The United States Constitution
The United States Constitution is the supreme law of the United States of America. It was adopted in its original form on September 17, 1787 by the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and later ratified by state-selected delegates representing the people of the several states.
When delegates in nine of the then thirteen states ratified the document, it marked the creation of a union of sovereign states, and a federal government to administer that union. It took effect on March 4, 1789, replacing the weaker, non-centralized union that existed under the Articles of Confederation. The Constitution of the United States is the oldest constitution still in use.
Articles of the Constitution
The Constitution comprises seven original articles and twenty-seven amendments.
The Preamble of the Constitution
“We the People…” is the basic statement of purpose that precedes the constitution.
The United States Bill of Rights - the ten amendments added to the Constitution in 1791, as the supporters of the Constitution had promised opponents during the debates of 1788.
The English Bill of Rights (1689) was an inspiration for the American Bill of Rights. For example, both require jury trials, contain a right to bear arms, and prohibit excessive bail and of “cruel and unusual punishments.”
Many liberties protected by state constitutions and the Virginia Declaration of Rights were incorporated into the United States Bill of Rights.
Reading 1
Social and Economic Issues of the USA
1. The American belief in «free enterprise» has not precluded a major role for government, however. Americans at times have looked to government to break up or regulate companies that appeared to be developing so much power that they could defy market forces. They have relied on government to address matters the private economy overlooks, from education to protecting the environment. And despite their advocacy of market principles, they have used government to nurture new industries, and even to protect American companies from competition.
2. As the sometimes inconsistent approach to regulation demonstrates, Americans often disagree about the appropriate role of government in the economy. In general, government grew larger and intervened more aggressively in the economy from the 1930s until the 1970s.
3. But economic hardships in the 1960s and 1970s left Americans skeptical about the ability of government to address many social and economic issues. Major social programs – including Social Security and Medicare, which provide retirement income and health insurance for the elderly – survived this period of reconsideration. But the growth of the federal government slowed in the 1980s.
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4. The pragmatism and flexibility of Americans has resulted in an unusually dynamic economy. Change – whether produced by growing affluence, technological innovation, or growing trade with other nations – has been a constant in American economic history. The once agrarian country is now far more urban – and suburban – today than it was 100, or even 50, years ago. Services have become increasingly important relative to traditional manufacturing. In some industries, mass production has given way to more specialized production that emphasizes product diversity and customization. Large corporations have merged, split up, and reorganized. New industries and companies that did not exist at the midpoint of the 20th century now play a major role in the nation’s economic life.
Определите, являетсялиутверждение:
Americans expect their government to solve problems which private economy ignores.
- ложным
- истинным
- в тексте нет информации
Определите, являетсялиутверждение:
Americans never doubt whether their government is capable of solving their social or economic issues.
- ложным
- в тексте нет информации
- истинным
Определите, являетсялиутверждение:
Product diversity and customization are the main trends in the US economy.
- ложным
- в тексте нет информации
- истинным
Определите, являетсялиутверждение:
It was not before the end of the 20th century that American economy stabilized.
- ложным
- в тексте нет информации
- истинным
Укажите, какой части текста(1,2,3,4) соответствует следующая информация:
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