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“Smell of jet fuel” is a reference to the impatience that sets in when Members of Congress are ready to leave Washington, D.C. to return to their districts for the…

“Spin Alley” is the place designated after a political debate where reporters interview analysts and campaign operatives who attempt to “spin” the news coverage of the event.

A “favorite son” candidate is one who draws their support from the home state or from the broader region. Sometimes the term is also used for someone with little to…

A “straw poll” refers to an informal or unofficial vote conducted to gauge the popularity of candidates running for office, or to measure the opinion of a certain population on…

“Political suicide” is an unpopular action that is likely to cause significant harm to their reputation, electoral success, or power within their organization.

A “push poll” is a form of interactive marketing in which political operatives try to sway voters to believe in certain policies or candidates under the guise of an opinion…

A “discharge petition” is a strategic, often controversial, legislative tool that serves to circumvent traditional committee review and bring a bill directly to the floor for a vote.

The “cracker vote” refers to native Floridian white voters, whose families have typically lived in the state for generations.

The “Fourth Estate” refers to the news media, especially with regards to their role in the political process.

“Heroes in the balcony” refers to a tradition started by President Ronald Reagan during his State of the Union addresses.

A “push card” is a small, easy access, wallet-sized campaign sign typically given to a potential voter during door-to-door canvassing or at an event.

The use of a “killer amendment” — sometimes called a “poison poll amendment” or “wrecking amendment” — is a legislative strategy of using an amendment to severely change a bill’s…

An “elastic state” is one whose voting outcome in a presidential election is relatively sensitive or responsive to changes in political conditions, such as a change in the national economic…

A “gaffe” is an unintentional comment that causes a politician embarrassment.

In politics, “mudslinging” is a tactic used by candidates or other politicians in order to damage the reputation of a rival politician by using epithets, rumors or mean-spirited innuendos or…

Talking points refer to the carefully crafted messages, statements, or ideas that politicians, political parties, or interest groups use to convey their opinions, policy positions, or arguments to the public.

“Bundling” refers to the practice of collecting contributions from multiple donors and submitting them to a political campaign or political action committee (PAC) as a single donation.

The “well” refers to the area at the front of the chamber where the Speaker of the House of Representatives and other leaders of the House sit.

An exploratory committee is a preliminary organizational structure that potential candidates establish to assess the viability of their candidacy before officially entering the presidential race.

A “front-porch campaign” is one in which the candidate stays close to home throughout the election race.

A “sacred cow” is any program, policy, or person that is regarded as being beyond attack or untouchable.

An invisible primary begins when a candidate formally announces their plans to run for office.

“Netroots” is grassroots political activism organized through blogs and other online social media.

The “advance man” is someone who makes arrangements and handles publicity for the candidate during a campaign.

A “straw donor” is an individual who illegally uses another person’s money to make a political contribution in their own name.

A “cattle call” is a public event at which a big group of candidates for public office all speak.

A photo-op is short for a “photo opportunity,” an event specifically staged for television news cameras or photographers to increase a politician’s exposure.

A “fusion ticket” is a strategy where two or more political parties endorse the same candidate for an elected office.

“Flake rate” is a calculation of people who sign up to volunteer for political canvassing or events but do not participate.

The Congressional Record is the official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress.