Navigating through political discussions in a new language can be challenging. When learning Czech, it’s useful to understand key political terms and phrases that often appear in news, debates, and daily conversations. Here are some essential Czech political vocabularies, their definitions, and how they are used in context.
Politika
Politika means “politics” in Czech and refers to the activities, actions, and policies used to gain and hold power in a government or to influence the government. It can also refer to the profession of conducting political affairs.
V dnešním světě je politika velmi důležitá.
(This means “In today’s world, politics is very important.”)
Poslanecká sněmovna
The Chamber of Deputies, which is the lower house of the Parliament of the Czech Republic. It plays a key role in the legislative process.
Poslanecká sněmovna právě schválila nový zákon.
(The Chamber of Deputies has just approved a new law.)
Senát
The Senate is the upper chamber of the Parliament. It is involved in reviewing and approving laws passed by the lower chamber.
Senát má důležitou roli v legislativním procesu.
(The Senate plays an important role in the legislative process.)
Strana
Strana translates to “party” and refers to a political party. In the Czech Republic, multiple political parties compete for power and representation.
Je členem sociálně demokratické strany.
(He is a member of the Social Democratic Party.)
Volby
Volby means “elections,” a process by which the population of the Czech Republic can choose their representatives or make decisions on specific issues.
Volby se konají každé čtyři roky.
(Elections take place every four years.)
Poslanec
A poslanec is a “deputy” or “member of parliament.” These individuals are elected to the Poslanecká sněmovna to represent the people.
Náš poslanec mluvil na veřejném shromáždění.
(Our deputy spoke at a public assembly.)
Vláda
Vláda stands for “government” and encompasses all the governing bodies that run the state, including the executive branch led by the prime minister.
Vláda právě oznámila nové reformy.
(The government has just announced new reforms.)
Ústava
Ústava means the “constitution,” the supreme legal document that outlines the country’s fundamental laws and principles.
Ústava České republiky zaručuje základní lidská práva.
(The Constitution of the Czech Republic guarantees basic human rights.)
Prezident
The president is the head of state and is involved in various ceremonial and executive functions.
Prezident bude pronesl projev na novoročním obědě.
(The president will give a speech at the New Year’s luncheon.)
Premiér
The prime minister is the head of the government and is responsible for running the country’s everyday affairs and government operations.
Premiér diskutoval o hospodářské politice s odborníky.
(The prime minister discussed economic policy with experts.)
Zákon
Zákon translates to “law.” These are formal legal statutes or regulations passed by the legislative bodies in the Czech government.
Nový zákon vstoupil v platnost minulý měsíc.
(The new law came into effect last month.)
Opozice
Opozice signifies the “opposition,” referring to political parties or politicians who are not part of the ruling government and often provide a different viewpoint.
Opozice kritizovala poslední návrh zákona.
(The opposition criticized the latest bill proposal.)
Understanding these terms will give you a solid foundation for following Czech political discussions and engaging in conversations on political topics. While this list is not exhaustive, it highlights the fundamental language of Czech politics, opening up avenues for further exploration and understanding of Czech society.