Government, in plain language.

A small reference for words that make a big difference.

Branch

A division of government with a distinct role: legislative, executive, or judicial.

Level of government

Federal, state, and local refer to governments with different areas of authority. A state legislature is separate from Congress.

Congress

The federal legislature, made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Office

A public role with defined responsibilities, such as U.S. senator.

Seat

One specific position within an institution. Each state has two seats in the U.S. Senate.

Officeholder

The person occupying an office at a particular time. An incumbent is the current officeholder.

District

A defined geographic area used for representation or administration. Congressional, state legislative, and judicial districts can use different boundaries and repeat the same numbers.

Term

The period of service attached to an office. A regular U.S. Senate term is six years.

Election cycle

The recurring schedule on which an office or seat is elected.

Senate class

One of three groups of Senate seats with staggered election years. A class is an election group, not a geographic district or rank.

Primary election

An election used to choose party nominees or, in some systems, determine which candidates advance. Rules vary by jurisdiction.

General election

The election that selects the officeholder from the candidates who qualified for that ballot.

Midterm election

A federal general election held midway through a president’s four-year term.

Special election

An election held to fill a vacancy. Its timing can differ from the regular cycle.

Appointed

Selected through a legally defined appointment process, rather than a public election for that position.