Politcal Jargon

Question 1

“The Hill”

Answer 1

A short name for Capital Hill.A term for the legislative branch of the US government, as White House is for the executive branch.

Question 2

Bipartisan

Answer 2

Containing the support of two conflicting views

Question 3

Blue State

Answer 3

Refers to the states where the democratic candidate carried the electoral vote

Question 4

Bully Pulpit

Answer 4

An office or job that gives members an opportunity to speak their opinions freely

Question 5

Coattails Effect

Answer 5

When a Leading Political Party official attempts to gain votes for a candidate in the same party

Question 6

Conservative

Answer 6

A person whose political views favor more local, limited govt, less govt regulations, conformity to social norms &values; rough on criminals

Question 7

Constituent

Answer 7

a person represented by a legislator or other elected/appointed official.

Question 8

Demographics

Answer 8

Characteristics of a population, including age, sex, and race. Demographics are often used to determine changes in the make-up of a population.

Question 9

Earmark

Answer 9

When the Congress provides funds for only certain projects

Question 10

Entitlements

Answer 10

right to benefits that ought to be provided by government or, to opponents of the growth of federal spending, a euphemism for “welfare.” Due to its abuses, now generally used pejoratively

Question 11

Flip-flopper

Answer 11

a U-turn, or reversal of position, a sudden shift in opinion

Question 12

Free-Rider Problem

Answer 12

The problem faced by unions and other groups when people do not join because they can benefit from the group’s activities without actually joining.

Question 13

Gender Gap

Answer 13

A term that refers to the regular patterns by which women are more likely to support Democratic candidates. Women tend to be significantly less conservative than men and are more likely to support spending on social services and to oppose higher levels of military spending.

Question 14

Gerrymandering

Answer 14

drawing of political lines by the party in power so as to perpetuate its power; designing a district to fit a voting pattern.

Question 15

GOP

Answer 15

Grand Old Party. The Republican Party, commonly referred to as GOP (abbreviation for Grand Old Party), is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States.

Question 16

Grassroots

Answer 16

When people volunteer for a local party for the election

Question 17

Gridlock

Answer 17

The inability of the government to act because rival parties control different parts of the government

Question 18

Independent Expenditure

Answer 18

Spending by political action committees, corporations, or labor unions that is done to help a party or candidate but is done independently of them.

Question 19

Inside the Beltway

Answer 19

A way to characterize issues for the US Government

Question 20

K Street

Answer 20

K Street is a major thoroughfare in the United States capital of Washington, D.C. known as a center for numerous think tanks, lobbyists, and advocacy groups.

Question 21

Lameduck

Answer 21

an officeholder whose power is diminished because he is soon to leave office, as a result of defeat or statutory limitation. The “lame-duck” amendment was finally ratified in 1933 as the 20th Amendment. Previously the incoming President was forced to wait until March to assume office while the old Congress - some of whose members had been retired at the last election - met in December and held nominal legislative powers until March

Question 22

Liberal

Answer 22

One who favors more government regulation of business and support for social welfare but less regulation of private social conduct

Question 23

Libertarian

Answer 23

One who is conservitive on economic issues, liberal on personal conduct issues

Question 24

Litigation

Answer 24

Pursuing a case or claim through the judicial process.

Question 25

Lobbyist

Answer 25

A person who is brought in to try to persuade legislatures

Question 26

Logrolling

Answer 26

mutual aid among politicians, especially legislators who must vote on many items of economic importance in individual states and districts. The classic description of the theory is attributed to Simon Camerson, Pennsylvania who served as Lincoln’s first Secretary of War: “You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours.”

Question 27

Mandate

Answer 27

Requirements that direct states and local governments to provide additional services under the threat of penalties or as a condition of the the receipt of federal grant money. For example the drinking age within states.

Question 28

Partisan

Answer 28

Political actions or decisions that benefit a particular party

Question 29

Party Platform

Answer 29

A political party’s statement of its goals and policies for the next four years

Question 30

Polarization

Answer 30

When two opposing sides feel intensely about an issue that is difficult to compromise on

Question 31

Political Action Committee (PAC)

Answer 31

An organization formed to collect money and provide financial support for political candidates

Question 32

Political Culture

Answer 32

A coherent way of thinking about how politics and government ought to be carried out

Question 33

Political Efficacy

Answer 33

A belief that you can take part in politics (internal) or that the government will respond to the citizenry (external).

Question 34

Political Socialization

Answer 34

The process through which an individuals learn a set of political attitudes and form opinions about social issues. Families and the educational system are two of the most important forces in the political socialization process.

Question 35

Political Suicide

Answer 35

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 unfavourable or that might threaten the status quo

Question 36

Pork Barrel Spending

Answer 36

When the government spends money on political projects

Question 37

POTUS

Answer 37

The President of the United States

Question 38

Rank and File

Answer 38

Party members who are more active than the average voter but not a party leader

Question 39

Red State

Answer 39

Refers to states where the Republican candidate carried the electoral vote

Question 40

Red Tape

Answer 40

More rules than necessary that are repeatedly stated in different ways to stop decision making

Question 41

Safe Seat

Answer 41

A district that returns a legislator with 55 percent of the vote or more.

Question 42

SCOTUS

Answer 42

The Supreme Court of the United States

Question 43

Sound Bite

Answer 43

A clip of an interview that was recorded

Question 44

Spin Control

Answer 44

A type of propaganda when they are providing a prejudice view of the situation to lure in the public

Question 45

Stump Speech

Answer 45

A name for a speech given by a politician running for office

Question 46

Super PAC

Answer 46

Political-action committee that is allowed to raise and spend unlimited amounts of money from corporations, unions, individuals and associations. Some nonprofit groups are allowed to contribute to super PACs without disclosing where their money came from; The most important difference between a super PAC and traditional candidate PAC is in who can contribute, and in how much they can give.

Question 47

Superdelegate

Answer 47

National party leaders who automatically get a delegate slot at the Democratic national convention.

Question 48

Swing State

Answer 48

When a certain state has about an equal amount of votes for both candidates

Question 49

Talking Points

Answer 49

A succinct statement designed to support persuasively one side taken on an issue and something that someone tends to be repeated in a debate or speech

Question 50

Whistle Blower

Answer 50

An employee who exposes unethical or illegal conduct within the federal government or one of its contractors