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.
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.
| Parola | Definizione | |
|---|---|---|
| politics | ||
| government | ||
| power | ||
| policy | ||
| law | ||
| state | ||
| public | ||
| official |
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.
| Parola | Definizione | |
|---|---|---|
| legislative branch | ||
| executive branch | ||
| judicial branch | ||
| congress | ||
| parliament | ||
| court | ||
| judge | ||
| separation of powers |
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.
| Parola | Definizione | |
|---|---|---|
| election | ||
| vote | ||
| ballot | ||
| candidate | ||
| campaign | ||
| poll | ||
| turnout | ||
| results |
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.
| Parola | Definizione | |
|---|---|---|
| president | ||
| prime minister | ||
| governor | ||
| mayor | ||
| minister | ||
| senator | ||
| representative | ||
| leader |
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.
| Parola | Definizione | |
|---|---|---|
| law | ||
| judge | ||
| jury | ||
| trial | ||
| case | ||
| evidence | ||
| appeal | ||
| verdict |
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.
| Parola | Definizione | |
|---|---|---|
| political party | ||
| party platform | ||
| coalition | ||
| opposition | ||
| left | ||
| right | ||
| moderate | ||
| ideology |
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.
| Parola | Definizione | |
|---|---|---|
| public service | ||
| policy | ||
| budget | ||
| funding | ||
| tax | ||
| subsidy | ||
| regulation | ||
| service |
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.
| Parola | Definizione | |
|---|---|---|
| citizen | ||
| rights | ||
| duty | ||
| protest | ||
| demonstration | ||
| statement | ||
| announcement | ||
| reporter |
Fai il 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.