 Extend your skills

EXERCISE 14. Do a mind map for the text TYPES OF LAW.

EXERCISE 15. Complete the table according to the given example.

Russian and American legal systems: comparative analysis

	USA	Russia
Role of judge	Judge must follow the precedent Judge is flexible: if there is no precedent the judge should decide the case on the reasonable and fair base Judges are independent from the government	Judge must follow the statute If there is no statute the judge should apply the other statute that regulates the similar relations (judge is tied with the statute)
Sources of law	Constitution Case law Legislation
Role of law	People respect the law and try to solve the problems by legal way. Law is a part of culture. Law is necessary. People follow the law.

EXERCISE 16. Working in small groups decide, if a crime, a civil wrong or both occurred. Express your opinions in class. Be prepared to explain your choices.

• There are loud, all night parties at the house next door.

• Someone refuses to help a law enforcement officer when ordered to do so.

• There are cockroaches and rats in the kitchen of a popular restaurant.

• A company uses false advertising.

• Someone is caught fishing without a license.

• A person borrows a neighbor’s car without permission.

• A factory dumps toxic waste into the water supply.

• The train engineer is found to be operating a train while he is intoxicated.

• Someone forgets to put on their seatbelt in the front seat of a car.

• A surgeon operates, but removes the wrong organ from the patient.

 Jokes and Puns

A lawyer named “Strange” was shopping for a tombstone. After he had made his selection, the stonecutter asked him what inscription he would like on it. “Here lies an honest man and a lawyer”, responded the lawyer. “Sorry, but I can’t do that”, replied the stonecutter. “In this state, it is against the law to bury two people in the same grave. However, I could put “Here lies an honest lawyer.” “But that won’t let people know who it is”, protested the lawyer. “It most certainly will”, reported the stonecutter. “People will read it and exclaim, “That’s Strange!”

tombstone - надгробие

stonecutter - резчик по камню

inscription - надпись, эпитафия

bury - хоронить

grave - могила

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW THE US CONSTITUTION This Constitution is the most important thing in the lives of every person living in the United States. Your way of life is built around it, your government is based upon it, and your rights and privileges as United States citizens are protected by it. F. G. Gullop