Shannon Keough1. Democratic Party: Favor liberal positions. Examples: opposition to Iraq war, global warming and diplomacy over military action.
2. Republican Party: Often called “conservative.” Favors free markets and private property. Wants personal freedom over equality.
3. Free market: Economic system in which prices and wages are determined by unrestricted competition between businesses, without government regulation.
4. Electoral college: The body which formally chooses the president of the United States.
5. Head of State: holds the highest positions in national government.
6. Democracy: Form of government, which the supreme power is vested in and exercised directly by the people.
7. Laissez-faire: Theory that believes the government should not interfere in the direction of economic affairs.
8. Veto: Authorized power of the president to reject legislation passed by congress.
9. Political spectrum: a term used to refer to the differences in ideology between the major political parties in the U.S. The right wing is Republican, the left wing is Democrat.
10. Affirmative action: Laws mandating increased numbers of women and minorities, especially in employment. This policy was designed to improve the lives of those discriminated against in the past.
