A '''politician''' is an individual involved in politics to the extent of holding or running for public office.
In Western democracydemocracies, the term is generally restricted to those officials who attain their position through election campaigns, rather than all members of the state bureaucracy. Such a distinction is less clear in non-democratic forms of government.
In a state, individual politicians compose the executive (government)executive branch of government and the office of Head of State (unless the head of state is a non-political figure, such as a Monarchking) as well as the legislative branch, and regional and local levels of government. Other organs of government such as the judicial branch, law enforcement, and the military are not usually regarded as being composed of politicians, despite the fact that the men and women involved do government work.
Sometimes political sciencepolitical scientists are also referred to as politicians.
The Australian slang term for politicians is '''pollies'''.
Some common offices for politicians can include:
* Alderman
* Congressman
* Councillor
* Governor
* Life Peer
* Mayor
* Member of Parliament
* Political ministerMinister
* President
* Prime Minister
* School board member
* Senator
A man or woman running for any of these offices in an election (a candidate) is also often described as a politician. The term "career politician" is sometimes used to distinguish an incumbent politician from a candidate.
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