| A | B |
|---|
| 527 group | a tax-exempt organization created for the purpose of influencing the election or appointment of public officials |
| Affirmative action | Policies designed to increase representation and job opportunities for women and minority-group members |
| Amicus curiae brief | a "friend of the court" report; When someone, not a party to a case, volunteers to offer information to assist a court in deciding a matter before it. |
| Class action lawsuit | is a form of lawsuit in which a large group of people collectively bring a claim to court and/or in which a class of defendants is being sued |
| Conservative | an ideology; disposed to preserve existing conditions, institutions, etc., or to restore traditional ones, and to limit change. |
| Dealignment | The gradual disengagement of people from the parties as seen in part by shrinking party identification. |
| Democrat | A party that supports gay marriage, wider scope of government, and social welfare for people provided by the government. |
| Divided government | a situation in which one party controls the White House and another party controls one or both houses of the United States Congress. |
| Federalist 10 | James Madison's Federalist Paper warning about the dangers of factions |
| Grassroots movement | movement driven by the politics of a community. Starts with the people at a local level. |
| Independent | A person who does not identify as a member of either the Republican or Democrat Party. Most likely to be younger and/or a ticket-splitter. |
| Incumbent | currently holding an policymaking position, role, office, etc. |
| Issue advocacy ad | communications intended to bring a problem to light. |
| Liberal | is a broad political ideology or worldview founded on the ideas of liberty and equality |
| Litigation | the act or process of bringing or contesting a legal action in court |
| Party-in-government | All of the elected officials who identify with one party |
| partisanship | A committed member of a political party |
| Political efficacy | Believing that your political participation matters |
| Republican | A party that supports traditional marriage, american foreign involvement, smaller scope of government |
