security Council of the Russian Federation.

9.   In case of a conflict between federal and local authorities, the President uses consensual procedures to resolve the problem.

9.   Ответьте на вопросы по тексту.

1.   What type of state is Russia?

2.   Who is the head of the Russian Federation?

3.   What are the three independent branches of state power in Russia?

4.   What kind of a working body is the Federal Assembly?

5.   Which chamber is more powerful?

6.   Why are legislative and executive functions performed by different institutions?

7.   Are these two establishments (the Government and the State Duma) equally important? Why?

8.   Who does the Government consist of?

9.   What is the aim of justice in Russia?

10.   How does the judicial system function?

11.   What are the functions of: a) the President; b) the Federal Assembly; c) the Government?

10.   Переведите на английский язык.

1.   Президент РФ является главой государства.

2.   В соответствии с Конституцией Россия — это демократическое федеративное правовое государство с республиканской формой правления.

3.   РФ состоит из 83 субъектов.

4.   Исполнительная власть осуществляется правительством, которое состоит из Председателя Правительства (премьер-министра), заместителей Председателя и федеральных министров.

5.   Премьер-министр назначается президентом с согласия Государственной Думы.

6.   Судебная система функционирует независимо от других ветвей власти.

7.   В современном правоведении выделяют 2 формы правления — монархия и республика, и 3 формы государственного устройства — федерация, конфедерация и унитарное государство.

8.   Президент избирается на должность гражданами РФ на основе прямого и равного избирательного права тайным голосованием.

9.   Правительство обеспечивает государственную безопасность.

10.   Правительство проводит единую государственную политику в области культуры, науки и образования.

11.   Судьи независимы и подчиняются только Конституции Российской Федерации и федеральным законам.

 12. а) Прочитайте текст и заполните пропуски подходящими по смыслу словами из рамки.

chairman, office, secret ballot, a term, in succession, nominated, supporters,  performing, elections, impeachment

Elections

The political system established by the Constitution of 1993 provides the President with substantial superiority over other branches of the state. The President is elected to the office for … of four years by the citizens of the Russian Federation on the basis of universal, direct and equal suffrage by … . In December 2008 the term was extended to 6 years. No one may hold … for more than two terms … . Russia has a multiparty system with one dominant party United Russia. Presently there are four parties that make up the State Duma: the United Russia, the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, the Just Russia. A candidate for the President of the Russian Federation can be … by a political party or by the candidate personally. In the later case the candidate must have an initiative group of 500 … . A candidate who receives more than one half of the votes is considered elected. The President stops … his duties ahead of time if he resigns, because of … , or if he cannot continue to carry out his duties due to poor health. … of a new President are to take place within 3 months and in the meantime his duties are acted upon by the … of the Government of the Russian Federation.

б) Расскажите о выборах Президента Российской Федерации.

13.   Работа в парах.  

1. Расскажите о государственном устройстве и политической системе России.   Укажите преимущества и недостатки.   Аргументируйте свою точку зрения. 
2. Хотели бы вы стать Президентом Российской Федерации, членом Парламента или политиком? Какие меры по совершенствованию системы управления страной вы бы предложили?