STATE SYSTEM OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION ( стр.6-8)
Under the Constitution adopted in 1993 Russia is a Presidential Republic con- cisting of 83 Subjects of Federation. The name of the country is stated by the Constitution as the Russian Federative Republic. The head of the state is the President.
The federal government consists of three branches: legislative, executive and judicial. Each of them is checked and balanced by the President. The legislative power in the country is exercised by the Parliament, which consists of two chambers: the Council of Federation and the State Duma. The Upper House (the Council of Federation) is made up of the representa-tives of all the subjects of the Federation. The Council enforces federal laws adopted by the State Duma and all the decrees issued by the Presi-dcnt. The Lower Chamber (the State Duma) is made up of 450 deputies. The Duma introduces, considers and adopts new bills. A new bill must be approved by a majority vote. But to become a law a bill must be approved by both Houses and signed by the President. The President may veto the bill. The members of the Council of Federation are elected by general election for a four-year term. Each Chamber is headed by the Chairman who is elected by the members of the Chambers.
The executive branch is represented by the President and Government headed by the Prime Minister.
The judicial branch is represented by the Constitutional Court, the Supreme Court and the regional courts. The Constitutional Court may veto any federal law adopted by the Federal Assembly, or a decree issued by the President, if the Court regards them contradictory to the Constitution.
The President is the head of the State and the Commandcr-in-chief of Russian army. The President signs international treaties, issues decrees, enforces federal laws adopted by the Federal Assembly. The President suggests the Prime Minister whose candidacy must be approved by the State Duma. He also appoints ministers to be approved by the Federal Assembly. Thus, three powers must balance each other.
As to the Constitution it is the basis of the legislative branch of the state, the main law of the state. The first Constitution (the Constitution of the Russian Federation) was adopted in 1918. The Constitution of the Soviet Union was adopted in 1924 after its foundation. The Constitution of 1936 consolidated the victory of the socialist relations in the USSR. The Constitution of the USSR was readopted in 1977 on the 7th of October. Nowadays new Russia lives according to the Constitution of 1993. There are 83 subjects of Federation in Russia.
Today the symbol of Russia is a three-coloured flag. It has three horizontal stripes: white, blue and red symbolizing the earth, the sky, and liberty. A new national emblem is a two-headed eagle, the most ancient symbol going back to the dynasty of the Ruricovichies. B. Alexandroff composed music for our
national anthem. AH these symbols have been approved by the Federal Assembly.
Russian is the state language of Russia. It is spoken throughout the whole territory of the Russian Federation. Meanwhile each republic within Russia has its own national language.
EKATERINBURG, THE CITY ON THE ISET RIVER. (стр.30-31)
7 August 1723 is the official day of the birth of Ekaterinburg, the industrial and military centre of the mining administration and important stronghold set up by the government of Peter 1 for the colonisation of the vast expenses of the Ural and Siberia. The town owes to its origin to a metallurgical and metalworking plant which rose on the banks of the Isct river.
The builders of the town worked in extremely hard conditions led by talented Russian mining experts: general Genin and captain Tatishchev. This prominent -statesman and noted scientist headed the construction. The town, was surrounded by wood and all buildings were wooden. But the town grew and developed and, with the time, Ekaterinburg began to play an increasingly important role as an administrative, mining and all-Ural machine-building centre, though it was a provincial town.
A great contribution to the further development of the town was made by Malakhov, the prominent Ural architect. The city has changed its name several times in its history: Ekat- erinburg-Sverdlovsk-Ekat- erinburg, but it was the centre not only of the Ural but the country as well.
Nowadays it is a big industrial centre of the Russian Federation. It has always been and remains traditionally the centre with dominating branches of industry as machine-building and metal-working. There are more than 100 industrial enterprises, among them the Vcrch-Isct metallurgical and metal-working plant the biggest in the Ural. Ekaterinburg is a scientific
centre. There is the Ural branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, a lot of scientific and project institutes there.
Ekaterinburg is a city of students. There are more than 16 state institutions of higher education, a lot of colleges, private and state schools. The oldest is the Ural State Mining University founded in 1912. The biggest and the most famous is the Ural Federal University (UrFU) founded in 2010.
Ekaterinburg is also a theatrical centre. There are many theatres, cinemas and palaces of culture and variety shows. The oldest among the theatres is the Opera House, which was built in 1912. One cannot but mention our museums and picture galleries. The Ural Geological Museum is a real treasure-house of the Ural Mountains. It enjoys truly a great popularity because it contains very rich collection of rare minerals and precious stones, which cannot be found anywhere.
Ekaterinburg is a sport centre of the country. There are many stadiums and sport-grounds. Different kinds of spoil are very popular among our citizens. Our beautiful nature in winter provides opportunities for winter sports that is why they are the most popular. No wonder that Ekaterinburg is called "the capital of the winter kinds of sports”. Ош- sportsmen take part in different sport competitions and very often win the first places. Different national and international championships are held in Ekaterinburg.
Our city is constantly changing, its outer appearance and its reconstruction will he made on an unprecedented scale. Nowadays much attention is being paid to the improvement of public transport facilities, the extension of the network of medical establishments. It is planned to change radically the city centre by its reconstruction. Apart from the construction of a metro, multistoried blocks of flats will be built in different districts of the city.
So, Ekaterinburg is one of the largest and the most important cities of Russia. It can be referred to the historical Russian cities because there exists a lot of monuments of architecture, history and culture.
The citizens of Ekaterinburg are proud of their native city, its pest and present and believe in its future.
EDUCATION IN RUSSIA
According lo the Constitution of llte Russian Federation every citizen of our country has the right to education. Secondary schools, colleges and higher educational establishments ensure it. It is also ensured by tlte development of extra-mural and evening courses and the system of slate scholarships and grants. At the age of 6 or 7 boys and girls go lo school and they stay here until they arc 14 - 17 years old. At school pupils study academic subjects, such as Russian literature, mathematics, history, biology, physics, foreign languages and others according to curricula. After finishing 9 forms of a secondary school young people can continue their education in the 10th and 11th forms. They can go to a technical school, where they can study academic subjects and receive a profession. A college gives genera! knowledge in academic subjects and profound knowledge in one or several subjects.
There arc many lyceums. private schools and gymnasiums in Russia, which offer programmes giving a deep knowledge in some fields of studies. After finishing a secondary school, a technical school or a college young people can start working to enter any institute or university they'll choose. All applicants may enter any higher school on the results of the State Examination due to which they are enrolled in any higher school. Until recently all secondary and higher schools have been subsidized by the state.
Higher education in this country has been steadily developing and improving together with the society. The state educational system existing in Russia is highly specialized. It includes the latest achievements in science, technology and culture not only in Russia, but abroad as well. Higher education is accessible to all young people. Higher educational institutions, that is institutes, universities and academies, offer 5 or 6-years program for academic subjects for undergraduates in various fields, as well as post-graduate courses, which lead to candidate or doctoral degrees. Many universities have evening and e.\- tra-mural departments, that is they give their students an opportunity to study without leaving their jobs.
There are two terms in the academic year. They usually last from September to February, from February to July with two holidays. So, students take their exams twice a year, that is at the end of each term. Attendance of all seminars.
practical lessons, and labs is obligatory for all students who must take credit tests, quizzes for practical work and examinations on theory. Special attention is given to senior students' practical training at industrial enterprises and research institutions. If a person finishes a post-graduate course and writes his Of her theses, he or she is awarded a degree of a Master (Candidate) or a Doctor of Sciences.
Higher educational establishments are headed by Rectors (Presidents). Vice Presidents arc in charge of academic and scientific work. There are several faculties at each institute or university.
Our institutes and universities are staffed by academicians, corresponding members of the Russian Academy of Science, doctors and masters of science, readers, teachers and tutors. Within the walls of our higher educational institutions students gain not only knowledge of all that is best in science and technology, but also acquire working (practical) skills. There are students’ research societies and design offices at nearly all higher schools. Senior students are engaged in various kinds of research under the supervision of their lecturers, including their participation in various conferences, seminars and congresses. The results of this investigation arc directly utilized in industry and agriculture. There exist a lot of agreements on scientific and technological cooperation between higher schools and industrial enterprises.
Sport is part and parcel of students’ life. Many sportsmen arc active members of different sport clubs taking part in various competitions among the students sport teams not only in Russia but also abroad. The most popular sports among the students arc volley-ball, basket-ball, gymnastics, tennis, track-and- field athletics, skating, skiing and many others.
Students* building teams play an important rolej^a social life of the country.
The rapid development of science and technology in the world has noticeably increased the volume of information to be received by students. The problem number one now is intensification of the whole educational process. To achieve this new teaching methods have been introduced (modem equipment, visual aids, TV, automation control system and computers).
The type of scientific work is determined by the higher school proper. An annual competition for the best scientific achievements is held in Russia steadily. 1Ъе winners are awarded medals and diplomas.
The system of secondary and higher education in Russia is going through a transition period. The main objectives of this reform are to develop new financial mechanisms, to give more academic freedom to faculties and students.
By preparing highly qualified specialists for all branches of our economy our higher schools contribute to further successful development of Russia.