Political Dictionary

An essential guide to the language of power

Word of the Day Saturday, November 14, 2026
Filibuster

A “filibuster” is a tactic used in the United States Senate to block or delay action on a piece of legislation.

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Motion to Vacate

A “motion to vacate” the chair is a parliamentary procedure in the House of Representatives that allows a member to propose a resolution to remove the Speaker from their position.

Professional Left

The “professional left” consists of left-leaning political pundits, paid activists, and the heads of progressive institutions.

Eleventh Commandment

The “Eleventh Commandment” refers to the adage, “Thou shalt not speak ill of another Republican.”

Brokered Convention

A brokered convention takes place when no one candidate wins a majority delegates during the presidential primary to earn their party’s nomination in the first vote at the nominating conference.

Ping Pong

“Ping pong” refers to reconciling the differences between a House-passed bill and a Senate-passed bill by amendments between the chambers, rather than forming a conference committee.

Dummymander

“Dummymander” is a play on the term “gerrymander,” and it refers to a redrawing of a district map that actually ends up benefiting the opposite party that was designed to…

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