Glossary terms for Study Area Humanist Activism and Organization
activism
level: Overview (0) [order by level]
The theory, doctrine, or practice of assertive action as a means of opposing or supporting a particular viewpoint.
advocacy
level: Overview (0) [order by level]
The act of pleading or arguing in favor of something, such as a cause, an ideal, or a policy.
authoritarian
level: Basic (2) [order by level]
A form of government in which individual liberty is subjugated to a central authority.
campaign finance reform
level: Comprehensive (3) [order by level]
The effort, by law, to regulate the funding of political campaigns which have the purpose of electing a particular candidate or advancing the electoral prospects of a political party. Reform measures usually mean limiting the amount of money that can be donated, or requiring a candidate to disclose the amount of funds that others have contributed towards his or her campaign. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that it is unconstitutional to try to regulate the amount of personal funds a candidate uses towards his or her own candidacy.
creationism
level: Basic (2) [order by level]
The belief in the literal truth of the biblical account of the origins of the universe, life, and mankind.
direct lobbying
level: Comprehensive (3) [order by level]
A systematic effort to meet face-to-face with elected officials in an effort to influence their vote on some piece of legislation, or otherwise communicate directly with such persons or their staff by telephone, mail, and e-mail.
Enlightenment
level: Introductory (1) [order by level]
European intellectual movement of the 17th and 18th centuries in which reason, rather than superstition and religion, were the basis for man’s understanding of the world.
ethics
level: Overview (0) [order by level]
Moral philosophy – the study of how we should lead our lives.
gerrymandering
level: Comprehensive (3) [order by level]
An attempt to draw the district of an elected representative in such a manner as to provide the most favorable constituency to aid in that person’s re-election. The U.S. Supreme Court has allowed some variation in shape for legislative districts, but has also struck down those it regards as too irregular in shape.
grassroots lobbying
level: Comprehensive (3) [order by level]
When an organization encourages citizens to contact their elected representatives to support or oppose a piece of legislation, instead of directly communicating as an organization with the elected official.
Intelligent Design
level: Basic (2) [order by level]
The principle that certain ordered states in nature imply the existence of an independent designer; i.e., a supernatural being that establishes and controls 'natural law.'
manifesto
level: Introductory (1) [order by level]
A public declaration of principles, policies, and intentions.
outreach
level: Overview (0) [order by level]
A systematic attempt to interact with or educate those beyond the bounds of a particular community.
proportional representation
level: Comprehensive (3) [order by level]
A system of election that provides for representation in a legislative body based on the percentage of votes a party receives in an election; the opposite of a winner-take-all system based on a single person winning each separate district (a form of representation that usually favors a two party system and shuts out third or minor parties from being represented at all).
secularism
level: Basic (2) [order by level]
The principle wherein government and public life are independent of organized religion.
soft money
level: Comprehensive (3) [order by level]
Money raised by national political parties which cannot be used towards an individual candidacy, but can be used in political advertisements to promote a particular party or issue.
totalitarian
level: Basic (2) [order by level]
A form of government in which the controlling political apparatus exercises absolute control over all aspects of life, with no dissent or opposition tolerated.