The Legislative Branch of Power

Text 7 A

Before you read

Discuss these questions with your partner.

1. How is the legislative branch of the Government called?

2. What Houses does the US Congress consist of?

3. Do you know anything about their legislative power?

All legislative powers provided by the Constitution in Article I are exercised by the U.S. Congress. The Constitution grants the Congress the authority to enact legislation and declare war, the right to confirm or reject many Presidential appointments, and substantial investigative powers.

The Congress consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The Senate is composed of 100 Senators (2 for each state) who are elected for a term of 6 years, one third of the Senate being elected every two years. Senators must be 30 years of age, U.S. citizens for at least nine years, and residents of the state they represent. The Senate advises and consents to presidential treaties and for nominations for major executive officials, ambassadors, justices of the Supreme Court, and federal judges.

The House of Representatives is made up of 435 elected members. Members of the House are elected every two years and must be 25 years of age, U.S. citizens for at least seven years, and residents of the state they represent. The presiding officer of the chamber is the Speaker of the House, elected by the Representatives.

The Senate and the House of Representatives are organized by the majority party in each chamber, which chooses the presiding officer, the majority leader, and the chairmen of each committee. Through much of American history the party controlling the White House did not control both Houses of Congress.

The Congress has extensive powers in domestic affairs, including the power to tax, borrow money and pay debts, coin money, and regulate commerce among the states. The Congress helps to establish and oversees the departments and agencies of the executive branch; it also establishes the lower federal courts and determines their jurisdiction.

Ex. I. Read the text and answer the following questions:

1. What branch of the Government is responsible for lawmaking?

2. Who represents the legislative power in the USA?

3. What are the functions of the Senate?

4. What are the functions of the House of Representatives?

5. Who becomes the Member of the House?

6. What do you know about the Speaker?

7. How are the Senate and the House of Representatives organized?

8. What powers does the Congress have?

Ex. II. Read the text and decide if the following statements are True, False or No information.

1. All legislative powers provided by the Constitution in Article I are exercised by the U.S. Congress.

2. The Constitution grants Congress the authority to enact legislation.

3. The House of Representatives advises and consents to presidential treaties and to nominations for major executive officials, ambassadors, justices of the Supreme Court, and federal judges.

4. The Speaker has total power over who speaks during debate.

5. The House of Representatives has the power to elect the President in the case of an Electoral College tie.

6. Through much of American history the party controlling the White House did not control both Houses of Congress.

7. The Senate is not organized by the majority party.

8. Congress has extensive powers in domestic affairs.

9. Congress oversees the departments and agencies of the executive branch.

10. Congress also establishes the lower federal courts and determines their jurisdiction.

Ex. III. Find English equivalents in the text.

1. Все законодательные полномочия, предусмотренные I-ой статьей Конституции, осуществляются Конгрессом США.

2. Конституция предоставляет Конгрессу право принимать законы, утверждать или отклонять назначения, сделанные Президентом.

3. В состав Сената входят 100 сенаторов, которые избираются сроком на 6 лет (2 от каждого штата).

4. Сенаторы должны быть не моложе 30 лет, являться гражданами США не менее 9 лет и постоянными жителями штата, который они представляют.

5. Сенат консультирует и одобряет договоры и назначение главных чиновников исполнительной власти, послов, судей Верховного суда.

6. В состав Палаты Представителей входят 435 выборных членов.

7. Члены Палаты Представителей избираются каждые 2 года и должны быть не моложе 25 лет, являться гражданами США не менее 7 лет и постоянными жителями штата, который они представляют.

8. Председателем Палаты Представителей является Спикер.

Ex. IV. Mind the English words and phrases with their Russian equivalents.

1. legislative powers	1. устанавливать юрисдикцию
2. investigative powers	2. законодательные полномочия
3. to enact legislation	3. лидер большинства
4. resident	4. не менее; по крайней мере
5. majority party	5. принять законодательство
6. majority leader	6. партия большинства
7. at least	7. постоянный житель
8. to determine one’s jurisdiction	8. следственные полномочия
9. to consent to	9. постоянный житель
10. with a two thirds vote	10. сроком на 6 лет
11. presiding officer	11. председатель Палаты Представителей
12. the Speaker of the House	12. председатель
13. lower federal court	13. внутренние дела
14. to pass a bill	14. давать согласие
15. extensive powers	15. отклонять
16. domestic affairs	16. нижестоящий федеральный суд
17. to oversee	17. амер. выбирать
18. to reject	18. обширные полномочия
19. commerce	19. получать заем; занимать деньги
20. to tax	20. облагать налогом или пошлиной
21. to borrow	21. расплачиваться по долгам
22. to organize	22. надзирать
23. for a term of six years	23. двумя третями голосов
24. to pay debts	24. торговля
25. substantial	25. существенный

Ex. V. Find the English equivalents for the words and word-combinations. Use them in the sentences of your own.

1. законодательная власть

2. осуществлять

3. предоставлять

4. принимать законы

5. утверждать

6. отклонять

7. следственные полномочия

8. давать разрешение

9. разбирать, рассматривать

10. председатель

11. партия большинства

12. лидер большинства

13. утверждать законопроект

14. обширные полномочия

15. внутренние дела

16. получать заем

17. надзирать

18. нижестоящий суд

Ex. VI. Complete the following sentences.

1. The Constitution grants Congress the authority …

2. Congress consists of …

3. The Senate is composed of …

4. Senators must be …

5. The Senate advises and consents to …

6. The House of Representatives is made up of …

7. The presiding officer of the House of Representatives is …

8. Members of the House of Representatives are elected …

9. Members of the House of Representatives must be …

10. The Senate and the House of Representatives are organized by …

11. Congress has extensive powers in domestic affairs, including …

12. Congress helps to establish and oversees …

Ex. VII. Will you tell about the legislative branch of power in the USA, please?

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