政治と社会

government (the body that rules a country)

The group of people who govern a country or state.

president (elected head of state)

The elected head of state in a republic.

parliament (national law-making assembly)

The national legislative body that makes laws.

minister (head of a government department)

A senior member of government in charge of a department.

prime minister (head of government)

The head of government in a parliamentary system.

election (process of choosing leaders by vote)

A formal process of choosing representatives by voting.

to vote (to cast a ballot or make a formal choice)

To formally express a choice in an election or decision.

vote (a single choice cast, or a count of choices)

A single expression of choice, or the total counted choices.

democracy (rule by the people through elections)

A system of government by the whole population through elected representatives.

freedom (the right to act or speak without restraint)

The state of being able to act or speak without restriction.

rights (entitlements people are owed, e.g. human rights)

Moral or legal entitlements that people are owed.

law (an official rule passed by government)

A rule established by authority that everyone must follow.

policy (an official plan or approach to an issue)

A plan or course of action adopted by a government or organisation.

equality (equal status and rights for all)

The state of everyone having the same status, rights and opportunities.

poverty (the condition of being very poor)

The state of being extremely poor.

immigration (people moving into a country to settle)

The movement of people into a country to live there.

protest (a public demonstration against something)

A public demonstration of objection or disapproval.

to protest (to publicly object to something)

To express strong objection publicly.

citizen (a legal member of a country)

A legally recognised member of a country or state.

tax (compulsory payment to the government)

Money that people and businesses must pay to the government.

official (a person with an official position of authority)

A person holding a position of authority in an organisation or government.

official (formally approved or authorised)

Approved by or relating to a person or body in authority.

candidate (a person running for election)

A person who stands for election to a position.

campaign (organised effort, e.g. to win an election)

An organised series of actions to achieve a political goal.

party (a political organisation, e.g. Labour Party)

An organised political group that contests elections.

opposition (parties opposing the government)

The political parties not in government.

majority (the larger part; a winning margin)

The greater number, especially of votes or seats.

minority (a smaller group; an ethnic or social group)

A smaller group, especially one differing from the majority.

constitution (a country's founding legal framework)

The set of fundamental principles by which a state is governed.

republic (a state with an elected head, not a king)

A state in which power rests with elected representatives rather than a monarch.

monarchy (rule by a king or queen)

A form of government with a king or queen as head of state.

dictatorship (rule by one person with total power)

Government by a single ruler with absolute power.

corruption (abuse of power for personal gain)

Dishonest or illegal behaviour by people in power.

reform (a change intended to improve something)

A change made to improve a system or institution.

to reform (to change a system to improve it)

To change something in order to improve it.

debate (a formal discussion of opposing views)

A formal discussion of opposing arguments on an issue.

policy maker (a person who creates official policy)

A person responsible for making or shaping policy.

human rights (universal basic rights of all people)

Basic rights and freedoms belonging to every person.

welfare (state financial support for citizens)

Government support for people in need; general well-being.

discrimination (unfair treatment based on race, sex, etc.)

Unfair treatment of people based on group characteristics.

refugee (a person fleeing war or persecution)

A person forced to flee their country to escape danger.

society (an organised community of people)

People living together in an organised community.

authority (official power, or a governing body)

The power or right to give orders and make decisions; an official body.

referendum (a public vote on one specific issue)

A direct public vote on a single political question.

ballot (the paper or process of secret voting)

The system or paper used for casting a secret vote.

constituency (a voting district that elects an MP)

A district that elects a representative to parliament.

legislation (laws as a body; the act of law-making)

Laws considered collectively.

bill (a proposed law before it is passed)

A draft law presented to parliament for discussion.

diplomacy (managing relations between nations)

The management of relations between countries.

sanction (a penalty, often economic, against a country)

A penalty imposed on a country to force a change in behaviour.

conservative (favouring tradition and caution)

Favouring tradition and opposing rapid change.

left-wing (politically on the left; socialist-leaning)

Supporting social equality and government intervention.

right-wing (politically on the right; conservative-leaning)

Supporting tradition, free markets and limited state intervention.

citizenship (legal membership of a country)

The legal status of being a citizen of a country.

budget (a financial plan, esp. government spending)

A government's plan for spending and raising money.

public opinion (what the general population thinks)

The collective views of ordinary people on an issue.

civil rights (citizens' rights to equality and freedom)

The rights of citizens to political and social freedom and equality.

to run for office (to stand as a candidate in an election)

To stand as a candidate in an election for a political position.

to come to power (to start governing a country)

To gain control of a government.

to take office (to formally begin an official role)

To formally begin an official or political position.

the public sector (state-run part of the economy)

The part of the economy controlled by the state.

ideology (a set of political beliefs and ideas)

A system of ideas and ideals forming a political theory.

activist (a person who campaigns for change)

A person who campaigns actively for political or social change.

taxpayer (a person who pays taxes)

A person who pays tax to the government.

to raise taxes (to increase the level of taxation)

To increase the amount of tax that people pay.

welfare state (state system providing social support)

A system in which the state provides for citizens' social and economic well-being.

public (relating to or for all people; state-provided)

Relating to or provided for all the people of a community.

regime (a government, esp. one seen as harsh or illegitimate)

A government, especially an authoritarian one.

liberal (supporting individual freedoms and, generally, social progress; meaning varies significantly between political traditions and countries — roughly 'left-wing' in the US, centrist in the UK/Europe, and sometimes used pejoratively in US discourse)

Favouring individual freedom and gradual social reform.

to pass a law (to officially approve legislation)

To officially approve a piece of legislation.

to stand for election (British English; American: to run for office)

British English phrase for putting oneself forward as a candidate in an election.