Apartheid: A policy of racial segregation and economic and social discrimination against non-European peoples in the Republic of South Africa.

Caucus: An organized vote by registered and designated members of a political party to determine the amount of support within a state for the party's presidential candidates.

Central Intelligence Agency (CIA): A U.S. government agency charged with accumulating information on foreign countries.

Cold War: An era (1946-89) of tense conflicts and failed diplomacy between the Soviet Union and its allies and the United States and its allies.

Conservative: A political philosophy of limited government influence and support for conventional social values.

Coup: A sudden overthrow of a government, often by the country's military.

Covert operations: Secret, undercover acts used to help influence the outcome of events.

Federal budget deficit: When government spending exceeds income (from taxes and other revenue).

National Security Council: A...