CITIZENSHIP TEST PRACTICE
Australian citizenship test: 33 key words explained
A simple meaning, an example and a memory tip for each key word. Pick a language to see the word in that language next to the English word. The real test is in English only.
Please read. Independent practice material. Not affiliated with, endorsed by or approved by the Australian Government or the Department of Home Affairs. This is general study material, not immigration, migration or legal advice. For your eligibility, your application or your own situation, speak to a registered migration agent or a lawyer. We cannot promise any result.
1. Voting and elections
- democracy dân chủ民主democraciaलोकतंत्रالديمقراطيةThe people choose their leaders by voting.
- parliamentary democracy dân chủ đại nghị议会民主制democracia parlamentariaसंसदीय लोकतंत्रالديمقراطية البرلمانيةA system where people vote for members of parliament, and parliament makes the laws.
- election cuộc bầu cử选举elecciónचुनावالانتخاباتA vote to choose people for parliament.
- electoral roll danh sách cử tri选民名册padrón electoralमतदाता सूचीالسجل الانتخابيThe list of people who can vote.
- electorate khu vực bầu cử选区distrito electoralचुनाव क्षेत्रالدائرة الانتخابيةAn area of voters who elect their members of the House of Representatives. Also called an electoral district, division or seat.
- secret ballot bỏ phiếu kín秘密投票voto secretoगुप्त मतदानالاقتراع السريA private vote. No one knows how you voted.
- referendum trưng cầu dân ý全民公投referéndumजनमत संग्रहالاستفتاءA vote to change the Constitution.
2. How the country is governed
- Constitution Hiến pháp宪法ConstituciónसंविधानالدستورThe main set of rules for how the country is governed.
- federation liên bang联邦federaciónसंघالاتحاد الفيدراليSeparate areas joining to make one country.
- colony thuộc địa殖民地coloniaउपनिवेशالمستعمرةA settled area set up by another country (general meaning).
- constitutional monarchy quân chủ lập hiến君主立宪制monarquía constitucionalसंवैधानिक राजतंत्रالملكية الدستوريةA country with a king or queen who must follow the Constitution.
- Head of State nguyên thủ quốc gia国家元首jefe de Estadoराष्ट्राध्यक्षرئيس الدولةIn Australia, the King of Australia. He must act in line with the Constitution.
- representative người đại diện代表representanteप्रतिनिधिالممثلA person who speaks and acts for other people.
- Bill dự luật法案proyecto de leyविधेयकمشروع القانونA proposal for a new law.
- Royal Assent Hoàng gia phê chuẩn御准sanción realशाही मंज़ूरीالموافقة الملكيةThe Governor-General signs a Bill, and it becomes law.
- legislative power quyền lập pháp立法权poder legislativoविधायी शक्तिالسلطة التشريعيةThe power to make laws.
- executive power quyền hành pháp行政权poder ejecutivoकार्यपालिका की शक्तिالسلطة التنفيذيةThe power to put laws into action.
- judicial power quyền tư pháp司法权poder judicialन्यायिक शक्तिالسلطة القضائيةThe power to decide what the law means and apply it.
3. Parliament and government
- minister bộ trưởng部长ministroमंत्रीالوزيرA member of parliament who is responsible for an area of government.
- Cabinet Nội các内阁Gabineteमंत्रिमंडलمجلس الوزراءThe group of the most senior ministers.
- opposition phe đối lập反对党oposiciónविपक्षالمعارضةThe party with the second most members. It checks the government.
- coalition liên minh联盟coaliciónगठबंधनالائتلافTwo or more parties joining together.
- independent nghị sĩ độc lập独立议员independienteनिर्दलीय सांसदالعضو المستقلA member of parliament who is not in a party.
- jury bồi thẩm đoàn陪审团juradoजूरीهيئة المحلفينA group of ordinary people who decide guilty or not guilty.
- magistrate thẩm phán tòa cấp thấp治安法官magistradoमजिस्ट्रेटقاضي المحكمة الابتدائيةA judge in a lower court.
- rule of law pháp quyền法治Estado de derechoकानून का राजسيادة القانونEveryone must obey the law. No one is above it.
4. Australian values
- secular thế tục世俗laicoधर्मनिरपेक्षعلمانيSeparate from religion.
- equality bình đẳng平等igualdadसमानताالمساواةEveryone has the same rights and status.
- fair go cơ hội công bằng公平的机会oportunidad justaबराबर मौकाفرصة عادلةEveryone, whatever their background, has an equal chance to succeed.
- mateship tình bạn đồng hành伙伴情谊compañerismoसाथियों की मददروح الزمالةHelping each other, especially in hard times.
- liberty (liberties) tự do自由libertad (libertades)स्वतंत्रताالحريةPersonal freedom.
- racism phân biệt chủng tộc种族歧视racismoनस्लवादالعنصريةBad treatment of a person because of race or origin.
- integration hòa nhập融入integraciónघुलना मिलनाالاندماجBecoming part of a new society and joining in.
Source and licence
Source material: © Commonwealth of Australia 2020, Department of Home Affairs, Australian Citizenship: Our Common Bond, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. Our questions, answer options and explanations are original works that adapt and refer to that material. They were not produced, checked or endorsed by the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth Coat of Arms is not used. Translations are our own and can contain mistakes.