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A “boondoggle” is a wasteful or extravagant project with no practical value.

The term “pol” is short for “politician” and is often used to refer to a person who is actively involved in politics, either as an elected official or as a…

“All things to all men” is a phrase applied to politicians who seem to be making contradictory promises and statements so that they can appeal to the broadest possible group…

The New Frontier was the slogan which President John F. Kennedy used when setting out his vision of America’s future.

“The Great Mentioner” describes the phenomenon whereby certain people are “mentioned” to journalists as possible candidates for higher office.

“Hiking the Appalachian Trail” is a euphemism for a politician who claims to be doing one thing but in reality went to meet with his mistress.

The “plumbers” were a covert White House Special Investigations Unit established during the presidency of Richard Nixon.

The “six-year itch” is the election held in the sixth year of a president’s tenure.

A “wonk” is a person preoccupied with arcane details of public policy and governance.

Realpolitik is a system of politics based on concrete, practical goals, rather than on morality or abstract ideals.

A barnstormer travels around the country or state making political appearances during a political campaign.

“Frugging” is an unethical fundraising tactic where a telemarketer falsely claims to be a researcher conducting a poll, when in reality the “researcher” is attempting to solicit a donation.

A kleptocracy is a form of government in which leaders exploit national resources and steal; it is rule by thieves.

A “robocall” is an automated telephone call that delivers a prerecorded message to multiple phone numbers. Typically, robocalls are used for mass messaging.

Agitprop is political propaganda, especially in the form of art or literature, which is used to advance a political stance.

A “Dorothy Dixer” is a planted or pre-arranged question asked of a government minister by a backbencher of his or her own political party during Parliamentary Question Time.

A jungle primary is an election in which all candidates for elected office run in the same primary regardless of political party.

The “Washington Monument strategy” is named after a tactic used by the National Park Service to threaten closure of the popular Washington Monument when lawmakers proposed serious cuts in spending…

A firehouse primary is a candidate nominating contest funded and overseen by a local party organization rather than public election officials.

A “money blurt” is the strategy of using a politician’s controversial statements to attract a large number of campaign donors.

To be “thrown under the bus” is to be sacrificed by someone hoping to avoid blame themselves, often in order to make political gain.

The term “oppo” refers to opposition research, a crucial activity undertaken by political entities to collect information on adversaries that could be used to their advantage or to counter the…

A party convention in which delegates are able to vote for the candidate of their choice, and are not tied to the results of primaries or caucuses.

A “backbencher” is a junior member in the British House of Commons who occupies the back benches of Parliament, sitting behind party leaders and top government officials.

A “steamroller” is someone who brings something about by means of brute political might.

“Borking” is attacking a person’s reputation and views for the purposes of denying them a political appointment.

“Astrotweeting” is the creation of fake Twitter profiles to show support for a political candidate.

“Smoke and mirrors” are tricks used to obscure the truth, usually through distraction, misdirection, or partial truths.

“Roorback” is a false, dirty or slanderous story used for political advantage, usually about a candidate seeking political office.

A “by-election” is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections.