A motor voter refers to the process of allowing a citizen to register to vote when obtaining or renewing a driver’s license.

The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 made the process mandatory across the country beginning in 1995.…

A pooh bah is a person with great and often unchecked political power.

A pooh-bah may hold political office but is an ineffective leader who doesn’t accomplish much of anything.

Pooh-bah is generally a derogatory term. It is often used …

“Whistle-stopping” is practice of making political speeches or appearances in many different towns during a short period of time.

The term originates from the time when politicians mainly traveled by train and gave speeches from the back of the train …

“Checks and balances” refers to the Constitutionally mandated separation of powers that results from divided branches of government.

The U.S. Constitution divides power among the three branches of government — executive, legislative, and judicial — to prevent any one from …

The “king of the hill” is a special rule in the House for sequencing different amendments. If more than one version receives a majority of votes, the last one to win a majority prevails.

An excerpt from The American Congress…

The official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress. It is published daily when Congress is in session. At the back of each daily issue is the “Daily Digest,” which summarizes the day’s floor and committee …

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 bill within the 10 days if Congress is in session. If Congress is in session …

The yeas and nays is a recorded roll call vote of members of the House or Senate.

The U.S. Constitution directs that “the yeas and nays of the members of either house, on any question, shall, at the desire of …

A bill is a proposed law introduced in either the U.S. House of Representatives or the U.S. Senate.

A bill originating in the House is designated by the letters “H.R.” followed by a number and bills introduced in the Senate …

The area inside the Capital Beltway that encircles Washington, D.C.

An issue that is described as “inside the Beltway” is said to be only of concern to the people who work in the federal government and is of little interest …

The desk is another name for the rostrum where the presiding officer and various clerks of the chamber sit.

According to recent practices, most bills, resolutions, and committee reports are delivered to the clerks at the presiding officer’s desk for …

An October surprise is a news event which takes place shortly before a closely-watched election and which may influence the election’s outcome.

Usually, the term in reference to a presidential election, although it can be applied to any election.

Merriam …

A politician whose rhetoric appeals to raw emotions such as fear and hatred in order to gain power.

Former Sen. Joseph McCarthy (R-WI) is often cited as a classic demagogue for his practice in the 1950s of smearing prominent Americans …

“Hardball” is a no-nonsense attitude or approach to getting what you want in politics.

From the introduction to Hardball by Chris Matthews: “Let me define terms: hardball is clean, aggressive Machiavellian politics. It is the discipline of gaining and holding …

In politics, a “rubber chicken circuit’ is the nickname given to the endless parade of dinners that political candidates must attend during a campaign for office in order to meet donors and raise money.

The term refers to the pre-cooked, …

“Dog whistle politics” refers to the practice of sending out coded political messages, which are designed to be understood only by a narrow target audience.

In their literal form, dog whistles are instruments that emit high-pitched frequencies which only dogs …

The “coattail effect” is a phenomenon whereby a political candidate or leader’s popularity leads to improved vote totals for fellow party candidates further down the ballot.

A coattail refers to a part of the coat extending below the waist that …

Astroturfing is an artificially-manufactured political movement designed to give the appearance of grassroots activism.

Campaigns & Elections magazine defined astroturf as a “grassroots program that involves the instant manufacturing of public support for a point of view in which either …

An informal meeting of local party members to discuss candidates and choose delegates to their party’s convention.

The term can also refer to informal groups of Members of the House of Representatives or the Senate used to discuss common issues …

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 present themselves as the “commonsense” alternative to political extremism.

When the blue dog coalition was …

In politics, a fishing expedition is a pejorative phrase to describe an investigation that lacks a clear scope and defined purpose. Fishing expeditions are usually carried out by members of one political party looking for damaging information about members of …

A bully pulpit is a public office or position of authority that provides the holder with an opportunity to speak out and be listened to on any matter.  In theory, the expression could refer to any position of authority. In …

A peanut politician is one who practices politics on a petty scale and who is chiefly motivated by narrow self-interest.

Peanut politicians are also often corrupt, although they usually favor small-scale graft. A peanut politician practices “peanut politics.”

The expression …

A brief meeting (sometimes only several seconds) in which no business is conducted. It is held usually to satisfy the constitutional obligation that neither chamber can adjourn for more than three days without the consent of the other.

Pro forma …

An informal term for any attempt to block or delay U.S. Senate action on a bill or other matter by debating it at length, by offering numerous procedural motions, or by any other delaying or obstructive actions.

From the Senate …

A power grab is a sudden acquisition of power by a person or group. It’s generally seen as unscrupulous and driven by selfish motives.

Ironically, people who already have power are the ones most often accused of carrying out power …

“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 refer to arms dealers in general. The term has also been extended to other industries.…

Under Article II of the United States Constitution, presidential nominations for executive and judicial posts take effect only when confirmed by the U.S. Senate. In addition, international treaties become effective only when the U.S. Senate approves them by a two-thirds …

A political animal is one who is fascinated by politics and who thrives on being closely involved in politics.

The term was first used by Aristotle. Writing in the mid 4th century, BC, the Greek philosopher declared:

 It is

A “live pair” is an informal voluntary agreement between lawmakers which is not specifically recognized by House or Senate rules.

Live pairs are agreements which Members employ to nullify the effect of absences on the outcome of recorded votes. If …

An idea suggested by a politician in order to observe the reaction. If public reaction is favorable, the politician pursues the idea and takes full credit.

The term originates with the testing of the first hot air balloons in the …

Broadly, a mandate is the authority that voters confer on an elected official to act as their representative. Usually, though, a political mandate, or “popular mandate,” refers to the idea that a political official has been elected because the public …

In politics, cloakrooms are spaces adjacent to the chambers of the Senate and the House where politicians from both parties can gather to discuss Congressional business privately. There is a separate cloakroom for each political party. Put simply, a cloakroom …

“Cloture” is legislative procedural term that refers to a motion or process by which debate is brought to a quick end.

From the French word meaning “the act of terminating something,” cloture is “basically a vote to go ahead on …

“Presidential fever” is the overwhelming, fervent desire to be elected president of the United States. Presidential fever can also refer to an extreme love of the office of the presidency.

Presidential fever is related to election fever, but the two …

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 is usually used in the context of government, to describe someone who is close to …

The Night Mayor is the informal name for a city official charged with taking care of issues that arise in a city after dark. A growing number of major metropolitan areas in the United States have hired so-called night mayors …

“Pressing the flesh” refers to shaking hands, usually in a warm and effusive manner. It is an integral part of most political campaigns in normal times. 

Mingling, kissing babies, and pressing the flesh are all ways for politicians to work …

The 19th century British historian Lord Acton famously declared that “power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” 

The phrase has become a truism and is often repeated in conversations about politicians allegedly abusing their power. (Even Star Trek …

Redistricting by the party in power to insure maximum votes for their candidates or make it more difficult for an opposition party to defend their seats.

The Library of Congress notes the term originated in 1811, when Massachusetts Gov. Elbridge …

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 an continual basis, in a grapevine. 

A person who is out of the loop may …

A “nose count” is a tally of people to see how many are present. It’s similar to a head count. The census is a form of nose counting.

Linguists have suggested that the origin of the term “nose count” …

Named after Senate Parliamentarian Emeritus Floyd M. Riddick, this Senate document contains the contemporary precedents and practices of the U.S. Senate.

It is updated periodically by the Senate Parliamentarian.…

“Packing the galleries” is an outdated practice in which campaign managers would fill up the seats at a political convention with their own supporters. In theory, those supporters would then cheer so loudly for their favored candidate that he would …

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

In 1961, the California Attorney General’s offices investigated the ultra-conservative John Birch society and determined that the group was paranoid and authoritarian …

Without any future date being designated for resumption from the Latin term meaning “without a day.” An adjournment sine die signifies the end of an annual or special legislative session.…

Pax Americana refers to a period of relative peace and stability that extended throughout the area of American influence, beginning with the end of World War II.

Pax Americana is also a play off of the ancient idea of Pax …

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

Most elections in the United States take place in even-numbered years. As the US Senate’s website notes:

National Elections take

A pork chopper is a union official who is in his position because of self-interest, not because he has the best interest of the other union members at heart.

Meriam Webster notes that “pork chop” was a slang name for …

“Feeding at the public trough” is using government funds to enrich oneself.

Feeding at the public trough refers to activities which are, strictly speaking, legal, but which are generally considered to be morally reprehensible. Someone who feeds at the public …

Pinko is a pejorative word for someone with left-wing views. Over time, the term has evolved and is now often used in a slightly comical way.

Merriam Webster says that pinko was first used in 1925 to mean “a person …

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

The old guard of a party might not be politically more conservative than other members of the same party; “conservative,” here, refers to the old guard’s …

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.

A power broker is not usually motivated by ideals, or by lofty policy goals. …

“Missile gap” is a phrase used during the Cold War, referring to the theory that the US lagged behind the Soviet Union in terms of its ballistic missile defenses.

The US and the USSR were engaged in a high-stakes arms …

The first speech that an elected official makes in front of a legislature. The term is most commonly used in the UK and in Commonwealth countries, but it is also used in the US. A maiden speech is also known …

“Peace at any price” is a phrase closely associated with the politics of appeasement, and especially with British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and his diplomatic approach to Hitler’s Germany. It was once used as a positive term, but became …

The “loneliest job in the world” is a reference to the presidency of the United States, supposedly a supremely lonely and isolating job because of the enormous responsibility that it entails.

William Howard Taft, upon handing over power to Woodrow …

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 conduct its business.

The quorum call is established in Article …

“One man, one vote” is a slogan used to express an ideal of equal representation for all citizens. One man, one vote is also often expressed as one person, one vote.

In practice, the phrase has been used to argue …

An “opinion leader” is one whose opinions about something have a significant impact on the opinions of others. “Influencer” is sometimes used as a synonym for opinion leader.

In politics, an opinion leader helps to shape public opinion about policies, …

The “lunatic fringe” is the wing of a political or social group that holds more extreme views than the rest of that group.  The lunatic fringe tends to hold stronger opinions, as well as more fanatical views.

Merriam Webster notes …

Rough and tumble, attack-dog style political campaigns are sometimes referred to as pitbull politics.

In the same way, a pitbull politician is one who is relentlessly aggressive and doggedly partisan. 

The term dates back at least to the late 20th …

“Not for attribution” refers to a specific kind of arrangement between a journalist and a politician or anyone passing along information to that journalist. 

Journalists make a range of different arrangements with their sources, setting out exactly how the journalists …

A “mossback” is an extreme conservative, one so bound up in the past and resistant to forward motion that it (figuratively speaking) is covered in moss, like a stone.

The term mossback originally referred to people dodging the draft during …

The “military industrial complex” is a term referring to all the components of a nation’s military establishment, including the private businesses involved in producing weapons and other military equipment.

The term was popularized by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who used …

An individual with strong political opinions who does not hesitate to express them.

Typically, a park bench orator speaks out about their views in public. It means much the same thing as a soap box orator, who might be …

President Lyndon Baines Johnson was famous for his ability to coerce members of Congress into supporting his legislation. LBJ’s combination of charm, persuasion, and sheer intimidation came to be known as the “Johnson treatment.” 

Johnson was notoriously aggressive, especially when …

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

The term was coined by the Norwegian zoologist Thorleif Schjelderup-Ebbe in the beginning of the 20th century. Schjelderup-Ebbe spend his childhood vacations …

NIMBY is an acronym meaning Not In My Back Yard.

NIMBY refers to people who resist having potentially dangerous or disruptive projects carried out in their own neighborhoods; they usually don’t object to those projects when they are carried out …

One who already holds a political office. Usually, in US politics, the word incumbent refers to the sitting official who is running for re-election.

A lot of ink has been spilled about whether the incumbent has a better chance of …

McCarthyism takes its name from Senator Joseph McCarthy, who led a campaign against supposed communists living in the United States. McCarthy dominated the so-called “Red Scare” of the 1940s and 1950s, a period when many Americans were afraid that communists …

“Man in the street” is used to evoke the idea of the average voter, with mainstream political opinions and interests. 

Merriam Webster notes that the phrase was first used in 1831, to mean an average or ordinary person. The phrase …

“Little group of willful men” is a reference to President Woodrow Wilson’s dispute with a group of anti-war congressmen in the lead-up to America’s entry into World War Two.

The dispute led to the introduction of a cloture rule in …

Political patronage is the system of rewarding political allies with government jobs, especially prestigious positions which pay well and demand little in the way of work. Political patronage is sometimes also referred to as “spoils.”

The political patronage system is …

“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 Democratic party.

On June 17, 1972, five men managed to …

“Kitchen cabinet” is a reference to a president’s informal circle of advisers, as opposed to the official members of his cabinet.

The term was first used during the presidency of Andrew Jackson. Jackson took office in 1829, after a bruising …

In June of 1934, Adolph Hitler ordered his troops to carry out a large-scale purge of suspected dissidents within the Nazi party.

The night of the long knives actually took place over the course of several days and nights. Historians …

The New Deal was a series of programs created during the administration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. It was designed to bring immediate economic relief during the Great Depression, as well as to bring about reforms in a number of …

Henry Clay was a U.S. congressman who eventually served as Secretary of State under John Quincy Adams. Clay also ran for the presidency three times, losing on each venture. Today, he is probably best-remembered for a speech in which he …

“I am the law” is a phrase attributed to Frank Hague, the mayor of Jersey City from 1917 until he retired in 1947. He is remembered as the ultimate political boss, in an era when bosses ruled local politics.

Hague …

“Hizzoner” is a nickname used by journalists to refer to big city mayors, especially in New York City. Hizzoner is a contraction of “his honor,” the mayor’s formal title.

Merriam Webster notes that the term was first used in 1882. …

A “hatchet man” is an operative in charge of doing political dirty work — or dirty tricks — both during a campaign and sometimes as part of normal government functions.

The word was first popularized during the Watergate scandal. Several …

John Q. Public is a reference to the ordinary man or woman. His name is used as a shorthand for popular opinion and a personification of the general public.

Katy Waldman described John Q. Public as follows:

He’s an upstanding

An influence peddler is one who uses their political influence to try and win favors for others. An influence peddler is a bit of a wheeler dealer, trading access in exchange for payment in one form or another.

A similar …

An imperial presidency which one characterized by greater powers than are clearly provided for in the Constitution.

The historian Arthur Schlessinger popularized the term with a book, Imperial Presidency, published in 1973. Schlessinger’s book focused on what he saw …

Karl Marx famously declared that religion is the opiate of the people. There are a few conflicting translations of the quote, so that sometimes religion is the “opium of the masses,” and sometimes it’s the “opiate of the people,” but …

“Machines politics” is a phenomenon in urban politics, especially in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Political machines are characterized by tight organization and a strong centralized leadership, typically in the form of a “boss.” They operate by dominating the political …

“Forty acres and a mule” is a popular name for an order which promised freed slave that every family would be given a plot of land, measuring up to 40 acres. The land was to be seized from southern plantation …

“Little Tin Box” is the title of a song in the 1959 musical, “Fiorello,” which told the story of one of New York City’s most famous mayors. Fiorello LaGuardia, a progressive politician who was a strong supporter of the …

During the Cold War, the division between western Europe and the Soviet bloc countries was called the “iron curtain.” The iron curtain was never a physical barrier, but served as a metaphor to describe the limit of Soviet influence.

The …

A “honeymoon period” is a period of popularity enjoyed by a new leader. Usually, the term refers to an incoming president. Traditionally, both Congress and news outlets give presidents a bit of a break at the start of their first …

Throwing one’s hat in the ring means announcing one’s intention to compete in a contest. In politics, it means running for political office.

The phrase originally comes from boxing, where contestants would literally throw their hats into the boxing …

A politician who is undaunted and cheerful, even in the face of adversity, is said to be a “happy warrior.” 

The phrase comes from an 1806 poem by William Wordsworth, titled “Character of the Happy Warrior.” Wordsworth described the “happy …

The Great Society was a sweeping set of proposals for social reform, put forward by President Lyndon Johnson in 1964 and aimed at improving access to education, good jobs, and healthcare for ordinary Americans.

Johnson had already proposed a “War …

“It’s the economy, stupid” was a phrase coined by James Carville in 1992, when he was advising Bill Clinton in his successful run for the White House.

In 1992, the US was experiencing an economic recession and the incumbent president, …

“Happy Days Are Here Again” is the title of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s official campaign song in 1932. The song remained the unofficial anthem of the Democratic Party for many years.

In 1932, America was mired in the Great Depression. “Happy …

“Grass will grow in the streets” is a gloom-and-doom phrase sometimes used by politicians to imply that the country will go to economic ruin if they don’t win election, or if their own plan doesn’t prevail.

The phrase is sometimes …

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 country’s highways and bridges.

Said Trump economic adviser Gary Cohn: …

In politics, a handler manages a candidate during an election. 

A handler can fill a variety of roles. At the lowest end of the spectrum, a handler can take care of the candidate’s basic needs, fetching cups of coffee or …

A “grand design” refers to any kind of deliberate plan of action. In politics, the term is usually used to mean an overarching strategy or a long-term plan.

A grand design implies long-term thinking.

The opposite of a grand design, …