Political Jargon terms Flashcards
¨The Hill¨
The Hill is an American Political newspaper and website published in Washington, D.C since 1994. It is published in capitol Hill Publishing, which is owned by News Communications, Inc.
Bipartisan
of or involving the agreement or cooperation of two political parties that usually oppose each other´s policies.
Blue State
a US 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 tendency for a popular political party leader to attract votes for other candidates of the same party in an election.
Conservative
a person who is averse to change and holds to traditional values and attitudes, typically in relation to politics.
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
a provision inserted into discretionary spending appropriations bill that directs funds to specific recipient while circumventing the merit-based or competitive funds allocation process.
Entitlements
a government program providing benefits to members of a specified group; also: funds supporting or distributed by such a program.
Flip-flopper
a person, especially a politician, who suddenly changes his or her opinion or policy of his or her opponent.
Free-Rider Problem
those who benefit from resources, public goods, or services that do not pay for them, which results in under provision of those goods or services.
Gender Gap
the discrepancy in opportunities, status, attitudes, etc., between men and women.
Gerrymandering
manipulation of the boundaries of an electoral constituency so as to favor one party or class.
GOP
Grand Old Party, is a nickname for the Republican Party of the US.
Grassroots
ordinary people regarded as the main body of an organizations membership.
Gridlock
a complete lack of movement or progress resulting in a backup or stagnation.
Independent Expenditure
a political campaign communication that expressly advocates for the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate that is not made in cooperation, consultation or concert with or at the request or suggestion of a candidate.
Inside the Beltway
an American idiom used to characterize matters that are, or seem to be, important primarily to officials of the U.S.
K street
a street in Washington D.C., United States, industry of lobbyists and politicians.
Lameduck
an official in the final period of office, after the election of a successor(especially the president).
Liberal
someone on the left wing of politics- the opposite of a conservative, more of an attitude towards any means of tolerance for change.
Libertarian
a person who believes in the doctrine of free will.
Litigation
a process of taking legal action.
Lobbyist
a person who takes part in an organized attempt to influence legislators.
Logrolling
the practice of exchanging favors, especially in politics by reciprocal voting for each others proposed legislation.
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
a strong supporter of a party, cause, or person.
Party Platform
a political party platform or program is 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.
Polarization
division into two sharply contrasting groups or sets of opinions or beliefs.
Political Action Committee (PAC)
an organization that raises money privately to influence elections or legislation, especially at the federal level.
Political Culture
a set of attitudes, beliefs, and sentiments which give order and meaning to a political process and which provide underlying assumptions and rules that govern behavior in the political system.
Political Efficacy
the citizens faith and trust in government and their belief that they can understand and influence political affairs.
Political Socialization
lifelong process by which people form their ideas about politics and acquire political values.
Political Suicide
an action of a political figure to commit into killing themselves due to legal action or simply pressure as a result of their political duties.
Pork Barrel Spending
a metaphor for the appropriation of government spending for localized projects secured solely or primarily to bring money to a representatives district.
POTUS
the president of the United States.
Rank and File
the ordinary members of an organization as opposed to its leaders.
Red State
used to point out the states representing the Republican Party by red.
Red Tape
excessive bureaucracy or adherence to rules and formalities, especially in public business.
Safe Seat
a legislation seat that is likely to be retained with a large majority in an election.
SCOTUS
the supreme court of the United States.
Sound Bite
a short extract from a recorded interview, chosen for its pungency or appropriateness.
Spin Control
an attempt to give a bias to news coverage, especially of a political candidate or event.
Stump Speech
a standard speech used by a politician running for office.
Super PAC
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 coordinate directly with parties or candidates.
Superdelagate
(in the Democratic Party) an unelected delegate who is free to support any candidate for the presidential nomination at the party’s national convention.
Swing state
a U.S. state where the two major political parties have similar levels or support among voters, viewed as important in determining the overall result of a presidential election.
Talking Points
a topic that invites discussion or argument.
Whistle Blower
a person who informs on a person or organization engaged in an illicit activity.
