Jonathan Serna Flashcards
” The Hill”
A nickname for capitol hill.
Bipartisan
The tendency for a popular political party leader such as the president to attract votes for other candidates of the same party in an election. This Involves two political Parties.
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 coattail effect is the tendency for a popular political party leader to attract votes for other candidates of the same party in an election.
Conservative
Holding to traditional attitudes and values and cautious about change or innovation, typically in relation to politics.
Constituent
A legislator who is an agent of the voters who elected him or her and who votes according to the view of constituents regardless of personal beliefs.
Demographics
Statistical data relating to the population and particular groups within it.
Earmark
A congressional directive that funds should be spent on a specific project.
Entitlements
An act of congress that establishes, continues, or changes a discretionary government program or an entitlement.
Flip-flopper
A person, especially a politician, who suddenly changes his or her opinion or policy.
Free-Rider Problem
The problem faced by interest groups when citizens can reap the benefits of interest group action without actually joining.
Gender Gap
The discrepancy in opportunities, status, attitudes, between men and women.
Gerrymandering
To manipulate the boundaries of an electoral constituency to favor one party or class.
GOP
Grand Old Party.
Grassroots
The most basic level of an activity or organization.
Gridlock
The inability of the government to act because rival parties control different parts of the government.
Independent Expenditure
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 United States capital of Washington, D.C. known as a center for numerous think tanks, lobbyists, and advocacy groups.
Lameduck
A politician who is still in office after having lost a reelection bid.
Liberal
A person whose views favor more government involvement in business, social welfare, minority rights, and increased government spending.
Libertarian
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 political party’s formal statement of its basic principles, objectives, and positions on major issues.
Polarization
When two opposing sides feel intensely about an issue that is difficult to compromise on.
Political Action Committee
A private group that raises and distributes funds for use in election campaigns.
Political Culture
The widely shared beliefs, values, and norms about how citizens relate to governments and to one another.
Political Efficacy
The citizens faith and trust in government and their belief that they can understand and influence political affairs.
Political Socialization
The process through which an individuals learn a set of political attitudes and form opinions about social issues.
Political Suicide
A concept by which a politician or political party loses widespread support and confidence from the voting public by proposing actions that are seen as unfavorable or that might threaten the status quo.
Pork Barrel Spending
The appropriation of government spending for localized projects secured primarily to bring money to a representative’s district.
POTUS
The President of the United States.
Rank and File
The individuals who constitute the body of an organization, society, or nation as distinguished from the leaders.
Red State
A US state that predominantly votes for or supports the Republican Party.
Red Tape
Excessive regulation or rigid conformity to formal rules that is considered redundant
Safe Seat
An elected office that is predictably won by one party or the other so the success of that party’s candidate is almost taken for granted.
SCOTUS
The Supreme Court of the United States.
Sound Bite
A short extract from a recorded interview, chosen for its pungency or appropriateness.
Spin Control
Controlling or changing the way a matter is considered, often in politics.
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 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 argument.
Whistle Blower
An employee who exposes unethical or illegal conduct within the federal government.
