Political Dictionary

The Electoral College is a constitutionally mandated process that determines who serves as president and vice president of the United States every four years.

A recess appointment is a presidential appointment typically requiring Senate approval that is made during a Senate recess.

The Copperheads were Northern Democrats who opposed the Civil War and wanted a peace settlement with the Confederates.

The phrase “misheard the question” is often invoked as a means of damage control when a politician gives an answer that generates negative attention or backlash.

Broadly, a mandate is the authority that voters confer on an elected official to act as their representative.

Petitioning is a phase in a campaign where organizers collect signatures from eligible voters to achieve a specific political objective.