Motor Voter
The term “motor voter” refers to a law in the United States that allows eligible citizens to register to vote when they apply …
The term “motor voter” refers to a law in the United States that allows eligible citizens to register to vote when they apply …
The phrase “vote your conscience” in politics carries a multifaceted meaning.
This expression is not merely a call to action — it embodies a fundamental …
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 …
The term “weaponize” refers to the strategic manipulation or transformation of information, institutions, or social issues into tools for gaining political advantage.
This …
The term “Orwellian” is often invoked to describe actions that evoke the themes of surveillance, authoritarianism, and manipulation of truth found in George Orwell’s dystopian …
The phrase “take our country back” is often employed as a rallying cry aimed at mobilizing voters around the idea of restoring a …
“Poke the bear” refers to the act of deliberately challenging or provoking a powerful individual, group, or nation, often with the risk of eliciting an …
In the context of politics, “low propensity voters” refers to individuals who are eligible to vote but have a history of infrequent participation in elections, …
The term “checks and balances” refers to the separation of powers that results from divided branches of government outlined in the U.S. Constitution.…
A “smoke-filled room” is used to describe a situation where politicians or other powerful individuals gather in a private, enclosed space to make …
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 …
“Dog whistle politics” is the practice of sending out coded political messages or subtle signals, which are designed to be understood only by …
A demagogue is a politician whose rhetoric appeals to raw emotions such as fear and hatred in order to gain power, rather than …
“Hardball” refers to a straightforward, often aggressive strategy employed in politics to achieve one’s goals.
It typically involves a no-nonsense attitude, where individuals are focused …
“Inside the Beltway” is a term used to describe the political landscape and culture within the Capital Beltway, the Interstate 495 highway that encircles …
K Street refers to the area in downtown Washington, D.C. where many lobbyists, lawyers and advocacy groups have their offices.
The term has become synonymous …
The term “ex officio” comes from the Latin phrase “from the office,” and in politics it refers to someone who is part of a political …
“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, …
In political discourse, the term “establishment” refers to the traditional, institutionalized power structures and key players within a political system, which can include party leaders, …
“Are you any better off” is a phrase commonly used in politics to question whether the policies and actions of a particular candidate or political …
A caucus is an informal meeting of local party members to discuss candidates and choose delegates to their party’s convention.
It can also refer to …
McCarthyism is a term used to describe the political practice of making accusations of disloyalty, subversion, or treason without adequate evidence.
The term is named
“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 …
“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 …
Impeachment is the process by which a public official, such as the President of the United States, can be removed from office for …
A “big lie” is an extreme distortion of the truth, used for the purpose of spreading propaganda. It is often somewhat outrageous.
In theory, people …
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 …
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 …
A yellow dog Democrat was a Southern voter who was unwavering in their loyalty to the Democratic party.
Those faithful Democrats swore that …
A “watershed election” is an election which represents a major shift away from the current political situation and often marked by sweeping changes in party …
“Quiet diplomacy” refers to one state’s efforts to influence the behavior of another state through discreet negotiations or actions.
This means operating behind the scenes …
A “party boss” is a high-ranking individual within a political party, typically at the state or local level, who wields significant influence over …
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 …
The New Deal was a series of government programs created during the administration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
It was designed to bring immediate economic …
The person who has his “finger on the button” has the power to launch a nuclear weapon.
The expression is used to evoke the possibility …
The term “sine die” is a Latin phrase that literally means “without a day” or “without setting a day.”
In politics, it is …
In politics, a “rainmaker” is an individual who can raise campaign funds for others.
Often, a rainmaker is a retired politician who still has a …
The term “whiz kids” refers to any intellectually gifted, precocious young people who possess exceptional talent and the confidence to effectively utilize it in various …
Blue slips are a long-standing Senate tradition that allows a Senator to signal opposition to a federal judicial nominee from their home state.…
“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, …
“Peace at any price” is a phrase closely associated with the politics of appeasement, and especially with British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain and his …
President Lyndon B. Johnson’s combination of charm, persuasion, and sheer intimidation came to be known as the “Johnson treatment.”
Johnson was famous for …
An imperial presidency is characterized by having greater powers than those clearly provided for in the U.S. Constitution, as it pertains to the executive branch.…
A wedge issue is a highly divisive political or social issue.
It can create divisions between a candidate’s supporters or between members of the same …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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.…
“Muckraker” is a name given to progressive journalists and writers in the early 20th century. The term is still sometimes used today to refer to …
“Kitchen cabinet” refers to a president’s informal, trusted circle of advisers, distinct from the official, formally appointed members of his actual cabinet.
“Machine politics” is a phenomenon sometimes seen in an urban political context, especially in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Political machines are characterized …
“Twenty years of treason” was a prominent catchphrase employed by Sen. Joseph McCarthy to vehemently denounce and criticize alleged communist sympathizers actively serving in various …
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 …
“Effete snobs” was a phrase used by Vice President Spiro Agnew to denounce anti-war protesters, and young intellectuals in general, during the Vietnam …
A pecking order is a social hierarchy which spells out the specifics of how the power structure operates.
The term was …
An armchair strategist is a person who creates plans and military strategy without being directly involved in the area.
The term is often used in …
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 …
“Evil empire” was President Ronald Reagan’s name for the Soviet Union.
Reagan often portrayed the struggle between the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. as a moral …
“The torch has been passed” is one of the most famous lines of John F. Kennedy’s presidency.
In 1961, in his inaugural speech, Kennedy …
In June of 1934, Adolph Hitler ordered his troops to carry out a large-scale purge of suspected dissidents within the Nazi party.
It actually took …
“Salami tactics” refers to a divide and conquer approach, which aims to split up the opposition.
The expression evokes the idea of slicing up one’s …
The Dixiecrats were a group of Southern Democrats who broke away from their party in 1948 because they objected to the Democratic Party’s stance on …
“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 …
An “off-year election” is one which takes place in a year when a presidential or midterm election does not also take place.
It’s typically when …
“Red meat” is a term used in politics to refer to statements or policies that are designed to appeal to a political party’s base or …
“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 …
“The cover-up is worse than the crime” refers to the idea that attempts to conceal or obscure wrongdoing can lead to more severe consequences than …
Hustings are the speeches and campaign events associated with an election cycle.
“On the hustings” is a synonym for being out campaigning, but …
“Wilderness years” are a period of time in a politician’s career when he or she is not holding a position of power. This may happen …
A “honeymoon period” is a period of popularity enjoyed by a new leader.
Usually, the term refers to an incoming president but it can refer …
“John Q. Public” is a generic name used in the United States to denote a typical member of the general public or an average citizen.…
The phrase “heartbeat away from the presidency” refers to the fact that the vice president will automatically succeed the presidency in the case of the …
The “Final Solution” was a euphemistic name used by Nazi leaders for their plan to exterminate all of the Jews in Europe.
The plan’s full …
A “fifth column” is a group which operates in secret, usually within enemy lines, in order to help further a cause which they secretly support. …
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 …
“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 …
The grassroots are the ordinary people in a region, or in a political party.
The “grassroots” level is the opposite of the leadership level. In …
In politics, “slow-walk” is a term used to describe an effort to prevent legislation or a political process from moving forward by intentionally slowing it …
The “eunuch rule” is a reference to the provisions in many state constitutions which prevented state governors from running for a second consecutive term in …
The practice of backing up diplomatic efforts with a visible show of military might.
A nation using gunboat diplomacy is making use of implicit military …
In politics, a “fat cat” is a rich and influential person, usually one who donates generously to political campaigns.
The expression suggests that the person …
“Guns before butter” refers to the debate over how governments should use their revenue: should resources be used to build up the military, or should …
The term “Speaker Emerita” is a title bestowed on a former Speaker of the House of Representatives in the United States who has left the …
A “cabal” is a group of people involved in a secret plot or conspiracy.
The term can also refer to the plot itself, or to …
“Peace through strength” is the accumulation of military power and security assets by a country to encourage an amenable diplomatic atmosphere with other countries.
A “three martini lunch” is a long, leisurely lunch, usually associated with either business or backroom political dealings.
The three martini lunch had its heyday …
The “political graveyard” refers to the careers of politicians who have experienced a significant decline of their political influence and electoral viability.
This can be …
The “Era of Good Feeling” refers to a period in U.S. history from about 1815 until about 1825, characterized by a sense of optimism and …
The “Compact of Fifth Avenue” resulted from a meeting in 1960 between aspiring presidential candidate Richard Nixon met Nelson Rockefeller in Rockefeller’s New York City …
A “hatchet man” is an operative in charge of doing political dirty work — or dirty tricks — both during a campaign and sometimes as …
To “rattle the cage” is an attempt to get attention, often through annoying, angering, or protesting.
This tactic is employed to challenge complacency, stir public …
A “captive candidate” is one who is allegedly “owned” by special interests or political groups. Calling someone a “captive candidate” is similar to saying that …
“Dirty tricks” are actions taken by a political campaign or candidate to damage their opponents that may involve unethical, distasteful, or illegal behaviors.
Political candidates …
The “enemies list” was a tally of political opponents kept by the Nixon administration.
The phrase is now used as shorthand to refer …