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Politics & Government vocabulary · Government and the Executive

Term of office

Meaning in politics & government, with examples

nounCore term

In politics & government, term of office means: The fixed period of time during which an elected or appointed person, such as a president, mayor or MP, holds an official position.

In Turkish: görev süresi, görev dönemi

How it is used

Often shortened to term. Officials serve a term, a full term or a second term, and constitutions may set term limits, the maximum number of terms a person can serve. A term can end early through resignation or an early election.

Example sentences

  1. The mayor's term of office ends in March.

  2. Members of the board serve a single term of office lasting six years.

Common collocations

  • serve a term
  • second term
  • term limits
  • full term
  • end of the term
  • incumbentThe person who currently holds an official position, especially one who is standing for election again against new candidates.
  • presidentThe head of state in a republic. In presidential systems the president also leads the government, while in parliamentary systems the role is often mainly ceremonial.
  • snap electionAn election called earlier than planned, often because the government expects to do well or because a political crisis cannot be solved in any other way.
  • step downTo leave an important position, especially a leading one, often in a planned way rather than by being forced out.

More terms: Government and the Executive

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