Unit 3 EUROPEAN COURTS AND INSTITUTIONS

1. Read and translate the following texts:
The European Union (EU)
This is a group of European nations that form a single economic community and have agreed on social and political cooperation. There are currently 25 member states. The Union has a Parliament and a main executive body called the
European Commission (which is made up of members nominated by each member state).
The Council of Europe
This is one of the four bodies which form the basis of the European Union. The Council does not have fixed members, but the member states are each represented by the relevant government minister. The Council is headed by a President, and
the Presidency rotates among the member states in alphabetical order, each serving a six-month period. This means that in effect each member can control the agenda of the Council, and therefore that of the European Union during their six-month period, and can try to get as many of its proposals put into legislation as it can.
The European Convention on Human Rights
This is a convention signed by all members of the Council of Europe covering the rights and fundamental freedoms of all its citizens, and aims to prevent violations and breaches of human rights. The convention recognises property rights, the right
of citizens to privacy, the due process of law and the principle of legal review or appeal. The key provisions are now incorporated by the Human Rights Act of 1998, which came into force in the United Kingdom in October 2000.
The European Court of Human Rights
This is a court that considers the rights of citizens of states which are parties to the European Convention for the protection of human rights, and has jurisdiction over cases that cannot be settled by the European Commission of Human Rights (see below). It protects many basic rights, including the right to life, freedom from fear, freedom from torture, freedom of speech, freedom of religious worship, freedom of assembly and association, etc (in fact, most of the articles in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, on which the European Convention is based). Its formal name is the European Court for the Protection of Human Rights.
The European Commission of Human Rights
This is a body which investigates any breaches and abuses of the European Convention on Human Rights. It attempts to end grievances, especially if they contravene the articles detailed in the European Convention, and to help aggrieved
parties reach a settlement without recourse to the European Court of Human Rights (see above).
The European Court of Justice (the ECJ)
This is a court set up to see that the principles of law as laid out in the Treaty of Rome are observed and applied correctly in the European Union, and has jurisdiction over issues of European Law. Its full name is the Court of Justice of the European Communities. The Court is responsible for settling disputes relating to European Union law, and also acting as a last Court of Appeal against judgementsin individual member states.
Court judges in the ECJ are appointed by the governments of the member states for a period of six years. These judges come from all the member states, and bring with them the legal traditions of each state. The court can either meet as a full
court, or in chambers where only two or three judges are present. The court normally conducts its business in French, although if an action is brought before the court by or against a member state, the member state can choose the language
in which the case will be heard. The court can hear actions against institutions, or actions brought either by the Commission or by a member state against another member state. The court also acts as Court of Appeal for appeals from
the Court of First Instance (CFI). The court also interprets legislation and as such acts in a semi-legislative capacity.

2. Make collocations:

3. Match organizations with their descriptions:

4. Say whether the statements are true or false:

1.The European Union has a Parliament and a main executive body called theEuropean Convention.

2. The Council of Europeis headed by a President.

3. The European Court of Justicerecognises property rights, the rightof citizens to privacy, the due process of law and the principle of legal review or appeal.

4. The European Convention is based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

5. Court judges in the ECJ are appointed by the governments of the member states for a period of six months.

6. The ECJ can hear actions against institutions, or actions brought either by the Commission or by a member state against another member state

5. Look at the underlined word combinations in the text and find out their grammatical meaning. Look through the text and pick out more examples of this grammatical construction.

6. Rewrite the sentences using the Passive Voice:

Model:
Sometimes people break laws.
Laws are sometimes broken by people.
1. Police investigate crimes.
2. The State Duma makes laws.
3. Courts resolve disputes.
4. Police arrested a criminal yesterday.
5. The Parliament passed that law last year.

6. Magistrate’s courts hear criminal cases.

7. President appointed the Prime Minister.

7. Read this excerpt from a law blog.