Mugwumps

Impeachment is the process by which a public official, such as the President of the United States, can be removed from office for committing “treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.”

This process is outlined in the …

A “dark horse” is a candidate for office for whom little is known or for whom expectations are low, but who then goes on to unexpectedly win or succeed.

While history is replete with examples of dark horse candidates who …

A “smoke-filled room” is used to describe a situation where politicians or other powerful individuals gather in a private, enclosed space to make important decisions or negotiations without public scrutiny.

The term originated in the early 20th century, …

Wasteful government expeditures that lawmakers secure for their local districts in an attempt to gain favor with voters.

The term first came into use as a political term just after the Civil War. It’s derived from the practice of plantations …

A “red herring” is an argument or piece of information that distracts from a different and more important issue.

In some cases, political operatives may deliberately plant red herrings to turn the public away from an embarrassing issue.

At other …

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 is usually used in the context of government, to describe someone who is close to …

“Packing the galleries” is an outdated practice in which campaign managers would fill up the seats at a political convention with their own supporters. In theory, those supporters would then cheer so loudly for their favored candidate that he would …

In a legislative context, to “lay on the table” refers to the action of temporarily postponing consideration of a motion or bill.

This is typically done when the legislative body, such as a parliament or congress, determines that it is …

The term “checks and balances” refers to the separation of powers that results from divided branches of government outlined in the U.S. Constitution.

The U.S. divides power among the three branches of government — executive, legislative, and judicial …

“Inside the Beltway” is a term used to describe the political landscape and culture within the Capital Beltway, the Interstate 495 highway that encircles Washington, D.C.

It is often used to refer to the political and media establishments within …

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

Usually, though, a political mandate refers to the idea that a political official has been elected because the public strongly supports their …

“One man, one vote” is a slogan used to express an ideal of equal representation for all citizens. One man, one vote is also often expressed as one person, one vote.

In practice, the phrase has been used to argue …

A “codel,” or congressional delegation, is a group of members of the United States Congress who travel together on official business.

These trips are often called “codels,” and they can include visits to other countries, meetings with foreign …

A “witch hunt” is a politically-motivated, often vindictive investigation that feeds on public fears.

The origins of the term “witch hunt” can be traced back to the late 16th and early 17th centuries, when a series of trials and executions …

“Whistle-stopping” is practice of making political speeches or appearances in many different towns during a short period of time.

The term originates from the time when politicians mainly traveled by train and gave speeches from the back of the train …

Legislators introduce bills by placing them in the bill hopper attached to the side of the clerk’s desk.

The term derives from a funnel-shaped storage bin filled from the top and emptied from the bottom, which is often used to …

A pooh bah is a person with great and often unchecked political power.

A pooh-bah may hold political office but is an ineffective leader who doesn’t accomplish much of anything.

Pooh-bah is generally a derogatory term. It is often used …

An October surprise is a news event which takes place shortly before a closely-watched election and which may influence the election’s outcome.

Usually, the term in reference to a presidential election, although it can be applied to any election.

Merriam …

The New Deal was a series of programs created during the administration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. It was designed to bring immediate economic relief during the Great Depression, as well as to bring about reforms in a number of …

The desk is another name for the rostrum where the presiding officer and various clerks of the chamber sit.

According to recent practices, most bills, resolutions, and committee reports are delivered to the clerks at the presiding officer’s desk for …

Named after Senate Parliamentarian Emeritus Floyd M. Riddick, this Senate document contains the contemporary precedents and practices of the U.S. Senate.

It is updated periodically by the Senate Parliamentarian.…

In politics, cloakrooms are spaces adjacent to the chambers of the Senate and the House where politicians from both parties can gather to discuss Congressional business privately. There is a separate cloakroom for each political party. Put simply, a cloakroom …

The term “motor voter” refers to a law in the United States that allows eligible citizens to register to vote when they apply for or renew their driver’s license.

This law, known as the National Voter Registration Act …

“Presidential fever” is the overwhelming, fervent desire to be elected president of the United States. Presidential fever can also refer to an extreme love of the office of the presidency.

Presidential fever is related to election fever, but the two …

“Power corrupts” refers to the statement made by the 19th century British historian Lord Acton who declared that “power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” 

The phrase has become a truism and is often repeated in conversations about …

A yellow dog Democrat was a Southern voter who was unwavering in their loyalty to the Democratic party.

Those faithful Democrats swore that they would “vote for a yellow dog” before they’d vote for a Republican.

According to William Safire, …

A bully pulpit is a public office or position of authority that provides the holder with an opportunity to speak out and be listened to on any matter.  

In theory, the expression could refer to any position of authority. …

“Feeding at the public trough” is using government funds to enrich oneself.

Feeding at the public trough refers to activities which are, strictly speaking, legal, but which are generally considered to be morally reprehensible. Someone who feeds at the public …

“Happy Days Are Here Again” is the title of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s official campaign song in 1932.

The song remained the unofficial anthem of the Democratic Party for many years.

In 1932, America was mired in the Great Depression. “Happy …

A demagogue is a politician whose rhetoric appeals to raw emotions such as fear and hatred in order to gain power, rather than using rational arguments. 

They often use rhetoric and propaganda to stir up public passion and …

“Cloture” is legislative term referring to a motion or process by which debate is brought to a quick end.

From the French word meaning “the act of terminating something,” cloture is “basically a vote to go ahead on a vote, …

The phrase “a rising tide lifts all boats” expresses the idea that if the economy improves, every participant in the economy will be in an improved financial position.

The phrase originally comes from a speech made by President John F …

An imperial presidency which one characterized by greater powers than are clearly provided for in the Constitution.

The historian Arthur Schlessinger popularized the term with a book, Imperial Presidency, published in 1973. Schlessinger’s book focused on what he saw …

A politician who is undaunted and cheerful, even in the face of adversity, is said to be a “happy warrior.” 

The phrase comes from an 1806 poem by William Wordsworth, titled “Character of the Happy Warrior.” Wordsworth described the “happy …

In politics, a fishing expedition is a pejorative phrase to describe an investigation that lacks a clear scope and defined purpose.

Fishing expeditions are usually carried out by members of one political party looking for damaging information about members of …

“Are you any better off” is a phrase commonly used in politics to question whether the policies and actions of a particular candidate or political party have resulted in an improvement in the economic and social well-being of the citizens.…

“Rendezvous with destiny” was a phrase used by Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1936 when he accepted the Democratic nomination to run again for the presidency.

FDR gave a rousing speech at the Democratic National Convention; it culminated in a call …

A bill is a proposed law introduced in either the U.S. House of Representatives or the U.S. Senate.

A bill originating in the House is designated by the letters “H.R.” followed by a number and bills introduced in the Senate …

A pork chopper is a union official who is in his position because of self-interest, not because he has the best interest of the other union members at heart.

Meriam Webster notes that “pork chop” was a slang name for …

“Dog whistle politics” is the practice of sending out coded political messages or subtle signals, which are designed to be understood only by a narrow target audience.

In their literal form, dog whistles are instruments that emit high-pitched frequencies which …

“Pressing the flesh” refers to shaking hands, usually in a warm and effusive manner. It is an integral part of most political campaigns in normal times. 

Mingling, kissing babies, and pressing the flesh are all ways for politicians …

A power grab is an attempt by an individual or group to acquire or consolidate power in an unlawful or unethical manner.

This can take many forms, such as seizing control of the government through force or deception, manipulating the …

A “rubber chicken circuit” is the nickname given to the endless parade of dinners that political candidates must attend during a campaign for office in order to meet donors and raise money.

The term refers to the pre-cooked and often …

To “work the room” is to move through a crowd, greeting people and engaging them in conversation.

Working the room typically involves a lot of handshaking, hugging, or backslapping as well as plenty of visible enthusiasm.

Working the room is …

In politics, a “rainmaker” is an individual who can raise campaign funds for others.

Often, a rainmaker is a retired politician who still has a significant following and can make use of those connections for fundraising purposes. Staffers and professional …

The “art of the possible” is idea that politics is a matter of pragmatism, instead of idealism.

According to this worldview, politics is a matter of creating achievable goals and implementing them in the real world.

The idea probably dates …

Political patronage is the system of rewarding political allies with government jobs, especially prestigious positions which pay well and demand little in the way of work. Political patronage is sometimes also referred to as “spoils.”

The political patronage system is …

President Lyndon Baines Johnson was famous for his ability to coerce members of Congress into supporting his legislation. LBJ’s combination of charm, persuasion, and sheer intimidation came to be known as the “Johnson treatment.” 

Johnson was notoriously aggressive, especially when …

“Quiet diplomacy” refers to one state’s efforts to influence the behavior of another state through discreet negotiations or actions.

Quiet diplomacy operates behind the scenes and may rely on back channeling rather than on public talks. It may also involve …

Blue slips are a long-standing Senate tradition that allows a Senator to signal opposition to a federal judicial nominee from their home state.

The blue slip refers to a piece of paper in the color blue that the …

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 wheeler dealer, trading access in exchange for payment in one form or another.

A similar …

The “military industrial complex” is a term referring to all the components of a nation’s military establishment, including the private businesses involved in producing weapons and other military equipment.

The term was popularized by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who used …

“Swiftboating” refers to the use of dishonest or misleading tactics to attack or smear the reputation or character of a political opponent.

The term comes from the 2004 presidential campaign, when a group called the Swift Boat Veterans …

A “live pair” refers to a situation where two lawmakers have agreed to not vote on a particular matter.

This is typically done as a form of compromise or to avoid taking a stance on an issue.

In a pair, …

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 UK and in Commonwealth countries, but it is also used in the United States.

A …

The Night Mayor is the informal name for a city official charged with taking care of issues that arise in a city after dark. A growing number of major metropolitan areas in the United States have hired so-called night mayors …

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 handler can take care of the candidate’s basic needs, fetching cups of coffee or …

“Peace at any price” is a phrase closely associated with the politics of appeasement, and especially with British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and his diplomatic approach to Hitler’s Germany. It was once used as a positive term, but became …

A “big lie” is an extreme distortion of the truth, used for the purpose of spreading propaganda. It is often somewhat outrageous.

In theory, people will more easily believe a big lie than a smaller one, because most people assume …

The Baily memorandum was circulated among members of the Democratic party in 1956, arguing that Catholic voters were a key demographic that could be harnessed to win elections.

In 1956, Adlai Stevenson was the Democratic nominee for the presidency. John …

The term “sine die” is a Latin phrase that literally means “without a day” or “without setting a day.”

In politics, it is used to signify the end of a legislative session without a specific date being set …

Technically, “whiz kids” are any brainy, precocious young people with talent and the confidence to use it.

Often, though, the term refers specifically to a group of ten young men hired to work for the Department of Defense in the …

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 War II.

Pax Americana is also a play off of the ancient idea of Pax …

The person who has his “finger on the button” has the power to launch a nuclear weapon. The expression is used to evoke the possibility of nuclear war and to imply that the president of the United States – or …

A “watershed election” is an election which represents a major shift away from the current political situation. It’s a turning point.

The word “watershed” literally means the  dividing line that separates waters flowing into different rivers.” It’s a land area…

A floor fight is an argument that threatens to derail either a convention or a congressional proceeding.

Most of the time, floor fights are non-violent; the fighting is verbal. However, American history also includes some memorable incidents in …

“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 investigative journalists.

The early 20th century muckrakers were not, of course, the first journalists ever …

“Ratfucking” is the art of carrying out dirty tricks and crafty maneuvers, usually in the name of winning an election.

The term dates back to the 1960s, when a young man named Donald Segretti was a student at the …

An “opinion leader” is one whose opinions about something have a significant impact on the opinions of others. “Influencer” is sometimes used as a synonym for opinion leader.

In politics, an opinion leader helps to shape public opinion about policies, …

The “loneliest job in the world” is a reference to the presidency of the United States, supposedly a supremely lonely and isolating job because of the enormous responsibility that it entails.

William Howard Taft, upon handing over power to Woodrow …

A highly divisive political or social issue. A wedge issue can create divisions between a candidate’s supporters or between members of the same political party. This can damage the candidate’s chances of winning elections, since it splits up the vote.…

“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 its ballistic missile defenses.

The US and the USSR were engaged in a high-stakes arms …

One who already holds a political office. Usually, in US politics, the word incumbent refers to the sitting official who is running for re-election.

A lot of ink has been spilled about whether the incumbent has a better chance of …

An individual with strong political opinions who does not hesitate to express them.

Typically, a park bench orator speaks out about their views in public. It means much the same thing as a soap box orator, who might be …

In June of 1934, Adolph Hitler ordered his troops to carry out a large-scale purge of suspected dissidents within the Nazi party.

The night of the long knives actually took place over the course of several days and nights. Historians …

A gag rule prevents members of a legislative body from raising a particular issue, usually because that issue is considered too controversial or divisive.

In the United States, the most famous example of a gag rule involved slavery. Members …

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 all districts or precincts. A related term is “landslide” or “wipeout” victory.

In open democracies …

A political animal is one who is fascinated by politics and who thrives on being closely involved in politics.

The term was first used by Aristotle. Writing in the mid 4th century, BC, the Greek philosopher declared:

 It is

During the Cold War, the division between western Europe and the Soviet bloc countries was called the “iron curtain.” The iron curtain was never a physical barrier, but served as a metaphor to describe the limit of Soviet influence.

The …

Henry Clay was a U.S. congressman who eventually served as Secretary of State under John Quincy Adams. Clay also ran for the presidency three times, losing on each venture. Today, he is probably best-remembered for a speech in which he …

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 moss, like a stone.

The term mossback originally referred to people dodging the draft during …

“Man in the street” is used to evoke the idea of the average voter, with mainstream political opinions and interests. 

Merriam Webster notes that the phrase was first used in 1831, to mean an average or ordinary person.

The phrase …

“That dog won’t hunt” is a dismissive phrase, used to mean that a particular idea or approach is going to fail.

The expression can also mean that a certain accusation is false.

The phrase likely originated in the South and …

“Effete snobs” was a phrase used by Vice President Spiro Agnew to denounce anti-war protesters, and young intellectuals in general, during the Vietnam era.

The phrase quickly caught on and was adopted as a slogan by the anti-war …

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 many mayoral and local races are on the ballot. In addition, there are often a …

A pecking order is a social hierarchy which spells out the specifics of how the power structure operates.

The term was coined by the Norwegian zoologist Thorleif Schjelderup-Ebbe in the beginning of the 20th century. Schjelderup-Ebbe spend his childhood vacations …

“Machine politics” is a phenomenon sometimes seen in an urban political context, especially in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Political machines are characterized by tight organization and a strong centralized leadership, typically in the form of a “boss.” …

“Twenty years of treason” was a catchphrase used by Sen. Joseph McCarthy to denounce alleged communist sympathizers serving in the US  government.

McCarthy was first elected to the US Senate in 1946. In 1950, the Wisconsin native made headlines when …

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 conservative than other members of the same party; “conservative,” here, refers to the old guard’s …

“Kitchen cabinet” is a reference to a president’s informal circle of advisers, as opposed to the official members of his cabinet.

The term was first used during the presidency of Andrew Jackson.

Jackson took office in 1829, after a bruising …

A “nose count” is a tally of people to see how many are present. It’s similar to a head count. The census is a form of nose counting.

Linguists have suggested that the origin of the term “nose count” …

“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 to pussyfooting.

Weasel words are deliberately ambiguous; their double meaning leaves people guessing as …

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 their own neighborhoods; they usually don’t object to those projects when they are carried out …

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 been neglected by the federal government. 

The phrase was first popularized in 1932 by Franklin …

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 388 public laws, making it hard to call it exactly “do nothing.” But, the president …

A “thousand points of light” was slogan used frequently by former president George H.W. Bush to praise volunteerism and individualism.

Bush first used the phrase in his 1988 speech accepting the Republican nomination to the White House. In that speech, …