Political Jargon

Question 1

“The Hill”

Answer 1

An American political newspaper and website published in Washington, D.C. since 1994. It 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.

Question 2

Bipartisan

Answer 2

Of or involving the agreement or cooperation of two political parties that usually oppose each other’s policies

Question 3

Blue State

Answer 3

A US state that predominantly votes for or supports the Democratic Party.

Question 4

Bully Pulpit

Answer 4

A public office or position of authority that provides its occupant with an outstanding opportunity to speak out on any issue.

Question 5

Coattails Effect

Answer 5

The tendency for a popular political party leader to attract votes for other candidates of the same party in an election.

Question 6

Conservative

Answer 6

Holding to traditional attitudes and values and cautious about change or innovation, typically in relation to politics or religion.

Question 7

Constituent

Answer 7

Being a voting member of a community or organization and having the power to appoint or elect.

Question 8

Demographics

Answer 8

Statistical data relating to the population and particular groups within it.

Question 9

Earmark

Answer 9

A congressional directive that funds should be spent on a specific project.

Question 10

Entitlements

Answer 10

A Federal program or provision of law that requires payments to any person or unit of government that meets the eligibility criteria established by law.

Question 11

Flip-flopper

Answer 11

A person, especially a politician, who suddenly changes his or her opinion or policy.

Question 12

Free-Rider Problem

Answer 12

A market failure that occurs when people take advantage of being able to use a common resource, or collective good, without paying for it, as is the case when citizens of a country utilize public goods without paying their fair share in taxes.

Question 13

Gender Gap

Answer 13

The discrepancy in opportunities, status, attitudes, etc., between men and women.

Question 14

Gerrymandering

Answer 14

A practice intended to establish a political advantage for a particular party or group by manipulating district boundaries.

Question 15

GOP

Answer 15

“Grand Old Party”; the Republican Party.

Question 16

Grassroots

Answer 16

A movement which uses the people in a given district, region, or community as the basis for a political or economic movement.

Question 17

Gridlock

Answer 17

A situation in which nothing can move or proceed in any direction.

Question 18

Independent Expediture

Answer 18

The Supreme Court has ruled that individuals, groups, and parties can spend unlimited amounts in campaigns for or against candidates as long as they operate independently from the candidates. When an individual, group, or party does so, they are making an ________________.

Question 19

Inside the Beltway

Answer 19

When a concern only matters to the people who work in the federal government and is of little interest to the nation at large.

Question 20

K Street

Answer 20

A shorthand term for Washington lobbyists; location of the offices of nearly seven thousand organizations that are represented in Washington.

Question 21

Lameduck

Answer 21

A politician whose power has been diminished because he or she is about to leave office as a result of electoral defeat or statutory limitation.

Question 22

Liberal

Answer 22

A political and moral philosophy based on liberty and equality.

Question 23

Libertarian

Answer 23

A collection of political philosophies and movements that uphold liberty as a core principle.

Question 24

Litigation

Answer 24

A legal proceeding in a court; a judicial contest to determine and enforce legal rights.

Question 25

Lobbyist

Answer 25

An individual who attempts to influence the actions, policies, or decisions of officials in their daily life, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies.

Question 26

Logrolling

Answer 26

The practice of exchanging favors, especially in politics by reciprocal voting for each other’s proposed legislation.

Question 27

Mandate

Answer 27

An official or authoritative instruction or command. politics the support or commission given to a government and its policies or an elected representative and his policies through an electoral victory.

Question 28

Partisan

Answer 28

A committed member of a political party or political coalitions.

Question 29

Party Platform

Answer 29

A formal set of principle goals which are supported by a political party or individual candidate, in order to appeal to the general public, for the ultimate purpose of garnering the general public’s support and votes about complicated topics or issues.

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

A private group that raises and distributes funds for use in election campaigns.

Question 32

Political Culture

Answer 32

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.

Question 33

Political Efficacy

Answer 33

The citizens’ faith and trust in government and their belief that they can understand and influence political affairs.

Question 34

Political Socialization

Answer 34

The process through which an individuals learn a set of political attitudes and form opinions about social issues.

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 unfavorable or that might threaten the status quo.

Question 36

Pork Barrel Spending

Answer 36

The appropriation of government spending for localized projects secured primarily to bring money to a representative’s district; term is used in derogatory fashion to attack opponents.

Question 37

POTUS

Answer 37

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

A US state that predominantly votes for or supports the Republican Party.

Question 40

Red Tape

Answer 40

Collection or sequence of forms and procedures required to gain bureaucratic approval for something, especially when oppressively complex and time-consuming; hinders or prevents action or decision making.

Question 41

Safe Seat

Answer 41

A legislative seat that is likely to be retained with a large majority in an election.

Question 42

SCOTUS

Answer 42

Supreme Court of the United States

Question 43

Sound Bite

Answer 43

A short extract from a recorded interview; a brief memorable comment that can easily be fit into news broadcasts.

Question 44

Spin Control

Answer 44

Placing a certain slant on a story to deflect negative public attention against a candidate or office holder.

Question 45

Stump Speech

Answer 45

A standard speech used by a politician running for office while on campaign trail.

Question 46

Super PAC

Answer 46

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

Question 47

Superdelegate

Answer 47

Democratic: a delegate to the DNC who is seated automatically and can vote for whomever they want (includes distinguished party leaders, and elected officials (democratic congressmen and governors); their votes are not based on the vote of the American people
Republican: delegates to the RNC who are seated automatically. However, they are limited to 3 per state consisting of the state chairperson and two district-level committee members; they are obliged to vote for their state’s popular vote.

Question 48

Swing State

Answer 48

A state that does not consistently vote republican or democratic in presidential elections; such states receive a large share of attention during campaigns; non-swing states are often called safe states.

Question 49

Talking Points

Answer 49

A statement designed to support persuasively one side taken on an issue.

Question 50

Whistle Blower

Answer 50

A person who exposes any kind of information or activity that is deemed illegal, unethical, or not correct within an organization that is either private or public