Patricia Russell, age 14, of Beaumont, Texas, for her question:

WHAT DOES RIGHT WING MEAN?

Right wing refers to a conservative, traditional group or political party. In many legislative bodies, the conservative members of the group sit to the right of the speaker or presiding officer.

Radical and liberal groups form what is called the left wing. Middle of the road groups make up the center.

The custom for these various designations originated with the French National Assembly of 1789. In that assembly, nobles took the honored seats to the king's right.

Today, a number of radical and liberal members of the Democratic Party are often said to be in the left wing, while conservative or reactionary members of the Republican Party are called right wingers.