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Politics is the process and method of gaining or maintaining support for public or common action: the conduct of decision-making for groups. Although it is usually applied to governments, political behavior is also observed in corporate, academic, religious, and other institutions. Political science is the field devoted to studying political behavior and examining the acquisition and application of power, or the ability to impose one's will on another. Its practitioners are known as political scientists. Political scientists look at elections, public opinion, institutional activities (how legislatures act, the relative importance of various sources of political power), the ideologies behind various politicians and interest groups, how politicians achieve and wield their influence, and so on.

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In political science, the initiative (also known as popular or citizen's initiative) provides a means by which a petition signed by a certain minimum number of registered voters can force a public vote on a proposed statute, constitutional amendment, charter amendment or ordinance, or, in its minimal form, to simply oblige the executive or legislative bodies to consider the subject by submitting it to the order of the day. It is a form of direct democracy. It has also been referred to as "minority initiative," thus relating it to minority influence. Furthermore, it is, in itself, a politically neutral tool, despite its name which refers it to the "people." It can be used as well for conservative proposal as for progressive ends.

Selected biography

Geert Wilders (IPA: ['xe:rt 'ʋɪldərs], ['ʝe:ʁt 'ʋɪldəʁs]; born 6 September 1963) is a Dutch politician. He has been a member of the Dutch Parliament since 1998, first for the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and, from 2006 on, with the Party for Freedom (PVV), founded and currently chaired by him. Wilders is best known for his criticism of Islam as well as for having been banned from entering the United Kingdom in February 2009, a ban he succesfully appealed against in October of the same year. Wilders is facing trial for inciting hatred and discrimination for describing Islam as a fascist religion and Moroccan youths as violent and for calling for the banning of the Koran.

1. ^ Biography of Geert Wilders. Website of the Dutch Parliament (in Dutch). Retrieved 4 August 2010
2. ^ 'I don't hate Muslims. I hate Islam'. By Ian Traynor. The Guardian. Published 17 February 2008. Retrieved 4 August 2010
3. ^ Geert Wilders wins appeal against ban on travelling to UK. Tribunal rejects claim that far-right Dutch politician's presence coud 'lead to inter-faith violence'. By Alan Travis. The Guardian. Published 13 October 2009. Retrieved 4 August 2010
4. ^ Anti-Muslim Dutch Lawmaker's Trial Tests Freedom of Speech. By Leo Cendrowicz. TIME. Published 3 February 2010. Retrieved 4 August 2010

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Wikinews on Politics and conflicts

• September 6: Obama announces plan to build roads, railroads and runways
• September 6: Independent Member of Australian Parliament calls for better indigenous policy
• September 4: Wikinews Shorts: September 2, 2010/Abbas, Netanyahu to meet regularly
• September 4: Wikinews Shorts: September 2, 2010
• September 3: New South Wales Legislative Assembly votes in favor of same-sex adoption
• September 1: The Bahamas halt all new applications for oil exploration
• September 1: Estonian soldier killed in southern Afghanistan
• September 1: Russian embassy attacked by Molotov cocktails in Minsk
• August 31: Daughter of U.S ambassador Eric John dies after New York City fall
• August 31: Algerian forces kill at least eight al-Qaeda rebels

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The Koran is an inspiration for intolerance, murder and terror.

—Geert Wilders, Dutch politician, February 2008

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Comprehensive overview of politics coverage

Numerous articles in Wikipedia are related to politics, especially to political science, democracy and the various aspects of a democratic system, most notably elections. In general, all the following articles have at least some connection with politics or the democratic decision-making process.

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