Political Actions & Processes — C1 Essential Words

veto /ˈviːtəʊ/ noun / verb C1 Government

Meaning: The official power of a president or leader to refuse to accept a law passed by the legislature; to use this power.

Example: The president used his veto.

Another example: She vetoed the plan.

Collocations: a veto · veto the bill · veto power

Synonyms: reject, block, overrule (by Congress, 2/3)

Antonyms: approve, sign

Word family: vetoes (n pl) · veto (v)

⚠ Common mistake: Latin for 'I forbid' — two syllables of pure no. US Congress can override with two-thirds of both houses; the threat alone ('veto threat') rewrites bills quietly.

🗣 In spoken American English: Its UN version (Security Council) makes five countries' no a world event.

Register: Formal — politics essential.

appoint /əˈpɔɪnt/ verb C1 Government

Meaning: To choose a person officially for a job or position of responsibility.

Example: The board appointed a new director.

Another example: Judges are appointed, not elected.

Collocations: appoint a director · appointed to · appoint someone

Synonyms: name, select, designate

Antonyms: dismiss, fire

Word family: appointment (n) · appointee (n) · appointed (adj)

⚠ Common mistake: Appoint (chosen by authority) vs elect (chosen by voters) — the pair from the elections set returns as its verb. Its noun APPOINTMENT doubles as the meeting word (a doctor's appointment) by shared root of fixed arrangements.

🗣 In spoken American English: Its announcements end months of speculation columns.

Register: Formal — politics essential.

nominate /ˈnɒmɪneɪt/ verb C1 Government

Meaning: To officially suggest a person as a candidate for a position, job, or prize; to name someone for election or an award.

Example: The party nominated her for president.

Another example: He was nominated for an Oscar.

Collocations: nominate for · nominated as · nominate a candidate

Synonyms: propose, name, put forward

Antonyms: withdraw

Word family: nomination (n) · nominee (n)

⚠ Common mistake: Elections and Oscars share it: one suggests, others decide. The person suggested is the NOMINEE — award season's favorite noun.

🗣 In spoken American English: Its conventions (party nominating conventions) are summer TV spectacles.

Register: Formal — politics essential.

petition /pəˈtɪʃən/ noun / verb C1 Government

Meaning: A formal written request, signed by many people, asking a government or authority to do or change something; to make such a request.

Example: Ten thousand people signed the petition.

Another example: Residents petitioned the council for a park.

Collocations: a petition · sign the petition · petition for

Synonyms: appeal, request, plea

Word family: petitions (n pl) · petition (v) · petitioner (n)

⚠ Common mistake: Online platforms turned its paper into links — signature counters now tick live. Its right is written into the First Amendment by name.

🗣 In spoken American English: Its delivery (boxes of paper carried in) remains political theater's classic photo.

Register: Formal — politics essential.

march /mɑːrtʃ/ verb / noun C1 Government

Meaning: To walk in a large organized group through streets to protest or support something publicly; the event itself. Also soldiers' walking, and the month March.

Example: Thousands marched for change.

Another example: The march ended at city hall.

Collocations: march for · a protest march · march through

Synonyms: protest walk, demonstrate, parade (celebratory twin)

Word family: marches (n pl) · march (v) · marcher (n)

⚠ Common mistake: Not to be confused with its calendar twin (March) — capitals matter. History names its great ones by destination (the March on Washington, 1963).

🗣 In spoken American English: Its music (marching bands) borrows soldiers' rhythm for stadiums.

Register: Formal — politics essential.

resign /rɪˈzaɪn/ verb C1 Government

Meaning: To officially leave a job or position by your own decision, usually by writing a letter.

Example: The minister resigned after the scandal.

Another example: She resigned from the board.

Collocations: resign from · resign as · resign over

Synonyms: quit (informal), step down, leave

Antonyms: stay, remain

Word family: resignation (n) · resigned (adj — also 'accepting sadly'!)

⚠ Common mistake: The G is silent: re-ZYN. Its adjective puns sadly: a 'resigned sigh' means accepting fate; a 'resigned minister' means an ex-minister. Context sighs accordingly.

🗣 In spoken American English: 'Resign yourself to it' means accept the unwelcome — its philosophical branch.

Register: Formal — politics essential.

impeach /ɪmˈpiːtʃ/ verb C1 Government

Meaning: To formally accuse a public official (especially a president) of serious wrongdoing, starting a process that can remove them from office.

Example: Congress voted to impeach the president.

Another example: He was impeached but not removed.

Collocations: impeach the president · impeached for · impeach a judge

Synonyms: charge, accuse, prosecute

Antonyms: acquit

Word family: impeachment (n) · impeached (adj)

⚠ Common mistake: The common misunderstanding is the lesson: impeachment is the ACCUSATION (by the House); the Senate then tries and may remove. Two US presidents were impeached in the 19th and 20th centuries, more since — none removed by this route alone.

🗣 In spoken American English: Its peach-free spelling hides no fruit, sadly.

Register: Formal — politics staple.

endorse /ɪnˈdɔːrs/ verb C1 Government

Meaning: To publicly support a person, product, or idea and say you approve of them; also to sign the back of a check.

Example: The union endorsed her for mayor.

Another example: Famous athletes endorse the shoes.

Collocations: endorse a candidate · endorse the product · endorsed by

Synonyms: support, back, recommend

Antonyms: oppose, reject

Word family: endorsement (n) · endorser (n) · endorsed (adj)

⚠ Common mistake: Politics and sneakers share it fully: a face plus approval equals value. Newspaper endorsement editorials are election season's set pieces.

🗣 In spoken American English: Its check sense hides at the bank counter's small print.

Register: Formal — politics and media essential.

abolish /əˈbɒlɪʃ/ verb C1 Government

Meaning: To officially end a law, system, or practice completely.

Example: The country abolished the old tax.

Another example: Slavery was abolished in the US in 1865.

Collocations: abolish the law · abolish slavery · abolished in

Synonyms: end, eliminate, do away with

Antonyms: introduce, establish

Word family: abolition (n) · abolitionist (n) · abolished (adj)

⚠ Common mistake: Its -ist is famous: abolitionists fought slavery before the law moved. Death penalty debates worldwide still run on this verb.

🗣 In spoken American English: Its targets are always systems, not objects — you abolish laws, not chairs.

Register: Formal — politics essential.

ratify /ˈrætɪfaɪ/ verb C1 Government

Meaning: To make an agreement or treaty official by formally accepting and signing it, usually by a legislature's vote.

Example: The Senate ratified the treaty.

Another example: Thirty states ratified the amendment.

Collocations: ratify the treaty · ratify an agreement · ratified by

Synonyms: approve, confirm, adopt

Antonyms: reject

Word family: ratification (n) · ratified (adj)

⚠ Common mistake: Signing starts it; ratifying seals it — diplomacy's two-step. US constitutional amendments need three-quarters of the states to ratify them.

🗣 In spoken American English: Its clock can run for decades (one amendment took 203 years).

Register: Formal — politics staple.