Once MPs take their seats in parliament their most important job is to make legislation. Every year parliament passes about a hundred laws directly, by making Acts of Parliament.
New legislation in Britain usually starts in the House of Lords. Any new law can be passed only when it has completed a number of stages in the House of Commons and in the House of Lords. Before a Bill can go through all its stages in parliament it has to be written down or drafted. The Bill has to be exact, so that no misunderstanding can occur and so it can be understood by as many people as possible.
First and second readings. In the days before printing, the only way MPs could find out what a Bill contained was by having the contents read out to them. The first reading lets MPs known that the Bill is coming up for discussion. There is no voting at this stage. The second reading explains the purpose of the Bill, and the House has to vote on it. If the House votes for the Bill it proceeds to the Committee stage.
The Committee stage. This involves a small group – or committee- of about 18MPs looking in detail at the Bill and suggesting amendments. This stage is present because of time limits in the House of Commons.
The Report stage. Now the House of Commons is told what the Committee decided.
Third reading. The Bill then goes to the third reading, which gives the House of Commons a chance to look again at the Bill as a whole.
Consideration by the House of Lords. Once it has passed its third reading, the Bill is carried to the House of Lords. This second chamber can be very useful; a different group of people can often see something in a different way. The House of Lords has time to examine Bills and make amendments.
The Royal Assent. If the Bill passes this process, it is automatically given the Royal Assent. If the Houses are unable to agree on the Bill, the Commons can reintroduce the Bill the following year and the Lords have to accept it.
II. Ответьте на вопросы.
1. Where does new legislation normally start in Britain?
2. How can a new law be passed?
3. When does the House have to vote on the Bill?
4. How many MPs are in the Committee group?
5. Which chamber can make amendments to the Bill?
III. Прочитайте следующие утверждения и решите, какие из них правильные, какие –нет.
1. A new law can be passed only if it has completed the Reading stages.
2. The Bill must be drafted before it can go through all its stages.
3. The First Reading implies voting.
4. Committee members can suggest amendments.
5. The Bill is hardly ever considered by the House of Lords.
IV. Подберите к следующим словам и словосочетаниям правильный русский перевод
| 1. proceed to | a. вновь вносить на рассмотрение |
| 2. come up for discussion | b. принять закон |
| 3. see something in a different way | c. взглянуть по-другому |
| 4. reintroduce | d. перейти к |
| 5. accept a bill | e. стать предметом обсуждения |
V. Поставьте глаголы, данные в скобках, в соответствующем времени и переведите предложения на русский язык.
1. The law … (to enable) us to go out in daylight without fear of being robbed, kidnapped or murdered.
2. The jury … (to find) the defendant guilty of stealing.
3. US Attorneys … (to appoint) by the President.
4. The number of British solicitors … (to grow) nowadays.
5. Next week Mr. Richardson … (to present) our case in the court.
VI. Вставьте подходящие по смыслу слова или словосочетания в предложения.
1. Every year parliament passes about a … laws by making Acts of Parliament.
2. Before a … can go through all its stages in parliament it has to be written down or drafted.
3. The second reading explains … of the Bill, and the House has to vote on it.
4. The House of Lords has time to examine Bills and make ….
5. If the Houses are unable … on the Bill, the Commons can reintroduce the Bill the following year and the Lords have to accept it.
ВАРИАНТ 5
I. Прочитайте и письменно переведите текст.
US POLITICAL SYSTEM
The USA is a presidential republic. Supreme legislative power lies with Congress which consists of a Senate or upper House and a House of Representatives. The Senate is composed of 100 members, two from each state who are elected for a term of 6 years. One-third of the Senate is elected every 2 years. The House of Representatives has representatives from each state depending on population, but every state no matter how small it is, has at least one representative in the chamber.
Both Senators and Representatives must be residents of the State from which they were chosen. In addition, a Senator must be at least 30 years old and a citizen of the USA for at least 9 years.
The presiding officer of the Senate is the Vice-President of the USA. The presiding officer of the House of Representatives, the Speaker, is elected by the House. The work of preparing and considering laws is done by the committees of both Houses. There are 15 standing committees in the Senate and 19 in the House of Representatives.
The Congress assembles at least once a year.
The executive branch of the government consists of the President, the Vice-President and the Cabinet. The President’s term of office is four years, together with the Vice-President, chosen for the same term. The President is the head of the executive branch of the government; he appoints the members of the Cabinet. The Cabinet advises the President on many matters and is composed of the heads of ten executive departments: Secretary of State, Secretary of the Treasury, Secretary of Defense and others. There are 15 standing committees in the Senate and 19 in the House of Representatives.
The judicial branch of the government is headed by the Supreme Court which settles disputes between the states. The Supreme Court may veto any law passed by the Congress if it contradicts the Constitution of the USA.
II. Ответьте на вопросы.
1. What organ exercises supreme legislative power in the USA?
2. How many Senate members are elected for 6 years?
3. What does a number of representatives to the House of Representatives depend on?
4. Who performs functions of the government executive branch?
5. What is the highest judicial body in the USA?