Political Science Terminology

adjective relating to or characteristic of anarchy; without order or control

• The country descended into an anarchic state after the government collapsed.
• The party turned into an anarchic mess once the music got too loud.
• The concert was totally anarchic, with people pushing and shoving to get to the front.
• Her mind was like an anarchic whirlwind, filled with chaotic thoughts and ideas.

adverb used to specify the condition or extent to which something is true or possible

conjunction used to introduce a condition or stipulation

• As long as you follow the rules, you will have no problems.
• You can stay out as long as you want, just make sure to be home before midnight.
• I'll help you with your homework, as long as you don't snitch on me.
• You can achieve anything you set your mind to, as long as you believe in yourself.

noun a person or country engaged in war or conflict, as recognized by international law

adjective hostile and aggressive

• The belligerent nation refused to engage in diplomatic negotiations.
• He's always so belligerent when he's had a few drinks.
• Don't be so belligerent, dude, I'm just trying to help.
• The storm clouds gathered in a belligerent manner, threatening to unleash their fury.

noun a particular right or privilege that a person has from birth, especially as an inheritance

• In many cultures, inheritance laws dictate who receives a person's birthright.
• I believe that everyone has the birthright to pursue their dreams.
• Yo, that car is my birthright, I'm gonna own it one day.
• She felt that her artistic talent was her birthright, passed down through generations of her family.

noun a group of countries, organizations, or individuals working together for a common purpose

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• The trade bloc was formed to promote economic cooperation among member countries.
• Let's stick together as a bloc to negotiate a better deal.
• The bloc of friends always hangs out together at the mall.
• Her creative ideas formed a bloc that no one could break through.

noun a subdivision of a country established for political or administrative purposes

• The canton of Geneva is known for its beautiful landscapes and vibrant culture.
• Let's take a day trip to the canton and explore some new hiking trails.
• I heard there's a cool new restaurant opening up in the canton next week.
• In the political landscape, the canton represents a crucial voting block for the upcoming election.

noun the practice of officially examining books, movies, etc., and suppressing unacceptable parts

• Censorship is a contentious issue in many countries, with some arguing for stricter regulations while others advocate for freedom of speech.
• I can't believe they're trying to implement censorship on social media now.
• Censorship is just a way for them to control what we see and hear.
• In a way, censorship is like putting blinders on society, limiting our perspective and understanding of the world.

noun the body of citizens in a country or state

• The government's policies aim to benefit the entire citizenry.
• The citizenry is not happy with the new taxes being imposed.
• The citizenry is fed up with the constant traffic in this city.
• The citizenry of ideas in this forum is diverse and engaging.

noun the common good or welfare of a community

adjective related to the common good or welfare of a community

• The government's primary focus should be on promoting the commonweal of its citizens.
• It's important for everyone to work together for the common good.
• Let's all pitch in for the greater good of the community.
• The commonweal is like a garden that must be tended to by all members of society.

noun A word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea. In this case, 'congressional district' is a noun because it refers to a specific geographical area represented by a member of Congress.

• The candidate received overwhelming support in the congressional district.
• Everyone in the congressional district is talking about the upcoming election.
• The vibe in that congressional district is off the charts.
• The boundaries of the congressional district seemed to expand as more people showed up to vote.

noun a body of voters in a specified area who elect a representative to a legislative body

adjective relating to a particular group of people or voters

• The candidate focused on addressing the key issues facing their constituency.
• The MP promised to bring more funding to our constituency.
• I heard our constituency is getting a new community center.
• In a democracy, the constituents hold the power in their hands within their constituency.

noun a sudden, violent, and illegal seizure of power from a government

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• The military successfully executed a coup to overthrow the government.
• Did you hear about the coup that happened last night?
• The rebels pulled off a crazy coup to take control of the city.
• Her strategic move was like a political coup in the business world.

noun a person designated to act for or represent another or others; deputy; representative

verb to send or appoint (a person) as deputy or representative

• The delegate from the United States proposed a new resolution at the conference.
• I'll delegate the task to someone else since I don't have time to do it.
• Let's delegate this project to John, he'll get it done quickly.
• She decided to delegate her worries to the universe and focus on the present moment.

adjective relating to or supporting democracy or its principles

• The country's democratic system allows for free and fair elections.
• I appreciate living in a democratic society where my voice can be heard.
• Being able to vote is a key part of being in a democratic country.
• In a truly democratic environment, everyone's opinions are considered and valued.

verb to transfer or delegate (power, responsibility, etc.) to a lower level, especially from central government to local or regional administration

• The decision to devolve power to local governments was met with mixed reactions.
• The responsibility for organizing the event will devolve onto me if no one else steps up.
• I'm not sure how this situation devolved into such a mess.
• As the argument escalated, it seemed to devolve into a shouting match.

verb to free from entanglement or involvement

• It is necessary to disembroil the complex legal issues before proceeding with the case.
• I need to disembroil this mess before it gets any worse.
• Let's disembroil this drama and move on.
• Sometimes we need to disembroil our thoughts to find clarity in our decision-making process.

noun disagreement or conflict within a group, typically a political one

• The dissension among the board members led to a stalemate in decision-making.
• There was dissension in the group chat about where to meet for dinner.
• The dissension between them was causing major drama.
• The dissension in her mind made it hard for her to focus on anything else.

noun the exercise of control or influence over someone or something

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• The company's domination of the market was evident through its high market share.
• The team's domination on the field was impressive to watch.
• She totally dominated the dance floor with her killer moves.
• His domination over the conversation made it hard for anyone else to speak.

noun a body of people entitled to vote in an election

adjective relating to the electorate or the right to vote

• The candidate's platform was well-received by the electorate.
• The voters in the area really liked what the candidate had to say.
• The people in town were all about that candidate's message.
• The electorate is like a compass, guiding the direction of political change.

noun a complicated or confused situation; entanglement

• The company's legal embroilment with its former partner caused a delay in the project.
• I don't want to get involved in their embroilment, it's too messy.
• The embroilment between those two is like watching a soap opera.
• Her mind was a constant embroilment of conflicting thoughts and emotions.

noun a factor or circumstance that gives rise to a particular result

verb to produce, cause, or give rise to

• The new policy is expected to engender positive changes in the company.
• Her hard work will engender recognition from her peers.
• His actions are sure to engender some serious drama.
• The artist's work aims to engender a sense of nostalgia in the viewers.

noun the quality of being convenient and practical despite possibly being improper or immoral

• The decision was made based on expediency rather than long-term planning.
• We chose the fastest option for expediency's sake.
• Let's just go with the quick and dirty solution for expediency.
• Sometimes sacrificing expediency for thoroughness can lead to better outcomes in the long run.

adjective relating to or characteristic of federalism or federalists

• The federalistic system of government in the United States ensures a balance of power between the national and state levels.
• The federalistic approach allows different states to have some autonomy in decision-making.
• I don't really get all this federalistic stuff, but it seems like each state has its own say.
• In a federalistic relationship, each partner retains some independence while still being part of a larger whole.

verb to unite or join together in a federal union

• The countries decided to federate in order to strengthen their political and economic ties.
• The clubs in the neighborhood decided to federate to organize better events.
• Let's federate our efforts to make this project a success!
• The different departments of the company need to federate their resources to achieve the overall goal.

verb past tense of federate, meaning to unite or combine into a single group or organization

adjective describing a group or organization that is formed by separate organizations or groups working together

• The federated states worked together to establish a common trade agreement.
• The federated groups decided to pool their resources for the project.
• Let's join the federated crew for the event.
• The federated efforts of the team led to their success.

noun an organization or group within which smaller divisions have some degree of internal autonomy

• The federation of labor unions worked together to negotiate better working conditions for their members.
• I heard that the federation of local businesses is hosting a networking event next week.
• The federation of gamers organized a tournament to see who is the best player in town.
• The federation of ideas in the brainstorming session led to a breakthrough innovation.

noun A set of political goals that seeks to outline how a particular country will interact with other countries in the world.

• The country's foreign policy aims to promote diplomatic relations with other nations.
• The government's foreign policy is all about dealing with other countries.
• When it comes to foreign policy, it's all about playing nice with the other kids on the global playground.
• In the game of international politics, foreign policy is like chess - strategic moves determine success.

noun the practice of manipulating boundaries of an electoral constituency to favor one party or class

verb to manipulate the boundaries of an electoral constituency in order to favor one party or class

• The practice of gerrymandering involves manipulating the boundaries of electoral districts to favor a particular political party.
• Politicians often gerrymander districts to give themselves an advantage in elections.
• They're really good at pulling some shady gerrymandering tactics.
• Her ability to gerrymander her schedule allowed her to fit in all her appointments.

noun the group of people with the authority to govern a country or state; a system or organization that exercises authority over a community

• The government is implementing new policies to address the issue of climate change.
• The government is cracking down on tax evasion.
• The government is all about making that money.
• The government's reach is like a giant octopus with its many tentacles in different sectors.

noun a system of government in which a local city or town has the power to govern itself within the limits of the law

• The concept of home rule allows local governments to have more control over their own affairs.
• Home rule means that the city council gets to make more decisions without asking the state for permission.
• With home rule, the town can do its own thing without outside interference.
• In a way, practicing home rule is like being the captain of your own ship in local governance.

noun the state of holding a particular position, especially a political office

• The incumbent mayor is seeking reelection to continue his incumbency in office.
• The current boss is running for another term to stay in charge.
• The top dog is gunning for reelection to keep their spot.
• The incumbent's incumbency has been a steady ship in turbulent waters.

noun lack of suitability or fitness; inappropriateness

• The committee decided to avoid any inexpedience by carefully considering all possible outcomes before making a decision.
• It's best to think things through to prevent any inexpedience down the line.
• Let's not be dumb and do something that could cause inexpedience later on.
• The inexpedience of his actions weighed heavily on his conscience.

noun a principle or policy of cooperation among nations, often in the form of treaties or agreements

adjective relating to or characteristic of internationalism

• Internationalism is a political principle that advocates greater cooperation among nations.
• Many students at the university are passionate about internationalism and global issues.
• Some people think internationalism is just a fancy word for globalization.
• In the world of art, internationalism can be seen as the blending of different cultural influences.

noun a thing that is inside something else

adjective relating to the inside of something; located on the inside

• The company is conducting an internal investigation to address the issue.
• I heard there's some internal drama going on within the team.
• Let's keep this internal for now, we don't want it getting out to the public.
• She's struggling with some internal conflicts that are affecting her decision-making.

noun refusal to change one's views or to agree about something

• The diplomat's intransigence during the negotiation process hindered progress towards a resolution.
• His intransigence on the matter made it impossible to reach a compromise.
• Her intransigence was so annoying, it felt like banging my head against a wall.
• The intransigence of the old oak tree, refusing to bend even in the strongest winds, was a symbol of resilience.

noun the practice of exchanging favors, especially in politics, by reciprocal voting for each other's proposed legislation

• The practice of logrolling in politics involves exchanging favors to gain mutual support for legislative actions.
• I heard they were logrolling to get that new bill passed in Congress.
• Politicians are always logrolling to get what they want.
• In a figurative sense, logrolling can also refer to people working together to achieve a common goal.

adjective minimal in importance or significance

• The company decided to cut costs by reducing its marginal expenses.
• I only have a marginal interest in that topic.
• She's just a marginal player in the industry.
• His influence on the team is only marginal at best.

noun the improper or bad management of a country or organization

verb to govern or manage poorly or improperly

• The country was in a state of misrule due to the corrupt government officials.
• The misrule of the town council has caused chaos in our community.
• The misrule by the boss is making everyone miserable at work.
• The misrule of his emotions led to a series of poor decisions.

adjective not biased or partisan; impartial

• The organization is committed to providing nonpartisan analysis of public policy issues.
• The group aims to stay neutral and nonpartisan in their research.
• We gotta keep it nonpartisan, no bias allowed.
• Her nonpartisan approach to decision-making is like a breath of fresh air in a world full of political agendas.

noun the action of opposing or resisting something or someone

adjective relating to opposition or opposing parties or forces

adverb in a manner that opposes or resists

• The political party faced strong opposition from the public during the election.
• She always faces opposition from her siblings when it comes to choosing a movie to watch.
• The team's biggest rival is their opposition in the upcoming match.
• Despite facing opposition at every turn, she never gave up on her dreams.

adjective relating to or characterized by opposition

• The oppositional party presented a strong argument against the new legislation.
• She always takes the oppositional stance in our debates.
• I'm not feeling very oppositional today, let's just go with the flow.
• His oppositional behavior towards authority figures often gets him into trouble.

verb to subject to harsh and authoritarian treatment

adjective feeling burdened or weighed down by something

• The government must address the needs of the oppressed minority groups in our society.
• It's not fair how the system always seems to favor the rich and powerful while the rest of us feel oppressed.
• Some people feel really down and out, like they're constantly getting the short end of the stick.
• Her thoughts were like a dark cloud, constantly looming over her, making her feel oppressed.

noun a social group with which an individual does not identify

• The study aimed to analyze the dynamics of interactions between the in group and the out group.
• They don't really hang out with people from the out group.
• I heard they're not cool with the out group.
• In the game of politics, it's important to know how to navigate relationships with the out group.

noun the state of being plural or numerous

adjective relating to or consisting of a plurality

• The election results showed a clear plurality in favor of the incumbent candidate.
• Most people voted for the same candidate, so they won by a lot.
• The majority of folks went with that guy, so he's the winner.
• In a garden full of flowers, the rose stood out with its plurality of petals.

noun a city-state in ancient Greece, especially as considered in its ideal form for philosophical purposes

• The polis was the central political and administrative unit in ancient Greece.
• The polis was like a city-state in ancient Greece.
• The polis was where all the action went down back in the day.
• In modern times, the concept of a polis can be seen in tightly-knit communities.

noun a place where someone or something is located or has been put

verb to put someone or something in a particular place or location

• She was offered a prestigious position at the top law firm in the city.
• He landed a sweet position at that new startup.
• I heard she snagged a killer position at that tech company.
• In chess, the position of the pieces on the board is crucial for winning the game.

adjective a word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun, in this case 'privileged' describes someone who has special rights, advantages, or immunities.

• I am privileged to have the opportunity to work with such talented individuals.
• I feel privileged to be able to attend such an amazing event.
• I'm so lucky to have such a cool job, I feel privileged.
• Being able to travel the world is a privilege that not everyone is fortunate enough to experience.

verb to officially approve or confirm

• The treaty was ratified by all member states of the United Nations.
• The committee finally ratified the decision to move forward with the project.
• I heard they finally ratified that new rule at work.
• Her actions ratified her commitment to the cause.

noun a change in the way something is organized or structured

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• The company underwent a realignment of its departments to improve efficiency.
• We're going through a realignment at work, so things might be a bit chaotic for a while.
• The team had a realignment of roles, so now we're all doing something different.
• The realignment of priorities in his life led to a happier and more fulfilling existence.

noun the improvement or amendment of what is wrong, corrupt, unsatisfactory, etc.

verb to make changes in something in order to improve it

• The government is planning to implement a series of reform measures to improve the economy.
• They're talking about making some changes to the system to fix things.
• They're gonna shake things up and make some tweaks to the way things are run.
• Like a caterpillar transforming into a butterfly, the reform will bring about a new and improved system.

noun a person or thing that represents someone or something

adjective typical of a class, group, or body of opinion

• The company's representative will be attending the meeting to discuss the new product line.
• Our rep will be at the meeting to talk about the new products.
• The company's rep will be there to chat about the new stuff.
• The spokesperson acts as a representative for the company in all public matters.

verb to withdraw formally from an alliance, federation, or association, as from a political union, a religious organization, etc.

• The region attempted to secede from the country, but faced strong opposition from the government.
• Some people think it would be cool if California tried to secede from the US.
• If they don't agree with the decision, they can just secede and do their own thing.
• It's like trying to secede from your own thoughts - sometimes you just can't break free from them.

noun a wise and skillful lawgiver

• The solon proposed a new bill to address the issue of climate change.
• The solon is working on a new law about recycling.
• That solon is always coming up with new rules.
• The solon's ideas were like a beacon of hope in the political landscape.

noun a person who is seeking to gain something from someone, especially through marriage or a romantic relationship

• The suitor presented a bouquet of flowers to the young lady as a gesture of his affection.
• Her suitor keeps texting her non-stop, it's getting annoying.
• That suitor dude is always trying to slide into her DMs.
• The company is considering multiple suitors for a potential merger.

adjective describing something that is not controlled or regulated

• The region was in chaos due to the ungoverned nature of its borders.
• The backyard had become ungoverned territory for the neighborhood kids.
• The party turned into an ungoverned mess once the parents left.
• Her emotions were like an ungoverned storm, unpredictable and fierce.

verb to make or become united, uniform, or whole

• The goal of the project is to unify all departments under one cohesive strategy.
• Let's unify our efforts to make sure we meet the deadline.
• We need to all get on the same page and unify our approach.
• Music has the power to unify people from different backgrounds and cultures.

noun a voting system used to elect a single winner from a field of more than two candidates

• Instant-runoff voting is a preferential voting system used to elect one candidate from a pool of multiple candidates.
• Have you heard about instant-runoff voting? It's a way to rank your choices in an election.
• IRV is a cool voting system where you can pick your favorite candidate without worrying about wasting your vote.
• Using instant-runoff voting is like having multiple chances to vote for your preferred candidate until one emerges as the winner.

noun A person who is a member of a think tank, an organization that conducts research and provides advice on specific issues.

• The thinktanker presented a well-researched report on economic policy.
• I heard that thinktanker is really knowledgeable about climate change.
• That thinktanker is a total brainiac when it comes to technology trends.
• As a thinktanker in the field of education, she is always coming up with innovative ideas.

noun Global apartheid refers to the unequal treatment and segregation of people on a global scale based on factors such as race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status.

adjective Global is relating to or involving the whole world.

• The concept of global apartheid refers to the unequal distribution of resources and opportunities among different countries.
• Global apartheid is like when some countries have everything and others have almost nothing.
• It's messed up how global apartheid keeps certain countries in poverty while others thrive.
• The divide between the rich and poor nations can be seen as a form of global apartheid.

noun a method used for allocating seats in proportional representation voting systems

• The political party used the d’Hondt method to allocate seats in the parliament.
• They decided to use the d’Hondt method for dividing the resources.
• Let's just go with the d’Hondt method for splitting the bill.
• In a way, life sometimes operates like the d’Hondt method, distributing opportunities based on certain criteria.

noun a stock of goodwill and trust that a politician has built up, which they can use to gain support or accomplish goals

adjective relating to politics or government

• The senator used his political capital to push through the new legislation.
• The mayor spent all his political capital on that controversial decision.
• She's got a lot of political capital with the party leaders.
• In the world of business, trust is a form of political capital.

noun A word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea. In this phrase, 'state' is a noun that refers to the condition or situation of someone or something.

adjective A word that describes or modifies a noun. In this phrase, 'absolute' is an adjective that emphasizes the completeness or extremeness of the state being described.

preposition A word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence. In this phrase, 'of' is a preposition that indicates possession or association between 'the absolute state' and 'someone or something.'

• The absolute state of the economy is concerning to many financial experts.
• Did you see the absolute state of her outfit? It's a disaster.
• I can't believe the absolute state of that party last night, it was a hot mess.
• The absolute state of his mental health is worrisome, he really needs help.

noun a process or theory in which economic benefits gained by the wealthy are believed to ultimately benefit those of lower socioeconomic status

adjective describing the process or theory of trickle-up economics

• The concept of trickle-up economics suggests that by increasing the wealth of the lower and middle classes, the overall economy will benefit.
• Trickle-up theory says that if regular people have more money to spend, it helps everyone.
• Trickle-up means that when the little guys get a piece of the pie, it eventually makes its way to the top.
• Just like a trickle-up effect, small acts of kindness can eventually make a big impact on society.

noun a disagreement or difference of opinion

adjective relating to disagreement or dissent

• The dissensus among the members of the committee led to a prolonged debate.
• There was dissensus within the group about which movie to watch.
• The dissensus between the two friends caused tension in their relationship.
• The dissensus in opinions created a storm of conflicting ideas.

noun the practice of engaging in diplomacy through secret or indirect means

• Backdoor diplomacy is often used by countries to resolve conflicts discreetly.
• Politicians sometimes resort to backdoor diplomacy to avoid public scrutiny.
• Let's try some backdoor diplomacy to smooth things over without anyone knowing.
• In relationships, backdoor diplomacy can be a way to address issues without confrontation.

noun a person who opposes or fights against something

adjective opposing or attacking

• The oppugnant arguments presented by the opposition were easily refuted by the expert debater.
• I can't believe how oppugnant my brother is being about the family vacation plans.
• Why are you being so oppugnant about trying the new restaurant? Just give it a chance!
• The darkness was oppugnant to the light, constantly trying to overpower it.

noun the study or academic discipline focused on the Soviet Union and its politics, society, and culture

• Sovietology is the study of the Soviet Union, its politics, society, and culture.
• I'm taking a Sovietology class next semester to learn more about the history of Russia.
• Sovietology sounds like a boring subject, but it's actually quite fascinating.
• In the realm of international relations, Sovietology remains a valuable area of expertise despite the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

noun a group of people who have the power to select a leader or make decisions

• The selectorate of voters plays a crucial role in determining the outcome of elections.
• The selectorate is basically the group of people who decide who wins the election.
• The selectorate is like the VIP club that gets to choose the winner.
• In the game of politics, the selectorate holds the key to power.

noun the act of redrawing the boundaries of electoral districts

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• The process of redistricting is necessary to ensure fair representation in political elections.
• They're talking about redistricting again, trying to figure out how to divide up the voting areas.
• I heard they're pulling some shady moves with the redistricting to try and gain more power.
• In a way, redistricting is like rearranging the pieces on a chess board to gain an advantage.

verb to transfer the ownership of something, especially property or rights, to another person

• The property owner decided to abalienate his land to a developer.
• She had to abalienate her car after it broke down for the third time.
• I heard he's planning to abalienate his old gaming console to make some extra cash.
• Sometimes we have to abalienate our fears in order to move forward in life.

noun a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea

preposition a word that shows the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence

• The accumulation of power in the hands of a few can lead to corruption and abuse of authority.
• When one person has all the power, things can get pretty messy.
• Having all that power is like being the big boss in charge of everything.
• The accumulation of power can be like holding a double-edged sword, with both benefits and risks.

noun A suffix forming abstract nouns from adjectives, typically expressing a state or quality.

• The company's policy clearly outlines the importance of transparency and accuracy in financial reporting.
• She always double-checks her work to make sure there's no inaccuracy.
• I can't believe the audacity of that guy to lie straight to our faces!
• His mastery of the guitar is unparalleled, showcasing his musical fluency and dexterity.

noun the act of granting freedom or citizenship, especially to a formerly enslaved person

• The affranchisement of the slaves was a significant milestone in the country's history.
• The affranchisement of the workers led to better working conditions for everyone.
• Dude, the affranchisement of that group was long overdue.
• The affranchisement of the mind is just as important as physical freedom.