Pax Americana refers to a period of relative peace and stability that extended throughout the area of American influence, beginning with the end of World …
“Muckraker” is a name given to progressive journalists and writers in the early 20th century. The term is still sometimes used today to refer to …
A political animal is one who is fascinated by politics and who thrives on being closely involved in politics.
They are also sometimes called political …
A “mossback” is an extreme conservative, one so bound up in the past and resistant to forward motion that it (figuratively speaking) is covered in …
A “maiden speech” is the first speech that an elected official makes in front of a legislature.
The term is most commonly used in the …
“Machine politics” is a phenomenon sometimes seen in an urban political context, especially in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Political machines are characterized …
“Not for attribution” refers to a specific, discreet kind of arrangement where a journalist and a politician, or any other individual providing information to that …
An incumbent is an official who already holds a political office.
A lot of ink has been spilled about whether the incumbent has a better …
Despite a storied career as a lawmaker and diplomat, Henry Clay is probably best-remembered for a speech in which he said, “I’d rather be right …
“Twenty years of treason” was a prominent catchphrase employed by Sen. Joseph McCarthy to vehemently denounce and criticize alleged communist sympathizers actively serving in various …
The “fireside chat” was a series of radio addresses which President Franklin Roosevelt carried out over the course of his presidency.
Roosevelt delivered a total …
“Camelot” is a reference to President John F. Kennedy’s administration.
Kennedy’s brief, ill-fated presidency has been highly mythologized; some people point to it …
“Weasel words” are used to evade a question or an issue.
They are a way to avoid direct statements of fact or principle. It’s similar …
“Kitchen cabinet” refers to a president’s informal, trusted circle of advisers, distinct from the official, formally appointed members of his actual cabinet.
In politics, a handler manages a candidate during an election.
A handler can fill a variety of roles. At the lowest end of the spectrum, …
A gag rule restricts members of a legislative body from discussing a specific issue, typically because it is deemed too controversial or divisive to address …
An influence peddler is one who uses their political influence to try and win favors for others.
An influence peddler is a bit of a …
In politics, a “clean sweep” occurs in an election when a candidate or party achieves an overwhelming or complete victory, winning in all or almost …
A “nose count” is a tally of people to see how many are present.
This process is conducted by party whips or other designated individuals …
“Missile gap” is a phrase used during the Cold War, referring to the theory that the US lagged behind the Soviet Union in terms of …
“Man in the street” is commonly used to evoke the idea of the average voter, characterized by mainstream political opinions and interests, and representing the …
“Fugazi” is military slang that has seeped into some political conversations, particularly in informal settings.
It’s used to describe something that is fake, fraudulent, or …
NIMBY is an acronym meaning “Not In My Back Yard.”
NIMBY refers to people who resist having potentially dangerous or disruptive projects carried out in …
“Hizzoner” is a nickname used by journalists to refer to big city mayors, especially in New York City.
Hizzoner is a contraction of “his honor,” …
A pecking order is a social hierarchy which spells out the specifics of how the power structure operates.
The term was …
“Salami tactics” refers to a divide and conquer approach, which aims to split up the opposition.
The expression evokes the idea of slicing up one’s …
“Effete snobs” was a phrase used by Vice President Spiro Agnew to denounce anti-war protesters, and young intellectuals in general, during the Vietnam …
An armchair strategist is a person who creates plans and military strategy without being directly involved in the area.
The term is often used in …
Pinko is a pejorative word for someone with left-wing views.
Over time, the term has evolved and is now often used in a slightly comical …
The “old guard” is the more conservative, often older, branch of any political grouping.
The old guard of a party might not be politically more …
“The torch has been passed” is one of the most famous lines of John F. Kennedy’s presidency.
In 1961, in his inaugural speech, Kennedy …
In June of 1934, Adolph Hitler ordered his troops to carry out a large-scale purge of suspected dissidents within the Nazi party.
It actually took …
Earth Day is an annual event celebrated on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection.
First celebrated in 1970, it now includes events …
The “lunatic fringe” is the wing of a political or social group that holds more extreme views than the rest of that group.
The lunatic …
“Evil empire” was President Ronald Reagan’s name for the Soviet Union.
Reagan often portrayed the struggle between the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. as a moral …
A quorum call is a procedure used in both houses of Congress to bring to the floor the number of members who must be present …
A “power broker” is someone who wields indirect political power, either by influencing the outcomes of elections or by exercising influence over key decision …
“Little group of willful men” is a reference to President Woodrow Wilson’s dispute with a group of anti-war congressmen in the lead-up to America’s entry …
In 2017, President Donald Trump announced plans for an “Infrastructure Week,” a series of high-profile events which were aimed at building support for the president’s …
“Mistakes were made” is a phrase used in politics intentionally in the passive voice.
This specific usage, typically adopted by politicians or high-ranking officials, serves …
An “off-year election” is one which takes place in a year when a presidential or midterm election does not also take place.
It’s typically when …
In politics, a phrase invoking the average American citizen.
The implication is usually that the forgotten man has suffered some major economic hardship and has …
“Little old ladies in tennis shoes” is a derisive reference to members of the John Birch society.
In 1961, the California Attorney General’s offices …
The domino theory was critical in shaping U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War.
Domino theory argued that if one nation became communist, its neighboring …
The “madman theory” is a political theory commonly associated with President Richard Nixon’s foreign policy during the Cold War.
Nixon tried to make the leaders …
The Dixiecrats were a group of Southern Democrats who broke away from their party in 1948 because they objected to the Democratic Party’s stance on …
“Trickle down theory” is a derisive term for the idea that giving benefits to large, powerful people and companies can yield benefits for society as …
“It’s the economy stupid” was a phrase coined by James Carville in 1992, when he was advising Bill Clinton in his successful run …
The term “magic minute” refers to a procedural rule that allows leaders in the House of Representatives, typically the Speaker, unlimited speaking time, despite the …
“Wilderness years” are a period of time in a politician’s career when he or she is not holding a position of power. This may happen …
“Greenwashing” is an attempt by a company to create the impression that a consumer product has benefits to the environment, even when it does not …
A beauty contest refers to a unique, non-traditional form of primary where the focus is more on gauging candidate popularity and less on the direct …
The Byrd rule is a parliamentary tripwire that prevents tangential material from being included in a budget reconciliation bill in the Senate.
Reconciliation legislation is …
“Samizdat” was a form of underground press commonly available in eastern European countries with state-owned media sources.
It is a Russian term that translates to …
A “thousand points of light” was a slogan used frequently by former president George H.W. Bush to praise volunteerism and individualism.
He first used it …
“Nobody drowned at Watergate” was a phrase used, especially by supporters of President Richard Nixon, to minimize the impact of the Watergate scandal and to …
“Red meat” is a term used in politics to refer to statements or policies that are designed to appeal to a political party’s base or …
“The cover-up is worse than the crime” refers to the idea that attempts to conceal or obscure wrongdoing can lead to more severe consequences than …
Hustings are the speeches and campaign events associated with an election cycle.
“On the hustings” is a synonym for being out campaigning, but …
Throwing one’s “hat in the ring” means announcing one’s intention to compete in a contest.
In politics, it means running for political office in an …
“Grass will grow in the streets” is a gloom-and-doom phrase sometimes used by politicians to imply that the country will go to economic ruin if …
In 1948, when President Truman was running for re-election, he frequently attacked the Republican-controlled Congress as the “do-nothing Congress.”
In fact, the 80th Congress passed …
A Bircher is an adherent to the teachings and philosophies of the John Birch Society, an anti-communist organization founded in 1958.
The heyday of the …
A “trial balloon” describes a test of public opinion or reaction to a particular idea, proposal or policy.
It is done by releasing information about
“Don’t change horses” is a phrase used to urge voters to stick with the incumbent president during times of turmoil and conflict.
The full expression …
The acronym CREEP is short for The Committee for the Re-election of the President, which in 1972 was the fundraising organization of then-president Richard Nixon’s …
“Little Tin Box” is the title of a song in the 1959 musical, “Fiorello,” which told the story of one of New York City’s most …
The Great Society was a sweeping set of proposals for social reform, put forward by President Lyndon Johnson in 1964 and aimed at improving access …
A “honeymoon period” is a period of popularity enjoyed by a new leader.
Usually, the term refers to an incoming president but it can refer …
A “gutter flyer” is a political attack ad, traditionally distributed in paper form. It is also typically anonymous, so that nobody can be held accountable …
To “electioneer” is to actively take part in an election by working for the election of a candidate or a party.
The word is almost …
The phrase “heartbeat away from the presidency” refers to the fact that the vice president will automatically succeed the presidency in the case of the …
“Third-rate burglary” is a phrase which President Richard Nixon’s press secretary used to describe the Watergate break-in.
In June 1972, five men were arrested while …
“John Q. Public” is a generic name used in the United States to denote a typical member of the general public or an average citizen.…
The “eunuch rule” is a reference to the provisions in many state constitutions which prevented state governors from running for a second consecutive term in …
“Bird-dogging” is a term that originates from hunting, where a bird dog is trained to sniff out and point towards game birds, but in politics …
“Loose lips sink ships” is a phrase that originated from a wartime propaganda poster during World War II, and it was used to …
A “fifth column” is a group which operates in secret, usually within enemy lines, in order to help further a cause which they secretly support. …
A “grand design” refers to any kind of deliberate plan of action. In politics, the term is usually used to mean an overarching strategy or …
“Go fight City Hall” is a phrase expressing the futility of trying to battle government bureaucracy.
The phrase sounds like a call to action but …
The “Final Solution” was a euphemistic name used by Nazi leaders for their plan to exterminate all of the Jews in Europe.
The plan’s full …
“I am the law” is a phrase attributed to Frank Hague, the mayor of Jersey City from 1917 until he retired in 1947.
He is …
“Guns before butter” refers to the debate over how governments should use their revenue: should resources be used to build up the military, or should …
The practice of backing up diplomatic efforts with a visible show of military might.
A nation using gunboat diplomacy is making use of implicit military …
The term “Speaker Emerita” is a title bestowed on a former Speaker of the House of Representatives in the United States who has left the …
The grassroots are the ordinary people in a region, or in a political party.
The “grassroots” level is the opposite of the leadership level. In …
A “cabal” is a group of people involved in a secret plot or conspiracy.
The term can also refer to the plot itself, or to …
In politics, gridlock is a situation in which the government is unable to pass new legislation, often because the presidency and the Congress are controlled …
To be “on the fence” is to be hesitant about taking a political stance.
Someone who is “on the fence” resists joining one side or …
In politics, “slow-walk” is a term used to describe an effort to prevent legislation or a political process from moving forward by intentionally slowing it …
In politics, a “fat cat” is a rich and influential person, usually one who donates generously to political campaigns.
The expression suggests that the person …
The “can’t win technique” is a campaign strategy used during the primary season.
Typically, it means telling delegates and voters that your rival can’t possibly …
“Peace through strength” is the accumulation of military power and security assets by a country to encourage an amenable diplomatic atmosphere with other countries.
The “political graveyard” refers to the careers of politicians who have experienced a significant decline of their political influence and electoral viability.
This can be …
A “boodle” refers to a large sum of bribe money or graft money.
Boodle can also be used to mean a large collection of something. …
The Fair Deal was a package of economic and social reforms put forward by President Harry Truman, with the stated purpose of giving all Americans …
A “three martini lunch” is a long, leisurely lunch, usually associated with either business or backroom political dealings.
The three martini lunch had its heyday …
The “great debates” were a series of public debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A, Douglas.
In 1858, Douglas, an Illinois Democrat, was running for …
The “Era of Good Feeling” refers to a period in U.S. history from about 1815 until about 1825, characterized by a sense of optimism and …
A “captive candidate” is one who is allegedly “owned” by special interests or political groups. Calling someone a “captive candidate” is similar to saying that …
Karl Marx famously declared that religion is the opiate of the people.
There are a few conflicting translations of the quote, so that sometimes religion …