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.

Immigration & Borders Cassie Immigration & Borders Cassie

Deportation

The legal process in which a government removes a non-citizen for violating immigration laws. Deportation is involuntary, carried out by the state, and follows a formal legal process. It differs from voluntary return and does not imply criminal conviction.

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