Основные задачи урока:
- Отработка лексики, необходимой для проведения дискуссии.
- Тренировка навыков аудирования.
- Отработка языковых клише, сравнений и противоположностей.
- Повышение социокультурной компетенции.
- Отработка навыков взаимодействия в парах и малых группах.
Political system of the USA
I Организационный момент. Вступительное слово учителя. Good morning, dear friends I am so glad to meet you. Today we shall speak about the political system of the USA. But first of all I`d like to ask you some questions.
II Учебная беседа в режиме T - Cl о политической системе Америки, о президентах США.
- What can you say about the 4 of November this year? (On this day there were elections of B. Obama).
- What can you say about B. Obama? (He is a representative of the state Illinois, a representative of black Americans for the first time in the history of the USA)
- Who was the first President of the USA? (Abraham Lincoln)
- Name the longest serving US President (Franklin D. Roosevelt)
- What do you know about the administration of Bush? (It is quite unpopular now days)
- What do you know about the Federal Government? (It is divided into 3 branches of power)
- Name the two political parties in the US and the animals that symbolize each party? (Democrats - donkey, Republicans - elephants)
- After the Vice - President figure is next in line to succeed the President? (The speaker of the House of Representatives)
III Сообщение учителя о Б.Обаме: And now I can`t but tell you some information about B.Obama.
B.Obama is the 44 President of the USA. The 4 of November this year is a date of great importance. On this day there were elections of the 44 President of the USA and this fact is discussed all over the world.
He is the representative of state Illinois, a democratic party and what is important he is a representative of black Americans and Chicago political school. He is young, handsome; intelligent he is a lower and all the Americans connect with the name of B. Obama the best future, best changes of America. It is a real fact that the administration of Bush is quiet unpopular in America now days because of his fails in political, social and economical life of America, because of his numerous wars. That`s why the Americans want Obama to be the 1 man in the state, because they want real changes in the country.
All of us know (it is not a secret) that America live now a financial depression 26% percent of Americans especially young Americans want real changes in economical and political life of the USA.
He caught 338 votes (52%) against 163 for Makein. His slogan is "The Slogan of changes".
IV Следует информация о правительстве США. And now some information about the Federal Government of the USA.
Under the Constitution Federal government is divided into 3 branches, each chosen in different manner, each able to check & balance the others.
The Executive Branch is headed by the President, who together with the Vice President is chosen in nation wide elections every four years.
The elective process for a U.S. President is unique. The candidate with the highest number of votes in each state wins all the electoral votes of that state. The Presidential candidate needs 270 electoral votes to be elected, if no candidate has a majority.
The President proposes bills to the congress enforces federal laws, serves as a commander in chief of the Armed Forces and with the approval of the Senate makes treaties & appoints federal judges, ambassadors, and other members of the Executive Departments (the Departments of State, Defense, Commerce, Justice, etc). Each cabinet head holds the title of secretary and together they form a council called a Cabinet.
Vice - President, elected from the same political party as the President, acts as a chairman of the Senate and in the case of death or disability of the President assumes the Presidency for the balance of his term.
The Legislative Branch of power is made up of two houses. The Senate and the House of Representatives. Each State elects 2 members of the 100 member Senate, a Senator`s term of office is six years.
Both Houses must approve a bill for it to become a law. But the President may veto or refuse to sign it. If so, Congress reconsiders the Bill. If two thirds of the members of both Houses then approve it, the Bill becomes law even without the Presidents signature.
The Judicial Branch is made up of Federal District Courts and at the top, the Supreme Court, federal Judges are appointed by President with the approval of the Senate. To minimize the political influences their appointments are for life. An American who feels he has been convicted under an unjust law may appeal his case to the Supreme Court, which may rule the law is unconstitutional.
V Вопросо-ответная беседа.Will you try to answer some questions.
1. Is the head of the state (the President of the USA) elected directly?
Americans vote for states of Presidential electors equal to the number of Senators and Representatives each state has in Congress. The candidate with the highest number of votes in each state wins all the electoral votes of that state. The Presidential candidate needs 270 electoral votes to be elected, if no candidate has a majority, the House of Representatives makes the decision.
2. How much Power does the U.S.Supreme Court have?
The Supreme court can declare laws unconstitutional
The Court can declare Presidential acts unconstitutional.
3. Can a bill become a law even without a President`s signature?
If two thirds of the members of the both houses approve it it can become a law even without a President`s signature.
4. Can the bill proposed by the President become a law?
Both houses must approve it to become a law. But the President can veto or refuse to sign it, but even in this case it can become a law without a President`s signature (if 2/3 of members of congress approve it).
VI Try to understand which word or phrase in the information above means.
- Each branch of power in the USA has a great power. (Every branch is chosen in different manner each able to check and balance the others)
- The elective process for a US President is unusual (The elective process for a US President is unique)
- The head of the Senate (Chairman of the Senate)
- The Legislative branch of power (The Senate and the House of Representatives )
- Judicial Branch of power (Federal District Courts and at the top the Supreme Court)
VII In pairs ask each other whether the following statements are true or false according to the information above.
- Under a Constitution federal government is divided into two branches of power.
- The Executive Branch is headed by the President.
- The elective process for U.S. President is not unique.
- The President proposes bills the Congress/
- The President may veto or refuse to sign a bill.
- The Supreme Court, Federal Judges are appointed by the President.
III Make a prediction about the future: Do you think that B.Obama will really change America and the relations with Russia.
IX Report to the class the facts about the American political system. Use as much information from our lesson as you can.
X Домашнее задание. Home task:
Make comparisons between the British and the American political systems and the political system of your country. (Сравните Британскую, Американскую политические системы и политическую систему вашей страны).
Возможные информационные источники:
- Журнал Speak Out 3/2000, изд. Глосса.
- Миньяр-Белоручева А.П., Седелкина Л.Н., Васютина Н.В. США: география, население, история, культура. Москва, 1995.
- Кнодель Л.В. Английский язык. The USA. Москва, изд. "Дрофа" 2008.
- Glimpses of the History of America. Москва, 1972.
- Власова Е.Л., Грин В.С.. A Glimpse of English Speaking Countries. Москва, изд. "Наука" 1969.
- Official Guide to the Smithsonian. Washington, D.C., 1990.