POLITICS POCKET DICTIONARY S

S

Sacred Cow :
Any principle or thing that is regarded as being beyond attack, or untouchable. For example, in (US) current political debate about balancing the federal budget, Social Security is considered a sacred cow, and no politician would dare risk proposing to cut it.
Sanctuary :
A place of refuge or protection, where a person is immune from punishment by the law.
Satellite Country :
A country that is in effect, although not in name, controlled by another, usually larger country.
Secession :
The act of seceding, or withdrawing (from some organized entity such as a nation), as when Slovenia and Croatia decided to secede from Yugoslavia in 1991.
Secondary Boycott :
A boycott in which one of the parties involved attempts to exert an influence over a third party. Usually this is when a labor union, in a labor dispute, attempts to put pressure on an employer who is not direcly involved in the dispute, in the hope that this will eventually produce pressure on the employer directly involved. Most secondary boycotts are illegal under the Taft-Hartley Act of 1947.
Secret Ballot :
A vote that takes place in secret, that is, one where the voter does not have to disclose for whom he voted.
Sect :
A religious group that breaks away from a mainstream church. The Branch Davidians, for example, are a sect. Can also refer to any group of people that have a common philosophy and common leadership.
Sectarian :
1. Characteristic of a sect; devoted to a sect.
2. The term is also often used to refer to conflicts where religious allegiances play a large factor, as in sectarian violence in Northern Ireland.
Secular :
Not connected with religion or the sacred, as, for example, a secular education would be one that is not based on religious teachings or principles.
Secularization :
The process of becoming secular; the separation of civil or educational institutions from ecclesiastical control.
Secularism :
The believe that laws, education, etc should be based on science, fact, etc rather than religion.
separatism :
A movement by a region or territory or ethnic group to break away from a country of which it is a part.
Servitude :
1. The state of being in slavery or bondage.
2. It can also mean compulsory service or labor, such as a prisoner may undergo as punishment.
Silk Stocking District :
An area where wealthy, aristocratic people live.
Silver-tongued :
Eloquent and persuasive. Used of politicians or others who have persuasive oratorical skills

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