# State and Society
### 1. What is society?

- A group of people sharing the **same place, language, customs, government and laws**.
- It’s how individuals **live together** and follow shared rules.
- Modern societies are usually **multicultural and diverse**.

### 2. Czech political system (basic facts)

- **Parliamentary democracy.**
- **Head of state:** President – elected directly, 5-year term, max. 2 terms. (currently Petr Pavel, since 2023).
- **Head of government:** Prime Minister – leads the cabinet.
- **Parliament:** bicameral
    - **Poslanecká sněmovna (Chamber of Deputies)** – 200 MPs, 4-year term, proportional representation.
    - **Senát (Senate)** – 81 senators, 6-year term, ⅓ re-elected every 2 years.
- **Judicial power:** independent courts; **Ústavní soud** (Constitutional Court).
- **Member of the EU since 2004** and of **NATO since 1999**.

### 3. UK political system

- **Constitutional monarchy** – King Charles III is head of state, mostly symbolic.
- **Parliament:** House of Commons (elected) and House of Lords (appointed/hereditary).
- **PM** is head of government, leads the Cabinet.
- Two main parties: **Conservative (right)** and **Labour (left)**.

### 4. US political system

- **Federal presidential republic** – 50 states.
- **Three branches** (separation of powers):
    - **Executive:** President + cabinet.
    - **Legislative:** Congress = Senate (100, 2/state) + House of Representatives (435).
    - **Judicial:** Supreme Court (9 justices, lifetime).
- Two main parties: **Democrats** and **Republicans**.

### 5. Common social problems

- **Economic:** poverty, unemployment, inflation, rising cost of living, housing crisis.
- **Social:** drug abuse, alcoholism, domestic violence, divorce, ageing population.
- **Crime:** theft, vandalism, corruption, organised crime, cybercrime.
- **Global:** terrorism, war, migration crisis, climate change, disinformation.

### 6. How families have changed

- **Smaller families**, often only one child, sometimes none.
- More **single-parent families** and **patchwork families** (after divorce).
- Children are more **independent** earlier and have more choices.
- Parents act more like **friends** than authorities.
- Both parents typically work.

### 7. Generations and society

- **Children & teens** – energy, openness to new ideas, tech-savvy.
- **Working-age adults** – run the economy, raise children.
- **Elderly people** – provide experience, link to the past; ageing population is a challenge.

### 8. Pressure on teenagers

- School results, choosing a career, social media comparison.
- Peer pressure, alcohol, drugs.
- Body image, mental health issues (anxiety, depression).
- Climate anxiety, uncertainty about the future.

### 9. Technology and society

- **Positive:** easier communication, access to information, online education, remote work, medical advances.
- **Negative:** screen addiction, exposure to violent / extreme content, loss of privacy, fake news, social isolation.

### 10. Media and society

- Traditional media: TV, radio, newspapers.
- New media: social media, YouTube, podcasts, news websites.
- Media shapes opinions – risk of **manipulation, disinformation, filter bubbles**.

### 11. A good member of society

- **Obeys the law**, pays taxes, respects others.
- Helps others, especially the **vulnerable** (poor, elderly, disabled).
- Respects rules, traditions, the environment.
- Doesn’t steal, vandalise, or harm.
- Votes and gets involved in the community.

### 12. Civic participation

- **Voting** in elections.
- **Volunteering** – charities, sport clubs, NGOs.
- **Protests / petitions** to express opinions.
- **NGOs** active in CZ: Člověk v tísni, Charita, ADRA, Greenpeace.

### 13. Speaking strategy

Define society, then describe the Czech political system clearly (use *de jure* vs *de facto*, *executive / legislative / judicial*). Compare briefly with the UK or USA. Move to social problems, then to how families and technology change society. Finish with what makes a good citizen.