Political And Social Terms 

APARTHEID  Policy of racial segregation practiced by the South African Government. ADJOURNMENT A motion moved by a member of a legislature to adjourn consideration of the issues in hand for discussing a matter of urgent public importance. AMNESTY Grant of pardon or exemption from prosecution to political importance. ARMISTICE Temporary cessation of hostilities pending formal negotiations for peace. APPEASEMENT The policy of gratifying one's enemy with concession and special grants by sacrificing even principles. AUTONOMY Power to control internal affairs. BILATERAL AGREEMENT An agreement between two countries. BLOCKADES Imposing closure of ports and waterways to prevent ships from reaching or leaving it. BOLSHEVISM The doctrine of Proletarian Dictatorship as propounded by Lenin. BOURGEOISE Capitalist class in Marxian terminology. BUFFER STATE A small neutral state between two big states. BY-ELECTION A mid term election to fill a seat rendered vacant. CASTING VOTE A vote casting of which decides the tie. CAUCUS A powerful group of party. CHARGED AFFAIRS The senior most diplomat after the head of the mission, officiating in his absence. COALITION Combination of two or more parties with the purpose of forming a composite government. CONFEDERATION Alliance of nations for some specific purpose our retaining the respective individual nation sovereignty. COLD WAR The state of ideological or wordy warfare between two countries or blocks. ENVOY A diplomatic emissary accredited to the country and holding position below that of an ambassador. FIFTH COLUMN An anti-national clique of spies and saboteurs. FLOOR CROSSING The act of changing political loyalty by a person or a group. FRANCHISE Right to cast vote in the public elections. GALLUP POLL An opinion poll-may be with the help of interview. GENOCIDE Intention to destroy wholly or in part a religious, ethnic or political group. GHERAO Encircling a person and rending him incapable of doing anything till he/she concedes demands. GLOSNOST Means openness. Term used for reforms introduced in Russian society by M.Gorbachov. HABEAS CORPUS A type of a writ issued by a High Court or Supreme court against illegal detention of a person. HOT LINE A direct telephone link between the White House and Kremlin established in 1963. IMPEACHMENT Trial by the Parliament. LOBBYING Exercising influence or pressure on members of the legislative bodies in the lobby for supporting or opposing an issue in the House. LOK PAL An official appointed by the President to investigate public complaints against ministers and high officials. MANIFESTO A declaration of political party about its policies and programmes given at the time of elections. NATIONALISATION  The act of taking business undertakings an institutions by the state and controlling them. NAXALITE A movement violent in character believing in Maoism: the term was first used for the peasants of Naxalbari (West Bengal) who rose against the landlords demanding land for the landless. NEW DEAL The name given to the policy of Franklin D.Roosevelt to revive and boost American economy . ORDINANCE An Act or decree promulgated by the Head of State in an emergency or when the legislative body is not in session. PERESTROIKA Used for Gorbachov's move to restructure political and economical structure of the Russian society. PLEBISCITE Voting on regional or national issue. PERSONALITY CULT Too much adulation for a ruler or a political figure. PRIVY PURSE Yearly allowances granted to the princes of Indian states after the merger of their states with the Indian Union. (New these purses are abolished). PRIVILEGE MOTION A motion moved by a legislator drawing attention of the House towards a matter involving breach of privilege of the House or any of its members. REFERENDUM People's verdict on some constitutional amendment and some other legislative issue of controversial nature. SECULARISM Affirmation in all the faiths, showing no official patronage to any religions or religions. SANCTIONS Penalty or reward imposed for disobedience or obedience attached to the law. SOCIALISM Control of production and means of distribution in the hands of the State. STATUTE Law made by the Parliament, enshrined in the statue book, which are binding on al subjects, of a particular country. SUFFRAGE Right of voting in political elections. SELF-DETERMINATION Right of a nation deciding its own form of government, its political destiny or independence. TERRITORIAL WATERS Areas of the sea up to 12 km measured from the low water mark of the coast and within the executive control of an adjacent State. UNICAMERAL A legislature having only one House. VETO Right to reject any resolution or enactment passed by the legislature.