Home > Lessons > Political Vocabulary 1

Suitable for advanced students studying for TOEFL or TOEIC level exams.
  

Here is some vocabulary that is commonly used in the political world. Do you recognise these words? Study their meanings and then see them in use in the sentences below!

The White House

Vocabulary

• ballot (n) - the piece of paper that is marked by somebody making a vote. (v) to vote by ballot.
• campaign (n) - a political party will have a campaign when they are fighting another political party in a vote or election. (v) to go on campaign.
• coup - (coup d'état) (n) - when a small active group, such as the military, quickly take control and replace the government.
• democracy (n) - a government run by the people, a free government that has people choosing politicians to represent them in elections.
• election (n) - the public vote for the person they want to represent them in government
• landslide (n) - when one political party wins an election with a large majority of the votes. (v) to win an election by a large majority.
• politician (n) - a person who is active in politics.
• policy (n) - the plan of course of action of a government or political party.
• poll (n) - the collection of opinions about a subject - for example who they are planning to vote for in an election. (v) to collect opinions.
• prime minister (n) - the head of the government in parliamentary political systems.

Example sentences:

• () Please put your completed ballot paper in the box once you have finished voting.
• () During the next election many political parties will campaign by creating television, internet and newspaper advertisements.
• () The most recent coup in Thailand was in 2006, when the government was overthrown by a military junta.
• () The British political system is a parliamentary democracy that is followed by many countries throughout the world.
• () Barack Obama won the 2008 American presidential election.
• () The Labour politician won a landslide victory in Derby last week.
• () Arnold Schwarzenegger is a famous Hollywood action star who later became a politician.
• () Couples in China can only have one child since the government introduced a one child policy in 1978.
• () In the most recent opinion poll the Democrats have a lead of 6% over the Republicans.
• () David Cameron was voted in as the British Prime Minister in May 2010.

Do you understand the vocabulary? Try our Political quiz!