Political science

Political science

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

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Political science

Preamble

Politics; Political Science

An introduction to a law or constitution that describes its purpose.

A survey taken of a representative cross section of the general public to determine its views on a particular matter. Public opinion polls today are conducted for almost every conceivable topic-from ...

Public interest

Politics; Political Science

The common good or welfare of all. In practise it would be difficult to find complete agreement on what is in the "public interest." Once one gets beyond generalities and platitudes (it is not in the ...

Public works

Politics; Political Science

Construction projects for public use, such as roads and bridges. Sometimes a government will take recourse to such measures in times of economic recession, as a form of "pump priming,"-the belief ...

Public opinion

Politics; Political Science

A generally held attitude toward a particular issue in a community, as in public opinion favoured or did not favour a reform of the health care system. Public opinion, which can be evaluated through ...

Purge

Politics; Political Science

To get rid of party members and other citizens who are not toeing the official party line, or who are perceived as a potential or actual threat. Purges are usually associated with totalitarian ...

Puppet regime

Politics; Political Science

A regime that is controlled by the government of another state. For example, Vichy France, which refers to the French government after France fell to the Germans in World War II, was a puppet regime, ...