Political Jargon summer 2018

Question 1

“The Hill”

Answer 1

a newspaper that publishes each day that congress is in session
also short term for capitol hill

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

coming from Theodore Roosevelt it is a public office or authority that provides its occupant with an 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

a person who is averse to change and holds to traditional values and attitudes

Question 7

Constituent

Answer 7

a member of a constituency (voter, elector)

Question 8

Demographics

Answer 8

statistical data relating to the population and particular groups within it

Question 9

Earmark

Answer 9

“hidden” congressional provision that directs federal government to fund a specific project or exempts specific people or groups from paying specific federal taxes or fees

Question 10

Entitlements

Answer 10

government sponsored programs providing mandated/guaranteed/required benefits to those who meet eligibility requirements

Question 11

Flip-Flopper

Answer 11

a sudden or unexpected reversal, as of direction, belief, attitude, or policy

Question 12

Free-Rider Problem

Answer 12

The problem faced by interest groups when citizens can reap the benefits of interest group action without actually joining

Question 13

Gender Gap

Answer 13

Differences in political views between men and women

Question 14

Gerrymandering

Answer 14

describes the deliberate rearrangement of the boundaries of congressional districts to influence the outcome of elections

Question 15

GOP

(Grand Old Party

Answer 15

The republican party which is one f the two major political parties in the united states

Question 16

Grassroots

Answer 16

a group within a larger group, party or government. A social movement organization that relies on high levels of membership participation to promote social change

Question 17

Gridlock

Answer 17

inability of the government to act because rival parties control different parts of the government
(one part controls the white house and another party controls one or both houses of congress)

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

Relating to something that happened in Washington Dc this is most often in reference to the us national politics or political system

Question 20

K Street

Answer 20

a major thoroughfare in the united states capital of Washington DC known as a center for numerous think tanks, lobbyists, and advocacy groups

Question 21

Lameduck

Answer 21

Someone who was elected into a particular job that is nearing the end of their term, usually when their successor is already chosen

Question 22

Liberal

Answer 22

One who favors more limited and local government, less government regulation of markets, and more social conformity to traditional norms and values

Question 23

Libertarian

Answer 23

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

Question 24

Litigation

Answer 24

when people go to court in order to get a positive ruling for their case. can go to court to say that is a law hurts a certain group they can say that it is unlawful and impinges on their rights.

Question 25

Lobbyist

Answer 25

A person who is trying to influence public opinion or the opinion of a politician about an issue. Someone who is trying to persuade a politician to vote a certain way

Question 26

Logrolling

Answer 26

The exchanging of favors in politics, usually by voting for one another’s legislation

Question 27

Mandate

Answer 27

requirement or an order from the central government that all state and local government must comply with

Question 28

Partisan

Answer 28

making decisions or voting on the basis of party opinion

Question 29

Party Platform

Answer 29

political party’s statement of its goals and policies for the next for years. drafted prior to the part convention by a committee whose members are chosen in rough proportion to each candidate’s strengths

Question 30

Polarization

Answer 30

When the publics opinion divides and goes to extremes

Question 31

Political Action Committee

PAC

Answer 31

Organizations that solicit and receive campaign contributions from corporations, unions, trade associations, and ideological and issue oriented groups and their members; these distribute the funds to political candidates

Question 32

Political Culture

Answer 32

widely shared beliefs, values and norms about how citizens relate to governments and to one another

Question 33

Political Efficacy

Answer 33

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

Question 34

Political Socialization

Answer 34

group consisting of members sharing common characteristics. Its a process in which individuals learn a set of political attitudes and form opinions about social issues.

Question 35

Political Suicide

Answer 35

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

A derogatory term describing when the government funds a project or something that is used to win votes, make money, or please voters

Question 37

POTUS

Answer 37

acronym for the President of the United States

Question 38

Rank and File

Answer 38

The average members of a particular organization, not its leaders; the members of a party or group who form the majority of it, excluding the officers

Question 39

Red State

Answer 39

refers to states where the republican candidate carried the electoral vote

Question 40

Red Tape

Answer 40

Following of rules and procedures, excessive bureaucracy

Question 41

Safe Seat

Answer 41

electoral district (constituency) in a legislative body which is regarded as fully secure, for either a certain political party, or incumbent representative personally or a combination of both

Question 42

SCOTUS

Answer 42

The Supreme Court of the United States

Question 43

Sound Bite

Answer 43

An excerpt from a recorded interview, chosen for its appropiatness

Question 44

Spin Control

Answer 44

the act or practice of attempting to manipulate the way an event is interpreted by others

Question 45

Stump Speech

Answer 45

A speech given by a politician that outlines their goals or campaign

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 party) an unelected delegate who is free to support any candidate for the presidential nomination at the party’s national convention

Question 48

Swing State

Answer 48

a state in which voters usually swing from one part to another. important when discovering the result of an election

Question 49

Talking Points

Answer 49

• a succinct statement designed to support persuasively one side taken on an issue
• 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