Wiki source for Categories1
>>**Important Links**
CategoryPolicies
CategoryTree
IdiomsandExamples
>>This is our list of categories in alphabetical order. They are in much the same form as they will be when displayed on the website.
You will notice that some categories are marked "DO NOT USE" or "CONSULT SUPERVISOR BEFORE USING". This is because these categories have either fallen into disuse or are broad judgments, respectively. Consult your supervisor for more information.
===Abortion===
Relating to the abortion procedure and access to it. Includes issues such as the circumstances in which abortion is legal, parental consent, ultrasound requirements, and public funding of abortions.
See: Reproductive Issues
===Abortion and Reproductive===
Includes issues relating to the human reproductive system, such as abortion, contraception, and sex education.
See: Abortion
===Agriculture and Food===
Relating to farming, livestock, produce, and/or ranching. Also includes issues relating to food processing and sales.
See: Food Processing and Sales
===Animals and Wildlife===
Relating to pets, fish and game, endangered species, or other wildlife related issues.
===Arts, Entertainment and History===
Relating to sports or the arts, as well as funding for them. Also includes issues relating to tourism and issues of cultural or historical significance, such as the dedication of buildings or parks.
===//Budget, Spending and Taxes// CONSULT SUPERVISOR BEFORE USING===
Relating to tax changes, or else focused on the budget, spending, or appropriations
See: Government Budget and Spending, Taxes
===Business and Consumers===
Includes issues such as changes in business regulations and taxes placed on businesses. This category also includes issues dealing with consumer protections, such as product safety, credit, and manufacturer liability.
See: Trade
===//Business, Consumers and Employees// CONSULT SUPERVISOR BEFORE USING===
Includes issues of taxation and regulation, consumer protections, employment standards and unemployment issues
See: Business and Consumers, Employment and Affirmative Action
===Campaign Finance===
Relating to regulations on campaign finance such as Super PACs, public funding of elections, and the laws related to them.
===Elections===
Includes issues such as changes to election laws, requirements to run for office, voting requirements, election dates, and regulations on campaign finances.
See: Campaign Finance
===Civil Liberties and Civil Rights===
Relating to the freedoms ensured by the Bill of Rights, personal freedoms, and individuals' means of participating in society, such as voting rights.
===//Conservative// CONSULT SUPERVISOR BEFORE USING===
Relating to advancing the principles of conservatism. Includes interest groups that classify themselves as representing conservative perspectives on multiple issues and ratings that evaluate candidates and officials on how conservative they are.
See: Socially Conservative, Fiscally Conservative
===Constitution===
Includes amendments to federal and state constitutions and constitutional conventions.
See: Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
===Crime===
Relating to domestic crime, law enforcement, and/or corrections. Excludes terrorism.
See: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights, Death Penalty, Drugs, Guns, Legal, National Security
===Death Penalty===
Includes issues such as official procedures for executions and prohibiting execution by the state.
===Defense===
Relating to the defense of the United States, including defense spending and policy, as well as actions of the military.
===Drugs===
Includes issues relating to illegal drugs, legalizing drugs and the abuse of drugs.
See: Marijuana
See: Health and Health Care for issues relating to prescription health care
===Economy and Fiscal===
Relating to taxation, government budgeting or spending, and business regulations. Only use for the most general economic issues.
See: Budget, Spending and Taxes; and Business, Consumers and Employees
===Education===
Relating to educational standards, policies, and funding.
See: K-12 education, Higher Education
===Employment and Affirmative Action===
Includes issues relating to employment standards and practices, such as hiring, termination, compensation, and workplace safety.
See: Labor Unions
===Energy===
Includes issues such as utility regulations, natural resource exploration, incentives for cleaner energy, and emissions standards.
See: Oil and Gas
===Entitlements and the Safety Net===
Relating to government-administered social programs, including Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, and food stamps. Includes public pensions.
===Environment===
Includes issues such as emissions standards, conservation, wilderness preservation, water and air quality regulations, and water supplies.
===Executive Branch===
Includes issues relating to the Executive Branch, such as confirmation, impeachment, and administrative authority.
===Federal, State, and Local Relations===
Relating to conflicts or changes of jurisdiction between the federal, state, and local levels of government.
===Finance and Banking===
Relating to banks and other financial institutions. Includes issues such as credit, loans, insurance, and securities.
===//Fiscally Conservative// CONSULT SUPERVISOR BEFORE USING===
Relating to advancing the principles of conservatism in fiscal matters.
===//Fiscally Liberal// CONSULT SUPERVISOR BEFORE USING===
Relating to advancing the principles of liberalism in fiscal matters.
===Food Processing and Sales===
Relating to the treatment, manufacture, and processing of food and beverages and food and beverage sales. Includes issues relating to food inspection, regulations, mandatory ingredients, restrictions on consumption, etc.
===Foreign Affairs===
Relating to the United States' relations and policies with foreign nations.
See: Defense, Foreign Aid, Immigration, Military, National Security, Trade
===Foreign Aid===
Relating to monetary aid, military aid, or humanitarian aid given to foreign nations or groups, generally through the State Department.
===Gambling and Gaming===
Relating to legalizing, licensing, regulating, restricting, or banning any form of gambling or gaming.
===Government Budget and Spending===
Relating to government spending or appropriations. Includes budget bills.
See: Entitlements, Foreign Aid, Infrastructure
===Government Operations===
Relating to the role, structure, or practices of government.
See: Budget, Spending, and Taxes, Campaign Finance and Elections, Constitution, Executive Branch, Judicial Branch, Legislative Branch, Federal, State and Local Relations
===Guns===
Relating to purchasing, registering, carrying, and/or using firearms.
===Health and Health Care===
Includes issues relating to public health, health insurance, prescription drugs, government healthcare programs, and medical malpractice
See: Abortion and Reproductive, Food Processing and Sales, Drugs, Environment, Health Insurance, Stem Cell Research
===Health Insurance===
Relating to private health insurance and/or healthcare programs administered by the government
See: Abortion and Reproductive, Food Processing and Sales, Drugs, Environment, Health Insurance, Stem Cell Research
===++High Priority++ DO NOT USE===
Relating to the stated priorities of an official or candidate
===Higher Education===
Relating to issues of higher education, such as college admissions, post-secondary education, and student loans.
===Housing and Property===
Includes issues such as the transfer of land, eminent domain, building standards, affordable housing, and property taxes.
===++Ideology++ DO NOT USE===
Relating to the interests represented
See: Impartial\Nonpartisan, Conservative, Liberal
===Immigration===
Relating to immigration (legal and illegal), including requirements for immigration, border security, public benefits for illegal immigrants, defining the official language(s) of government, proof of citizenship requirements, and identification requirements.
===//Impartial/Nonpartisan// CONSULT SUPERVISOR BEFORE USING===
Relating to advancing impartiality or nonpartisanship in matters of governance
===Indigenous Peoples===
Relating to the relationships between the state or federal government and Native Americans/American Indians, Native Hawaiians, and Native Alaskans.
===++Industries++ DO NOT USE===
Relating to a specific industry
See: Agriculture and Food, Arts, Entertainment and History, Defense, Education, Energy, Finance and Banking, Gambling and Gaming, Health and Health Care, Housing and Property, Science, Technology and Communication, Transportation
===Infrastructure===
Relating to public services, including water, power, public property, and other basic government services such as public services funding.
See: Transportation
===Judicial Branch===
Relating to judicial practices and procedures, including nominations, term limits, Supreme Court Cases, and other issues specific to the judicial branch.
See: Legal
===K-12 Education===
Relating to issues of K-12 education. Includes issues such as charter schools, vouchers, teachers' pay, and the Every Student Succeeds Act.
===Labor Unions===
Relating to trade unions and/or collective bargaining.
===Legal===
Relating to legal processes and procedures. Includes issues relating to lawsuits and court cases before they reach the Supreme Court.
===Legislative Branch===
Relating to the benefits and restrictions Congress or a state legislature imposes on itself, including compensation, ethics standards, and authority. This category also includes campaign regulations on Congressional and state legislative candidates.
===//Liberal// CONSULT SUPERVISOR BEFORE USING===
Relating to advancing the principles of liberalism. Includes interest groups that classify themselves as representing liberal perspectives on multiple issues and ratings that evaluate candidates and officials on how liberal they are.
See: Fiscally Liberal, Socially Liberal
===++Low Priority++ DO NOT USE===
Relating to an official's or candidate's stated priorities.
===Marijuana===
Relating to the legalization or decriminalization of Marijuana, including for medical use.
===Marriage===
Includes issues such as the definition of marriage, civil unions, and domestic partnerships.
===Family===
Includes issues directly affecting families, such as children's health care, childcare, and rights of minors. This category also includes definitions of marriage, civil unions, and domestic partnerships.
See: Marriage, Children
===Military Personnel===
Relating to active enlisted personnel of the US military and their families, such as military salaries, healthcare, and education benefits.
See: Defense, for issues relating to defense policy, war issues, and the actions of the military; or Veterans, for issues relating to retired or former military personnel
===Minors and Children===
Includes issues directly affecting children under the age of 18.
===Monetary Policy===
Relating to currency and the supply of money. Includes interest rate manipulations, quantitative easing, currency manipulations, and issues of legal tender. Often involves actions of the Federal Reserve and Treasury Department.
===National Security===
Includes issues relating to the Department of Homeland Security, natural disasters, terrorist attacks on U.S. soil, and customs regulations. This category excludes issues such as immigration unless national security is explicitly addressed.
===Natural Resources===
Relating to the production, acquisition, distribution, consumption or management of natural resources and energy.
See: Agriculture and Food, Animals and Wildlife, Energy, Environment
===Oil and Gas===
Relating specifically to the production, acquisition, distribution, and consumption of oil and natural gas. Includes hydraulic fracturing.
===++Populations++ DO NOT USE===
Relating to groups of individuals
See: Business, Consumers and Employees, Executive Branch, Judicial Branch, Legislative Branch, Immigration, Indigenous Peoples, Family, Military Personnel, Senior Citizens, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, Unemployed and Low-Income, Veterans, Women
===++Priorities++ DO NOT USE===
Relating to priorities indicated by an individual candidate or official.
See: High-Priority, Low-Priority
===Religion===
Relating directly to the practice of religion or a religious group. Includes instances of religion affecting public policy if explicitly mentioned.
===Science===
Relating to science, including medical research and the teaching of alternative scientific theories.
See: Stem Cell Research
===//Science, Technology and Communication// CONSULT SUPERVISOR BEFORE USING===
Relating to science, including research and education, new technology and its uses, and communications.
See: Science; Technology and Communication
===Senior Citizens===
Includes issues such as pensions and amending social security.
===Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity===
Includes issues such as civil unions and Constitutional amendments defining marriage.
===//Social// CONSULT SUPERVISOR BEFORE USING===
Relating to the interaction between society as a whole and people's personal lives.
See: Socially Conservative, Socially Liberal, Abortion and Reproductive, Animals and Wildlife, Arts, Entertainment and History, Crime, National Security, Gambling and Gaming, Immigration, Family, Religion, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, Stem Cell Research.
===//Socially Conservative// CONSULT SUPERVISOR BEFORE USING===
Relating to what a person or a group of people believe is the preservation of traditional values.
===//Socially Liberal// CONSULT SUPERVISOR BEFORE USING===
Relating to the expansion or protection of personal freedoms.
===Stem Cell Research===
Includes issues such as the funding, restriction, or prohibition of stem cell research. This category also includes human cloning if stem cells are specifically mentioned.
===Taxes===
Relating to tax changes. This applies to both the implementation or amending of taxes as well as the payment of taxes by individuals.
===Technology and Communication===
Includes issues such as regulations of new types of technology and their uses, as well as regulations of communication. Frequently involves the Federal Communications Commission.
===Trade===
Relating to interstate trade or trade between the United States and other nations.
===Transportation===
Relating to transportation policy, including highways, shipping, vehicle standards, aviation, and fuel issues.
===Unemployed and Low-Income===
Relating to domestic poverty or unemployment issues, including financial hardship and government assistance such as Welfare, Medicaid, and affordable housing.
===Veterans===
Relating to veterans' healthcare and benefits.
===Women===
Includes issues such as workplace discrimination, sexual assault, and women's health issues such as requiring human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations. Be sure to use only when the issue's impact on women is explicitly mentioned.
See: Abortion and Reproductive
CategoryPolicies
CategoryTree
IdiomsandExamples
>>This is our list of categories in alphabetical order. They are in much the same form as they will be when displayed on the website.
You will notice that some categories are marked "DO NOT USE" or "CONSULT SUPERVISOR BEFORE USING". This is because these categories have either fallen into disuse or are broad judgments, respectively. Consult your supervisor for more information.
===Abortion===
Relating to the abortion procedure and access to it. Includes issues such as the circumstances in which abortion is legal, parental consent, ultrasound requirements, and public funding of abortions.
See: Reproductive Issues
===Abortion and Reproductive===
Includes issues relating to the human reproductive system, such as abortion, contraception, and sex education.
See: Abortion
===Agriculture and Food===
Relating to farming, livestock, produce, and/or ranching. Also includes issues relating to food processing and sales.
See: Food Processing and Sales
===Animals and Wildlife===
Relating to pets, fish and game, endangered species, or other wildlife related issues.
===Arts, Entertainment and History===
Relating to sports or the arts, as well as funding for them. Also includes issues relating to tourism and issues of cultural or historical significance, such as the dedication of buildings or parks.
===//Budget, Spending and Taxes// CONSULT SUPERVISOR BEFORE USING===
Relating to tax changes, or else focused on the budget, spending, or appropriations
See: Government Budget and Spending, Taxes
===Business and Consumers===
Includes issues such as changes in business regulations and taxes placed on businesses. This category also includes issues dealing with consumer protections, such as product safety, credit, and manufacturer liability.
See: Trade
===//Business, Consumers and Employees// CONSULT SUPERVISOR BEFORE USING===
Includes issues of taxation and regulation, consumer protections, employment standards and unemployment issues
See: Business and Consumers, Employment and Affirmative Action
===Campaign Finance===
Relating to regulations on campaign finance such as Super PACs, public funding of elections, and the laws related to them.
===Elections===
Includes issues such as changes to election laws, requirements to run for office, voting requirements, election dates, and regulations on campaign finances.
See: Campaign Finance
===Civil Liberties and Civil Rights===
Relating to the freedoms ensured by the Bill of Rights, personal freedoms, and individuals' means of participating in society, such as voting rights.
===//Conservative// CONSULT SUPERVISOR BEFORE USING===
Relating to advancing the principles of conservatism. Includes interest groups that classify themselves as representing conservative perspectives on multiple issues and ratings that evaluate candidates and officials on how conservative they are.
See: Socially Conservative, Fiscally Conservative
===Constitution===
Includes amendments to federal and state constitutions and constitutional conventions.
See: Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
===Crime===
Relating to domestic crime, law enforcement, and/or corrections. Excludes terrorism.
See: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights, Death Penalty, Drugs, Guns, Legal, National Security
===Death Penalty===
Includes issues such as official procedures for executions and prohibiting execution by the state.
===Defense===
Relating to the defense of the United States, including defense spending and policy, as well as actions of the military.
===Drugs===
Includes issues relating to illegal drugs, legalizing drugs and the abuse of drugs.
See: Marijuana
See: Health and Health Care for issues relating to prescription health care
===Economy and Fiscal===
Relating to taxation, government budgeting or spending, and business regulations. Only use for the most general economic issues.
See: Budget, Spending and Taxes; and Business, Consumers and Employees
===Education===
Relating to educational standards, policies, and funding.
See: K-12 education, Higher Education
===Employment and Affirmative Action===
Includes issues relating to employment standards and practices, such as hiring, termination, compensation, and workplace safety.
See: Labor Unions
===Energy===
Includes issues such as utility regulations, natural resource exploration, incentives for cleaner energy, and emissions standards.
See: Oil and Gas
===Entitlements and the Safety Net===
Relating to government-administered social programs, including Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, and food stamps. Includes public pensions.
===Environment===
Includes issues such as emissions standards, conservation, wilderness preservation, water and air quality regulations, and water supplies.
===Executive Branch===
Includes issues relating to the Executive Branch, such as confirmation, impeachment, and administrative authority.
===Federal, State, and Local Relations===
Relating to conflicts or changes of jurisdiction between the federal, state, and local levels of government.
===Finance and Banking===
Relating to banks and other financial institutions. Includes issues such as credit, loans, insurance, and securities.
===//Fiscally Conservative// CONSULT SUPERVISOR BEFORE USING===
Relating to advancing the principles of conservatism in fiscal matters.
===//Fiscally Liberal// CONSULT SUPERVISOR BEFORE USING===
Relating to advancing the principles of liberalism in fiscal matters.
===Food Processing and Sales===
Relating to the treatment, manufacture, and processing of food and beverages and food and beverage sales. Includes issues relating to food inspection, regulations, mandatory ingredients, restrictions on consumption, etc.
===Foreign Affairs===
Relating to the United States' relations and policies with foreign nations.
See: Defense, Foreign Aid, Immigration, Military, National Security, Trade
===Foreign Aid===
Relating to monetary aid, military aid, or humanitarian aid given to foreign nations or groups, generally through the State Department.
===Gambling and Gaming===
Relating to legalizing, licensing, regulating, restricting, or banning any form of gambling or gaming.
===Government Budget and Spending===
Relating to government spending or appropriations. Includes budget bills.
See: Entitlements, Foreign Aid, Infrastructure
===Government Operations===
Relating to the role, structure, or practices of government.
See: Budget, Spending, and Taxes, Campaign Finance and Elections, Constitution, Executive Branch, Judicial Branch, Legislative Branch, Federal, State and Local Relations
===Guns===
Relating to purchasing, registering, carrying, and/or using firearms.
===Health and Health Care===
Includes issues relating to public health, health insurance, prescription drugs, government healthcare programs, and medical malpractice
See: Abortion and Reproductive, Food Processing and Sales, Drugs, Environment, Health Insurance, Stem Cell Research
===Health Insurance===
Relating to private health insurance and/or healthcare programs administered by the government
See: Abortion and Reproductive, Food Processing and Sales, Drugs, Environment, Health Insurance, Stem Cell Research
===++High Priority++ DO NOT USE===
Relating to the stated priorities of an official or candidate
===Higher Education===
Relating to issues of higher education, such as college admissions, post-secondary education, and student loans.
===Housing and Property===
Includes issues such as the transfer of land, eminent domain, building standards, affordable housing, and property taxes.
===++Ideology++ DO NOT USE===
Relating to the interests represented
See: Impartial\Nonpartisan, Conservative, Liberal
===Immigration===
Relating to immigration (legal and illegal), including requirements for immigration, border security, public benefits for illegal immigrants, defining the official language(s) of government, proof of citizenship requirements, and identification requirements.
===//Impartial/Nonpartisan// CONSULT SUPERVISOR BEFORE USING===
Relating to advancing impartiality or nonpartisanship in matters of governance
===Indigenous Peoples===
Relating to the relationships between the state or federal government and Native Americans/American Indians, Native Hawaiians, and Native Alaskans.
===++Industries++ DO NOT USE===
Relating to a specific industry
See: Agriculture and Food, Arts, Entertainment and History, Defense, Education, Energy, Finance and Banking, Gambling and Gaming, Health and Health Care, Housing and Property, Science, Technology and Communication, Transportation
===Infrastructure===
Relating to public services, including water, power, public property, and other basic government services such as public services funding.
See: Transportation
===Judicial Branch===
Relating to judicial practices and procedures, including nominations, term limits, Supreme Court Cases, and other issues specific to the judicial branch.
See: Legal
===K-12 Education===
Relating to issues of K-12 education. Includes issues such as charter schools, vouchers, teachers' pay, and the Every Student Succeeds Act.
===Labor Unions===
Relating to trade unions and/or collective bargaining.
===Legal===
Relating to legal processes and procedures. Includes issues relating to lawsuits and court cases before they reach the Supreme Court.
===Legislative Branch===
Relating to the benefits and restrictions Congress or a state legislature imposes on itself, including compensation, ethics standards, and authority. This category also includes campaign regulations on Congressional and state legislative candidates.
===//Liberal// CONSULT SUPERVISOR BEFORE USING===
Relating to advancing the principles of liberalism. Includes interest groups that classify themselves as representing liberal perspectives on multiple issues and ratings that evaluate candidates and officials on how liberal they are.
See: Fiscally Liberal, Socially Liberal
===++Low Priority++ DO NOT USE===
Relating to an official's or candidate's stated priorities.
===Marijuana===
Relating to the legalization or decriminalization of Marijuana, including for medical use.
===Marriage===
Includes issues such as the definition of marriage, civil unions, and domestic partnerships.
===Family===
Includes issues directly affecting families, such as children's health care, childcare, and rights of minors. This category also includes definitions of marriage, civil unions, and domestic partnerships.
See: Marriage, Children
===Military Personnel===
Relating to active enlisted personnel of the US military and their families, such as military salaries, healthcare, and education benefits.
See: Defense, for issues relating to defense policy, war issues, and the actions of the military; or Veterans, for issues relating to retired or former military personnel
===Minors and Children===
Includes issues directly affecting children under the age of 18.
===Monetary Policy===
Relating to currency and the supply of money. Includes interest rate manipulations, quantitative easing, currency manipulations, and issues of legal tender. Often involves actions of the Federal Reserve and Treasury Department.
===National Security===
Includes issues relating to the Department of Homeland Security, natural disasters, terrorist attacks on U.S. soil, and customs regulations. This category excludes issues such as immigration unless national security is explicitly addressed.
===Natural Resources===
Relating to the production, acquisition, distribution, consumption or management of natural resources and energy.
See: Agriculture and Food, Animals and Wildlife, Energy, Environment
===Oil and Gas===
Relating specifically to the production, acquisition, distribution, and consumption of oil and natural gas. Includes hydraulic fracturing.
===++Populations++ DO NOT USE===
Relating to groups of individuals
See: Business, Consumers and Employees, Executive Branch, Judicial Branch, Legislative Branch, Immigration, Indigenous Peoples, Family, Military Personnel, Senior Citizens, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, Unemployed and Low-Income, Veterans, Women
===++Priorities++ DO NOT USE===
Relating to priorities indicated by an individual candidate or official.
See: High-Priority, Low-Priority
===Religion===
Relating directly to the practice of religion or a religious group. Includes instances of religion affecting public policy if explicitly mentioned.
===Science===
Relating to science, including medical research and the teaching of alternative scientific theories.
See: Stem Cell Research
===//Science, Technology and Communication// CONSULT SUPERVISOR BEFORE USING===
Relating to science, including research and education, new technology and its uses, and communications.
See: Science; Technology and Communication
===Senior Citizens===
Includes issues such as pensions and amending social security.
===Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity===
Includes issues such as civil unions and Constitutional amendments defining marriage.
===//Social// CONSULT SUPERVISOR BEFORE USING===
Relating to the interaction between society as a whole and people's personal lives.
See: Socially Conservative, Socially Liberal, Abortion and Reproductive, Animals and Wildlife, Arts, Entertainment and History, Crime, National Security, Gambling and Gaming, Immigration, Family, Religion, Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity, Stem Cell Research.
===//Socially Conservative// CONSULT SUPERVISOR BEFORE USING===
Relating to what a person or a group of people believe is the preservation of traditional values.
===//Socially Liberal// CONSULT SUPERVISOR BEFORE USING===
Relating to the expansion or protection of personal freedoms.
===Stem Cell Research===
Includes issues such as the funding, restriction, or prohibition of stem cell research. This category also includes human cloning if stem cells are specifically mentioned.
===Taxes===
Relating to tax changes. This applies to both the implementation or amending of taxes as well as the payment of taxes by individuals.
===Technology and Communication===
Includes issues such as regulations of new types of technology and their uses, as well as regulations of communication. Frequently involves the Federal Communications Commission.
===Trade===
Relating to interstate trade or trade between the United States and other nations.
===Transportation===
Relating to transportation policy, including highways, shipping, vehicle standards, aviation, and fuel issues.
===Unemployed and Low-Income===
Relating to domestic poverty or unemployment issues, including financial hardship and government assistance such as Welfare, Medicaid, and affordable housing.
===Veterans===
Relating to veterans' healthcare and benefits.
===Women===
Includes issues such as workplace discrimination, sexual assault, and women's health issues such as requiring human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations. Be sure to use only when the issue's impact on women is explicitly mentioned.
See: Abortion and Reproductive
