Political occupations

A politician is a person who participates in policy-making processes, usually holding a position in a political party or an elective position in government. Politicians make decisions, and influence the formulation of public policy. The roles or duties that politicians perform vary depending on the level of government, whether local, state, or national. The ideological orientation that politicians adopt often stems from their previous experience, education, beliefs, the political parties they belong to. They try to shape public opinion accordingly.

A spokesperson, spokesman, or spokeswoman is someone engaged or elected to speak on behalf of others.

A legislator, or lawmaker, is a person who writes and passes laws, especially someone who is a member of a legislature. Legislators are often elected by the people, but they can be appointed, or hereditary. Legislatures may be supra-national (for example, the European Parliament), national, such as the Japanese Diet, sub-national as in provinces, or local.

community leader of a village

thumb|U.S. President Barack Obama and aides [[Carol Browner, David Axelrod, and Jon Favreau working on a speech in June 2010]]

person who provides advice on how to deal with the news media

member of a political party charged with communicating the party's position