Glossary
The terms, institutions, and slogans you will meet while reading about Bernie Sanders — defined in plain language.
Democratic Socialism
Sanders’s self-described political philosophy. He uses the term to describe a system in which democratic government guarantees broad social and economic rights — health care, education, a living wage — while preserving political democracy. Critics use the term differently; this site uses it only in Sanders’s stated sense unless quoting a critic.
Medicare for All
Sanders’s signature proposal: a single national health insurance program run by the federal government, replacing most private health insurance. Introduced as Senate bills including S. 1804 (2017) and S. 1655 (2023). See the Medicare for All page.
Single-Payer
A health-care financing model in which one public agency handles payment for health services. Sanders describes Medicare for All as a single-payer system.
Political Revolution
Sanders’s phrase for the mass grassroots mobilization he says is necessary to enact his agenda. Used as a campaign theme in 2016 and 2020.
“Not Me. Us.”
The slogan of Sanders’s 2020 presidential campaign, emphasizing collective action over the candidate.
Independent
Sanders’s party registration. He has served in the House and Senate as an Independent, caucusing with the Democrats for committee assignments and leadership votes.
Caucusing with the Democrats
The arrangement under which Sanders, though an Independent, votes with the Senate Democratic caucus on organizational matters (such as electing the majority leader) and receives committee assignments through the Democrats.
HELP Committee
The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Sanders chaired it in the 118th Congress (2023–2025) and serves as its ranking member in the 119th Congress.
Ranking Member
The most senior member of the minority party on a congressional committee. Sanders is the ranking member of the HELP Committee in the 119th Congress.
Budget Committee
The Senate committee that drafts Congress’s annual budget resolution. Sanders chaired it during the 117th Congress (2021–2023).
Finance Committee
The Senate committee with jurisdiction over taxation, trade, and major entitlement programs including Medicare and Social Security. Sanders joined it in the 119th Congress.
Congressional Progressive Caucus
A caucus of progressive members of Congress, co-founded by Sanders in the House in 1991.
Filibuster
A Senate practice of extended debate to delay or block a vote. Sanders’s December 10, 2010, eight-and-a-half-hour floor speech against a tax-cut package is one of the most famous modern examples.
Amendment
A proposed change to a bill. Sanders built a reputation in the House for passing amendments, which some reporting dubbed the work of an “amendment king.”
Superdelegate
An unpledged delegate to the Democratic National Convention (party officials and elected leaders), free to support any candidate. The role of superdelegates was a major point of contention in the 2016 Democratic primary.
Town Meeting
The traditional New England form of direct-democratic local government, and a format Sanders has used throughout his career for public events in Vermont.
Grassroots Fundraising
Campaign funding built on many small donations rather than large donors. Sanders’s 2016 campaign reported an average donation of about $27, a figure widely cited in reporting on the campaign.
Oligarchy
A term Sanders uses for what he describes as concentrated economic and political power held by billionaires and large corporations. The title of his 2025 book Fight Oligarchy and his 2025 “Fighting Oligarchy” tour.
The One Percent
Sanders’s shorthand for the wealthiest Americans, used in his critiques of income and wealth inequality.
Green New Deal
A proposed package of climate and economic policies. Sanders introduced a Senate resolution on the concept and made climate action a centerpiece of his 2020 platform; the phrase is also associated with Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s 2019 House resolution.
PRO Act
The Protecting the Right to Organize Act, labor legislation Sanders has supported that would strengthen workers’ ability to unionize. Presented here as his stated position.
Vermont’s At-Large District
Vermont’s single U.S. House district, covering the entire state. Sanders held the seat from 1991 to 2007.
Burlington
Vermont’s largest city, where Sanders served as mayor from 1981 to 1989 — the office that launched his national political career.
Source notes
Definitions here reflect Sanders’s own usage of these terms as documented in his Senate office materials, bill texts on Congress.gov, and the campaign pages of this site. Where a term is contested, the definition notes that this site follows Sanders’s stated meaning.
Factual baseline: September 2026.