N. Kryazheva - The United States and the United Kingdom. Past and Present (pdf), страница 2

Each branch has certain control over the other branches.Each state has its own constitution. Like the national government, state governments are divided into legislative, executive andjudicial branches. There are state senators and representatives and state court systems. Just as the President is the leader of thenational government, each state has a governor as its leader. Below the state level of government, there are county and citygovernments.The United States has two main political parties: the Democratic party also known as the Democrats was organized in 1820sand the Republican one which is sometimes called the Grand Old Rarty or GOP was organized in 1850s.

Both Parties remain in factthe parties supported and controlled by big business. Many other smaller parties play little if any role. There are not any cleardifferences between these two political parties.In the twentieth century,as society has become more complex, governmenthas taken a much more active role. However, many Americans worry about too much government interference in their lives. Still,compared to many other соuntries, the role of the US government remains limited.Words and Phrases:judicial branch - судебная властьto make up - составлять (правила)Supreme court - верховный судto appoint - назначатьappointment - назначениеresponsible - ответственныйresponsibility - ответственностьto interpret - толковатьdepartment - министерство, ведомствоagency - учреждениеto make laws - составлять законыto be in keeping with - соответствоватьto govern - управлятьgovernor - губернатор, правительgovernment - правительствоto interfere - вмешиватьсяinterference - вмешательствоto remain - оставатьсяto prevent - препятствовать, предотвращатьTasks:1.

Speak about the highest branches of the US government.2. Ask your partner about:a. the head of the executive branch;b. the main function of the Congress;c. the leading parties of the USA.3. Speak about the highest tribunal in the US.4. Ask the question about the difference between a senator and a congressman.5. Compose a dialogue about three branches of the US government.THE FOURTH OF JULY - THE US INDEPENDENCE DAYThe Fourth of July is the biggest national holiday of the US. It is celebrated as the birthday of the country with parades, picnics,and fireworks. On July 4, 1776, when the American colonies were fighting a war against England, the Continental Congressadopted a resolution, which has come to be known as the Declaration of Independence.

The resolution was written by ThomasJefferson (1743-1826), the leader of the democratic wing of the American bourgeoisie. Thomas Jefferson was the bearer ofadvanced views that have not lost their significance for the social struggle in modern America.In fact, the Declaration of Independence was a letter from the Continental Congress to the king of Great Britain. Thomas Jeffersonwrote to the king that the people in America did not want to pay taxes, if they were not allowed to decide how to spend them.The letter declared that the people in America wanted to be free and indedent of England from that time on. So, the letter was called the Declaration of enclence. But the Declaration was just a letter, it didnot make the American oole independent of England, the people had to fight for their independence.

p jhe Declaration ofIndependence is one of the most important political documents in the western world. It had a decisive influence on the developmentof the American Revolution. It was a great achievement of the popular movement, and it influenced bourgeois revolutions in Europeand elsewhere.The United States Constitution was written in 1787, but it came into use in 1789. The Constitution established the country'spolitical system and is the basis for its laws. The United States has experienced enormous growth and change.

Yet the Constitutionworks as well today as when it was written. One reason is that the Constitution can be amended, or changed.The United States has a federal system. This means that there are individual states, each with its own government, and there isa federal, or a national government. The Constitution gives certain powers to the federal government, other powers to the stategovernments, and yet other powers to both.Words and Phrases:to depend on/upon - зависеть отindependence - независимостьindependent - независимыйwing - крылоbearer - выразительto signify - означатьsignificance - значениеsignificant - значительныйto advance - продвигаться впередto decide - решатьdecision - решениеdecisive influence- решающее влияниеto influence - влиятьto establish - устанавливатьto amend - дополнятьamendment - поправкаadvanced views - передовые взглядыestablishment - учреждение, организацияTasks:1.

Answer the following questions:a. When is the birthday of the US?b. Who is the author of the US Declaration?c- When did the United States Constitution come into use? d. What system does the US have?2. True or False?a. the Constitution of the US gives rights only to the federal government;b. the US has not experienced great growth and change in its life;c- the United States Constitution is not the basis for the country's laws.AMERICAN PRESIDENTSGeorge Washington (1732-1799)In 1775-1783 America fought against Great Britain for freedom and indepen, dence. It was an unusual war, which was foughton the American side by farmers mechanics, tradesmen, fishermen and others.

Ordinary men and women got ц on their feet andafter seven years' fighting with the help of France and French Fleet won. The Declaration of Independence was adopted by theCongress or July 4, 1776. Since then the 4th of July has been considered to be a great public holiday in America.Speaking about American Revolutionary War of Independence one must say a few words about the first American presidentGeorge Washington.

At the start of the revolution George Washington was a planter and his tastes were peaceful. But when hiscountry needed him, he left his "Mount Vernon", the house, which he loved so much, and served for seven years without pay asCommander-in-Chief of the American army.On May 10, 1775, George Washington was elected by the Congress to command the American army against the Britishforces. When he arrived in Cambridge, he found the army without military training and set about drilling and training soldiers andthe American army was soon able to drive the British forces from Boston.On April 6,1789, G. Washington was unanimously elected the President of the US. He was elected twice, but he refused to bethe President for a third time.

He was a firm, dignified, but cautious and unaggressive chief executive, strongly opposed to partylines in home affairs and advocating America's neutrality as its predominant foreign policy. Americans say about Washington thathe was "first in war, in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen". In his honour the first permanent capital of the UnitedStates, founded in 1791, is named Washington. The US commemorated his memory for generations to come.Words and Phrases:fight - битва, сражениеcautious - предусмотрительныйto commemorate - увековечиватьto get up on the feet- подняться, восстатьto drill - обучать, муштровать войскаdrilling - обучение, тренировкаpredominant - преобладающийCommander-in-Chief - главнокомандующийto fight (fought) - сражатьсяdignified - достойныйto drive - двигатьсяtastes - зд. намеренияto adopt - приниматьadoption - принятиеpermanent - постоянныйunanimously - единодушноAbraham Lincoln (1809-1865)Abraham Lincoln is one of the most famous presidents of the USA.

He was born in the family of a poor farmer in 1809 in Kentucky,but soon his family left for thewild forest land of Indiana. He was taught reading, writing and simple arithmetic, as his family could not afford better education.When he was 18, he went to New Orleans and there he saw a slave market. It made a deep impression on him and he began tohate slavery and decided to fight against it. In 1830 he went to Springfield and became a clerk in a store. He learned much andgreatly improved his knowledge. He was a self-educated man of great will-power with practically no schooling. He managed topass the examinations as a lawyer and for a number of years he practiced law in his native state Illinois.

He entered politics and in1872 became a candidate for the Parliament of his state. Soon he became a force in political life and in 1860 was elected the 16thPresident of the USA.He was an enemy of slavery. Some of the Southern States left the Union and the war between the South and the North began.At firstthe war went badly for the North, but Lincoln never lost his courage and soon they won. When the war was over, Lincolnissued a proclamation to say that slavery was abolished.1. Practice with your partner answering questions:a. When did America fight against Great Britain for freedom and independence?b.