Democracy Glossary

The core ideas and principles that form the basis of democratic government, from what democracy is and where its authority comes from to how it is structured to protect the people it serves.

The constitutional amendments, landmark legislation, and historical events that shaped voting rights in America, from the founding documents to the Civil Rights Movement and beyond.

The key court decisions and federal laws that have shaped elections, voting rights, and campaign finance in the United States, from Citizens United to the Voting Rights Act.

How power is divided among federal, state, and local governments in the United States, what each level is responsible for, and how the thousands of governments that make up American democracy are organized.

The wide range of roles that make up government at every level, from the president and governors down to school board members, soil conservation supervisors, and the many down-ballot positions that appear on your ballot.

How a bill becomes a law, how debates are managed, and what the key terms and procedures governing the legislative process mean at both the federal and state level.

The full range of terms you are likely to encounter around elections and voting, from the basics of casting a ballot and different types of elections to what happens on election night and beyond.

The vocabulary of how voting systems work, how different systems compare, and what political scientists and mathematicians have learned about the fundamental challenges of translating individual preferences into collective decisions.

Emerging models and concepts in democratic reform, including liquid democracy, participatory budgeting, citizens' assemblies, and other approaches that go beyond casting a ballot every few years.

The full range of ways Americans can vote, from in-person voting and mail-in ballots to accessible accommodations, same-day registration, and the concepts that shape how voting systems are designed and evaluated.

The tools used to record and count votes, from hand-marked paper ballots and optical scanners to electronic systems, post-election audits, and the cybersecurity practices that protect election infrastructure.

The process of drawing electoral district boundaries, the ways that process can be used fairly or manipulated for political advantage, and the geographic concepts that shape how representation works in the United States.

How the Electoral College works, why it was created, and the key concepts and controversies surrounding the system through which Americans elect the president and vice president.

The full range of delegate roles in American politics, from the party convention delegates who nominate presidential candidates to the congressional delegates who represent U.S. territories without a full vote in Congress.

The key terms you need to evaluate what a poll is actually telling you and what it is not, including how polls are conducted, what margin of error means, and why polls from different organizations can show different results.

The language of election night coverage and the official steps that take place after the polls close, from the first returns and race calls to canvassing, certification, and recounts.

The different types of ballot measures that can appear on your ballot, what they are called, how they work, and the distinction between initiatives, referendums, bond measures, levies, and recalls.

The rules, procedures, and oversight mechanisms designed to ensure that every eligible vote is counted accurately and that elections are trustworthy from start to finish.

The laws and practices, both historical and contemporary, that have been used to make voting harder for specific groups of people, so that voters can recognize them, understand their effects, and advocate for a more accessible democracy.

The terms used to describe voting rights restoration for people with felony convictions, the processes involved, and the broader landscape of who is and is not permitted to vote in the United States.

How political parties work and are structured, the barriers facing third parties and independent candidates, and the features of the current two-party system that shape American elections.

The vocabulary of running for elected office, from the moment you decide to file through Election Day, with particular attention to the process for candidates running outside the two major parties.

How money flows in American politics, who it comes from, what rules govern it, and the ethics requirements that apply to public officials, from contribution limits and dark money to lobbying and conflicts of interest.

The tools, laws, and mechanisms that exist to keep government open, honest, and answerable to the people it serves, from FOIA and sunshine laws to whistleblowers, inspectors general, and impeachment.

How representation works, how policy is made, and how citizens can understand and engage with the processes that shape public life, from executive orders and regulatory agencies to the federal rulemaking process.

How congressional offices are organized and who does what, from district offices and caseworkers to chiefs of staff and schedulers, so you know exactly who to contact when you need to engage with your representatives.

The full range of ways people can participate in civic life beyond voting, from canvassing, phone banking, and community organizing to attending public hearings and contacting elected officials.

The many ways you can observe, attend, and participate in the actual workings of government at every level, from congressional committee hearings and city council meetings to Supreme Court oral arguments.

The key terms around media, political communication, and the challenges of staying informed in a democracy, including the role of a free press, misinformation and disinformation, and how political messaging works.