Dictionary

The Public Affairs Council (PAC): Represents, supports and provides resources for professionals in public relations.

petition: A signed document or verbal request, typically presented to a public official or the courts.

platform: Historically, a political stance based on a party's beliefs and structure.

pluralism: The belief that individuals have less influence on the governance of a country than specific groups, which might include coalitions and unions.

plutocracy: A government entity that is influenced by the wealthy and not the masses.

politically incorrect: The act of bypassing common sense and the rules of political etiquette in an irreverent manner.

posse comitatus: Translating to "power of the county," which references a mostly historical term that places law enforcement in the hands of citizens by direction of local authorities.

POTUS: Standing for "President of the United States" and first coined by the Secret Service during the Truman Administration.

propaganda: A type of marketing used to sway beliefs and behaviors, but that may be contrived through partial truths, fallacies and extreme ideologies.

redistricting: The process of recreating boundaries within a state that will affect the electoral and congressional balance of power.

referendum: A vote presented to the people that may or may not require further legislation for final approval; often called "ballot initiative."

republic: A country or state governance based on representation of the masses by popular vote.

select committee: A temporary or permanent group that is appointed to address specific issues.

Senate: The U.S. Senate is structured to offer equal representation of each state and can wield partisan influence over certain Presidential decisions, including Cabinet and Supreme Court nominations.

smear campaign: An attempt to tarnish an individual's or group's reputation.

socialism: The practice of dividing wealth and ownership equally among the masses.

socialized medicine: Health systems operated or regulated by government, funded by taxes and originally designed to provide medical care for everyone.

soft money: Contributions that are funneled into general campaigns or party efforts as opposed to promoting specific candidates as regulated by the federal campaign spending law.

Speaker of the House: A spokesperson and moderator and in the House of Representatives is third in line as successor to the Presidency.

spin: Verbal and written emphasis that leverages in favor of an individual, regardless of the actual outcome.

spin doctor: An individual who crafts wording that influences media and the populace in believing favorable results, in spite of (or in addition to) the facts.

standing committee: Permanent groups formed from either the House or Senate committed to address specific issues.

straw poll: An unofficial probe, usually by way of voting, to gauge the strength of a particular issue or the popularity of a potential political candidate.