4. 
   Look through the text and match the underlined English words and expressions with the following Russian equivalents:
   

в двух разных значениях; в первом значении; состав и полномочия государственных органов; разные государственные органы; во втором значении; установленные в законодательном порядке; такая страна как Великобритания; в конкретном смысле слова; о конституции говорят, что она писаная, если…; кроме Соединённого Королевства; конституция, введенная в качестве закона; осуществлять руководство страной; законы, являющиеся основой государства; обязательны для; говорят, что Британская конституция – неписаная; не воплощена ни в каком законе; парламентские обычаи; к ним мы должны добавить; современные события, современное развитие политики; рассмотрев источники; пока не признаны таковыми в судах; если ни один из этих источников права не существует; по которому уже было вынесено решение суда.

TEXT 1

The Constitution of a State

The word “constitution” is used in two different senses, the abstract and the concrete. The constitution of a state in the former sense is the system of laws, customs and conventions which define the composition and powers of organs of the state and regulate the relations of the various state organs to one another and to the private citizen. A “constitution” in the latter sense is the document in which the most important laws of the country are authoritatively ordained. A country, such as Great Britain, which has no written constitution, has no constitution in the concrete sense of the word.

Written and Unwritten Constitution

A constitution is said to be “written” when the most important constitutional laws are specially enacted. Nearly all civilized states, except the United Kingdom, have written or enacted constitutions. Usually states put into form of legislative enactment the manner in which the state is to be organized, government carried on and justice administered. The most important laws constituting the basis of the state are specified in one formal document or a series of formal documents which are binding on the courts and all persons concerned. Thus the United States of America, Russia and France have written constitutions.

The British Constitution

The British Constitution is said to be “unwritten” because it is not embodied in any enactment or formally related series of enactments. The laws of the constitution comprise three kinds of rules: statute rules, case law, and custom (especially parliamentary customs). To these we must add constitutional conventions if we are to understand modern developments and the manner in which the Constitution works.

There is no written code of law in the UK. The question whether a particular rule is recognized as law is determined, where possible, by consideration of the authorities: statutes, common law, and the opinions of legal writers of established reputation (although these are not laws until accepted as such by the courts). If none of these authorities exists, the judge uses a process of analogy. That is to say, he bases his decision in a case on its similarity to a previous case

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in which judgment has already been given.

5. 
   Read the text and say if the following statements are true or false:
   

Useful expressions:

Agreement:Itisquiteso – Этодействительнотак. It is true – Этотак. You are right – Выправы.No doubt– Несомненно.Exactly – Именнотак.That’s right. – Правильно. Iquiteagreewithyou. – СовершенносВамисогласен.Yes, certainly. – Да, конечно.

Disagreement:I’m afraid it is not true – Боюсь, этонеправда. You are not right in saying so. – Вынеправы, говорятак. You are wrong here. – Выздесьнеправы.Farfromthat. – Далеконетак. Quiteonthecontrary. – Совсем наоборот. I can’tagree. – Я не могу согласиться.

1. 
   The word “constitution” is used in several meanings.
   
2. 
   Great Britain has no written constitution.
   
3. 
   Nearly all civilized states have no written constitutions.
   
4. 
   The most important laws constituting the basis of the state are specified in one formal document called constitution.
   
5. 
   The laws of the constitution comprise three kinds of customs.
   
6. 
   Sometimes the judge uses a process of analogy before he gives his judgment.
   

6. 
   Match the following English and Russian equivalents:
   

sense in the former sense composition relation powers privatecitizen toenact toordain toembody to carry on to be binding on

a) состав b) смысл c) отношение d) в первом значении e) полномочия f) принимать закон g) продолжать выполнять h) отдельный гражданин i) вводить в действие j) воплощать k) бытьобязательным

7. 
   Use the prepositions correctly:
   

to regulate the relations … the various state organs … one another and … the private citizens; nearly all civilized states, … the United Kingdom, have written constitutions; formal documents are binding … the Courts and all persons concerned; there are three kinds of laws: statute rules, case law, and custom. … these we must add.

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8. Match the following words and phrases with their definitions:

1) parliament	a) additional elections
2) constituency	b) a leading MP
3) by-election	c) not important MP
4) front-bencher	d) electoral district
5) back-bencher	e) speaker of the House of Lords
6) MP	f) universal election rights
7) suffrage	g) supreme legislative body
8) peer	h) rank of nobility
9) speaker	i) chairman of the House of Commons
10) Lord Chancellor	j) Member of Parliament

9. Answer the following questions:

1. 
   In how many senses is the word “constitution” used?
   
2. 
   What are they?
   
3. 
   What is the state constitution in the former sense?
   
4. 
   What relations does the constitution regulate?
   
5. 
   What does the constitution mean in the latter sense?
   
6. 
   Has Great Britain the constitution in the concrete sense of the word?
   
7. 
   What is the name of one formal document or a series of formal documents which are binding on the courts, government and all persons concerned?
   

10. Look up in the dictionary the meanings of the following words and expressions:

remarkable, development, tribunal, diversity, to preserve, matter, to deal with, regardless of, desirable, revival, due to, creation, to recognize, to determine, authorities, statute, common law, legal writers, writers of established reputation, a case, similarity.

11. 
    Read text 2 for more information about the UK Constitution and prepare its summary in Russian.
    

TEXT 2

The British Constitution

One of the remarkable developments in the British Constitution during the last fifty years is the appearance of official tribunals, more or less closely connected with the administrative departments of government. There is a great diversity both of structure and of functions to be observed in them. Many of the matters with which they deal are of great importance.

Regardless of whether their existence is desirable, there is no doubt that the revival of administrative law In England is very largely due to the creation of new type of offences against the community.

Whatever may be the reason for its creation, however, it is impossible to say that English regime of administrative justice is not part of the law.

There is no written code of law in the United Kingdom. The question whether a particular rule is recognized as law is determined, where possible, by consideration of the authorities: statutes, common law, and the opinions of legal writers of established reputation (although these are not law until accepted as such by the courts). If none of these authorities exists, the judge uses a process of analogy: that is to say, he bases his decision in a case on its similarity to a previous case in which judgment has already been given.

12. 
    Answer the following questions:
    

1. 
   Are official tribunals important constitutionally?
   
2. 
   How long have they existed in British society?
   
3. 
   What place do they occupy in the hierarchy of power?
   
4. 
   Are they uniform or diverse in their structure and functions?
   
5. 
   What matters do they deal with?
   
6. 
   What brought them to life?
   
7. 
   Is administrative justice part of the law in the UK?
   

---

13. 
    Put your own questions so that the following sentences could be their answers:
    

1. 
   No, there is no written code of law in the UK.
   
2. 
   Consideration of the authorities.
   
3. 
   They are statutes, common law and the opinion of legal writers.
   
4. 
   They are so-called “legists”.
   
5. 
   Legal writers of established reputation.
   
6. 
   No, they aren’t.
   
7. 
   The judge uses a process of analogy, if none of these authorities exists.
   
8. 
   A process of analogy is such a process when the judge bases his decision in a case on its similarity to a previous case in which judgment has already been given.
   

14. 
    Give the summary of the text.
    

SUPPLEMENTARY READING

1. 
   Read the following interview. Choose the notions discussed and colloquial expressions.
   

TEXT 3

A.: Mankind has existed for a long time. And it worked out the notion of law which is called upon (призвано) to make society livable (пригодным для жизни). And one can be certain that constitutional law is the most important of the laws. What is your idea of the constitutional law?

B.: It will not be an exaggeration to say that the constitutional law is the backbone (оплот) of society. The term “constitution” is used in the text in two senses both of which are very important. What do you think about it?

A.: I think so, too. Both senses are significant. The first meaning is called “abstract”, and it means the system of laws, customs and conventions which define the composition and powers of organs of the state …

B.: … and regulate the relations of the various state organs to one another and to private citizens. And what is the concrete sense of the term?

A.: A constitution in this meaning is the document in which the most important laws of a specific country are authoritatively ordained.

B.: It sounds very scientific. Could you explain these two senses in a simpler way (проще)?

A.: I’ll try, but you should remember that law or legal notions are really scholastic and scientific, and they are not easy to grasp. As far as I understand, the constitution in the abstract sense means all the principles and doctrines implemented in the laws of the country as a sum total distributing responsibilities of running the country between different organs of the state.

B.: I see your point: and concrete constitution is the specific document which was duly adopted and which contains the most important information how a concrete country is run: the separation of powers, the duties and functions of the president, parliament, government, the courts, and so on !

A.: Exactly! In simple words, the concrete constitution is the constitution of a specific country covering such topics as the fundamentals of the state system, the rights and duties of citizens, the procedure of its ratification and how to admit into the state new members.

2. 
   Find in the dialogue the English equivalents of the following Russian words and expressions:
   

человечество, существовать, выработать, понятие, быть призванным/ обязанным что-либо сделать, быть уверенным, что ты думаешь/какое твое представление о, преувеличение, оплот/ фундамент, важный (2 слова), определять, состав, полномочия, государственные органы, регулировать отношения, отношения друг к другу, должным образом, облачать в форму закона, это звучит очень по-ученому, проще, юридические понятия, «ученые» понятия, понять/осознать, насколько я понимаю, воплощать (идеи) в законе, совокупность, распределять, руководить/управлять страной, я понимаю, что вы имеете ввиду, должным образом/ в соответствии с законом, содержать информацию, (говоря) простыми словами, освещать/ объяснять, основы (государственного строя), права и обязанности, принимать новых членов.

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CONVERSATION & WRITING PRACTICE

1. 
   Change the dialogue of text 3 into a short essay.
   
2. 
   Study the following phrases:
   

Asking for Information

Excuse me.	Could anyone tell me...?
Can / Could you tell me ...?	(Do / Would) you happen to know...?
Would you mind ...?	(Got / Have you) any idea...?
Do you know ...?	- Where are you from? - I'm from Ohio. - Oh really? What part of Ohio?
Where / When / How can I ...?	I wonder if you could…?
I'd like to know…

Replying to a Request for Information

Informal Sure. No problem. Let me see ... Sorry, I can’t help you out. Sorry, but I don’t know that.

More Formal I’d be happy to answer that. It’d be a pleasure to help you. I’m afraid I don't have the answer to that question. I’d like to help you. Unfortunately, I don't have that information / don't know.

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