📚 Year 8 WJEC Politics: Key Vocabulary Quick Revision Guide | WJEC 八年级政治：关键术语速记指南
Politics can feel like a whole new language, full of tricky terms and abstract ideas. This guide breaks down the most important vocabulary you’ll meet in Year 8 WJEC Politics, giving you clear definitions and handy memory hooks. Each term is paired with its Chinese translation and a simple explanation, so you can revise efficiently and build your confidence.
政治有时会像一门全新的语言，充斥着复杂术语和抽象概念。本指南拆解了你在 WJEC 八年级政治课程中将遇到的最重要的词汇，提供清晰的定义和实用的记忆技巧。每个术语都配有中文翻译和简单解释，帮助你高效复习、树立信心。
1. What is Politics? | 什么是政治？
Politics is the process through which people make collective decisions. It involves negotiating, debating, and deciding how to share resources and power within a group or country. Think of it as the rules of the game for living together in a society.
政治是人们作出集体决策的过程。它涉及协商、辩论，以及决定如何在群体或国家内分配资源和权力。你可以把它想象成在社会中共同生活的游戏规则。
Government is the group of people and institutions that have the authority to make and enforce laws for a country. In the UK and Wales, this includes Parliament, the Prime Minister, and local councils.
政府是拥有权力为一个国家制定和执行法律的人员和机构。在英国和威尔士，这包括议会、首相和地方议会。
Society means a community of people living in a particular country or region, sharing customs, laws, and organisations. Politics happens within society.
社会是指生活在某个国家或地区，共享习俗、法律和组织的人群共同体。政治就发生在社会之中。
2. Democracy | 民主
Democracy comes from Greek words: demos (people) and kratos (rule). It is a system where the people have the power to choose their leaders and influence decisions, usually through voting. To remember it, think ‘people power’.
民主源自希腊语：demos（人民）和 kratos（统治）。这是一种人民有权选择领导人并影响决策的制度，通常通过投票实现。记住它就是“人民的力量”。
Direct democracy is when citizens vote on every issue themselves, rather than choosing someone else to decide for them. Ancient Athens had a form of direct democracy.
直接民主是指公民自己对每个议题投票，而不是选出他人代为决定。古代雅典就有一种直接民主形式。
Representative democracy, used in Wales and the UK, means people elect representatives (MPs, MSs) to make decisions on their behalf. You can recall it as ‘choosing someone to speak for you’.
代议制民主，在威尔士和英国使用，意为人民选举代表（议员）来替他们作出决定。你可以记成“选出代你说话的人”。
Majority rule is a key principle: the option with more than half the votes wins. However, democracies also protect minority rights so that smaller groups are treated fairly.
多数决定原则是一个关键原则：得票超过半数的选项获胜。但民主也保护少数人的权利，使较小的群体受到公平对待。
3. Monarchy and Republic | 君主制与共和国
Monarchy is a form of government where a king or queen is the head of state, usually for life. The UK is a constitutional monarchy, meaning the monarch’s powers are limited by law and Parliament holds real political power.
君主制是一种国王或女王为国家元首的政体，通常是终身制。英国是君主立宪制，意味着君主的权力受法律限制，议会掌握实际政治权力。
Republic is a country without a monarch; instead, the head of state is usually a president, elected directly or indirectly by the people. For example, Ireland and France are republics.
共和国是没有君主的国家；国家元首通常是民选直接或间接产生的总统。例如，爱尔兰和法国都是共和国。
Head of state represents the country symbolically. In a monarchy this is the monarch; in a republic it is the president. The head of state is distinct from the head of government, who runs day-to-day affairs.
国家元首象征性地代表国家。君主制中这是君主；共和国中这是总统。国家元首不同于政府首脑，后者负责日常事务。
4. Parliament and Government | 议会与政府
Parliament is the supreme legislative body in the UK, responsible for making and passing laws. It consists of the House of Commons, the House of Lords, and the monarch (ceremonial role). A quick memory tip: ‘Parliament makes laws’.
议会是英国最高立法机构，负责制定和通过法律。它由下议院、上议院和君主（礼仪性角色）组成。速记提示：“议会制定法律”。
House of Commons is the elected chamber: 650 MPs (Members of Parliament) each represent a constituency. Most political power rests here.
下议院是由选举产生的议院：650名议员各自代表一个选区。大部分政治权力集中于此。
House of Lords is the unelected chamber, made up of life peers, bishops, and hereditary peers. It reviews and suggests changes to laws but cannot block laws permanently.
上议院是非选举产生的议院，由终身贵族、主教和世袭贵族组成。它审查法律并提出修改建议，但不能永久阻止立法。
Government (the executive) is formed by the political party with the most MPs in the House of Commons. The leader becomes the Prime Minister, who chooses a Cabinet of senior ministers to run departments. The Welsh Government has a similar structure, headed by the First Minister.
政府（行政机构）由下议院中拥有最多议员席位的政党组成。党魁成为首相，由首相挑选高级部长组成内阁，管理各部门。威尔士政府结构相似，由首席部长领导。
5. Devolution and Local Government | 权力下放与地方政府
Devolution is the transfer of certain powers from the UK Parliament to national bodies in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. The Senedd Cymru (Welsh Parliament) can make laws on areas like health, education, and transport. Remember it as ‘sending power closer to home’.
权力下放是指将英国议会的某些权力移交给威尔士、苏格兰和北爱尔兰的国家机构。威尔士议会可以在健康、教育、交通等领域制定法律。可以记成“把权力送到家门口”。
Local government refers to councils (like Cardiff Council or county councils) that deal with local services such as refuse collection, libraries, and local planning. Councillors are elected locally.
地方政府指的是处理地方服务的议会（如卡迪夫议会或郡议会），负责垃圾收集、图书馆和地方规划等。地方议员由当地选举产生。
Reserved powers stay with the UK Parliament (defence, foreign affairs, immigration), while devolved powers are exercised in Cardiff, Edinburgh, or Belfast.
保留权力归属英国议会（国防、外交、移民），而下放权力则在加的夫、爱丁堡或贝尔法斯特行使。
6. Elections and Voting | 选举与投票
Election is the formal process by which people choose their representatives. In the UK, general elections for the House of Commons usually take place every five years.
选举是人们选举代表的正式程序。在英国，下议院的大选通常每五年举行一次。
Constituency is a geographical area represented by one or more elected officials. Each MP represents about 70,000 people in one constituency.
选区是由一位或多位民选官员代表的地理区域。每位议员代表一个选区约七万人。
Ballot is the method of voting, traditionally on paper. A secret ballot means no one else can see how you voted, which protects your freedom of choice. Think ‘private vote’.
选票是投票的方式，传统上使用纸质方式。无记名投票意味着其他人无法看到你投给了谁，从而保护你的选择自由。可以记成“私密投票”。
Turnout is the percentage of eligible voters who actually vote. High turnout is often seen as a sign of a healthy democracy.
投票率是指有资格投票的选民中实际投票者的百分比。高投票率通常被视为健康民主的标志。
7. Political Parties | 政党
Political party is an organised group of people with similar political views who aim to win elections and form a government. Parties produce a manifesto – a list of promises they will try to keep if elected. Think of it as a ‘shopping list of promises’.
政党是由政治观点相似的有组织群体，旨在赢得选举并组建政府。政党提出竞选纲领——一个如果能当选将努力兑现的承诺清单。你就当它是“承诺购物单”。
Left-wing generally supports social equality, higher public spending, and a bigger role for the state. Right-wing tends to favour free markets, lower taxes, and individual responsibility. The terms come from the French Revolution, where supporters of the king sat on the right. Centre parties try to balance both sides.
左翼普遍支持社会平等、较高的公共开支和更大国家作用。右翼倾向于自由市场、低税收和个人责任。这些词源自法国大革命，当时国王支持者坐在右侧。中间派政党试图平衡双方。
Key UK and Welsh parties include the Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats, and Plaid Cymru (the Party of Wales). Plaid Cymru focuses on Welsh interests and independence.
英国和威尔士的主要政党包括保守党、工党、自由民主党和威尔士民族党。威尔士民族党关注威尔士利益和独立。
8. Rights and Responsibilities | 权利与责任
Rights are freedoms or entitlements that belong to every person. In the UK, human rights are protected by the Human Rights Act 1998, covering the right to life, education, and a fair trial. To remember, think ‘Rights protect you’.
权利是每个人享有的自由或应得的权益。在英国，人权受到《1998 年人权法》的保护，涵盖生命权、教育权和公正审判权。记忆线索：“权利保护你”。
Responsibilities are duties we have as citizens, such as obeying the law, paying taxes, and serving on a jury if called. Democracy works best when citizens exercise both rights and responsibilities.
责任是我们作为公民应尽的义务，例如遵守法律、缴纳税款，以及在需要时担任陪审员。当公民既行使权利又履行责任时，民主才能最好地运行。
Freedom of speech allows people to express their opinions publicly, but it is not absolute – it must not encourage violence or hatred. Rule of law means everyone, including the government, is accountable under the same laws.
言论自由允许人们公开表达观点，但这并非绝对——不得鼓吹暴力或仇恨。法治意味着包括政府在内的所有人在相同法律下都负有问责义务。
9. Law and Justice | 法律与司法
Law is a set of rules created by a state to maintain order and protect citizens. Legislation is the process of making new laws through Parliament. Think ‘legislation = law-making’.
法律是国家制定的一套规则，旨在维持秩序和保护公民。立法是通过议会制定新法的过程。记住“立法 = 制定法律”。
Justice is the principle of fairness in the way people are punished or disputes are resolved. Courts are where judges hear cases and decide according to the law. Judges are independent legal experts who apply the law without political interference.
公正是指在惩罚或解决纠纷中体现公平的原则。法院是法官审理案件并根据法律作出裁决的地方。法官是独立的法律专家，他们依法办案，不受政治干预。
Common law (used in England and Wales) means law is partly made by judges’ decisions in previous cases, called precedents. This differs from systems where all law is written in a single code.
普通法（英格兰和威尔士使用）意味着法律部分是由法官在以往案件中的裁决（判例）所形成。这不同于所有法律都写在一部单一法典中的体系。
10. Power and Authority | 权力与权威
Power is the ability to get someone to do something they would not otherwise do. It can be exercised through force, persuasion, or by holding an official position.
权力是使他人做其原本不会去做之事的能力。可以通过强制、说服或担任公职来行使。
Authority is power that is accepted as legitimate – that is, the people agree the ruler has the right to rule. A police officer has authority because we recognise their legal role.
权威是被接受为合法的权力——也就是说，人民同意统治者有权进行统治。警察有权威，因为我们承认他们的法定角色。
Sovereignty means supreme power. In the UK, parliamentary sovereignty means Parliament is the highest legal authority and can make or overturn any law. Consent of the governed is the idea that a government’s legitimacy comes from the people’s approval, often shown through elections.
主权意味着最高权力。在英国，议会主权意味着议会是最高法律权威，可以制定或推翻任何法律。人民同意的理念是，政府的合法性来自人民的认可，通常通过选举体现。
11. Citizenship and Participation | 公民与参与
Citizenship is the status of being a recognised member of a country, with rights and duties. It involves a sense of belonging and willingness to contribute to the community.
公民身份是成为一国被认可成员的身份地位，享有权利并负有义务。它意味着归属感以及为社区作贡献的意愿。
Participation is how citizens take part in public life, beyond just voting. It includes signing petitions, writing to an MP, joining a protest, or volunteering. Active citizenship means taking direct action to improve your community or hold power to account.
参与是公民在投票之外参与公共生活的方式，包括签署请愿书、给议员写信、参加抗议或志愿服务。积极公民意味着采取直接行动改善社区或向权力问责。
Referendum is a direct vote by the people on a single question, such as the 2016 Brexit referendum. It is an example of direct democracy used occasionally in a representative system.
公投是人民就单一问题进行的直接投票，例如 2016 年脱欧公投。这是在代议制体系中偶尔使用的直接民主形式。
Published by TutorHao | Politics Revision Series | aleveler.com
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