When I was having my “conversations on the common” this summer, I noticed that our individual political identities have grown murky. Unlike most of our parents, who seemed sure about being either a Republican or a Democrat, people today do a lot of head scratching about political labels.

“Are we a democracy, or a democratic republic?”

“What is the difference between a liberal and a progressive?”

“I don’t see myself as conservative, because their positions on the issues can be so extreme.”

Many people no longer want to talk about politics, seeing it as a hopelessly tangled ball of lies and misinformation. The whole arena of politics can begin to feel like something foreign, far away from the daily lives we lead.

When we lose a clear picture of our political identity, we also lose interest in following political decisions, in working for political causes, in participating in local government, and even in voting. We have to know why we are doing what we are doing in order to be involved.

In this article, then, I’d like to clarify a few political terms. These will be brief, and hopefully helpful. At the end, see if you can tell where you own political beliefs fall.

Here we go:

Conservative: A focus on preserving the institutions of society (education, religion, family, marriage, the economy), and keeping the society and the economy stable. In favor of free enterprise and private ownership. Working to keep government out of the affairs of individuals as much as possible. Considered the right wing (picture the symbolic eagle with wings spread) of the political spectrum. Historically, conservatives have identified with the Republican Party.

Moderate/Centrist: Moderate and centrist are generally considered to mean the same thing – people who avoid the views of the extreme right wing or the extreme left wing and try to develop approaches that fall somewhere in the middle. They prefer positions that are less rigid, less narrowly defined, and more flexible. A person might be a moderate Republican or a moderate Democrat, or perhaps a moderate on the issue of LQBTQIA rights, and a liberal on the issue of gun control.

Extremist: Usually this word refers to someone who is willing to resort to extreme actions to make something happen. They might advocate illegal or violent activities. The term is meant to be derogatory. You use it to convey your disapproval of the extreme manner in which a person is trying to bring about change or the extreme nature of the change they want to see.

Progressive: A progressive is focused on making progress, as the name implies. In order to improve society and improve the quality of life for everyone, progressives advocate for social reforms that help people live better lives than they are currently able to live. They work towards reforming institutions – such as the criminal justice system or the education system – so that those institutions achieve higher goals for the general public than what they are currently able to achieve. Or they work to reorganize a system like health care or taxation, so that it serves all members of society rather than a few. Considered the left wing of the political spectrum.

Liberal: A liberal fights for the protection of civil liberties in the current age, given that the Constitution was crafted by people who lived in a vastly different age and who could not envision the complexities of today’s society. Liberalism is also concerned with the ideals of equality and social justice for all, and is critical of social policies that do not meet these ideals. Liberals are open to new ideas and willing to make changes in established laws and practices that have been found to constrict individual liberty. A liberal works to make society more just and equitable and for everyone. Liberals are also part of the left wing of the political spectrum. Historically, both progressives and liberals have identified with the Democratic Party.

Independent: Affiliated with no political party. Is not loyal to or affiliated with a particular political party. Votes for candidates based on their positions on the issues. Independents may also support policies that are not widely known in the mainstream, rather than the policies put forth by the major political parties. The growing discontent with politicians in general has resulted in a dramatic rise in the number of people declaring themselves Independents.

Conceptually, being on the right is no better or worse than being on the left, or vice versa. These positions represent what we value. In order to have amiable conversations with one another about politics, we need to be able to articulate why we believe our values are better for the country.

In the process of trying to clarify the positions and beliefs among those on the left and those on the right, some related terms also need clarification:

Equality: Being treated as an equal among equals, regardless of race, religion, physical ability, intellectual ability, country of origin, appearance, gender, age, or sexual orientation. Having equal opportunities between the rich and the poor, the able-bodied and disabled, to achieve a high quality of life in society. Equality is an enduring principle in our government.

The Declaration if Independence begins, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness . . .”

Social justice: The effort and intention to accomplish outcomes that benefit everyone in society, not just the wealthy or the privileged. In creating environmental policy, for example, a concern for social justice means working to protect the health and well-being of all citizens, especially the most vulnerable among us, as well as protecting the environment, as well as promoting business growth.

Democracy: A democratic government is elected by the citizens and charged with complying with the Constitution. Democracies abide by the rule of law, meaning that laws and formal procedures apply equally to all citizens. The power of a democracy is vested in you and me, the people, through our system of representation. We are responsible for knowing the people we are electing to office to represent us. We are responsible for participating in elections. Elections are free from government control. Because laws are made by a majority vote, the rights minorities in a democracy are often unprotected.

Republic: Like a democracy, laws are made by representatives chosen by the people and in compliance with the constitution. Unlike a democracy, the constitution specifically protects the rights of minorities from the will of the majority. The United States has been described by various scholars as a republic, a representative democracy, and a democratic republic. (For a clear chart that details the differences, see Thought.Co, “Republic vs. Democracy: What is the Difference?”)

Does this help to clarify some of your own beliefs and values? It’s worth noting that our beliefs and values can change quite a bit over time. Just because you identify as a conservative now, doesn’t mean that events and life experiences won’t convince you later on that a liberal perspective is more comfortable, or vice versa. The important thing is to keep thinking about why you support the policies and social conditions you support, and why you want to change the things you want to change.