Words matter – Vocabulary in the House

It is not essential to do any prior learning before coming to Parliament House, taking part in a digital incursion or conducting a role-play in the classroom, but there are some simple things that can be done beforehand to enhance student learning.

It might seem that Parliament has its own language and like many specialist areas, it does. Not only are there terms that may be unfamiliar to students, many common words have a different and specific meaning in the parliamentary context. Pre-teaching key vocabulary gives students confidence in learning new content and helps to prevent confusion.

Our Glossary has a comprehensive guide to the vocabulary of Parliament with definitions, but below we have some of the most commonly used terms that your students may encounter. Use your judgment as to which ones to introduce to your class. Our Word Wall has these terms ready to print and use and it is editable, so you can add terms that are relevant to your class.