1. The Political System of the USA
The American political system is generally described as a constitutional democracy.
Under the Constitution, the federal government is divided into three branches.
The legislative power is vested in the Congress and made up of two houses: the Senate
and the House of Representatives. There are 435 members in the House of Representatives
and 100 senators in the Senate. Each state elects two members every two years for a six-year
term to the 100-member Senate. A senator must be 30 years old, 9 years a citizen and an
inhabitant of the state, which elects him. A representative must be 25, a US citizen and live in
the state from which he is elected. The Congress makes laws, controls finances (foreign and
domestic spending).
The executive branch is headed by the President, who proposes bills to the
Congress, enforces federal laws, controls foreign policy, serves as Commander-in-
Chief of the Armed Forces and with the approval of the Senate, makes treaties and
appoints secretaries (ministers). President can veto a bill unless Congress by a two-
thirds vote shall overrule it. The President is chosen in nation-wide elections every 4 years
together with the Vice-President. A US president must be 35 or older, a US citizen born in the
USA and have lived in the USA at least 14 years. He can only serve two terms. Before 1951 the
law was different, that's why Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected 4 times.
The Vice-President, elected from the same political party as the President, acts as
Chairman of the Senate, and takes President's office if President is unable to finish his term.
The judicial branch is made up of Federal District Courts, 11 Federal Courts and the
Supreme Court. Nine Federal judges are appointed by the President for life. Federal courts
decide cases involving federal law, and conflicts between citizens of different states. The
Supreme Court interprets constitution, tests laws and may rule the law to be unconstitutional.
No veto is possible.
In principle, these branches are independent and maintain a balance of power. In
practice, they sometimes come into conflict and can exercise more or less power than
originally intended.
The work of the national or federal government is also distributed among various
departments, such as the Department of State, Defense, Labour, Interior, or Education.
There are two main political parties in the US, the Republican Party (the Elephant)
and the Democratic Party (the Donkey). The Republicans tend to be more conservative
and have more support among the upper classes. The Democrats tend to be more
liberal and to have more support among the working classes.
The Constitution of the USA
The Constitution of the USA is the central instrument of American government and
the supreme law of the land. For 200 years, it has guided the evolution of governmental
institutions and has provided the basis for political stability, individual freedom,
economic growth and social progress. Its fundamental principles continue to guide the
nation and its people.
It began to function in 1789. The American Constitution is the world's oldest
written constitution in force, one that has served as the model for a number of other
constitutions around the world.
The US Constitution establishes a division of power and authority between the
states and the federal government.
The Constitution's first 10 amendments, known as the Bill of Rights (adopted in
1791), enumerate certain "unalienable" rights that belong to every person, among them
freedom of religion, of speech and of press.

2. Presidents of the USA
Learn the new words:
 To be elected – быть избранным; elector – выборщик, избиратель
 Election – избрание (голосованием); nationwide election campaign –
избирательная кампания в масштабе всей страны
 Polls – избирательный пункт; ballot – избирательный бюллетень
 To vote one's choice – проголосовать за своего избранника
 To be appointed – быть назначенным
 Inauguration – официальное вступление в должность
 To serve a term – отслужить срок
 Corrupt administration – продажная администрация
 Impeachment – обвинение, процедура привлечения к суду высших
должностных лиц государства
 To resign the office – уходить в отставку
 To be assassinated – быть убитым; assassin – убийца; assassination –
убийство.
The President of the USA
Do you want to be president of the USA? Maybe you can apply for the job. Answer
these three questions. Are you a U.S. citizen? Are you 35 years old or older? Have you
been a resident of the U.S. for 14 years or longer? Did you say "yes" to all three
questions? Then you can take the first steps to the White House.
You become president for a term. A term is 4 years. You can only serve two terms.
This means that you can only be president twice. This became law in 1951. Before that,
the law was different. In fact, Franklin D. Roosevelt became president in 1933. He was still
president when he died in 1945. He was president for twelve years. No one was president
longer than he was.
As president of the U.S., you earn $200,000 a year. You also get an extra 450,000 for
expenses, tax-free. You have your own limousine, jet, and housekeepers, all free. You
also live rent free, in the White House in Washington, D.C. And you are head of the richest
country in the world.
Presidents of the United States are very different people. Twenty-two were lawyers,
four soldiers, four farmers, four teachers, two writers, two businessmen, one tailor, and
one actor. Eight of them did not have a college education! The most common first name
for a president is James or some variation of it.
I. Из нижеперечисленных слов найдите слова, подходящие по смыслу
выделенным словам.
Term, earn, resident, a limousine, serve, U.S. citizen, expenses, in fact
1. To be president, you must be a person who lives in the USA for 14 years.
2. To be president, you must be a person whose country is the U.S.
3. You become president for a fixed period of time.
4. A president can only work for two terms.
5. When you are a president, you make $200,000 a year.
6. You also get $50,000 for money to pay for other things you need.
7. As president, you get free use of an expensive car with a driver.
8. Before 1951, you could be president for more than eight years. In truth,
F.D. Roosevelt was president for 12 years.
II. Найдите правильные ответы.
1. You can be president for … .
a. a term b. twelve years c. two terms of four years.
2. How many presidents were lawyers?
a. 2 b. 4 c. 22
III. Найдите неверное слово в каждом предложении и замените его на
верное.
1. To be president, you must be forty-five years old or older.
2. To be president, you must be a lawyer in the U.S. for 14 years.
3. A term is 8 years.
4. Franklin D. Roosevelt was president for two terms.
5. Eight presidents did not have a teacher education.

3. 6. As president, you are the businessman of the richest country in the
world.