Political Toolkit

The political toolkit is not your standard article but rather an encyclopaedia you can refer to for explanations of concepts or definitions of political terminology. Feel free to have it open while reading an article so you can quickly fill in some knowledge gaps!

Political Vocabulary II

Written By: Chesney Yim

Published By: Meredith Yuen

Political Titles and Positions

President

The head of government of a republic
Represent the country, pass and execute laws, and oversee the executive branch of the government

eg. Donald Trump of the United States, Emmanuel Macron of France

Vice President

The second-highest executive officer in a government
Often acts as the immediate successor to the president, sometimes overseeing the legislative branch

eg. JD Vance of the United States, Jagdeep Dhankhar of India

** Although many countries are headed by Presidents, many do not have VICE

presidents

Prime Minister

The head of government in parliamentary systems
Oversee the executive branch, enforce government policy, typically the head of the legislative majority party

eg. Keir Starmer of the United Kingdom, Mark Carney of Canada

Chancellor

The head of government, title has the same meaning as ‘Prime Minister’
Used by Germany, Austria, and Switzerland

eg. Olaf Scholz of Germany, Christian Stocker of Austria

General Secretary

The highest-ranking official in a political party, especially in communist or socialist states
Often hold supreme power

eg. Xi Jinping of the Chinese Communist Party, Kim Jong-un of the Workers’

Party of Korea (NPRK)

Chief Executive

The highest ranking official in a government entity
Responsible for overall management and decision-making

eg. John Lee Ka-chiu of Hong Kong

Branches of the Government

United States

United Kingdom

China

Major Political Departments

United States

Congress:

The department of the government which makes lawsThe Senate and the House of Representatives make up its two halves

House of Representatives:

A sector of Congress made up of 435 members
The number of representatives each state has depends on its population
They serve 2-year terms and make and vote on laws

Senate:

The other sector of Congress made up of 100 members - 2 from each state
Members serve 6-year terms
They vote on impeachment cases, and authorizes presidential appointments

Executive Branch:

→ The department of the government which carries out and enforces laws

→ Led by the President - also acting as the head of state and government

Supreme Court:

→ The highest court in the United States

→ Interprets and decides if laws and government actions comply with the constitution

United Kingdom

Parliament:

→ The department of the government which make laws

→ The Monarch (King or Queen), the House of Commons and the House of Lords

make up its three thirds

House of Commons:

→ A sector of parliament composed of 650 members who are elected by the people

→ Make and vote on laws, decide who will run the government

→ The Prime Minister is usually the leader of the party with the most members

House of Lords:

→ Another sector of parliament composed of members who are primarily appointed based on their accomplishments

→ These include nobles, senior judges, and church leaders

→ Review laws passed by the House of Commons but cannot entirely block them

Supreme Court:

→ The highest court in the country

→ It ensures that laws adhere to the constitution and renders final decisions on

important legal issues

Executive Branch:

→ The department which carries out and enforces laws

→ Involves the monarch, the Prime Minister and the Cabinet

→ Serves a constitutional monarchy - largely ceremonial role, with real political
power in the hands of the Prime Minister and Parliament

China

National People’s Congress:

→ The highest law-making body

→ Selects senior officials including the President and Premier, passes laws, and

authorizes significant decisions

→ Meets once a year, and the majority of its work is done by its Standing Committee while it is not in session

Supreme Court:

→ The highest court in the country

→ Renders decisions on important legal cases and significant court matters, ensures the law is properly applied

→ Governed by the NPC and the Communist Party, oversees subordinate courts

Central People’s Government:

→ Main government body which upholds the law and oversees government agencies

→ Headed by the premier and is supported by ministers and vice premiers

Political Parties

United States

United Kingdom

China

Political Theories

Democracy

Definition: A system of government where the people have the power to either vote directly on laws or elect representatives to make decisions for them.

Example: United States, United Kingdom, India

Republic

Definition: A form of government where officials are elected to represent the people, rather than a monarch.

Example: United States, France

Monarchy

Definition: A form of government with a king, queen or emperor as the head of state. They can be absolute (has total power and control) or constitutional (power is limited by a parliament or by law).

Example: United Kingdom (constitutional), Saudi Arabia (absolute)

Anarchy

Definition: A situation where there is no government or authority - often leading to chaos.

Example: Somalia experienced a period of anarchy after the collapse of its government in the early 1990s.

Liberalism

Definition: A theory emphasizing individual and equal rights, freedom, democracy, and free markets, which also supports limiting government power.

Example: Celebrated in many western countries, supported by the policies of countries including Germany and Canada.

Realism

Definition: A theory focused on power and the interests of the nation, acting to preserve a state’s own security rather than ideals.

Example: Realism explains much of the Cold War politics between the USA and the USSR in the mid to late-20th century.

Conservatism

Definition: A theory that favors gradual change over drastic reform while attempting to maintain traditional institutions, rituals, and values.

Example: The UK’s Conservative Party is a leading conservative political force.

Authoritarianism

Definition: A system in which power is in the hands of a single leader or a small group that exercises strong or absolute control over many aspects of life, often limiting political freedoms and opposition

Example: North Korea under Kim Jong-un, Nazi Germany under Adolf Hitler

Communism

Definition: An economic and political theory that strives toward a classless society where property is owned collectively and wealth is distributed equally. The state often controls production, output, and resources.

Example: The former USSR, Cuba, and China under Mao Zedong

Fascism

Definition: A nationalist, authoritarian government that prioritizes unity, a strong leader, and often suppresses opposition. It encourages centralized control and often militarism, while rejecting democracy.
Example: Nazi Germany under Adolf Hitler, Italy under Benito Mussolini

Socialism

Definition: A political and economic theory that aims to improve public welfare and reduce inequality by having the government or community own the means of production and distribution of goods.
Example: Nordic countries such as Sweden practice democratic socialism, Vietnam and Cuba represent modern socialist states, along with the former USSR

References:

Mission, U. S. (2022, June 30). Branches of the U.S. Government. How do they work? Branches of the U.S. Government. U.S. Embassy & Consulate in New Zealand, Cook Islands and Niue. https://nz.usembassy.gov/u-s-government/
The Branches of Government. (2025). Parl.ca. https://learn.parl.ca/understanding-comprendre/en/
Kwan, R. (2020, September 26). Explainer: Understanding Hong Kong’s debate around the separation of powers and an executive-led system. Hong Kong Free Press HKFP. https://hongkongfp.com/2020/09/26/
Separation of Powers. (2025). LII / Legal Information Institute. https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/separation_of_powers_0
The three branches of government | Law Wales. (2021, March 16). Gov.wales. https://law.gov.wales/three-branches-government
Separation of Powers, Parliamentary Sovereignty & the Rule of Law | BIHR. (2025). British Institute of Human Rights. https://www.bihr.org.uk/get-informed/legislation-explainers/
Codings. (2025). CHINA’S STATE STRUCTURE AND THE TWO SESSIONS. Orcasia.org. https://www.orcasia.org/
China’s State Organizational Structure. (2012, August 29). CECC. https://www.cecc.gov/chinas-state-organizational-structure
About Congress | U.S. Capitol - Visitor Center. (2025). Visitthecapitol.gov. https://www.visitthecapitol.gov/explore/about-congress
The. (1998, July 20). Congress of the United States | Members, Seats, Term Length, & History. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Congress-of-the-United-States
The House Explained | house.gov. (2023). House.gov. https://www.house.gov/the-house-explained