Англиискии для вас Новый курс XXI века

Conversations: A. Elections in Great Britain. B. Presidential Elections in the USA.

Learn these words and word combinations

state structure pstrxktfo] государственное устройство, государственный строй

electoral [ilekt(a)r(a)l] а избирательный: the electoral system psistam] избира­тельная система; Can you give me some idea of the British electoral system?

power n власть; state power государственная власть; to be in power быть у власти; a government (a party) in power правительство (партия), находя­щееся (-аяся) у власти; to remain in power оставаться у власти; Do you believe the Conservative Рапу will remain in power for four more years?

legislative ['lecfcisbtiv] а законодательный; legislative body законодательный орган

chamber ftfeimba] n палата; Sy n. house; the Upper Chamber (House) Верхняя палата; the Lower Chamber (House) Нижняя палата; How many deputies are elected to the Lower Chamber?

educational qualification | Awohfrkeijn] избирательный ценз

with the exception [ik'sepjh] of за исключением; We enjoyed all his concerts with the exception of the last one.

session n заседание, сессия; joint session совместное заседание

executive [ig zekjutiv] а исполнительный; an executive body исполнитель­ный орган

form v образовывать, формировать; The President invited Mr Jenkins to form a Ministry.

appoint (o point] v назначать; They are going to appoint Mr Lewis manager.

term of office срок полномочий; The President’s term of office is four years in the USA.

expire |iks'paio| v кончаться, истекать (о сроке). When does the President’s term of office expire?

expiration ] .eksprreijn] n окончание, истечение (срока), at the expiration of: по истечении (срока)

Act of Parliament постановление парламента (закон)

go down v понижаться (о ценах); ухудшаться (о качестве); уменьшаться (о количестве), сокращаться; Prices of radio sets are expected to go down.

go up v дорожать (о продуктах), расти, повышаться (о ценах; качестве и т. п.), подниматься; Prices have gone up again.

floating voters Br. «неустойчивые» избиратели, избиратели, голосующие то за одну, то за другую партию; S vn. Am. independent voters

dissolution |,diss' lu:Jn] n роспуск, закрытие; dissolution of Parliament роспуск парламента

dissolve [drzolv] v распускать, прекращать деятельность; The Conservative Party is going to dissolve Parliament next month.

the House of Commons (разг, the Commons) палата общин (нижняя палата английского парламента)

majority |тэ' cfamti | n большинство; The majority of people prefer watching games to playing them, to gain (to get) the majority собрать большинство голосов; by a large majority большинством голосов: by a majority of 4,536 большинством в 4 536 голосов; He was elected by a large majority; the majority leader руководитель (лидер) большинства (членов парламента, принадлежащих к партии, побелившей на выборах)

Prime Minister премьер-министр

Cabinet |'ksbinot ] п Вг. кабинет (министров) (руководящая группа мини­стров, назначаемая премьер-министром)

opposition | .cipa'zijh] leader лидер оппозиции

Shadow I'faedou] Cabinet Br. «теневой кабинет-» (парламентский комитет главной оппозиционной партии)

parliamentary bpaila'mentri] а парламентарный

peer |рю| п пэр (титулованный дворянин)

residence prezidons] qualification ценз оседлости

presidential |,prezi'denjl] а президентский

the Democratic Party Демократическая партия

the Republican Party Республиканская партия

primary | 'ргалпэп] n предварительные выборы

leadership | lixbjip] n руководство

take office вступить в должность

President-elect вновь избранный президент; When will the President-elect take office?

inaugurate 11' nxqiureit] v Am. торжественно вводить в должность

inauguration (гna:qjureijn| п иногурация; inauguration day день вступления президента в должность

vary |'V£an| v (часто from) разниться, расходиться, отличаться; Opinions varied on that problem. Мнения поданной проблеме разошлись. Election qualifications vary from state to state.

range v (from ... to) колебаться в определенных пределах; Prices ranged from £10 to £25.

literacy [litrasi] test образовательный ценз

A. Elections in Great Britain

Kochetkov (a Russian teacher): All your papers are writing about the coming election. 1 wonder why: the term of office of the present government hasn’t expired yet, has it?

Mr Brown (a London University lecturer): It hasn’t. Under the Act of Parliament the present government has about a whole year to go.

K: Then, why not wait till the end of that period?

B: Ah, there’s such a thing as making the use of the tide when it’s flowing for you.¹ Naturally, a government in power wants to hold a general election at the most favourable moment for itself.

K: Why do they think this is a favourable moment?

B: Well, it may. Things are fairly peaceful, the party in power hasn't commit­ted any terrible faux par recently. The number of the unemployed has gone down a little.

К: Do you think the party in power will win the election?

B: They hope so. Judging by the last three elections the so-called “floating vot­ers” decide the matter.

K: Who do you mean by the "floating voters”?

B: Those who belong to neither major party. Very much depends on who they'll vote for.

K: Can you give me some idea of how the election works?

B: Well, the Queen has to agree to the dissolution of the present Parliament After that the election date is fixed. Then comes the nomination of candi­dates for the House of Commons.

К How many members are there in the Commons?

В About six hundred and thirty.

K: Then, 1 suppose, the party that gains the majority forms a government.

B: Yes. the leader of the majority party becomes Prime Minister and he forms the Cabinet.

K: And the opposition leader forms the Shadow Cabinet, doesn't he?

В Yes. this is the way parliamentary elections are held in this country.

K: Who is entitled to vote in this country?

B: Anyone who's reached the age of eighteen with the exception of lunatics, and also peers, who already have seats in the House of Lords.

K: Are there any election qualifications?

B: There’s a residence qualification.

B. Presidential Elections in the USA

Mishina (a Russian student): I've never expected the presidential election cam­paign to take that long.’ It started several months ago.

Mr Jackson (an American teacher): Well, that's the routine procedure. You cer­tainly remember the conventions the Democratic and the Republican par­ties held last summer. They nominated candidates for the Presidency.

M: 1 didn't quite understand the role of primaries, though.

J: Well, in away they help the party leadership choose the most popular of the candidates.

M: So the presidential election will take place next Tuesday,* won't it?

J: In fact yes. Though legally it won't be the presidential election. Voters will elect the Electoral College' which later on will elect President.

M: Will the President take office immediately after the election day?

J: No, not immediately. The President-elect will be inaugurated on Inauguration Day, January 20 next year.

M: Are there any election qualifications?

J: Yes, there are some and they vary from state to state: residence qualifica­tions ranging from six months to two years, literacy tests, etc.

Notes

1. 
   make the use of the tide when it's flowing for you использовать удобный момент, воспользоваться удобным случаем
   
2. 
   commit faux pas |fo:' рэ:] (франц. = англ, false step) совершить ошибку
   
3. 
   that long так долго
   
4. 
   next Tuesday имеется в виду первый вторник после первого понедель­ника в ноябре
   
5. 
   the Electoral College выборщики, непосредственно голосующие при косвенных выборах за кандидатуру на пост президента
   

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