Year 10 AQA Politics: Quick Guide to Key Terms and Vocabulary | AQA 政治：词汇术语速记指南

📚 Year 10 AQA Politics: Quick Guide to Key Terms and Vocabulary | AQA 政治：词汇术语速记指南

Welcome to your essential revision toolkit for Year 10 AQA Politics. Understanding the language of politics is the first step to mastering the subject. This guide breaks down the most important terms and concepts you will encounter, with clear English definitions followed by their Chinese equivalents to help you learn faster and retain more effectively. Whether you are preparing for an end‑of‑topic test or building your political vocabulary for future exams, use this as your go‑to reference.

欢迎来到 AQA 政治 Year 10 必备复习宝典。掌握政治学的语言是学好这门课的第一步。本指南拆解了你将遇到的最重要的术语和概念，每个概念都配有清晰的英文定义和紧随其后的中文释义，帮助你更快学习、更牢固地记忆。无论你是在准备单元测验，还是为未来的考试积累政治词汇，都可以将本文作为你的首选参考。

1. Democracy and Participation | 民主与参与

Democracy literally means ‘rule by the people’. In a democratic system, citizens have the power to choose their government, usually through free and fair elections. The UK is a representative democracy, meaning we elect MPs to make decisions on our behalf. Direct democracy, by contrast, involves citizens voting on individual issues (such as in a referendum). Key features of a healthy democracy include universal suffrage, regular elections, and protection of civil liberties.

民主（Democracy）的字面意思是“人民统治”。在民主制度中，公民有权选择自己的政府，通常通过自由公正的选举来实现。英国是一个代议制民主国家，意味着我们选举议员来代表我们做出决策。相比之下，直接民主（Direct democracy）则是由公民对具体问题进行投票（例如全民公投）。健康民主的关键特征包括普选权、定期选举以及对公民自由的保护。

Participation can take many forms: voting, joining a political party, protesting peacefully, or even signing an e‑petition. Low turnout in elections is often seen as a sign of political apathy, which can weaken the legitimacy of the government.

政治参与（Participation）的形式多种多样：投票、加入政党、和平抗议，甚至签署电子请愿书。选举投票率低通常被视为政治冷漠的表现，这可能会削弱政府的合法性。

Representative democracy – 代议制民主
Direct democracy – 直接民主
Referendum – 全民公投
Suffrage – 选举权
Turnout – 投票率
Apathy – 政治冷漠

2. Parliament and the Legislature | 议会与立法机关

The UK Parliament is the supreme legislative body, meaning it has the ultimate authority to make and change laws. It consists of three parts: the House of Commons, the House of Lords, and the Monarch. The House of Commons is elected and is the more powerful chamber, where most government ministers sit. The House of Lords is unelected and acts as a revising chamber, scrutinising proposed legislation but rarely blocking it permanently. This bicameral structure is designed to provide checks and balances within the legislative process.

英国议会是最高立法机关，这意味着它拥有制定和修改法律的最终权力。议会由三部分组成：下议院、上议院和君主。下议院（House of Commons）由选举产生，是权力更大的议院，多数政府大臣都来自下议院。上议院（House of Lords）非选举产生，充当审查院，负责仔细审议法案，但很少会永久阻止其通过。这种两院制结构旨在为立法过程提供制衡机制。

The term legislature refers to the branch of government responsible for making laws. An Act of Parliament is a bill that has been approved by both Houses and received Royal Assent. A bill is simply a proposal for a new law. Remember the difference: the government proposes, Parliament disposes.

立法机关（Legislature）指的是负责制定法律的政府部门。议会法案是指一项在上下两院均获通过并得到御准的草案。而法案（Bill）仅仅是对一项新法律的提案。请记住这个区别：政府负责提议，议会负责决策。

Bicameral – 两院制
House of Commons – 下议院
House of Lords – 上议院
Royal Assent – 御准
Scrutiny – 审查
Legislation – 立法

3. The Executive and Government | 行政机关与政府

The executive is the branch of government responsible for implementing and running the country day‑to‑day, based on the laws passed by Parliament. In the UK, the executive is centred on the Prime Minister and the Cabinet. The Cabinet is made up of senior ministers chosen by the Prime Minister, each heading a government department (such as the Home Office or the Treasury). The executive is drawn from the legislature, which is a key feature of the Westminster system known as the fusion of powers.

行政机关（Executive）是负责根据议会通过的法律来执行和管理国家日常事务的政府部门。在英国，行政权集中在首相（Prime Minister）和内阁（Cabinet）手中。内阁由首相挑选的高级大臣组成，每人主管一个政府部门（如内政部或财政部）。行政机关成员来自立法机关，这是威斯敏斯特体制的一个关键特征，被称为权力融合。

The civil service is a permanent, politically neutral body that supports the government of the day. Ministers are responsible for policy decisions, while civil servants offer impartial advice and implement those decisions. Collective responsibility requires all Cabinet members to publicly support government policy, even if they privately disagree.

公务员队伍是一个常任、政治中立的机构，为当届政府提供支持。大臣（Ministers）负责政策制定，而公务员则提供公正的建议并执行这些决策。集体责任制要求所有内阁成员公开支持政府政策，即便他们私下并不认同。

Prime Minister – 首相
Cabinet – 内阁
Fusion of powers – 权力融合
Civil service – 公务员/文官
Collective responsibility – 集体责任制
Minister – 大臣

4. Political Parties and Ideologies | 政党与意识形态

A political party is an organised group of people sharing similar ideas, aiming to gain power by winning elections. Parties produce a manifesto before an election – a document outlining the policies they promise to implement if they form a government. The main UK‑wide parties include the Conservative Party (centre‑right), the Labour Party (centre‑left), and the Liberal Democrats (centrist). Parties are often placed on a left‑right spectrum: left‑wing generally favours equality and state intervention, while right‑wing favours individual freedom and a smaller state.

政党（Political party）是由持有相似理念的人们组成的有组织的团体，其目标是通过赢得选举来获取权力。政党在选举前会发布一份宣言——这是一份阐述他们一旦组建政府所承诺实施的政策的文件。英国全国范围内的主要政党包括保守党（中右翼）、工党（中左翼）和自由民主党（中间派）。政党常被置于一个左右光谱之上：左翼通常主张平等和国家干预，而右翼则主张个人自由和小政府。

Ideology is the underlying set of beliefs and values that guides a party’s policies. Common ideologies you will encounter include socialism, liberalism, and conservatism. Understanding these labels helps you analyse why parties take certain positions on issues like taxation, welfare, and foreign policy.

意识形态是指指导政党政策的深层信念和价值观体系。你将接触到的常见意识形态包括社会主义、自由主义和保守主义。理解这些标签有助于你分析政党为何在税收、福利和外交政策等问题上采取特定立场。

Manifesto – 竞选宣言
Left‑wing – 左翼
Right‑wing – 右翼
Centrist – 中间派
Ideology – 意识形态
Socialism – 社会主义
Conservatism – 保守主义
Liberalism – 自由主义

5. Elections and Voting Systems | 选举与投票制度

An election is the formal process by which citizens choose their representatives. General elections in the UK determine the composition of the House of Commons and are usually held every five years. The UK mainly uses First‑Past‑the‑Post (FPTP) for general elections: the candidate with the most votes in each constituency wins, even if they did not receive a majority of all votes cast. This system tends to produce strong, single‑party governments but often underrepresents smaller parties.

选举（Election）是公民选择其代表的正式过程。英国的议会大选决定下议院的组成，通常每五年举行一次。英国大选主要采用简单多数制（First‑Past‑the‑Post，缩写 FPTP）：每个选区得票最多的候选人获胜，即使他并未获得该区总票数的半数以上。该制度往往产生强大的单党政府，但常常使小党派代表性不足。

Alternative voting systems, such as proportional representation (PR), aim to match a party’s share of seats more closely to its share of votes. Terms like constituency, marginal seat, and safe seat are vital: a constituency with a tiny majority is marginal and fiercely contested; one with a large majority is safe and rarely changes hands.

替代性的投票制度，如比例代表制（Proportional Representation，PR），旨在使政党所获席位与其得票率更加匹配。选区（Constituency）、边缘席位（Marginal seat）和安全席位（Safe seat）等术语至关重要：多数优势极其微弱的选区是边缘选区，竞争异常激烈；而优势巨大的选区则是安全选区，鲜少易手。

First‑Past‑the‑Post – 简单多数制
Proportional representation – 比例代表制
Constituency – 选区
Marginal seat – 边缘席位
Safe seat – 安全席位
Majority – 多数（优势）
General election – 大选/普选

6. The Constitution and Legal Principles | 宪法与法律原则

A constitution is a set of fundamental principles that establish how a country is governed. The UK has an uncodified constitution, meaning it is not written down in a single document. Instead, it is drawn from several sources: statute law (Acts of Parliament), common law (judge‑made law), conventions (unwritten rules), and authoritative works. This flexibility allows the constitution to evolve, but some argue it lacks clarity and is too easy to change.

宪法（Constitution）是一套确立国家治理方式的基本原则。英国拥有一部不成文宪法，这意味着它并不体现在一份单一文件中。相反，它源自多个来源：成文法（议会法案）、普通法（法官造法）、惯例（不成文规则）和权威著作。这种灵活性使得宪法能够逐步演变，但一些人认为它缺乏清晰性，且过于容易被修改。

Key principles include parliamentary sovereignty – Parliament can make or unmake any law, and no body can override it – and the rule of law, which means everyone is subject to the law and entitled to its protection. Judicial independence ensures judges are free from political pressure. Constitutional reform remains a hot topic, with debates over whether the UK should adopt a written constitution.

关键原则包括议会主权（Parliamentary sovereignty）——议会可以制定或废除任何法律，且没有任何机构可以推翻它——以及法治（Rule of law），即人人都受法律约束并有权获得法律的保护。司法独立确保法官不受政治压力影响。宪法改革一直是个热门话题，争论焦点在于英国是否应采用成文宪法。

Uncodified constitution – 不成文宪法
Parliamentary sovereignty – 议会主权
Rule of law – 法治
Common law – 普通法
Convention – 宪法惯例
Judicial independence – 司法独立

7. Local Government and Devolution | 地方政府与权力下放

Devolution is the transfer of certain powers from central government to regional bodies. In the UK, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have their own devolved parliaments or assemblies with powers over areas such as education, health, and transport. England does not have a devolved parliament, but some English cities have elected mayors with varying powers. Devolution is designed to bring decision‑making closer to the people and acknowledge distinct national identities.

权力下放（Devolution）是指将某些权力从中央政府转移至地区机构。在英国，苏格兰、威尔士和北爱尔兰拥有自己的权力下放议会或会议，在诸如教育、卫生和交通等领域享有权力。英格兰没有权力下放议会，但部分英格兰城市设有选举产生的市长，权力大小不一。权力下放旨在让决策更贴近民众，并承认不同的民族身份。

Local government refers to councils and authorities that run services at a more immediate level: from bin collection and street lighting to planning permissions. Local councils are funded partly by central government grants and partly by council tax. The structure can be confusing, with county councils, district councils, and unitary authorities overlapping, but their core function is to deliver local services efficiently.

地方政府（Local government）指的是在更贴近民众的层面运行服务的议会和当局：从垃圾回收到路灯照明，再到规划许可。地方议会资金部分来自中央政府拨款，部分来自市政税。其结构可能会令人困惑，因为郡议会、区议会和单一管理区相互重叠，但它们的核心职能是高效地提供地方服务。

Devolution – 权力下放
Devolved parliament – 权力下放议会
Local council – 地方议会
Unitary authority – 单一管理区
Council tax – 市政税

8. Rights, Freedoms, and Civil Liberties | 权利、自由与公民自由

Civil liberties are the basic rights and freedoms that protect individuals from an over‑powerful state. In the UK, many of these are now set out in the Human Rights Act 1998, which incorporates the European Convention on Human Rights into domestic law. Key rights include freedom of expression, the right to a fair trial, and the right to respect for private and family life. However, rights are not absolute; they can be restricted for reasons such as national security or public safety.

公民自由（Civil liberties）是保护个人不受国家权力过度侵犯的基本权利和自由。在英国，其中许多权利现已载入《1998 年人权法案》，该法案将《欧洲人权公约》纳入了国内法。关键权利包括言论自由、获得公正审判的权利以及尊重私人和家庭生活的权利。然而，权利并非绝对，它们可以出于国家安全或公共安全等原因受到限制。

Understanding the balance between security and liberty is a classic AQA theme. For instance, counter‑terrorism laws may increase the state’s surveillance powers, sparking debate about whether personal freedoms are being eroded. Equality legislation, such as the Equality Act 2010, also protects people from discrimination based on protected characteristics like race, gender, and disability.

理解安全与自由之间的平衡是 AQA 课程的一个经典主题。例如，反恐法律可能会增强国家的监控权力，从而引发关于个人自由是否受到侵蚀的争论。平等立法，如《2010 年平等法案》，也保护人们免受基于种族、性别和残疾等受保护特征的歧视。

Human Rights Act – 人权法案
Civil liberties – 公民自由
Freedom of expression – 言论自由
Protected characteristics – 受保护特征
Equality Act 2010 – 2010 年平等法案
Surveillance – 监控

9. The Justice System and the Judiciary | 司法系统与司法机构

The judiciary is the branch of government made up of judges and courts. It is responsible for interpreting the law, upholding the rule of law, and ensuring justice is administered fairly. Judges in the UK are independent, meaning they decide cases without interference from the government or politicians. The principle of judicial review allows courts to examine whether a public body has acted lawfully; they cannot strike down primary legislation because of parliamentary sovereignty, but they can declare a law incompatible with human rights under the HRA.

司法机构（Judiciary）是由法官和法院组成的政府部门。它负责解释法律，维护法治，并确保司法公正。英国法官是独立的，这意味着他们在裁决时不受政府或政治人物的干涉。司法复核原则允许法院审查公共机构是否依法行事；由于议会主权，法院不能推翻一级立法，但可以根据《人权法案》宣布某项法律与人权规定不相容。

There are two main branches of law: criminal law, which deals with offences against the state (like theft or murder), and civil law, which resolves disputes between individuals or organisations (like contract disputes or defamation). The Supreme Court is the highest court in the land, hearing appeals on points of law of the greatest public importance.

法律有两个主要分支：刑法，处理针对国家的违法行为（如盗窃或谋杀）；民法，解决个人或组织之间的纠纷（如合同纠纷或诽谤）。最高法院是英国的最高法院，审理对具有重大公共重要性的法律问题提出的上诉。

Judiciary – 司法机构
Judicial review – 司法复核/司法审查
Supreme Court – 最高法院
Criminal law – 刑法
Civil law – 民法
Incompatible – 不相容的

10. Quick‑Reference Glossary and Memory Tips | 速查词汇表与记忆技巧

Memorising political vocabulary becomes much easier when you link terms to real‑world examples. For instance, think of a recent general election to recall ‘marginal seat’ and ‘turnout’. Create your own flashcards with the English term on one side and the Chinese equivalent plus a brief definition on the other. The table below brings together some high‑frequency terms you will need for Year 10 assessments.

将术语与现实世界的例子相联系，记忆政治词汇会变得容易得多。例如，回想一下最近的一次大选，就能记起“边缘席位”和“投票率”。制作自己的闪卡，一面写英文术语，另一面写中文对应词及简短的定义。下表汇集了一些你在 Year 10 评估中将需要的高频术语。

English Term	中文	Quick Definition
Accountability	问责制	The duty of government officials to explain their actions and be held responsible.
Electorate	选民群体	All the people eligible to vote in an election.
Lobbying	游说	Seeking to influence a politician or public official on an issue.
Pressure group	压力团体	An organised group seeking to influence government policy without seeking election.
Quango	准自治非政府组织	A quasi‑autonomous non‑governmental organisation that carries out public functions.
Manifesto pledge	宣言承诺	A specific promise made in a party’s election manifesto.
Backbencher	后座议员	An MP who does not hold a ministerial or shadow ministerial position.

A powerful revision technique is to use the words in your own sentences. Explain the term ‘rule of law’ to a friend, or write a short paragraph linking ‘executive’, ‘legislature’, and ‘judiciary’. Over time, this active recall will embed the vocabulary deep into your long‑term memory and make your exam answers far more precise.

一种强大的复习技巧是用自己的话造句。向一位朋友解释“法治”一词，或者写一个小段落将“行政”、“立法”和“司法”联系起来。久而久之，这种主动回忆会将词汇深深嵌入你的长期记忆中，并使你的考试答案准确得多。

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Year 10 AQA Politics: Quick Guide to Key Terms and Vocabulary | AQA 政治：词汇术语速记指南