Glossary of political terms | Vocabulary (2024)

activist (noun): someone who actively tries to achieve social or political change, most often by joining an activist group – Even before she joined Greenpeace, Liz was an environmental activist.

advocate (verb): to publicly support something like a policy or plan – Does your party advocate stronger regulation of social media?

ally (noun): countries that have agreed to help each other, especially in a war, are allies – In 2011 the USA persuaded allies like the UK, France and Canada to join them in attacking Libya.

alliance (noun): a formal agreement between two or more countries or political parties to work together in certain ways – NATO is a military alliance that around 30 European and North American countries have joined.

anarchism (noun): the belief that local co-operatives freely established and run by the people they serve work better than centralized governments run by powerful elites and politicians – Kurdish anarchism was developed by Abdullah Öcalan, and he was inspired by Murray Bookchin.

(the) Anglosphere (noun): the UK and countries the UK colonized such as the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand – English is the main language used throughout the Anglosphere.

austerity (noun): a policy of cutting government spending to reduce public debt, with cuts to welfare, health and education often being significant – Is austerity a better way of reducing public debt than raising taxes?

authoritarian (adjective): of governments that demand absolute obedience and will use violence, unjust laws, surveillance, etc to destroy opposition – Authoritarian governments will do anything to stay in power.

autocracy (noun): a country or government that is controlled by a single person – Which of the countries on the Korean peninsula is an autocracy?

autonomous (adjective): able to govern oneself without outside control – Three of our country's regions are autonomous, but the rest are controlled by the central government.

backbencher (noun): a Member of Parliament who isn't a government minister or an opposition leader – The education minister lost his portfolio and became a backbencher again. (also "backbench MP")

bailout (noun): money given to a company, country or an organisation that's in financial trouble – Should governments give bailouts to failing private companies?

ballot (noun): a vote to find out what people think about something – Before going on strike, we held a secret ballot to make sure our members supported it.

battleground state (noun): a state that doesn't always elect the same party's candidate – We spent most of our election campaign in three battleground states. (also "swing state")

bureaucracy (noun): a hierarchy of officials who administer an organisation or a government department – I hate dealing with government bureaucracies.

benefits (noun): welfare payments such as sickness benefits and unemployment benefits – I was out of work, but at least I could get unemployment benefits.

biased (adjective): unfairly favouring or judging someone or something because of personal preference or prejudice – Political parties were biased against women and wouldn't let them run for office.

bill (noun): a document outlining a proposed new law that will be voted on by elected representatives – Do you think the new environmental protection bill will be passed? (also "legislation", "legislative proposal")

bipartisan (adjective): involving two political parties or both sides of a political division – Defence budget increases usually get bipartisan support.

budget (noun): a government's stated projection on income and spending, most often over the coming year – Couldn't the government balance the budget by spending less on weapons and other military stuff?

cabinet (noun): a group of government members who have important jobs like running ministries – The prime minister will announce the new cabinet next week.

candidate (noun): someone who's competing for votes in an election – How many candidates are running in next month's election?

capitalism (noun): an economic system based on privately-owned businesses that have to make a profit to survive – If capitalism isn't regulated, the need to make a profit can lead to mistreatment of workers, consumers and the environment.

caucus (noun): a group of politicians with similar aims or interests – A bipartisan congressional caucus aims to boost trade with China.

citizen (noun): a person with the legal right to live in and be part of a country – If you're a UK citizen you can get a British passport.

civil rights (noun): rights to equal treatment and equal opportunities regardless of one's race, gender, sexual preference, religion, etc – Have you heard Martin Luther King's I Have a Dream civil rights speech?

(the) civil service (noun): government departments and the people who work for them – My father began his career in the civil service before shifting to journalism. (also "the Civil Service")

civil war (noun): a war between different groups or regions in the same country – In the American Civil War, southern states fought for the right to buy and sell people and use them as slaves.

coalition (noun): a government made up of two or more political parties who agree to work together – Will your party join the governing coalition or the opposition?

colonization (noun): the act of invading and settling on lands that don't belong to you – For us indigenous Australians, colonization was the worst thing that ever happened to us. (also "to colonize" (verb) and "colonial" (adjective))

communism (noun): a political system in which a central government makes economic plans and fairly distributes wealth created by workers who produce goods and services – Communism can work in small communities, but it can become authoritarian when used to govern an entire country.

Congress (US noun): the body elected to govern the US at the federal level, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate – Congress has approved a bill that legalizes same-sex marriage.

conservative (adjective): believing in traditional ideas and values rather than progressive ideas and social change – Aren't right-wing parties more conservative than left-wing parties?

constitution (noun): a document that states the principles and rules that a country's system of government is based on – Human rights are protected in our country's constitution.

constituent (noun): a person who lives and votes in a particular constituency – Before the election, our candidate got to know many of her constituents.

consumerism (noun): the belief that buying material things makes people happy - Is Western-style consumerism the way of the future?

corporate (adjective): relating to big companies and corporations – The corporate sector uses advertising to sell its products to consumers.

corporation (noun): a large company– Corporations have to sell more and more products in order to make bigger and bigger profits.

corrupt (adjective): related to corruption – Since the 2021 coup, corrupt army generals have stolen billions of dollars.

corruption (noun): the dishonest or illegal use of power or authority, usually for money or gifts – How much money does our country lose to corruption every year?

coup d’état or coup (noun): the illegal and often violent overthrow of government, usually by military officers – The coup was carried out by a bunch of greedy, power-hungry generals.

deficit (noun): the amount by which money earned or received is less than the amount spent or owed in a particular period of time – If a government spends 3 trillion dollars and its income is only 2 trillion, its budget deficit is 1 trillion dollars.

demagogue (noun): a political leader who arouses emotions like fear, greed, anger and prejudice to get people's support – The world's most dangerous leaders are fascist demagogues like Hitler and Mussolini.

democracy (noun): a political system in which people choose their own governments by voting in free and fair elections – Some countries are true democracies, but those with rigged elections are fake democracies. (also "democratic" (adjective))

(the) Democratic Party (US noun): one of the two main political parties in the US – The Democratic Party is more likely to adopt progressive policies than the Republican Party. (also "the Democrats")

democratic socialism (noun): a left-wing political philosophy that combines democracy with a highly-regulated market economy, state-run essential services and a state-financed welfare system – Unlike communism, democratic socialism can't produce a one-party state.

depression (noun): the period in a capitalist economic cycle when many banks and companies fail, production falls, unemployment increases and many workers fall into poverty – Even little kids went to bed hungry during the depression. (see also "recession")

dictatorship (noun): an authoritarian government that uses force to hold onto power – At first he was a democratically-elected demagogue, but then he banned elections and established a dictatorship. (Note: a "dictator" (noun) is the person who controls a dictatorship)

diplomacy (noun): the managing of relations between countries – Why aren't we using diplomacy instead of threats of war to resolve our disagreements? (Note: a "diplomat" (noun) is someone who works in the field of diplomacy)

disinformation (noun): deliberately false information that's used to deceive or wrongly persuade people – The USA used disinformation to persuade other countries to join its illegal 2003 invasion of Iraq. (Note: "misinformation" has a similar meaning)

domestic terrorist (noun): someone who violently attacks people or places in their own country for political reasons – SWAT teams in heavy armour used military weapons to arrest a group of domestic terrorists. (also "homegrown terrorist")

draconian (adjective): extremely strict and severe (esp of a law or punishment) – Draconian drug laws meant kids spent years in jail for possessing a little marijuana, and their lives were ruined.

election (noun): a democratic process in which people vote for politicians to represent them in a government – Who are you voting for in the election?

election campaign (collocation): a series of events and advertisem*nts in the run-up to an election that try to persuade people to vote for a particular politician or party – How much will the party spend on the election campaign?

electoral college (US noun): a small group of unelected people in each US state who elect the president and vice-president even though a nation-wide vote has just taken place – In 2016 the electoral college gave Donald Trump the presidency even though he'd lost the popular vote.

empire (noun): all the countries, colonies, overseas lands, etc that a powerful country controls after invading or occupying them – Many countries including Canada, Australia, South Africa, Kenya and Jamaica were claimed by the British empire after being invaded.

endorse (verb): to openly express support for someone or something – The electoral board can't endorse any of the candidates before an election.

equal rights (collocation): the idea that people of all kinds should have the same access to things like education, medical care, police protection, justice, etc – Prisoners, drug users and disabled people still don't have equal rights. (also "civil rights")

(the) establishment (noun): the most powerful and privileged group in a country, most of whom support conservative parties and policies – In British politics, the Tories are seen as the party of the establishment. (also "the Establishment")

exploit (verb): to treat someone or something badly in order to get some benefit for yourself – Workers are still being exploited in these factories. (also "exploitation" (noun))

(the) far left (noun): people of the left who believe radical or extreme forms of social, economic and political change are needed – Some on the far left still believe in taking the revolution to the streets. (also "the hard left")

(the) far right (noun): people of the right with extremely conservative views, some of whom have racist and fascist beliefs of the sort found in Nazi Germany – These days the far right is mostly just a bunch of boys who dress up like fascists in order to shock their parents. (also "the hard right")

fascism (noun): an extreme right-wing dictatorial political system based on racial purity and the violent hatred of racial and other minorities – Fascism is a vile political system that we must stamp out forever.

feminism (noun): a movement for social change that aims to rid society of beliefs and traditions that stop women from having the same rights, powers and opportunities as men – In many countries, feminism is still seen as a threat to traditional male dominance.

federal (adjective): of a central government in a federation, as opposed to governments of individual states – The US federal government is made of up the legislative branch which includes the House of Representatives and the Senate, the executive branch which includes the President and Vice President, and the judicial branch which includes the Supreme Court and other federal courts.

federation (noun): a country made up of several states that have united under a central or federal government – Many of the world's biggest countries are federations, including Russia and the USA.

fiscal (adjective): related to public finances, including the collection of taxes and the spending of government money – The federal government's fiscal policy caused a number of economic problems.

foreign relations (collocation): a country's dealings with other countries, including establishing friendly relationships, negotiating trade deals, arranging scientific and cultural exchanges, etc – Our diplomats are improving foreign relations right across Asia. (also "foreign affairs" and "international relations")

foreign aid (noun): assistance or help given by one country to another, including economic aid, development projects, disaster relief, etc – How much money does your country spend on foreign aid every year?

foreign policy (noun): how a country plans to further its national interests when dealing with other countries and regions – Our foreign policy mustn't damage our relations with our neighbours.

fundraising (noun): trying to get people to give money to a charity or an organization – Lots of people give money to the Greens at their fundraising dinners.

geopolitics (noun): the study of how a country or region fits into the global network of political and economic alliances and rivalries – The main struggle in geopolitics now is between the West and countries the West doesn't trust, like China and Russia.

government (noun): those who govern a country, state or region and make decisions about laws, taxes, budgets, welfare funding, etc – Why does the government spend so much on foreign aid?

head of state (noun): a country's official leader, such as a republic's president or a monarchy's king or queen – The UK's head of state is the king, with the prime minister being the head of government.

(the) House of Representatives (noun): the name of the lower house in certain parliaments like the US Congress and the Parliament of Australia – Is the House of Representatives as powerful as the Senate?

human rights (noun): the rights we all have to be treated fairly and without cruelty or injustice – The arrest and jailing of peaceful protesters is a clear violation of their human rights. (See also "civil rights" and "women's rights")

ideology (noun): a system of beliefs, goals and ethics that form the basis of an economy, a society, a political party, etc – Anti-capitalist ideologies claim that capitalism exploits workers, creates inequality, and puts profits above human and environmental health. (also "ideological" (adjective))

inclusive (adjective): wanting to include people of all kinds, especially those previously excluded from mainstream society – Ireland is much more inclusive these days. (also "inclusivity" (noun))

incumbent (noun): someone holding an official position at a certain time – Most incumbents are elected for a second term.

independent (noun): an elected representative who isn't a member of a political party – More independents were elected this time than ever before.

indigenous governance (collocation): forms of social organization, law and diplomacy that indigenous peoples practiced, many of which were lost after colonization – Luckily some forms of indigenous governance are still passed on by the elders.

inflation (noun): rising prices – The government's doing whatever it can to reduce inflation. (also "inflationary' (adjective))

issue (noun): an important topic that people are discussing, debating or having disputes about – Climate change is an issue that all parties have to have a policy on.

insurrection (noun): a violent attempt to take power from a government – The people who planned the insurrection were arrested and sentenced to death. (also "uprising")

(the) judiciary (noun): the judges and court officials that run trials and issue punishments in a particular country – If the judiciary were independent, would they be jailing peaceful protesters? (also "judicial" (adjective))

junta (noun): a military government that has taken power by force – The junta killed thousands of protesters after staging their coup.

justice (noun): the fair treatment of people of all kinds – Children seem to have a natural sense of justice.

labour (noun): work, especially manual work – Who decides how much our labour is worth? (Note: used in many collocations like "labour law", "labour costs", "forced labour", "child labour", etc.)

(the) Labour Party (noun): the more left-wing of the UK's two main political parties – The Labour Party has always claimed to be the party of the workers. (Note: The equivalent party in Australia is the differently-spelled "Labor Party")

landslide (noun): an election victory in which the winning party wins by a very big margin – Our party has won in a landslide!

law and order (phrase): a situation in which laws and the police are obeyed by nearly everyone – Political parties often promise to improve law and order when campaigning.

leader (noun): a person with enough power, status or charisma to become the head of a country, an organisation, a gang, etc. – Was the leader of your country democratically elected, and did they take power by force?

(the) Leader of the Opposition (noun): the leader of the parties that didn't have enough seats in parliament to form the government – The Leader of the Opposition accused the Prime Minister of being corrupt. (also "minority leader")

left-wing (adjective): believing that power and wealth should be shared fairly and that services like health care and education should be free – Most countries in South America have left-wing governments at the moment. (also "of the left", "leftist", "progressive" and "liberal")

legislation (noun): a law or a set of laws – New legislation on the clearing of forests was passed in parliament today. (also "to legislate" (verb) and "legislative" (adjective))

legislative agenda (noun): new laws that a party or politician promises to introduce – The government's tertiary education bill was part of its legislative agenda.

liberal (US adjective): supporting the fair sharing of power and wealth and strong protection of human rights, civil liberties and freedom of speech – My grandfather has become more liberal the older he gets. (also "progressive")

liberal democracy (noun): a democratic, market-based political system in which human rights, civil liberties and basic freedoms are constitutionally-protected – India, Brazil, Japan and South Africa are among the many countries now seeing themselves as liberal democracies. (Note: don't confuse with the idea of "social democracy" in which capitalism gradually shifts towards socialism)

libertarian (adjective): believing that personal freedom should only be subject to minimal government control – My uncle says he's libertarian, but he does exactly what he's expected to do.

lobby (verb): to try to get a politician or government to do something for you, such as change a regulation that harms your business – If we elect someone, shouldn't they put our interests ahead of the companies that lobby them? (also "lobbyist" (noun))

lower class (noun): the social class that poor people with low status belong to – Lower-class people are looked down on by just about everyone. (also "the lower classes" and "working class")

lower house (noun): another name for the House of Representatives (US) or the House of Commons (UK) – How many parties won seats in the lower house in last year's election? (Note: the opposite of "upper house")

mainstream (adjective): considered normal due to widespread acceptance in society – Why don't mainstream media like CNN and the BBC fact-check government claims?

market economy (noun): an economy in which the forces of supply and demand determine prices and wages – We have a market economy, but the government adjusts prices and wages as necessary. (also "free market economy")

meritocracy (noun): a system in which a person's talents and achievements determine their position, income and status instead of their social class, race or gender – It's fairer than it was fifty years ago, but it still isn't a true meritocracy.

middle class (noun): the social class between the lower classes and the upper classes – I'm glad I was born into the middle class.

midterms (short for "midterm elections") (US noun): the election of a certain number of seats around halfway through the term of office of a president or government – The Democrats could lose their Senate majority in the next midterms.

military dictatorship (noun): an authoritarian government run by military officers who took power by force – How many people has the military dictatorship tortured and killed in order to stay in power? (also "military regime")

moderate (adjective): not considered extreme or unreasonable – We might get elected if we advocate moderate tax increases.

monarchy (noun): a country in which the head of state is a king or queen – France used to be a monarchy, but the French Revolution put an end to that.

nation (noun): an individual country made up of people from one or more ethnic groups who live together under one government – Many African nations are trading with Asia these days. (also "nation state")

National People's Congress (noun): the national legislature and supreme state authority of the People's Republic of China – Most of the nearly 3,000 delegates to the National People's Congress are elected by local people's congresses.

national security (noun): a nation's efforts to protect its territory and people – There are better ways to protect national security than spending a fortune on weapons.

nationalize (verb): to transfer a privately-owned company or industry to state ownership and government control – The government has had to nationalize essential utilities like water and power again.

neoconservative (adjective): related to the militaristic conservatism adopted by the US Republican Party from the 1980s to the 2000s that led to several failed wars – Why hasn't neoconservative US president George W Bush been put on trial for starting illegal wars? (Note: often abbreviated to "neocon")

neo-Nazi (noun): a member or supporter of any group that promotes white supremacy, violent attacks on minorities or mass murder of the sort Nazi Germany committed – My brother says he joined the neo-Nazis because he was lonely and they made him feel good about himself.

nominee (noun): someone who is nominated for a political position, a job or an award of some sort – For the first time ever the Republican Party's nominee for president is Asian.

oligarchy (noun): a small group of powerful people who control a country, an organization or an industry – She must've been put in power by the oligarchy that really runs the country. (Note: an "oligarch" (noun) is a member of an oligarchy)

(the) opposition (noun): politicians who sit in parliament but aren't part of the party or coalition in power – The leader of the opposition has blamed the prime minister for wrecking the country's economy.

oppression (noun): the cruel and unfair treatment of people – The refugees are fleeing political oppression in their own country. (also "oppressive" (adjective) as in "He fled his country's oppressive rulers.")

overthrow (verb): to force a leader or a government to give up power – The government was overthrown by an invading army.

parliament (noun): all the people elected to make or change a country's laws – The Green Party won six seats in parliament this time.

patriarchy (also The Patriarchy) (noun): a society or political system ruled by men – Feminists speak about how oppressive the patriarchy has always been.

patriotism (noun): love of one's country and the willingness to fight and die for it – Right-wing demagogues know how to turn feelings of patriotism into hatred of foreigners.

patriot (noun): someone with an extreme love of their own country, often combined with an extreme distrust or fear of foreign countries and people – Were those who attacked the US Capitol in 2021 loyal patriots or the brainwashed puppets of a power-hungry demagogue?

platform (noun): the policies of a political party or an independent candidate, esp as expressed during an election campaign – If a party's platform includes raising taxes, it's unlikely to win an election.

plutocracy (noun): a country or government controlled by the wealthy, either directly or indirectly – After gaining independence from our colonial masters, we became a plutocracy rather than a proper democracy.

policy (noun): a plan that a political party or a government department promises to put into action – The Republican Party says it's developing a new education policy.

political correctness (noun): the effort to challenge language and acts that express dislike or prejudice towards people of certain races, genders, ethnicities, sexual preferences, etc. – Some conservatives see political correctness as a threat to their right to be prejudiced.

political science (noun): the study of politics and systems of government – My political science course covers comparative politics, international relations and political theory.

politician (noun): a person who is elected to represent voters in a democracy – Most people around here don't trust politicians.

politics (noun): the ways power is gained, held, used and lost in a particular society – We got into politics to make the world a better place, not to make money.

politicize (verb): to use an event or an issue to change public opinion on a political party or politician – The gun lobby says anyone who expresses shock at mass shootings is politicizing them to help anti-gun politicians.

poll (noun): a survey in which many people are asked for their opinion on something– According to the latest poll, over 60% of voters intend to vote for the opposition party.

polling booth (noun): a place in which people can cast their vote in an election– Privacy is ensured in a polling booth, so nobody will know who you've voted for.

populism (noun): a political movement that targets the votes of ordinary working people by using emotive language and pretending to share their pain and frustration – A billionaire got elected by using the tricks of populism to convince millions of workers that he was one of them.

populist (adjective): related to politicians who claim to share the frustrations and anger of ordinary workers in order to get their votes – Populist politicians can turn a crowd of normal people into an angry mob. (also "populist" (noun) means someone who uses populist techniques to win votes)

prejudice (noun): a deep-seated bias against, and dislike of, a particular group of people, most often based on their race, ethnicity or sexual preference – Where did this prejudice against people with dark skin come from in the first place?

president (noun): the political leader and head of state of a republic – The French president is meeting the British prime minister next month.

prime minister (noun): the person who leads a parliamentary government – The prime minister lost the support of her own party, so they replaced her with another one.

private enterprise (noun): an economic system in which privately-owned companies create and market products and services in order to make a profit – Private enterprise works best if regulations prevent companies from exploiting their workers, damaging the environment and minimizing their taxes. (also "free enterprise")

privatize (verb): to sell a government-owned company and allow it to become a profit-seeking privately-owned company – After the government privatized our state-owned power plants, electricity prices went way up.

progressive (adjective): promoting changes in society that make life better and fairer for everyone – The Greens always have the most progressive policies. (see "liberal")

propaganda (noun): biased information that's meant to make a country, government or political system seem better or worse than it really is – Authoritarian governments use state media to spread their propaganda.

public opinion (noun): the opinions and views of the majority of people in a particular society – If your policies don't take public opinion into account, you won't win the election.

racism (noun): the belief that people of some races are better than those of other races – Can we really understand the pain that racism causes if we haven't experienced it ourselves? (also "racial prejudice")

ratify (verb): to make an agreement official by signing a document or voting to confirm it – The trade deal wasn't ratified until each country's leader had signed it.

reactionary (adjective): highly conservative and automatically reacting against progressive change in society – My uncle bored everyone to death with all his reactionary nonsense.

rebel (verb): to oppose or reject something you're expected to support – Some MPs are rebelling against their party's tax cuts. (also "rebel" (noun), as in "James was a young rebel who often got into trouble.")

real wages (noun): the true value of wages in terms of what you can buy with the money you've earned – If inflation rises but your wages don't, your real wages fall even if you're getting as much as before.

recession (noun): a period when a country's economy does badly, with falling productivity and rising unemployment – I lost my job during the recession and couldn't even pay my rent. (also see "depression")

referendum (noun): a national poll in which everyone can vote on an important issue such as a constitutional change – Have you thought about which way you'll vote in the referendum?

reform (noun): a change that improves an existing situation, such as a legal reform, educational reform, economic reform, etc. – Left-wing people want taxation reform that increases the tax that big companies pay.

representative (noun): a person who's chosen or elected by one or more people to make choices or act for them – The candidate that most of us voted for is our new representative. (see also "House of Representatives")

republic (noun): a country with an elected head of state, usually a president – The referendum shows that most of us want to live in a republic instead of a monarchy.

Republican Party (noun): the more conservative or right-wing of the two main political parties in the US – The Republican Party usually gets more votes in rural areas than the Democratic Party. (also "the GOP")

revolution (noun): a successful uprising by many people that overthrows a political or economic system and replaces it with their preferred system – The communist revolution in Cuba overthrew the right-wing government established after the coup in 1952.

rig (verb): to make something like an election, a sporting event or an exam unfair by giving one side or one person an unfair advantage – After losing, the former president falsely claimed the election was rigged.

(the) right (noun): conservative political parties or people who oppose progressive reforms – Which group wants taxes for the rich increased, the left or the right?

right-wing (adjective): of conservative people and organizations that oppose regulating business, giving welfare to the poor, reforming institutions, etc. – Which news organizations are the most right-wing?

run for office (phrase): to join a list of electoral candidates and campaign for votes – I ran for office because I wanted to make things better.

safety net (noun): help that a government gives to people in difficulty, including housing for the poor, medical care for the sick and financial help for the unemployed – Luckily our country has a good safety net for those who need it.

seat (noun): a position in something like a house of parliament, a company board, a jury, etc. – How many seats did your party win in the last election? (Note: in politics, there are seats in parliament, in Congress, in the House of Representatives, in The Senate, etc.)

senate (noun): the upper house of the two-house parliament in countries like the US, France, the Philippines, Brazil and Argentina – Legislation has to be passed by the senate before it becomes law.

senator (noun): a member of a senate – Julia has been a senator since 2020.

social justice (noun): the idea that everyone should have the same rights and opportunities regardless of their class, race, religion, gender or sexuality – Social justice legislation has begun to reduce inequality for some groups. (Note: a "social justice warrior" is someone who fights for social justice)

social welfare (noun): support that a government provides to people in need – Countries that spend lots of money on social welfare are sometimes called welfare states.

socialism (noun): a political and economic system that ensures that a country’s wealth is shared fairly and that essential services are provided by the government instead of profit-seeking companies – Is socialism fairer than capitalism?

state (noun): 1. a country and its government's administration 2. one region of a country with its own state legislature, laws and elected representatives – One of the world's most powerful states¹ is the United States² of America.

(the) State Duma (noun): the lower house of the two-house Federal Assembly of Russia – All the elected members of the State Duma serve for a period of five years.

statesman (noun): an experienced political leader who is respected for his understanding and wisdom – We desperately need more great statesmen like Nelson Mandela. (Note: the female equivalent is "stateswoman")

strike (noun): a time during which workers stop working to force employers to improve their pay or working conditions – Railway workers are going on strike next week if they don't get a pay rise.

surplus (noun): a situation in which a government spends less than the amount it receives as revenue during a certain period – This year's surplus will help reduce the deficit that's built up over the years.

terrorism (noun): the use of extreme violence such as shooting and bombing to achieve political goals – Terrorism of the sort that the US experienced on September 11 is very unusual. (Note: a "terrorist" is someone who's involved in terrorism)

trade union (noun): an organization of workers that tries to improve members' pay and working conditions – Right-wing governments often pass laws that limit the power of trade unions. (also "union")

(the) Treasury (noun): a government department that takes care of public money and oversees taxation, treasury accounts and national budgets – One of the Treasury's jobs is to produce and issue the nation's banknotes and coins.

tyranny (noun): a brutal government that uses violence and fear to control its own people – The people couldn't stand living under a tyranny any longer. (Note: a "tyrant" is the person who controls a tyrannical state)

unemployed (adjective): out of work, or not having a job – My brother has been unemployed for months.

unionize (verb): to organize a group of workers doing the same type of work into a trade union – The government made it illegal for workers to unionize.

(the) United States Capitol (noun): the building in Washington, D.C. in which the US Congress meets – I could hardly believe it when the United States Capitol was attacked by the president's own supporters. (also "The Capitol" or "the Capitol Building")

upper class (noun): the social class with the highest status and the most money and power – He speaks like someone from the upper class, but he's really from the working class. (Note: the opposite of "lower class" or "working class")

upper house (noun): the smaller house of a two-house parliament, often called the Senate, that reviews legislation passed by the lower house – Did you know the UK has an unelected upper house called the House of Lords?

veto (verb): to use official power or authority to stop something from happening – In some countries the head of state can veto legislation.

vote (verb): to show which person you want to win an election, most often by marking a piece of paper or using a voting machine – Have you decided who you're going to vote for in the election yet?(also "vote" (noun) as in "How many votes did the Liberal Party win by?")

wedge issue (US noun): a divisive issue that a political party uses to draw supporters from another party – The Republican Party has made gun control a wedge issue to attract traditional Democrat voters.

welfare state (noun): a state that takes care of the welfare of its citizens by providing free health care, free education and benefits to the elderly, the disabled, the unemployed and others needing support – People in welfare states like Sweden and Norway don't have much to worry about, do they?

Western (adjective): of European countries and places that Europeans took from indigenous people, such as the USA, Canada and Australia – Even though they're in Asia, settler Australians say they live in a Western country. (also "The West")

(the) White House (noun): a building in Washington D.C. in which US presidents live and work while in office – The West Wing of the White House is where the US president's "Oval Office" is located.

white privilege (noun): the privileges that white people in some countries have simply because of their skin colour – Racism will continue until the reality of white privilege is acknowledged.

white supremacy (noun): the racist belief that white people are superior to black people and should have power over them – White kids are being targeted by websites promoting white supremacy. (also "white supremacist" (noun) as in "Have you ever met a white supremacist?")

women's rights (noun): rights for women that are equal to those of men, including equal pay – Our panel on women's rights will discuss equal educational and employment opportunities for women.

(the) working class (noun): people from the lowest and least powerful social class, most of whom have low-paying jobs and don't own property – In Britain, most punk bands were from the working class. (also "lower class" and "the proletariat")

xenophobia (noun): a strong dislike or fear of people from other countries, including immigrants – He says he's patriotic, but it's more like xenophobia. (also "xenophobic" (adjective) as in "White supremacists are xenophobic.")