Study Guide · Chapter 13
One-Word Substitutions Set 4 — Government, Law and Administration
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One-Word Substitutions Set 4 — Government, Law and Administration
Government, law and administration form a distinct one-word substitution category because SSC, RRB and banking exams draw heavily on formal, official English — the language of newspapers, notifications and parliamentary reporting. This chapter lists the terms most often tested from this domain: types of government, stages of law-making, courtroom vocabulary, and words describing political and administrative action. Many of these words also double up as General Awareness vocabulary, so mastering them here has a double benefit.
The chapter is divided into four groups — systems of government, the legislative process, courtroom and legal vocabulary, and general political-administrative terms — to make revision easier.
Systems and Forms of Government
| Description | One Word | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Government by one ruler who holds absolute, unrestricted power | Autocracy | Historians describe the tsarist regime as a rigid autocracy. |
| Government by a small group of powerful people | Oligarchy | Critics argue that a handful of families run the country as an oligarchy. |
| Government by the wealthiest members of society | Plutocracy | The opposition accused the ruling party of turning the state into a plutocracy. |
| Government by religious leaders, who claim divine authority | Theocracy | Under a theocracy, religious law and state law are often the same thing. |
| Absence of government, law and order, resulting in chaos | Anarchy | The sudden collapse of the government plunged the region into anarchy. |
| A union of several states or provinces under a central government, each retaining some self-rule | Federation | India is a federation of states and union territories. |
| The right of a region or people to govern themselves independently | Autonomy | The hill region was granted a degree of autonomy over local administration. |
| Administration of a country or organisation carried out by appointed officials rather than elected representatives | Bureaucracy | Businesses often complain about delays caused by excessive bureaucracy. |
| A sudden, often violent, illegal seizure of power from a government | Coup | The army staged a coup and dissolved the elected parliament overnight. |
| A temporary alliance formed between different political parties or groups to achieve a common goal | Coalition | No single party won a majority, so a coalition government was formed. |
Elections, Legislation and Policy
| Description | One Word | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| A general vote by the electorate on a single political question referred to them | Referendum | The country held a referendum to decide whether to leave the trade bloc. |
| A direct vote in which the entire electorate decides an important public question | Plebiscite | A plebiscite was proposed to settle the long-standing border dispute. |
| A public declaration by a political party or candidate of their policies and aims | Manifesto | The party's election manifesto promised free healthcare for all citizens. |
| The right to vote in political elections | Suffrage | The suffrage movement fought for decades to win women the right to vote. |
| The official power to reject or block a decision or proposed law | Veto | The president used his veto to block the controversial bill. |
| A law or rule made by an authority, often used for a temporary or urgent measure | Ordinance | The state government issued an ordinance to control the spread of the disease. |
| A formal, written law passed by a legislature | Statute | The new statute makes wearing helmets compulsory for all riders. |
| A draft of a proposed law presented to a legislature for discussion and approval | Bill | The finance bill was passed after a lengthy debate in parliament. |
| A law that has been formally passed by a legislature and has come into force | Act | The Right to Information Act empowers citizens to seek information from public bodies. |
| A formal change made to a law, especially a constitution | Amendment | The constitutional amendment lowered the voting age to eighteen. |
| Authority or instruction given by voters to their elected representatives to act on their behalf | Mandate | The landslide victory gave the new government a strong mandate for reform. |
| The minimum number of members who must be present for a meeting's decisions to be valid | Quorum | The meeting was postponed because the required quorum was not present. |
| A body of voters in a specified area who elect a representative | Constituency | The newly elected member of parliament visited every village in her constituency. |
| An official ban on trade with a particular country, often for political reasons | Embargo | The United Nations imposed a trade embargo on the country after the invasion. |
| The act of formally adding a territory to one's own country or state | Annexation | The annexation of the territory was condemned by neighbouring countries. |
| The unfair practice of giving jobs or favours to one's relatives regardless of merit | Nepotism | The party was accused of nepotism after handing out tickets to relatives of leaders. |
| A final demand or set of terms, the rejection of which will lead to a break in relations or retaliation | Ultimatum | The government issued an ultimatum demanding the release of the hostages within 24 hours. |
| An official penalty imposed for disobeying a law or agreement, often economic | Sanction | Several countries imposed economic sanctions in response to the human rights violations. |
| The transfer of power from a central government to a regional or local authority | Devolution | The devolution of certain powers to the state legislature was approved last year. |
| The formal withdrawal of a state or region from a political union or federation | Secession | The province's threat of secession triggered a constitutional crisis. |
| The formal confirmation or approval of an agreement, treaty or decision, making it officially valid | Ratification | The treaty required ratification by two-thirds of the member states before taking effect. |
| A temporary suspension or delay of an activity, law or obligation, especially a debt repayment | Moratorium | The bank announced a six-month moratorium on loan repayments for affected farmers. |
Courtroom and Legal Vocabulary
| Description | One Word | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Conduct or speech that incites rebellion against the authority of a state | Sedition | The activist was charged with sedition for his inflammatory speeches. |
| The crime of betraying one's own country, especially by helping an enemy | Treason | He was tried for treason after passing military secrets to a hostile power. |
| The practice of secretly gathering confidential political or military information | Espionage | Two diplomats were expelled from the country on charges of espionage. |
| The formal process of handing over a fugitive by one country to another where they are wanted for trial | Extradition | The fugitive businessman's extradition was finally approved after a long legal battle. |
| The formal charging of a public official with misconduct while in office | Impeachment | The parliament initiated impeachment proceedings against the judge. |
| The official authority of a court or body to make legal decisions and judgments | Jurisdiction | The case falls outside the jurisdiction of the local magistrate's court. |
| The process of taking a dispute to court and pursuing a legal case | Litigation | The two companies were locked in litigation over the patent for nearly five years. |
| The person who brings a legal case against another person in a court of law | Plaintiff | The plaintiff sought damages for the injuries caused by the faulty product. |
| The person against whom a criminal or civil case is brought in court | Defendant | The defendant pleaded not guilty to all the charges. |
| A formal statement or piece of evidence given by a witness, usually under oath | Testimony | Her testimony proved crucial in securing the conviction. |
| A written statement confirmed by oath, used as evidence in court | Affidavit | He submitted an affidavit swearing that the documents were genuine. |
| The state of being detained by police or held in custody pending trial | Custody | The accused was taken into police custody for further questioning. |
| The release of an accused person before trial, usually on payment of security | Bail | The court granted him bail on condition that he surrender his passport. |
| The criminal offence of deliberately telling a lie while under oath in court | Perjury | The witness now faces charges of perjury for lying to the tribunal. |
| A formal judgment that a person accused of a crime is not guilty | Acquittal | The high court's acquittal came after new forensic evidence surfaced. |
| Mercy or leniency shown by an authority towards someone who could be punished more severely | Clemency | The prisoner's family appealed to the governor for clemency. |
| The formal decision reached by a jury or judge on a disputed question | Verdict | The court is expected to deliver its verdict later this week. |
| A person appointed to act on behalf of another, especially in legal or business matters | Proxy | Shareholders unable to attend the meeting voted through a proxy. |
General Political and Administrative Terms
| Description | One Word | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| A ruler who holds absolute power and exercises it cruelly or oppressively | Despot | The people finally rose up against decades of rule by a despot. |
| Cruel and oppressive rule by a government or ruler | Tyranny | The novel depicts a society living under the tyranny of a single-party state. |
| A system of government in which the state holds total control over public and private life | Totalitarian | Independent journalism is impossible to sustain under a totalitarian regime. |
| A form of government headed by a king or queen | Monarchy | The United Kingdom remains a constitutional monarchy to this day. |
| A state in which supreme power rests with elected representatives and an elected or appointed president, rather than a monarch | Republic | India became a sovereign republic on 26 January 1950. |
| A body of senior ministers who advise the head of government and decide policy | Cabinet | The cabinet met late into the night to finalise the relief package. |
| A group of people who have spread or been dispersed from their original homeland to other countries | Diaspora | The Indian diaspora sends billions of dollars home in remittances every year. |
| A deliberate, prolonged speech or delaying tactic used in a legislature to obstruct a vote | Filibuster | Opposition lawmakers staged a filibuster to delay the controversial bill. |
| To manipulate the boundaries of an electoral constituency to unfairly favour one party | Gerrymander | The redrawn district map was criticised as an attempt to gerrymander the vote. |
| The activity of trying to persuade lawmakers to support or oppose a particular policy | Lobbying | Industry groups spent heavily on lobbying against the new emissions rules. |
| Leadership or dominance of one country, group or social class over others | Hegemony | Historians study how the empire maintained hegemony over its trade routes. |
| An organised rebellion or uprising against an established government or authority | Insurgency | The army was deployed to contain the growing insurgency in the border districts. |
| A military or political group that rules a country after seizing power by force | Junta | The junta suspended the constitution shortly after taking control. |
| The return of a person to their own country, often after war, exile or captivity | Repatriation | The government arranged the repatriation of stranded citizens during the crisis. |
| A territory or group that is culturally or politically distinct from the larger area surrounding it | Enclave | The old quarter remains a small cultural enclave within the modern city. |
| A state that is controlled and defended by a more powerful state | Protectorate | The territory functioned as a protectorate before gaining full independence. |
| An official order or decree issued by a person or body in authority | Fiat | The regulation was imposed by government fiat, without public consultation. |
Frequently Confused Pairs
- Referendum vs. Plebiscite — the two are close synonyms; in most usage a referendum is any public vote on a policy question, while a plebiscite more specifically decides a question about a nation's sovereignty or status, such as a territorial dispute.
- Bill vs. Act vs. Ordinance vs. Statute — a bill is a proposed law awaiting approval; once passed by the legislature it becomes an act or statute; an ordinance, by contrast, is issued directly by the executive (such as the President or a Governor) when the legislature is not in session, and it is temporary until confirmed by the legislature.
- Autocracy vs. Oligarchy vs. Plutocracy vs. Theocracy — all four describe non-democratic rule, but the difference lies in who holds the power: one individual, a small group, the rich, or religious leaders respectively.
- Sedition vs. Treason — sedition is inciting resistance or rebellion against lawful authority through words or actions; treason is the graver offence of actively betraying one's country, often by aiding an enemy.
- Plaintiff vs. Defendant — the plaintiff initiates the case; the defendant is the party being accused or sued. Do not confuse this pair with "prosecutor," who represents the state in a criminal case.
- Custody vs. Bail — custody means being held; bail is the (often conditional) release from that custody before the trial concludes.
- Monarchy vs. Republic — a monarchy is headed by a hereditary king or queen; a republic is headed by a president or similar figure chosen through election or appointment, with no hereditary ruler.
- Despot vs. Autocrat vs. Tyrant — all three describe a single ruler with unchecked power, but "despot" and "tyrant" additionally imply that the power is used cruelly or oppressively, whereas "autocrat" simply describes the concentration of power without necessarily implying cruelty.
- Insurgency vs. Coup vs. Sedition — an insurgency is a sustained armed rebellion, often over months or years; a coup is a sudden, one-time seizure of power, often from within the state's own military or officials; sedition is the act of encouraging rebellion through words or writing, not necessarily through armed action.
- Filibuster vs. Veto — a filibuster is a delaying tactic used by legislators to stall a vote; a veto is the power, usually held by a head of state or a permanent member of a body such as the UN Security Council, to reject a decision outright.
Exam Strategy for This Category
Government and law vocabulary is tested heavily in SSC CGL Tier-I, RRB NTPC, and bank clerical exams because it overlaps with current-affairs reading. A practical way to master this list is to read one short newspaper report on parliament, the courts, or an international agreement each day, and note down every formal term you do not instantly recognise. Words like "ordinance," "mandate," "sanction" and "acquittal" appear constantly in real news coverage, so active reading reinforces this chapter far better than isolated memorisation. It is also worth noting that many of these words recur, almost unchanged in meaning, in the General Awareness and Current Affairs sections of the same exams — a candidate who knows what a "referendum," an "ordinance" or an "impeachment" precisely means will find both the vocabulary paper and the GK paper easier at the same time. This overlap is exactly why coaching institutes treat this chapter as high priority rather than optional reading. When a question gives you a definition, first decide which sub-category it belongs to — a system of government, a stage in law-making, or a courtroom term — since that narrows the options quickly even before you recall the exact word.
Quick Test Yourself
- Give the one word for "government by a small group of powerful people."
Answer: Oligarchy - What do you call a law made by an authority when the legislature is not in session?
Answer: Ordinance - Give the one word for "the crime of betraying one's own country."
Answer: Treason - Name the word for "a public declaration of a party's policies before an election."
Answer: Manifesto - What is the one word for "the release of an accused person before trial on security"?
Answer: Bail - Give the one word for "a sudden, illegal seizure of power from a government."
Answer: Coup - What do you call the formal charging of a public official with misconduct in office?
Answer: Impeachment - Name the one word for "favouritism shown to relatives in appointments."
Answer: Nepotism - Give the one word for "a written statement confirmed by oath."
Answer: Affidavit - What is the one word for "the right to vote in political elections"?
Answer: Suffrage - Give the one word for "the formal confirmation of a treaty by a country's legislature."
Answer: Ratification - Name the one word for "a military or political group that rules after seizing power by force."
Answer: Junta
Revise this chapter alongside a current newspaper: try to spot at least three of these words in an actual news report before moving to the next chapter. Vocabulary that is seen in real, meaningful context is remembered far longer than vocabulary seen only in a list.
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