No jargon. No spin. Just clear definitions of the terms that shape American politics.
A fee imposed on fossil fuel producers or users based on the amount of carbon dioxide emitted when their products are burned. By making pollution more expensive, a carbon tax creates a market incentive to switch to cleaner energy sources without the government picking winners.
A 2010 Supreme Court decision that ruled corporations and unions can spend unlimited money on political advertising, as long as they don't coordinate directly with candidates. The ruling treated corporate spending as protected free speech and opened the floodgates to unlimited outside money in elections.
An electoral system where voters rank candidates by preference instead of choosing just one. If no candidate wins a majority of first-choice votes, the last-place candidate is eliminated and their voters' second choices are redistributed — repeating until someone wins a true majority.
A discriminatory practice in which services — especially mortgage lending and insurance — are withheld from residents of certain areas based on the racial or ethnic composition of those neighborhoods. Though outlawed in 1968, its effects persist in vast wealth and homeownership gaps today.
A provision of the Communications Decency Act that protects internet platforms from liability for user-generated content. It allows websites to host user posts without being treated as the publisher of that content, while also letting them moderate harmful material without losing that protection.
A healthcare system where one entity — usually the government — pays for all healthcare costs, replacing private insurance companies. Doctors and hospitals remain private; the government simply acts as the bill-payer, eliminating the administrative waste of hundreds of competing insurers.
If you're just starting to learn about American politics and policy, this glossary is a great place to begin. Each term is explained in plain English with real-world context — no textbooks, no spin, no assumed knowledge.
These definitions are just the starting point. Dive into our research-backed policy guides, explore our 50-issue platform, or see how we compare to the major parties.