THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM OF THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS

Under the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus the judicial power in the Republic is vested in courts of law. The judicial system of the Republic is made up of courts of law of three tiers. On the top of the judicial pyramid is the Supreme Courtof the Republic of Belarus. It is the highest appellate court of the country. It is headed by the Chairman of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Belarus who is appointed by the President on the consent of the upper house of the National Assembly - the Council of the Republic. The Supreme Court judges are nominated by the President on the advice of the Chairman and must be approved by the Council of the Republic. Once approved, all members of the Court hold office for life. The Supreme Court includes separate divisions for civil, criminal and military cases. It has original jurisdiction in cases involving foreign dignitaries and those in which the state is a party. It also may decide most serious criminal cases and hear appeals from lower courts.

The middle tier of the republican judicial system is made up of six regional courts and the Minsk Town Court. The composition of those courts is similar to that of the Supreme Court. All judges of the regional courts including their chairmen are nominated by the President on the recommendation of the Chairman of the Supreme Court and the Minister of Justice for life. These courts deal with major criminal, civil and military cases and hear appeals from inferior courts. The decisions of the regional courts may be appealed only to the Supreme Court.

At the bottom of the judicial pyramid are district and town courtsspread all over the country. Most litigation starts in these courts. A district or town court usually consists of a chairman and a number of judges, depending on the size and the population of the district. In a trial one judge and two public representatives take part. All judges of these inferior courts are appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Chairman of the Supreme Court and the Ministry of Justice. The first term of office of an inferior court judge is five years; all other judges are appointed for life. District and town courts decide both criminal and civil cases and deal with administrative matters involving disputes between individuals and individuals and government departments. The decisions of district and town courts may be appealed to the corresponding regional courts and further up to the Supreme Court of the Republic of Belarus.

Task 2. Find English equivalents for the words in the text:

o законный, принадлежащий по праву

o высокопоставленный иностранец

o нижестоящий суд

o апелляция; право апелляции

o тяжба; судебный процесс

o Министерство юстиции

o пожизненнo; бессрочнo

o область административного правоприменения

Task 3. Mach the following words with their Russian equivalents:

Task 3. Explain the following in English:

o Ministry of Justice

o the highest appellate court

o district courts

o regional courts

o original jurisdiction

o civil cases

o criminal cases

o military cases

o foreign dignitaries

o courts of law

o judicial power

Task 4. Find expressions that mean:

1) a person considered to be important because of high rank or office;

2) the power to hear a case for the first time;

3) an important property of the concept of;

4) a matter of relevance to the policies of an administrative authority, including the preparation and implementation of such policies.