Politics and Government in EnglishB1
You’re about to talk about elections, leaders, laws, and public decisions with much more precision. Start with the key terms in the first unit, then build toward real news, civic conversations, and political debates.
What translations are available?
Politics and government terms
Politics is the process of deciding how a country or city is run. Government is the people and institutions that make and carry out those decisions. A state is a country with its own government and borders. A nation is a group of people who share a common identity, history, or language. In everyday news, government often means the group in power, while in a broader sense it means the whole system of public authority. The word politics is often used for debates, campaigns, and public arguments about power and policy. A politician is a person who works in politics, usually by holding public office or running for office.
| Word | Definition | |
|---|---|---|
 politics | The study and practice of how people share and use power in a country or community. | |
 government | The group of people and institutions that run a country and make official decisions. | |
 power | The ability to make decisions or control what happens. | |
 policy | A plan or set of ideas that guides official action. | |
 law | An official rule that people must follow. | |
 state | A political unit with its own government and borders. | |
 public | Connected to everyone in society, not just one person or group. | |
 official | Approved by a person or group in authority. |
Practice
Government branches
Many countries divide government into three branches. The legislative branch makes laws. The executive branch carries out laws and runs the daily work of government. The judicial branch interprets laws and settles legal disputes. In the United States, Congress is the legislative branch. The president leads the executive branch. Courts belong to the judicial branch. These branches limit one another so that no single part of government has complete power.
| Word | Definition | |
|---|---|---|
| legislative branch | The branch that makes laws. | |
 executive branch | The branch that carries out laws and runs daily government work. | |
 judicial branch | The branch that interprets laws and settles legal disputes. | |
 congress | The national group that usually makes laws in some countries. | |
 parliament | The national assembly that debates and passes laws in many countries. | |
 court | A place where a judge hears legal cases. | |
 judge | A person who decides legal cases in court. | |
 separation of powers | The idea that government power is divided among branches. |
Practice
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Elections and voting
An election is a public vote to choose a person for an office. A voter is a person who takes part in the vote. To vote means to choose one person or one option on a ballot. A ballot is the paper or electronic form used in voting. A candidate is a person who is running in an election. The campaign is the period when candidates try to win support from voters. When the votes are counted, the winner receives more votes than the other candidates. The turnout is the number or percentage of people who vote.
| Word | Definition | |
|---|---|---|
 election | A public event in which people choose leaders by voting. | |
 vote | To choose someone or something in an election or decision. | |
 ballot | An official paper or method used to cast a vote. | |
 candidate | A person who is running for office in an election. | |
 campaign | The planned effort to win support before an election. | |
 poll | A place or process where people vote or where opinions are measured. | |
 turnout | The number of people who vote in an election. | |
 results | The final outcome of a vote or election. |
Practice
Political leaders
A president is the head of state in many countries and often the head of government as well. A prime minister is the head of government in many parliamentary systems. A governor leads a state or province. A mayor leads a city or town. A minister is a senior government official who is responsible for a department such as health, education, or finance. A senator is a member of a senate, which is one part of a national legislature. A representative, also called a member of parliament or a congressperson in some systems, speaks and votes for the people in an area.
| Word | Definition | |
|---|---|---|
 president | The leader of a republic or country who often serves as the head of state. | |
| prime minister | The main political leader in many parliamentary systems who heads the government. | |
 governor | The elected leader of a state or region. | |
 mayor | The elected leader of a city or town. | |
 minister | A government leader responsible for one area of public policy. | |
| senator | A member of a senate who helps make laws. | |
 representative | A person elected to speak and vote for the public. | |
 leader | A person who guides a group and makes decisions. |
Law and courts
A law is a rule made by a government. A legal system is the set of laws and courts a country uses. A judge listens to a case and makes a decision in court. A court is the place where legal cases are heard. A trial is the formal process of hearing evidence and arguments. A verdict is the final decision in a trial. A sentence is the punishment given after a guilty verdict. To appeal means to ask a higher court to review a decision. A lawyer is a person who gives legal advice and speaks for a client in legal matters.
| Word | Definition | |
|---|---|---|
| law | An official rule that people must obey. | |
| judge | A person who makes legal decisions in court. | |
 jury | A group of citizens who help decide a trial. | |
| trial | A legal process where a court examines a case. | |
 case | A legal matter that a court must decide. | |
 evidence | Facts or objects used to prove what happened. | |
 appeal | A request for a higher court to review a decision. | |
| verdict | The final decision in a trial. |
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Political parties and positions
A political party is a group of people who share similar ideas about government and compete in elections. The party in power is the party that controls the government. The opposition is the party or parties that are not in power and often criticize the government. A platform is the set of goals and policies a party or candidate supports. A policy is a plan or line of action on a public issue. Parties may form a coalition, which is an agreement to work together, especially when no single party has enough support to govern alone. A left-wing party and a right-wing party are often described by their different views on taxes, social programs, and the role of government.
| Word | Definition | |
|---|---|---|
 political party | An organized group that shares ideas about how government should work. | |
 party platform | A list of a party's main ideas and goals. | |
 coalition | A group of parties or leaders that work together. | |
 opposition | The group that does not support the current government or plan. | |
 left | A political position that usually supports more government help and equality. | |
 right | A political position that usually supports tradition and limited government. | |
| moderate | A position that is not extreme and often accepts compromise. | |
 ideology | A set of beliefs about politics and society. |
Public services and policy
Public services are the things the government provides for people, such as schools, roads, hospitals, police, and buses. A policy is a government decision or plan for dealing with an issue. A budget is the plan for how money will be spent. Funding is the money given for a project, service, or institution. Taxes are money people and businesses pay to the government. A subsidy is money the government gives to support a business, industry, or service. A regulation is an official rule that controls how people or companies must act. A department is a part of government that manages a specific area like transport, health, or housing.
| Word | Definition | |
|---|---|---|
 public service | A service the government provides for everyone in society. | |
| policy | A plan that guides government action. | |
 budget | A plan for how money will be spent. | |
 funding | Money given to support a project or service. | |
 tax | Money people or companies pay to support government services. | |
 subsidy | Money the government gives to help reduce costs for a person or business. | |
 regulation | An official rule that controls how something is done. | |
 service | An action or system that helps the public. |
Citizens, protests, and news
A citizen is a legal member of a country and has rights and duties under its laws. Rights are legal freedoms or protections. Duties are responsibilities citizens have toward the state or community. A protest is a public action against a decision, law, or condition. To demonstrate means to join a protest or public display of opinion. A rally is a large public meeting for political support or protest. A speech is a formal talk given to persuade or inform people. In news reports, an official statement is a public message from a government or organization. An announcement is a formal notice about a decision, event, or plan. When reporters say a source, they mean the person or organization that provided the information.
| Word | Definition | |
|---|---|---|
 citizen | A person who belongs to a country and has rights and duties there. | |
 rights | Basic protections that people are entitled to. | |
 duty | Something a person is expected to do. | |
| protest | A public act of showing disagreement or demand for change. | |
 demonstration | A public event where people show support or opposition. | |
 statement | An official message that explains a position or decision. | |
| announcement | A public notice that shares important news. | |
 reporter | A person who collects and shares news. |
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Take the Quiz!
You can now understand and use the language of government, elections, courts, parties, public services, and civic life with confidence. Put it into action by reading a news story, explaining an election result, or discussing a local policy in English.
Must vs Have To
Make vs Do
Bite the Bullet
Adjective Formation
Phrasal Verbs
Under the Weather
Conditional