Congress

Congress, the legislative branch of the federal government, is made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives. There are 100 Senators, two from each state. One third of the Senators are elected every two years for six-year terms of office. The Senators represent all of the people in a state and their interests.

The House has 435 members. They are elected every two years two-year terms. They represent the population of “congressional districts” into which each state is divided. The number of Representatives from each state is based upon its population. For instance, California, the state with the largest population, has 45 Representatives, while Delaware has one. There is no limit to the number of terms a Senator or a Representative may serve.

Almost all elections in the United States follow the “winner-take-all” principle: the candidate who wins the largest number of votes in a Congressional district is the winner.

Congress makes all laws, and each house of Congress has the power to introduce legislation. Each can also vote against legislation passed by the other. Because legislation only becomes law if both houses agree, compromise between them is necessary. Congress decides upon taxes and how money is spent. In addition, it regulates commerce among the states and with foreign countries. It also sets rules for the naturalization of foreign citizens.

Task 1

Study the following words and expressions and memorize them:

the Senate ['senit] – сенат

Representative [¸ repri'zent∂ tiv] – представитель, делегат

Population [¸ popju'lei∫ ∂ n] – население

To divide [di'vaid] – делить

To base ['beis] – базировать, основывать

California [¸ kæ li'fo: nj∂ ] – Калифорния

Delaware ['del∂ wε ∂ ] – Делавер

Limit ['limit] – ограничение, предел

To serve ['s∂: v] – служить

To follow ['fol∂ u] – следовать чему-либо

Candidate ['kæ ndidit] – кандидат

To make laws ['lo: z] – издавать законы

To introduce legislation [intr∂ 'dju: s ¸ ledзis'lei∫ ∂ n] – вносить законопроект на рассмотрение

Tax ['tæ ks] – налог, пошлина

Commerce ['kom∂: s] – торговля, общение

Naturalization [¸ næ t∫ r∂ lai'zei∫ ∂ n] – натурализация, устройство

Task 2

Read the text.

Task 3

Do the following exercises on the text.

Exercise 1. Find English equivalents for the words below.

q законодательная речь

q сенатор

q 6-летний срок службы

q каждые два года

q избирательный округ

q базируется на

q выборы

q набирать наибольшее количество голосов

q голосовать против законопроекта

q если обе палаты согласны

q устанавливать размеры налогов

q регулировать отношения между штатами

q устройство иностранных граждан

Exercise 2. Give English equivalents in brackets.

1. Congress is made up of (Сенат) and (Палата представителей).

2. Each (сенатор) is elected for six years and each (представитель) for two years, with no limitation on the number of (сроков).

3. Almost all elections (следуют) the (победитель получает все) principle.

4. Each (палата) of (Конгресс) has the (полномочия) to introduce (законопроект).

5. Legislation only (становится законом) if (компромисс) between two houses is found.

6. Congress decides upon (налоги), (регулирует) commerce among the states and (устанавливает правила) for the (устройство) of foreign citizens.

Exercise 3. Find sentences with Passive Voice and translate them.

Exercise 4. Agree or disagree with the following statements.

1. The executive power is exercised by Congress.

2. The number of Representatives from each state depends on its population.

3. A Senator or a Representative may serve only one term.

4. Only the Senate has the power to introduce legislation.

5. The only function of Congress is regulating commerce among the states.

Exercise 5. Answer the questions on the text.

1. What power of the government does Congress exercise?

2. What Houses does Congress consist of?

3. How are the Senators and Representatives elected?

4. What do the Senators represent?

5. How many terms may a Senator or a Representative serve?

6. What candidate wins in the election?

7. What are the functions of Congress?

Exercise 6. Put questions to get these answers.

1. Each state is divided into “congressional districts”.

2. Almost all elections follow the “winner-take-all” principle.

3. Legislation becomes law if both Houses agree.

4. The House of Representatives has 435 members.

Exercise 7. Compose a plan.

Exercise 8. Retell the text.

UNIT 5