Terms Glossary

Majority leader is an elected position in the United States Congress, typically held by a member of the majority party in the House or Senate. It is the role of the majority leader to ensure that the party's agenda is advanced through the legislative process. The majority leader is responsible for k...

A majority party is the political party or group of parties that holds the majority of seats in a legislative body. This is usually determined by the percentage of seats they hold in the body, with a majority generally considered as 51% or more. A majority party is often seen as the party in power a...

Majority rule is a key principle in democratic governance. Majority rule means that the option or candidate that receives more than half of the votes in an election wins. In this way, decisions are agreed upon by the majority of the population, rather than by a minority or a select few.

Mandate is a term used to describe a legal or political order, often issued by a government or party, requiring a particular action or behavior. It can also be used to describe a popular mandate, meaning widespread public support for a particular political decision. Mandates are usually preceded by ...

A manifesto is a public declaration of principles, intentions, or motives. Manifestos can be issued by a political party, movement, or influential person. Manifestos are often used to outline a group's goals and policies in a concise and persuasive manner. Their goal is to rally support and inform t...

Marginalization is the process by which certain groups are systematically pushed to the edges of society, limiting their access to resources, opportunities, and decision-making power.

Mayor-council government is a common form of local government in the United States, where control is shared between an elected mayor and an elected city council. It resembles the way power is separated in our federal government: the mayor serves as the executive, and the council serves as the legisl...

Media consolidation refers to the concentration of media ownership, where a few large companies control the majority of media outlets, including television, radio, newspapers, and book publishing.

A Megadonor is an individual who makes extraordinarily large political donations to a candidate, political party, or organization. These donations are often in the millions of dollars and greatly exceed the legal limits of donations set by the Federal Election Commission. Megadonors are often major ...

A merit system is a type of civil service system designed to reward and recruit talented individuals based on their abilities and qualifications, rather than through patronage or nepotism. It is a form of government hiring that is based on merit, meaning that those who demonstrate superior skills an...

A midterm election is a type of election that takes place during the midpoint of the President's four-year term. It is held two years after the Presidential election and is used to elect members of the House of Representatives, one-third of the Senate, and Governors in some states.

Militarism is the reliance on military technology, military power, and the use of military force to achieve political goals. It is a system of government that favors the use of military power over other means of solving international and domestic disputes. Militarism has a long history in the United...

In the United States, a Mine Inspector is an elected or appointed official who is responsible for enforcing mining laws and regulations to ensure the safety of miners and the environment. The specific duties of the Mine Inspector vary from state to state, but generally include inspecting mines, inve...

A minor party is a political party that is not one of the two major parties in the United States (the Democrats and Republicans). Minor parties can include a wide range of organizations and ideologies, from the Libertarian Party and the Green Party to the Constitution Party and the Reform Party.

A minority leader is an elected political leader who represents the minority opinion in a legislative body. The minority leader is usually a representative from a smaller political party, or a minority group within a larger political party, and is charged with protecting the interests and concerns o...

A minority party is a political party that does not hold the majority of seats in a legislature or governing body. This party may still have a voice in government, but its influence is limited by the number of seats it holds. Minority parties may be reform-minded, advocating for change in the existi...

A moderate is a person or politician who holds political views that fall between conservative and liberal positions.

Money laundering is the process of disguising the origins of illegally obtained money, typically by means of transfers involving foreign banks or legitimate businesses. This deceptive practice is not merely a financial crime; it is an enabler of broader criminal activities and a contributor to the e...

Mudslinging is the practice of a political candidate or party attacking the reputation of another candidate or party to gain an advantage in an election. This form of negative campaigning often involves making exaggerated or misleading claims about an opponent, with the aim of damaging their public ...

A multi-member district is a system of electoral representation wherein two or more seats are assigned to a given constituency. This form of representation is an alternative to the traditional single-member district, which assigns one seat to each constituency, and it is often viewed as a more equit...

Municipal is a term referring to the governance of a city or town by elected representatives of the community. Municipal governance typically involves the organization of local services, such as the police, fire department, health services, and sanitation, as well as the funding of those services. I...

A municipality is an administrative entity made up of the residents of a city, town, or other district with local self-governance. A municipality serves as the organizational structure through which local decisions are made and local services are provided. Depending on the country and region, munici...