| No. | Term | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Absentee ballot | Ballot cast without attending the polling place. |
| 2. | Accessibility | Ensuring voting is usable for people with disabilities. |
| 3. | Administrative law | Rules governing agencies’ actions and decisions. |
| 4. | Amendment | Formal change to a constitution or law. |
| 5. | Ballot | List of choices used to cast a vote. |
| 6. | Ballot initiative | Proposed law submitted directly to voters. |
| 7. | Bicameral legislature | Law-making body with two chambers. |
| 8. | Biometric ID | Identity verification using physical characteristics. |
| 9. | Budget | Planned government revenues and spending for a period. |
| 10. | Cabinet | Senior executive officials advising the head of government. |
| 11. | Campaign finance | Rules on raising and spending election money. |
| 12. | Caucus | Party meeting to choose candidates or priorities. |
| 13. | Census | Official count of population for representation and resources. |
| 14. | Citizenship | Legal membership in a country with rights and duties. |
| 15. | Civil service | Nonpolitical government workforce hired by merit systems. |
| 16. | Coalition government | Governing alliance of multiple parties sharing power. |
| 17. | Constituency | Voters represented by an elected official. |
| 18. | Constitution | Foundational legal framework defining government powers and rights. |
| 19. | Court order | Binding directive issued by a judge. |
| 20. | Debate | Public discussion where candidates compare policies and records. |
| 21. | Delegation | Group representing a state, district, or organization. |
| 22. | Democracy | System where people choose leaders through elections. |
| 23. | Department | Major administrative unit handling a policy area. |
| 24. | District | Geographic area used for electoral representation. |
| 25. | Due process | Fair legal procedures before government deprives rights. |
| 26. | Election | Process of choosing officials or deciding measures. |
| 27. | Election administration | Officials and procedures running elections and counting votes. |
| 28. | Electoral college | Body that formally elects a president in some systems. |
| 29. | Electoral roll | Official list of eligible voters. |
| 30. | Eligibility | Meeting legal requirements to vote or run. |
| 31. | Emergency powers | Extra authority granted during crises under law. |
| 32. | Enfranchisement | Granting the right to vote to people. |
| 33. | Executive branch | Government branch that implements and enforces laws. |
| 34. | Exit poll | Survey of voters taken after casting ballots. |
| 35. | Federalism | Power shared between national and regional governments. |
| 36. | Filibuster | Procedure delaying a vote by extended debate. |
| 37. | Fiscal year | Government accounting period for budgeting and reporting. |
| 38. | Freedom of information | Public right to access government records. |
| 39. | Gerrymandering | Redrawing districts to advantage a party or group. |
| 40. | Government shutdown | Pause of nonessential services due to funding lapse. |
| 41. | Governor | Elected head of a state or region. |
| 42. | Grassroots organizing | Local citizen-led efforts to influence politics. |
| 43. | Habeas corpus | Right to challenge unlawful detention in court. |
| 44. | Hearing | Formal meeting to gather testimony or evidence. |
| 45. | Impeachment | Process to charge and potentially remove officials. |
| 46. | Incumbent | Current officeholder seeking reelection or holding the post. |
| 47. | Independent agency | Government body operating with limited political control. |
| 48. | Injunction | Court order requiring or prohibiting specific actions. |
| 49. | Insider trading | Illegal trading using nonpublic, material information. |
| 50. | Judicial review | Courts’ power to invalidate unconstitutional laws or actions. |
| 51. | Jurisdiction | Legal authority of a court or government body. |
| 52. | Justice department | Agency responsible for law enforcement and legal affairs. |
| 53. | Kickback | Illegal payment for favorable treatment in contracts. |
| 54. | Lame duck | Official nearing term end with reduced influence. |
| 55. | Law | Rule enacted and enforced by a governing authority. |
| 56. | Legislative branch | Government branch that debates and passes laws. |
| 57. | Lobbying | Efforts to influence lawmakers or officials’ decisions. |
| 58. | Mandate | Authority granted by voters or law to act. |
| 59. | Mayoral election | Election to choose a city’s mayor. |
| 60. | Minister | Head of a government department in many systems. |
| 61. | Minority leader | Top leader of the smaller party in a chamber. |
| 62. | Municipality | Local government unit such as city or town. |
| 63. | Nomination | Official selection of a candidate by a party. |
| 64. | Nonpartisan | Not officially affiliated with a political party. |
| 65. | Notice-and-comment | Rulemaking process inviting public input on proposed rules. |
| 66. | Oath of office | Sworn promise to uphold duties and laws. |
| 67. | Ombudsman | Independent official investigating complaints against agencies. |
| 68. | Open meeting law | Rules requiring government meetings be accessible to public. |
| 69. | Opposition | Party or group challenging the governing leadership. |
| 70. | Ordinance | Local law enacted by a municipal authority. |
| 71. | Parliament | Legislative body in parliamentary systems. |
| 72. | Petition | Formal written request signed by supporters. |
| 73. | Platform | Political party’s stated policies and goals. |
| 74. | Poll worker | Election official assisting voters and managing procedures. |
| 75. | Polling place | Location where voters cast ballots in person. |
| 76. | Primary election | Election to choose a party’s candidate for office. |
| 77. | Proportional representation | Seats allocated roughly by vote share. |
| 78. | Public records | Documents created or held by government bodies. |
| 79. | Quorum | Minimum members required to conduct official business. |
| 80. | Ranked-choice voting | Voters rank candidates; counting uses preferences. |
| 81. | Recall election | Vote to remove an elected official early. |
| 82. | Referendum | Direct vote on a specific proposal or law. |
| 83. | Regulation | Agency rule implementing and interpreting a law. |
| 84. | Representative democracy | Voters elect officials to decide on their behalf. |
| 85. | Runoff election | Follow-up election when no candidate wins required threshold. |
| 86. | Sanctions | Penalties imposed to compel compliance or punish actions. |
| 87. | Secretary of state | Official overseeing elections and state records in many states. |
| 88. | Separation of powers | Dividing authority among branches to prevent abuse. |
| 89. | Special election | Election held outside regular schedule to fill vacancies. |
| 90. | Statute | Law passed by a legislature. |
| 91. | Subpoena | Legal order to appear or produce evidence. |
| 92. | Sunshine law | Law promoting transparency in government actions. |
| 93. | Tax code | Body of laws governing taxation. |
| 94. | Term limit | Legal cap on time an official may serve. |
| 95. | Treaty | Binding international agreement ratified under constitutional procedures. |
| 96. | Turnout | Proportion of eligible voters who cast ballots. |
| 97. | Veto | Executive power to reject legislation passed by legislature. |
| 98. | Voter ID law | Rule requiring identification to vote. |
| 99. | Voter registration | Process of enrolling to be eligible to vote. |
| 100. | Voting rights | Legal protections ensuring equal access to voting. |