Words Matter
A plain-language glossary for the words that shape public life.
Political Systems & Ideologies
Government structures and political philosophies that shape how power is distributed, who makes decisions, and how authority is justified. These terms are often used loosely. This section pins down their actual meanings and explains how they function in practice.
Shadow Docket
The Supreme Court’s emergency decisions and procedural orders issued without full briefing or explanation. These fast, often unsigned rulings can have significant legal and policy effects.
Revolution
The rapid replacement of a political or social system, driven by collective mobilization and the collapse of existing authority. It differs from reform because it creates a new governing order rather than adjusting the old one.
Libertarian
A political ideology that emphasizes individual freedom, limited government, and strong protections for personal and economic choice. Libertarianism prioritizes restricting state power, favoring free markets and narrowly defined government functions.
Jurisdiction
The legal authority of a government, court, or agency to make decisions or enforce laws. It can be based on geography, subject matter, or institutional role and determines which body has the power to act in a given situation.
Civic Literacy
Civic literacy is the ability to understand how public systems work and how to navigate them. It includes knowledge of governmental structures, rights, responsibilities, and the practical skills needed to engage effectively in public life.
Representation
Representation is the principle that elected officials act on behalf of the people who choose them. It is a foundational element of democratic governance, providing a structured way for public preferences to influence policy. Representation determines who has a voice in decision-making and whose interests shape institutions.
Nationalism
The belief that a nation—a group with shared identity, culture, or history—should have political self-determination. It emphasizes loyalty to the nation above other identities. Nationalism can support independence movements, unify societies, or justify exclusion and conflict.
Sovereignty
The supreme legal and political authority of a state to govern itself without external interference. It is the foundational principle of the modern international system, defining who has the right to make laws, control territory, and represent a population.
Liberalism
A political philosophy centered on individual rights, civil liberties, the rule of law, and limits on concentrated power. While modern partisan uses of “liberal” vary widely, the underlying liberal tradition seeks to ensure that governments protect personal freedoms and remain accountable to the public.
Conservatism
A political philosophy that emphasizes preserving established institutions, traditions, and social order. It generally favors cautious, incremental change over rapid transformation. While its specific policy positions vary by country and period, its core purpose is to maintain continuity and stability in public life.
Communism
A political and economic ideology envisioning a classless society with collective ownership of the means of production. In theory, wealth and power would be distributed based on need rather than market forces or private property. In practice, regimes identifying as communist have often centralized authority in a single party-state.
Fascism
An authoritarian nationalist ideology that seeks to centralize power under a strong leader while suppressing opposition, dissent, and pluralism. Historically, fascist movements emphasize mass mobilization, militarism, mythic national unity, and the subordination of individual rights to the state.
Federalism
A constitutional arrangement in which power is divided between a national government and regional governments such as states or provinces. Each level has its own legal authority, responsibilities, and mechanisms for governance. Tension over these boundaries is a defining feature, not a flaw.
Democracy
A system of government in which political authority ultimately comes from the people. Citizens participate in selecting leaders, shaping public policy, and holding institutions accountable. Democratic systems vary widely, but they generally rely on competitive elections, rule of law, protections for dissent, and mechanisms that limit the abuse of power.