Reading tasks
A Answer these questions. 1 What is the role of the US Constitution in the structure of the US government? 2 How are the powers of each branch of government limited by the system of checks and balances? 3 What is the role of compromise in the American system of running the country? 4 How does the legislature exercise a check on the executive branch? 5 In what way does the executive branch exercise a check on the legislative branch? 6 In what way does the judicial branch exercise a check on the other two branches? 7 What limits the powers of the national and state governments?
B Choose the best answer (a, b, or c) according to the information in the text.
1 Why is the system of checks and balances necessary? · because it separates the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government · because it keeps any branch from using too much power or misusing it and makes each branch check on the others c) because it limits the President's powers.
2 What is the role of compromise in the American system of running the country? a) it helps the Congress to pass a law b) it protects against extreme in government policies c) it helps the President to veto any act of Congress.
(3) What is known as the Bill of Rights? (4) the rights of Congressmen to impeach the President (5) the rights of judicial power to declare congressional legislation unconstitutional (6) constitutional guarantees of civil liberties for individual citizens.
(7) What are the powers of the federal government? (8) the right to tax (9) the right to regulate business within the states (10) the right to make criminal laws.
(11) What are the powers of the state government? (12) the right to borrow money (13) the right to regulate local governments (14) the right to maintain postal system.
C Speak about the system of checks and balances using the chart.
 
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