Key Terms in Policy

Lobbyist

• A person who organizes protests against government policies.

• A person whose job it is to contact elected officials and convince them to vote a particular way on proposed laws; often employed by interest groups.

• A government official responsible for creating new laws.

• A citizen who votes in elections.

Constitution

• A document that outlines the laws of a country.

• A set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed.

• A collection of historical events that shaped a nation.

• A treaty between two or more countries.

Interest Groups

• Organizations created to press for new laws and policies their members favor.

• Groups that oppose any changes in existing laws.

• Organizations that focus solely on fundraising for political campaigns.

• Coalitions that aim to promote international relations.

Propaganda

• Biased information that is misleading, used to promote a cause or point of view.

• Objective information presented to inform the public.

• Neutral data used for statistical analysis.

• Creative content designed for entertainment purposes.

Forum

• A place where ideas can be exchanged.

• A type of online game.

• A gathering for sports events.

• A location for shopping and dining.

Global Economy

• The interconnected trade and business around the world.

• A system of local markets operating independently.

• A network of national currencies without any trade.

• A collection of isolated economies with no interaction.

Policymakers

• A person responsible for making policy

• A type of government official

• An individual who enforces laws

• A citizen who votes in elections

Public Agenda

• Topics that are at the top of the public’s concerns and have the attention of political leaders.

• Issues that are only relevant to political leaders and not the public.

• A list of private interests that do not affect the general population.

• Concerns that are only discussed in academic circles.

Pandemic

• A disease that is localized to a specific area.

• A disease that spreads rapidly among a population.

• A disease widespread over a whole country or world.

• A disease that is easily treatable with medication.

Lobbying

• Seeking to influence legislators to introduce or vote against a bill.

• A method of public speaking to persuade citizens.

• A process of gathering public opinion on legislation.

• A technique for fundraising for political campaigns.