Демидова, 2009 2 I. THE POLITICAL SYSTEM OF THE USA The American System of Government The governmental systems in the United States – federal, state, county, and local – 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”. <...> There are, however, several basic principles which are found at all levels of American government. <...> One of this 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. <...> 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. <...> Congress Congress, the legislative branch of the federal government, is made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives. <...> One third of the Senators are elected every two years for six-year terms of office. <...> The Senators represent all of the people in a state and their interests. <...> They are elected every two years for two-year terms. <...> Almost all elections in the United States follow the “winnertakes-all” principle: the candidate who wins the largest number of votes in a Congressional district is the winner. <...> Each can also vote against legislation passed by the other. <...> Topical vocabulary Nouns Verbs County Township Resident Compromise to complain Tax district to propose Pattern to dispose Legislator Voter to spread to approve to represent Adjectives Politician unbelievable Treaty legislative Senator passed legislation Word expressions school district System of checks and balances House of Representatives Foreign affairs to declare war the “winner-takes-all” principle term of office congressional district to introduce legislation Exercises Ex. 1. <...> Find the pairs of synonyms: Intricacy, dues, passed, legislative, election, real, to elect, for instance, basic, pattern, expert, to become adult, for example, complexity, alien, specialist, model, fundamental, choose, true, voting, 4 treaty, resident, inhabitant, agreement, lawmaking, approved, taxes, foreign, to grow up Ex. 2. <...> The governmental systems in the United States – federal, state, county, and local – are … 2. <...> One of this is the “one person, one vote” principle which says that … 4. <...> Another fundamental principle of American government is <...>
Английский_язык_Методические_указания.pdf
Министерство образования и науки Российской Федерации
Федеральное агентство по образованию
Ярославский государственный университет им. П. Г. Демидова
Кафедра иностранных языков
Английский язык
Методические указания
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Научно-методическим советом университета для студентов,
обучающихся по специальности Политология
Ярославль 2009
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УДК 81:32
ББК Ш 143.21я73
А 64
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Рецензент
кафедра иностранных языков Ярославского государственного
университета им. П. Г. Демидова
Английский язык:
А 64
Составитель Е. В. Новожилова
метод.
указания
/ сост.
Е. В. Новожилова; Яросл. гос. ун-т им. П. Г. Демидова. –
Ярославль : ЯрГУ, 2009. – 35 с.
Данные методические указания рекомендуются
студентам для развития навыков устной речи на
материале текстов профессиональной направленности.
Часть I включает ознакомительные тексты, относящиеся
к политическому устройству США, часть II содержит
тексты по страноведению США для чтения, перевода и
аннотирования, сопровождающиеся заданиями на
активизацию тематического словаря.
Предназначены для студентов 2 курса, обучающихся
по специальности 030201 Политология (дисциплина
«Английский язык», блок ГСЭ), очной формы обучения.
УДК 81:32
ББК Ш 143.21я73
© Ярославский
государственный университет
им. П. Г. Демидова, 2009
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I. THE POLITICAL SYSTEM OF THE USA
The American System of Government
The governmental systems in the United States – federal, state,
county, and local – are quite easy to understand. They are quite easy
to understand, that is, if you grew up with them and studied them in
school. 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”.
There are, however, several basic principles which are found at all
levels of American government. One of this 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.
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. In foreign affairs, he is
also strongly limited. Any treaty must first be approved by the Senate.
If there is no approval, there’s no treaty. The rule is “the President
proposes, but Congress disposes”. What a President wants to do,
therefore, is often a different thing from what a President is able to do.
Congress
Congress, the legislative branch of the federal government, is
made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives. There are
100 Senators, two from each state. One third of the Senators are
elected every two years for six-year terms of office. The Senators
represent all of the people in a state and their interests.
The House has 435 members. They are elected every two years
for two-year terms. They represent the population of “congressional
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districts” into which each state is divided. The number of
Representatives from each state is based upon its population. For
instance, California, the state with the largest population, has
52 Representatives, while Delaware has only one.
Almost all elections in the United States follow the “winnertakes-all”
principle: the candidate who wins the largest number of
votes in a Congressional district is the winner.
Congress makes all laws, and each house of Congress has the
power to introduce legislation. Each can also vote against legislation
passed by the other. Because legislation only becomes law if both
houses agree, compromise between them is necessary. Congress
decides upon taxes and how money is spent. In addition, it regulates
commerce among the states and with foreign countries. It also sets
rules for the naturalization of foreign citizens.
Topical vocabulary
Nouns Verbs
County
Township
Resident
Compromise
to complain Tax district
to propose
Pattern to dispose
Legislator
Voter
to spread
to approve
to represent
Adjectives
Politician unbelievable
Treaty legislative
Senator passed
legislation
Word expressions
school district
System of checks and balances
House of Representatives
Foreign affairs
to declare war
the “winner-takes-all” principle
term of office
congressional district
to introduce legislation
Exercises
Ex. 1. Find the pairs of synonyms:
Intricacy, dues, passed, legislative, election, real, to elect, for
instance, basic, pattern, expert, to become adult, for example,
complexity, alien, specialist, model, fundamental, choose, true, voting,
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treaty, resident, inhabitant, agreement, lawmaking, approved, taxes,
foreign, to grow up
Ex. 2. Find the pairs of antonyms:
Against, optional, to abolish, to dispose, foreign, unbelievable, to
agree, compromise, necessary, to approve, to lose, boundless, slightly,
to propose, complex, to find, limited, native, strongly, simple, to
differ, for, ordinary, confrontation
Ex. 3. Complete the following sentences:
1. The governmental systems in the United States – federal, state,
county, and local – are …
2. There are, however, several basic principles which are found
…
3. One of this is the “one person, one vote” principle which says
that …
4. Another fundamental principle of American government is that
because of the system of checks and balances, compromise in politics
is …
5. The rule is “the President proposes, but …
6. What a President wants to do, therefore, is often a different
thing from …
7. Congress, the legislative branch of the federal government, is
made up of …
8. One third of the Senators are elected every …
9. The number of Representatives from each state is based …
10. Almost all elections in the United States follow the …
Ex. 4. Answer the following questions:
1. Are the governmental systems in the United States – federal,
state, county, and local – quite easy to understand?
2. Why is the complexity of just the cities’ political and
governmental structure almost unbelievable?
3. What are the basic principles which are found at all levels of
American government?
4. What does the “one person, one vote” principle say?
5. What is the other fundamental principle of American
government?
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