The government and elections
Il governo e le elezioni
- Get to know the basic government institutions of the country.
- Talk about elections and voting.
Explore the Italian government and elections with key terms like Parlamento (Parliament), Presidente della Repubblica (President of the Republic), Governo (Government), votare (to vote), and seggio elettorale (polling station). This lesson teaches essential vocabulary and expressions to discuss institutions, electoral processes, and voting practices in Italy.
Vocabulary (19) Share Copied!
Exercises Share Copied!
These exercises can be done together during conversation lessons or as homework.
Esercizio 1: Conversation exercise
Istruzione:
- What government does your country have? (What government does your country have?)
- Does there exist a royal family in your country? (Does there exist a royal family in your country?)
- Did you go to the army? (Did you go to the army?)
- When are the elections? (When are the elections?)
Teaching guidelines +/- 10 minutes
Example phrases:
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Il 7 luglio abbiamo votato per un nuovo presidente e governo. The 7th of july we voted for a new president and government. |
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Il re è il capo dello stato. The king is the head of the state. |
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L'ultimo governo era composto da 3 partiti politici. The last government consisted out of 3 political parties. |
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Il governo è controllato dal parlamento e dai giudici. The government is controlled by the parliament and judges. |
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Ho dovuto andare nell'esercito proprio come tutti i miei amici. I had to go to the army just like all my friends. |
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Non sono andato al servizio militare, ma ho lavorato per un anno in un'organizzazione sociale. I did not go to the army but I worked in a social organisation for a year instead. |
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Il primo ministro è cambiato dalle ultime elezioni. The prime minister changed since the last elections. |
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Exercise 2: Dialogue Cards
Instruction: Select a situation and practice the conversation with your teacher or fellow students.
Exercise 3: Multiple Choice
Instruction: Choose the correct solution
1. Ogni cittadino _______ alle elezioni comunali per scegliere il sindaco.
(Every citizen _______ in the municipal elections to choose the mayor.)2. Il Primo Ministro _______ il governo dal 2018 e ha preso molte decisioni importanti.
(The Prime Minister _______ the government since 2018 and has made many important decisions.)3. Lo Stato _______ diverse leggi che regolano la vita dei cittadini.
(The State _______ various laws that regulate the lives of citizens.)4. Durante l'ultima elezione, molti cittadini _______ per esprimere la loro opinione politica.
(During the last election, many citizens _______ to express their political opinion.)Exercise 4: Discussion about local elections
Instruction:
Verb Tables
Votare - To vote
Passato prossimo
- io ho votato
- tu hai votato
- lui/lei ha votato
- noi abbiamo votato
- voi avete votato
- loro hanno votato
Scegliere - To choose
Passato prossimo
- io ho scelto
- tu hai scelto
- lui/lei ha scelto
- noi abbiamo scelto
- voi avete scelto
- loro hanno scelto
Parlare - To talk
Presente
- io parlo
- tu parli
- lui/lei parla
- noi parliamo
- voi parlate
- loro parlano
Influenzare - To influence
Presente
- io influenzo
- tu influenzi
- lui/lei influenza
- noi influenziamo
- voi influenzate
- loro influenzano
Pensare - To think
Presente
- io penso
- tu pensi
- lui/lei pensa
- noi pensiamo
- voi pensate
- loro pensano
Migliorare - To improve
Condizionale
- io migliorerei
- tu miglioreresti
- lui/lei migliorerebbe
- noi miglioreremmo
- voi migliorereste
- loro migliorerebbero
Dovere - Must
Presente
- io devo
- tu devi
- lui/lei deve
- noi dobbiamo
- voi dovete
- loro devono
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Understanding the Government and Elections in Italy
This lesson introduces you to the key institutions of the Italian government, the process of political elections, and practical language used at polling stations. Designed for A2 level learners, it combines useful vocabulary, simple dialogues, and verb conjugations essential for discussing civic topics in Italian.
Main Government Institutions
You will learn about the three main branches: Il Parlamento, Il Presidente della Repubblica, and Il Governo. The Parliament consists of two chambers: la Camera dei Deputati and il Senato.
- Il Parlamento: makes laws and supervises the government.
- Il Presidente della Repubblica: serves as head of state.
- Il Governo: led by the Presidente del Consiglio, responsible for executive decisions.
Vocabulary Highlights for Institutions
- Camera dei Deputati – Chamber of Deputies
- Senato – Senate
- Presidente del Consiglio – Prime Minister
- Fare le leggi – To make laws
Political Elections
Understand how Italian citizens participate in elections, including when elections happen, who can vote, and how to vote. The dialogues explore:
- Importance of voting every five years
- Voting procedure at the polling station (seggio elettorale)
- Who is eligible to vote (Italian citizens over 18)
Useful Vocabulary for Elections
- Votare – to vote
- Lista – party/list of candidates
- Seggio elettorale – polling station
- Documento d’identità – identification document
At the Polling Station: Example Conversation
This section provides language to simulate conversations during voting day, including presenting your ID, signing the voter list, and depositing your ballot.
Verb Practice
Key verbs related to government and elections are practiced in context, with focus on present and past tenses, such as:
- votare – io voto, ho votato
- governare – il governo governa
- approvare – lo Stato approva
The lesson also includes a short story with verbs in different tenses to practice comprehension and conjugation.
Language Notes: Differences between Italian and English Instructions
Unlike English, Italian often uses the present tense for habitual actions and formal nouns for government bodies. For example, Il Parlamento fa le leggi literally 'The Parliament makes the laws' uses the present tense to express an ongoing function.
Useful phrases to know:
- Fare le leggi – To make laws (English can use "pass laws" or "enact laws")
- Andare a votare – To go vote (English uses "to vote")
- Prendere la scheda – To take the ballot
- Mettere la scheda nell’urna – To put the ballot in the box
Understanding these expressions will help you navigate discussions about government and elections in Italian more naturally.
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