These exercises will help you consolidate the advanced political vocabulary introduced in the course, from constitutional frameworks to electoral processes. Challenge yourself to use the nuanced language that defines high-level political discourse.
→ See the course : Political vocabulary in English : complete course
Exercice 1 — Political Vocabulary: Multiple Choice
Choose the word or phrase that best completes each sentence. Only one answer is correct.
- After winning the election by a wide margin, the newly elected president claimed she had a clear ___ to implement her economic reforms.
- The opposition argued that the proposed changes to voting procedures were a direct threat to ___ integrity.
- The prime minister faced significant backbench rebellion when she attempted to push through ___ reform without a parliamentary vote.
- The senator's speech was widely criticised for its ___ tone, as it deliberately inflamed divisions between political parties.
Correction
- After winning the election by a wide margin, the newly elected president claimed she had a clear mandate to implement her economic reforms.
- The opposition argued that the proposed changes to voting procedures were a direct threat to electoral integrity.
- The prime minister faced significant backbench rebellion when she attempted to push through constitutional reform without a parliamentary vote.
- The senator's speech was widely criticised for its divisive tone, as it deliberately inflamed divisions between political parties.
Exercice 2 — Political Vocabulary: Match the Term to Its Definition
Match each political term on the left with its correct definition on the right.
- Gerrymander
- Filibuster
- Incumbent
- Bicameral
Correction
- To gerrymander means to manipulate the boundaries of an electoral constituency to favour a particular party or class.
- To filibuster means to obstruct legislative action by making prolonged speeches or using other delaying tactics in a deliberative assembly.
- An incumbent is the current holder of a political office, especially one who is running for re-election.
- A bicameral system is a legislature divided into two separate chambers or houses, such as a senate and a house of representatives.
Exercice 3 — Political Vocabulary: Fill in the Blanks
Complete each sentence with the appropriate political term. Write the full sentence in your answer.
- The ruling coalition struggled to maintain a working ___ in parliament after three of its members crossed the floor to join the opposition.
- Analysts warned that the government's attempt to bypass judicial review could set a dangerous ___ for future administrations.
- The treaty required ___ ratification, meaning both the Senate and the House of Representatives had to approve it before it could come into force.
- Civil society groups called for greater ___ in the legislative process, arguing that citizens had a right to access government decision-making documents.
Correction
- The ruling coalition struggled to maintain a working majority in parliament after three of its members crossed the floor to join the opposition.
- Analysts warned that the government's attempt to bypass judicial review could set a dangerous precedent for future administrations.
- The treaty required bicameral ratification, meaning both the Senate and the House of Representatives had to approve it before it could come into force.
- Civil society groups called for greater transparency in the legislative process, arguing that citizens had a right to access government decision-making documents.
To go further on this topic: