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stimulus package a very large spending package legislated by Congress to help revive a flagging econ­omy, by creating work, funding various infrastructure projects, and sometimes also cutting taxes.

straw man a weak opponent or weak argument set up intentionally to be easily vanquished.

straw vote a sample or informal vote or poll taken before an election. Also known as a straw poll.

stump to make speeches in an election campaign.

suffrage the right to vote.

sunset clause a provision in a regulation that expires after a set amount of time and must be voted on to maintain it after the termination date.

supply side economics an economic engine through which growth is spurred by boosting profit motive and by cutting income and capital gains taxes, for the wealthy and big businesses.

swing vote the population of people who vote for a candidate and not necessarily for the candidate's party affiliation.

swing voter one who has the power to decide an election one way or the other.

table a bill to kill a bill or to remove it from con­sideration.

teller vote a House vote characterized by members passing by tellers who count them as either "for" or "against."

totalitarian authoritarian, highly controlling of the people.

trickle-down economics an economic strategy in which taxes are cut for businesses and the wealthy, thereby, in theory, providing heightened profit incen­tive, which in turn results in expansion of new busi­ness and the creation of more jobs for the middle and lower classes.

trickle-down theory the economic theory that giv­ing aid to corporations, for example, in the form of tax breaks or other benefits, results in a trickling down of benefits for employees and other citizens, ultimately resulting in stimulating the economy.

two-party system a political system having only two major parties, as in the United States.

unilateralism the use of military force without the assistance of other nations.

USA PATRIOT Act acronym for Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism, a bill signed into law in 2001 in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks to broaden the powers of law enforcement to conduct surveillance and searches, to tap phone lines, to inspect e-mails and financial records, and to detain foreign suspects on U.S. soil.

veto a president's objection to a bill in which the bill is returned unsigned to a legislature.

voice vote a vote in which all in favor say "yea" and all opposed say "no" or "nay."

vox populi Latin term for "voice of the people," a belief that the people as a whole have the ability to make the best political decisions.

waffle to hedge; to be wishy-washy and uncommit­ted to an opinion; to use weasel words.

Ways and Means Committee the tax-writing and other revenue-raising committee of the House of Rep­resentatives that oversees Social Security, Medicare, and unemployment benefits. All new tax bills must pass through this committee.

weasel words ambiguous or unclear language used by politicians.

welfare state a government that provides an eco­nomic safety net (welfare) to its citizens.

whip the assistant to the leader of a party in the House or Senate.

witch-hunt a hysterical investigation with rampant finger-pointing and blame-casting.

write-in on a ballot, the writing in of a candidate's name by a voter.

Government Forms, systems, and Philosophies

anarchy the complete absence of a governing force.

aristocracy a governing body composed of people born of upper-class parentage, with power handed down from generation to generation.

autarchy absolute power or sovereignty; a country under such rule.

autocracy a government or nation ruled by one powerful person, as a dictator.

autonomy independence from outside influence or rule.

Bill of Rights the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, which guarantee, among other rights, the freedom of religious worship, of the press, and of assembly, and the rights to petition the government and to keep and bear arms.

capitalism an economic system based on free enter­prise, in which property, companies, shops, etc., are privately owned and products and services are pro­duced for profit.

collective any operation or governing system con­trolled by all the workers involved.

collectivism ownership and control of an operation or governing system by the people involved in it.

colonialism the governing or control of a depen­dency by a governing nation.

common law collective term for all the customary laws and principles handed down in society through the generations.