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To be on the “bandwagon” is to follow a group that has a large and growing number of followers.

A “Grand Bargain” refers to a broad, bipartisan agreement that aims to resolve complex and often contentious issues through significant concessions from both sides of the aisle.

The phrase “off the reservation” is used to describe someone who deviates from the expected or orthodox position, particularly within a political party or ideological group.

Earmarks are funds that are allocated to a specific program, project or for a designated purpose, or that direct specific exemptions from taxes or mandated fees.

An exit poll is a survey of voters taken immediately as they leave the polling place in which they are asked which candidate they chose.

A junket is a trip taken by a politicians with expenses paid for with public funds.

Straight ticket voting allows voters to choose every candidate on a single party’s slate by making just one ballot mark.

An absentee ballot is a vote cast by someone who is unable to visit the official polling place on Election Day.

The term “full Grassley” is a presidential campaign strategy where a candidate visits all 99 counties in the state of Iowa.

A “Farley file” is a log kept by politicians on the people they have met previously.

A blanket primary is a primary election whereby each voter can select one candidate per office regardless of party.

The term “Democrat Party” is often employed by Republican critics as a slight against the Democratic Party.

A “recall election” allows voters to oust an elected official, by means of a direct vote,while that official is still in the middle of their term.

The term “deep regret” is often used as a carefully calibrated expression of apology or contrition without admitting legal or ethical wrongdoing.

A glad-hander is a highly extroverted person who makes a point of acting friendly in an over-the-top way.

Named for their opening salutation, a “Dear Colleague letter” is an official communication distributed in bulk by a lawmaker to all members of Congress.

“Cracking” refers to the gerrymandering practice of spreading voters of a particular group or party across multiple electoral districts in order to dilute their voting power and prevent them from…

“Packing” refers to the strategic manipulation of electoral district boundaries to concentrate as many voters of one party as possible into a single district.

An “open primary” is an election that allows voters to select candidates on one party’s ballot without declaring their own party affiliation.

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 “convention bounce” refers to the surge of support a presidential candidates may enjoy after the televised national convention of their party.

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

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.

Morning business is routine business that is supposed to occur during the first two hours of a new legislative day in the U.S. Senate.

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

The term “gerrymander” refers to the practice of manipulating the boundaries of electoral districts in order to benefit a particular political party or group.

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

A “lame duck session” is when the House or Senate reconvenes in an even-numbered year following the November general elections to consider various items of business.