Definition

1.

a. A statement conveying fundamental character. b. A statement of the meaning of a word, phrase, or term, as in a dictionary entry. 2. The act or process of stating a precise meaning or significance; formulation of a meaning. 3. a. The act of making clear and distinct: a definition of one's intentions. b. The state of being closely outlined or determined: "With the drizzle, the trees in the little clearing had lost definition"(Anthony Hyde). c. A determination of outline, extent, or limits: the definition of a President's authority. 4. a. The clarity of detail in an optically produced image, such as a photograph, effected by a combination of resolution and contrast. b. The degree of clarity with which a televised image or broadcast signal is received.

Politics
NOUN:

1. (used with a sing. verb) a. The art or science of government or governing, especially the governing of a political entity, such as a nation, and the administration and control of its internal and external affairs. b. Political science. 2. (used with a sing. or pl. verb) a. The activities or affairs engaged in by a government, politician, or political party: "All politics is local" (Thomas P. O'Neill, Jr.). "Politics have appealed to me since I was at Oxford because they are exciting morning, noon, and night"(Jeffrey Archer). b. The methods or tactics involved in managing a state or government: The politics of the former regime were rejected by the new government leadership. If the politics of the conservative government now borders on the repressive, what can be expected when the economy falters? 3. (used with a sing. or pl. verb) Political life: studied law with a view to going into politics; felt that politics was a worthwhile career. 4. (used with a sing. or pl. verb) Intrigue or maneuvering within a political unit or group in order to gain control or power: Partisan politics is often an obstruction to good government. Office politics are often debilitating and counterproductive. 5. (used with a sing. or pl. verb) Political attitudes and positions: His politics on that issue is his own business. Your politics are clearly more liberal than mine. 6. (used with a sing. or pl. verb) The often internally conflicting interrelationships among people in a society. Usage Note: Politics, although plural in form, takes a singular verb when used to refer to the art or science of governing or to political science: Politics has been a concern of philosophers since Plato. But in its other senses politics can take either a singular or plural verb. Many other nouns that end in -ics behave similarly, and the user is advised to consult specific entries for precise information.

Political Science
NOUN:

The study of the processes, principles, and structure of government and of political institutions; politics.

Governance

The act, process, or power of governing; government: "Regaining a sense of the state is thus an absolute priority, not only for an effective policy against . . . terrorism.

Government
The act or process of governing, especially the control and administration of public policy in a political unit
constitution

1. The act or process of composing, setting up, or establishing. 2. a. The composition or structure of something; makeup. b. The physical makeup of a person: Having a strong constitution, she had no trouble climbing the mountain. 3. a. The system of fundamental laws and principles that prescribes the nature, functions, and limits of a government or another institution. b. The document in which such a system is recorded. c. Constitution The fundamental law of the United States, framed in 1787, ratified in 1789, and variously amended since then.

Constitution
n

1. the act of constituting or state of being constituted 2. the way in which a thing is composed; physical make-up; structure 3. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) the fundamental political principles on which a state is governed, esp when considered as embodying the rights of the subjects of that state 4. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) (often capital) (in certain countries, esp Australia and the US) a statute embodying such principles 5. a person's state of health 6. a person's disposition of mind; temperament

State
noun 1.the condition of a person or thing, as with respect tocircumstances or attributes: a state of health. 2.the condition of matter with respect to structure, form,constitution, phase, or the like: water in a gaseous state. 3.status, rank, or position in life; station: He dresses in amanner befitting his state. EXPAND adjective

15.of or pertaining to the central civil government or authority. 16.made, maintained, or chartered by or under the authority ofone of the commonwealths that make up a federal union: astate highway; a state bank. 17. characterized by, attended with, or involving ceremony: astate dinner.

Nation
noun

1.a large body of people, associated with a particular territory,that is sufficiently conscious of its unity to seek or t opossess a government peculiarly its own: The presidentspoke to the nation about the new tax. 2.the territory or country itself: the nations of CentralAmerica. 3.a member tribe of an American Indian confederation. 4.an aggregation of persons of the same ethnic family, oftenspeaking the same language or cognate languages.

Citizen
 noun 1.a native or naturalized member of a state or nation who owesallegiance to its government and is entitled to its pr otection (distinguished from alien). 2.an inhabitant of a city or town, especially one entitled to itsprivileges or franchises. 3.an inhabitant, or denizen: The deer is a citizen of our woods. 4.a civilian, as distinguished from a soldier, police officer, etc.

Citizenship
noun 1.the state of being vested with the rights, privileges, andduties of a citizen. 2.the character of an individual viewed as a member of society;behavior in terms of the duties, obligations, and fu nctions ofa citizen: an award for good citizenship.

National
adjective 1.of, pertaining to, or maintained by a nation as an organizedwhole or independent political unit: national affairs. 2.owned, preserved, or maintained by the federal government:a national wildlife refuge. 3.peculiar or common to the whole people of a country:national customs. 4.devoted to one's own nation, its interests, etc.; patriotic: tostir up national pride. 5.nationalist. 6.concerning or encompassing an entire nation: a nationalradio network. 7.limited to one nation. noun

8.a citizen or subject of a particular nation who is entitled toits protection: U.S. nationals living abroad. 9.Often, nationals. a national competition, tournament, or thelike: We're invited to Minneapolis for the nat ionals. 10.a national company or organization. Nationality
1.the status of belonging to a particular nation, whether bybirth or naturalization: the nationality of an immigrant. 2.the relationship of property, holdings, etc., to a particularnation, or to one or more of its members: the nationalit y of aship. 3.nationalism. 4.existence as a distinct nation; national independence: asmall colony that has just achieved nationality. 5.a nation or people: the nationalities of the Americas. 6.a national quality or character: Nationalities tend tosubmerge and disappear in a metropolis.