bias
a preference, opinion or attitude that favors one way of thinking or feeling over another
candidate
a person running for political office
Communist Party
a political party that believes the government should control all production and distribution of goods and working people should control their own lives and destinies
Democratic Party
a political party that believes that the federal government should take a more active role in people's lives, particularly those who are in need
government
a system or organization for exercising authority over a body of people
Libertarian Party
a political party that believes in individual freedom and the only purpose of government is to protect this freedom
party platform
a document stating the aims and goals of a political party
political party
an organization that seeks to gain political power by electing members to public office so that their political ideas can be reflected in public policies
political system
the members of a social organization who are in power
Republican Party
a political party that believes that the federal government should play a small role in people's lives; they favor lower taxes and less government spending
Socialist Party
a political party that believes people should own and control industry through democratically controlled public agencies, cooperatives, or other collective groups
society
a body of individuals living as members of a community
third party
a political party that is not one of the two major parties in the country; a minor party
two-party system
a political system consisting primarily of two major parties, more or less equal in strength
candidate
a person running for political office
elector
a person who has the right to vote in an election
evaluate
to determine or to judge
issue based platform
a document stating the goals and principles of a political party or political candidate, also known as a political platform
natural born citizen
someone who was born in the U.S. or born to U.S. citizens
political office
a position for which a candidate is elected to hold
political official
a person holding an elected office
qualification
the traits and accomplishments that fit a person for some function or office
requirement
something necessary
vote
to elect or decide
U.S. Representative
a member of the U.S House of Representatives; representatives are elected in districts throughout each state
U.S. Senator
a member of the U.S. Senate elected to represent an entire state, there are two senators per state
impact
to have a strong effect on something or someone
influence
having an effect or impact on the actions, behavior, opinions, etc., of another or others
interest group
people who are concerned with some particular issue or part of the government and who try to influence legislators or to act in their favor, also known as a special interest group
lobbying
to conduct activities in order to influence public officials
lobbyist
a person who conducts activities in order to influence public officials
media
plural form of the word "medium," refers to various means of communication. For example, television, radio, newspapers and the Internet (web) are different types of media. The term can also be used as a collective noun for the press or news reporting agen
monitor
to watch, keep track of, or check usually for a special purpose
petitioning the government
any nonviolent, legal means of encouraging or disapproving government action, directed to the judicial, executive or legislative branch
political action committee (PAC)
an independent political organization that seeks to promote the cause of a particular interest group, usually through raising money and campaigning to elect candidates who support the group's views
public agenda
a list of issues that much of society agrees are a priority
public policy
government actions in the form of laws
public sphere
a place where society discuses the issues that affect everyone
watchdog
a person or group who acts as a protector or guardian
bandwagon
propaganda technique encouraging the viewer to like something or someone because everyone else does
bias
a preference, opinion or attitude that favors one way of thinking or feeling over another
card stacking
propaganda technique involving the use of showing one-sided information
glittering generalities
propaganda technique using short phrases or words to promote positive feelings or emotions
media
plural form of the word "medium," refers to various means of communication. For example, television, radio, and the newspaper are different types of media. The term can also be used as a collective noun for the press or news reporting agencies
name calling
propaganda technique using negative words to associate with a product or person
plain folks
propaganda technique conveying that a candidate is a "regular" person, just like everyone else
political communication
the use of media to convey messages or information related to government issues, campaigns or public offices
propaganda
the method of spreading ideas or information for the purpose of helping or injuring an institution, a cause, or a person
symbolism
the use of something to represent ideas or qualities
testimonial
propaganda technique involving the use of a celebrity or spokesperson to speak on behalf of a product of candidate
transfer
propaganda technique involving the use of symbols to convey a message or feeling
lawmakers
members of a legislature that draft and pass laws (i.e., U.S. Representative, U.S. Senator, state representative, state senator, city council member)
superintendent
the leader of a school district
deliberate
to think about or discuss issues and decisions carefully
editorial
an opinion based item generated by the editor or editorial board of a newspaper or other media.
issue
a subject that is under debate by two or more parties
nonprofit organization
a group organized on a local, national or international level to perform a variety of services related to an issue or variety of issues; funding goes toward the issue instead of making a profit
perspective
point of view
political party
an organization that seeks to gain political power by electing members to public office so that their political ideas can be reflected in public policies
special interest group
people who are concerned with some particular issue or part of the government and who try to influence legislators to act in their favor
voting age population
citizens residing in the United States, age 18 and older; before the passage of the 26th Amendment in 1971, the voting-age population was age 21 and older for most states
political institutions
the decision making elements of government
public opinion
views of the general public
alliance
a union between nations for assistance and protection
allies
nations united with another for some common purpose such as assistance and protection
ambassador
a person sent as the chief representative of his or her own government in another country
diplomacy
the work of keeping up relations between the governments of different countries
diplomat
a person employed or skilled in diplomacy
doctrine
the principles in a system of belief
domestic affairs
issues or concerns in one's own country
domestic policy
a course of action chosen to guide people in making decisions about their own country
embassy
the residence or office of an ambassador
foreign affairs
issues or concerns about other countries around the world
foreign policy
a course of action chosen in order to guide people in making decisions about other countries
HIV/AIDS
the virus that causes AIDS, spread through bodily fluids rather than casual contact or airborne
international relations
dealings between nations around the world
Secretary of State
the head of the U.S. Department of State; a member of the President's Cabinet
treaty
an agreement or arrangement between two or more countries
U.S. State Department
the federal department in the U. S. that sets and maintains foreign policies; part of the executive branch of the federal
government
European Union
an organization of European countries formed after World War II to reduce trade barriers and increase cooperation among its members
intergovernmental organization
an organization formed with groups of governments for a specific purpose
international organization
groups of governments or people from different countries working together to solve an issue that crosses country borders
International Red Cross/Red Crescent
an organization that helps people around the world respond to natural disasters and that checks on the conditions of prisoners of war
non-governmental organization (NGO)
a voluntary citizens' group that is organized on a local, national or international level and works ; they perform a variety of service and humanitarian functions, bring citizen concerns to governments, advocate for certain issues such as human rights or
North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
a formal agreement among the governments of the U.S., Canada, and Mexico to form a free trade zone in North America and eliminate taxes on the buying and selling of each other's products
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
a group of 28 countries that has agreed to protect each other in case of attack; founded in 1949
treaty
an agreement or arrangement between two or more countries
United Nations (UN)
an organization founded in 1943 to keep the peace, develop friendly relationships among countries, and improve the quality of life for the world's poor people; consists of 193 member countries
United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF)
an agency of the United Nations established in 1946 to help governments improve the health and education of children and their mothers
World Bank
an organization that helps poor and middle income countries get the money they need to build improvements that will help reduce poverty
World Court
a permanent panel of fifteen judges appointed by the UN to nine-year terms to hear cases; cases argued before the court focus on disputes between nations who agree to accept its decisions
World Health Organization
an organization established in 1948 within the United Nations that works to improve health throughout the world
World Trade Organization (WTO)
an international body founded in 1995 to promote international trade and economic development by reducing taxes and other restrictions
Bay of Pigs
a bay of the Caribbean Sea in Cuba: it was the site of an attempted invasion of Cuba by anti-Fidel Castro forces in April 1961.
conflict
a sharp disagreement (as between ideas, interests, or purposes)
conflict resolution
the process of ending a conflict or disagreement
cooperation
the act of working together
Cuban Missile Crisis
in 1962, leaders of the U.S. and the Soviet Union engaged in a tense, 13-day political and military standoff in October over the installation of nuclear-armed Soviet missiles in Cuba
diplomacy
the work of keeping up relations between the governments of different countries
Gulf War I
a military conflict in 1991 between Iraq and a coalition force of 34 nations mandated by the United Nations and led by the U.S., also known as the Persian Gulf War
Gulf War II
the 2003 military conflict Iraq, also called the Iraq War or "Operation Iraqi Freedom", began March 20, 2003, initiated by the U.S., the United Kingdom and other nations
humanitarian efforts
work focused on improving the health and happiness of other people
international conflict
a conflict between two different nations or groups
Iran Hostage Crisis
a 444-day period during which the new government of Iran after the Iranian Revolution held hostage 66 diplomats and U.S. citizens, beginning on November 4, 1979 and ending on January 20, 1981
Korean War
a war between North and South Korea; South Korea was aided by the U.S. and other members of the United Nations from 1950- 1953
military action
members of the U.S. military (Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard) having a presence in another country typically involving the use of force to stop conflict
peacekeeping operations
enforcing a truce between countries or groups by an international military force
terrorism
the use of extreme fear as a means of achieving a goal
U.S. State Department
the federal department in the U. S. that sets and maintains foreign policies; part of the executive branch of the federal government
Vietnam War
a military conflict (1954-1975) between the Communist forces of North Vietnam supported by China and the Soviet Union and the non-Communist forces of South Vietnam supported by the U.S.
World War I
a war between the allies (Russia, France, British Empire, Italy, U.S., Japan, Romania, Serbia, Belgium, Greece, Portugal, Montenegro) and the central powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Turkey, Bulgaria) from 1914 to 1918
World War II
a war that began on July7, 1937 in Asia and September 1, 1939 in Europe and lasted until 1945; it involved most of the world's countries
Commander in Chief
one role of the president is to lead the U.S. military forces