The World of Politics Vocabulary Flashcards

A collection of vocabulary flashcards covering key political collocations, systems of governance, electoral terms, and diplomatic terminology.

Constituent

An elected official acts on behalf of the voters and residents living in their specific district.

Fix the election result

Dishonesty or illegally manipulate the outcome of a vote to get a desired result.

Jump on the bandwagon

Join an activity, trend, or political movement that has suddenly become popular or successful.

Resign from cabinet

Officially leave a high-ranking position in the executive government.

Form a coalition government

Create a government formed by two or more political parties joining together.

Canvass the voters

Try to persuade voters to vote for a particular candidate or party by visiting them or talking to them.

Capture the public mood

Successfully express, represent, or gain the favor of the general feelings and attitudes of the public.

Receive an ovation

Get enthusiastic, sustained applause from an audience.

Concede defeat in the election

Admit officially that you have lost an election or competition.

Renege on your campaign pledges

Fail to keep a promise or agreement made during an election campaign.

Amend the constitution

Make official changes, additions, or modifications to a country's system of laws or constitution.

Convene a security council meeting

Officially arrange or call together a formal meeting of political or military leaders.

Launch a party manifesto

Officially introduce or publish a document stating the policies and goals of a political party.

Send a delegation to represent you

Dispatch a group of chosen representatives to act or speak on behalf of an organization or leader.

Vote along party lines

Cast a vote strictly according to the official policy and instructions of one's political party.

Heckle the speaker

Interrupt a public speaker with loud, rude, or aggressive comments and shouts.

Regain your seat

Win back a position as a member of parliament or representative in an election after having lost or vacated it.

Lose your seat

fail to be re-elected to a position in parliament or an elected body

mất ghế trong quốc hội / thất cử

Cast your vote

- English exp: officially mark and submit a ballot paper or vote in an election

- VN exp: bỏ phiếu / đi bầu

Eject from the party

- English exp: officially force someone to leave a political party or organization

- VN exp: khai trừ / loại khỏi đảng

Withdraw from the race

- English exp: officially stop participating in a political contest or election

- VN exp: rút khỏi cuộc đua / cuộc tranh cử

Ratify the treaty

Give formal consent or approval to a treaty, making it officially valid.

Pursue an agenda

- English exp: actively work to achieve a set of political goals, policies, or plans

- VN exp: theo đuổi một chương trình nghị sự / chính sách

Run for political office

- English exp: campaign as a candidate to be elected to a government position

- VN exp: tranh cử chức vụ chính trị

Hold an election

- English exp: organize and conduct a formal voting process

- VN exp: tổ chức bầu cử

Spin the story / facts

Present information or news in a biased way to influence public perception favorably.

Pledge to reform

- English exp: make a formal and serious promise to make changes or improvements

- VN exp: cam kết / hứa sửa đổi

Call an election

- English exp: officially announce that an election will take place on a specific date

- VN exp: kêu gọi / ấn định bầu cử (thường là bầu cử sớm)

Hold a referendum

Organize a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to vote on a particular proposal.

Turn out at the polls

- English exp: go to polling stations to cast votes in an election

- VN exp: đi bầu cử / đi bỏ phiếu

Shift seismically

- English exp: change suddenly, dramatically, or in a very significant way

- VN exp: chuyển biến / thay đổi một cách dữ dội (như động đất)

WF: (adj) seismic

Defeat a motion

- English exp: reject or vote down a formal proposal put forward in a legislative assembly

- VN exp: bác bỏ / đánh bại một kiến nghị

Extend a term of office

- English exp: prolong the duration of time a leader or official spends in power

- VN exp: gia hạn / kéo dài nhiệm kỳ

Veto a proposal

- English exp: exercise a constitutional right to reject or block a decision or proposal - VN exp: phủ quyết một đề xuất

The government has the power to _________ this proposal at the next meeting of the UN Security Council should it deem it necessary to do so.

Adopt dirty tactics

- English exp: start using dishonest, unethical, or unfair methods to gain an advantage

- VN exp: sử dụng / áp dụng các thủ đoạn bẩn thỉu

Reject the government

- English exp: refuse to support or re-elect the current governing party in an election - VN exp: từ chối / quay lưng với chính phủ đương nhiệm

Cabinet reshuffle

A situation when a prime minister changes the jobs of some or all cabinet ministers.

Front runner

The person or candidate considered most likely to win a competition or election.

Dark horse

A candidate or person who unexpectedly wins or succeeds despite little being known about them.

Exit poll

A survey taken of voters immediately after they exit the polling station to predict the outcome.

Hung parliament

A parliament in which no single political party achieves an absolute majority of seats.

Diplomatic immunity

Special legal exemption granted to diplomats preventing them from being prosecuted under local laws.

Landslide victory

An overwhelming majority of votes won by a political candidate or party in an election.

Political donation

- English exp: money given to a political party or candidate to help finance their campaign or operations

- VN exp: khoản quyên góp chính trị

Spin doctor

A spokesperson employed to give a favorable interpretation of events to the media.

Catalyst for change

- English exp: a person or event that quickly causes significant political or social change

- VN exp: xúc tác cho sự thay đổi

Whistle-stop tour

A brief political campaign tour with short appearances in many places in a short time.

Swing voters

Voters who do not have a fixed allegiance to any political party and can decide the election.

Spin the facts

- English exp: present news or information in a way that creates a favorable impression

- VN exp: bóp méo / xoay chuyển thông tin theo hướng có lợi

Old boys' club

- English exp: an informal system where wealthy men use their position and influence to help each other

- VN exp: nhóm lợi ích nội bộ / câu lạc bộ nam giới quyền lực

Lame duck

An official in the final period of office, after the election of a successor.

Polling booth

A small compartment in a polling station where a voter casts their ballot in secret.

Voter apathy

Lack of interest or enthusiasm among voters in an election.

Unanimous support

- English exp: agreement or support given by everyone in a group

- VN exp: sự ủng hộ nhất trí / đồng lòng

- WF: (n) unanimity

Gerrymandering

Manipulating the boundaries of an electoral constituency to favor one party.

Budget speech / announcement

- English exp: an official statement or legislation presenting financial plans and tax proposals

- VN exp: ngân sách / thông báo ngân sách

Bureaucratic nature

- English exp: involving complicated and excessive administrative processes or rules - VN exp: mang tính quan liêu / rườm rà thủ tục

Incumbent President / Campaign rhetoric

- English exp: the official currently holding office / persuasive speech or writing during a campaign

- VN exp: tổng thống đương nhiệm / lời lẽ vận động tranh cử WF: (n) incumbency

- E.g: The _________ president faces a huge challenge in translating his campaign _________ into action.

Bipartisan government

Involving the agreement or cooperation of two political parties that usually oppose each other.

Partisan crowd

- English exp: a group of people strongly supporting a specific political party or cause

- VN exp: đám đông thiên vị / ủng hộ phe phái - WF: (n) partisanship

Raucous laughter

- English exp: loud, harsh, and rowdy noise or laughter

- VN exp: tiếng cười nhạo báng / ồn ào hỗn loạn

Appetite for change

- English exp: a strong desire or enthusiasm for political or social reform - VN exp: khao khát / nhu cầu thay đổi

Opening gambit

- English exp: an action or remark intended to gain an initial advantage in a debate or contest

- VN exp: nước đi đầu tiên / lời mở đầu chiến lược

Republic

- English exp: ruled not by a hereditary leader but a government voted for by the people

- VN exp: nước cộng hòa

Aristocracy

- English exp: a class of people of high social rank or nobility

- VN exp: tầng lớp quý tộc

- E.g: Members of the _________ used to hold most of the land and political power in the country.

Technocracy

A system of government which places power in the hands of those who are best qualified from a scientific and technical perspective.

Dictatorship

chế độ độc tài - WF: (adj) dictatorial

- E.g: The country suffered for decades under a harsh military _________.

Fascism

chủ nghĩa phát xít - WF: (n) fascist, (adj) fascist

- E.g: Europe saw the rise of _________ during the period between the two World Wars.

Monarchy

- English exp: a government with a hereditary head of state who holds most of the power

- VN exp: chế độ quân chủ (phong kiến) - WF: (n) monarch, (adj) monarchical

Constitutional monarchy

- English exp: a democracy with a symbolic hereditary head of state with little or restricted political power

- VN exp: chế độ quân chủ lập hiến → vua có quyền lập pháp

Totalitarian state

A country in which people have no authority and the state exercises absolute control over public and private life.

Anarchy

tình trạng vô chính phủ / hỗn loạn - WF: (n) anarchist, (adj) anarchic

Banana republic

A small country ruled by a corrupt dictatorship dependent on a single export commodity.

Financial ombudsman

An official appointed to investigate individuals' complaints against financial institutions.

Public-private partnership

A cooperative arrangement between two or more public and private sectors.

Trade surplus

- English exp: the amount by which the value of a country's exports exceeds the cost of its imports (thặng dư thương mại)

- E.g: Last year's deficit has been transformed into a significant _________ this year.

Fiscal year

- English exp: a one-year period used by financial institutions and governments for financial reporting and budgeting (năm tài chính / tài khóa)

- E.g: The _________ in Ireland runs from the start of January until the end of December.

Tertiary sector

The economic sector involving the provision of services to consumers and businesses.

Attorney general

The chief legal officer who represents the state or government in legal matters.

State aid

trợ cấp / viện trợ từ nhà nước

- E.g: Government intervention in the form of _________ looks set to save the country's national carrier.

Excise duty

A tax levied on specific goods such as alcohol, tobacco, and petrol produced within a country.

- VN exp: thuế tiêu thụ đặc biệt

Civil service

The permanent professional branches of a state's administration, excluding military and judicial branches.

Semi-state company

- English exp: a company that is partially state-owned and managed alongside private interest (công ty bán công ích / doanh nghiệp bán nhà nước)

E.g: The Electricity Supply Board looks set to be the latest _________ to be privatised.

Welfare state

A system whereby the government undertakes to protect the health and well-being of its citizens.

Extradition treaty

A formal agreement between countries to hand over suspected criminals.

International incident

An event or conflict involving two or more nations that disrupts diplomatic relations.

As relations between the two countries continue to _________, ambassadors were recalled.

Disintegrate

Consular staff

- English exp: officials working in a consulate representing their government's interests abroad

- VN exp: nhân viên lãnh sự (giống đại sứ quán)

Protective custody

Protective detention of a witness or person to ensure their safety from harm.