The Executive Power

Text 8 A

Before you read

Discuss these questions with your partner.

1. Whom does the executive power belong to in the USA?

2. What are the duties of the President?

The executive branch of the government consists of the President, the Vice-President and the Cabinet.

The power of the Executive branch is vested in the President of the United States who acts both the head of state and head of government, and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. He is responsible for implementing and enforcing the laws written by Congress and he appoints the heads of the federal agencies, including the Cabinet. The President has the power either to sign legislation into law or to veto bills enacted by Congress.

The Cabinet and independent federal agencies take charge of the day-to-day enforcement and administration of federal laws. The Cabinet advises the President on many matters and is composed of the heads of 15 executive departments: Secretary of State, Secretary of Treasure, Secretary of Defense and others.

The power to appoint executive branch officials and federal judges, including the members of Supreme Court, is shared with Congress. The President has the power to nominate persons to fill those positions but the Senate has the right to approve or disapprove of the persons nominated. The President is also responsible for negotiating treaties with other nations. In addition the president is given the power to pardon people convicted of crimes, to send and receive ambassadors to and from countries.

The President is elected separately from Congress and cannot be removed from office by a vote of no confidence. According to the Constitution a president’s office is limited to two terms of 4 years each. It also describes how a president can be removed from office (impeachment procedure). The President can be impeached if he commits crimes in office. To be removed from office a majority of the House of Representatives and two-thirds of the Senate must approve.

The primary responsibility of the Vice-President of the United States is to be ready to assume the Presidency if the President is unable to perform his duties. This can be because of the President's death, resignation, or temporary incapacitation. The Vice-President of the United States serves as the President of the Senate. He cannot take part in the debates. He can vote only if the two opposing sides have equal votes. It is called a tie. In this case the President of the Senate casts the decisive vote.

The federal entity created by the Constitution is the dominant feature of the American governmental system. There are fifty states and Washington D.C. In every state the executive branch is headed by a governor who is directly elected by the people.

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

1. Who represents the executive power in the USA?

2. What are the duties of the Cabinet?

3. What is the President responsible for?

4. What is the primary responsibility of the Vice-President of the USA?

5. Who serves as the President of the Senate?

6. What is called a tie?

7. What is the dominant feature of the American governmental system?

8. Who is at the head of the executive branch in every state?

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

1. The power of the Executive power is vested in the President of the United States.

2. The Congress is responsible for implementing and enforcing the laws.

3. The Cabinet is composed of the heads of 12 executive departments.

4. The Congress, the Supreme Court and the President all have power. Each of them limits the power of others.

5. The Senate doesn’t have the right to approve or disapprove of the persons nominated by the President.

6. The president can be removed from office by a vote of no confidence.

7. The President can be impeached if he commits crimes in office.

8. The Vice-President of the United States serves as the President of the Senate.

9. The Constitutions of the various states differ in some details but generally follow a pattern similar to that of the federal Constitution.

10. In every state the executive branch is headed by a governor.

Ex. III. Find English equivalents in the text.

1. Президент США наделен полномочиями исполнительной власти.

2. Исполнительная власть правительства состоит из президента и кабинета министров.

3. Президент США является как главой государства, так и Верховным Главнокомандующим Вооруженными Силами США.

4. Право назначать чиновников исполнительной власти и федеральных судей, включая членов Верховного Суда, разделяется с Конгрессом.

5. Кабинет министров дает президенту рекомендации по многим вопросам.

6. Выборы президента проходят отдельно от выборов в Конгресс.

7. В соответствии с Конституцией пребывание в должности президента ограничено двумя сроками.

8. Вице-президент США выполняет функции Председателя Сената.

9. Субъект федерации, созданный Конституцией, является характерной чертой государственной системы Америки.

10. В каждом штате исполнительная ветвь власти возглавляется губернатором, который избирается народным голосованием.

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

1. to be responsible for	1. чиновник исполнительной власти
2. to advise	2. состоять из
3. executive department	3. государственный секретарь
4. Secretary of State	4. министр обороны
5. Secretary of the Treasury	5. отвечать за
6. Secretary of Defense	6. министр финансов
7. executive branch official	7. основная обязанность
8. to fill a position	8. выполнять обязанности
9. to create	9. принимать на себя (ответственность, обязанность, власть)
10. to cast a decisive vote	10. отдельно
11. temporary	11. ограничение право- и/или дееспособности
12. primary responsibility	12. занимать (должность, вакансию)
13. to perform one’s duties	13. подавать решающий голос
14. to enact	14. подписать и тем самым придать силу закона
15. to assume	15. вотум недоверия
16. to sign into law	16. принимать (закон)
17. incapacitation	17. временный
18. to be composed of	18. одобрять
19. a vote of no confidence	19. советовать, консультировать
20. separately	20. министерство
21. to vest	21. создавать
22. to approve	22. субъект федерации
23. federal entity	23. наделять властью

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

1. исполнительная власть

2. наделять властью

3. нести ответственность за что-либо

4. назначать

5. федеральный орган (служба)

6. применение норм права

7. государственный секретарь

8. министр финансов

9. министр обороны

10. одобрять, утверждать

11. осудить, признать виновным

12. помиловать

13. принимать (закон)

14. вотум недоверия

15. разделение голосов поровну

16. подавать решающий голос

17. подписать и тем самым придать силу закона

Ex. VI. Complete the following sentences.

1. The executive branch of the government consists of …

2. The power of the Executive power is vested in …

3. The President is responsible for …

4. The Cabinet advises …

5. The President is elected …

6. According to the Constitution a president’s office is limited to …

7. The primary responsibility of the Vice President of the United States is …

8. The Vice-President of the United States serves …

9. The President of the Senate casts the decisive vote if …

10. The federal entity created by the Constitution is …

11. In every state the executive branch is headed by …

Ex.VII. Will you tell us about the duties of the President /the Cabinet?

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