Judicial Branch of Power in Russia

Unit III

Text 2 C

The Russian Federation was set up by the Constitution of 1993. According to the Constitution the powers of government are divided into 3 branches: the legislative, the executive and the judicial.

The legislative power is vested in the Federal Assembly which consists of two chambers: the Council of the Federation and the State Duma. Both chambers have the right to initiate legislation. But to become a law a bill must be approved by both chambers and signed by the President. The President may veto the bill.

The President is the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces; he has the right to sign treaties, to appoint and to dismiss the supreme commanders of the Armed Forces.

The executive power is exercised by the government which is headed by the Prime Minister (the Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation). The Prime Minister determines the guidelines of the activities of the Government of the Russian Federation and organizes its work.

Notes

1. to vest - облекать, наделять (правами, властью)

Ex. I. Read the following words and word combinations. Translate the sentences into Russian.

1. proceeding судопроизводство, процессуальные действия	Legal proceedings can be very expensive.
2. justice правосудие, юстиция	That fact restored my faith in British justice.
3. to administer justice отправлять правосудие	Do you know how the justice is administered in the UK?
4. general jurisdiction общая юрисдикция	Most United States federal courts are courts of general jurisdiction.
5. military court военный суд	What cases do military courts hear?
6. the Supreme Court Верховный суд	The Supreme court is the supreme judicial body for all courts of general jurisdiction on civil, criminal and administrative matters
7. the Supreme Arbitration Court Высший Арбитражный суд	The Supreme Arbitration Court deals with economic arguments.
8. a case судебное дело	He would do anything to win the case.
9. to try a case рассматривать дело (в суде)	The District courts try criminal and civil cases.
10. a trial судебное разбирательство	He had a fair trial and the court found him guilty.
11. participant участник	Who are the participants in the trial?
12. a prosecutor обвинитель, прокурор	Prosecutor is a person who prosecutes another for a crime in the name of the government.
13. a plaintiff истец	Mr. Smith is the plaintiff in this case.
14. a judge судья	The powers, functions, and training of judges vary widely from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.
15. a defendant ответчик	In a court case there are at least two parties: a plaintiff and a defendant.
16. a witness свидетель	Mrs. Brown was a witness to the accident and she had to attend the hearing of the case in the court.
17. an accused обвиняемый	The accused was found guilty.
18. jury присяжные, суд присяжных	The jury believed that the defendant was innocent.
19. supervisory power надзор	The European Parliament has the major supervisory power over the activities of the European Union.
20. observance of law соблюдение закона	The strict observance of law by all institutions, officials and citizens is obligatory in Russia.

Ex.II. Match these words to their definitions.

1. a witness	1. the court for the discipline (дисциплинарное взыскание) and punishment of military personnel
2. to administer justice	2. to examine or hear (evidence or a case) by judicial process.
3. military court	3. a lawyer whose job is to prove in the court that someone accused of a crime is guilty
4. to try a case	4. someone whose job is to make decisions in a court of law
5. a trial	5. someone who sees a crime, accident, or other event happen
6. a prosecutor	6. to implement (вводить в действие) the law
7. a plaintiff	7. a group of people, usually 12, who judge a court case
8. a judge	8. the process of examining the case in a court of law and deciding whether someone is guilty or innocent
9. a defendant	9. the power to supervise institutions.
10. jury	10. someone who has been accused of a crime and is on trial
11. supervisory power	11. a practice of obeying a law or a rule.
12. observance of law	12. a person who brings a suit into a court of law

Before you read

Discuss these questions with your partner.

1. What branches are the powers of government divided into?

2. What do you know about the judicial system? What does it deal with?

Дата добавления: 2014-12-26