Duration: 15 min

Learning outcome:

+ Changing perspectives

+ Critical thinking

+ Open-mindedness

+ Understanding the concept of elections

Learning skills:

Vocabulary

Speaking

Voting in elections?

Read the text conversation between Ana and Martin and discuss the following questions with your classmates.

1.        Is voting important for you?

2.        When was the last time you went to vote?

3.        What do you think Martin should do?

4.        What do you know about elections in your country?

5.        How often should there be elections in a country?

Modal verbs of obligation

1.         We go to school.

2.        We have to work on Mondays.

3.        I   vote, because elections are important.

4.        I think you, but it’s your choice in the end. Do what you want.

5.        We some in here, its forbidden.

6.        I spend so much money on clothes, I need to save.

C. Political vocabulary check

Look at the useful vocabulary and answer the following questions




Choose the correct definition


12.       What is the definition of Bill?

A draft form of a law before it has been approved by a vote.

The container that is used to hold all the used ballot papers.

A person who wishes to be elected via a vote.

When two or more political parties work together to form a government.

13.       What is the definition of Coalition?

The elected part of the USA government.

A conversation between people where they try to convince others.

A person who hopes to beat someone in an election.

When two or more political parties work together to form a government.

14.       What is the definition of campaign?

The group of people who are allowed to vote in an election.

A voting system.

The contest between politicians to be elected

To choose someone using a vote.

15.       What is the definition of Coup d’ etat?

An illegal change of government, often using force and often done by the military.

A candidate or elected person who is not a member of a political party.

A document that states what a political party or government will do.

A victory that is very large.

16.       What is the definition of By-election?

A plan that a government or political party will follow when in government.

Information that supports or dismisses a topic that may be at least partially untrue.

The process of choosing a leader for a country, and then leading the country.

An election that happens in-between regular elections.

Look at the following pictures and then decide which option (A-D) in each question matches the indicted picture


Source: Excellent ESL 4U. ESL Politics Vocabulary. https://www.excellentesl4u.com/esl-politics-vocabulary.html (accessed 23 September 2021)

17.       Picture A?

Constituent

Debate

Monarchy

Right-wing

18.       Picture B?

Dictator

Patriot

Leaflet

Caucus

19.       Picture C?

Vice President

First past the post

Opinion poll

Ballot paper

20.       Picture D?

House of Representatives

Politician

Primary

Political party

21.       Picture E?

Ballot box

Policy

Socialist

Queen

Time’s up

Duration:  10 minutes reading + 10 minutes

Learning outcome:

+ Self-reflection

+ Critical thinking

+  Reading comprehension

Learning skills:

Vocabulary

Reading

Grammar

Comprehension

Read the text about political parties and complete the following exercises.

Time’s up

Duration: 20 min

Learning outcome:

+ Self-reflection

+ Critical thinking

+ Speaking

Learning skills:

Vocabulary

Reading

Discuss the following questions with your classmates.

1.      How is the government formed in countries with only two popular parties?

2.      Explain the difference between right-wing and left-wing parties.

3.      What happens when a party comes into power?

4.      What happens if the party doesn’t run the country well?

5.      What do you know about political parties in your country?

Look at the following images and discuss with your classmates what you have understood so far. Try to use the useful vocabulary

Imagine you are going to create a new political party. Think of a name for your party and five things you will do if you are elected. Then try to persuade your classmates to vote for you.

Duration: 10 min reading + 10 min

Learning outcome:

+Reading

+ Vocabulary

+ Reading comprehension

Learning skills:

Vocabulary

Reading comprehension

Read the text about the politics in the UK and complete the following exercises.   

Decide if the following statements are TRUE or FALSE.

1. Constitutional monarchy means that the Queen is the head of state and actively participates in politics. 

True

False

2. The Queen signs all the laws passed by the politicians but she does not have any responsibility for saying what the laws should be about.

True

False

3. Everyone who is on the electoral register has two votes.

True

False

4. On the ballot paper there is a list of all the candidates that are standing for election.

True

False

5. Parliament is the place in certain countries where the politicians meet to debate and vote.

True

False

6. The political leader of the UK is the President.

True

False

7. If one party does not have enough seats to form a majority it will need to form a coalition with another party, and they will run the country together.

True

False

8. Ballot paper is a piece of paper that lists all the options that can be voted for.

True

False

9. Normally there are elections every two years in the UK.

True

False

10. Constituency is the area of a country that is represented by a certain elected official.

True

False

Time’s up

Duration: 15 min

Learning outcome:

+  Self-reflection

+ Critical thinking

+ Reading

+ Vocabulary

+ Comprehension

Language skills:

Vocabulary

Match the definitions to the explanations.

1. Campaign

Please select your answer a) The person who leads the government in a country with a parliament. b) An illegal change of government, often using force and often done by the military. c) When two or more political parties work together to form a government. d) The place that people go to vote. e) The list of everyone who lives in an area and can vote in an election. f) The place in certain countries where the politicians meet to debate and vote. g) The contest between politicians to be elected. h) An election that happens in-between regular elections. i) The area of a country that is represented by a certain elected official. j) To have more than half of something, such as votes or seats.

2. Prime Minister

Please select your answer a) The person who leads the government in a country with a parliament. b) An illegal change of government, often using force and often done by the military. c) When two or more political parties work together to form a government. d) The place that people go to vote. e) The list of everyone who lives in an area and can vote in an election. f) The place in certain countries where the politicians meet to debate and vote. g) The contest between politicians to be elected. h) An election that happens in-between regular elections. i) The area of a country that is represented by a certain elected official. j) To have more than half of something, such as votes or seats.

3. Electoral register

Please select your answer a) The person who leads the government in a country with a parliament. b) An illegal change of government, often using force and often done by the military. c) When two or more political parties work together to form a government. d) The place that people go to vote. e) The list of everyone who lives in an area and can vote in an election. f) The place in certain countries where the politicians meet to debate and vote. g) The contest between politicians to be elected. h) An election that happens in-between regular elections. i) The area of a country that is represented by a certain elected official. j) To have more than half of something, such as votes or seats.

4. Coup d’ etat

Please select your answer a) The person who leads the government in a country with a parliament. b) An illegal change of government, often using force and often done by the military. c) When two or more political parties work together to form a government. d) The place that people go to vote. e) The list of everyone who lives in an area and can vote in an election. f) The place in certain countries where the politicians meet to debate and vote. g) The contest between politicians to be elected. h) An election that happens in-between regular elections. i) The area of a country that is represented by a certain elected official. j) To have more than half of something, such as votes or seats.

5. Parliament

Please select your answer a) The person who leads the government in a country with a parliament. b) An illegal change of government, often using force and often done by the military. c) When two or more political parties work together to form a government. d) The place that people go to vote. e) The list of everyone who lives in an area and can vote in an election. f) The place in certain countries where the politicians meet to debate and vote. g) The contest between politicians to be elected. h) An election that happens in-between regular elections. i) The area of a country that is represented by a certain elected official. j) To have more than half of something, such as votes or seats.

6. Coalition

Please select your answer a) The person who leads the government in a country with a parliament. b) An illegal change of government, often using force and often done by the military. c) When two or more political parties work together to form a government. d) The place that people go to vote. e) The list of everyone who lives in an area and can vote in an election. f) The place in certain countries where the politicians meet to debate and vote. g) The contest between politicians to be elected. h) An election that happens in-between regular elections. i) The area of a country that is represented by a certain elected official. j) To have more than half of something, such as votes or seats.

7. Polling station

Please select your answer a) The person who leads the government in a country with a parliament. b) An illegal change of government, often using force and often done by the military. c) When two or more political parties work together to form a government. d) The place that people go to vote. e) The list of everyone who lives in an area and can vote in an election. f) The place in certain countries where the politicians meet to debate and vote. g) The contest between politicians to be elected. h) An election that happens in-between regular elections. i) The area of a country that is represented by a certain elected official. j) To have more than half of something, such as votes or seats.

8. Majority

Please select your answer a) The person who leads the government in a country with a parliament. b) An illegal change of government, often using force and often done by the military. c) When two or more political parties work together to form a government. d) The place that people go to vote. e) The list of everyone who lives in an area and can vote in an election. f) The place in certain countries where the politicians meet to debate and vote. g) The contest between politicians to be elected. h) An election that happens in-between regular elections. i) The area of a country that is represented by a certain elected official. j) To have more than half of something, such as votes or seats.

9. By-election

Please select your answer a) The person who leads the government in a country with a parliament. b) An illegal change of government, often using force and often done by the military. c) When two or more political parties work together to form a government. d) The place that people go to vote. e) The list of everyone who lives in an area and can vote in an election. f) The place in certain countries where the politicians meet to debate and vote. g) The contest between politicians to be elected. h) An election that happens in-between regular elections. i) The area of a country that is represented by a certain elected official. j) To have more than half of something, such as votes or seats.

10. Constituency

Please select your answer a) The person who leads the government in a country with a parliament. b) An illegal change of government, often using force and often done by the military. c) When two or more political parties work together to form a government. d) The place that people go to vote. e) The list of everyone who lives in an area and can vote in an election. f) The place in certain countries where the politicians meet to debate and vote. g) The contest between politicians to be elected. h) An election that happens in-between regular elections. i) The area of a country that is represented by a certain elected official. j) To have more than half of something, such as votes or seats.

Choose a word from the box and complete it in the sentences.



1. The United Kingdom is a , which means that the Queen is the head of state but she does not actively participate in politics.

2. In most countries people with similar views about how the country should be run join together to form . 

3. parties normally support conservative beliefs, which are generally that people should have the freedom to do as they want without much interference from the government

4. The UK is divided into many different .

5. If the party does not run the country well, people will not vote for it at the next , so another party will have a new majority and so be able to form a new government.

Time’s up

Duration: 15 min

Learning outcome:

+  Self-reflection

+ Critical thinking

+ Reading

+ Vocabulary

+ Comprehension

Learning skills:

Vocabulary

Reading

Complete the following sentences with have to/must/should or don’t have to/mustn’t/shouldn’t.

1. To travel, you carry a passport.

2. You bring food into the class.

3. I probably do this, but I want to!

4. My tooth is sore. I go to the dentist.

5. I think you , but it’s your choice in the end.

Match the words in the box with the images.




                                   


                                 


 

Time’s up