Political Jargon Flashcards
“The Hill”
A nickname for Capitol hill
Bipartisan
involving the agreement or cooperation of two political parties that usually oppose each other’s policies.
Blue state
A U.S. 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 consequence of one popular candidate in an election drawing votes for other members of the same political party.
Conservative
Holding to traditional attitudes and values and cautious about change or innovation, 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 particular groups within it.
Earmark
Secret congressional provision that directs federal government to fund specific project or exempts specific people or groups from paying specific federal taxes or fees.
Entitlements
Those benefits guaranteed by law paid to individuals by the federal government such as social security.
Flip-flopper
A person who makes a complete change of policy, opinion.
Free-Rider Problem
The problem faced by interest groups when citizens can reap the benefits of interest group action without actually joining.
Gender gap
Women tend to vote more democratic and men tend to vote more republican.
Gerrymandering
The deliberate rearrangement of the boundaries of congressional districts to influence the outcome of elections.
GOP
Stands for Grand old party, another way to identify the Republican party.
Grassroots
Ordinary people regarded as the main body of an organization’s membership.
Gridlock
The inability of the government to act because rival parties control different parts of the government.
Independent Expenditure
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.
Inside the Beltway
issues that are relevant to the federal government and its contractors rather than to areas outside Washington D.C.
K Street
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 whose power has been diminished because he or she is about to leave office as a result of electoral defeat or statutory limitation.
Liberal
A person whose views favor more government involvement in business, social welfare, minority rights, and increased government spending.
Libertarian
A person who advocates civil liberty.
Litigation
The process of taking legal action.
Lobbyist
A person who takes part in an organized attempt to influence legislators.
Logrolling
An arrangement in which two or more members of Congress agree in advance to support each other’s bills.
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
Policy or member affiliated with a party.
Party Platform
Political party’s statement of its goals and policies for the next four years. The platform is drafted prior to the party convention by a committee whose members are chosen in rough proportion to each candidate’s strength.
Polarization
When two opposing sides feel intensely about an issue that is difficult to compromise on.
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 unfavourable.
Pork Barrel Spending
The appropriation of government spending for projects that are intended primarily to benefit particular constituent.
POTUS
The President of the United States.
Rank and File
Party members who are more active than the average voter but not a party leader.
Red State
States where the Republican candidate carried the electoral vote.
Red Tape
Complex rules and procedures required by bureaucratic agencies.
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 piece of a person speaking during a video or speech.
Spin Control
Placing a certain slant on a story to deflect negative public attention against a candidate or office holder.
Stump Speech
A standard speech used by a politician running for office.
Super PAC
Political-action committee that is allowed to raise and spend unlimited amounts of money from corporations, unions, individuals and associations.
Superdelegate
A delegate to the democratic national convention who is there by virtue of holding an office.
Swing State
A state that does not consistently vote either democratic or republican in presidential elections.
Talking Points
Statements designed to persuasively support one side taken on an issue.
Whistle Blower
A person who informs on a person or organization engaged in an illicit activity.
Political Action Committee (PAC)
an organization that pools campaign contributions from members and donates those funds to campaign for or against candidates, ballot initiatives, or legislation.
Political Culture
The widely shared beliefs, values, and norms about how citizens relate to governments and to one another.
Political Efficacy
A belief that personal freedom and solving social problems are more important than religion.
