A “fusion ticket” is a strategy where two or more political parties endorse the same candidate for an elected office. It’s sometimes referred to as …
A Boll weevil Democrat was a conservative southern Democrat in the mid 1900s, largely known for his opposition to civil rights.
They used …
Franking privileges allow lawmakers to send mail to constituents without having to pay postage.
A copy of the member’s signature replaces the stamp …
The “Green Lantern Theory” is how political scientists describe the belief that presidents could do more if they just tried a bit harder.
The term …
The term “teabaggers” is a derogatory nickname used to refer to supporters of the conservative “Tea Party” movement.
As CBS News notes:
…It’s the sort
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 “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 …
The “advance man” is someone who makes arrangements and handles publicity for the candidate during a campaign.
The advance man travels to a location ahead …
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 …
“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 “…
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 …
A Shermanesque statement is a clear and direct statement by a potential political candidate indicating that he or she will not run for …
“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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
“Cutting turf” is plotting canvassing routes for campaign workers to knock on doors.
The term refers to the process of breaking up a …
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 …
Republican In Name Only — or RINO, for short — is a disparaging term that refers to a Republican candidate whose political views …
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 “gutter politics” refers to the use of personal attacks, character assassination, and scandal-mongering as a tactic to discredit or malign opponents rather than …
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 …
“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 …
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 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 …
The term “inside baseball” refers to any subject matter which is considered too highly specialized to be appreciated by the general public.
In …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 “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 …
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 …
The term “strange bedfellows” describes politicians with seemingly opposing ideologies or interests who form an alliance for a specific political objective.
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 …
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 …
“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 …
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 act of spreading negative rumors about a political candidate, in order to discredit him or her in the eyes of voters. This can also …
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 …