C1 · 50 words
Parties and elections in Spanish
Local branch, list of candidates, threshold, confidence vote — how Spain votes and is governed.
El mitin came into Spanish out of English and came out much narrower. « Meeting » in English is any gathering at all, from two people over coffee to a shareholders' assembly; el mitin is one thing only, the campaign rally with a stage, a flag and a crowd. The ordinary sort is la reunión, and calling a Monday morning meeting un mitin would be a joke about somebody's manner. A borrowed word arrives with the sense the borrower needed, not with the range it had at home.
The words
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Phrase (45)
el sistema de partidosthe party systemPhraseC1
El sistema de partidos cambió en pocos años.The party system changed in a few years.
el afiliado al partidothe single party memberPhraseC1
El afiliado al partido paga una cuota.A party member pays a subscription.
la cuota de afiliaciónthe membership feePhraseC1
La cuota de afiliación se descuenta cada mes.The membership fee comes out every month.
la agrupación localthe local branchPhraseC1
La agrupación local se reúne en un bajo del barrio.The local branch meets in a shop unit in the neighbourhood.
el congreso del partidothe party conferencePhraseC1
El congreso del partido se celebra cada cuatro años.The party conference is held every four years.
la ponencia políticathe main motion put to the conferencePhraseC1
La ponencia política se debate por partes.The main motion is debated part by part.
la enmienda a la ponenciathe amendment to the motionPhraseC1
La enmienda a la ponencia necesita firmas.An amendment to the motion needs signatures.
la ejecutiva del partidothe party executivePhraseC1
La ejecutiva del partido se renueva en el congreso.The party executive is renewed at the conference.
la secretaría generalthe general secretary's officePhraseC1
La secretaría general lleva el aparato del partido.The general secretary's office runs the machine.
las elecciones primariasthe primariesPhraseC1
Las elecciones primarias abren la decisión a las bases.The primaries open the decision to the members.
el candidato a la presidenciathe candidate for the top jobPhraseC1
El candidato a la presidencia encabeza la lista.The candidate for the top job heads the list.
la lista electoralthe list of candidates standingPhraseC1
La lista electoral se presenta con plazo.The list of candidates is filed by a deadline.
la lista cerradathe closed listPhraseC1
La lista cerrada no admite cambiar el orden.A closed list does not let the order be changed.
el cabeza de listathe name at the top of the listPhraseC1
El cabeza de lista arrastra a los demás.The name at the top of the list pulls the rest along.
la circunscripción electoralthe constituencyPhraseC1
La circunscripción electoral reparte escaños por provincia.The constituency shares out seats by province.
el reparto de escañosthe sharing out of the seatsPhraseC1
El reparto de escaños favorece al más votado.The sharing out of the seats favours whoever polls most.
el umbral electoralthe threshold to win a seatPhraseC1
El umbral electoral deja fuera a los pequeños.The threshold keeps the small ones out.
la participación electoralthe turnoutPhraseC1
La participación electoral se comenta tanto como el resultado.The turnout is talked about as much as the result.
el voto en blancothe blank votePhraseC1
El voto en blanco cuenta para el umbral.A blank vote counts towards the threshold.
el voto nulothe spoilt votePhraseC1
El voto nulo se anota aparte.A spoilt vote is noted separately.
la jornada de reflexiónthe day of quiet before the votePhraseC1
La jornada de reflexión prohíbe pedir el voto.The day of quiet before the vote forbids asking for it.
la campaña electoralthe election campaignPhraseC1
La campaña electoral dura dos semanas.The election campaign lasts two weeks.
el programa electoralthe election manifestoPhraseC1
El programa electoral se lee menos de lo que se cita.The manifesto is read less than it is quoted.
el cara a cara electoralthe head-to-head debatePhraseC1
El cara a cara electoral se negocia hasta el formato.A head-to-head debate is negotiated down to its format.
el sondeo a pie de urnathe exit pollPhraseC1
El sondeo a pie de urna se publica al cerrar.The exit poll is published as the polls close.
la encuesta preelectoralthe poll taken before the votePhraseC1
La encuesta preelectoral tiene su propio margen.A poll taken before the vote has a margin of its own.
el acuerdo de investidurathe agreement to install a governmentPhraseC1
El acuerdo de investidura se firma por escrito.The agreement to install a government is put in writing.
la segunda votaciónthe second round of votingPhraseC1
La segunda votación se celebra dos días después.The second round of voting is held two days later.
la cuestión de confianzathe confidence vote called by the head of governmentPhraseC1
La cuestión de confianza la plantea el propio presidente.The confidence vote is called by the head of government in person.
el grupo parlamentariothe parliamentary groupPhraseC1
El grupo parlamentario necesita un número mínimo.A parliamentary group needs a minimum number.
el diputado rasothe back-bench memberPhraseC1
El diputado raso habla poco en el pleno.A back-bench member speaks little in the chamber.
la disciplina de votothe whip on how to votePhraseC1
La disciplina de voto se rompe pocas veces.The whip is broken only rarely.
el voto de concienciathe free vote of consciencePhraseC1
El voto de conciencia se autoriza por excepción.A free vote of conscience is allowed as an exception.
el portavoz parlamentariothe spokesperson for the groupPhraseC1
El portavoz parlamentario fija la posición del grupo.The spokesperson sets out where the group stands.
la oposición parlamentariathe opposition in parliamentPhraseC1
La oposición parlamentaria controla al gobierno.The opposition in parliament keeps a check on the government.
la comisión de investigaciónthe committee of inquiryPhraseC1
La comisión de investigación cita a comparecer.A committee of inquiry calls people to appear.
la financiación de los partidosthe funding of the partiesPhraseC1
La financiación de los partidos se publica cada año.The funding of the parties is published every year.
la subvención electoralthe public money for a campaignPhraseC1
La subvención electoral depende de los votos obtenidos.The public money for a campaign depends on the votes won.
la donación privadathe private donationPhraseC1
La donación privada tiene un tope legal.A private donation has a legal ceiling.
el tribunal de cuentasthe audit courtPhraseC1
El tribunal de cuentas revisa la contabilidad electoral.The audit court goes through the campaign accounts.
la coalición de gobiernothe governing coalitionPhraseC1
La coalición de gobierno reparte ministerios.The governing coalition shares out the ministries.
el gobierno en funcionesthe caretaker governmentPhraseC1
El gobierno en funciones no puede aprobar presupuestos.A caretaker government cannot pass a budget.
la disolución de las cámarasthe dissolution of parliamentPhraseC1
La disolución de las cámaras abre el calendario.The dissolution of parliament sets the calendar going.
el adelanto electoralthe election called earlyPhraseC1
El adelanto electoral se anuncia por sorpresa.An election called early is announced out of the blue.
la alternancia en el poderthe turn and turn about in powerPhraseC1
La alternancia en el poder es parte del sistema.Turn and turn about in power is part of the system.
Noun (f) (2)
la militanciathe party member baseNoun (f)C1
La militancia decide en las primarias.The members decide in the primaries.
la investidurathe installing of the governmentNoun (f)C1
La investidura necesita una mayoría contada.Installing the government needs a counted majority.
Noun (m) (3)
el escrutiniothe counting of the voteNoun (m)C1
El escrutinio empieza al cerrar la urna.The counting of the vote starts when the box closes.
el mitinthe political rallyNoun (m)C1
El mitin llena un pabellón.A political rally fills a sports hall.
el transfuguismothe crossing of the floorNoun (m)C1
El transfuguismo cambia mayorías sin elecciones.Crossing the floor changes majorities with no election.
This list belongs to Society, politics and media — 23 lists and 1150 words that can also be practised as a whole.
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