Melissa Grossmann, age 15, of Great Falls, Mont., for her question:

WHAT DOES RIGHT WING MEAN?

Right wing is applied to a conservative, traditional group, individual or political party. In many legislatures, the conservative members of the group sit to the right of the speaker or presiding officer.

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

These various designations originated with the French National Assembly of 1789. In that legislature, nobles took the honored seats to the king's right.

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