2 Politics: government

to reign/rule over (a reign)

what kings & queens do over a country

to govern (a government)

to control political affairs of their countries & people

authority (to do sth)

power to do sth e.g. government has the highest authority to control public affairs

the Administration (an administration, administrive, to administer sth)

American government

a cabinet

consists of the most important ministers of a government & appointed by PM or president, meets to make decisions/advise PM or president

to appoint sb (an appointment)

formally chosen for certain post

a prime minister

(an) agenda

list of items to discuss by cabinet

high on the (political) agenda

very important issue on the agenda

a department/a ministry (BrE)

which governments consists of & each responsible for administration of particular area of policy

a Minister/a Secretary of State (BrE)/a Secretary (AmE) (NOT the Secretary of State (AmE))

head of department/ministry

the Foreign Office (BrE)/the State Department (AmE)

ministry of foreign affairs headed by the Foreign Secretary (BrE) or the Secretary of State (AmE)

the Home Office (BrE)/the Department of the Interior (AmE)

ministry of internal affairs headed by the Home Secretary (BrE) or Secretary of the Interior (AmE)

The Treasury (BrE)/the Treasury Department (AmE)

ministry of finance headed by Chancellor of the Exchequer (BrE) or Secretary of the Treasury (AmE)

accountable

expected to give an explanation for its actions

shadow (cabinet)

consists of leaders of opposition party & who act as spokesmen on matters for which they would be responsible if their party was the government

a faction

organized group of people within political party , who actively oppose some of the ideas of the larger group & fight for own ideas

a vote of confidence or a vote of no-confidence

vote in which MPs are asked to indicate that they'll still support the government or or don't

to resign from office

member of government who announces that he's leaving it

to quit cabinet

member of cabinet who announces that he's leaving it

cabinet falls/collapses

when a member who's a vital element of the cabinet leaves, this will happen

to reshuffle sth (a reshuffle)

interchanging posts within government by PM to prevent cabinet from collapsing

to topple sb/to bring sb down

to cause sb (e.g. goverment or leader) to lose their power

to overthrow sb (overthrow)

to be removed by force

to take sth over (a takeover/a coup)

to take control over sth with help of the army & replace it e.g. government (violently)

a legislature (Parliament in Britain & Congress in America) (Member of Parliament in Britain & Congress(wo)man in America)

body of people with power to make & change laws

A backbencher (the backbenches) or a frontbencher (the frontbenches) (all BrE)

MPs who don't hold official position in government or opposition or ministers or shadow secretaries

a committee

group of people appointed to deal with particular matter

legislation (a legislator, to legislate)/law-making (a lawmaker)

business of law-making & laws being made

a bill

a proposed new law that's debated

to debate (a debate)

to discuss formally

to pass a bill

when legislature accepts the proposed law by voting

an act

a bill which has been passed

a statute (statutory)

written law which is legally effective (done or recquired by statute)

a constitution

system of laws which formally states people's rights & duties

a pressure group/a lobby (to lobby)

organized group who try to influence politicians to support or oppose proposed legislation

an appeal (to appeal to sb or against sth)

formal request for a decision to be changed

to repeal sth

when legislature officially ends a law

the civil service (a civil cervant)

all the government departments of country & people working in them

to implement sth (implementation)

to carry sth out e.g. government policies

senior (staff)

people who have the highest & most important jobs

a delegate (to delegate sb)/a deputy

an official who acts for another, usu during sb's abscence (deputy) or at a meeting or conference (delegate)

a regulation (to regulate sth)

the official rules & restrictions made by the authorities

red tape/bureaucracy

the often complicated rules & procedures followed by many departments --> dissaproval of time they take

a state (America)/a county or district (UK)/a province (BE & Fr)

the smaller administrative areas countries are usu subdivided in

a governor (Am&BE&Fr)

the head of a state or province

a county council (UK)

the head of a county

local government -> city/town council

government at city or town level

councillor/alderman

member of city or town council

the mayor

head of a city or town council