Упражнения и задания по грамматике

Northern Ireland
The legal system of Northern Ireland is in many respects similar to that of England and Wales. It has its own court system: the superior courts are the Court of Appeal, the High Court and the Crown Court, which together comprise the Supreme Court of Judicature. A number of arrangements differ from those in England and Wales. A major example is that those accused of terrorist-type offences are tried in nonjury courts to avoid any intimidation of jurors.
Tribunals
Tribunals are a specialized group of judicial bodies, akin to courts of law. They are normally set up under statutory powers which also govern their constitution, functions and procedure.
Tribunals often consist of lay people, but they are generally chaired by a legally qualified person. They tend to be less expensive, and less formal, than courts of law. Some tribunals settle disputes between private citizens. Industrial tribunals, for example, play a major role in employment disputes. Others, such as those concerned with social security, resolve claims by private citizens against public authorities. A further group, including tax tribunals, decide disputed claims by public authorities against private citizens. Tribunals usually consist of an uneven number of people so that a majority decision can be reached.
Members are normally appointed by the government minister concerned with the subject, although the Lord Chancellor (or Lord President of the Court of Session in Scotland) makes most appointments when a lawyer chairman or member is required. In many cases there is a right of appeal to a higher tribunal and, usually, to the courts. Tribunals do not normally employ staff or spend money themselves, but their expenses are paid by the government departments concerned. An independent Council on Tribunals exercises general supervision over many tribunals.


Task 16. The British Government: The Law Making Process

Statute law consists of Acts of Parliament and delegated legislation made by Ministers under powers given to them by Act. While the law undergoes constant refinement in the courts, changes to statute law are made by Parliament. Draft laws take the form of parliamentary Bills. There are generally three types of Bills.

1. Public Bills are those which change the general law and which constitute the significant part of the parliamentary legislative process.
2. Private Bills are those which affect the powers of particular bodies (such as local authorities) or the rights of individuals (such as certain proposals relating to railways, roads and harbors).
3. Hybrid Bills are public Bills which may affect private rights. The passage of private Bills and hybrid Bills through Parliament is governed by a special form of parliamentary procedure which allows those affected to put their case.
Public Bills can be introduced, in either House, by a goverment minister or by an ordinary member. Most public Bills that become Acts of Parliament are introduced by a government minister and are known as 'government Bills'. Before a government Bill is drafted, there may be consultation with organizations which are interested in the subject. Proposals for legislative changes are sometimes set out in government 'White Papers', which may be debated in Parliament before a Bill is introduced. From time to time consultation papers, sometimes called 'Green Papers', set out government proposals which are still taking shape and seek comments from the public.