Before you read

Discuss these questions with your partner.

1. What do you know about the political system in Russia?

2. What form of government did Russia have before the revolution of 1917?

3. What do you know about the USSR?

Text 2 A

The Political System in Russia

The Russian Federation is a democratic federative State with a republican form of government.

The Russian Federation consists of 83 constituent entities. Each entity has its own constitution, legislation or charter.

According to the Constitution the powers of government are divided into 3 branches: the legislative, the executive and the judicial.

The state power in the Russian Federation is exercised by the President of the Russian Federation, the Federal Assembly (the Council of the Federation and the State Duma), the Government of the Russian Federation, and the courts of the Russian Federation.

The Constitution of the Russian Federation has the supreme juridical force, direct action and is used on the whole territory of the Russian Federation. Laws and other legal acts adopted in the Russian Federation should not contradict the Constitution of the Russian Federation.

The universally-recognized norms of international law and international treaties and agreements of the Russian Federation are a component part of its legal system.

The President of the Russian Federation is the head of the State and he determines the guidelines of the internal and foreign policies of the State. The President is elected for a term of four years by citizens of the Russian Federation on the basis of universal, equal, direct vote and he cannot serve more than two consecutive terms. From 2012 the President is to be elected for a term of six years.

The President is the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and he appoints and dismisses the supreme commanders of the Armed Forces. The President can veto legislative bills, resolves issues of citizenship of the Russian Federation, award state decorations and grants pardons.

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

1. How many constituent entities does the Russian Federation consist of?

2. What branches are the powers of government divided into in the Russian Federation?

3. How is the state power exercised in the Russian Federation?

4. What do you know about the Constitution of the Russian Federation?

5. Who is the head of the Russian Federation?

6. What term is the President of the Russian Federation elected for?

7. How is the President of the Russian Federation elected?

8. What are the functions of the President of the Russian Federation?

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

1. to determine the guidelines	1. внести изменения
2. the internal policy	2. правовая система
3. the foreign policy	3. устав
4. the legal system	4. высшая юридическая сила
5. to amend	5. противоречить Конституции
6. international treaties and agreements	6. налагать вето на законопроекты
7. the supreme juridical force	7. осуществлять помилование
8. the legal act	8. два последовательных срока
9. to contradict the Constitution	9. определять основные направления
10. the charter	10. присуждать государственные награды
11. two consecutive terms	11. внешняя политика
12. to veto legislative bills	12. международные договоры и соглашения
13. to resolve issues of citizenship	13. главнокомандующий Вооруженными силами
14. to award state decorations	14. решать вопросы о гражданстве
15. to grant pardons	15. внутренняя политика
16. the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces	16. правовой акт

Ex.III. Find English equivalents in the text.

1. Российская Федерация состоит 83 субъектов федерации.

2. Каждая республика имеет свою конституцию и законодательство. Край, область, город федерального значения, автономная область, автономный округ имеет свой устав и законодательство.

3. Согласно конституции полномочия управления разделены на 3 ветви власти: законодательную, исполнительную и судебную.

4. Конституция Российской Федерации имеет высшую юридическую силу, прямое действие и применяется на всей территории Российской Федерации.

5. Законы и иные правовые акты, принимаемые в Российской Федерации, не должны противоречить Конституции Российской Федерации.

6. Президент Российской Федерации избирается на четыре года гражданами Российской Федерации на основе всеобщего равного и прямого избирательного права при тайном голосовании.

7. Одно и то же лицо не может занимать должность Президента Российской Федерации более двух сроков подряд.

8. Президент Российской Федерации определяет основные направления внутренней и внешней политики государства.

Ex. IV. Will you tell about the Political system of Russia, please?

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