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The state power system in Russia



In 1992 – after the Soviet Union broke up – Russia established a temporary government headed by Boris N. Yeltsin. He had been elected president of the R.S.F.S.R. in 1991. After the break-up of the Soviet Union, Yeltsin continued to serve as president of Russia. In December 1993, Russia adopted a new constitution that established a permanent government.

Russia is a democratic federative state based on the rule of law and a republican form of government. State power in Russia is exercised by the President, the Federal Assembly, the Government and the courts.

One of the basic principles of constitutional government is the division of powers. According to this principle power must be divided among the legislative, executive and judicial branches. It requires a clear delineation and a system of checks and balances so that each power can offset the others.

The president of Russia is the chief executive, head of state and the most powerful official. The president is elected by the people to serve a six-year term. The president appoints a prime minister to serve as the head of government. The prime minister is the top-ranking official of a Council of Ministers.

Legally, the President is distanced from all the branches of power, but he is closer to the executive branch. He has the specific constitutional powers as the head of state. The form of government in Russia has some particularities. The party with the majority in parliament could form the government, but the government does not have to be formed according to this principle.

The constitution gives the President a number of powers to influence government’s work. They include approving the structure of the federal executive bodies of power, appointing deputy prime ministers and ministers, the right to preside the government meetings, exercise control over the lawfulness of the government’s actions. The President has the right to dismiss the government or to accept the Prime Minister resignation.

The President works with two consultative bodies – the Security Council and the State Council. The President chairs these two councils.

New words:

- responsibility — ответственность;

- to break up — прекращать, расходиться;

- to establish — основывать;

- delineation — описание;

- a system of checks and balances — система сдержек и противовесов;

- Council of Ministers — Совет Министров;

- particularity — особенность;

- lawfulness — законность;

- the Security Council — Совет Безопасности.

 

Questions to the text:

1. When did Russia establish a temporary government?

2. What is the form of state power in Russia?

3. What is the basic principle of constitutional government?

4. What is the role of the President in the system of state power?

5. Who is the head of the Council of Ministers?

6. What branch of power is the President closer to?

7. What party could form the government in Russia?

8. What powers does the President have according to the Constitution?

9. Who has the right to dismiss the government?

10. What bodies does the President work with?

Exercise 2. Translate the following sentences into Russian:

1. Russia adopted a new constitution in December 1993.

2. Russia is a democratic federative state based on the rule of law and a republican form of government.

3. According to Russian constitution power must not be concentrated in the hands of one person or one institution.

4. The power in Russia is divided among the legislative, executive and judicial branches.

5. The system of checks and balances in Russia is needed to clear delineation of responsibilities of powerful institutions.

6. The president of Russia is the most powerful official.

7. The President’s place in the state power system is tied to the executive branch of power.

8. The Prime Minister is the top ranking official of a Council of Ministers.

9. Moscow is governed by a City Council with a mayor at the head.

10. Each administrative district of Moscow is headed by a prefect appointed by the mayor.

 

Exercise 3. Fill in the gaps with the words given below, translate the text into Russian: was divided, government, elected, position, administrative, areas, voters, is governed, candidate, political, ballots.

Moscow Government

Moscow ______ by a City Council of about 500 deputies ______ to five-year terms. Each deputy represents an election district called a ward.

Before 1990, only one ______ ran for election in each ward. The candidate was elected unless most ______ crossed his or her name off the ballot. In the March 1990 city election, two or three candidates could run for each ______ on the City Council.

Candidates from opposing ______ organizations were nominated by individuals or groups. Voters crossed the name of the candidates they opposed off the ______. A candidate had to receive at least 50 percent of the vote in his or her ward to win. In cases where no candidate received 50 percent, a runoff election was held.

Before 1991, members of the City Council elected one deputy to be chairman, or mayor. In June 1991, the people of Moscow elected their mayor directly. Later in 1991, the executive branch of the city government was reorganized. Moscow ______ into 10 administrative districts.

Each ______ district is headed by a prefect who is appointed by the mayor. The prefects and their staffs administer city services and policies in their ______. Moscow is also divided into local districts. Each district ______ is responsible for local affairs.

Exercise 4. Work in pairs and discuss the following questions:

1. How many deputies are there in City Council and what does each of them represent?

2. What is the procedure of election of candidates from opposing organizations?

3. Who is at the head of each administrative district in Moscow?

Exercise 5. Translate from Russian into English:

1. В 1992 году Россия учредила временное правительство, возглавляемое Борисом Ельциным.

2. Россия – демократическое федеративное государство, основанное на республиканской форме правления.

3. Москвой управляет городской совет, состоящий из 500 депутатов.

4. Один из основных принципов конституционного правительства – разделение полномочий.

5. До 1991 года члены городского совета выбирали одного депутата, чтобы он стал мэром.

6. Президент возглавляет систему государственной власти.

7. Президент избирается людьми на 6-летний срок.

8. Партия с парламентским большинством могла бы сформировать правительство.

9. Премьер-министр – высокопоставленный чиновник, возглавляет правительство.

10. Полномочия Президента России отражены в конституции.

 







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