Politician facts for kids

A politician is a person who is active in political parties or who holds or wants to hold a job in the government. They work to make decisions and create rules that affect everyone in a country or area.

In countries where people vote for their leaders (called democratic countries), politicians try to win elections. Sometimes, if a politician leaves office, someone else might be chosen temporarily to take their place. In other countries, leaders might get power in different ways, like being chosen by others.

Politicians are often very good at understanding how government works. They suggest, support, and help create laws or policies that guide the country and its people. Sometimes, a politician who is very respected and experienced is called a statesman. Basically, anyone who wants to gain political power in a government organization can be called a politician.

Politicians have always used language to share their ideas, like in speeches or advertisements during campaigns. They use common ideas to explain their views in ways that voters can understand. Politicians become skilled at using different types of media. In the 19th century, they used newspapers, magazines, pamphlets, and posters a lot. The 20th century brought radio and television, and TV ads became a very expensive part of election campaigns. In the 21st century, politicians use social media on the Internet and smartphones more and more to connect with people.

What Do Politicians Do?

Politicians are people who work to represent citizens and make decisions for their communities. They often propose new laws, manage public money, and work on issues that affect daily life. Their main goal is to improve things for the people they represent.

How Politicians Get Their Jobs

In many countries, politicians are chosen through elections. This means people vote for who they want to represent them. Politicians might campaign by giving speeches, meeting people, and sharing their ideas. If they win enough votes, they get the job.

The Role of Politicians in Society

Politicians play a big part in how a country is run. They help decide how schools are funded, how roads are built, and what rules everyone needs to follow. They also listen to the concerns of the public and try to find solutions to problems.

Common Political Jobs

There are many different types of jobs politicians can hold, depending on the level of government and the country. Here are some common ones:

• Alderman: A member of a city council.
• Assemblyman: A member of a legislative assembly.
• Chancellor: A high-ranking official, often head of government in some countries.
• City manager: An appointed official who runs the daily operations of a city.
• Congressperson: A member of the U.S. Congress.
• Councillor: A member of a local council.
• County executive: The chief executive of a county government.
• Governor: The head of a state or province.
  • Lieutenant governor: The second-highest official in a state or province.
• Mayor: The head of a city or town government.
  • Deputy mayor: The second-highest official in a city or town.
• Member of Parliament: A person elected to a country's parliament.
• Minister: A high-ranking official in a government department.
• President: The head of state and often head of government in many countries.
  • Vice President: The second-highest official in a country, often helping the President.
• Prime Minister: The head of government in many parliamentary systems.
• Representative: A person elected to represent a group of people, often in a legislature.
• Senator: A member of a senate, which is often the upper house of a legislature.

Images for kids

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  A painting showing the ancient Athenian politician Pericles giving his famous funeral speech to the Assembly.

See also

In Spanish: Político para niños