The “Cuff Links Gang” refers to the group of friends who helped Franklin D. Roosevelt run for Vice President in 1920 “and to whom he …
“Politics ain’t beanbag” Is an old-fashioned way of saying that politics can be rough.
People express roughly the same idea when they call politics “…
A “czar” is an unofficial title used to refer to high-ranking executive branch appointments.
Czars are usually given responsibility for a specific policy area and …
“Gobbledygook” is a term coined by Rep. Maury Maverick (D-TX) for obscure and euphemistic bureaucratic language.
He first used the word in a …
A “carpetbagger” is a politician who runs for office or tries to appeal to a constituency in a geographic area where he or …
“Cutting turf” is plotting canvassing routes for campaign workers to knock on doors.
The term refers to the process of breaking up a …
The “Election Administrator’s Prayer” is a phrase that is used to refer to the challenges and responsibilities faced by those who are responsible for administering …
A “gaffe” is an unintentional comment that causes a politician embarrassment.
The term is often used to describe a inartful comment or a misstatement that
The Congressional Record is the official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress.
It is a comprehensive and authoritative reference source …
The term “bagman” is used to describe a person who acts as an intermediary or messenger, delivering or collecting money or other valuable items on …
Someone who is “out of the loop” is uniformed or not given access to shared information, especially to information which is shared informally and on …
Republican In Name Only — or RINO, for short — is a disparaging term that refers to a Republican candidate whose political views …
The term “gutter politics” refers to the use of personal attacks, character assassination, and scandal-mongering as a tactic to discredit or malign opponents rather than …
A “situation room” is a physical room in which key decision makers gather to share information and make plans about the major issues affecting their …
The mark-up is the committee meeting held to review the text of a bill before reporting it to the floor.
The mark-up process plays a …
A Shermanesque statement is a clear and direct statement by a potential political candidate indicating that he or she will not run for …
The term “vote-a-rama” is used to refer to a marathon session of voting in the United States Senate.
This typically occurs during the consideration of …
The term “inside baseball” refers to any subject matter which is considered too highly specialized to be appreciated by the general public.
In …
A “snollygoster” is a political operative or candidate who uses cunning or ethically questionable behavior to achieve power.
It’s similar to what we call a …
Leader time is the ten minute time allotted to Senate leaders at the start of the daily session.
It refers to a period set aside…
A pocket veto is a legislative tactic that allows the president to indirectly veto a bill.
The U.S. Constitution requires the President to sign a …
“Merchants of death” is a reference to the bankers and arms manufacturers that supplied and funded World War I.
The phrase is also used to …
The “candy desk” is where a supply of candy is kept in the U.S. Senate.
Sen. George Murphy (R-CA) originated the practice of keeping a …
Fusion voting allows a candidate’s name to appear on multiple parties’ ballot lines, and to combine his or her votes from those lines.
The “power behind the throne” is said to be someone who does not hold an official leadership position but who effectively wields control.
The phrase …
The term “strange bedfellows” describes politicians with seemingly opposing ideologies or interests who form an alliance for a specific political objective.
The Blue Dog Democrats are a coalition of moderate House Democrats.
The group is dedicated to fiscally conservative legislation and a strong national defense. They …
A “cookie-cutter campaigns” are political campaigns run by political consultants who use virtually identical strategies in different jurisdictions.
The typical sign of such campaigns are …
Shivercrats were a conservative faction of the Texas Democratic Party in the 1950s named for Texas Gov. Allan Shivers (D).
The term was first used …
“Advice and Consent” is a critical phrase in the United States Constitution that outlines a key aspect of the checks and balances among the three …
“Fence mending” means making an effort to repair a political relationship after it has been damaged.
This practice is often engaged in by politicians who …
A supermajority refers to a requirement for a higher percentage of votes than a simple majority to approve a decision, measure, or action within a …
A “body man” is an assistant or valet who follows a political figure around the clock, providing logistical assistance for daily tasks ranging from paperwork …
The term “revolving door” refers to the practice where individuals move between roles in the public and private sectors, especially within industries that …
A split ticket is when a voter chooses candidates from different political parties in the same election.
This practice reflects an individual’s willingness to evaluate …
Hideaways are personal, unmarked offices in the Capitol originally assigned to senior senators. They are often conveniently located near the Senate floor.
The hideaway location …
The “Acela corridor” refers to the Northeast megalopolis that stretches roughly from Washington, D.C., through New York City, to Boston.
Named after Amtrak’s high-speed Acela …
The “Bradley effect” is a polling phenomenon involving high support for non-white and non-female candidates in opinion polls not reflected by election results.…
Straight ticket voting allows voters to choose every candidate on a single party’s slate by making just one ballot mark.
Over the years, many states …
A “Farley file” is a log kept by politicians on the people they have met previously.
It’s named for James A. Farley, who was …
The “coattail effect” is a phenomenon whereby a political candidate or leader’s popularity leads to improved vote totals for fellow party candidates further down the …