Topic 4. Elections

Комплексная цель – обучить студентов переводить и реферировать общественно-политические тексты, вести беседу и делать краткие сообщения в пределах тематического и лексического материала, предлагаемого в модуле.

Unit a Words and word combinations

ballot – избирательное право, голосование, избирательный бюллетень

by secret ballot – тайным голосование

ballot box – урна для избирательных бюллетеней

to cast one's ballot – отдать голос, опустить бюллетень

candidate – кандидат в депутаты

presidential candidate – кандидат на пост президента

front runner – кандидат, имеющий наибольшие шансы

syn. prime candidate

a shoo-in for – бесспорный кандидат, заранее известный победитель

to return a candidate by a broad/narrow margin – избрать кандидата с большим/незначительным перевесом голосов

to win by a margin of – опередить соперника на …

a candidate stands for Parliament – кандидат баллотируется на выборах в парламент

a candidate runs for Congress – кандидат выставляет свою кандидатуру на выборах в конгресс

also-ran – другой (проигравший) участник выборов

political analyst – политолог

political strategist – политтехнолог

campaign manager – руководитель избирательного штаба

spin doctor – пиарщик

publicity stunt – пиар-ход

smear campaign – чёрный пиар

constituency – избирательный округ

constituent / elector / voter – избиратель

elections (s) – выборы

general election – всеобщие выборы

early election – досрочные выборы

by-election – дополнительные выборы

election campaign – предвыборная избирательная компания

election speech (struggle, pledges) – предвыборное выступление

(борьба, обещания)

election returns – результаты голосования на выборах

electoral ward/polling station – избирательный участок/пункт

electoral mandate – наказ избирателей

electoral register – список избирателей

electoral college – коллегия выборщиков

electoral system – избирательная система

the electorate – избиратели

electoral law – избирательное законодательство, право

poll – голосование

polling day – день выборов

voting/polling booth – кабинка для голосования

to poll enough votes – собрать достаточное количество голосов

hold/conduct election. – проводить выборы

to fake/falsify the e. (results) – фальсифицировать, выборы, подтасовывать результаты выборов

to elect a representative – выбирать представителя

to be elected to – быть избранным в ...

to be elected President – избрать президентом

to resign (a seat, a post) – уходить в отставку, слагать (с себя обязанности), отказываться от должности

resignation – отказ от (или уход с) должности, отставка

to nominate – выставлять, предлагать кандидата

to n. smb. as a candidate for a seat... – выдвигать к-л. кандидатом на место...

syn. to propose smb. as a candidate, to put forward a candidate to put up a candidate

nomination – выдвижение кандидата

n. day – день, когда происходит выдвижение кандидатов

n. paper – подписной лист

deposit – залог

electoral d. – избирательный залог

on payment of a d. – после уплаты (избирательного) залога

to disqualify – лишать права (голоса)

to be disqualified from doing smth. – не иметь права делать что-л.

syn. to be barred from doing smth.

a resident – лицо, постоянно проживающее по адресу

residence – местожительство, местопребывание

(a) vote – голос на выборах, голосование

to cast/give a vote for/against – проголосовать за/против

to send the v. by post – голосовать по почте

to win/lose votes – получить/потерять голоса

v. by show of hands – голосование поднятием рук

v. by roll-call – поименное голосование

v. of no confidence – вотум недоверия

v. by secret ballot – тайное голосование

voting – голосование, участие в голосовании

compulsory/voluntary v. – обязательное/добровольное голосование

postal v. – голосование по почте

proxi v. – голосование за другое лицо (по доверенности)

to abstain from v. – воздерживаться от голосования

majority system of v. – мажоритарная система голосования

v. paper – избирательный бюллетень

syn. ballot paper

v. age – возраст, дающий право участия в выборах

to vote for/against – голосовать за/против

to v. by post – голосовать по почте

to v. by proxy – голосовать за другое лицо

to v. in person – голосовать лично

to authorize smb to vote – доверить к-л. свое право голоса

franchise – избирательное право, право голоса

syn. suffrage, right to vote, to be entitled to vote, to be eligible to vote

universal franchise/suffrage – всеобщее избирательное право

to oblige smb – обязывать к.-л.

to be obliged – быть обязанным

a register of electors – избирательные списки

syn. electoral list

to enter the name on the register of electors – внести фамилию в избирательные списки

syn. to compile electoral lists, to register voters

to register in for voting – зарегистрироваться, отметиться (в избирательных списках) для принятия участия в голосовании

syn. to register, to vote

registration – регистрация, запись

a r. officer – официальное лицо, которое проводит регистрацию избирателей (составляет избирательные списки)

valid – действительный, имеющий силу

to apply for (permission) – обращаться за (разрешением)

syn. to apply, to be allowed

representation – представительство (число кандидатов от избирательного округа)

fair r. – равное представительство

inequalities of r. – неравное представительство (несоответствие числа кандидатов от избирательного округа численности его населения)

to represent smb/one's interests – представлять к.-л./ ч.-л. интересы

dominance – господство, влияние

two-party d. – господство 2-х партий

to sustain/support d. – поддерживать господство (доминирующее положение)

to dominate – господствовать, доминировать

(public) opinion poll – опрос общественного мнения

to hold/conduct/commission о. р. – проводить опрос общественного мнения

to claim – утверждать, заявлять

a claim – требование, утверждение, претензия

to vote solid – голосовать единогласно

card vote – голосование мандатами

to vote with one’s feet – голосовать ногами (уходить)

roll call vote – поимённое голосование

turnout – явка

to staff the ballot-box – заполнять поддельными бюллетенями

ballot-box stuffing – фальсификация

multiple voting – незаконное голосование

repeater – амер. незаконно голосующий несколько раз на выборах

vote fraud – подкуп избирателей

gerrymander – подтасовка выборов

contest electoral results –опротестовать

subsequent check – пересчёт голосов

straw-man – фиктивная кандидатура

plebiscite, national poll – всенародное голосование

national poll, referendum – всенародный опрос

run independently – быть независимым кандидатом

to be non-partisan – быть беспартийным

to line up votes – собирать голоса

to sweep a constituency – получить подавляющее большинство голосов

Constituent Assembly – Учредительное Собрание

to win by landslide – добиваться успеха на выборах (получить подавляющее большинство голосов)

to carry a precinct – победить в данном округе

authorized representative – доверенное лицо

straight – предвыборная борьба двух кандидатов

snap voting/elections – внеочередные выборы

straw poll/vote – неофициальное (пробное) голосование

heavy/light poll – высокий/низкий процент голосов

to vote down – забаллотировать

voting slip – избирательный бюллетень

voting list (амер. ticket) – избирательный список

to unseat – лишать мандата

recall – отзыв (депутата)

residence/literacy/property qualification – ценз осёдлости/грамотности/ имущественный

commissioner, election officer – уполномоченный по выборам

hard-core voters – избиратели, неизменно голосующие за одну партию

slate, (fusion) ticket – список кандидатов (более чем одной партии)

floor leader – лидер в палате парламента

charisma – личное обаяние политического кандидата

амер. primaries – первичные выборы

Federal Writs of Election – официальный указ о выборах

parliamentary recess – перерыв на парламентские каникулы

Exercise 1. Give Russian equivalents for the following word combinations:

the foundations of electoral system, general election, to elect one representative to serve as a member of Parliament, by-election, any British subject can be nominated as a candidate, on payment of deposit, there are usually more than two candidates for each seat, the one who receives most votes is elected, less than half of the votes cast, the franchise, women's suffrage, the minimum voting age was reduced to eighteen, voting is not compulsory, to enter the name on the register of electors, a polling station, to send the vote by post, the division of the whole country into constituencies, to prevent gross inequalities of representation, national legislative election campaign, tо put down a vote of no confidence, to sustain the dominance of two rival parties, to choose the date of an election, opinion polls, he's a shoo-in for the presidency, the two-party system, the right of voting, to give fair representation.

Exercise 2. Give English equivalents for the following word combinations:

основы избирательной системы, всеобщие выборы, дополнительные выборы, избрать одного представителя в парламент, любой британский подданный может быть выдвинут кандидатом после уплаты избирательного залога, на каждое место обычно баллотируется (приходится) более двух кандидатов избирается тот, кто получает наибольшее число голосов, избирательное право, менее половины поданных голосов, голосование не является обязательным, всеобщее избирательное право, вносить в избирательный список фамилию каждого постоянного жителя, избирательный участок, избирательные списки действительны в течение одного года, обращаться за разрешением проголосовать по почте, деление страны на избирательные округа, предотвращать грубые нарушения представительства, быть избранным в законодательные органы страны, число избирателей, принявших участие в голосовании, поддерживать господство двух соперничающих партий, назначить день выборов, опрос общественного мнения, двухпартийная система, право голоса, существующая мажоритарная система.

Exercise 3. Translate into Russian orally.

1. Prime Minister agreed on Monday with the Chechen separatist leadership that new elections in the breakaway republic should be held in January.

Chairing the Security Council's session on Chechnya, he said it was "possible" to hold such polls, but urged the Chechens to guarantee "security" for the plebiscite.

The premier also said that over 300,000 Chechen citizens who were forced to leave the region as refugees during the hostilities should cast their vote in January.

2. Russia's upper house of parliament on Wednesday formally overrode a presidential veto of a bill asserting Moscow's ownership of art from Germany at the end of World War II.

The results of a postal ballot on the issue showed that 144 deputies in the Federation Council had voted to confirm the bill – well above the 119 needed. Word had leaked out Tuesday that the vote total would be enough to override the veto.

President must sign the bill into law in the next seven days, or challenge it in the Constitutional Court.

3. KAVAJA, Albania – Albanian President defiantly launched his election campaign Wednesday, he would call a poll for June 29 despite threats by other political parties to boycott the vote.

"I started the electoral campaign here, and I will finish it here", he told a crowd of supporters in this town 50 kilometers to the southwest of the capital, Tirana.

Early elections are seen as a key part of international efforts to stop Albania sliding back into the chaos of February and March, when rioting broke out across the country after pyramid investment schemes collapsed.

But other parties of a government of national unity have said they will not stand in the elections if they are held under a law which the Democratic Party pushed through parliament Tuesday.

President insisted he would later dissolve parliament and said today marked the start of his campaign.

"Today in the afternoon, I will decree the election day and will dissolve the parliament, which you elected with your free vote, the parliament of the rebellion, and we will elect a more powerful and wiser parliament," he said.

4. A record 685 women were among the 3,718 candidates fighting for 559 seats in the House of Commons in Thursday's election.

But it was Labour's action program, adopted after the 1992 election, that was the key to nearly doubling the number of women in the new Parliament. Labour's won a record 158 women candidates Thursday, many in marginal seats. The party's victory catapulted 102 Labour women into the House of Commons. The Conservatives will have only 13 women lawmakers.

The election moves Britain from 50^th to 20^th place in the Inter-Parliamentary Union's world ranking of women in Parliament, past the United States, which ranks 41st.

5. In Germany, the split party list and constituency-based system gives voters a choice of five main parties, three of them centrist in orientation the two others offering more radical alternatives.

In France, voters next month will be able to make their traditional choice between the full spectrum of parties center-right, center-left, communist, far right and Green. Russia's own State Duma, while still a relatively weak institution politically, nonetheless presents the electorate with a wide range of parties and policies to choose between thanks to a similar voting system. Even Bulgarians, for all their economic plight, could choose in their recent elections from 38 parties running on very different platforms.

6. Labour or Conservative. New Labour or more-of-the-same Conservative. There is no choice – it's more of a national lottery. That is why the British press brings back tales from the campaign frontline of resignation and indifference. That is why some pollsters are forecasting the lowest turnout in the May 1 elections since World War II.

Whatever the turnout, this election has proved that the British political system, the mother of all democracies, is ailing and in critical need of reform. The democratic process should offer the voter real choice between a kaleidoscope of policies. And while a quick look at the ballot papers shows at least a dozen parties putting up candidates in the election, the nature of the electoral system means that a vote for any party other than the big two is a wasted vote, however principled it may be.

Exercise 4. Translate into Russian in written form

1. Caucus – political party meeting held to select candidates and to plan campaign tactics.

2. A “stalking-horse” is something that is put forward as the evident purpose of a person (or party) while the real purpose remains concealed until the proper time comes.

3. The term “dark horse” means a relatively unknown candidate who is nominated by a political party at its national convention. A dark horse is usually chosen when two major rivals for the presidential nomination are each unable to obtain a majority of votes.

4. Fusion ticket is a slate of candidates made up of members of more than one party and supported by members of the parties from which the candidates are drawn.

5. A person elected to represent a body of voters at a convention is called a delegate.

6. The slate of a party is, in most cases, made up by leaders who actually control the organization.

7. The notorious election frauds incorporate a wide range of violations: electioneering at or near the polls, registering a person not entitled to be registered, adding false names to the list of registered votes and canvassing the votes.

8. A platform is a written document drawn up by political parties listing the major policies to which the party is committed. Each item in the list is sometimes referred to as a “plank” in the party platform. In order not to antagonize voters of factions within a party, political parties frequently write their platforms in vague and general terms.

9. Off-year elections are those held for members of the House of Representatives in years when no president is chosen.

10. The political expression “to jump on the bandwagon” means to associate oneself with what appears to be a winning campaign.

11. Human Rights Watch researchers witnessed extensive ballot-box stuffing, multiple voting, and the preparation of falsified ballot papers by members of a precinct electoral commission.

12. Flags at the Rio Zoo will be at half-staff until Tuesday in honour of Tiao, whose greatest claim to fame was his candidacy in the 1988 mayoral elections in which he came in third with more than 40000000 votes. He was the Brazilian Banana Party’s candidate to attract the protest vote.

13. HONG KONG : Hong Kong's democrats have vowed to continue to push for Beijing to grant universal suffrage to the territory, despite their disappointing showing in Sunday's local elections.

14. A recommendation that United Nations members discourage activities that help Israeli settlement-building was passed by the General Assembly by 131 to 3, with 14 abstentions.

15. Local elections meant to help Croatia regain its Serb-occupied eastern territory, Eastern Slovenia, which abuts Serbia proper, were again mismanaged. Elsewhere in Croatia, the opposition seemed to be running close to the ruling party of the president, Franjo Tudjman, amid mutual recriminations of cheating.

16. Bill Clinton used his new line-item veto power (право выборочного вето), instead of having to pass or kill the whole measure, to delete three items in the last week’s budget legislation. The Republicans, who first suggested this new sort of veto, were furious. A year after the United States reformed its welfare law, the number of welfare recipients has dropped by almost a quarter, to 10.7 mln. people, the smallest percentage of the population since 1970.

17. The legislative work of Congress is done mostly in standing (permanent) committees, which have over 300 subcommittees to study specific problems.

18. In the closest race among the off-year elections in the United States, Christie Whiteman, the Republican governor of New Jersey, squeaked to victory by 47% to 46%. Another Republican, Jim Gilmore, won the governor’s race in Virginia. Incumbent mayors romped home (выиграть с лёгкостью) in New York, Detroit and Boston.

19. Turnout at the nation’s 50.000 polling stations appeared to be heavy.

20. The winner will be the one whom the voters don’t want less than they don’t want his opponent.

Exercise 5. Translate into Russian in written form