WordVale

Politics & Diplomacy

100 words and expressions, each with a learner-friendly meaning. Tap any term for its page.

• amendmenta formal change to a law or constitution
• autonomythe right of self-government
• bilateralinvolving two countries or parties
• bureaucracygovernment administration through fixed procedures and officials
• caucusa meeting of party members to choose candidates or policy
• coalitionan alliance of parties formed to govern together
• communiquéan official announcement, especially after diplomatic talks
• constituencythe voters represented by an elected official
• demagoguea leader who wins support by appealing to prejudice and emotion
• détentean easing of hostility between countries
• diplomacymanaging international relations through negotiation
• electorateall the people entitled to vote
• embargoan official ban on trade with a country
• envoya messenger or representative on a diplomatic mission
• federalismpower divided between central and regional governments
• filibusterprolonged speechmaking to delay legislative action
• geopoliticspolitics as influenced by geography and global power
• gerrymanderingredrawing electoral maps to favor one party
• grassrootsarising from ordinary people rather than leadership
• hegemonydominance of one state or group over others
• impeachmentformally charging a public official with misconduct
• incumbentthe current holder of a political office
• lobbyingseeking to influence legislators on behalf of an interest
• mandatethe authority to act granted by an electoral victory
• moratoriuma temporary official suspension of an activity
• multilateralinvolving three or more countries
• partisanstrongly biased toward one party or cause
• plebiscitea direct vote by the whole electorate on an issue
• propagandabiased information spread to shape public opinion
• ratifyto give formal approval, making an agreement valid
• referenduma general vote on a single political question
• sanctiona penalty imposed to force compliance, often economic
• secessionformally withdrawing from a political union
• sovereigntysupreme authority of a state over itself
• statecraftthe skillful management of state affairs
• summita meeting between heads of government
• treatya formal agreement between countries
• vetothe power to reject a decision unilaterally
• annexationtaking territory into an existing state, often by force
• asylumprotection given by a state to political refugees
• abdicateto formally give up a throne or high office
• absentee ballota vote cast by mail rather than in person
• accorda formal agreement between parties or nations
• alliancea union of countries or groups for mutual benefit
• ambassadora country's highest-ranking representative abroad
• appeasementgiving in to demands to avoid conflict
• austerityharsh cuts to government spending
• ballotthe paper or system by which a vote is cast
• bipartisansupported by two opposing political parties
• cabinetthe group of senior ministers advising a head of government
• censurea formal expression of severe disapproval
• checks and balancespowers that let branches of government limit each other
• civil libertiesindividual freedoms protected from government interference
• consulatea government office representing a country in a foreign city
• coupa sudden, often violent, seizure of power
• decentralizationtransferring power from central to local government
• despota ruler who holds absolute, often cruel, power
• dissidenta person who openly opposes an official policy or regime
• doctrinea stated principle guiding a government's policy
• exileforced absence from one's own country
• ideologya system of ideas underlying political action
• insurgencyan armed rebellion against authority
• juntaa military group ruling after taking power by force
• lame duckan official whose successor has already been chosen
• manifestoa public declaration of a party's aims and policies
• nationalismstrong identification with and promotion of one's nation
• neutralityrefusing to take sides in a conflict
• oligarchyrule by a small privileged group
• oppositionthe parties out of power that challenge the government
• pardonofficial forgiveness canceling punishment for a crime
• patronagegranting jobs or favors in exchange for political support
• populismpolitics claiming to champion ordinary people against elites
• protectoratea state controlled and protected by a stronger one
• realpolitikpolitics based on practical power, not ideals
• regimea government, especially an authoritarian one
• repealto officially revoke a law
• suffragethe right to vote
• technocratan expert who governs by technical knowledge rather than politics
• totalitariancontrolling every aspect of public and private life
• whistleblowersomeone who exposes wrongdoing inside an organization
• bellwethersomething that indicates a future trend, as a swing district
• brinkmanshippushing a dangerous situation to the edge to force a result
• clientelismexchanging goods or services for political support
• cronyismfavoring friends by giving them positions of power
• enfranchiseto grant someone the right to vote
• ententea friendly understanding or informal alliance between states
• gridlocka standstill caused by opposing sides refusing to compromise
• interregnuma gap between two governments or reigns
• kleptocracygovernment by those who seek to enrich themselves through power
• machinationa scheming or crafty plot to gain advantage
• nonalignednot formally allied with any major power bloc
• ombudsmanan official who investigates complaints against authorities
• pluralitythe largest share of votes, but less than a majority
• proportional representationseats allocated in proportion to votes received
• rapprochementthe renewal of friendly relations between states
• realignmenta lasting shift in the coalitions supporting parties
• sinecurea position that pays but requires little or no work
• subsidiarityhandling matters at the most local level possible
• suffragista person campaigning for the right to vote
• tyrannycruel and oppressive government or rule