Advanced French political and social vocabulary for discussing current affairs, from French institutions and elections to laïcité, inequality and social movements.
la démocratie
democracy: a system of government in which power belongs to the people through free elections
la république
republic: a system of government with no monarch, where the head of state is not a king or queen
le gouvernement
the government: the body that runs the country
le parlement
parliament: the assembly that makes the laws
l'Assemblée Nationale
the National Assembly: the lower house of the French parliament
le Sénat
the Senate: the upper house of the French parliament
le président
the president: head of state
le Premier ministre
the Prime Minister: head of government, with executive powers
le député
member of parliament (deputy): an elected member of the National Assembly
le sénateur
senator: a member of the upper house (the Senate)
le citoyen
citizen: a member of the state with civil rights
le suffrage
suffrage: the right to vote; voting
l'élection
election: the process of choosing representatives or leaders
la campagne électorale
election campaign: a sustained effort to win support for a candidate or party
le scrutin
ballot / poll: the act or process of voting in an election
le débat politique
political debate: a public discussion between candidates or parties
la gauche
the left: the progressive or socialist side of the political spectrum
la droite
the right: the conservative side of the political spectrum
le centre
the centre: the moderate middle of the political spectrum
le parti politique
political party: an organisation of people who share an ideology
la réforme
reform: a significant change to a law or system
la législation
legislation: a body of laws or the process of making them
la constitution
constitution: the founding document that defines a system of government
les droits de l'homme
human rights: the basic rights of every person
la laïcité
secularism: the separation of religion and state (a core French principle)
l'immigration
immigration: people coming to live in a country from other countries
l'intégration
integration: the process by which immigrants become part of a new society
la fracture sociale
social divide: a deep gap between different social groups
les inégalités
inequalities: lack of equality between groups in income or power
la précarité
precariousness / insecurity: a state of economic or job insecurity
la manifestation
demonstration / protest: a public protest against a policy
la grève
strike: a collective stoppage of work against an employer or policy
le syndicat
trade union / labor union: an organisation of workers defending their rights
la revendication
demand / claim: a call for a change in policy
le nationalisme
nationalism: strong attachment to national identity and national interests
le libéralisme
liberalism: an ideology that champions individual freedom and rights
le conservatisme
conservatism: an ideology that champions preserving traditional values
la corruption
corruption: abuse of a position for illegal personal gain
le chômage
unemployment: the situation of people looking for work but without a job
la pauvreté
poverty: lack of basic resources
le bien commun
the common good: what benefits society as a whole; the collective interest
la justice sociale
social justice: the principle of equality and fairness in society