Political Jargon Terms Flashcards
“The Hill”
referring to Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.
Bipartisan
Involving the agreement or cooperation of two political parties that usually do not agree with each
Blue State
US State that predominantly votes for or supports the Democratic Party.
Bully Pulpit
A position of authority from which one may express one’s views.
Coattails Effect
( Down-Ballot affect) is the tendency for a popular political party leader to attract votes for other candidates of the same party in an election.
Conservative
believe in personal responsibility, limited government, free markets, individual liberty, traditional American values and a strong national defense.
Constituent
The people politicians have been elected to represent.
Demographics
characteristics of a population, including age, sex, and race. Used to determine changes in the makeup of a population.
Earmark
pet projects added to appropriation bills by congressmen, called “wasteful spending” and “pork barrel legislation” by critics.
Entitlements
benefits guaranteed by law paid to individuals by the fed gov, such as social security.
Flip-flopper
A U-turn or reversal of position; a sudden shift of opinion.
Free-Rider Problem
The problem faced by unions and other groups when people do not join because they can benefit from the groups’ activities without officially joining.
Gender Gap
a significant deviation between the way men and women vote.
Gerrymandering
drawing political boundaries to give your party a numeric advantage over an opposing party.
GOP
(Grand Old Party) nickname for Republican Party.
Grassroots
The common or ordinary people, especially as contrasted with the leadership or elite of a political party, social organization.
Gridlock
The inability of the government to act because rival parties control different parts of the government.
Independent Expenditure
Where 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
The area inside the Capital Beltway that encircles Washington, D.C. to be only of concern to the people who work in the federal government and is of little interest to the nation at large.
K Street
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.
Lameduck
an elected official or group of officials, as a legislator, continuing in office during the period between an election defeat and a successor’s assumption of office.
Liberal
Belief in Government action to achieve equal opportunity and equality for all.
Libertarian
an advocate of the doctrine of free will.
Litigation
The process of taking an argument between people or groups to a court of law.
Lobbyist
The act of attempting to influence business and government leaders to create legislation or conduct an activity that will help a particular organization.
Logrolling
An arrangement in which two or more members of Congress agree in advance to support each other’s bills.
Mandate
the belief that the electorate broadly supports your plans and has told you so with an electoral victory, is often worth more than the election itself.
Partisan
a committed member of a political party or political coalitions.
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 (PAC)
a group created and organized for the purpose of receiving donations and contributing money received directly or indirectly to the campaigns of federal candidates.
Political Culture
The widely shared beliefs, values, and norms about how citizens relate to governments and to one another.
Political Efficacy
A belief that you can take part in politics (internal) or that the government will respond to the citizenry (external).
Political Socialization
process by how people acquire their political orientation.
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 or that might threaten the status quo.
Pork Barrel Spending
a metaphor for the appropriation of government spending for localized projects secured solely or primarily to bring money to a representative’s district.
Rank and File
the broad range of party members, more active than the average voter registered with a party.
Red State
refers to states where the Republican candidate carried the electoral vote.
Red Tape
complex bureaucratic rules and procedure that must be followed to get something done
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.
Sound Bite
The use of sound bites in this day and time is to make fun of politicians. These sound bites are blown out of porpotion and context to resemble something negative about thus candidate. For instance when a candidate has a slip of a tounge.
Spin Control
placing a certain slant on a story to deflect negative public attention against a candidate or office holder.
Stump Speech
Delivers the same essential message again and again throughout a campaign but they do vary that message somewhat from audience to audience.
Super PAC
Organization set up after Citizens United to engage in independent electioneering. Can receive unlimited donations but cannot coordinate with a candidate.
Superdelegate
party leaders and elected officials who become delegates to the national convention without having to run in primaries or caucuses.
Swing State
a state that does not consistently vote either democratic or republican in presidential elections.
Talking Points
statements designed to persuasively suport one side taken on an issue.
Whistle Blower
someone who finds wrongdoing in a fed or private agency, collects info, and gives it to law enforcement so they can sue; congress protected so that they aren’t allowed to lose their jobs and get monetary compensation.
SCOTUS
Supreme Court of the United States
POTUS
President of the United States
