Learning political and electoral vocabulary is crucial for those interested in the political landscape of Iceland or any Icelandic-speaking region. Understanding these terms helps comprehend the news, engage in discussions, and get involved in the political process. Here are some key political and electoral terms in Icelandic, along with their definitions and example sentences.
Stjórnmál
Stjórnmál translates to “politics” and refers to the activities associated with governing a country or area, especially the debate between parties having power.
Hún hefur mikinn áhuga á stjórnmálum og fylgist vel með fréttum.
Kosningar
Kosningar means “elections,” which are formal group decision-making processes by which a population chooses an individual or multiple individuals to hold public office.
Næstu alþingiskosningar verða haldnar í október.
Kjörseðill
Kjörseðill is the Icelandic term for “ballot,” the piece of paper or digital medium used to record a person’s vote in an election.
Ég móttók kjörseðilinn minn í póstinum í gær.
Flokka
The word flokka means “to sort” or “to classify” but within the political context, it usually refers to political parties.
Í þessum kosningum eru margir flokkar að bjóða sig fram.
Alþingi
Alþingi is the term for the “Parliament” of Iceland, the supreme legislative body of the country.
Hann var kjörinn þingmaður og mun gegna því embætti í Alþingi.
Forseti
Forseti means “president,” the title for the head of state in Iceland, a largely ceremonial position.
Forseti Íslands heimsótti nýlega hjálparstarf nemenda.
Samþykkt
Samþykkt translates as “approval” and refers to the formal agreement or consent by a political body or authority.
Frumvarpið fékk samþykkt Alþingis eftir langar umræður.
Ríkisstjórn
Ríkisstjórn refers to the “government” of Iceland, especially the executive branch.
Ríkisstjórnin kynnti nýja áætlun um efnahagsmál.
Frumvarp
Frumvarp means “bill” or “draft law” and is a proposal which is put forward for debate and approval by the legislative body.
Þingmaðurinn lagði fram frumvarp til að bæta umhverfisvernd.
Kosningabærni
Kosningabærni translates as “electoral eligibility,” referring to the qualifications required for someone to be eligible to vote or stand for election.
Lögin um kosningabærni voru breytt til að lækka kosningaaldurinn.
Lýðræði
Lýðræði is the term for “democracy,” a system of government where the citizens exercise power by voting.
Í lýðræðissamfélagi er mikilvægt að allir kjósendur nýti atkvæðisrétt sinn.
Framsókn
Framsókn can be translated as “progress” or “advancement” but is also known as a name for the Progressive Party, a political party in Iceland.
Framsóknarflokkurinn hefur lagt fram margar nýjungar í stefnu sinni.
Utilizing these key political terms will aid in understanding Icelandic discussions around politics and elections. Engaging with local news, political debates, and electoral processes becomes much easier when you’re armed with the appropriate vocabulary. Remember, language learning is not just about memorizing words, but also about immersing oneself in the culture and societal functions of the place where the language is spoken.