I. Read and translate the text.
LAWS: DESCRIPTIVE AND PRESCRIPTIVE
The English word “law” means various forms of behavior. Some laws are descriptive: they simply describe how people, or even natural phenomena, usually behave. An example is the law of gravity; another is laws of economics. Other laws are prescriptive – they prescribe how people ought to behave. For example, the speed limits are laws that prescribe how fast we should drive. They rarely describe how fast we actually do drive, of course.
In all societies, relations between people are regulated by prescriptive laws. Some of them are customs – that is informal rules of social and moral behavior. Some are rules we accept if we belong to particular social and cultural groups. And some are laws made by nations and enforced against all citizens within their power. It is important to consider to what extent such laws can be distinguished from customs and social rules.
When governments make laws for their citizens, they use a system of courts and the police to enforce these laws. Of course, there may be instances where the law is not enforced against someone – such as when young children commit crimes, or when certain people are able to escape justice by using their money or influence.
The laws made by the government of one country are often very different from the laws of another country. Law today is, to a large extent, a complex of different and relatively independent systems.
II. Answer the questions.
1. What is the difference between descriptive and prescriptive laws?
2. What are customs?
3. Why should we distinguish laws from customs?
4. How do certain people escape justice?
5. Are the laws of different countries the same?
III. Find in the text the equivalents of the following words and expressions.
Различные формы поведения, предписывающие законы, установленные ограничения скорости, принадлежать к различным социальным группам, отличаться от обычаев, проводить законы в жизнь, избегать правосудия.
IV. Write down sentences with the following idioms.
1. Kangaroo court (amer. Slang). Судебная инсценировка. Шемякин суд.
2. The pen is mightier than the sword. Что написано пером – не вырубишь топором.
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TEXT 3
I. Read and translate the text.
RF STATE SYSTEM
The Russian Federative Republic was set up by the Constitution of 1993. Under the Constitution Russia is a Presidential Republic. The federal government consists of three branches: legislative, executive and judicial. Each of them is balanced by the President.
The legislative power is vested in the Federal Assembly. It consists of two chambers. The Upper Chamber is the Council of Federation. The Lower Chamber is the State Duma. Each chamber is headed by the Speaker. The executive power may be initiated by the two chambers. But to become a law a bill must be approved by both chambers and signed by the President.
The President is the head of the state and determines the basic objectives of the internal and external policy of the state. He is elected for six years on the basis of universal, equal and direct right to vote by secret ballot for all eligible citizens.
The President may veto the bill. The President is the Commander –in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. He signs treaties, enforces laws, appoints ministers to be approved by the Federal Assembly. The President presents to the Federation Council candidates for the posts of the Constitutional and Supreme Court justices, Supreme Arbitrage Court justices, and a candidate for the post of Prosecutor General.
The executive power belongs to the government which is headed by the Prime Minister. The first action of the Prime Minister on appointment is to form the Cabinet.
The judicial branch is represented by the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court and district courts. The members of the Federal Assembly are elected by popular vote for a four year period.
II. Answer the questions.
1. What are the branches of the federal government?
2. What are the functions of the President?
3. Who is the Commander-in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation?
4. Who forms the Cabinet?
5. Whom is the Judicial branch represented?
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