📚 Year 10 WJEC Politics: Vocabulary Quick-Reference Guide | 十年级 WJEC 政治：词汇术语速记指南
Getting to grips with political language is the first big step in your GCSE Government and Politics course. This guide picks out the essential terms you must know for Year 10 WJEC, explains them clearly, and pairs every English explanation with a Chinese translation so you can build your knowledge with confidence. Work through the sections steadily, and you will soon find yourself thinking and writing like a political scientist.
掌握政治术语是学好GCSE政府与政治课程的第一步。这份指南精选了十年级WJEC考试局必须掌握的核心词汇，每个概念都配有中英双语解释，帮助你扎实积累、自信备考。按节阅读、反复回顾，你很快就能像政治学者一样思考和答题。
1. Core Political Concepts | 政治核心概念
Politics is the process by which people make collective decisions, allocate resources, and manage conflicts within a society. It takes place anywhere power is negotiated – from the family and the workplace to the state and the global stage.
政治是人们做出集体决定、分配资源和管理社会冲突的过程。它发生在任何权力协商的场合——从家庭、职场到国家和全球舞台。
Power is the ability to influence or control the behaviour of others, even against their will. It can be hard power (coercion, laws) or soft power (persuasion, attraction).
权力是影响或控制他人行为的能力，甚至可以违背对方意愿。它可以是硬权力（强制、法律）或软权力（说服、吸引力）。
Authority is the right to exercise power and have it accepted. Legitimate authority comes from being elected, appointed according to rules, or following long-held traditions.
权威是行使权力并使其被接受的权利。合法权威来自民选、依规任命或遵循悠久的传统。
Legitimacy refers to the widespread belief that a government has the right to rule. Free and fair elections, the rule of law, and respect for human rights are key sources of legitimacy.
合法性指公众广泛相信政府有权统治。自由公正的选举、法治和对人权的尊重是合法性的主要来源。
Sovereignty is the ultimate and supreme authority within a territory. In the UK, legal sovereignty lies with Parliament – a concept known as parliamentary sovereignty – meaning Parliament can make or end any law.
主权是某领土内的最高终极权威。在英国，法律主权属于议会——即议会主权——意味着议会可以制定或废除任何法律。
2. Types of Democracy | 民主的类型
Direct democracy is a form of democracy in which citizens make policy decisions themselves, without representatives. Ancient Athens used direct democracy, and modern examples include referendums and citizens’ initiatives.
直接民主是一种公民自己做出政策决定、不经代表的民主形式。古雅典实行直接民主，现代例子包括全民公投和公民创制。
Representative democracy is the system where citizens elect individuals to make decisions on their behalf. The UK is a representative democracy with regular elections for MPs and local councillors.
代议制民主是公民选举个人代表自己决策的制度。英国是代议制民主，定期选举下议院议员和地方议员。
In a liberal democracy, free elections are combined with protections for individual rights, an independent judiciary, and a free press. The state’s power is limited by law and civil liberties are protected.
在自由民主制中，自由选举与个人权利保护、独立司法和新闻自由相结合。国家权力受法律限制，公民自由得到保障。
A referendum is a direct vote in which the entire electorate is asked to accept or reject a specific proposal. Key UK referendums include the 2016 vote on leaving the European Union and the 2014 Scottish independence referendum.
全民公投是要求全体选民对一个具体提案表示接受或拒绝的直接投票。英国关键公投包括2016年脱欧公投和2014年苏格兰独立公投。
3. The UK Constitution | 英国宪法
A constitution is a set of fundamental principles and rules that define how a state is governed. The UK has an uncodified constitution, meaning it is not written in a single document but is found across statutes, common law, conventions, and authoritative works.
宪法是一套规定国家如何治理的根本原则和规则。英国拥有不成文宪法，意味着它没有集中在一份文件里，而是分布在成文法、普通法、惯例和权威著作中。
Parliamentary sovereignty is the cornerstone of the UK constitution. It holds that Parliament is the supreme legal authority, able to create or repeal any law. No court can strike down an Act of Parliament.
议会主权是英国宪法的基石。它规定议会是最高法律权威，可以制定或废除任何法律，任何法院都不能推翻议会法案。
The rule of law means that everyone – including government ministers and the prime minister – is subject to the law. It ensures equality before the law, an independent judiciary, and fair legal processes.
法治意味着每个人——包括政府部长和首相——都受法律约束。它保证了法律面前人人平等、司法独立和公正的法律程序。
Constitutional conventions are unwritten rules that are accepted as binding in political behaviour. An important convention is that the prime minister must be a member of the House of Commons who commands the confidence of that House.
宪法惯例是虽未成文却被视为具有约束力的政治行为规则。一项重要的惯例是首相必须是下议院议员，并能获得下议院的信任。
4. Parliament: The Legislature | 议会：立法机关
The UK Parliament is a bicameral legislature, consisting of the House of Commons, the House of Lords, and the monarch. Its main functions are to make laws, scrutinise the government, and represent the public.
英国议会是两院制立法机关，由下议院、上议院和君主组成。主要职能是制定法律、监督政府和代表公众。
The House of Commons is the elected lower chamber. Its 650 Members of Parliament (MPs) represent constituencies. The political party with a majority of seats usually forms the government.
下议院是经选举产生的下院。650名国会议员代表各自的选区。占据多数席位的政党通常组建政府。
The House of Lords is the unelected upper chamber, made up of life peers, hereditary peers, and bishops. It revises legislation, provides expertise, and acts as a check on the Commons, but cannot permanently block bills.
上议院是非选举产生的上院，由终身贵族、世袭贵族和主教组成。它负责修订立法、提供专业意见并制约下议院，但不能永久否决法案。
Select committees are cross-party groups of MPs that investigate specific policy areas or government departments. They hold public evidence sessions, question ministers and experts, and produce reports that influence legislation.
特别委员会是由跨党派议员组成的群体，负责调查特定政策领域或政府部门。他们举行公开听证会，质询部长和专家，并撰写影响立法的报告。
5. The Executive: Prime Minister & Cabinet | 行政机关：首相与内阁
The executive is the branch of government responsible for policy-making and running the country. At its apex stands the prime minister, who is the head of government and leads the Cabinet.
行政机关是负责制定政策和治理国家的部门。其首脑是首相，首相是政府首脑并领导内阁。
The prime minister is appointed by the monarch but normally is the leader of the party with a majority in the House of Commons. Key powers include appointing ministers, setting the policy agenda, and representing the UK internationally.
首相由君主任命，但通常是下议院多数党领袖。主要权力包括任命大臣、设定政策议程以及在国际场合代表英国。
The Cabinet is a committee of senior ministers who head government departments. Under the convention of collective ministerial responsibility, all Cabinet members must publicly support government decisions or resign.
内阁是由领导各部门的高级大臣组成的委员会。根据集体部长责任制的惯例，所有内阁成员必须公开支持政府决定，否则须辞职。
Individual ministerial responsibility means that ministers are personally answerable to Parliament for their actions and the work of their departments. Serious errors can lead to a minister’s resignation.
个人部长责任制意味着大臣要就本人的行为及其部门工作向议会负责。严重失误可能导致大臣辞职。
The civil service is a politically neutral, permanent body of officials who implement government policies. Civil servants are expected to serve governments of all parties with impartiality and professionalism.
公务员系统是政治中立、常任的官员机构，负责执行政府政策。公务员应当公正、专业地为所有政党的政府服务。
6. The Judiciary & the Rule of Law | 司法与法治
The judiciary comprises judges and courts that interpret and apply the law. Judicial independence means judges are free from political interference when making decisions; their salaries are protected and they hold office during good behaviour.
司法机构由解释和适用法律的法官与法院组成。司法独立意味着法官在做裁决时不受政治干涉；他们的薪酬受保护，且只要行为良好便可继续任职。
The UK Supreme Court is the highest court in the land. It hears appeals on points of law of the greatest public importance and also determines devolution disputes.
英国最高法院是国家的最高法庭。它审理最具公共重要性的法律要点上诉，并裁定权力下放争端。
Judicial review is a process by which courts examine the lawfulness of decisions made by public bodies. It ensures ministers and officials do not exceed their legal powers or act unreasonably.
司法审查是法院审查公共机构决定是否合法的一种程序。它确保大臣和官员不超越法定权力或行为不合理。
The separation of powers is a principle that the three branches of government – legislature, executive, and judiciary – should be kept distinct to prevent the concentration of power. In the UK the branches are partially fused, but an independent judiciary still acts as a vital check.
权力分立是指政府的三个分支——立法、行政和司法——应保持独立以防止权力集中。英国各分支有部分融合，但独立的司法仍作为关键制约。
7. Elections & Voting Systems | 选举与投票制度
A general election is the process by which voters elect MPs to the House of Commons. By law, a general election must be held at least every five years. The electorate in each constituency chooses one candidate.
大选是选民选举下议院议员的过程。法律规定大选至少每五年举行一次。每个选区的选民选出一名候选人。
First-past-the-post (FPTP) is the voting system used for UK general elections. In each constituency the candidate with the most votes wins, even if they do not receive more than 50% of the vote. This tends to produce a strong majority government but can leave smaller parties under‑represented.
简单多数制是英国大选使用的投票制度。每个选区得票最多的候选人获胜，即便得票未超过50%。这往往产生强多数政府，但可能导致小党代表性不足。
Proportional representation (PR) refers to electoral systems designed to allocate seats in rough proportion to votes cast. Systems like the Additional Member System (AMS) used in the Scottish Parliament and the Single Transferable Vote (STV) in Northern Ireland aim to give fairer representation to smaller parties.
比例代表制指旨在按得票比例分配席位的选举制度。苏格兰议会使用的附委席位制（AMS）和北爱尔兰使用的单一可转移票制（STV）都力求让小党获得更公平的代表性。
Here is a quick comparison of FPTP and PR:
以下是简单多数制与比例代表制的快速对比：
| Feature | First-Past-the-Post | Proportional Representation |
| Seat outcome | Winner takes all per constituency; can lead to a large majority with less than 50% of the vote. | Seats broadly match vote share; coalition governments more likely. |
| MP–constituency link | Strong direct link between each MP and their local area. | Link can be weaker, especially in list systems. |
| Voter choice | Single choice; tactical voting can be common. | Voters often have multiple preferences; wasted votes are fewer. |
8. Political Parties & Ideologies | 政党与意识形态
A political party is an organised group that seeks to gain power by winning elections and forming government. Parties develop policies based on shared values and present a manifesto to the public before a general election.
政党是一个有组织的团体，旨在通过赢得选举和组建政府来获得权力。政党根据共同价值制定政策，并在大选前向公众发布政纲。
A manifesto is a public declaration of a party’s policies and promises. If the party wins the election, it claims a mandate – the authority to implement its manifesto because the voters have chosen it.
政纲是一个政党政策和承诺的公开声明。如果该党胜选，它便声称获得了授权——因为选民选择了它，所以有权落实政纲。
Left-wing politics generally favours more government intervention to reduce inequality, provides strong public services, and supports progressive taxation. Right-wing politics emphasises individual freedom, lower taxes, a smaller state, and free‑market solutions.
左翼政治通常主张增加政府干预以减少不平等，提供强有力的公共服务，并支持累进税制。右翼政治则强调个人自由、低税收、小政府和自由市场方案。
The main UK‑wide parties are the Conservative Party (centre‑right), the Labour Party (centre‑left), and the Liberal Democrats (centre to centre‑left). The Scottish National Party (SNP) and Plaid Cymru campaign for independence for Scotland and Wales respectively.
英国主要全国性政党是保守党（中右）、工党（中左）和自由民主党（中间至中左）。苏格兰民族党和威尔士党则分别争取苏格兰和威尔士独立。
9. Pressure Groups, Lobbying & Civil Society | 压力集团、游说与公民社会
A pressure group is an organised body that tries to influence government policy without seeking to win elections. They operate in civil society and connect citizens to decision‑makers.
压力集团是有组织地试图影响政府政策、却不谋求赢得选举的团体。它们在公民社会中运作，将公民与决策者联系起来。
Sectional (interest) groups represent a specific section of society, such as trade unions (e.g. the National Education Union) or professional associations (e.g. the British Medical Association). Causal (promotional) groups advocate for a particular cause, like Greenpeace for the environment or Liberty for human rights.
界别（利益）集团代表社会的特定群体，如工会（例如全国教育联盟）或专业协会（例如英国医学会）。事业（倡导）集团则为特定事业发声，例如绿色和平组织倡导环保，或自由组织倡导人权。
Insider groups have access to government officials and are routinely consulted during policy‑making. Outsider groups lack this access and may use media campaigns, demonstrations, or direct action to influence opinion.
内部集团能够接触政府官员，并在政策制定中被例行咨询。外部集团则缺乏此类渠道，可能通过媒体宣传、示威或直接行动来影响舆论。
Lobbying is the act of trying to influence legislators or officials, usually face‑to‑face or through professional consultants. It is a key tactic of both pressure groups and businesses seeking to shape policy.
游说是试图影响立法者或官员的行为，通常通过当面沟通或聘请专业顾问进行。这是压力集团和企业塑造政策的关键策略。
10. Devolution & Local Governance | 权力下放与地方治理
Devolution is the transfer of certain powers from central government in Westminster to regional bodies. In the UK, the Scottish Parliament, the Welsh Senedd, and the Northern Ireland Assembly have devolved powers over areas like education, health, and transport.
权力下放是指中央威斯敏斯特政府将某些权力转移给地区机构。在英国，苏格兰议会、威尔士议会和北爱尔兰议会在教育、卫生和交通等领域拥有下放的权力。
Reserved powers are matters that remain under the control of the UK Parliament, such as defence, foreign affairs, and immigration. Devolved powers are transferred to regional legislatures, but the UK Parliament retains ultimate sovereignty and can theoretically reclaim these powers.
保留权力是仍由英国议会控制的事务，如国防、外交和移民。下放权力则移交给地区立法机构，但英国议会保留最终主权，理论上可以收回这些权力。
Local government in England operates through county, district, and unitary authorities. Councillors elected in local elections provide services including social care, waste collection, planning, and libraries. Council tax is the main source of local revenue.
英格兰的地方政府通过郡、区和单一管理区运作。由地方选举产生的地方议员提供社会关怀、垃圾收集、规划和图书馆等服务。市政税是地方收入的主要来源。
11. Rights, Freedoms & Citizenship | 权利、自由与公民身份
Human rights are basic rights and freedoms to which every person is entitled. The Human Rights Act 1998 incorporated the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law, allowing rights such as the right to life, fair trial, and freedom of expression to be enforced in domestic courts.
人权是人人应享有的基本权利和自由。1998年《人权法案》将《欧洲人权公约》纳入英国法律，使得生命权、公正审判权和言论自由等权利可在国内法院执行。
Civil liberties protect individuals from government overreach. They include freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and the right to privacy. However, these liberties can be limited by law in cases of national security or public safety.
公民自由保护个人免受政府过度干预，包括言论自由、集会自由和隐私权。然而，在国家安全或公共安全问题上，这些自由可依法受到限制。
Citizenship involves both rights and responsibilities. Citizens have the right to vote, stand for office, and enjoy equal treatment under the Equality Act 2010, which protects against discrimination based on characteristics such as age, race, and disability. Responsibilities include obeying the law, serving on a jury, and paying taxes.
公民身份既包含权利也包含责任。公民有权投票、参选公职并根据《2010年平等法》享有平等待遇——该法禁止基于年龄、种族、残疾等特征的歧视。责任包括遵守法律、担任陪审员和纳税。
Jury service is a civic duty where 12 randomly selected citizens hear evidence in a crown court and decide the verdict. It is a cornerstone of the justice system and ensures community participation in the law.
陪审服务是一项公民义务，随机选出的12名公民在刑事法院听取证据并裁定裁决。它是司法体系的基石，确保社区参与法律。
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