Political System of Belarus
State Emblem
State Anthem
Commander-in-Chief
The Supreme Economic Court
Chief Officer
Speaker
Foreign policy
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
The UN Charter
The National Assembly
The Chamber of Representatives
The Council of the Republic
Secret ballot
Pay attention to the following words and memorize them. Make your own sentences with them.
unified
inalienable ,
to exercise on
to dissolve
political issues
supremacy of law
to adopt
to establish
social security
disability ,
breadwinner
to stipulate ,
to proclaim
to proceed from
inviolability ,
peaceful settlement of disputes
non-interference into domestic affairs
international law
full-fledged member
convention
state management
Match these word expressions with their Russian equivalents
| 1. to appoint ministers | . - |
| 2. presidential republic | b. |
| 3. to declare war | . |
| 4. to give approval to bills passed by the Parliament | d. |
| 5. legislative body of power | . |
| 6. the Supreme Court | f. |
| 7. a base of all our legislation | g. |
| 8. considerable changes in Constitution | h. |
| 9. responsibility of the State before its citizens | i. |
| 10. the right to health protection | j. |
| 11. non-use of force or threat of peace | k. |
| 12. world community | 1. , |
4. Read the text and get ready to speak about the political system of Belarus:
State system
The Republic of Belarus is a unitary democratic social state with the rule of law. And according to the Constitution it is a presidential republic. The territory of Belarus is unified and inalienable.
The symbols of the Republic of Belarus, as a sovereign State, are its State Flag, State Emblem and State Anthem. The capital of Belarus is the city of Minsk.
State languages of the Republic of Belarus are Belarusian and Russian.
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State power in the Republic of Belarus is exercised on the basis of its division into legislative, executive and judicial branches.
The President of the Republic of Belarus is the Head of State, the head of the Government and the Commander-in-Chief. The President is elected by general, free, equal, direct and secret ballot for a term of 5 years. He has such functions as to summon and dissolve the Parliament, to give approval to bills passed by the Parliament, to appoint ministers and judges, to declare war and make peace.
The Parliament, i.e. the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus, is the representative and legislative body of po.ver. The Parliament consists of two Chambers the Chamber of Representatives and the Council of the Republic (the Senate). The Senate consists of 63 members: 9 from each region and 9 from Minsk. One third of the Senate is appointed by the President. The House of Representatives consists of 110 members. They are elected every 4 years by secret ballot. The Chief Officer of the Parliament is a speaker. He is elected at the beginning of each Parliament. The main functions of the Parliament are: to pass laws, to control the government policy and administration, to debate the most important political issues of the day.
The Government i.e. the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus, is the central body of state management, the executive power in the Republic of Belarus.
The judicial power in the Republic of Belarus belongs to courts. There are the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court, the Supreme Economic Court and other courts in Belarus. Rut the main court is the Constitutional Court.
The Constitution of the Republic of Belarus is the main law of our republic. It is a base of all our legislation. It establishes the principle of the supremacy of law. On the 15th of March 1994 a new Constitution was adopted and according to it the first President was elected. In 1996 in November considerable changes in Constitution were adopted. The Constitution of the Republic of Belarus establishes the responsibility of the State before Its citizens and the responsibility of citizens before the State. The Constitution guarantees the citizens of the Republic of Belarus the right to health protection, to free general education and professional technical training, to social security at old age, in case of illness, disability, loss of a breadwinner, and in other cases stipulated by law. The Constitution of Belarus proclaims that everyone is equal before the law and has the right, without any discrimination, to equal protection of one's rights and interests.
In its foreign policy, the Republic of Belarus proceeds from the principles of the equality of States, non-use of force or threat of peace, inviolability of borders, peaceful settlement of disputes, non-interference into domestic affairs, and from other universally recognized principles and norms of international law.
The Republic of Belarus is a full-fledged member of the world community. It recognizes the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the UN Charter, and other international conventions.
5. Answer the following questions:
1. What status does our country have?
2. Who is the Head of State? What term is he elected for? What is the President responsible for?
3. What arc the symbols of the RB?
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4. What are the state languages in Belarus?
5. Who is the Prime Minister in our Republic at present?
6. What basis is state power exercise on?
7. What is the legislative body of power in Belarus? How many Houses are there in the Parliament?
8. How many members are there in the Senate and in the House of Representatives? Who is the Chief Officer of the Parliament?
9. Who is the executive power in Belarus vested in?
10. What does the judicial branch consist of?
11. What is the highest court in our Republic?
12. What is the main document of any country? When was the new Constitution adopted? What does the Constitution establish? What rights does the Constitution guarantee the citizens?
13. What main principles does Belarus in its foreign policy proceed from?
14. Is Belarus a full-fledged member of the world community? Why?
15. To most of the world Belarus is a new country, a fragment of the former USSR. It is now in search of its own place on the international arena. Our Government tries to find ways from the protracted economic and social crisis. What do you think our Government should do to reach this goal?
Choose a word from the box to put into each gap:
| establishes, President, division, a speaker, Government, law, proclaims, unified |
1. The territory of Belarus is... and inalienable. 2. State power m the Republic of Belarus is exercised on the basis of its... into legislative, executive and judicial branches. 3. The... of the Republic of Belarus is the Head of State, the Head of the Government and the Commander-in-chief. 4. The Chief Officer of the Parliament is.... 5. The..., i.e. the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus, is the central body of state management, the executive power in the Republic of Belarus. 6. The Constitution of the Republic of Belarus is the main... of our republic. 7. The Constitution of the Republic of Belarus... the responsibility of the State before its citizens and the responsibility of citizens before the State. 8. The Constitution of Belarus... that everyone is equal before the law and has the right to equal protection of one's rights and interests.
8. Put the right prepositions where necessary:
1.The judicial power... the RB belongs... courts and is exercised... general, economic and other courts. 2. The President is elected... general, free, equal and secret ballot... a term... 5 years. 3. The Parliament consists... two Chambers - the Chamber... Represenlatives and the Senate. 4. The Constitutional Court gives evaluation... correspondence of standard laws... the Constitution... the request... President, the National Assembly, the Supreme Court. 5. The Constitution guarantees the citizens the right... health protection, free general education, the right to social security... old age,... case of illness, disability and etc, 6. The president has such functions as to summon and dissolve... the Parliament, to give approval... bills passed... the Parliament, to appoint... ministers and judges. 7. A speaker is elected... the beginning... each Parliament. 8. The final legal act that pronounced... Belarus a new democratic state... Eastern Europe was the new Constitution... the Republic... Belarus adopted... the Supreme Soviet... March 15, 1994. 9,... general election campaign different parties nominate their candidates to form the Parliament. 10.... accordance... the Constitutional norm, RB may grant refuge... persons being persecuted... other countries... their political and religious convictions or... account of their nationality.
9. Translate these sentences into English:
1. - , .
2. , . , , .
3. , , .
4. , , , , .
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5. - . : .
6. 63 : 9 9 . 1/3 .
7. 4 .
8. - , .
9. : , , .
10. , .
11. . .
12. . . .
13. 15 1994 , .
14. .
15. , ,
16. , , , , .
17. . , .
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
The United Nations Organization (UNO)
On 25th June 1945, 51 countries met in San Francisco to sign the Charter of the United Nations. Their main aim was to make sure that never again so many lives would be lost in war. In fact, around 10 million soldiers had died in the First World War and 55 million in the Second. The original 51 members have now become 189 and each state has one vote, no matter how small they are.
The UN doesn't have its own army. Instead, member states voluntarily supply troops and personnel. The first peace-keeping force was used in 1950, during the crisis in Korea. Since then the UN has been involved in about 40 peace missions, and has helped more than 30 million^ refugees. About 1300 UN peacekeepers have died on duty. Less than 3 % were Americans.
But keeping the peace is only a small part of United Nations' work, About 80% of their effort is devoted to developing countries to learn how to help themselves. For instance the UN agency responsible for education, science and culture is called UNESCO. It has led a campaign to help people in poorer countries to read and write. In 1970 only 10% of Ethiopians could read and write. Now the figure is over 70 %.
European Union (EU)
The UK is a member of the EU, which promotes social and economic progress among its members, a common foreign and security policy. European citizenship and police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters. The other 14 EU Member States are Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, the Irish Republic, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain end Sweden.
The Commonwealth
There are 54 members of the Commonwealth, including the UK. It is a voluntary association of independent states, nearly all of which were once British territories. Its stated purpose is to promote world peace by helping people of widely different cultures and values to understand and cooperate with each other. The Queen is the head of the Commonwealth.
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There are frequent meetings of heads of Government, specialized conferences of other ministers and officials, expert groups. Trade and cultural exhibitions and conferences of professional and unofficial medical, cultural, educational and economic organizations are other ways in which frequent contacts are made.
