Work with your desk-mate and decide on the best title to the text above.

Speech Practice

Give the answers to the questions below.

1. Who proclaimed the Russian Empire?

2. What way did Russia get access to the sea?

3. What is Catherine the Great famous for?

4. What were the reasons that brought the Russian monarchy to its downfall?

Speech Practice

Work with your partner and compose a dialogue.

Vocabulary Training

20. Read and remember the following words and word combinations:

representative democracy – представительная демократия

exercise – осуществлять

vest – облекать, наделять

Federal Assembly – Федеральное собрание

bicameral – двухпалатный

deem – считать, полагать

21. Read the following words and expressions and guess their meaning:

National referendum, constitutional crisis, according to, representative democracy, the head of government, two chambers, legislative branch, the commander-in-chief of the military

Translate the following sentences from English into Russian.

The Russian Federation is fundamentally structured (состоит, структурирован, построен) as a representative democracy.

2. Legislative power is vested in (даны, дана, наделена, наделены) the two chambers of the Federal Assembly.

The president can veto (отменить, наложить запрет) legislative bills before they become law.