2. Democratic elections are periodic. It presupposes that democracies don’t usually elect dictators or presidents-for-life. On the contrary, elected officials are accountable to the people, so they must return to their voters at certain intervals to seek their mandate to continue in office. The only possible exception from the rule is judges who may be appointed for life and removed only for serious improprieties in order to protect them from popular pressure and help to ensure their impartiality.
3. Democratic elections are inclusive. A large part of the country’s population must be able to take part in the elections. A government chosen by a small, exclusive group is not a democracy, no matter how democratic its activities are.
4. Democratic elections are definitive. They determine the leadership of the government. Subject to the laws and Constitution of the country, popularly elected representatives hold the reins of power.
5. Democratic elections are not limited to selecting candidates. Voters can also be asked to decide policy issues directly through referenda and initiatives that are placed on the ballot.
When the election is over, the losers accept the decision of the voters. If the incumbent party loses, it turns over power peacefully. Both sides agree to cooperate in resolving the common problems of the society. As the next election comes around, opposition party will again have the opportunity to compete for power. Besides those defeated at the polls are offered alternatives for public service outside government. They may continue either as a formal opposition party or participate in the wider political process and debate through writing, teaching or joining private organizations concerned with public policy issues. After all, democratic elections are not a fight for survival but a competition to serve.
Scanning
1. Read the text once again and answer the detailed questions.
1. Why are elections the central institution of democratic representative governments?
2. What is understood by the competitive elections?
3. Why must the freedoms of speech, assembly and movement be observed at the elections?
4. Should democratic elections be periodic? Why/ Why not?
5. Why may judges be appointed for life?
6. In what cases may judges be removed?
7. When can a government be called democratic?
8. What do democratic elections determine?
9. What are the other ways of deciding policy except the elections?
10. How must the losers behave after the elections?
11. What are the opportunities of the defeated of taking part in the political and social life of the country?
2. Complete the following sentences.
1. ……… are the basis of any democracy.
2. ……… must enjoy the freedom of speech, assembly and movement.
3. ……… are accountable to the people.
4. ……… may be appointed for life.
5. ……… must be able to take part in the elections.
6. ……… hold the reins of power.
7. ……… can also be asked to decide policy issues through referenda.
8. If the ……… loses, it turns over power peacefully.
9. ……… are not a fight for survival but a competition to serve.
Word Study
1. Translate the following lexical units from English into Russian.
Authority, fair elections, possess certain characteristic features, competitive, opposition parties, candidates, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of movement, voice criticism, presuppose, officials, be accountable to, be appointed for life, serious improprieties, protect from popular pressure, ensure impartiality, hold the reins of power, decide policy issues, referendum, losers, the defeated, incumbent party, turn over power, compete for power.
2. Translate the following lexical units from Russian into English.
Честные выборы, соревновательный, кандидаты, свобода собрания, озвучивать критику, чиновники, быть назначенным на пост пожизненно, защищать от общественного давления, держать бразды правления, референдум, партия власти, бороться за власть, обладать определенными характерными чертами, власть, партии оппозиции, свобода слова, свобода передвижения, предполагать, быть ответственным перед…, непристойное поведение, обеспечивать беспристрастность, решать политические проблемы, проигравший(2), передавать власть.
3. Match the following words with their definitions.
1. authority a/ express in words
2. derive from b/ look for, search for
3. voice c/ indecent behaviour
4. seek d/ holding an official post
5. be appointed e/ try to win something
6. impropriety f/ come from, originate from
7. incumbent g/ power or right to control
8. compete h/ get the post of
4. Give related words.
Verb Noun Adjective
Compete --------- competitive
----------- --------- inclusive
Define --------- definitive
------------ opposition -----------
------------ ------------ accountable
Exclude ------------ exclusive
-------------- constitution --------------
-------------- legislature --------------
-------------- objections ---------------
-------------- alternative ---------------
Grammar
1. Watch the usage of the following irregular plurals. These words were borrowed from Latin and Greek that’s why their plural forms are not typical of English.
Phenomenon – phenomena
analysis – analyses
crisis – crises
datum – data
referendum – referenda
2. Complete the sentences with the suitable form of the words given above
1. … are rarely held in modern democratic countries. The last … in Russia was held in 1991.
2. The … received during the opinion polls on the day of elections help predict the results of voting.
3. A thorough … of public opinion can help determine the basic objectives and strategies of government’s activities.
3. Translate the following sentences from Russian into English. Watch the usage of the irregular plurals.
1. Феномен таких выдающихся политиков, как Сталин, Ленин, Гитлер, очень сложно объяснить.
2. Данные многих исследований показывают, что эти люди обладали харизмой, чем и объясняются их выдающиеся способности влиять на сознание людей.
3. Президенту страны важно не растеряться в кризисной ситуации. Необходимо сделать анализ возникших проблем и составить последовательный план действий по выходу из тупика. ( to overcome the deadlock)
Talking Point
Discuss the following questions.
1. One of the greatest dramas of democracy through the history has been the struggle of excluded groups – whether racial, ethnic and religious minorities, or women – to win full citizenship, and with it, the right to vote and hold office.
Do you know any examples of a liberation movement?
2. Have you ever voted at any elections?
3. Do you know any cases when elections were considered undemocratic? In what cases can it happen?
4. When are referenda held? When was the last referendum held in Russia?
Speaking
Prepare a monologue on the topic “Democratic Elections are the Basis of Democracy”.
Rendering
Render the following text in Russian using a dictionary.
Electoral System
Electoral system is any set of rules whereby the votes of citizens determine the selection of executives and legislators. Electoral systems are divided into several groups: plurality, majoritarian and proportional systems. For national elections, plurality systems are found only in Great Britain and some former British colonies (including the United States and India). Majoritarian systems are found in France and Australia for legislative elections and in about half of the countries with directly elected chief executives. There are many proportional systems in the democratic world. They differ greatly.
Each system has a number of distinctive features. Plurality systems tend to concentrate the vote on the two leading parties except where there are concentrated regional parties. Majoritarian systems are appropriate for presidential elections, since there is only one president who ought to have majority support at least against the last rival left in the field. However, using a majoritarian system to elect a legislature can lead to severe distortions. The number of parties elected under a proportional system is a function depending partly of the size of district it employs (the more seats there are in each district, the more parties will tend to be represented), and partly of the underlying cleavages in the society.
Writing
Write an essay of 200 words on the topic “The Electoral System of the Russian Federation”.
Role Play
Democratic Elections
Group1: You are the members of the political party that won the elections.
Group2: You are a group of independent observers who consider the elections undemocratic.
Discuss the situation, give arguments to support your viewpoint. Try to reach a consensus.
While discussing use the following phrases.
To say you agree:
· I am exactly of the same opinion
· That’s quite right
· Oh, exactly.
· I can’t help thinking the same
· I absolutely agree
· I’m with you here
To say you disagree:
· I’m not sure, in fact
· I’m not at all convinced
· I’m afraid I entirely disagree with …
· I don’t think that’s right
· I can’t say I share your view
To say you partly agree:
· I agree with you up to a point but …
· I agree with you in a way but …
· I see what you mean but …
· There is some truth in what you say. However, …
· I agree with much of what you say, but …
· To a certain extent, yes, but …
· That may be true, but …
· That’s all very well, but …
· I agree in principle, but …
· There’s much in what you say, but …
· In spite of what you say, I think …
· Ok, but…
Unit V
Political Parties
Pronunciation
Look up in a dictionary the words to make sure of their pronunciation
Numerous
recruit
campaign
majority
motivate
decentralized
disciplined
elaborate
Warm-up
Check you understand the meaning of the highlighted words below. Then discuss the questions in groups.
1. Do you know anyone who is a member of a political party?
2. What kinds of things do left-wing political parties believe in?
3. What are the main views of right-wing political parties?
4. What parties are called the centre?
5. Which party came to power in the last elections in your country?
6. Are any political parties banned in your country? Why?
7. What was the last political party to be set up in your country?
8. Have any parties in your country split over the last few years?
Reading
Read the text and say what functions political parties perform in the life of a country.
A political system cannot exist without political parties. The most common definition of a political party is that it is an organization that sponsors and supports candidates for office under its label.
The functions of political parties within a system are numerous. They recruit, nominate and campaign to elect public officials; draw up policy programmes for the government if they are in the majority; offer criticism and alternative policies if they are in opposition; mobilize support for common policies among different interest groups; educate the public about public issues; and provide structure and rules for the society’s political debate. In some political systems ideology may be an important factor in recruiting and motivating party members; elsewhere party members may be united by similar economic interests or social outlook.
There exist various types of party organizations. On the one hand, most of multi-party parliamentary systems in Europe are tightly disciplined organizations run by full-time professionals. On the other hand, in the two-party system of the USA, the two rival Republican and Democratic parties are decentralized organizations which function mainly in Congress and at the state level. This situation changes every four years when national Democratic and Republican party organizations coalesce to mount presidential election campaign.
The election campaigns that are conducted by different political parties are often elaborate, usually time-consuming, sometimes silly. However, the aim of any election campaign is to provide a peaceful and fair method by which the citizens of a democracy can select their leaders and have a hand in determining their own destiny.
Scanning
Read the text again and answer the following questions.
1. What is the most common definition of a political party?
2. What factors can help in recruiting and motivating party members?
3. How do party organizations and systems vary in different parliamentary systems?
4. What is the most important function of election campaigns?
Read the following statements and say whether they are true or false
1. Political parties are not an integral part of any party system.
2. The functions of political parties within a system are numerous.
3. If a political party is on opposition it doesn’t play any role at all.
4. In some cases party members may be united by similar economic interests or social outlook.
5. Types of party organizations are various.
6. The USA has a peculiar party system.
Summarize the text in about 7-9 sentences.
Word Study
1. Translate the following lexical units from English into Russian
Left-wing party, right-wing party, centrists, member of a political party, come to power, banned parties, set up a party, split, sponsor, support candidates for the office, recruit, nominate, campaign, party in the majority, draw up a programme, offer criticism and alternative policy, be in opposition, mobilize support, multiparty system, tightly-disciplined organization, be run by…, two-party system, rival, decentralized, coalesce, mount presidential election campaign, elaborate, have a hand in…
2. Translate the following lexical units from Russian into English
Партия правого толка, центристы, партия левого толка, член партии, прийти к власти, запрещенные партии, организовать партию, распадаться, спонсировать, поддерживать кандидатов на пост, набирать, назначать, проводить выборную кампанию, составлять программу действий, партия большинства, критиковать и предлагать альтернативную программу действий, представлять оппозицию, собирать голоса в поддержку, многопартийная система, организация со строгой дисциплиной, возглавляться, двухпартийная система, соперничающие, децентрализованные, создавать коалицию, проводить кампанию, сложная, принимать участие.
3. Find the words in the text that correspond to the following. Make up sentences of your own to illustrate their meaning.
1. A set of actions aimed at obtaining a particular result
2. to find in order to employ
3. a person who wants to be chosen for a job or elected to a position
4. to unite in order to form one group
5. to increase in amount
6. full of detail, carefully worked out
7. take part in, participate
8. a person who holds an office
9. the set of all the significant parties in a country, their interactions and the electoral system