4. Рекомендуется для зрительно-устного перевода без чтения (с листа off-hand translation):

Candidates

Any person aged 21 or over who is a British citizen, or citizen of another Commonwealth country or the Irish Republic, may stand for election to Parliament, providing they are not disqualified. Those disqualified include:

- people who are bankrupt;

- people sentenced to more than one year's imprisonment;

- clergy of the Church of England, Church of Scotland, Church of Ireland and the Roman Catholic Church;

- members of the House of Lords; and

- a range of public servants and officials, specified by law. They include judges, civil servants, some local government officers, full-time members of the armed forces and police officers.

Candidates do not have to live in the constituencies for which they stand. However, candidates who are on the electoral register in the constituencies for which they are standing may vote in their own constituencies.

Candidates must be nominated on official nomination papers, giving their full name and home address. A political or personal description of up to six words may be included.

The nomination paper must be signed by ten electors, including a proposer and a seconder. At the same time a sum of £500 must be deposited on behalf of each candidate: candidates who receive less than 5 per cent of the votes cast in the subsequent election lose this deposit. Candidates from the main parties very rarely lose their deposits.

Candidates normally belong to one of the main political parties. However, smaller political parties and groups also put forward candidates, and individuals without party support also stand.

5. Рекомендуется для перевода на слух по абзацам:

General elections

General elections, for all seats in the House of Commons, take place at least every five years. In practice, elections are usually held before the end of the five-year term. In exceptional circumstances, such as during the two world wars (1914-18 and 1939-45), the life of a Parliament has been extended beyond the five-year term.

The decision on when to hold a general election is made by the Prime Minister. The procedure involves the Queen, acting on the Prime Minister's advice, dissolving Parliament and calling a new Parliament. Formal Writs of Election are normally issued on the same day. The Prime Minister usually announces the dissolution of Parliament and explains the reasons for holding the election.

Voting takes place within 17 days of the dissolution, not including Saturdays and Sundays and public holidays: therefore, election campaigns last for three to for weeks.

Administration of elections

In each constituency a returning officer, usually a senior local government officer, administers the election. He or she arranges for notices of election to appear in public places and for all election to appear in publlic places and for all electors to receive a poll card giving details of the voting arrangements. Returning officers also make the necessary arrangements for voting on polling day, including setting up polling stations and providing staff to run them.

For the purposes of voting, each constituency is divided into a number of polling districts. In each there is polling station: many types of building, including schools, are used.

The official expenses of parliamentary elections, as opposed to individual candidates’ expenses, are paid by the Government.