LESSON 10 PUBLIC LAW. CONSTITUTIONAL LAW

конституционное право; государственное право; конституционный закон; основной закон

rules to be obeyed

правила (нормы права), которым нужно подчиняться

authority

knowledge of the law constitutional law cases to be unconstitutional

the local authority illegitimate

the equality of individuals a formal written Constitution

to enable citizens to take legal ас- давать право гражданам применять судебный tion against the state a public иск против государства

государственная власть; орган государственной власти

знание права (закона) дела конституционного права быть неконституционным, противоречащим конституции

местная власть; орган местной власти незаконный; внебрачный; незаконнорожденный

равноправие (равенство] граждан (людей) • официальная писаная

конституция; конституция, написанная по всем правилам как законы долЛады how laws are to be made and en- издаваться и вы-

forced подняться т

to set a seven year term of office • устанавливать для президента

for the president семилет

ний срок пребывания в должности

специальное (необходимое)

ство голосов •

становиться слишком влиятельным •

контроль над правительством, обладающим большими полномочиями •

принцип разделения властей

болыпин-

a special majority vote

to become too powerful a check upon overpowerful government

the principle of separation of powers

policy formulation and direction (executive) functions ющие) и направляющие политику (исполнительные) ; 71 lawmaking (legislative) functions

functions of interpretation and application of the law (judicial) to carry out functions appointment of Supreme Court justices

to block important policies

to exempt a witness from answering a question to reveal one's own criminal guilt

case-law rulings

citizens rights a written constitution to overuse libel laws the flexibility of unwritten constitution to look liberal on the surface

to suffer from oppressive governments

to find ways to ignore constitutional rights

to require advance notice of peaceful protests

to obstruct other people to anticipate serious disruption of

community life public body judicial review an abuse of one's powers

nothing illegal checks and balances

-законотворческие (законодательные) функции -

функции толкования и применения за

кона (судебные) -

исполнять функции (обязанности) -

назначение судей верховного суда -

блокировать важные политические ре

шения (вопросы и т. д.) -

освобождать свидетеля от ответа на;

вопрос -

открывать (показывать) свою винов-.

ность в совершении преступле-; ния

-судебные решения прецедентного; права -

права граждан -

писаная конституция -

злоупотреблять законами о клевете -

гибкость неписаной конституции -

выглядеть либеральной на первый j

взгляд {на поверхности) -

страдать от притесняющих/угнетаю-:

щкх правительств j

находить пути, чтобы игнорировать! конституционные права -

требовать предварительного/заблагов- \

ременного уведомления о мирных протестах/демонстрациях мешать другим людям предвидеть серьезные разрушения, на-.

рушения в жизни общины государственный орган судебный контроль/надзор злоупотребление своими полномочиями; превышение своих полномочий

ничего противозаконного амер. система "сдержек и противовесов" INTRODUCTORY EXERCISES

Переведите на слух (рекомендуется для зрительно-устного и устного перевода на слух}: 1.

The United States is a federal union of 50 states. 2.

The Federal Constitution outlines the structure of the national government, its powers and activities. 3.

Other activities are the responsibility of the individual states, which have their own constitutions and laws. 4.

Each of the 50 states, for example, retains the right to run its own public school system, to decide on the qualification of its voters, to license its doctors, to police Its citizens, to maintain its roads. 5.

One of the unusual features of the American judicial system is the power of the courts to declare legislation unconstitutional and, therefore, void. 6.

Federal laws are unconstitutional if they are in excess of Congress's authority, or if they would infringe upon individual rights protected by the Constitution. 7.

State laws are unconstitutional if they conflict with federal laws or with that state's constitution. 8.

Probably the most significant and far-reaching portion of the Constitution is the Bill of Rights, comprising the first ten amendments to the Constitution. 9.

The first of these assures freedom of religion, speech, and the press and the right of peaceful assembly. 10.

The Forth, Fifth, Sixth, and Eighth Amendments protect persons suspected or accused of crimes. 11.

But they also protect the ordinary citizen from intrusion by the police and other government officials. 12.

Unreasonable searches and seizures of property are prohibited by the Forth. 13.

Evidence which is obtained from the unlawful search may not be used hi a criminal proceeding. 14.

The Fifth Amendment provides that no person shall be required to give evidence which would convict him of a crime; that no one may be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law; and that just compensation be given for property taken for public use, such as a school or highway, 15.

The Fifth Amendment stands as a barrier, protecting the people from the arbi trary exercise of governmental power. 16.

The Sixth Amendment assures a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury.

Найдите в теисте и переведите на слух: The state regulates the behavior of individuals; by providing rules to be obeyed; laws which enable citizens to take legal action against the state; a public authority; as knowledge of the law has increased; range of constitutional law cases; the equality of individuals; a formal written Constitution; how laws are to be made and enforced: the US Constitution sets a four year term; referenda are to be used; to put the constitution above other laws; from becoming too powerful; from interfering too much in the lives of individuals; policy formulation and direction; lawmaking; inter- j pretation and application of the law; these functions should be carried out; policy \ promises; control of the armed forces; appointment of Supreme Court justices; important policies blocked by Congress; the task of interpreting Jaws; in keeping with the Constitution.

/1 Переведите устно

"(рекомендуется для зрительно-устного перевода "слиста" с подготовкой или без подготовки):

Constitutional law

J

We considered how the state regulates the behavior of individuals in society by \ providing rules to be obeyed (criminal law) and procedures for them to solve disputes among each cither (civil law). There are also laws which enable citizens toi take legal action against the state - against, for example, a public authority or | even against the government itself. These actions are part of constitutional Jaw,

As knowledge of the law has increased among the general public, so have the number and range of constitutional law cases. In 1991, an unmarried couple complained in the Tokyo District Court that it was unconstitutional for the local authority to register their daughter as illegitimate. They said this could lead to discrimination and was against the equality of individuals guaranteed in the Japanese Constitution.

A constitution is the political and ideological structure within which a system of laws operates. Most countries have a formal written Constitution describing bow laws are to be made and enforced. The French Constitution, for example, sets a seven year term of office for the president; the U.S. constitution sets a four year term. In Switzerland, a referendum (national vote) must be held on any issue for which a petition signed by 10,000 people has been gathered; in Ireland, referenda are to be used only in the case of changes in the constitution itself. In Germany, a change in the constitution requires a special majority vote in parlfamenl, not the simple majority necessary for other laws. Many other countries put the constitution above other laws by making it difficult to change.

One of the reasons for having special constitutional laws is to prevent governments from becoming too powerful and from interfering too much in the lives of individuals.

As a check, upon over powerful government most modern constitutions have adopted the principle of separation of powers, developed in the 18"1 century by the French political philosopher Montesquieu. Montesquieu argued that the functions of the state could be divided into policy formulation and direction (executive), - lawmaking (legislative), and interpreta- tion and application of the law (judicial). To stop governments from becoming too powerful these functions should be carried out by separate institutions, and there should be a balance between them. In the United States, for example, the president (executive) is elected by the people and attempts to carry out his policy promises through a presidential office of advisers. The Constitution gives him many important powers, such as control of the armed forces and appointment of Supreme Court justices, but many of his decisions and all new legislation must be approved by a majority in Congress (legislature), which is also elected by the people. Many presidents have had important policies blocked by Congress. The Supreme Court (judiciary) has the task of interpreting laws which have been disputed in lower courts, and of deciding whether a law passed by Congress or by one of the individual states is in keeping with the Constitution.

Переведите вопросы к тексту и ответьте на них: 1.

Как государство регулирует поведение граждан в обществе? 2.

Какие действия являются частью конституционного права? 3.

Почему увеличилось количество дел конституционного права? 4.

Что представляет собой конституция? 5.

Какие конституции имеются в большинстве стран? 6.

Кто и когда разработал принцип разделения властей? 7.

Как Монтескье предложил разделить функции власти в стране? 3. Каким образом закреплено разделение властей в США?

COMVENTARY

При переводе текстов с английского языка можно заметить, что написание одних и тех же слов в британских (английских) и американских текстах отличается:

написание англиигхпр

американское behavior.

counsellor

judgment

behaviour counselor judgement

:tiae ugh

honor

defense

offense

practice

thru

honour defence offence

Эти особенности следует учитывать при переводе с русского языка на английский и не использовать разное написание слов в одном тексте, а при устном переводе придерживаться одного произношения: американского или британского [английского).

Л Переведите устно и письменно (рекомендуется

^для зрительно-устного и зрительно*пмсьменного перевода):