Учебно-методическое пособие по работе с темой "COUNTRY PROFILE". Дедова С.А. - 41 стр.

           THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE UNION: EUROPE                                place name with an adjectival ending 'skaya' or 'skiy,' the word Oblast' or
                                                                               Avonomnyy Okrug or Kray should be added to the place name.
        When the European Coal and Steel Community was formed in 1951,
                                                                               Independence: 24 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Britain thought it was an excellent idea, but nothing to do with Britain!
                                                                               National holiday: Russia Day, 12 June (1990)
Long years of an empire based on sea power meant that the traditional atti-
                                                                               Constitution: adopted 12 December 1993
tude to Europe had been to encourage stability there, to discourage any ex-
                                                                               Legal system: based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts
pansionist powers there, but otherwise to leave it well alone.
                                                                               Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
        As the empire disappeared, and the role of 'the world's policeman'
was taken over by the USA, the British government decided to ask for
                                                                               Executive branch:
membership of the newly-formed European Communities. It took more
                                                                               Chief of state: President
than ten years for this to be achieved (in 1973). From the very start, the
                                                                               Head of government: Premier
British attitude to membership has been ambiguous. On the one hand, it is
                                                                               First Deputy Premier, Deputy Premiers
seen as an economic necessity and a political advantage (increasing Brit-
                                                                               Cabinet: Ministries of the Government or «Government» composed of the
ain's status as a regional power). The referendum on continued membership
                                                                               premier and his deputies, ministers, and other agency heads; all are ap-
in 1975 (the first in British history) produced a two-to-one majority in fa-
                                                                               pointed by the president
vour. On the other hand, acceptance does not mean enthusiasm. The under-
                                                                               Note: there is also a Presidential Administration (PA) that provides staff
lying attitude – that Britain is somehow special – has not really changed
                                                                               and policy support to the president, drafts presidential decrees, and coor-
and there are fears that Britain is gradually giving up its autonomy.
                                                                               dinates policy among government agencies; a Security Council also re-
                                                                               ports directly to the president
Answer thee following questions:
                                                                               Elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; note – no
      1) What caused the dismantling of the British empire?                    vice president; if the president dies in office, cannot exercise his powers
      2) What do Suez and Cyprus illustrate?                                   because of ill health, is impeached, or resigns, the premier succeeds him;
      3) Why is the desire of some ex-British islands a source of pride,       the premier serves as acting president until a new presidential election is
         embarrassment and irritation for Britain?                             held, which must be within three months; premier appointed by the presi-
      4) What caused the ‘Falklands War’?                                      dent with the approval of the Duma
      5) Why is public feeling about British-American relationship am-
         biguous?                                                              Legislative branch: bicameral Federal Assembly or Federalnoye So-
      6) What is to your mind the role of Britain on the global political      braniye consists of the Federation Council or Sovet Federatsii (178 seats)
         stage?                                                                and the State Duma or Gosudarstvennaya Duma (450 seats)

5. Look through the chart about Russia. Give the Russian equivalents of        Judicial branch: Constitutional Court; Supreme Court; Superior Court
   the terms printed in bold type.                                             of Arbitration; judges for all courts are appointed for life by the Federa-
Conventional long country name: Russian Federation                             tion Council on the recommendation of the president
Conventional short form: Russia
Former: Russian Empire, Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic           Political parties: Agrarian Party; Communist Party of the Russian Federa-
Government type: federation                                                    tion or KPRF; Fatherland-All Russia or OVR; Liberal Democratic Party of
Capital: Moscow                                                                Russia or LDPR; Union of Right Forces; Unity; Yabloko Bloc
Administrative divisions: 49 oblasts, 21 republics, 10 autonomous okrugs,
6 krays, 2 federal cities and 1 autonomous oblast; note – when using a

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