Topic 2

The Constitution of Ukraine
Ex.1 Read and memorize the following words and expressions:
1. law-based state	правова держава
2. the Fundamental Law	основний закон
3. national symbols	державні символи
4. state language	державна мова
5. under the Constitution	згідно з Конституцією
6. to be adopted	бути прийнятим
7. according to	відповідно до
8. legislative	законодавчий
9. executive	виконавчий
10. judicial	судовий
11. head	голова (держави)
12. to head	очолювати
13. to act in its name	діяти від її імені
14. citizen	громадянин
15. five-year term	п’ятирічний термін
16. to be elected	бути обраним
17. body of power	орган влади
18. national deputy	народний депутат
19. to be presented	бути представленим
20. Cabinet of Ministers	кабінет міністрів
21. Prime Minister	Прем’єр-міністр
22. to carry out	виконувати
23. domestic policy	внутрішня політика
24. foreign policy	зовнішня політика
25. to administer	здійснювати, виконувати
26. the highest judicial body	найвищий судовий орган
27. to fulfil	виконувати
28. national programmes	державні програми
29. proceeding(from)	виходячи з
30. self-determination	самовизначення
31. UN Charter	статут ООН
32. in pursuance	у відповідності з
33. to modify	видозмінювати
34. multi-party system	багатопартійна система
35. to exercise authority	виконувати повноваження
36. within the limits	в межах
37. a single-chamber	однопалатний
38. to vote	голосувати
39. by secret ballot	таємний голосуванням
40. to amend	вносити поправку
41. to designate	призначати
42. to oversee	контролювати
43. to confirm	затверджувати
44. delineated	окреслювати, визначати
45. abide	підпорядковуватися
46. conformity	відповідність
47. justice	суддя
48. evenly	порівну

Ex. 2. Read and translate the text:

On June 28, 1996, the Verkhovna Rada adopted the Fundamental Law of Ukraine, its Constitution.

According to the Constitution Ukraine is a sovereign and independent, democratic, social and legal (law-based) state. Ukraine is a republic. The state language is Ukrainian. The state symbols of Ukraine are the State Flag, the State Emblem and the State Anthem of Ukraine. The State Flag is a blue and yellow banner. The trident is the State Emblem.

The Constitution assures human and civil rights, freedoms and duties. The duty of citizens is to respect the state symbols, to defend the Motherland, its independence and territorial integrity.

Under the Constitution state power in Ukraine is divided into legislative, executive and judicial.

The Constitution outlines the activities of the Verkhovna Rada. Its main function is making laws. The Ukrainian Parliament is the only body of legislative power. The Verkhovna Rada consists of 450 national deputies who are elected for a term of four years.

The Constitution specifies the power and obligations of the President. The President of Ukraine is the head of the state and acts in its name. The President is elected for a term of five years.

The highest body of the executive power is the Cabinet of Ministers. It carries out the domestic and foreign policy of the state, develops and fulfils national programmes on economic, scientific and technological, social and cultural development of Ukraine. The Prime Minister heads the Cabinet.

The Constitution outlines the activities of the judicial power, too. Justice in Ukraine is administered by courts. The Supreme Court of Ukraine is the highest judicial body. Courts decide cases involving conflicts between citizens and state. The Constitutional Court of Ukraine is the sole body of constitutional jurisdiction.

Ex. 3. Translate the following words and word combinations into Ukrainian:

Law-based state, body of the state power, legislative, judicial, executive, justice,court, law, was adopted, according to the Constitution, independent state, government, national symbols, state Сoat of Arms, anthem, state language.

Ex. 4. Use the following word combination in the sentences of your own:

under the Constitution, to be adopted, to be elected, to be presented, to be administered, to carry out, to be nominated, to administer.

Ex. 5. Answer the following questions:

1. When was Ukraine proclaimed an independent state?

2. When was the Constitution of Ukraine adopted?

3. How do you understand the meaning of the phrase “a sovereign state”?

4. What does the Constitution establish?

5. What objects of the property right of Ukrainian people do you know?

6. What are the state symbols of Ukraine?

7. What does the Constitution state?

8. What do the articles of the Constitution guarantee?

9. Which duties of Ukrainian citizens do you know?

10. Who is the head of the state?

11. How long is his term of office?

12. What are the three branches of power in the country?

13. What is the task of each of them?

14. How many articles and chapters does the Constitution consist of?

15. What is justice in Ukraine administered by?

16. What is the highest judicial organ of Ukraine?

17. What are the functions of the courts?

18. What can you tell us about the Constitutional court?

Ex. 6. Read the text and say which rights and duties you consider to be of vital importance for the function of any state.

If we ask the question about observance of the rights the answer will be different, depending on the specific situation. The real situation in our country while proclaiming such rights actually doesn’t guarantee them in reality. A good case in point is the often mentioned right to work. If in developed countries it is a reality, in developing countries it is still in the realm of hopes and chance. And millions of working people are in the ranks of the army of the unemployed. One of the most vital rights is a right of peoples to self-determination, including the right to dispose freely of their natural wealth and resources. It recognizes the individual duties to other individuals and the community. It is referred to such questions as personal security, equality before the law, religion, freedom of opinions and expressions, peaceful assembly, right to marry, minority rights, participation in public affairs and elections. The right to work according to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights includes the right to gain one’s living by work which a person freely chooses. All the people should be paid fairly. This requirement is not fully implemented in our country. Everyone should have equal opportunity to be promoted in this job to a higher level, without no restrictions (From….).

Ex. 7. Fill in the blanks.

The ________ of Ukraine provides legal ________ of the social, economic and political rights. It confirms ________ of speech, of the press, of meeting and demonstrations and ________ the right to submit proposals to government agencies and public organizations. _________ against the actions of _________by going to _________ , and to seek court protection against encroachments upon life, health and _________ of honour and _________ .

The Constitution endorses everyone’s right to take part in state and public affairs, in ________ laws and deciding various questions of national and _____importance.

(Court, freedom, property, constitution, officials, to guarantee, running, local, to appeal, dignity, adopting, to specify).

Ex. 8. Translate into English.

1. Конституція України була прийнята 28 червня 1996 року.

2. Вона складається з 15 розділів.

3. Конституція встановлює права, свободи та обов‘язки громадян.

4. Україна – це незалежна демократична держава з єдиним громадянством.

5. Конституція гарантує, що усі громадяни рівні перед законом і мають рівні конституційні права.

6. Статті Конституції гарантують право на життя, навчання, роботу, житло, медичну допомогу та медичне страхування.

7. Кожен громадянин повинен сплачувати податки.

8. Верховна Рада здійснює законопроектну роботу.

9. Прем’єр-міністр очолює виконавчу владу.

10. Судова влада здійснюється через суди.

Ex. 9. Match the following English verbs and verbal phrases with their Ukrainian equivalents:

1. to assure 2. to be in force 3. to abridge 4. to proclaim freedoms 5. to regard 6. to enforce laws 7. to adopt 8. to override a veto 9. to embody 10. to veto acts

накладати вето на акти скорочувати ухвалювати, приймати містити подолати вето гарантувати,забезпечувати запроводжувати закони в життя бути в силі проголошувати свободи вважати