NATURE AND SOURCES OF THE LAW

The law touches us daily as we conduct our personal, business, and governmental affairs. There are many definitions of the law. Sometimes it is defined as a dynamic process, a system of regularized, institutionalized procedures for the orderly resolution of social problems.

It consists of legal rules, emanating from the state, which are part of a certain legal system. The law is created by the courts (common law), the legislature, and by judicial interpretation of statutes. It can be classified by subject matter, e.g., contracts, agency, personal property, by source, as civil or criminal, and as public or private. Finding the "correct" legal answer to a problem depends upon the facts of the case, their interpretation by a judge and jury and the philosophies of those fact-finders. The law is not perfect but, if a decision is unfair, any damage caused can often be repaired by an appellate court.

 

UNIT 7

' CONVERSATION

– How's your brother these days?

– He hasn't been too well just recently.

– I'm sorry to hear that. What's the matter?

– I think he's been overworking.

– I hope he soon gets over it.

– Thank you. He'll be pleased to hear you asked about him.

 

– I haven't seen Bob lately. How is he?

– As a matter of fact, he's ill.

– Oh dear! What's up with him?

– We don't know, but we're having the doctor in tomorrow.

– Let me know if there's anything I can do.

– Thanks very much. I'll tell him you inquired after him.

 

± FOCUS ON GRAMMAR AND PRACTICE

 

IF AND WHEN CLAUSES

ПРИДАТОЧНЫЕ ПРЕДЛОЖЕНИЯ УСЛОВИЯ И ВРЕМЕНИ

 

If the weather is fine, we'll go to the country.

Если погода будет хорошая, мы поедем за город.

! Обратите внимание на то, что в русском языке в обеих частях предложения используется будущее время, а в английском языке после союза if для обозначения будущего времени (TheFuture Tense) используются формы настоящего времени (Present Tense Forms).

Формы настоящего времени используются для обозначения будущего и после следующих союзов:

when	когда
as soon as	как только
after	после того как
before	прежде чем
till, until	до; пока; до тех пор пока (не)

We'll go to the country when the weather is fine.

Мы поедем за город, когдабудетхорошаяпогода.

We'll go to the country as soon as the weather is fine.

Мы поедем за город, как только будет хорошая погода.

We shall not go to the country until the weather is fine.

Мы не поедем за город до тех пор, пока погода не будет хорошей.

You'll like her after you see her.

Она тебе понравится, после того как ты её увидишь.

I shall wait here till she comes.

Я буду ждать здесь, пока она не придет.

We shall reach home before it begins raining.

Мы доберемся до дома, прежде чем начнется дождь.

m 1. Дайте полные ответы на следующие вопросы, используя выражения, данные в скобках и приведенные в таблице.

Example: What will you do when you have spare time? (to go to the cinema)

When I have spare time, I’ll go to the cinema.

1) What will you do when the classes are over?	to go to the library
2) What will you do if you have much spare time?	to work at my English
3) What will you do if the weather is bad?	to stay at home

m 2. Посмотрите на пример.

Example: I’ll come to see you. I’ll have spare time. (if)

I’ll come to see you if I have spare time.

1) He will visit you. He will return from England.	when
2) He will start studying Japanese. He will know Chinese well.	as soon as
3) I’ll tell you about it. You will come.	after
4) He will do anything. You will ask him.	before
5) John will never drink. He will be thirsty.	until
6) He will never go to bed. He will have a high temperature.	unless
7) He will wait here. She will come.	till
8) I shall contact you immediately. Something will happen.	if

& READING

TEXT A

Выучите слова.

statutory law	статутное право
to assume	принимать на себя
to mix	смешивать
enumeration	перечисление
supremacy clause	положение о превосходстве
county	графство
ordinance	постановление
to remain	оставаться
to supersede	заменять собой (другой закон)

Прочитайте текст и будьте готовы ответить на вопросы.
Текст переведите.

1. What did American law originally consist of?

2. What law is increasingly gaining in importance?

3. Can we call the American legal system a pure case law system or does it consist exclusively of statutes and codifications?

4. Does it differ greatly from the legal system of Continental Europe?

5. What does statutory law consist of on the federal / state level?