APGOVSUM18.SURY.SANCHEZ Flashcards
“The Hill”
the hill is a top US political website, read by the White House and more lawmakers than any other site; vital for policy, politics and election campaigns
Bipartisan
involving the agreement or cooperation of two political parties that usually oppose each other’s policies
blue state
a US state that predominantly votes for or supports the democratic party
Bully Pulpit
a public office or position of authority that provides its occupant with an outstanding opportunity to speak out on any issue
coattails effect
the tendency for a popular political party leader to attract votes for other candidates of the same party in an election
conservative
holding the traditional attitudes and the values and cautious about change or innovations, typically in relation to politics or religion
constituent
being a voting member of a community or organization and having the power to appoint or elect
demographics
statistical data relating to the population and the particular groups within it
earmarks
a congressional directive that funds should be spent on a specific project
entitlements
the belief that one is inherently deserving of privileges or specific treatment
flip-flopper
a turn or a reversal of position
free-rider problem
occurs when those who benefit from resources, public goods, or severcies do not pay for them, which result in an underprovision of the goods or service
Gender gap
the difference between woman and man, especially as reflected in social, political, intellectual, cultural or economical attainments or attitudes
gerrymandering
the act of altering political boundaries in order to give an unfair advantage to one political party or group of people
GOP
1/2 major political parties in the US, the other being its historic rival, the democratic party
grassroots
the common or ordinary people, especially as contrasted with the leadership or elite of a political party, social organization, etc, the rank and file
gridlock
a situation where there is difficulty passing laws that satisfy the needs of the people
independent expenditures
spending by political action committees, corporations, or labor unions that is done to help a party or candidate but is done independently of them
inside the beltway
an idiom that refers to the highway that has surrounded Washington D.C. since 1964
k street
a major thoroughfare in the US capital of Washington DC known as a center for numerous think tanks, lobbyists and advocacy groups
lameduck
a politician who is still in office after having lost a re-election bid
liberal
one who favors more government regulations of business and support for social welfare but less regulation of private social conduct
liberation
one who is conservative on economic issues, liberal on personal conduct issues
litigation
the process of taking legal action
lobbyist
a person who takes part in an organized attempt to influence legislators
logrolling
the practice of exchanging favors, especially in politics by reciprocal voting for each other’s proposed legislation
mandate
the authority to carry out a policy or course of action, regarded as given by the electorate to a candidate or party that is victorious in an election
partisan
a strong supporter of a party, cause or person
party platform
a formal set of principal goals which are supported by a political party or individual candidate, in order to appeal to the general public, for the ultimate purpose or garnering the general public’s support and votes about complicated topics or issues
polarization
divisions into two sharply contrasting groups or sets of opinions or beliefs
political action committee
an organization that raises money privately to influence elections or legislation, especially at the federal level
political culture
the set of attitudes, beliefs, and sentiments which give order and meaning to a political process and which provide the underlying assumptions and rules that govern behavior in the political system
political efficacy
the citizens’ faith and trust in government and their belief that they can understand and influence political affairs
political socialization
the process by which people from their ideas about politics
political suicide
a concept by which a politician or political party loses widespread support and confidence from the voting public by proposing action that is seen as unfavorable or that might threaten the status quo
pork barrel spending
a metaphor for the appropriation of government spending for localized projects secured solely or primarily to bring money to a representative’s district
POTUS
president of the united states
rank and file
the ordinary members of an organization as opposed to its leaders
red state
a US state that predominantly votes for or supports the republican party
red tape
refers to excessive regulation or rigid conformity to formal rules that the USthe considered redundant or bureaucratic and hinders or prevents action or decision in an election
safe seat
a legislative seat that is likely to be retained with a large majority in an election
SCOTUS
the supreme court of the united states
sound bite
a piece of a person speaking during a video or speech
spin control
a form of propaganda, achieved through providing an interpretation of an event or a campaign to persuade public opinions in favor or against certain organizations or a public figure.
stump speech
a standard speech used by a politician running for office
super PAC
a type of independent political action committee which may raise unlimited sums of money from corporations, unions, and individuals but it is not permitted to contribute to or coordinate directly with parties or candidates
superdelegate
an unelected delegate who is free to support any candidate for the presidential nomination at the party’s national convention
swing state
a US state where the two major political parties have similar levels of support among voters viewed as important in determining the overall result of a presidential election
talking points
a topic that invites discussion or arguments
whistle blower
a person who informs on a person or organizations engaged in an illicit activity
