- •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?
11. Speak about elections to the us Congress (the Senate, the House of Representatives).
Elections to the United States Congress, which consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives, are key components of the American democratic process. Here's an overview of the elections to each chamber:
Senate elections are held every two years, with one-third of the 100 Senate seats up for election in each cycle. Senators serve six-year terms, and the staggered election schedule means that only a fraction of the Senate is up for election at any given time. Each state is represented by two senators, regardless of its population size, leading to equal representation for all states in the Senate. Senators are elected by a direct vote of the people in their respective states, and the candidate who receives the most votes wins the Senate seat.
House elections take place every two years, with all 435 seats up for election in each cycle. Representatives serve two-year terms, and the entire House is re-elected in each election cycle. The number of representatives for each state is based on its population, with states having at least one representative and more populous states having more representatives. Members of the House are elected by a direct vote of the people in their respective congressional districts, with the candidate receiving the most votes winning the seat.
A senator must be at least 30 years old at the time of assuming office. A senator must be a US citizen for at least nine years prior to being elected to the Senate. A senator must be a resident of the state from which they are elected at the time of the election.
A member of the House must be at least 25 years old at the time of assuming office. A member of the House must be a US citizen for at least seven years prior to being elected to the House of Representatives. A member of the House must be an inhabitant of the state from which they are elected at the time of the election.
12. Describe elections in the uk, speak about the main differences between the us and British electoral systems.
The electoral system in the United Kingdom (UK) is a key component of its democratic process, shaping the composition of the UK Parliament and other local and regional bodies. The UK's electoral system, notably different from that of the United States, includes the first-past-the-post (FPTP) model for general elections to the House of Commons, where the candidate with the most votes in each constituency wins a seat. The UK Parliament is comprised of the House of Commons, with members elected by the public, and the House of Lords, whose members are appointed or inherit their positions. Additionally, the UK operates with parliamentary sovereignty, granting supreme legal authority to Parliament and allowing for flexible scheduling of parliamentary and local elections at the government's discretion. Devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have their own parliamentary or assembly elections, reflecting a decentralized governance approach. Contrasts with the US electoral system include the structure of the legislative and executive branches, fixed election intervals, and the varying application of electoral systems. Notably, the US Congress consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives, while the President holds separate executive authority. The Prime Minister of the UK, typically the leader of the majority party in the House of Commons, serves as head of government, combining executive leadership with a role in the legislative branch. The US adopts a mix of electoral systems, while the UK predominantly employs the FPTP method for parliamentary elections. These differences are emblematic of each country's unique historical, cultural, and constitutional evolution, reflecting distinct approaches to representation, governance, and electoral frameworks.