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WHAT IS POLITICS?

 

Originally, “politics” comes from Ancient Greece, i.e. “polis, the city-state”. Politics is therefore “what concerns the state”.

The New Collins Concise English Dictionary defines politics as

Ø the art and science of directing and administrating states and other political units;

Ø any activity concerned with the acquisition of power.

So, politics is the activity through which people make, preserve and amend the general rules under they live. On the other hand, people recognize that in order to influence these rules or ensure that they are upheld, they must work with others. This is why politics is often portrayed as a process of conflict resolution. There are some other more specific definitions which can be broken into four categories:

a) politics as the art of government;

b) politics as public affairs;

c) politics as compromise;

d) politics as power.

 

4. Read the following quotations, try to match the quotation with one of the four categories of the definition of politics mentioned above.

1. “Politics is the most concentrated form of economics” Vladimir Lenin

2. “Politics is not a science … but an art” Chancellor Bismark

3. “Politics is the activity by which different interests within a given unit of rule are conciliated by giving them a share in power in proportion to their importance to the welfare and the survival of the whole community” Bernard Crick

4. “It is evident that the state is a creation of nature, and that man is by nature a political animal” Aristotle

(“Politics Review” volume 11, number 2, November 2001)

Appendix 6 offers additional tips about news telling.

 


 

A. working out your vocabulary

 

Practice reading and pronouncing the suggested active vocabulary.

¹ Word Definition Translation
politics (n) the art and science of administrating states and other political units ïîëèòèêà
power (n) political, financial, social, etc. force or influence; a prerogative, privilege or liberty âëàñòü, ïîëíîìî÷èÿ
freedom (n) the quality or state of being free, esp. to enjoy political and civil liberties ñâîáîäà
right (n) any claim, title, etc. , that is morally just or legally granted allowable or due to a person ïðàâî
vest (v) to place or settle (power, rights) ñîñðåäîòà÷èâàòü
branch (n) a subdivision or subsidiary section of something larger or more complex âåòâü (âëàñòè)
legislate (v) to make or pass laws óçàêîíèâàòü
execute (v) to carry out, complete; to perform, accomplish, effect èñïîëíÿòü
judge (v) to hear and decide upon (a case of law); to pass judgment on ñóäèòü
implement (v) to carry out; to put into action âîïëîùàòü, èñïîëíÿòü
enact (v) to make into an act or statute; to establish by law, decree âíåäðÿòü, èñïîëíÿòü
constitute (v) to form, to compose; to give legal form to ñîñòàâëÿòü

 

B. LANGUAGE FOCUS

 

5. Match the words into synonymous pairs.

administer a) freedom
authority b) chamber
be responsible to c) govern
house d) power
implement e) state organ
liberty f) be accountable to
state body g) carry out, enforce
give consent h) work out
to elaborate i) agree

6. Complete the word-building word chart.

Verb Noun Adjective
legislation
execute
judicial
represent
elector
constitute

 

 

w Completing a factsheet

 

POLITICAL SYSTEMS: BELARUS, the UK, the USA

 

7. _ What do you know about political systems of Belarus, Britain and USA?

In groups match the words, which describe three political systems with the state, compare your answers:

UK US RB
     
the President Indirect democracy the Congress the House of Representatives the Council of the Republic Congressmen/women/people/person Constitutional Court Secretaries (never Ministers) Courts: the Supreme Court, Federal courts Justice the Queen the National Assembly the House of Commons the Council of Ministers the House of Lords the Cabinet (Administration) Deputies Ministers and Secretaries the Government Constitutional Court the President + Vice President the House of Parliament Constitutional monarchy the Senate Senators Ministers (never secretaries) the Prime Minister Departments and offices Courts

 


x READING FOR FILLING IN TEXT CHARTS ON POLITICAL SYSTEMS

 

POLITICAL SYSTEMS OF BELARUS, THE UK AND THE USA

 

8. In case you are not sure about the task above, and read the texts about the Political Systems of Belarus, the UK and the USA, filling in the charts, outlining three structures. Get ready to describe the political system of each country.

 

       
   
 
 

 


Legislative branch Executive branch Judicial branch

           
   
     
 

 


Date: 2015-04-20; view: 1641

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