Nonpartisan

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The term nonpartisan is generally used in one of two ways. In the stricter sense, which is used by some government agencies (such as the Federal Election Commission and the Internal Revenue Service), the term nonpartisan may be used to describe a group or individual that does not expressly support one political party or candidate over another. More broadly, the term nonpartisan may sometimes be used to describe a group or individual that does not promote a particular political ideology.[1][2]

For example, consider the following two organizations: the American Legislative Exchange Council and the Center for American Progress. Both organizations describe themselves as nonpartisan. In the stricter sense of the term, that is correct; neither supports or advocates for one political party over another. In the broader sense, however, some may not consider these organizations to be nonpartisan because they espouse political ideologies. The American Legislative Exchange Council is regarded as a conservative organization "dedicated to the principles of limited government, free markets, and federalism." Meanwhile, the Center for American Progress describes itself as being dedicated to "bold, progressive ideas."[3][4]

Nonpartisan elections

See also: Nonpartisan elections

The term nonpartisan is also used to describe elections in which the candidates do not run with partisan labels. Nonpartisan elections are generally held for municipal and county offices. In addition, most school board elections are nonpartisan. Nonpartisan elections for judges are also common.[5][6]

The state of Nebraska self-identifies as the only state legislature that is entirely nonpartisan. The Nebraska State Senate is unicameral. To learn more about partisan affiliation in the Nebraska State Senate, see this article.[7]

See also

Ballotpedia:Index of Terms

External links

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