Vocabulary practice

A Read the words and guess their meaning. Mind the stress.

'continent de'mocracy

'category pro'portional

'element e'lectoral

'compromise re'flect

'system e'ffective

B Match the words with their definitions.

1. electoral (a) a) the number by which votes for one sideare more than for the other side

2. voting (n) b) the action of formally indicating one’schoice of candidate

3. legislature (n) c) relating to elections or electors

4. majority (n) d) a body of people with the power tomake and change laws

5. ballot (n) e) choose smb. by voting

6. win (v) f) the system of secret voting

7. elect (v) g) be successful in smth.

C Which of the phrases below do not associate with electoralsystem characteristics?

a point of voting; a representative assembly; a coalitiongovernment; a parliamentary majority; a proportionalrepresentation; sovereignty of the state; a double ballot; thenumber of seats; scarce resources.

D Match the first half of each sentence with the mostappropriate second half.

1. The choice of theelectoral system

a) the nature of representativegovernment.

2. Electoral systems define b) one party has aparliamentary majority.

3. The choice of systemsraises issues about

c) appropriate to everycountry.

4. In choosing the electoralsystem much depends ond) is of great importance inour democracy.

5. In majoritarian systems e) what the electoral systemis supposed to achieve.

6. Mixed systems represent f) how the body politicoperates.

7. There is no perfectelectoral system

g) a compromise betweenmajoritarian andproportional systems.

E Learn the active vocabulary

a purpose of elections to allocate seats

a majoritarian system to parliamentary majority

a sufficient support to single-party government

a double ballot to reflect the opinion

a proportional representation to win votes

DISCUSSION

What are the main characteristics of the electoral system inBelarus?

A Scan Text 10.2 and answer the questions:

a) What countries are mentioned in the text?

b) What question is central in elections?

B Read the text. Mark the statements True or Falseaccording to the information in the text. Justify youranswer by reference to the text.

1. As a rule, the entire population of the country takes part inelections.

2. Jurisdictions of all countries require a minimum age ofvoting.

3. Women have always been eligible for public office.

4. In a direct democracy any eligible person can benominated.

5. In a representative democracy some positions are filledthrough appointment.

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