Political science

Political science

The social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics.

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Political science

figurehead

Politics; Political Science

Someone who is nominally in a position of authority but who holds no real power.

Holding up legislation or other business in the U.S. Senate by organizing continuous speeches in opposition so that no vote can be taken. It needs 60 Senators to vote to end a filibuster. Filibusters ...

fireside chat

Politics; Political Science

The term has its origins in the radio addresses given by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1930s. Roosevelt aimed for informality, to convey the impression that he was speaking directly to all ...

fiscal policy

Politics; Political Science

The use government makes of its taxing and spending powers to achieve particular ends, such as the rate of growth of the money supply, the amount of the budget deficit or surplus. Fiscal policy ...

foreign policy

Politics; Political Science

The objectives pursued by a state in its dealings with other states, and the methods and course of action used to pursue them. P. A. Reynolds, in An Introduction to International Relations, defines ...

fourth estate

Politics; Political Science

The press, and other media. The term was first used in England in the eighteenth century. Estate means the same as class, the other three being nobility, commoners, and clergy.

franchise

Politics; Political Science

A privilege granted to an individual or a corporation by a government to operate a business. The term also refers to a practice in the retail trade where a company (the franchisor) gives another ...