This list is not exhaustive and includes the most common terms used.
A
Authoritarianism: A system of government where power is concentrated in the hands of a leader or a small elite not accountable to the people.
Autocracy: A system of government in which one person possesses unlimited power.
B
Bureaucracy: A system of government in which most of the important decisions are made by state officials rather than by elected representatives.
Ballot: A process of voting, typically in secret, used to select a candidate or decide on an issue.
C
Constitution: A set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed.
Civil Rights: The rights of citizens to political and social freedom and equality.
D
Democracy: A system of government where the citizens exercise power by voting.
Direct Democracy: A form of democracy in which people decide on policy initiatives directly, rather than electing representatives to make decisions for them.
E
Electoral College: A body of electors established by the U.S. Constitution to elect the President and Vice President of the United States.
Executive Branch: The branch of government responsible for implementing and enforcing laws and policies, led by the President in the U.S.
F
Federalism: The federal principle or system of government in which entities such as states or provinces share power with a central authority.
Franchise: The right to vote in public elections.
G
Gerrymandering: The manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor a particular political party or group.
Government: The institution through which a society makes and enforces its public policies.
H
Hegemony: Leadership or dominance, especially by one country or social group over others.
Human Rights: The basic rights and freedoms that belong to every person in the world, from birth until death.
I
Ideology: A system of ideas and ideals, especially one that forms the basis of economic or political theory and policy.
Interest Group: An organization of people with shared goals that seeks to influence public policy.
J
Judicial Review: The power of courts to review the actions of the legislative and executive branches and declare them unconstitutional if they exceed their authority.
Justice: The principle of fairness and the administration of the law in a way that ensures equity and impartiality.
L
Legislation: Laws, considered collectively, that are enacted by a governing body.
Lobbying: The act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government, often by interest groups or organizations.
M
Monarchy: A form of government with a monarch at the head.
Majority Rule: A fundamental principle of democracy whereby the decision of more than half the members of a group or community is accepted by all.
N
Nationalism: A political ideology centered on the interests and culture of a particular nation or group of people.
Non-Governmental Organization (NGO): A nonprofit organization that operates independently of any government, typically one whose purpose is to address a social or political issue.
O
Oligarchy: A form of power structure in which power resides in the hands of a small number of people.
Order: The state of peace and security maintained by a government or authority.
P
Political Party: An organized group of people with similar political aims and opinions that seeks to influence public policy by getting its candidates elected to public office.
Populism: A political approach that seeks to disrupt the existing political order by mobilizing the common people against the elite.
Q
Quorum: The minimum number of members required to be present for a legislative body to conduct its business.
Quota: A fixed share or portion of a particular group, often used in the context of legislative representation or affirmative action.
R
Republic: A form of government in which the country is considered a “public matter” and the head of state is an elected or nominated president, not a monarch.
Referendum: A direct vote in which an entire electorate is invited to vote on a particular proposal and can result in the adoption of a new law or policy.
S
Sovereignty: The authority of a state to govern itself or another state.
Secularism: The principle of separating religion from government and public affairs.
T
Tyranny: A form of government in which a single ruler holds absolute power, often exercised in a cruel or oppressive manner.
Totalitarianism: A system of government where the state holds total authority and seeks to control all aspects of public and private life.
U
Unilateralism: The policy of acting alone, or independently, without the support or consent of other nations or organizations.
Utilitarianism: A political theory that advocates for the greatest good for the greatest number of people.
V
Veto: The power to reject or prohibit a decision or proposal made by a legislative body.
Voting Rights: Legal rights that protect citizens’ ability to participate in elections and vote.
