
- •1. What types of media can you name? What are the media often accused of?
- •2. What is the difference between tabloids and broadsheets? What is the difference between their readerships?
- •3. What kinds of articles can a newspaper carry? What is meant by a biased article?
- •4. What role do the media play in today’s world and in the current political situation?
- •5. How can press freedom be limited?
- •6. Why is Britain said to have the least free press in Europe?
- •7. What is political correctness? Give examples of politically correct/incorrect things said in English-speaking countries.
- •8. Name the main political parties in Great Britain and in the usa.
- •9. First-past-the-post system and the system pf proportionate representation (differences, examples).
- •10. Speak about presidential elections in the usa (primaries, caucuses, requirements for a presidential candidate, electoral college, party conventions, election day).
- •11. Speak about elections to the us Congress (the Senate, the House of Representatives).
- •12. Describe elections in the uk, speak about the main differences between the us and British electoral systems.
- •13. Do you think opinion polls are effective in measuring the public opinion of a politician?
- •14. Why do people abstain from voting?
9. First-past-the-post system and the system pf proportionate representation (differences, examples).
The first-past-the-post (FPTP) system and proportional representation (PR) system are two distinct electoral systems.
In the FPTP system, the candidate with the most votes in each constituency wins a seat in the legislative body, such as a parliament or a congress. It's a winner-takes-all system where the candidate does not need an absolute majority, just more votes than any other candidate. FPTP tends to produce single-party majority governments, as it can lead to a situation where the winning party gains a majority of seats in the legislative body with less than a majority of the popular vote. The FPTP system is used in countries like the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States for certain elections, such as gubernatorial races in some states.
In PR systems, political parties receive seats in proportion to their share of the popular vote. Various forms of PR systems exist, such as party-list PR, mixed-member PR, and the single transferable vote. PR systems often result in proportional allocation of legislative seats to political parties, allowing for greater representation of diverse viewpoints and minority parties. Coalitions are common in PR systems, as it's often more difficult for a single party to win an outright majority. Countries like Germany, the Netherlands, and Israel use PR systems for their national elections. In addition, some regional elections in Belgium and Spain also employ PR.
10. Speak about presidential elections in the usa (primaries, caucuses, requirements for a presidential candidate, electoral college, party conventions, election day).
In order to become a presidential candidate, a person must meet certain constitutional and legal requirements. The Constitution states that a candidate must be a natural-born citizen, at least 35 years old, and have been a resident of the United States for at least 14 years. In addition, candidates must also meet the requirements set forth by the Federal Election Commission, including fundraising and campaign finance regulations.
Time of the year |
Event |
Spring of the year before an election |
Candidates register with the Federal Election Commission to run for president. While there is no federal deadline to register, there are other requirements. Learn about registering as a presidential candidate. |
Spring of the year before an election |
Candidates announce their intentions to run. |
Summer of the year before an election through spring of the election year |
Primary and caucus debates take place. |
January to June of election year |
States and parties hold primaries and caucuses. Find out more about primaries and caucuses. |
July to early September |
Parties hold nominating conventions to choose their candidates. Read more about the conventions. |
September and October |
Candidates participate in presidential debates. |
Early November |
Election Day is the first Tuesday after the first Monday. Find out about the presidential general election. |
December |
Electors cast their votes in the Electoral College. Learn how the Electoral College works. |
Early January of the next calendar year |
Congress counts the electoral votes. |
January 20 |
Inauguration Day |