This is a great place to look up all sorts of definitions and concepts used in discussions about government and political systems. The list will grow over time. Let us know what you would like to see added – and if you see anything that seems wrong. Write to us at team@CFFAD.org.
A caveat: You will sometimes see more than one definition for a word. This is because words can have different meanings for different people. The meaning of words can change over time as well. Thus, people sometimes fight over what a word should truly mean. Multiple definitions may give you extra insight.
- Accountability
- Anarchy
- Attribution
- Autocracy
- Bill of Rights
- Checks and balances
- Citizen
- Civil
- Civil rights
- Constitution
- De facto
- De jure
- Democracy
- Direct Democracy
- Enumerated powers
- Executive Orders
- Faction
- Fascism
- Fear-mongering
- Fiscal sustainability
- Free and fair
- Government
- Illiberal
- Implied powers
- Insurrection
- Judicial branch
- liberal
- liberal republicanism
- Loyal opposition
- Majority rule
- Monarchy
- Naturalization
- Original Intent
- Parliament
- Rebellion
- Representative Democracy
- Republic
- republican
- Reserved powers
- Rule of law
- Sedition
- Separation of powers
- Social Contract
- Treason
- Twenty-fifth Amendment
- Tyranny
- Unconstitutional
- Writ of attainder