IELTS vocabulary
IELTS government vocabulary
Words for laws, policy, public services and spending, useful for 'should the government…' essay questions.
Each entry has the typical band it's useful for, a plain meaning, an example sentence and the words it most often goes with. Learn the collocations along with the word: that's what makes vocabulary sound natural.
Band 6 words
ban verb · formal
To officially prevent an activity or the use of something.
Some people argue that governments should ban advertising aimed at young children.
Collocations: ban an activity · ban the use of · ban smoking
court noun · formal
A place or institution where legal cases are heard and decisions are made.
The court ruled that the new measure had unfairly restricted people's freedom of expression.
Collocations: court ruling · take a case to court · court of appeal
democracy noun · academic
A system of government in which people choose their representatives through elections.
A healthy democracy depends on citizens having access to reliable information.
Collocations: representative democracy · democracy depends on · strengthen democracy
election noun
A process in which people vote to choose someone for a position of authority.
An election gives citizens an opportunity to influence the direction of public policy.
Collocations: hold an election · general election · election campaign
fine noun · formal
Money that someone must pay as punishment for breaking a law or rule.
A substantial fine can discourage companies from ignoring environmental regulations.
Collocations: impose a fine · pay a fine · heavy fine
government spending noun · academic
Money that a government uses to provide services and carry out its responsibilities.
Government spending on preventive healthcare may reduce pressure on hospitals in the long term.
Collocations: increase government spending · government spending on education · cut government spending
illegal adjective
Against the law.
Dumping industrial waste into rivers should be treated as illegal behaviour and punished accordingly.
Collocations: illegal activity · illegal trade · illegal to do
judge noun · formal
A legal official who decides cases in court.
A judge should be independent of political pressure when interpreting the law.
Collocations: trial judge · an independent judge · senior judge
jury noun · formal
A group of people who decide whether someone is guilty in a court case.
A jury can help ensure that serious criminal cases are decided by members of the public.
Collocations: jury selection · jury trial · jury reaches a verdict
justice noun · academic
Fair treatment under the law and the correction of wrongdoing.
Equal access to justice should not depend on a person's income.
Collocations: access to justice · justice system · deliver justice
legal adjective
Allowed by the law.
It is legal for cyclists to use bus lanes in some cities, which encourages people to drive less.
Collocations: legal requirement · legal action · legal responsibility
penalty noun · formal
A punishment for breaking a law, rule or agreement.
The penalty for repeated offences should be stronger than that for a first mistake.
Collocations: legal penalty · face a penalty · financial penalty
policy noun · formal
An official plan or set of principles used to guide decisions and actions.
A well-designed public transport policy can reduce traffic congestion in urban areas.
Collocations: government policy · public policy · policy on education
private sector noun phrase · academic
The part of the economy run by businesses rather than the government.
The private sector can create jobs, but it may not provide services to unprofitable areas.
Collocations: private sector investment · private sector companies · private sector growth
public sector noun phrase · academic
The part of the economy controlled or funded by the government.
The public sector needs skilled staff to provide reliable healthcare and education.
Collocations: public sector spending · public sector workers · public sector reform
public services noun · academic
Services provided or funded by the government for the benefit of the public.
Reliable public services can improve people’s quality of life and reduce inequality.
Collocations: fund public services · provide public services · access to public services
punishment noun · formal
An action taken to make someone suffer for breaking a law or rule.
Punishment is more effective when it is fair and proportionate to the offence.
Collocations: harsh punishment · impose punishment · alternative punishment
sentence noun · formal
A punishment given by a court to someone found guilty of a crime.
A prison sentence may be necessary when an offender poses a serious threat to the public.
Collocations: impose a sentence · prison sentence · sentence length
taxpayer noun
A person who pays tax to the government.
Taxpayer money should be spent on services that benefit the wider community.
Collocations: taxpayer money · taxpayer contributions · taxpayer-funded services
the authorities plural noun phrase · formal
The official organisations or people responsible for making and enforcing decisions.
The authorities should consult local residents before approving major changes to the transport network.
Collocations: the authorities should act · the authorities have a duty · the authorities are responsible for
Band 7 words
allocate verb · academic
To decide how money, time or resources should be distributed.
Local authorities should allocate more resources to public transport and affordable housing.
Collocations: allocate funds · allocate resources · allocate time
authority noun · formal
The power or right to make decisions, or an organisation responsible for a particular area.
Local authorities can improve public spaces by consulting residents about their needs.
Collocations: local authority · have the authority to · health authority
bribery noun · formal
The act of giving or taking money or gifts to influence someone's actions.
Strict controls are needed to prevent bribery in the awarding of public contracts.
Collocations: allegations of bribery · bribery scandal · bribery charges
bureaucracy noun · academic
A system of government departments and rules that can be slow or complicated.
Excessive bureaucracy can delay the delivery of services to people who need them.
Collocations: reduce bureaucracy · excessive bureaucracy · bureaucracy in government
capital punishment noun phrase · academic
The legal killing of a person as punishment for a serious crime.
Capital punishment remains controversial because mistakes in the justice system cannot be reversed.
Collocations: abolish capital punishment · oppose capital punishment · capital punishment debate
community service noun phrase · formal
Unpaid work that a person performs for the benefit of the local community, often as a punishment.
Community service can allow offenders to make a practical contribution while remaining in their neighbourhoods.
Collocations: perform community service · community service order · community service programme
comply verb · formal
To act according to a rule, law or request.
Businesses must comply with safety standards to protect both employees and customers.
Collocations: comply with regulations · comply with the law · fully comply
corruption noun · academic
Dishonest or illegal behaviour by people in power, often for personal gain.
Corruption can weaken public trust and divert money from essential services.
Collocations: tackle corruption · widespread corruption · corruption allegations
crime prevention noun phrase · academic
Actions taken to reduce the likelihood of crimes occurring.
Crime prevention is more effective when communities have access to education and youth services.
Collocations: crime prevention measures · community crime prevention · crime prevention strategy
enforce verb · formal
To make sure that people obey a law or rule.
Laws protecting workers are ineffective unless authorities enforce them consistently.
Collocations: enforce the law · enforce regulations · strictly enforce
human rights plural noun phrase · academic
Basic freedoms and protections that every person should have.
Governments have a responsibility to protect human rights, even during periods of crisis.
Collocations: protect human rights · human rights legislation · human rights violations
impose verb · formal
To officially introduce a rule, tax or punishment that people must accept.
The government could impose higher taxes on products that contribute to pollution.
Collocations: impose a tax · impose restrictions · impose a penalty
imprisonment noun · formal
The act of putting someone in prison as a punishment.
Imprisonment should be reserved for serious offences because it is costly and can harm rehabilitation.
Collocations: term of imprisonment · imprisonment for life · avoid imprisonment
law enforcement noun · formal
The activity of making sure that people obey the law.
Effective law enforcement is important, but prevention can also reduce crime in the long term.
Collocations: law enforcement agencies · law enforcement officers · support law enforcement
legitimate adjective · formal
Allowed by law or reasonable and acceptable in a particular situation.
Citizens have a legitimate expectation that public money will be spent transparently.
Collocations: a legitimate concern · a legitimate reason · legitimate authority
lobby verb · formal
To try to persuade people in power to support a particular cause or decision.
Environmental groups often lobby the government to introduce stricter rules on emissions.
Collocations: lobby the government · lobby for reform · lobby against a proposal
offender noun · formal
A person who has committed a crime or broken a rule.
A first-time offender may benefit more from rehabilitation than from imprisonment.
Collocations: first-time offender · young offender · repeat offender
parliament noun · formal
The group of elected representatives responsible for making laws and debating national issues.
Parliament should consider the long-term effects of proposed changes to housing law.
Collocations: parliamentary debate · members of parliament · parliament passes a law
prohibit verb · formal
To officially forbid something by law or rule.
Authorities could prohibit the sale of dangerous products to minors.
Collocations: prohibit the use of · prohibit an activity · strictly prohibit
public funding noun phrase · formal
Money provided by the government to support services, projects or organisations.
Public funding can help libraries offer free educational programmes to residents.
Collocations: public funding for research · increase public funding · rely on public funding
reform noun · formal
A change intended to improve a system, organisation or law.
Education reform should focus on improving both teaching quality and access to resources.
Collocations: political reform · introduce reform · reform of the system
regulate verb · academic
To control an activity or industry by introducing and enforcing rules.
Governments need to regulate online platforms to protect users without restricting free expression.
Collocations: regulate an industry · regulate the market · regulate the use of
regulation noun · formal
An official rule that controls how an activity or industry operates.
Stricter regulation of advertising could reduce children's exposure to unhealthy food products.
Collocations: government regulation · introduce regulation · regulation of industry
restrict verb · formal
To limit what someone can do or how much of something is available.
Governments may restrict access to certain areas to protect endangered wildlife.
Collocations: restrict access · restrict movement · restrict the use of
surveillance cameras plural noun phrase
Cameras used to watch and record activity in a particular area.
Surveillance cameras may deter theft, but their use raises concerns about personal privacy.
Collocations: install surveillance cameras · surveillance cameras in public places · surveillance cameras monitor
transparency noun · academic
The quality of being open and clear about decisions and actions.
Greater transparency in public spending would make it easier to identify misuse of funds.
Collocations: greater transparency · ensure transparency · transparency in government
treaty noun · formal
A formal agreement between governments, usually concerning a particular issue.
A treaty can establish shared rules for protecting the environment across borders.
Collocations: sign a treaty · international treaty · peace treaty
verdict noun · formal
A formal decision by a jury or judge about whether someone is guilty.
The verdict should be based on evidence rather than public opinion.
Collocations: deliver a verdict · reach a verdict · guilty verdict
violate verb · formal
To break a law, rule or agreement.
Companies that violate environmental regulations should face meaningful penalties.
Collocations: violate the law · violate regulations · violate an agreement
welfare state noun · academic
A system in which the government provides financial support and essential services to citizens.
A well-designed welfare state can protect vulnerable people while helping them return to work.
Collocations: a generous welfare state · the welfare state provides · reform the welfare state
Band 8+ words
accountability noun · academic
The responsibility to explain decisions and accept their consequences.
Clear accountability can encourage public officials to act in the public interest.
Collocations: public accountability · improve accountability · ensure accountability
constitution noun · formal
The fundamental principles and laws that establish how a state is governed.
A written constitution can clarify the rights of citizens and the responsibilities of government.
Collocations: written constitution · amend the constitution · constitutional rights
diplomacy noun · academic
The management of relationships between governments through discussion and negotiation.
Diplomacy can help resolve international disputes without resorting to force.
Collocations: international diplomacy · diplomacy and negotiation · use diplomacy
intervention noun · academic
Action taken by an authority to improve a situation or prevent a problem.
Early government intervention can prevent small social problems from becoming more serious.
Collocations: government intervention · early intervention · intervention in the market
legislation noun · formal
A set of laws made by a government or an official body.
New legislation may be needed to protect personal data as digital technology advances.
Collocations: introduce legislation · proposed legislation · environmental legislation
nationalise verb · formal
To transfer a private company or industry into government ownership.
Some people argue that essential water supplies should be nationalised to ensure fair access.
Collocations: nationalise an industry · nationalise a company · nationalise essential services
policymaker noun · formal
A person responsible for creating or changing government policies.
Every policymaker should consider how a proposed law will affect low-income families.
Collocations: government policymaker · senior policymaker · policymaker decisions
privatisation noun · academic
The process of transferring a business or service from government ownership to private ownership.
Privatisation may improve efficiency, although it can also make essential services less affordable.
Collocations: the privatisation of · support privatisation · privatisation of public services
sanction noun · academic
An official penalty imposed to encourage a government or organisation to change its behaviour.
Economic sanctions may put pressure on governments, although they can also affect ordinary citizens.
Collocations: impose sanctions · economic sanctions · lift sanctions
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