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

“Trickle down theory” is a derisive term for the idea that giving benefits to large, powerful people and companies can yield benefits for society as a whole.

“Kitchen cabinet” refers to a president’s informal, trusted circle of advisers, distinct from the official, formally appointed members of his actual cabinet.

In 2017, President Donald Trump announced plans for an “Infrastructure Week,” a series of high-profile events which were aimed at building support for the president’s trillion-dollar plan to rebuild the…

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

“Man in the street” is commonly used to evoke the idea of the average voter, characterized by mainstream political opinions and interests, and representing the general public’s perspective.

Pinko is a pejorative word for someone with left-wing views.

An influence peddler is one who uses their political influence to try and win favors for others.

“Evil empire” was President Ronald Reagan’s name for the Soviet Union.

A gag rule restricts members of a legislative body from discussing a specific issue, typically because it is deemed too controversial or divisive to address openly.

“The torch has been passed” is one of the most famous lines of John F. Kennedy’s presidency.

The “old guard” is the more conservative, often older, branch of any political grouping.

“Little old ladies in tennis shoes” is a derisive reference to members of the John Birch society.

A “power broker” is someone who wields indirect political power, either by influencing the outcomes of elections or by exercising influence over key decision makers.

The “lunatic fringe” is the wing of a political or social group that holds more extreme views than the rest of that group.

“Salami tactics” refers to a divide and conquer approach, which aims to split up the opposition.

The Byrd rule is a parliamentary tripwire that prevents tangential material from being included in a budget reconciliation bill in the Senate.

“Hizzoner” is a nickname used by journalists to refer to big city mayors, especially in New York City.

A quorum call is a procedure used in both houses of Congress to bring to the floor the number of members who must be present for the legislative body to…

“Nobody drowned at Watergate” was a phrase used, especially by supporters of President Richard Nixon, to minimize the impact of the Watergate scandal and to point to scandals in the…

Throwing one’s “hat in the ring” means announcing one’s intention to compete in a contest.

Earth Day is an annual event celebrated on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection.

An “off-year election” is one which takes place in a year when a presidential or midterm election does not also take place.

In politics, a phrase invoking the average American citizen.