Politics & Society
Government, elections, rights and how society is organised.
Add to my library
Sign up free to save this deck and track your progress
71 words
Definitions in: English- 1governmentnounneutral
The group of people who govern a country or state.
The government has promised to cut taxes next year.
- 2presidentnounneutral
The elected head of state in a republic.
The president will address the nation tonight.
- 3parliamentnounneutral
The national legislative body that makes laws.
The bill was debated in parliament for hours.
- 4ministernounneutral
A senior member of government in charge of a department.
The finance minister announced the new budget.
- 5prime ministernounneutral
The head of government in a parliamentary system.
The prime minister met with foreign leaders today.
- 6electionnounneutral
A formal process of choosing representatives by voting.
The general election will be held in May.
- 7voteverbneutral
To formally express a choice in an election or decision.
I always vote in local elections.
- 8votenounneutral
A single expression of choice, or the total counted choices.
She won by just a few hundred votes.
- 9democracynounneutral
A system of government by the whole population through elected representatives.
A free press is essential to any democracy.
- 10freedomnounneutral
The state of being able to act or speak without restriction.
They are fighting for freedom of speech.
- 11rightsnounneutral
Moral or legal entitlements that people are owed.
The protesters demanded equal rights for all.
- 12lawnounneutral
A rule established by authority that everyone must follow.
A new law on data privacy comes into effect today.
- 13policynounneutral
A plan or course of action adopted by a government or organisation.
The party's economic policy has changed dramatically.
- 14equalitynounneutral
The state of everyone having the same status, rights and opportunities.
The movement campaigns for gender equality.
- 15povertynounneutral
The state of being extremely poor.
Millions of children still live in poverty.
- 16immigrationnounneutral
The movement of people into a country to live there.
Immigration has shaped the culture of this city.
- 17protestnounneutral
A public demonstration of objection or disapproval.
Thousands joined the protest outside parliament.
- 18protestverbneutral
To express strong objection publicly.
Students gathered to protest against the fee increase.
- 19citizennounneutral
A legally recognised member of a country or state.
As a citizen, you have the right to vote.
- 20taxnounneutral
Money that people and businesses must pay to the government.
Income tax will rise by two percent.
- 21officialnounneutral
A person holding a position of authority in an organisation or government.
A senior government official confirmed the news.
- 22officialadjectiveneutral
Approved by or relating to a person or body in authority.
The official results will be announced tomorrow.
- 23candidatenounneutral
A person who stands for election to a position.
There are five candidates for the seat.
- 24campaignnounneutral
An organised series of actions to achieve a political goal.
The election campaign lasted six weeks.
- 25partynounneutral
An organised political group that contests elections.
The ruling party lost its majority.
- 26oppositionnounneutral
The political parties not in government.
The opposition criticised the new budget.
- 27majoritynounneutral
The greater number, especially of votes or seats.
The party won a clear majority.
- 28minoritynounneutral
A smaller group, especially one differing from the majority.
Only a small minority opposed the plan.
- 29constitutionnounneutral
The set of fundamental principles by which a state is governed.
The proposal violates the constitution.
- 30republicnounneutral
A state in which power rests with elected representatives rather than a monarch.
The country became a republic in 1949.
- 31monarchynounneutral
A form of government with a king or queen as head of state.
The monarchy has little real political power.
- 32dictatorshipnounneutral
Government by a single ruler with absolute power.
The country suffered under a brutal dictatorship.
- 33corruptionnounneutral
Dishonest or illegal behaviour by people in power.
The minister was accused of corruption.
- 34reformnounneutral
A change made to improve a system or institution.
The country badly needs economic reform.
- 35reformverbneutral
To change something in order to improve it.
The government promised to reform the health service.
- 36debatenounneutral
A formal discussion of opposing arguments on an issue.
There was a heated debate about taxes.
- 37policy makernounneutral
A person responsible for making or shaping policy.
Policy makers must respond to climate change.
- 38human rightsnounneutral
Basic rights and freedoms belonging to every person.
The regime is accused of abusing human rights.
- 39welfarenounneutral
Government support for people in need; general well-being.
The family relies on welfare payments.
- 40discriminationnounneutral
Unfair treatment of people based on group characteristics.
The law bans discrimination at work.
- 41refugeenounneutral
A person forced to flee their country to escape danger.
Thousands of refugees crossed the border.
- 42societynounneutral
People living together in an organised community.
We live in a multicultural society.
- 43authoritynounneutral
The power or right to give orders and make decisions; an official body.
The local authority is responsible for schools.
- 44referendumnounneutral
A direct public vote on a single political question.
The issue was decided by referendum.
- 45ballotnounneutral
The system or paper used for casting a secret vote.
Voters marked their choice on the ballot.
- 46constituencynounneutral
A district that elects a representative to parliament.
She represents a rural constituency.
- 47legislationnounformal
Laws considered collectively.
New legislation will protect consumers.
- 48billnounneutral
A draft law presented to parliament for discussion.
The bill was approved by a large majority.
- 49diplomacynounneutral
The management of relations between countries.
The crisis was resolved through diplomacy.
- 50sanctionnounneutral
A penalty imposed on a country to force a change in behaviour.
The West imposed sanctions on the regime.
- 51conservativeadjectiveneutral
Favouring tradition and opposing rapid change.
She comes from a very conservative background.
- 52left-wingadjectiveneutral
Supporting social equality and government intervention.
The newspaper has a clearly left-wing stance.
- 53right-wingadjectiveneutral
Supporting tradition, free markets and limited state intervention.
A right-wing party won the most seats.
- 54citizenshipnounneutral
The legal status of being a citizen of a country.
She applied for French citizenship.
- 55budgetnounneutral
A government's plan for spending and raising money.
The annual budget will be announced on Wednesday.
- 56public opinionnounneutral
The collective views of ordinary people on an issue.
Public opinion turned against the war.
- 57civil rightsnounneutral
The rights of citizens to political and social freedom and equality.
The civil rights movement changed the country.
- 58to run for officeexpressionneutral
To stand as a candidate in an election for a political position.
She decided to run for office in her hometown.
- 59to come to powerexpressionneutral
To gain control of a government.
The party came to power after a landslide victory.
- 60to take officeexpressionneutral
To formally begin an official or political position.
The new president will take office in January.
- 61the public sectorexpressionneutral
The part of the economy controlled by the state.
Many people work in the public sector.
- 62ideologynounneutral
A system of ideas and ideals forming a political theory.
The two parties have very different ideologies.
- 63activistnounneutral
A person who campaigns actively for political or social change.
Environmental activists blocked the road.
- 64taxpayernounneutral
A person who pays tax to the government.
The project was funded by taxpayers.
- 65to raise taxesexpressionneutral
To increase the amount of tax that people pay.
The government was forced to raise taxes.
- 66welfare statenounneutral
A system in which the state provides for citizens' social and economic well-being.
The welfare state was built after the war.
- 67publicadjectiveneutral
Relating to or provided for all the people of a community.
We need more investment in public services.
- 68regimenounpejorative
A government, especially an authoritarian one.
The regime cracked down on protesters.
- 69liberaladjectiveneutral
Favouring individual freedom and gradual social reform.
He holds fairly liberal views on social issues.
- 70to pass a lawexpressionneutral
To officially approve a piece of legislation.
Parliament voted to pass the new law.
- 71to stand for electionverbneutralBritish English
British English phrase for putting oneself forward as a candidate in an election.
She decided to stand for election to the local council.
She decided to run for a seat on the local council.
Learn anywhere, even offline
Download decks to your phone and practice without internet. Perfect for commutes, flights, or anywhere with spotty connection.
Headlines, debates and heated arguments all run on political vocabulary, and this pack hands you the terms that carry the weight. Learn the language of government, elections and institutions, plus the concepts – democracy, rights, policy – that frame public discussion. It pushes into upper-advanced territory, so you can follow serious coverage and argue a clear, informed position of your own.