Advanced Vocabulary for TOEFL - Politics

Here you will learn some English words about politics, such as "electoral", "coalition", "bilateral", etc. that are needed for the TOEFL exam.

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Advanced Vocabulary for TOEFL

the fact or condition of being a candidate in an election

electoral [adjective]

related to voting, elections, or the process of choosing representatives through voting mechanisms

Ex: Electoral reforms aim to improve the fairness and transparency of the voting process .
parliamentary [adjective]

relating to a form of government where the legislature, known as parliament, has significant control over making laws and monitoring the government

Ex: The parliamentary elections determine the composition of the legislature and , indirectly , the executive branch .
congressional [adjective]

relating to the United States Congress, which makes laws and oversees the government

Ex: Congressional representatives are elected to serve in the House of Representatives and the Senate .

(in the US) a group of people who represent American citizens in all of the states and who formally cast votes to elect the president and vice president

a group of people in a specific area who elect a representative to a legislative position

Ex: She was reelected due to her strong connection with her constituency .

a ballot filled out and mailed in advance of an election by a voter who is not able to attend the polls

the head of state in some countries, like Germany

activism [noun]

the action of striving to bring about social or political reform, especially as a member of an organization with specific objectives

Ex: Social media has become a powerful tool for activism , allowing campaigns to reach a global audience .

an alliance between two or more countries or between political parties when forming a government or during elections

Ex: The opposition parties formed a coalition to challenge the ruling party in the upcoming elections .

the process by which all the people of a country have the opportunity to vote on a single political question

a formal ceremony at which a person is admitted to office

Ex: The inauguration marks the beginning of a new era , with promises of change and progress .
bilateral [adjective]

concerning two groups or countries

Ex: The bilateral talks focused on improving diplomatic relations .
capitol [noun]

a building in Washington DC where the Congress assembles

apolitical [adjective]

having no interest or involvement in politics

Ex: The art gallery aimed to be an apolitical space , encouraging visitors to appreciate artistic expression without bringing political views into the conversation .
autonomy [noun]

(of a country, region, etc.) the state of being independent and free from external control

Ex: Many people believe that granting autonomy to the province would lead to greater stability .
autonomous [adjective]

(of countries, organizations, regions, etc.) not governed by another force, and is in control of itself

Ex: As an autonomous community , the island has its own laws and regulations separate from the mainland .

the doctrine that separates the state from religious associations

Ex: The policy of secularism ensures that government decisions are free from religious bias .

an economic and political system in which industry, businesses, and properties belong to the private sector rather than the government

Ex: Critics of capitalism argue that it leads to income inequality and exploitation of labor .

the political belief that promotes personal freedom, democracy, gradual changes in society, and free trade

Ex: Advocates of liberalism often push for gradual social reforms to address inequalities and enhance the welfare of all citizens .

the practice or policy of a nation controlling or ruling over foreign territories, often exploiting them economically and politically

Ex: Many countries gained independence after the end of colonialism .

the political practice of only being concerned with one's home country and not getting involved in international affairs

Ex: Isolationism became a prominent stance in the political debate during the election .
populism [noun]

a type of politics that purports to represent the opinions and desires of ordinary people in order to gain their support

Ex: Populism can manifest in both left-wing and right-wing forms , with left-wing populists typically focusing on economic inequality and social justice , while right-wing populists often emphasize nationalism and immigration control .
fascism [noun]

an extreme right-wing political attitude or system characterized by a strong central government, aggressively promoting one's country or race above others, as well as prohibiting any opposition

Ex: Many historians study the factors that contributed to the spread of fascism in Italy and Germany .

a political system in which a small group of high-powered people control a country or organization

Ex:

a social and land-owning system in medieval Europe in which people were granted land and protection by a nobleman in exchange, they had to fight and work for him

Ex: Historians often study feudalism to understand the power dynamics of medieval Europe .
idealism [noun]

the belief in or pursuit of high principles, values, or ideals, often with a focus on the potential for perfection or improvement

Ex: Her idealism inspired many to strive for a better world .

a politician who appeals to the desires and prejudices of ordinary people instead of valid arguments in order to gain support

Ex: The demagogue 's rhetoric was divisive and inflammatory , leading to increased polarization within society .

a union or league of political entities or organizations, often for common purposes

Ex: The trade confederation regulated commerce between member cities .

the union of organizations, regions, countries, etc. to form a larger organization or government

fanatic [noun]

an overenthusiastic individual, especially one who is devoted to a radical political or religious cause

Ex:

a strong feeling of love and pride for one's country, often associated with thinking that country is also superior to any other

a political system in which a central government controls the affairs of each self-governed state

Ex: Debates over federalism often center on the appropriate level of state versus federal control in various policy areas .

a system in which one country controls or has influence over other countries, often by winning wars against them

Ex: The country 's aggressive policies were criticized as a form of modern-day imperialism .
to lobby [verb]

to make an attempt to persuade politicians to agree or disagree with a law being made or changed

Ex: Advocacy groups regularly lobby for changes in healthcare legislation to better serve the public .
nonpartisan [adjective]

being politically neutral, unbiased, and not supporting any particular party

rally [noun]

a large gathering of the public, especially those supporting a particular political idea or party

Ex: She gave an inspiring speech at the rally , encouraging people to vote in the upcoming election .
utopia [noun]

an imaginary state or location where everything is perfect

Ex: In his speech , he talked about building a utopia of peace and equality .