Politics brings together decisions about how a country is organized, who leads it and how public resources are distributed. In this category you will find words from Society, because political life affects schools, transportation, taxes and services. Some words vary by country: gobierno can refer to the set of authorities or to the group that rules at a given moment, and parlamento, congreso or asamblea name the institution where laws are enacted. Also the Estado is used to talk about the complete political structure and política for public activity or for a specific stance.

The gobierno directs the country and makes decisions about public affairs. The parlamento or the congreso gather the representatives who discuss and approve laws. In some countries there is a senado, which forms part of the legislative power together with the lower chamber. The ayuntamiento manages the municipality and deals with local matters such as cleaning, works or urban transport. When talking about institutions, the Estado, the administración and the servicios públicos also appear, which relate to topics of Servicios y Funcionarios.

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Conjunto de oficinas y personas que gestionan asuntos públicosInstitución donde los representantes debatEN y aprueban leyesConjunto de personas que dirigen el país y toman decisiones públicasDepartamento del Estado que se ocupa de un área concretaOrganismo que resuelve conflictos legales y aplica la justiciaCámara o asamblea donde se presentan y votan propuestasCámara que revisa leyes y decisiones antes de su aprobación finalInstitución que administra un municipio y organiza servicios locales

Political positions and authorities

Word	Definition
gobierno	Person who leads the government or an institution.
parlamento	Authority who heads a ministry and decides area policies.
congreso	Elected representative who participates in Parliament.
senado	Person who governs a city council.
ayuntamiento	Member of local government who works in the municipality.
ministerio	Authority that directs a region or a province in some countries.
tribunal	Person who speaks on behalf of a group or institution.
administración	Person who politically opposes the government or a proposal.

Scramble

The presidente is the highest authority of the executive power in many countries. A ministro heads a specific area, such as education, health or economy. The diputado represents voters in the parliament or congress, and the senador participates in the upper chamber when it exists. At the local level, the alcalde runs the city council and the concejal is part of the municipal team. The gobernador usually administers a region, province or federated state, depending on the country.

opositorpresidenteministrodiputadoportavozalcaldeconcejalgobernador

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Persona que se enfrenta políticamente al gobierno o a una propuestaPersona que lidera el gobierno o una instituciónAutoridad que dirige una región o una provincia en algunos paísesPersona que gobierna un ayuntamientoAutoridad que dirige un ministerio y decide políticas del áreaPersona que habla en nombre de un grupo o instituciónRepresentante elegido que participa en el parlamentoMiembro del gobierno local que trabaja en el municipio

Basic vocabulary of elections

Word	Definition
presidente	Choose an option in an election or referendum.
ministro	Process in which people choose representatives.
diputado	Period in which candidates present their ideas.
alcalde	Set of people or proposal that is presented to be chosen.
concejal	Box where votes are deposited.
gobernador	Count of votes that determines the result.
portavoz	Paper with which the vote is expressed.
opositor	Right or act of participating by voting.

Scramble

to vote is to choose a person or proposal in elections. During the campaign, candidates present their ideas and seek support. The candidatura is the list of people or the proposal that is presented to the election. The urnas are the containers where votes are deposited, and the escrutinio is the final tally. Also the mesa electoral, papeleta and resultados are mentioned when the process advances until the winner is known.

votarurnasufragioeleccionescandidaturapapeletaescrutiniocampaña

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Periodo en el que los candidatos presentan sus ideasProceso en el que la gente elige representantesElegir a una opción en una elección o consultaDerecho o acto de participar votandoConjunto de personas o propuesta que se presenta para ser elegidaRecuento de votos que determina el resultadoCaja donde se depositan los votosPapel con el que se expresa el voto

Words of law and public management

Word	Definition
votar	Norm that obliges to follow rules within a country.
elecciones	Official decision that is issued by an authority.
campaña	Rule that orders how to act in a situation.
candidatura	Amount of money that is planned to spend.
urna	Way of organizing and administering resources or tasks.
escrutinio	Set of organizations that serve the public.
papeleta	Formal step that must be completed to obtain something.
sufragio	Set of documents that collect official information about a matter.

Scramble

A ley is a rule approved by the competent authority. A decreto is usually a provision issued by the government, and a norma can be a general rule of mandatory compliance. The presupuesto indicates how much public money will be received and spent. The gestión refers to the way resources and tasks are organized, while the administración pública is the set of agencies and employees that implement the State’s decisions. In official documents, these words appear alongside procedures, regulations and procedures.

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Norma que obliga a cumplir reglas dentro de un paísCantidad de dinero que se planifica para gastarConjunto de documentos que recoge información oficial sobre un asuntoForma de organizar y administrar recursos o tareasDecisión oficial que emite una autoridadRegla que ordena cómo actuar en una situaciónConjunto de organismos que sirven a la ciudadaníaPaso formal que hay que completar para conseguir algo

Citizen participation and protest

Word	Definition
ley	Set of people that form part of a political community.
decreto	Privilege that allows doing something legally.
norma	Public expression of disagreement or claim.
presupuesto	Gathering of people that show an opinion in the street.
gestión	Formal request to ask something from an authority.
administración pública	Vote in which the population decides on a matter.
trámite	Written name to support a request or agreement.
expediente	Volunteer participation to help a cause.

Scramble

The ciudadanía is the set of people with rights and duties within a country. A derecho can be the right to vote, education or freedom of expression. When a group wants to express disagreement, it organizes a protest or a demonstration. A petición formally asks for a measure or a change. The referéndum allows voting directly on a concrete proposal. These words are used a lot in topics of Society and in news about public participation.

referéndumprotestapeticiónderechomanifestaciónfirmavoluntariadociudadanía

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Votación en la que la población decide sobre una cuestiónReunión de personas que muestran una opinión en la calleNombre escrito para apoyar una solicitud o acuerdoConjunto de personas que forman parte de una comunidad políticaSolicitud formal para pedir algo a una autoridadExpresión pública de desacuerdo o reclamoParticipación libre para ayudar en una causaFacultad que permite hacer algo legalmente

Words about ideologies and parties

Word	Definition
ciudadanía	Political group that presents ideas and candidates.
derecho	Political stance that usually defends more social equality.
protesta	Political stance that usually gives more weight to order or market.
manifestación	Political stance that seeks balance between positions.
petición	Who prefers to keep traditions or slow changes.
referéndum	Who supports social changes or new reforms.
firma	Agreement between parties to govern together.
voluntariado	Person who actively participates in a party or cause.

Scramble

A partido is a political organization that presents candidates and defends a program. The izquierda is usually associated with policies of greater State social intervention, while the derecha is linked to more weight of the market or traditional order, though the meaning changes depending on the country. The centro occupies an intermediate position. Conservador describes someone who defends slower changes or traditional values, and progresista someone who supports social reforms and broad changes. In everyday speech, these words help locate ideas, parties and voters on the political map.

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Posición política que suele defender más igualdad socialPosición política que suele dar más peso al orden o al mercadoPersona que participa activamente en un partido o causaQue prefiere mantener tradiciones o cambios lentosQue apoya cambios sociales o reformas nuevasGrupo político que presenta ideas y candidatosPosición política que busca equilibrio entre posturasAcuerdo entre partidos para gobernar juntos

News and political debate

Word	Definition
partido	Grupo político que presenta ideas y candidatos.
izquierda	Posición política que suele defender más igualdad social.
derecha	Posición política que suele dar más peso al orden o al mercado.
centro	Posición política que busca equilibrio entre posturas.
conservador	Que prefiere mantener tradiciones o cambios lentos.
progresista	Que apoya cambios sociales o reformas nuevas.
coalición	Acuerdo entre partidos para gobernar juntos.
militante	Persona que participa activamente en un partido o causa.

Scramble

In the press, a debate faces different ideas about a measure or a problem. A reforma changes a law, an institution or a public policy. The crisis appears when there is a serious situation that requires quick decisions. A acuerdo brings several parties to a single solution, and the consenso goes further because it achieves broad support. The oposición criticizes or oversees the government from outside power, and a propuesta offers a concrete measure to resolve a matter. These words appear in headlines, interviews and conversations about government and public life.