Here are the most common vocabulary relating to the topic ‘Government and Politics’. These words are collected from different sources and can be used in both productive sections of IELTS. They can also help you better understand the Reading section of the test.
- lobbying (noun) – the activity of trying to persuade someone in authority, usually an elected member of a government, to support laws or rules that give your organization or industry an advantage.
– In her speech she stressed that she is not involved in the firm’s lobbying of Congress.
– This week, a coalition of unions, religious groups and liberal advocacy organizations will officially begin its lobbying for a higher minimum wage.
– There was intense lobbying against the measures by drug companies. - impeach (verb) – to make a formal statement saying that a public official is guilty of a serious offence in connection with their job, especially in the US:
– The governor was impeached for wrongful use of state money.
– He was suspended and later impeached amid a $60 million financial scandal. - campaign (noun) – a planned group of especially political, business, or military activities that are intended to achieve a particular aim.
– We’ve received a lot of expressions of support for our campaign.
– He ran the governor’s campaign for reelection. - ballot (noun) – an occasion when people vote on something, usually in secret, or the system for voting.
– The officials are elected by ballot.
– About 45 percent of the state’s 2.8 million registered voters cast a ballot in the primary. - run (for) (verb) – to compete as a candidate in an election.
– Mrs Thatcher wanted to run a fourth time.
– He’s going to run against Smith/for president/for re-election. - populism (noun) – political ideas and activities that are intended to get the support of ordinary people by giving them what they want.
– Their ideas are simple populism – tax cuts and higher wages.
– There are, however, two reasons why populism is such a problematic concept. - reform (noun) – an improvement, especially in a person’s behaviour or in the structure of something.
– Some reforms of/to the system will be necessary.
– The education system was crying out for reform. - underdog (noun) – a person or group of people with less power, money, etc. than the rest of society.
– As a politician, her sympathy was always for the underdog in society.
– He began the race for governor as the underdog. - think tank (noun) – an organization whose work is to study specific problems and suggest solutions, often with a particular political view.
– Then there is the think tank of independent experts who provide us with the ideas.
– I certainly do not agree with the conclusions of the socialist think tank report. - hard-liner (noun) – someone, especially in politics, who is very severe, for example in refusing to allow something or to reduce or change their demands in any way.
– He needs to persuade the hard-liners in the cabinet.
– The deportations are drawing cheers from immigration hard-liners. - disseminate (verb) – to spread or give out news, information, ideas, etc., to a lot of people.
– There is no clear legal responsibility for businesses to disseminate usable information about their business.
– Technology is changing the way in which the government gathers, stores, disseminates, and preserves documents and data.
