I simple plurality system

(first past the post, FPTP) 2. second ballot system

l. alternative vote system (AVS)

Proportional electoral systems: I limited vote system

^s additional member system (ADS)

6. single-transferable-vote system (STVS)

7. party list system

♦ Work with the dictionary cises 3, 4

система подсчета голосов по первой и последующим преференциям до набора установленной квоты + 1 голос

система голосования по партийным спискам,

I consult the text to do exer-

Ex. 3. Translate from English into Russian

The system governs the conduct of elections; single-party majority rule; prospects of winning or sharing power; attitudes towards th§ electoral system are largely shaped by party advantage; the principles that underpin 'good' government,-* electoral systems merit only a qualified endorsement; to reflect a balance of advantages over disadvantages; they strain the legitimacy of the entire political system) ideologically driven parties; to broaden their appeal; it may be naive, to equate electoral fairness with proportionality; single-party governments; they may not exert influence in line with their electoral strength; 'the tail wags the dog'; to translate the manifesto commitments into a programme of government; weak and unstable governments; they are liable to collapse; an unqualified virtue; to restrict scrutiny and parliamentary accountability,

Ex. 4. Translate from Russian into English

Жестокие политические споры; существующая система; ма^ жоритарная система; система пропорционального представи­тельства; многопартийные системы; коалиционное правительст­во; в большей или меньшей степени; соизмеримый с чем-™ очевидный; такое предвзятое отношение невозможно оправдать;' остаться у власти на более длительный срок; способность вы» полнять предвыборные обещания; обеспечить устойчивое и эф фективное правление.

Ex. 5. Fill in the gaps in column 'A' with the topical vocabulary units from column *B', making all necessary changes

A. B.

1. He ... Britain at the UN. a. to govern

2. An electoral system is a set b. subject to of rules that ... elections.

3. Electoral rules are ... fierce political debate and argument in many countries.

4. The electoral reform debate risks ... the essence of electoral systems.

5. The impact of particular electoral systems ... the political culture and the economic and social context within which politics ...

(>. Candidates are a success after ... their ideas and bringing them home to the electorate.

7. The newly-elected

government is expected ...

X. The shadow cabinet commits itself to .,, its programme and make it more appealing than the ruling party's.

9. 'A strong' government should ... to maintain popular support.

III. Broadly-based coalitions may possess the main qualities for government ... than single-party governments.

11 Each majoritarian system ... popular preferences in the sense that a party representation is not commensurate with its electoral strength,

] ¹ Ideologically driven parties can remain in power for prolonged periods under little ...

c. to represent

d. to have an impact on

e. to deliver on election promises

f. to thrash out

g. to stem from, to conduct

h. to distort

i. outside pressure

j. in greater abundance

k. to re-evaluate

1. to broaden its appeal

Ex. 6. Make up derivatives of the following verbs with the help of 'under' and 'over'. Make up sentences with them

to estimate, to do, to act, to burden, to change, to develop, to pay, to rate, to emphasize, to sell, to state, to take, to value

Ex. 7. Complete the Conditional sentences according to the model and translate them into Russian

A. But for sth = if it weren't (hadn't been) for sth.+ one would do/ would have done sth.

Model: But for the poor support of the electorate in the suburbs he would have won the elections last year.

1. But for his help we (to fail to convert pounds into francs) as the whole of Paris was on holiday.

2. But for their evaluation of all the possibilities and consequences he (not to be able) to defend his ideas now so bravely,

3. Majoritarian systems (be the weakest) but for their estimation in terms of the government functions.

4. But for this coalition it (be naive) to expect him to win the elections.

5. But for the failure to gain support of its constituents the Labour Party (take the upper hand) of the Tories in 1997.

B.

1. But for the electoral system that governs the conduct of elections...

2. But for the differences in the ways the systems convert votes into seats ...

3. But for a higher proportion of seats won in the election ...

4. But for a fierce campaign against him in mass media ...

5. But for the party advantage last time ...

6. But for the capacity of the systems to deliver stable rule ...

Ex. 8. Translate the following sentences into English, using a jhlit for' phrase and the topical vocabulary of the Unit

1. Если бы не заявление защитника, суд не смог бы правиль­но оценить ситуацию.

2. Кандидат выполнил бы свои предвыборные обещания, ес­ли бы не давление, оказанное на него оппозицией.

3. Если бы не четкие критерии программы, выработанные партией, она не была бы так популярна среди избирателей.

4. Если бы не слабая защита обвиняемого, судья не вынес бы такой приговор.

5. Если бы не неудачи в жизни, он не перешел бы в буддизм.

6. Если бы не правильное понимание расстановки сил, пра­вящая партия не настаивала бы на решении конфликта мирным путем.

7. Если бы не искаженная информация, представители от разных партий проголосовали бы за резолюцию единоглас­но.

8. Если бы не система пропорционального представительства, не все избирательные округа были бы представлены в пар­ламенте.

Ex. 9. Open the brackets, using the model: It is (was) time/ high time/about time you did it

Model: It's about time the system of 'first past the post' were operated in our country.

1. ... the country (divide) into single-member constituencies.

2. ... voters (select) a single candidate and (mark) his or her name with a cross on the ballot paper.

3. ... the winning candidate (need) only to achieve a plurality of votes.

Model: It is time the system established a clear link between representatives and constituents and ensured that constituency demands were met.

1. ... the system (offer) the electorate a clear choice of potential parties of government.

2. ... the system (allow) governments to be formed freely.

Model: ft's high time the system produced a stable government.

1. ... they (compose) a strong and effective government.

2. ... they (have) majority control of the assembly.

Ex. 10. Translate the following sentences into English

I Настало время, чтобы нынешняя система выборов не теря­ла впустую голоса избирателей, не теряла самих кандида­тов, не искажала избирательные предпочтения из-за 'недо-представительства' малых партий.

Давно пора, чтобы наша избирательная система предостав­ляла более широкий выбор тенденций развития, ввела норму простого большинства, не подрывала легитимности правительства; не создавала нестабильности, так как изме­нения в правлении могут приводить к радикальной смене политики и ее направлений.

3. Пора бы сделать систему правления подотчетной народу, поощрять отбор из социально широкого спектра кандида­тов в интересах тех, кто наиболее привлекателен для боль­шого корпуса избирателей (a large body of voters).

4. Пора бы внести изменения в мажоритарную систему с тем, чтобы она не искажала предпочтения избирателей и не бы­ла несправедливой к «третьим» партиям.

5. Пора бы представить новых депутатов представительному собранию.

6. Не пора ли вам научиться защищать свои собственные ин­тересы?

7. Правительству давно пора начать проводить политику сни­жения налогов.

8. Вам пора понять, что все выводы этого ученого происте­кают из его субъективной оценки данной ситуации.

9. Вам давно пора осознать, что результаты выборов в какой-то степени оказали влияние на формирование взглядов этого политика.

10. Пора бы согласиться с тем, что некоторых избирателей просто заставили проголосовать за этого кандидата.

Ex. П. Put in prepositions and 'as':

Elections are often thought the heart ... the political process,¹

Perhaps no questions ... politics are ... crucial ... 'do we elect the' politicians who rule ... us, and ... what rules are these elections held?" Elections are seen ... nothing less than democracy ... practice. They are a means ... which the people can control their government, ultimately ... 'kicking the rascals out'. Central ... this notion is the principle of representation. Put simply, this portrays politicians servants ... the people, and invests them ... a responsibility to act... or

those who elect them. When democracy, ... the classical sense

... direct and continuous popular participation, is regarded ... hopelessly impractical, representation may be the closest we can come ... achieving government ... the people. There is nevertheless considerable disagreement ... how representation can be achieved .., practice, and ... how politicians should be elected and what election results actually mean.

Ex. 12. Translate from Russian into English

1. «Отбор политиков» (Recruiting politicians) в ходе выборов производится с учетом наличия у них определенных талан­тов и навыков, связанных (that are related to) с выборными технологиями (electioneering). В их числе: харизма, оратор­ское искусство, приятная внешность — все то, что может оказаться ненужным (not to suit to) для выполнения кон­ституционных обязанностей при работе в комитетах и де­партаментах.

2. «Формирование правительств» (Making governments) как одна из функций выборов происходит только там, где ис­полнительная власть избирается напрямую. В большинстве стран выборы влияют на формирование правительства, когда какая-либо партия получает парламентское большин­ство.

3. «Обеспечение представительства» (Providing representation). Когда выборы честные и состязательные (competitive), они являются каналом передачи требований от народа прави­тельству. Но без права инициативы и отзыва избиратели не имеют эффективных средств гарантии их выполнения.

4. «Установление легитимности» (Building legitimacy). Ритуал выборов придает (to confer on) им церемониальный статус и важность. И, что особенно значимо, поощряет избирате­лей участвовать в политике, мобилизуя их заинтересован­ное согласие.

5. «Укрепление элит» (Strengthening elites). Выборы могут стать проводником (a vehicle), через который элиты могут манипулировать массами и контролировать их. Политиче­ское недовольство и оппозиция могут быть нейтрализованы выборами, которые направляют (to channel) это недоволь­ство на конституционное изменение правительства, а не режима в целом.

Ex. 13. Translate into Russian paying attention to different uses of articles

1. One reason why even_authoritarian regimes bother to hold _ elections, even if they are not competitive, is that_elections help to foster_Jegitimacy by providing justification for_a_system of rule. This happens because_thЈ ritual involved in campaigning somehow confers oa_an_election__a_ceremonial status and importance. Most importantly, by encouraging^itizens to participate in_politics, even in the limited form of voting, elections mobilisejictive consent.

.'. The electoral reform debate is, at heart,_a_debate about the desirable nature of government and_the_ principles that underpin 'good' government.

3. Electoral systems merit only_a_qualified endorsement, reflecting a_balance ofladvantages over_djsadvantages.

4. Supporters of proportional representation argue that having_a strong government, in the sense oLa_government that is able to push through policies, is by no means_an_unqualified virtue, tending to restrict_scrutiny and_parliamentary accountability.

5. The impact ofjparticular electoral systems is largely conditioned by other circumstances, namely_the political culture, the nature of thЈ party system, and Ше economic and social context within which politics is conducted.

6. The mo^t significant function of elections is to set limits to arbitrary government by ensuring that_politicians who claim to speak fr>r the public must be ultimately judged byjjie. public.

7. There is_growing empirical evidence that lhЈ link between sociological factors and.party support has weakened in_modern⁶

societies. In particular, attention has been paid to the

phenomenon of_class dealignment.

8. These rules must be justified in terms of ЙШ shared beliefs of the. government and the governed.

9. Some thinkers have portrayed_elections as lbs very heart of democracy.

Ex. 14. Translate the text into English