Essential Vocabulary for the GRE - House of Cards

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

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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 .

wing [noun]

members of a political party or other organization who have a certain function or share certain views

Ex: The moderate wing of the coalition sought bipartisan solutions to healthcare reform .

conservatism [noun]

a political belief with an inclination to keep the traditional values in a society by avoiding changes

Ex: Conservatism often opposes rapid social change and advocates for gradual reform .

utilitarianism [noun]

the doctrine that the best measure or decision is the one that satisfies the majority of people

Ex: Critics of utilitarianism argue that it can lead to morally objectionable outcomes , such as sacrificing the rights or well-being of minorities for the greater good of the majority .

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 .

bilateral [adjective]

concerning two groups or countries

Ex: The bilateral talks focused on improving diplomatic relations .

bureaucracy [noun]

a system of government that is controlled by officials who are not elected rather employed

Ex:

to canvass [verb]

to seek or gather opinions by asking questions or conducting a survey

Ex: She canvassed students to find out their thoughts on the new cafeteria menu .

centralism [noun]

a political system that invests all the power and authority on a single prominent organization

Ex: Proponents of centralism believe it enhances efficiency by consolidating power .

tyrant [noun]

a ruler or leader who has absolute power and uses it in a cruel and oppressive way, without any regard for the rights or well-being of others

Ex: The tyrant 's oppressive policies left the nation in a state of fear and despair .

swing vote [noun]

an unpredictable vote that belongs to a person or party which has a crucial influence on the results of an election

Ex: The final tally showed that the swing vote had tipped the balance in favor of one side .

straw poll [noun]

an unofficial test of opinion that includes a number of people who give their opinion about something or say whether or not they intend to participate in an election

Ex: The results of the straw poll showed a clear preference for the new policy .

cabinet [noun]

senior members of a government who make decisions and control the policy of the government

Ex: The cabinet members deliberated for hours before reaching a consensus on the proposed healthcare reforms .

coalition [noun]

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 .

confederation [noun]

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

Ex: The trade confederation regulated commerce between member cities .

constituency [noun]

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 .

constitutional [adjective]

relating to or in accordance with the rules laid out in a constitution, which is a set of fundamental laws for a country or organization

Ex: Constitutional rights protect citizens ' freedoms and limit government power .

demagogue [noun]

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 .

to destabilize [verb]

to make something uncertain by introducing changes that disrupt its stability

Ex: Rapid climate change can destabilize ecosystems .

diplomacy [noun]

the job, skill, or act of managing the relationships between different countries

Ex: Effective diplomacy requires patience , cultural understanding , and compromise .

egalitarian [noun]

a person who believes in or advocates for the principle of equality, especially in regards to social, political, and economic affairs

Ex: He identified as an egalitarian and worked tirelessly to promote fair wages for all workers .

electorate [noun]

the group of people who are eligible to vote in an election

Ex: The debate was broadcast live to ensure the electorate was informed .

to enfranchise [verb]

to grant the right of voting to a person or group

Ex: The amendment to the constitution enfranchised women across the nation .

fanatic [noun]

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

Ex:

federalism [noun]

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 .

feudalism [noun]

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 .

frontier [noun]

an area located at a border, where two countries or regions meet

Ex: The conflict at the frontier escalated tensions between the neighboring nations .

geopolitics [noun]

the study of how geography influences global political and economic interactions

Ex: The study of geopolitics helps policymakers anticipate potential conflicts arising from territorial disputes , resource competition , or strategic positioning .

imperialism [noun]

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 .

inauguration [noun]

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 .

isolationism [noun]

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 .

interventionism [noun]

a political approach advocating the government participation in other nations' affairs or influencing the economy of its own country

Ex: The country 's interventionism was evident in its support for rebel groups abroad .

legislative [adjective]

relating to the making and passing of laws by government bodies

Ex: Lobbying is a common practice where interest groups seek to influence legislative decisions .

liberalism [noun]

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 .

manifesto [noun]

a written public declaration of intentions, opinions, and objectives, often issued by a political party, a government, or a group of individuals with a shared interest or purpose

Ex: The group 's manifesto called for significant changes in environmental policies .

pacifism [noun]

the ideology that advocates the unjustifiable nature of war or any other act of violence, and seeks out peace

Ex: Pacifism became a central theme in his writings on social justice and conflict resolution .

oligarchy [noun]

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

Ex:

reactionary [adjective]

strongly against any political or social changes or any new ideas

Ex: His reactionary comments during the debate shocked many observers .

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 .

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 .

propaganda [noun]

information and statements that are mostly biased and false and are used to promote a political cause or leader

Ex: The documentary exposed how propaganda was used to manipulate public opinion .

Essential Vocabulary for the GRE
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