Civics 101: Information on Elections and Voting: Introduction to U. S. Politics

Glossary of Political Terms

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Defintitions are taken from: 

The American Heritage College Dictionary, 3rd ed. (AHDC). Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2000. REF PE 1628.A62

The New International Webster's Comprehensive Dictionary of the English Language (WCD). Naples, FL: Trident Press, 1995. REF PE 1625.N534

The New Oxford American Dictionary, 3rd ed. (OAD). Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010.  REF PE 1628.N429

ballot: a list of candidates running for office. (AHCD)

bill: a draft of a proposed law. (OAD)

blue: the symbolic color of the Democratic Party.

bipartisan: involving the agreement or cooperation of two parties that usually oppose each other's policies. (OAD)

cabinet:a body of advisors to the president, composed of the executive heads of the government. (OAD)

campaign: a series of connected political activities designed to bring about a result. (WCD)

candidate: a person seeking an office. (AHCD)

caucus: a meeting of the local members of a political party to select candidates for office or delegates. (AHCD)

convention: a formal meeting of members, representatives, or delegates of a political party. (AHCD)

conservative: holding to traditional attitudes and values and cautious about change or innovation. (OAD)

debate (1): a formal discussion on a particular topic in a public meeting or legislature. (OAD)

debate (2): an argument about a particular topic in which many people are invoved; e.g. the national debate on abortion.

delegate: a person sent or authorized to represent others, in particular an elected representative sent to a conference or convention. (OAD)

demagogue: a political leader who seeks support primarily by appealing to popular desires and prejudices, rather than by using rational argument. (OAD)

donkey: mascot or icon of the Democratic Party

elect: to choose someone to hold public office or some other position by voting. (OAD)

election: a formal and organized process of electing or being elected, especially of membefs of a political body. (OAD)

electorate: the people of a country or area who are entitled to vote in an election. (OAD)

electoral college: the body of representatives who formally cast votes to elect the President of the United States {OAD)

elephant: mascot or icon of the Republican Party

franchise: the right to vote; the rights of citizenship. (OAD)

G.O.P.: nickname of the Republican Party. Stands for "grand old party."

grass roots: people or society at a local level instead of the political center. (AHCD)

incumbent: an official currently holding office. (OAD)

left wing: the liberal, socialist, or radical section of a political party or system. (OAD)

legislation: the enactment of laws. (WCD)

legislator: a person who makes laws; a member of a legislative body. (OAD)

legislature: a body of people empowered to make laws for a country or state. (WCD)

liberal: open to new behavior or opinions and willing to discard traditional values. (OAD)

lobby: a group seeking to influence politicians or public officials on a particular issue. (OAD)

lobbyist: a professional representative of a lobbying organization.

nonpartisan: not biased or partisan, especially toward any particular political group. (OAD) Note: this claim,when made by think tanks, may be specious.

party: an established political group organized to promote an support its principles and candidates for public office (AHCD)

platform: the declared policy of a political party or group (OAD)

policy: a plan or course of action, as of a government, political party, or business, intended to influence o determine decisions, actions, and other matters. (OAD)

political action committee (PAC): an organization that raises money privately and employs lobbyists to influence legislation. (OAD)

poll (1): the process of voting in an election. (OAD)

poll (2): the places where votes are cast in an election. (OAD)

poll (3): an assessment of public opinion obtained by questioning a representative sample. (OAD)

primary election: a preliminary election in which voters nominate party candidates for office. IAHCD)

public policy: the policy or set of policies forming the foundation of public laws. (OAD)

public question: a question regarding public policy that is placed on a ballot so that the answer may be determined by a public vote (also known as a referendum).

pundit: an expert in a particular subject or field who is frequently called on to give opinions about it to the public. (OAD)

radical: advocating thorough or complete social or political reform. (OAD)

reactionary: opposing political or social liberalization or reform. (OAD)

red: the symbolic color of the Republican Party

referendum: a general vote by the electorate on a single political question that has been referred to them for a direct decision. (OAD)

right wing: the conservative or reactionary section of a political party or system. (OAD)

specious: superficially plausible, but actually wrong; misleading in appearance. (OAD)

suffrage: the right to vote in political elections. (OAD)

superdelegate: an un-elected delegate who is free to support any candidate for the presidential nomination at the party's convention. (OAD)

swing district or state: a marginal district or state where voters are liable to swing from one political party to another. (OAD)

swing vote: a vote that has a decisive influence over the results of an election. (OAD)

think tank: a body of experts providing advice and ideas on specific political or economic problems. (OAD)

vote: a formal expression of preference for a candidate or proposed resolution of an issue. (AHCD)

Which Side Are You On?

left: In politics, the portion of the political spectrum associated in general with egalitarianism and popular or state control of the major institutions of political and economic life. The term dates from the 1790s, when in the French revolutionary parliament the socialist representatives sat to the presiding officer’s left. Leftists tend to be hostile to the interests of traditional elites, including the wealthy and members of the aristocracy, and to favour the interests of the working class (see proletariat). They tend to regard social welfare as the most important goal of government. Socialism is the standard leftist ideology in most countries of the world; communism is a more radical leftist ideology.

"left (ideology)." Britannica Academic. Encyclopædia Britannica, 2016.

right, portion of the political spectrum associated with conservative political thought. The term derives from the seating arrangement of the French revolutionary parliament (c. 1790s) in which the conservative representatives sat to the presiding officer’s right. In the 19th century the term applied to conservatives who supported authority, tradition, and property. In the 20th century a divergent, radical form developed that was associated with fascism. See also left.

"right (ideology)."  Britannica Academic. Encyclopædia Britannica, 2016.

left: the political ideas (or the parties that hold these ideas) that support change, especially in the interests of the working class and the poor.

swing to the left: a movement of support towards socialist principles 
on the left: with views that are more strongly progressive and less conservative

"left." Dictionary of Politics and Government, edited by P. H. Collin, A&C Black, 3rd edition, 2004. Credo Reference, 

right: people (or parties) that are political conservatives or whose ideas and beliefs are conservative.

"right." Dictionary of Politics and Government, edited by P. H. Collin, A&C Black, 3rd edition, 2004. Credo Reference.
 

left wing: members of a socialist, progressive, or radical political party or section of a party; such a group, party, or group of parties.

"left wing." The Macquarie Dictionary, edited by Susan Butler, Macquarie Dictionary Publishers, 7th edition, 2017. Credo Reference.

right wing: the members of a conservative or reactionary political party or section of a party, generally those opposing extensive political reform.

"right wing." The Macquarie Dictionary, edited by Susan Butler, Macquarie Dictionary Publishers, 7th edition, 2017. Credo Reference.