Terms Glossary

Watchdog journalism is a type of investigative journalism that is devoted to monitoring the activities of government and other powerful institutions. It is a type of reform-minded journalism that seeks to hold these institutions accountable for their actions and to expose any corrupt practices. Watc...

A weak-mayor system is a form of mayor–council government where the mayor has limited executive authority and the city council holds more power. In this arrangement, the mayor’s role is often more ceremonial. Day-to-day administration is shared or led largely by the council or by department heads wh...

Web 3.0 is the term used to describe the development of the internet as a platform to facilitate more independent and decentralized forms of online activity. It is a movement toward promoting a more democratic, open-source, and transparent online experience. It involves the use of cryptography and o...

Welfare capitalism is a system of economic policies, laws, and regulations that prioritize the welfare of corporations, investors, and other large business interests over the welfare of individuals and the general public. This system of economic policies is commonly seen in countries with strong two...

A welfare state is a system of government that provides for the social and economic well-being of its citizens. It is characterized by extensive government intervention in the form of regulation, taxation, and public spending. Examples of welfare states include the United States, France, and many Sc...

In American politics, a whip is a party member appointed to ensure its elected members vote in line with the party's official stance. Whips are appointed by the party's leadership and are tasked with enforcing the party's line on key votes, such as the budget or major legislation. Whips have access ...

A whistleblower is an individual, typically a current or former employee of an organization, who reports misconduct or illegal activity to the authorities. This definition can be applied to many different scenarios, such as a government employee reporting fraud or misuse of public funds, or a corpor...

The "winner-take-all" system, also known as "first-past-the-post" or "plurality voting," is an electoral mechanism where the candidate who receives the most votes in an election wins, regardless of whether they achieve an absolute majority. This system is predominant in the United States, particular...

Withdrawal of candidacy refers to the act of a candidate officially removing their name from a political race. This is usually done when the candidate feels that they would not be successful or they lack the support needed to win the race.

The Working Families Party is a national grassroots progressive organization that seeks to bring independent and reform-minded candidates to the ballot box. The political party is dedicated to advancing a progressive agenda that benefits all working families and communities. This includes fighting f...

A write-in candidate is someone who runs for office but does not have their name on the ballot. Instead, voters have to physically write in the candidate's name on the ballot. Write-in candidates are often used as a last-minute alternative when a desired candidate did not make it through the primary...