📚 IGCSE Edexcel Politics: Vocabulary & Terminology Quick Revision Guide | IGCSE Edexcel 政治：词汇术语速记指南
Mastering the language of politics is half the battle. This guide breaks down the most frequently tested terms in the Edexcel IGCSE Politics specification, pairing each with a clear English definition and an easy-to-remember Chinese explanation. Use these quick definitions to build essay answers, strengthen source analysis, and boost your confidence in the exam hall.
掌握政治语言是成功的一半。本指南梳理了Edexcel IGCSE 政治大纲中最常考的术语，每个术语都配有清晰的英文定义和便于记忆的中文解释。用这些快速定义来充实论文答案、强化资料分析，并提升在考场上的信心。
1. Core Political Concepts | 核心政治概念
Democracy — A system of government in which supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation, usually involving periodic free elections.
民主——一种将最高权力赋予人民的政府制度，人民直接或通过代议制间接行使权力，通常包括定期的自由选举。
Representative democracy — A form of democracy in which citizens elect representatives to make decisions on their behalf, as opposed to direct democracy where citizens vote on every issue themselves.
代议制民主——一种民主形式，公民选举代表代替自己做出决策，与公民自己对每个议题投票的直接民主相对。
Direct democracy — A type of democracy in which the people themselves, rather than elected representatives, decide on policy initiatives. Modern examples include referendums and citizens’ initiatives.
直接民主——一种由人民而非民选代表决定政策倡议的民主类型。现代实例包括公投和公民创制。
Legitimacy — The right and acceptance of an authority, usually a governing law or a regime. A legitimate government is one that has the consent of the governed, often secured through free and fair elections.
合法性——权威（通常是治理法律或政权）被承认和接受的权利。一个合法的政府是得到被统治者同意的政府，这种同意通常通过自由公正的选举获得。
Sovereignty — The supreme power or authority of a state to govern itself without external interference. In the UK, legal sovereignty rests with Parliament, while popular sovereignty refers to the will of the people.
主权——一个国家的最高权力或权威，可以在不受外部干涉的情况下治理自身。在英国，法律主权属于议会，而人民主权指的是人民的意愿。
2. Systems of Government | 政府体制
Unitary state — A state governed as a single entity in which the central government is ultimately supreme. Any powers devolved to regional or local governments can be revoked by the central authority.
单一制国家——一种作为单一实体治理的国家，中央政府最终拥有最高权力。任何下放给区域或地方政府的权力都可能被中央当局收回。
Federal state — A system of government in which power is divided between a central (national) government and regional governments, each with their own spheres of authority, usually protected by a written constitution.
联邦制国家——一种政府体制，权力在中央（全国）政府和区域政府之间划分，各自拥有自己的权力范围，通常受成文宪法保护。
Parliamentary system — A system of democratic governance in which the executive branch derives its democratic legitimacy from, and is accountable to, the legislature (parliament). The head of government is often a prime minister who is a member of the legislature.
议会制——一种民主治理制度，行政部门从立法机关（议会）获得民主合法性并对议会负责。政府首脑通常是作为立法机构成员的总理。
Presidential system — A political system in which the head of state (the president) is also the head of government and is directly elected by the people. The executive branch exists separately from the legislature, creating a clear separation of powers.
总统制——一种政治制度，国家元首（总统）也是政府首脑，并由人民直接选举产生。行政部门与立法机关分立，形成明确的三权分立。
Constitutional monarchy — A form of monarchy in which the monarch acts as a non-party-political head of state within the parameters of a constitution, whether written or unwritten. The monarch’s powers are largely ceremonial, while elected officials govern.
君主立宪制——一种君主制形式，君主在成文或不成文宪法的范围内充当无党派的国家元首。君主的权力主要是礼仪性的，而由民选官员治国。
3. Political Ideologies | 政治意识形态
Conservatism — A political ideology that emphasises tradition, order, authority, and gradual change rather than radical reform. Conservatives value social stability and often advocate for private enterprise and respect for established institutions.
保守主义——一种强调传统、秩序、权威和渐进变革而非激进改革的政治意识形态。保守主义者珍视社会稳定，通常主张私人企业并尊重既定制度。
Liberalism — An ideology centred on individual rights, liberty, equality, and consent of the governed. Liberals support limited government, free markets, and the protection of civil liberties, though modern liberals may accept a welfare state.
自由主义——一种以个人权利、自由、平等和被统治者同意为核心的意识形态。自由主义者支持有限政府、自由市场和对公民自由的保护，但现代自由主义者可能接受福利国家。
Socialism — A political and economic theory advocating for collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods. Socialists prioritise social justice, equality, and the reduction of class divisions.
社会主义——一种政治经济理论，主张由集体或政府对生产资料和商品分配进行所有和管理。社会主义者优先考虑社会正义、平等和减少阶级分化。
Fascism — An authoritarian nationalist ideology characterised by dictatorial power, forcible suppression of opposition, strong regimentation of society and the economy, and often extreme levels of militarism and disregard for individual rights.
法西斯主义——一种威权民族主义意识形态，其特征是独裁权力、强力镇压反对派、对社会和经济的严密控制，通常还有极端的军国主义和对个人权利的漠视。
Anarchism — The belief that all forms of governmental authority are unnecessary and should be abolished, advocating instead for a society based on voluntary cooperation and self-governance.
无政府主义——一种认为一切形式的政府权威都是不必要的、应当废除的信念，主张代之以基于自愿合作和自治的社会。
4. Elections and Voting | 选举与投票
First-past-the-post (FPTP) — An electoral system in which the candidate with the most votes in a single-member constituency wins. It tends to produce a two-party system and a strong, single-party government but can result in disproportionate outcomes.
简单多数制——一种选举制度，在单议席选区中得票最多的候选人获胜。它倾向于产生两党制和强大的单一政党政府，但可能导致不成比例的结果。
Proportional representation (PR) — An electoral system that aims to allocate seats in proportion to the number of votes each party receives. It often leads to multi-party systems and coalition governments, offering fairer representation for smaller parties.
比例代表制——一种旨在按各政党所获票数比例分配席位的选举制度。它通常导致多党制和联合政府，为小党派提供更公平的代表。
Swing — A measure of the change in voter support from one election to another, usually expressed as a percentage. A swing of 2% away from the incumbent party towards the opposition can indicate a change in the overall seat distribution.
摇摆——衡量选民支持度从一次选举到另一次选举变化的指标，通常以百分比表示。执政党向反对党2%的摇摆可能预示整体席位分布的变化。
Apter vs expressive voting — Instrumental voting occurs when electors choose a candidate based on the expected consequences (such as policy outcomes), while expressive voting is based on the emotional satisfaction of supporting a particular party or candidate.
工具性投票与表达性投票——工具性投票指选民基于预期后果（如政策结果）选择候选人，而表达性投票则是基于支持某个政党或候选人的情感满足感。
Referendum — A direct vote in which an entire electorate is invited to accept or reject a particular proposal. In the UK, referendums are used to decide on constitutional issues, such as EU membership and Scottish independence.
公投——一种直接投票方式，全体选民被邀请就某项特定提案表示接受或拒绝。在英国，公投用于决定宪法问题，如欧盟成员身份和苏格兰独立。
5. Political Parties and Pressure Groups | 政党与压力团体
Political party — An organised group of people with at least roughly similar political aims and opinions, seeking to influence public policy by getting its candidates elected to office.
政党——一群具有至少大致相似的政治目标和观点的人组成的组织，旨在通过让其候选人当选公职来影响公共政策。
Manifesto — A public declaration of the policies and intentions of a political party, issued before an election to inform voters of the party’s platform and promises if elected.
竞选宣言——政党在选举前发布的政策和意图的公开声明，向选民告知若当选该党的政纲和承诺。
Pressure group — An organised group that aims to influence decision-makers without seeking election itself. Examples include Greenpeace (cause group) and the British Medical Association (sectional group).
压力团体——一个旨在影响决策者而不寻求自身当选的有组织团体。例子包括绿色和平组织（事业型团体）和英国医学会（部门型团体）。
Insider group — A type of pressure group that operates inside the political system, enjoying direct access to ministers and civil servants. They tend to adopt low-profile lobbying strategies and are often consulted by government.
内部人团体——一类在政治体系内部运作的压力团体，享有与大臣和公务员直接接触的机会。它们倾向于采取低调的游说策略，并经常受到政府咨询。
Outsider group — Pressure groups that either cannot gain access to decision-makers or deliberately choose to stay outside. They may resort to direct action, protests, and media campaigns to mobilise public opinion.
外部人团体——无法接触决策者或故意选择留在外部的压力团体。它们可能诉诸直接行动、抗议和媒体运动来动员公众舆论。
6. Branches of Government | 政府分支
Executive — The branch of government responsible for implementing and enforcing laws. In the UK, the executive consists of the monarch, the Prime Minister, the Cabinet, and the wider government departments and civil service.
行政机关——负责执行和落实法律的政府分支。在英国，行政机关由君主、首相、内阁以及更广泛的政府部门和公务员组成。
Legislature — The law-making branch of government. In the UK, Parliament is the supreme legislature, consisting of the House of Commons, the House of Lords, and the monarch (who gives Royal Assent).
立法机关——政府中负责制定法律的分支。在英国，议会是最高立法机构，由下议院、上议院和君主（给予御准）组成。
Judiciary — The branch of government that interprets and applies the law, settling disputes and upholding the rule of law. Judges are independent and, in the UK, are protected from political interference by statute and convention.
司法机关——解释和适用法律、解决争端并维护法治的政府分支。法官是独立的，在英国受到法律和惯例的保护免受政治干预。
Separation of powers — The principle that the three branches of government — executive, legislative, and judicial — should be kept separate to prevent the concentration of power and abuse of authority. The UK has a fusion of powers rather than a strict separation.
三权分立——政府三个分支——行政、立法和司法——应保持分离的原则，以防止权力集中和滥用。英国实行的是权力融合而非严格的分立。
Parliamentary sovereignty — A key constitutional principle in the UK, meaning that Parliament has the ultimate legal authority to make or unmake any law. No Parliament can bind its successors, and courts cannot strike down Acts of Parliament.
议会主权——英国一项关键宪法原则，意指议会拥有制定或废除任何法律的最高法律权威。任何议会都不可约束其后继者，法院不能推翻议会的法令。
7. Constitution and Law | 宪法与法律
Constitution — A set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state is governed. Constitutions can be codified (written in a single document) or uncodified (drawn from multiple sources), as in the UK.
宪法——一套治理国家所依据的基本原理或既定先例。宪法可以是成文法典（写在一份文件中）或不成文（源自多种来源），如英国。
Rule of law — The principle that all individuals and institutions, including the government itself, are subject to and accountable to law that is fairly applied and enforced. It protects against arbitrary governance.
法治——所有个人和机构，包括政府本身，都受法律约束并对其负责的原则，法律被公平地适用和执行。它防止任意治理。
Common law — Law developed by judges through decisions of courts and similar tribunals, as opposed to statutes adopted through the legislative process. Much of UK contract and tort law is based on common law.
普通法——法官通过法院及类似法庭的判决而发展出来的法律，与通过立法程序采纳的成文法相对。英国合同法与侵权法大部分基于普通法。
Judicial review — A process by which senior courts examine the lawfulness of decisions made by public bodies. A judge can quash a decision if it is found to be illegal, irrational, or procedurally improper.
司法审查——高级法院审查公共机构所做决定是否合法的程序。如果发现某一决定非法、不合理或程序不当，法官可予以撤销。
Devolution — The transfer of certain powers from central government to regional or local governments, while sovereignty remains at the centre. The Scottish Parliament, Senedd Cymru, and Northern Ireland Assembly are products of devolution.
权力下放——将某些权力从中央政府转移至区域或地方政府，而主权仍保留在中央。苏格兰议会、威尔士议会和北爱尔兰议会都是权力下放的产物。
8. Rights and Citizenship | 权利与公民身份
Civil liberties — Fundamental individual freedoms, such as freedom of speech, association, and assembly, that are protected from government interference by law or convention. The Human Rights Act 1998 incorporated the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law.
公民自由——基本个人自由，如言论、结社和集会自由，由法律或惯例保护免受政府干预。《1998年人权法案》将《欧洲人权公约》纳入英国法律。
Citizenship — The status of a person recognised under the custom or law of a sovereign state as a member of or belonging to the state. It entails rights, such as the right to vote and stand for office, as well as duties, such as paying taxes and obeying the law.
公民身份——根据主权国家的习俗或法律，被承认属于该国成员的地位。它包含权利（如投票权和被选举权）以及义务（如纳税和守法）。
Equalities law — Legislation designed to protect individuals against discrimination on the grounds of characteristics such as race, gender, disability, religion, or sexual orientation. The Equality Act 2010 consolidated these protections in Great Britain.
平等法——旨在保护个人免于基于种族、性别、残疾、宗教或性取向等特征的歧视的立法。《2010年平等法》在大不列颠整合了这些保护。
Racial discrimination — Any distinction, exclusion, restriction, or preference based on race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin that has the purpose or effect of nullifying equal enjoyment of rights.
种族歧视——基于种族、肤色、世系或民族或族裔出身的任何区别、排斥、限制或偏好，其目的或效果是取消对权利的平等享有。
Human rights — Rights inherent to all human beings, regardless of nationality, sex, ethnicity, religion, or any other status. They include the right to life, freedom from torture, and the right to a fair trial, often codified in international treaties.
人权——所有人与生俱来的权利，不论国籍、性别、民族、宗教或任何其他身份。它们包括生命权、免受酷刑的自由和获得公正审判的权利，通常在国际条约中编纂。
9. International Relations | 国际关系
Supranational organisation — An international union in which member states pool sovereignty on certain matters for common benefit. The European Union is a prime example, with its own executive, legislative, and judicial institutions that can make binding decisions on member states.
超国家组织——一种国际联盟，成员国在某些事务上汇集主权以谋求共同利益。欧盟就是一个主要例子，它拥有自己的行政、立法和司法机构，可对成员国做出有约束力的决定。
Intergovernmentalism — A method of international cooperation where nation-states work together but retain their full sovereignty, with decisions requiring unanimity and national governments maintaining control. Most UN operations follow this model.
政府间主义——一种国际合作方式，民族国家共同合作但保留充分主权，决策需一致同意，各国政府保持控制。大多数联合国行动遵循这一模式。
Multilateralism — The coordination of relations between three or more states according to certain principles or institutional rules. It contrasts with unilateralism (acting alone) and bilateralism (agreements between two states).
多边主义——根据某些原则或制度规则，协调三个或以上国家之间的关系。它与单边主义（单独行动）和双边主义（两国间的协议）形成对比。
Geopolitics — The study of the effects of geography (both human and physical) on international politics and international relations. It analyses how location, climate, natural resources, and population distribution influence power dynamics among states.
地缘政治——研究地理（人文和自然二者）对国际政治和国际关系的影响。它分析位置、气候、自然资源和人口分布如何影响国家间的权力动态。
NATO — The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, a military alliance formed in 1949 based on the principle of collective defence — an attack against one member is considered an attack against all. It remains a central pillar of Western security.
北约——北大西洋公约组织，一个成立于1949年的军事同盟，基于集体防御原则：对一成员国的攻击被视为对全体成员国的攻击。它仍然是西方安全的核心支柱。
10. Quick Memory Tips | 速记技巧
Use acronyms — Turn long lists into memorable shortcuts. For example, remember the branches of government as ‘LEJ’ (Legislature, Executive, Judiciary). For pressure group types, ‘IO’ reminds you of Insider and Outsider groups.
使用首字母缩略——将长列表转化为易记的短词。例如，用 ‘LEJ’ 记住政府分支（立法、行政、司法）。对于压力团体类型，’IO’ 提醒你内部人团体和外部人团体。
Link terms to real examples — Pair ‘devolution’ with ‘Scottish Parliament’, ‘proportional representation’ with ‘Germany’, and ‘first-past-the-post’ with ‘UK general elections’. Concrete cases make abstract concepts stick.
将术语与现实例子挂钩——将“权力下放”与“苏格兰议会”、“比例代表制”与“德国”、“简单多数制”与“英国大选”配对。具体案例让抽象概念牢牢记住。
Create a one-sentence definition — For every term, write your own definition in one clear sentence that would make sense to a classmate. If you cannot explain it simply, revisit the full explanation.
创建一句话定义——为每个术语用一句清晰的话写下你自己的定义，要让同学都能明白。如果你无法简单地解释它，就要重新学习完整解释。
Draw a concept diagram — Place ‘democracy’ in the centre and branch out to ‘direct’, ‘representative’, ‘liberal’, ‘illiberal’. Visual clustering helps your brain organise hierarchies and relationships more effectively than linear notes.
绘制概念图——将“民主”放在中心，然后分支出“直接”、“代议”、“自由”、“非自由”。视觉化的聚类比线性笔记更能帮助你大脑有效组织层级和关系。
Test yourself with active recall — Cover the definition, read the term aloud in both languages, and try to recall the meaning. Self-quizzing strengthens memory pathways far more than passive re-reading.
用主动回忆法自测——遮住定义，用中英两种语言读出术语，并尝试回忆其含义。自我测试比被动重读更能强化记忆通路。
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