Government

Upper Franconia (Oberfranken) — Bavarian government region Upper Franconia Government Region Concise overview of Upper Franconia (Oberfranken): geography, administration, history, economy, culture and notable facts, including capital Bayreuth and border connections.

Upper house (legislative chamber) Upper house One chamber of a bicameral legislature. An upper house typically reviews legislation, represents regions or social orders, and varies widely in composition and authority across cou…

Upper Palatinate (Oberpfalz) — Bavarian government region Upper Palatinate Government Region Overview of the Upper Palatinate (Oberpfalz), an administrative region in eastern Bavaria, Germany: geography, history, subdivisions, economy, culture, and notable features.

USRC General Green (1791) One of the first ten cutters of the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service, USRC General Green (1791) was named for Major General Nathanael Greene; contemporary records use a variant spelling…

USRC Scammel (1791) — early United States revenue cutter USRC Scammel (1791) USRC Scammel was one of the first ten cutters of the United States Revenue Cutter Service, launched at Portsmouth, New Hampshire in 1791 to patrol New England coasts and enforce fe…

Velachery taluk — administrative area of Chennai, Tamil Nadu Velachery taluk Velachery taluk is a municipal subdivision of Chennai district in Tamil Nadu, formed in 2013; it covers Velachery, Tharamani, Thiruvanmiyur and Besant Nagar and includes residentia…

Verkhovna Rada — Ukraine’s national parliament Verkhovna Rada The Verkhovna Rada is Ukraine’s unicameral national legislature. This article explains its role, composition, history, electoral arrangements and notable functions in the country’s…

Republic of Vermont (1777–1791) Vermont Republic Short-lived independent republic in New England (1777–1791) between New York and New Hampshire claims; maintained its own government, militia, postal service and coinage before joi…

Vermont's at-large congressional district A single-member U.S. House district that covers the entire state of Vermont. Explains its history, characteristics, notable representatives, and how statewide representation functi…

Vevey (district) Former administrative district in the canton of Vaud, Switzerland, centered on the city of Vevey; later merged into the Riviera–Pays-d'Enhaut District in 2008.

Vice Chancellor of Germany The Vice Chancellor (Vizekanzler) is the designated deputy to the Federal Chancellor, a federal minister who stands in for the head of government and often represents the junior co…

Vice President: Role, duties, history and variations Vice president Overview of the vice president role in government and business, its responsibilities, origins of the term, common variations, and how succession and titles differ across systems.

Vice President of Afghanistan Second-highest office under Afghanistan’s 2004 constitution: two vice presidents elected jointly with the president. Role, selection, duties, historical context and changes after 2…

Vice President of Angola The Vice President of Angola is the country's deputy head of state, created by the 2010 constitution to support the president, act as first in line of succession, and carry out del…

Vice President of Brazil Second-highest official in Brazil's executive branch; first in line of succession to the presidency, with duties varying from constitutional standby to active political and adminis…

Vice President of Ecuador Second-highest executive office in Ecuador. Elected on the same ticket as the president, charged with constitutional succession, representation, and duties delegated by law or the…

Vice President of India Second-highest constitutional office in India: role, functions, election, history, and notable facts including the current incumbent and the office's link to the Rajya Sabha.

Vice President of Indonesia Overview of the Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia: role, history, selection, duties, succession and notable developments since 1945.

Vice President of Laos Senior state office established in 1996. The vice president is elected by the National Assembly and serves as the deputy to the president in the Lao People's Democratic Republic.

Vice President of South Sudan Overview of the office of the Vice President of South Sudan: role, selection, historical development, political importance, and notable holders in post‑independence power-sharing a…

Vice President of the Philippines: role, duties, history, and current office Vice President of the Philippines Second-highest executive officer in the Philippines. Overview of duties, election, succession, historical development, residence, and current officeholder with language variants an…

Vice President of the United States Overview of the office, duties, history, succession role, and contemporary significance of the Vice President of the United States.

Vice President of Turkey Senior constitutional office in Turkey created with the 2017 constitutional changes; vice presidents assist and deputize for the president and replace the former prime minister in…

Vice-President of Egypt Senior constitutional office in Egypt that may act as the president's deputy; position, powers and prominence have varied across constitutions and political practice.

Vice‑President of Sierra Leone Vice-President of Sierra Leone Overview of the office of the Vice‑President of Sierra Leone: constitutional role, typical duties, method of appointment, historical development, and how the position functions in…

Vice‑President of the Executive Council (Irish Free State) Vice-President of the Executive Council of the Irish Free State Deputy head of government in the Irish Free State (1922–1937) who stood in for the President of the Executive Council and simultaneously led a government department.

Vice‑President of Zimbabwe Vice-President of Zimbabwe Second-highest office in Zimbabwe's executive: two vice-presidential posts appointed by the president, designated First and Second for succession and often charged with senior exec…

Viceroy: Representative Ruler Governing in a Monarch’s Name Viceroy A viceroy is a high-ranking official appointed to govern a territory on behalf of a monarch. This article explains the term, duties, historical examples, and how the role differed…

Viceroyalty of Perú (Virreinato del Perú) Viceroyalty of Perú Spanish colonial viceroyalty created in 1542 and governed from Lima; it administered large parts of Spanish South America, directing economic, legal and religious life until the ea…

Vichy France (French State, 1940–1944) Vichy France Authoritarian regime led by Marshal Philippe Pétain after France's 1940 defeat; governed unoccupied France and parts of the empire, collaborated with Nazi Germany, and was dismantl…

Victoria Police — the primary law enforcement agency of Victoria, Australia Victoria Police Victoria Police is the main law enforcement agency for the Australian state of Victoria, providing community and specialist policing across urban and regional areas since the mid-1…

Vietnam People's Public Security National civil security force of Vietnam responsible for protecting national security, maintaining public order and safety, advising state authorities, and carrying out crime preve…

Virginia Plan A 1787 proposal presented at the U.S. Constitutional Convention that called for a stronger national government, a three-branch structure, and legislative representation based large…

Vizier: senior ministerial office in Muslim polities Vizier Vizier (wazir) is a senior political advisor and minister in Muslim states, historically serving rulers such as caliphs and sultans; roles ranged from chief administrator to milita…

Wage Stabilization Board — U.S. wage control agencies of 1946 and 1950–53 Wage Stabilization Board Overview of the two U.S. Wage Stabilization Board agencies: their origins, structure, role in wage control policy after World War II and during the Korean War, and their legacy.

Wāli (Wali): provincial governor in Islamic, Ottoman, and modern administrations Wāli Wāli (or wali) is an Arabic term meaning guardian or governor. Historically used in the Arab and Ottoman empires, it denotes a provincial governor or official and remains in use in…

War on Drugs (United States): origins, policies, effects and reforms War on Drugs A neutral overview of the United States 'War on Drugs': its origins, key policies, political history, social impacts and the shifts toward treatment and reform movements.

Warren Commission The Warren Commission was the presidential commission that investigated the 1963 assassination of John F. Kennedy, issuing a report on its findings and shaping decades of debate ov…

Washington State Capitol (Legislative Building), Olympia Washington State Capitol The Washington State Capitol in Olympia houses the state legislature and executive offices. A landmark of early 20th‑century civic architecture, it hosts lawmaking, ceremonies, pub…

Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Washington State Department of Transportation Washington's state transportation agency responsible for highways, bridges, ferries, rail, multimodal planning, traffic operations and traveler services. Headquarters in Olympia; r…

Weimar Republic (Germany, 1919–1933) Weimar Republic German federal republic established after World War I, governed 1919–1933. Noted for its constitution, cultural flowering, economic crises, political instability and collapse into…

Welsh Government (Llywodraeth Cymru): Devolved executive of Wales Welsh Government The Welsh Government (Llywodraeth Cymru) is the devolved executive responsible for public services and policy in Wales. It is led by the First Minister and is accountable to the We…

Welsh Parliament (Senedd): role, structure, history and functions Welsh Parliament The Welsh Parliament (Senedd) is Wales's devolved legislature. This article explains its makeup, powers, history, and relationship with the UK government, including law‑making and…

West Germany (Federal Republic of Germany, 1949–1990) West Germany Overview of the Federal Republic of Germany (commonly West Germany): its formation, political structure, economy, role in the Cold War, and reunification in 1990.

West Indies Federation (1958–1962) West Indies Federation Short-lived political union of British Caribbean territories (1958–1962) formed to seek independence as a single state; it failed because of internal political, economic and consti…

White House Chief of Staff Senior aide and top official in the White House staff who manages the president's office, coordinates policy and operations, controls access, and shapes daily presidential prioriti…

White House Press Secretary Senior communications official who speaks for the White House, coordinates media briefings, and explains presidential policies to journalists and the public.

WhiteHouse.gov: Official Website of the White House Whitehouse.gov Official website of the White House, run by the U.S. government. Publishes presidential news, speeches, executive actions, policy pages, archives, and ways for the public to contac…