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T E R M S
A
Anachronism
Animus
Attainted

B


C
Citizen
Clemency
Constituents

D
Democracy
Dilution
Disenfranchise

E

F
Felony
Franchise

G

H

I
Incarcerated

J

K

L

M
Misdemeanor

N

O

P
Pandering
Pardon
Parole
Partisan
Purge

Q

R
Recidivism
Restitution
Retribution

S
Sanction
Suffrage

T

U

V

W

X

Y

Z


G L O S S A R Y O F T E R M S
TERM DEFINITION
Anachronism

Something located at a time when it could not have existed or occurred; an artifact that belongs to another time; a person who seems to be displaced in time; who belongs to another age.


Animus

A feeling of animosity; ill will.


Attainted

To impart stigma to; disgrace.


Citizen

A person owing loyalty to and entitled by birth or naturalization to the protection of a state or nation; A resident of a city or town, especially one entitled to vote and enjoy other privileges there.


Clemency

Leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice.


Constituents

A resident of a district or member of a group represented by an elected official; One that authorizes another to act as a representative.


Democracy

Government by the people, exercised either directly or through elected representatives; A political or social unit that has such a government; The common people, considered as the primary source of political power; Majority rule; The principles of social equality and respect for the individual within a community.


Dilution

The process of making weaker or less concentrated; A dilute or weakened condition.


Disenfranchise

To deprive of a franchise, of a legal right, or of some privilege or immunity; especially: to deprive of the right to vote.


Felony

A crime that has a greater punishment imposed by statute than that imposed on a misdemeanor; specifically: a federal crime for which the punishment may be death or imprisonment for more than a year.


Franchise

A privilege or right officially granted a person or a group by a government, especially the

  1. constitutional or statutory right to vote,
  2. establishment of a corporation's existence,
  3. granting of certain rights and powers to a corporation, and 
  4. legal immunity from servitude, certain burdens, or other restrictions.

Incarcerated

To be put into jail; To shut in; confine.


Misdemeanor

A crime that carries a less severe punishment than a felony; specifically: a crime punishable by a fine and by a term of imprisonment not to be served in a penitentiary and not to exceed one year.


Pandering

To cater to the lower tastes and desires of others or exploit their weaknesses.


Pardon

To release (a person) from punishment; exempt from penalty; To let (an offense) pass without punishment.


Parole

The release of a prisoner whose term has not expired on condition of sustained lawful behavior that is subject to regular monitoring by an officer of the law for a set period of time; The duration of such conditional release.


Partisan

Devoted to or biased in support of a party, group, or cause.


Probation

The act of suspending the sentence of a person convicted of a criminal offense and granting that person provisional freedom on the promise of good behavior.


Purge

To remove by or as if by cleansing. Where felons are removed from a state's list of approved voters.


Recidivism

A tendency to lapse into a previous pattern of behavior, especially a pattern of criminal habits.


Restitution

The act of restoring to the rightful owner something that has been taken away, lost, or surrendered; The act of making good or compensating for loss, damage, or injury; indemnification.


Retribution

Punishment imposed (as on a convicted criminal) for purposes of repayment or revenge for the wrong committed.


Sanction

The penalty for noncompliance specified in a law or decree.


Suffrage

The right or privilege of voting; franchise; The exercise of such a right.



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