Government & Politics — C1 Essential Words

policy /ˈpɒləsi/ noun C1 Government

Meaning: A plan of action or a set of rules agreed by a government, company, or organization.

Example: The new health policy covers mental care.

Another example: Company policy forbids gifts from clients.

Collocations: government policy · policy on · company policy

Synonyms: plan, strategy, rules

Word family: policies (n pl) · policymaker (n)

⚠ Common mistake: Policy is countable: a policy, two policies. 'Foreign policy', 'health policy' name government fields.

🗣 In spoken American English: 'That's our policy' ends many customer arguments — it means 'the rule, not my choice'.

Register: Neutral to formal — politics and business.

campaign /kæmˈpeɪn/ noun / verb C1 Government

Meaning: An organized series of actions to achieve a goal, especially winning an election or changing public opinion.

Example: Her campaign promised cheaper healthcare.

Another example: Volunteers campaign door to door.

Collocations: election campaign · campaign for · advertising campaign

Synonyms: drive, movement, effort

Word family: campaigner (n) · campaigns (n pl)

⚠ Common mistake: Campaigns run FOR office and AGAINST problems (a campaign against smoking). Marketing borrows the word for ad pushes.

🗣 In spoken American English: Every two years: 'on the campaign trail' follows candidates city to city.

Register: Neutral — politics essential.

reform /rɪˈfɔːrm/ noun / verb C1 Government

Meaning: A change made to improve a system, law, or organization; to make such a change.

Example: Education reform is the governor's main promise.

Another example: They reformed the tax system in 2020.

Collocations: tax reform · reform the system · sweeping reforms

Synonyms: change, improvement, overhaul

Word family: reforms (n pl) · reformer (n) · reformed (adj)

⚠ Common mistake: Reform always implies IMPROVEMENT — neutral changes are just changes. Plural 'reforms' names packages of changes.

🗣 In spoken American English: Political speeches promise it yearly: healthcare reform, immigration reform.

Register: Formal — politics and news.

administration /ədˌmɪnɪˈstreɪʃən/ noun C1 Government

Meaning: The government of a country during the time a particular president or leader is in power; also the management of an organization.

Example: The administration announced new climate rules.

Another example: Hospital administration handles the paperwork.

Collocations: the administration · current administration · business administration

Synonyms: government, management, leadership

Antonyms: opposition

Word family: administrative (adj) · administrator (n) · administer (v)

⚠ Common mistake: In US news, 'the administration' = the president's government team. In offices, administration is paperwork management.

🗣 In spoken American English: Degrees borrow it: a Master's in Business Administration (MBA) is America's famous business degree.

Register: Formal — government and business.

authority /ɔːˈθɒrəti/ noun C1 Government

Meaning: The official power to make decisions and control people; also an expert source of knowledge.

Example: Only the court has the authority to change the ruling.

Another example: Parents have authority over young children — within limits.

Collocations: have the authority · authority on · local authorities

Synonyms: power, control, jurisdiction

Word family: authorities (n pl — police/officials) · authoritative (adj) · authorize (v)

⚠ Common mistake: Two lives: power (the authority to act) and expert (an authority on birds). 'The authorities' means officials/police in news.

🗣 In spoken American English: 'Who has the authority here?' settles office disputes about who may decide.

Register: Formal — law and management.

democracy /dɪˈmɒkrəsi/ noun C1 Government

Meaning: A system of government where citizens choose their leaders by voting in free elections.

Example: Democracy depends on free and honest elections.

Another example: Ancient Athens invented an early form of democracy.

Collocations: protect democracy · democracy in · democratic values

Synonyms: self-government, republic (related)

Antonyms: dictatorship, tyranny

Word family: democratic (adj) · democrat (n) · democratically (adv)

⚠ Common mistake: Democracy is both countable (a young democracy) and uncountable (faith in democracy). The adjective is democratic.

🗣 In spoken American English: Speeches pair it with freedom endlessly: 'democracy and freedom' is America's slogan pair.

Register: Neutral to formal — civics core.

institution /ˌɪnstɪˈtjuːʃən/ noun C1 Government

Meaning: A large organization with a public purpose, such as a bank, university, or hospital; also an established custom.

Example: The university is a respected institution.

Another example: Marriage is an old social institution.

Collocations: financial institution · public institution · institution of

Synonyms: organization, establishment, body

Word family: institutional (adj) · institutions (n pl)

⚠ Common mistake: Banks and universities are financial/educational institutions. The word adds weight: an institution is old, big, and trusted.

🗣 In spoken American English: News says 'institutions' when talking about the pillars of society — courts, press, universities.

Register: Formal — academic and news.

opposition /ˌɒpəˈzɪʃən/ noun C1 Government

Meaning: People, parties, or actions that disagree with and try to stop a government, plan, or idea.

Example: The plan faced strong opposition from farmers.

Another example: The opposition party criticized the budget.

Collocations: strong opposition · opposition to · opposition party

Synonyms: resistance, objection, critics

Antonyms: support, approval

Word family: oppose (v) · opposed (adj) · opponent (n)

⚠ Common mistake: Opposition TO something; people are OPPOSED TO it. 'The opposition' in politics = the parties not in power.

🗣 In spoken American English: Meetings test ideas with it: 'Any opposition?' before a vote becomes final.

Register: Formal — politics essential.

congress /ˈkɒŋɡres/ noun C1 Government

Meaning: The law-making body of the United States, made of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Example: Congress passed the new budget bill.

Another example: Members of Congress represent their home states.

Collocations: member of Congress · Congress passed · in Congress

Synonyms: legislature, parliament (other countries)

Word family: congressional (adj) · congressman/woman (n)

⚠ Common mistake: Capital C for the US body. Generic 'a congress' (a big meeting) exists but is rare in American news.

🗣 In spoken American English: The civics chain every American learns: Congress makes laws, the President signs or vetoes them.

Register: Neutral to formal — US civics essential.

constitution /ˌkɒnstɪˈtjuːʃən/ noun C1 Government

Meaning: The set of basic laws and principles that defines how a country is governed.

Example: The US Constitution was written in 1787.

Another example: Freedom of the press is protected by the Constitution.

Collocations: the Constitution · under the Constitution · constitutional rights

Synonyms: charter, founding law

Word family: constitutional (adj) · constitutions (n pl)

⚠ Common mistake: Capital C for a country's document. Rights are protected BY/UNDER the Constitution; changes are amendments.

🗣 In spoken American English: 'That's unconstitutional' is the strongest legal objection in American debate.

Register: Formal — law and civics core.