Should we be afraid? As the United States prepares for a seismic presidential election, some believe that the result will shape the very future of democracy.
Nine days that will change the world
Accusations fly: Seventy percent of Americans think elected officials should avoid aggressive language — but Republicans are more likely to find it acceptable than Democrats. Glossary
Democrat - A member of the Democratic party, the left-leaning US political party.
Republican Party - Also known as the Grand Old Party or GOP, it is one of the USA's two major political parties. Its first president was Abraham Lincoln. It sits on the right of the political spectrum.
Abortion - The deliberate ending of a pregnancy.
Nato - The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation was founded in 1949 to unite Western democracies in Europe and North America against the perceived growing threat of the USSR. It now has 31 members.
Tariffs - A form of tax on imports.
Swing states - In the USA, states that sometimes vote for Republican presidential candidates and sometimes vote for Democrats. Which way the swing states go will decide who wins an election.
Arsenal - Collection of weapons.
Dictator - A ruler who has total power, and has often taken power by force.
Authoritarian - Enforcing strict obedience to authority.
Vladimir Putin - Russia’s ruler since 2000. He is a strong opponent of the West.
Xi Jinping - The president of China, who has concentrated power and removed term limits allowing him to serve for life.
Oval Office - The president's main office in the White House.
Fascist - Following fascism, a set of ideologies that advocates dictatorial power, political violence, suppression of opposition, traditional gender roles, and official racism.
Congress - The legislative branch of the American government, where elected representatives vote on which laws should be passed. Congress is made up of two chambers: the Senate, which contains two members from each of the 50 states, and the House of Representatives, which has representatives from 435 smaller districts.
Acolytes - One who helps or follows another, especially in a religious context of those assisting a priest.