I. Read the text and answer in writing the questions that follow.

The State System of Belarus

1. The Republic of Belarus is a unitary democratic social law-governed state. In conformity with the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus the only source of state power is the people who exercise it directly and through representative bodies. Assuring the rights and freedoms of the citizens is the supreme objective of the state.

2. Belarus is a presidential republic. The President of the Republic of Belarus is the head of state, the guarantor of the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus, the rights and liberties of man and citizen. The Fundamental Law of the Republic of Belarus establishes the requirements to the candidate for Presidency: citizenship of the Republic of Belarus, not younger than 35 years of age, having the right to vote, and having permanent residence in the Republic of Belarus for at least ten years before the election.

3. The Constitution approved the principle of division of power into legislative, executive and judicial powers. The supreme representative and legislative body is Parliament, the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus. Parliament consists of two chambers, the Chamber of Representatives and the Council of the Republic. Sittings of the chambers are held separately. Each Chamber elects its own Chairman and Vice-Chairmen who run the sittings and manage the internal regulations in conformity with the Constitution.

4. The House of Representatives consists of 110 deputies elected on the basis of universal, free, equal and direct suffrage, by secret ballot. A deputy of the House of Representatives must be a citizen of the Republic of Belarus who has reached the age of 21. The House of Representatives appoints elections and accepts the dismissal of the President.

5. The Council of the Republic is the chamber of territorial representation. In each region and in the city of Minsk 8 members of the Council of the Republic are elected at sittings of deputies by secret ballot. Eight members of the Council of the Republic are appointed by the President of the Republic of Belarus. A deputy of the Council of the Republic must be a citizen of the Republic of Belarus who has reached the age of 30 and has lived in the territory of the corresponding region (oblast) or the city of Minsk no less than 5 years. The Council of the Republic may cancel the decisions of local Councils of Deputies, which run contrary to the legislation.

6. The Executive power in the Republic of Belarus belongs to the President of the Republic of Belarus and to the Government, i.e., the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus headed by the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister is appointed by the President with the consent of the House of Representatives. The Prime Minister holds personal responsibility for the Government’s activity. In its activity, the Government is accountable to the President and responsible to Parliament.

7. Local government and self-government are exercised by citizens through local Councils of Deputies, executive and administrative bodies, bodies of territorial civil self-government, local referendums, meetings and other forms of direct participation in state and public affairs. The local Councils of Deputies are representative bodies of state power in the territory of the respective territorial administrative units and the main bodies of self-management.

8. The judicial power in the Republic of Belarus belongs to courts. In administering justice judges are independent and obey the law only. Interference into the activity of judges engaged in judicature is prohibited and punishable by the law. Control over the constitutionality of regulatory acts in the state is exercised by the Constitutional Court.

9. Supervision over precise and uniform execution of laws by all bodies of state government, local representative and executive bodies and artificial and natural persons is executed by the Procurator General of the Republic of Belarus.

 

1. What chambers does Belarusian Parliament consist of?

2. How many deputies are there in the House of Representatives? In what way are they elected?

3. What are the main functions of the Government?

4. What are the main functions of Parliament?

 

II. Translate in writing pharagraphs 2, 6.

 

III. Use the proper form of the verbs in the Active Voice. Translate the sentences.

 

1. Don’t sign anything until you (consult) a lawyer.

2. All the students will have their practice when they (be) in the third year.

3. The Law Department of the University (train) future investigators for all regions of Belarus.

4. Recently the government (appoint) the members of the Supreme Court.

5. Read this article about the American Constitution while I (do) the translation.

6. I think I (visit) lots of faccinating places in England and (see) a lot of interesting places in London by the time my holiday (be) over.

7. Next week John (leave) for Oxford to visit his sister, who he (not see) for a year since she (go) to study.

 

IV. Use the proper form of the verbs in the Passive Voice.

 

1. His guilt (establish) by the police lately.

2. We won’t make and contract until its provisions (study) carefully.

3. Many consumer protection laws (pass) by Congress not long ago.

4. Law (study) by all American judges and they (license) to practice law.

5. The latest robbery (investigate) by the police office now.

6. The laws (make) by Parliament, and (interpret) and (apply) by law courts.

7. Common Law is fundamentally judge-made law, which (develop) over many centuries.

 

V. Paraphrase the sentences starting with the given words.

 

1. Americans celebrate July, 4 as a national holiday.

July, 4 …

2. The speaker will give you a chance to explain all the details of the matter.

You …

3. The politicalc situation in the country greatly influenced the decision of the committee.

The decision of the committee …

4. The Cabinet is considering new projects.

New projects …

5. The Liberal party has niminated its candidates to stand for Parliament.

The candidates …

VI. Use the most suitable modal verb: can, must, may, be to, have to, should.

 

1. Any Public Bill passed by the Commons in two successive parliamentary sessions ________ be presented for the Royal Assent.

2. The Lords _________ only delay the passage of a Public Bill, they _______ not reject it.

3. When Cabinet policy has been decided an individual minister _________ either support it or resign.

4. The Committee _________ continue the discussion of the bill.

5. In many countries citizens ________ take part in the elections whether they want it or not.

6. A Bill improving taxation or spemding public money _______ depend on resolution of the House of Commons.

VII. Complete the sentences applying the rules of sequence of tenses.

1. My mother said that if I (take) a warm bath just before I (go) to bed, I (feel) much better soon.

2. The teacher warned the boy that he (fail) his English exam if he (not work).

3. My parents said to me that by the end of the month the Post Office (send) us a bill which we (not be able) to pay because I (talk) on the phone for hours every day.

4. My sister asked me when my guests (come) the next day and if I (be going) to cook the Sanday dinner. I answered that we (decide) to go to the restaurant.

5. The teacher said that we (must) be careful because even if we (make) any mistakes, she (not give) us any additional time to correct them.

6. He knew if he (fail) to convince the appellant court, the judgement of the lower court (affirm) and (compel) to comply with its secisions.

 

VIII. Write down the following sentences in the Indirect Speech.

 

1. “I cannot get into the house because I lost my key, so I have to break a window,” he said.

2. "Do you know that the shoes you are wearing aren't a pair?" I asked him.

3. “Don't forget to thank Mrs Jones when you are saying good bye to her", said his mother.

4. "What was she wearing when you saw her last?" the po­liceman asked me.

5. “Bill will do very well at the university, Mrs Dereck,” said the headmaster, “He’s done very well here.”

6. "Remember to switch off when you've finished", he said.

 

 

TEST II