Political systems

1 Work through the quiz about the UK.

Scotland Northern Ireland Wales England

1 How many different parts make up the United Kingdom? A three B four C five 2 Which is the largest? A the British Isles B the UK C Great Britain 3 What is the area of the UK? A less than 140,000 sq. km B 140,000–240,000 sq. km C over 240,000 sq. km 4 What is the population of the UK? A about 30, 900,000 B about 64,100,000 C over 70,000,000 5 How old do you have to be to vote*? A 16 B 18 C 21

• vote = make a choice to decide who is in the government

2 Read the text to check your answers.

Name: United Kingdom (UK) The full name is ‘the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland’ (Southern Ireland is an independent country called the Republic of Ireland). Great Britain is the geographical name for the island that contains England, Scotland and Wales. The UK has been described as ‘four countries within a country’.

Capital city: London London is the largest city, and one of the world’s most important financial centres.

Population: approximately 64,100,000

Area: 243,610 sq. km (94,060 square miles)

Official language: English

System of government: parliamentary democracy, monarchy The UK has a parliament, where laws are made. Elections to choose Members of Parliament (MPs) take place every five years, and anyone of 18 or over can vote. The head of government is the Prime Minister but the head of state is the king or queen, because the UK is also a monarchy. The monarch, however, has little real power. A small number of people think the UK should become a republic. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all have their own parliaments, with limited powers.

3 Find words in the United Kingdom text that have these meanings. 1 connected with money and business _ 2 more or less, not exactly 3 country that has a king or queen 4 used by governments and in formal situations 5 place of government 6 times when people can vote 7 political system without a king or queen __

4 Now use the words in Activity 3 to complete the sentences below. 1 There is a part of the _ building where people can go and watch the discussions. 2 The country was a from 1923 to 1946, when the king returned and it became a again. 3 I think there were 50 people at the meeting, but I didn’t count them. 4 This isn’t an rule. It’s just something that nearly everyone does. 5 People under 18 can’t vote in . 6 I often lose money by making the wrong __ choices.

5 Read the information about another country, and then try to fill in the blanks with correct information. Finally, compare your answers with a partner.

Name: _ The full name is the People’s Democratic Republic of Capital city: is the largest city, four times larger than the second city, Oran. Population: approximately 37.9 million Area: 2,381,741 sq. km (919,595 square miles) 90% of the land is desert Official language: is also widely used, especially in government, media and education. System of government: democracy The head of state is the President, who is elected for a five-year term. The position used to be limited to two five-year terms, but this limitation was removed in 2008. Anyone over the age of 18 can __. The President is the head of the army and also chooses the Prime Minister, who is the head of government.

6 Discuss the question below in pairs or small groups. The voting age in both countries is 18. Do you think this is the right age, or should it be higher or lower? Why?

I think 18 is about right because that’s when people become adults. Young people understand more than adults think, so they should be able to vote at 16.

1 Look at the graph. Then answer the questions below.

Percentage (axis 0 to 60); legend: 45+, 35–44, 25–34, 18–24; years: 1974, 1978, 1980, 1984/1, 1984/2, 1989, 1993, 1997, 2002, 2007, 2010, 2014

1 In 1984, there were two _. 2 Since , the 18–24 age group has been the least likely to vote. 3 People who are most likely to vote are in the __ age group

2 Read the article. Then complete the tasks on page 105.

The democracy report Many experts believe we are facing a ‘crisis of democracy’. For many years now, not just in the UK but in all the world’s more established democracies, the number of people who vote in elections has been falling. This is especially true among young people. The message from opinion polls is clear: there is a common feeling that young people find traditional politics boring, and that, whatever party they are from, politicians have nothing to offer them.

Now a new report has recommended that voting should be made compulsory, and that the voting age should be lowered to 16. ‘It’s a problem that so many young people don’t vote,’ says Professor Paul Meadows, one of the report’s authors, ‘because politicians can then afford to ignore them. This increases their feeling of not being listened to, and so it goes on. But if young people want their voices to be heard, they have to vote. One important thing that we say in the report, though, is that there should be a “none of the above” option for those who don’t support any of the available candidates. That way, politicians will at least be made aware of how many people aren’t satisfied with what they’re offered.’

Compulsory voting already exists in over 30 countries. In Belgium, for example, people who don’t vote have to pay a small fine, and if they go for four elections without voting, they lose the right to vote. As a result, 90% of Belgians voted in the last European election.

Prof. Meadows points out that there are already a lot of things young people have to do by law, like going to school or wearing seat belts in cars. Just one more, he believes, wouldn’t make much difference, especially if technology can be used to make voting easier. ‘Some steps towards this are already being taken,’ he says, ‘but why not go further and create a voting app that can be downloaded onto a phone or tablet?’ The report’s authors believe that, taken together, its recommendations offer a solution to the crisis of democracy, and would completely change the way democracy operates.

1 Complete the sentences with words from the text. The underlined part will help you to find the meaning. 1 We’re in the middle of a _. Everything is going wrong and we don’t know what to do. 2 After a long time without big changes, I think the system is well and likely to stay more or less the same. 3 The asking people for their opinions on this question all suggest the same result. 4 There are several different ways to pay. It’s your choice, so which do you prefer? 5 All of the in the election are promising different things to make people want to choose them for the position. 6 People don’t realise how hard most in the government work. 7 As a punishment for driving too fast, he had to pay a __.

2 Write the sentences or parts of sentences from the text that answer these points. 1 ‘It doesn’t matter that young people don’t vote.’ _ 2 ‘If voting is compulsory, people who don’t like any of the options won’t like it.’ 3 ‘Compulsory voting seems rather a strange new idea.’ 4 ‘Young people won’t like being told that they have to do things.’ 5 ‘Some people say they’re too busy to vote and it’s too much effort.’ __

3 What do the highlighted pronouns in the text refer to? Choose the correct answer. 1 This (line 2) A the fall in the number of people who vote B the crisis of democracy 2 they (line 4) A young people B politicians 3 them (line 5) A young people B politicians 4 It (line 7) A young people not voting B lowering the voting age 5 its (line 20) A a voting app B the report

4 Discuss the question below in pairs or small groups. How does the situation described in the text, especially the attitude of young people, compare with the situation in Palestine?

1 Look at the examples of sentences in the passive. Then answer the questions below. Examples The UK has a parliament, where laws are made. Some steps are being taken. The UK has been described as ‘four countries within a country’. This limitation was removed in 2008. Politicians will be made aware of people’s feelings. 1 What is important in these sentences: the actions themselves or the people who did them? _ 2 Are the subjects (laws, steps, UK, limitation, politicians) the ones who do the actions? 3 Which verb changes its tense in these examples? 4 What is the tense in each sentence? _

2 Circle the correct verb form, active or passive, in these sentences. 1 In 1948, the country became / was become a republic. 2 A lot of money has spent / has been spent on improving this service. 3 Some new ideas are discussing / are being discussed at the moment. 4 Elections take / are taken place every five years. 5 Several changes will need / will be needed before the system works well. 6 In Algeria, the Prime Minister chooses / is chosen by the President. 7 The number of people who vote has fallen / has been fallen since the last election. 8 He elected / was elected by 78% of voters.

3 Complete the passive sentences by adding the past participle of a verb from the box. destroy make choose take answer speak repair send 1 I hope all your questions have now been _. 2 In a democracy, leaders are by the people. 3 French is widely in Algeria. 4 The parliament building was partly by fire two years ago. 5 These photos were during my last holiday. 6 Thanks to technology, voting will be easier in future. 7 We couldn’t get through because the road was being . 8 The letter will be _ early tomorrow morning.

4 Complete the sentences using the passive form of the verbs in brackets in the correct tense. 1 My car _ at the moment, so I have to go to work by bus. (repair) 2 I promise the report before tomorrow afternoon. (finish) 3 Voting compulsory in Australia over 40 years ago. (make) 4 This book looks almost new. I don’t think it very often. (read) 5 The result of the election next Tuesday. (announce) 6 A lot of books about this subject recently. (write) 7 The President’s house in 1905. (build) 8 The rubbish _ every Monday morning. (collect)

1 Look at the examples of further passive forms. Then complete the grammar rules. Examples The voting age should be lowered. The app can be downloaded onto a phone. If young people want to be heard, they have to vote. He hopes to be chosen as the next MP for the town.

Complete the grammar rules 1 After modal verbs like _ and , we use the infinitive form of the verb be (without to) + the past participle. 2 After some verbs, like and _, we use the infinitive form of the verb be (with to) + the past participle.

2 Complete the sentences with (to) be plus the past participle of a verb from the box. criticise make choose leave write repair interview accept 1 I hope _ on the university course I applied for. 2 He didn’t expect so strongly for his opinion. 3 She wants as the team captain. 4 We’ve done nearly everything but the report still needs . 5 She doesn’t want any help. She’d prefer alone. 6 He’s nervous because he’s going on TV. 7 They told me that the car would before 3.00 in the afternoon. 8 The dress could _ longer if you prefer.

3 Complete the notices and labels using the verbs in brackets. This great-looking portable speaker has long-life batteries, which means it ___ (can / carry) anywhere you want to go.

Please keep this ticket. You ___ (may / ask) to show it at any time.

Email Password Sign In Do not write down your password anywhere that it ___ (might / see) by someone else.

Warning: Dangerous Area Safety helmets ___ (must / wear) at all times.

This shirt ___ (should not / wash) in very hot water.

4 Work in pairs. You are arranging a meeting. Look at the list on the right and take turns to say what needs to be done. For example: The room needs to be arranged.

Meeting Arrange room Send emails Write invitations Design advert Move furniture Buy tea and coffee Check everything!

5 Look at the example. Then answer the questions using words from the box with the prefix non-. Example The number of non-voters has gone up. existent stick stop smoking fiction*

• fiction = stories that are not true

  1 What kind of hotel room might people prefer if they have given up cigarettes? _ 2 What word can describe dragons and talking animals? 3 Which section of a library has books about political systems of different countries? 4 What kind of cooking pan is easy to clean? 5 What long journey might be especially tiring? __

1 You are going to hear someone talking about the stages in the process of making new laws in the UK. Before you listen, discuss the questions below.

• process = a description of how something happens or is done
• stages = the different parts of the process

  1 How many stages do you think there are before a law is made? 2 What part do you think the king or queen has in the process?

2 Listen once. Then answer the questions below. 1 What tense is used most when describing a process? 2 What verb form is used most: active or passive? 3 Now listen again. Then complete the notes below. Stage 1: Suggestion for new law (usually from promises made during _) Stage 2: With enough MPs’ , it becomes a Bill Stage 3: Bill is to House of Commons (First Reading) Stage 4: Second Reading (Bill is ) Stage 5: Third Reading (MPs on whether it should become law) Stage 6: Passed to upper house (House of Lords) Stage 7: Monarch gives his/her and Bill is now an __ of Parliament (a law) 4 Discuss the questions below in pairs or small groups. 1 How much do you know about the process of making laws in Palestine? 2 How is this similar or different from the process in the UK? I think it’s similar here, but not so complex. Yes, and of course we don’t have a king or queen.

1 Look back at the information about the UK and Algeria in Period 1. Add similar information about Palestine below. Name: Palestine _ Capital city: Population: approximately Area: Official language: System of government: 2 Working in the same pairs or small groups as for the discussion in Period 5, write notes about the law-making process in Palestine. Stage 1: Stage 2: Stage 3: Stage 4: Stage 5: 3 Read the summary of the Listening text from Period 5. Then use your notes from Activity 2 to write a similar short paragraph about Palestine. First, the government suggests an idea for a new law. If the suggestion has enough support from MPs, it may become part of the government’s programme. At this stage, it is called a Bill. The Bill is introduced to the House of Commons. This is followed by a Second Reading when the Bill is discussed, then a Third Reading when MPs can vote on whether it should be made into law. The Bill is then passed to the upper house, called the House of Lords, for more discussion. Finally, it is sent to the monarch, who gives it her or his agreement. When it has this agreement, it becomes a law. __ In this Unit you have learnt about: describing systems of government pronouns used to join a text together different tenses in the passive form passive forms without tenses words with the prefix non- describing the stages of a process