State System of the Russian Federation

II. Read and translate the text.

XI. Draw the scheme of the state structure of the United States, using the information given in the text.

Вариант 3

I. Active vocabulary:

to set up – основывать, открывать, учреждать

a chief executive – главное исполнительное лицо

to make а treatу – заключать договор

to enforce laws – проводить законы в жизнь

to exercise – (зд.) осуществлять

the Federal Assembly – Федеральное Собрание

a branch – ветвь (власти), отрасль (промышленности, экономики)

to head – возглавлять

to approve - одобрять

a banner – знамя, флаг, стяг

liberty – свобода

ancient – древний

The Russian Federation is set up by the Constitution of 1993. It consists of 89 subjects – regions and republics, which have their own local parliaments and chief executives – governors or presidents.

Under the Constitution Russia is a presidential republic. The federal government consists of three branches: legislative, executive and judicial. Each of them is checked and balanced by President.

The President of the Russian Federation is the chief executive of the state. He is also Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. President makes treaties, enforces laws, and appointsministersto be approved by the Federal Assembly. He is elected at President Election for a term of four years and can be re-elected for another term, but not more than that.

According to the Constitution, every citizen of the Russian Federation may vote for their candidates. The voting age is 18.

The legislative power is exercised by the Federal Assembly. It consists of two chambers (or houses). The Upper Chamber isthe Council of Federation;the Lower Chamber is the State Duma.

The State Duma is elected by citizens every four years. Each Duma member represents an area in the Russian Federation and may belong to a political party.

Each chamber of the Federal Assembly is headed by the Speaker. A new legislation may be initiated in either of the two Chambers.The new bill must be introduced first into the State Duma, and then, after it has been discussed, amended and approved, it must be considered by the Upper Chamber. To become a law a bill must be approved by both Chambers and signed by President. President may veto the bill. The laws are carried out by executive authorities - ministries, departments, local government.

The executive power belongs to the Government which is headed by the Prime-Minister. The first action of the Prime-Minister on appointmentis to form the Government. The Government consists of Ministers, who are heads of different departments and are directly responsible to the Prime-Minister.

The judicial power is represented by the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court and regional courts.

Today the state symbol of Russia is a three-coloured banner. It has three horizontal stripes: white, blue and red. The white stripe symbolizes the earth, the blue one stands for the sky, and the red one symbolizes liberty. It was the first state symbol that replaced the former symbols in 1991. A new national emblem is a two-headed eagle. It is the most ancient symbol of Russia. It originates from the heraldic emblem of the Ruricovitches. All these symbols are official. They have been approved by the Federal Assembly.

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