📚 SQA Politics Year 10: Quick Revision Guide to Key Terms | SQA 政治 Year 10：词汇术语速记指南
Understanding political terminology is the first step towards mastering your SQA Politics course. This guide breaks down the essential terms you need to know, presenting each one with clear definitions, examples, and memory aids. Whether you are preparing for an end-of-topic test or building a foundation for the final exam, learning these words will help you analyse arguments, evaluate sources, and write confidently about how power is distributed, exercised, and challenged in the modern world.
理解政治术语是掌握 SQA 政治课程的第一步。本指南分解了你需要了解的核心词汇，每个词都配有清晰的定义、示例和记忆辅助。无论你是在准备单元测验，还是为最终考试打基础，学习这些词汇都将帮助你分析论点、评估资料，并自信地阐述权力在现代世界中如何分配、行使和受到挑战。
1. Democracy | 民主
Democracy comes from the Greek words ‘demos’ (people) and ‘kratos’ (rule). It describes a system of government where citizens hold the ultimate power, either directly or through elected representatives. In a representative democracy, like the UK, people vote for politicians to make decisions on their behalf. Key features include free and fair elections, protection of rights, and the rule of law. Think of it as ‘rule by the people’ – the opposite of dictatorship.
民主 (Democracy) 来自希腊语 “demos”（人民）和 “kratos”（统治），描述的是一种公民直接或通过选举产生的代表掌握最终权力的政府制度。在英国这样的代议制民主中，人民投票选出政客代表他们决策。主要特征包括自由公正的选举、权利保护和法治。你可以把它理解为“人民当家作主”——与独裁截然相反。
2. Sovereignty | 主权
Sovereignty means supreme power or authority. In political terms, it often refers to the right of a state to govern itself without outside interference. In the UK, parliamentary sovereignty means that Parliament – not the monarch or the courts – is the highest legal authority; it can make or repeal any law. However, this has been challenged by devolution and by EU membership (when the UK was a member). A simple memory hook: ‘sovereignty is supreme power, like the boss of a country’s rules.’
主权 (Sovereignty) 意味着至高无上的权力或权威。在政治语境中，它通常指一个国家不受外来干涉而自我治理的权利。在英国，议会主权意味着议会——而非君主或法院——是最高法律权威；它可以制定或废除任何法律。不过，这一原则受到了权力下放和欧盟成员身份的挑战（在英国仍是成员国时）。一个简单的记忆钩子：“主权就是最高权力，好比一个国家规则的老板。”
3. Constitution | 宪法
A constitution is a set of rules and principles that define how a country is governed. It sets out the powers of the branches of government, the relationship between the state and the individual, and the fundamental rights of citizens. The UK has an uncodified constitution, meaning it is not written in a single document but spread across statutes (like the Human Rights Act 1998), common law, conventions, and authoritative works. Most other countries have a codified constitution – a single written document. Uncodified = unwritten but not entirely rule-free.
宪法 (Constitution) 是一套界定国家治理方式的规则和原则。它规定了政府各部门的权力、国家与个人的关系以及公民的基本权利。英国拥有不成文宪法，这意味着它并非写在一份单一的文件里，而是分散于成文法（如1998年《人权法》）、普通法、惯例和权威著作中。大多数其他国家则有一部成文宪法——单一的成文文件。不成文 ≠ 没有规则，只是不在一册而已。
4. Devolution | 权力下放
Devolution is the transfer of certain powers from central government to regional or sub-national bodies. In the UK, the Scottish Parliament, the Senedd Cymru (Welsh Parliament), and the Northern Ireland Assembly now control areas like health, education, and transport, while the UK Parliament keeps powers for defence, foreign affairs, and macroeconomic policy. Devolution is not the same as independence or federalism – it can be reversed, in theory. Remember: devolution means ‘delegated power, not given away forever.’
权力下放 (Devolution) 是指中央政府将某些权力转移给地区或次国家级机构。在英国，苏格兰议会、威尔士议会（Senedd Cymru）和北爱尔兰议会现在控制着卫生、教育和交通等领域，而英国议会保留国防、外交和宏观经济政策的权力。权力下放不同于独立或联邦制——理论上它可以被逆转。记住：权力下放是“委托出去的权力，并非永久交出”。
5. Parliament | 议会
In the UK, Parliament is the supreme legislative body composed of the House of Commons (elected MPs), the House of Lords (appointed and hereditary peers), and the monarch (a ceremonial role). Its main functions are making laws, scrutinising the government, approving budgets, and representing the public. The term ‘parliament’ comes from the French ‘parler’ – to talk – so parliament is fundamentally a talking shop where debate shapes policy. The Scottish Parliament is a separate body with law-making powers for devolved matters.
在英国，议会 (Parliament) 是由下议院（选举产生的议员）、上议院（任命和世袭贵族）和君主（礼仪性角色）组成的最高立法机构。其主要职能是制定法律、监督政府、批准预算和代表公众。“议会”一词源自法语 “parler”（说话），因此议会本质上是一个通过辩论塑造政策的“谈话场所”。苏格兰议会则是一个独立的机构，享有对下放事务的立法权。
6. Government | 政府
Government and Parliament are not the same. Government refers to the executive branch – the Prime Minister, Cabinet ministers, and government departments – that runs the country and puts laws into action. In the UK, the government is formed by the political party (or coalition) that can command a majority in the House of Commons. The government sets policy direction, proposes new laws, and manages public services. A useful contrast: Parliament debates and passes laws; government implements and administers.
政府 (Government) 与议会不同。政府指的是行政部门——首相、内阁大臣及政府部门——负责治理国家并执行法律。在英国，政府由在下议院中占多数席位的政党（或联盟）组建。政府确定政策方向、提出新法律并管理公共服务。一个有用的对比：议会辩论并通过法律；政府负责实施和管理。
7. Political Parties and the Political Spectrum | 政党与政治光谱
Political parties are organised groups of people who share similar political beliefs and aim to win elections in order to influence public policy. The political spectrum is a way to classify these beliefs, often from left-wing (favour more state intervention, redistribution of wealth, and social equality) to right-wing (favour lower taxes, individual responsibility, and free markets). In Scotland, the main parties include the Scottish National Party (SNP), Scottish Labour, Scottish Conservatives, and Scottish Liberal Democrats. Remember: left = more state, right = more market.
政党 (Political Parties) 是拥有相似政治信念的有组织群体，旨在赢得选举以影响公共政策。政治光谱 (Political Spectrum) 是一种分类方式，通常从左翼（倾向于更多国家干预、财富再分配和社会平等）到右翼（倾向于较低税收、个人责任和自由市场）。在苏格兰，主要政党包括苏格兰民族党（SNP）、苏格兰工党、苏格兰保守党和苏格兰自由民主党。记住：左 = 更多国家，右 = 更多市场。
8. Voting Systems | 投票制度
A voting system is the method by which votes are translated into seats in an elected body. The UK general election uses First-Past-The-Post (FPTP): the candidate with the most votes in each constituency wins, even if they do not secure a majority of all votes cast. The Scottish Parliament election uses the Additional Member System (AMS), a form of proportional representation, where voters have two votes – one for a constituency MSP and one for a regional party list. This makes the outcome more proportional and gives smaller parties a better chance of winning seats.
投票制度 (Voting System) 是将选票转化为民选机构席位的方法。英国大选采用简单多数制 (First-Past-The-Post, FPTP)：每个选区得票最多的候选人获胜，即使他们并未获得全部选票的多数。苏格兰议会选举采用附加议员制 (Additional Member System, AMS)，这是一种比例代表制，选民有两票——一票选选区议员，一票投给地区的政党名单。这使得结果更具比例性，让小党有更大机会赢得席位。
9. Pressure Groups | 压力团体
Pressure groups are organisations that try to influence government policy without seeking to hold political office. They differ from political parties because they do not usually put forward candidates for election. Insider groups work closely with the government (e.g., trade unions, professional bodies), while outsider groups rely on public campaigns, protests, and petitions (e.g., Greenpeace, Extinction Rebellion). Their methods include lobbying, marches, media stunts, and legal challenges. A memory tip: parties want to be the government; pressure groups want to influence the government.
压力团体 (Pressure Groups) 是试图影响政府政策但不寻求担任政治职务的组织。它们与政党的不同之处在于，通常不推举选举候选人。内部团体与政府密切合作（如工会、专业机构），而外部团体则依靠公众运动、抗议和请愿（如绿色和平、反抗灭绝）。它们的方法包括游说、游行、媒体噱头和法律挑战。记忆口诀：政党想成为政府；压力团体想影响政府。
10. Human Rights | 人权
Human rights are basic rights and freedoms that belong to every person, regardless of nationality, ethnicity, religion, or any other status. They include civil and political rights (like freedom of speech and the right to a fair trial) as well as economic, social, and cultural rights (like the right to education and health). In the UK, the Human Rights Act 1998 incorporated the European Convention on Human Rights into domestic law, allowing people to bring human rights cases to UK courts. Key terms: dignity, equality, and non-discrimination.
人权 (Human Rights) 是每个人所固有的基本权利和自由，不论国籍、种族、宗教或其他身份。它们包括公民和政治权利（如言论自由和获得公平审判的权利）以及经济、社会和文化权利（如受教育和健康权）。在英国，1998 年《人权法》将《欧洲人权公约》纳入国内法，允许人们向英国法院提起人权案件。核心术语：尊严、平等、反歧视。
11. Ideology | 意识形态
An ideology is a coherent set of ideas and beliefs that explains the world and offers a plan for change. Major ideologies include liberalism (individual liberty, limited government), socialism (collective ownership, social justice), conservatism (tradition, stability, gradual change), and nationalism (the interests of the nation as a self-governing unit). In SQA Politics, you may examine how these ideologies shape party policy in Scotland and the UK. Ideology is like a lens through which political actors view problems and solutions.
意识形态 (Ideology) 是一套连贯的观念和信仰体系，解释世界并提出变革方案。主要意识形态包括自由主义（个人自由、有限政府）、社会主义（集体所有、社会正义）、保守主义（传统、稳定、渐进变革）和民族主义（以自治的民族利益为核心）。在 SQA 政治中，你可能需要考察这些意识形态如何影响苏格兰和英国的政党政策。意识形态就像政治行动者看待问题和解决方案的透镜。
12. Participation and Representation | 参与和代表
Participation refers to the ways in which citizens get involved in the political process – voting, joining a party, protesting, signing e-petitions, or discussing politics on social media. Representation is the idea that those elected should speak and act on behalf of their constituents. Concepts such as delegate (acting exactly as instructed) and trustee (using personal judgement) describe two models of representation. In Scotland, the work of MSPs in local constituency offices shows this link between participation and representation in practice.
参与 (Participation) 指公民介入政治过程的方式——投票、入党、抗议、签署电子请愿书或在社交媒体上讨论政治。代表 (Representation) 是指民选代表应代表选民发言和行事的理念。委任式代表（严格按照指示行事）和受托式代表（运用个人判断）这两个概念描述了两种代表模式。在苏格兰，议员在地方选区办公室的工作在实践中展示了参与和代表之间的联系。
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