• Absentee Ballot - A way to vote by mail if you can’t go to your polling place on Election Day.

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• Bill - A proposal for a new law or to change a law that already exists.

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• Board of Elections - The group that organizes and manages elections in a county.

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• Cabinet – The Cabinet is a group of the president’s top advisors. It includes the vice president, department heads, and other high-level officials. Cabinet members run their departments and give advice to the president, who leads the meetings. They do not make decisions together as a group, and all members report directly to the president. Before their appointment, most cabinet members must be confirmed by the Senate.

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• City Council – A group of elected individuals who make decisions for your city. In Cleveland, council members are elected every 4 years. Each council person represents one of Cleveland’s 15 wards. After being elected, city council members are responsible for addressing the needs of their constituents. They also work with the mayor on decisions like how to spend tax dollars.

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• Congress - Made up of the Senate and House of Representatives. Together, they make and approve laws for the country. Congress also helps make sure the president and courts do not have too much power.

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• Constituent - A person who lives in an area represented by an elected official.

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• Constitution - The constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the country. It has 27 amendments. There are two ways to suggest changes to the Constitution: either two-thirds of both houses of Congress agree, or two-thirds of state governments ask Congress to hold a special convention. To make the change official, three-fourths of the states must approve it, either through their legislatures or special state conventions.

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• County Commissioner – Oversees services for the whole county (like roads or parks). Cuyahoga County does not have any County Commissioners.

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• County Council - An elected group that runs a county with the help of the county executive. Cuyahoga County Council is made up of 11 elected representatives from across the County. Elected every four years.

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• County Executive - Elected head of government in a county. They often run county agencies, manage the budget and services, sign laws passed by the county legislature, and appoint some county officials.

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• County Prosecutor/District Attorney - An elected lawyer who represents the county in criminal cases in a county. They handle serious crimes like murder, assault, and drug offenses. They also give legal advice to county and local officials, boards, and public organizations like schools and libraries.

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• County Sheriff – An official who runs the county’s law enforcement. They also maintain courthouse security and jail operations, transport prisoners, and serve judicial papers. In Cuyahoga County the sheriff is appointed by the county executive.

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• Democracy - A system of government where power comes from the people, often through voting and participation.

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• Democrat – One of the two main political parties in the United States. Democrats often support more government help in areas like schools and social programs, rules for businesses, and keeping religion separate from government. Many also support abortion rights, gun control laws, and programs that help workers and minority groups.

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• Democratic Socialists - A political party that supports a democracy where people actively vote and have a say in decisions. Democratic Socialists think workers should have a voice in their jobs and how businesses are run. They also believe the current system of capitalism does not fully support fairness, freedom, and helping each other. They think these goals can be better reached with a more equal, shared system.

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• Electoral College -  In the United States, the Electoral College is a group of people who vote for president and vice president every four years. Each state has a certain number of electors based on the number of senators (always 2) plus the number of representatives it has in Congress. Each state chooses its electors using rules made by the state government. People who already work in Congress, like senators and representatives, cannot be electors.

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• Executive Branch - The president, the vice president, and the president's cabinet are the members of the executive branch.

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• General Election - A general election is an election in which candidates are elected to offices. General elections occur at local, state, and federal levels, and typically occur at regular intervals.

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• Governor – The leader of a U.S. state or territory. They are in charge of running the state government, making sure laws are followed, and leading the state’s military forces. Governors can suggest new laws, sign or veto bills, give pardons, and manage state programs. They work with department leaders and often appoint judges to state courts.

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• Green Party – A political party that emphasizes  protecting the environment, treating people fairly, and keeping peace. They also support people having a strong voice in government and work against war and racism.

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• Incumbent - The person who currently holds a specific job or office (like a mayor).

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• Independent - Someone who is not formally aligned with a political party.

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• Judicial Branch - Includes the Supreme Court and other federal courts.

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• Jurisdiction - A designated area  where a person, court, or organization has power or control.

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• Legislation - Laws or rules made by a government body.

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• Legislative Branch - Made up of Congress.

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• Libertarian – A political party that believes the government should be very small (at all levels). Libertarians think people should have a lot of personal freedom, especially when it comes to their money, jobs, and property.

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• Lieutenant Governor – The second-in-command in most U.S. states. They take over when the governor is away or cannot do their job. If the governor dies, resigns, or is removed, the lieutenant governor usually becomes the new governor. In most states (including Ohio), the governor and lieutenant governor are elected together and are from the same political party.

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• Mayor –  Acts as a chief executive officer for the entire city. They carry out city policies, manage city operations, and make sure services like police, fire, and schools run smoothly. The mayor works with the city council on budgets and plans and represents the city at state and national meetings.

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• Midterm Election - General elections that are held in November near the midpoint of a president's four-year term of office.

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• Municipal - Related to a city or town (like Cleveland).

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• Municipal Charter - The main document that explains how a city government is organized, what powers it has, what it does, and how it works.

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• Nonpartisan - Not connected to any political party.

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• Ohio Attorney General – The chief legal officer of Ohio. Gives legal advice to state government agencies and lawmakers and represents the public’s interest in legal matters. The office is filled by general election and is held every four years. 

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• Ohio Auditor of State - An official who watches over how a state spends its money. They check that taxpayer dollars are used properly and legally by looking at the finances and work of state agencies, local governments, and other groups that get public funds. In some states, including Ohio, auditors are chosen by voters.

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• Ohio General Assembly - Ohio legislature made up of the Ohio Senate and House of Representatives. 

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• Ohio House of Representatives - The “lower house” of the Ohio legislative branch. Works with the Ohio Senate to make laws. Reps meet in the Ohio Statehouse are elected for two-year terms. Every even-numbered year, all the seats are up for re-election.

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• Ohio Secretary of State – An elected official who runs state elections, registers businesses so they can operate in Ohio, keeps records of important legal transactions, and provides access to public documents. They are elected for four-year terms in even-numbered, off cycle years.

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• Ohio State Board of Education - An executive agency of the Ohio state government, responsible for managing the state's public K-12 education. The board has 19 members. Eleven members are elected by voters in the state’s 11 education districts for four-year terms, with elections staggered in even-numbered years. The other eight members are chosen by the governor and approved by the state Senate, also serving four-year terms.

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• Ohio State Senate - The “upper house” of Ohio’s legislative branch. It works with the Ohio House of Representatives to make state laws. Senators meet in the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus and are elected for four-year terms. Elections are staggered so that about half of the seats are voted on every two years.

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• Ohio State Treasurer - An elected official in charge of collecting taxes and fees, keeping taxpayer money safe, and managing the state’s investments.

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• Ohio Supreme Court - The highest court in the state. It makes the final decisions about Ohio laws and the state Constitution. The court has seven justices—a chief justice and six associate justices—who are elected by voters for six-year terms.

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• President – The leader of the United States. The president is both the head of the country and the head of the government. They lead the executive branch and are in charge of the military. They also represent the country’s interests abroad.

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• Primary Election - An election where voters pick the candidate(s) for who will represent their political party in the general election. Primary elections take place at different times of the year depending on the municipality, county, or state.

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• Polling Place - The location where people go to vote in person.

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• Republican – One of the two main political parties in the United States. Republicans often support lower taxes, less government control over businesses and schools, a strong military, and traditional family values. Many also oppose abortion, gun control laws, and programs like affirmative action.

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• School Board – Helps make decisions about local schools. In Cleveland school board members are appointed by the mayor.

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• Special Election - An election that occurs between general elections and is scheduled at an irregular time to address specific issues or fill vacancies in public elected offices.

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• Supreme Court - The highest court in the country. It can review decisions from other courts, decide cases about the Constitution or federal law, and hear certain special cases first. The Court has nine justices, including a chief justice, who serve for life unless they retire or are removed. Justices are chosen by the president and approved by the Senate.

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• U. S. House of Representatives - Called the “lower house” in Congress. Members can make and vote on laws. They can also start all bills about taxes and money, bring charges against government officials (called impeachment), and choose the president if no one gets enough votes in the Electoral College. Members of the House serve for two years, and every seat is up for election every two years.

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• U. S.  Senate - The Senate is one of the two parts of the United States Congress. It is called the “upper house.” The Senate can approve or reject people the president wants to hire, approve or reject treaties with other countries, and decide the results of impeachment cases. Each state has two senators, for a total of 100. Senators serve six-year terms, and not all senators are elected at the same time.

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• Vice President – The second-in-command of the United States, right after the president. The vice president helps lead the government and would take over if the president cannot do the job. They also help in the Senate, where they can lead meetings and vote only if there is a tie. The vice president is elected at the same time as the president for a four-year term.

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• Ward - A section or area of a city used for voting or representation.

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• Write-in Candidate - Someone not listed on the ballot who people can vote for by writing their name in.