Read political vocabulary for institutions, elections and civic participation.
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Spanish government and political institutions
El gobierno is the government. El Estado refers to the state as a political organization, while lowercase estado can name a constituent state.
Institution names and powers vary by country. These terms describe institutions without assuming that every country has the same system.
el gobiernogovernment · el goh-BYEHR-noh
el Estadostate (political organization) · el ehs-TAH-doh
el parlamentoparliament · el pahr-lah-MEHN-toh
el congresocongress · el kohn-GREH-soh
el senadosenate · el seh-NAH-doh
el ministerioministry (government) · el mee-nees-TEH-ryoh
el ayuntamientomunicipal council · el ah-yoon-tah-MYEHN-toh
la constituciónconstitution · lah kohns-tee-too-SYOHN
Spanish election and political role words
El alcalde/la alcaldesa is a mayor. El candidato/la candidata is a candidate; the ending changes with the person.
Las elecciones normally names an election event. Compare titles with the occupation names in professions.
el presidentepresident · el preh-see-DEHN-teh
el primer ministroprime minister · el pree-MEHR mee-NEES-troh
el alcaldemayor · el ahl-KAHL-deh
el senadorsenator · el seh-nah-DOR
el candidatocandidate · el kahn-dee-DAH-toh
el votantevoter · el boh-TAHN-teh
el partido políticopolitical party · el pahr-TEE-doh poh-LEE-tee-koh
las eleccioneselection (voting event) · lahs eh-lehk-SYOH-nehs
el votovote (noun) · el BOH-toh
Spanish words for politics and civic life
La política can mean politics or policy. El político/la política names a politician when referring to a person.
La ciudadanía means citizenship or the citizenry. Country and nationality terms appear in nationalities.
la políticapolitics · lah poh-LEE-tee-kah
la democraciademocracy · lah deh-moh-KRAH-syah
la monarquíamonarchy · lah moh-nahr-KEE-ah
la oposiciónopposition (politics) · lah oh-poh-see-SYOHN
la ciudadaníacitizenship · lah syoo-dah-dah-NEE-ah
el ciudadanocitizen · el syoo-dah-DAH-noh
el referéndumreferendum · el reh-feh-REHN-doom
votarto vote · boh-TAHR
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Government and Politics Words in Spanish: full list
Review each English meaning, Spanish term and pronunciation, then test your recall with the worksheet.
Quick answer:government is el gobierno, state (political organization) is el Estado, parliament is el parlamento, congress is el congreso, senate is el senado, ministry (government) is el ministerio, municipal council is el ayuntamiento, and constitution is la constitución.
