Summer Assignment Political Jargon Flashcards
Inside The Beltway
Political activities of Washington D.C
Policy Wonk
Someone who is highly knowledgeable and enthusiastic about policy details
Flip-Flop
A sudden or obvious change in position or opinion, often made by a politician
John Q. Public
A generic name used to represent an average person or citizen
Pundit
A political commentator or expert who gives opinions in the media
Political Hack
A person who is involved in politics, often seen as biased or corrupt
Facetime
Direct, in-person interaction or visibility with people, especially with political leaders or the public
Rank and File
The ordinary members of an organization or the general membership, not the leaders
“Card Carrying”
A phrase used to describe someone who is an official and active member of an organization or movement
Dyed-in-the-Wool
Refers to someone who is firmly established in their beliefs, often used to describe someone with strong, unwavering political opinions
Closing Ranks
The act of uniting in support of a common cause or in defense of a position, often after a controversy
Bleeding Hearts
A term often used derogatorily to describe people who are considered overly sympathetic or liberal, particularly social issues
Big Tent
Refers to a political party or movement that seeks to attract a wide range of members with differing viewpoints
Backbencher
A member of a legislative body who does not hold a leadership position and is often less influential
Power Base/”The Base”
The core supporters or main constituency of a political party or leader
Split Ticket
When a voter chooses candidates from different political parties for different offices in the same election
The Amen Corner
A group of supporters or followers who uncritically endorse the views or decisions of a leader
Balanced Ticket
Selecting a state of candidates that reflects diversity in geography, ideology, demographics to appeal to a wider electorate
Ballot Stuffing
Illegally adding extra votes to an election, often to alter the outcome
Waffle
To speak or write in a vague or indecisive manner, often used to describe politicians who avoid taking a clear stance
Mudslinging
The use of insults or accusations, especially unjust ones, with the aim of damaging the reputation of the opponent
Weasel Words
Words or statements that are intentionally ambiguous or misleading, often used to avoid making a direct or clear commitment
Pressing the Flesh
The act of shaking hands and mingling with people, particularly by politicians during campaigns
Dark Horse
A candidate or competitor who is not well known but unexpectedly emerges as a strong contender
Stalking Horse
A candidate to put forward to divide the opposition or to test the waters for another candidate
Brokered Convention
A situation where no single candidate secures a majority of delegates, leading to additional rounds of voting or negotiations at a political convention
Political Spin/”Spinning”
The act of presenting information or events in a way that favors a particular perspective, often used by politicians and public relations professionals
Shoo-In
A candidate or competitor who is expected to win easily
Slate
A list of candidates or a group of people running for election as a team
Stump Speech/On The Stump
A standard speech used by a politician during a campaign, often delivered multiple times in different locations
Coattails
The influence or advantage gained by candidates running on the same ticket as a more popular candidate, often resulting in electoral success for those down the ballot
Gaffe
A blunder or mistake, especially one made by a politician that attracts public attention
Boondoggle
A project or activity that is considered wasteful or pointless, often funded by the government
Red Tape
Excessive bureaucracy or adherence to formal rules that result in delays or efficiency
Trial Balloon
A statement or action designed to gauge public reaction before a final decision is made
“The Hill”
A reference to Capitol Hill in Washington D.C., where the U.S Congress meet up
Guns or Butter
A phrase used to describe the trade-off between a nations investment in defense and civilian goods
Demagogue
A political leader who seeks support by appealing to popular desires and prejudices rather than by using rational agreement
Entitlement
Government programs that provide benefits to individuals based on established rights or legislation, such as Social Security or Medicare
Dead Cat Bounce
A temporary recovery in the price of a declining stock or economy, often seen as short-lived before continuing downward
Left/Right Wing
Refers to the political spectrum, with the left generally supporting progressive or liberal policies, and the right advocating conservative or traditional policies
Race-Horse Journalism
Media coverage that focuses on the competition between candidates rather than on policy issues
Partisan
A strong supporter of a political party or cause, often showing bias in favor of it
RINO
“Republican in Name Only”, a derogatory term used by some conservatives to describe Republicans that believe are not sufficiently conservative
Bellwether State
A state that is seen as an indicator of how the rest of the country will vote in an election
Battleground State/Swing State
A state where both major political parties have a strong chance of winning in an election
Wedge Issue
A divisive political issue that is used to split or create divisions into within a group
Drinking the Kool-Aid
Blindly following a leader or ideology, often to one’s detriment
Tree Hugger
A term often used to describe environmental activists or people who strongly support environmental causes
Dog Whistle
A coded message communicated to a particular group while appearing as unimportant to others
