Aardvarking is recruiting candidates for public office with the main objective of having their names begin with the letter A.
The practice of aardvarking is rooted in the idea that people have a natural tendency to favor options that appear …
An absentee ballot is a vote cast by someone who is unable to visit the official polling place on Election Day.
This type of vote is normally submitted by mail.
Increasing the ease of access to absentee ballots are seen …
The “advance man” is someone who makes arrangements and handles publicity for the candidate during a campaign.
The advance man travels to a location ahead of the candidate’s arrival and sets everything up so that things run smoothly for the …
“Advice and Consent” is a critical phrase in the United States Constitution that outlines a key aspect of the checks and balances among the three branches of government — Executive, Legislative, and Judicial.
This term is used to define the …
Agitprop is political propaganda, especially in the form of art or literature, which is used to advance a political stance.
The term originated in Soviet Russia and is an abbreviation of agitatsiya propaganda (agitation propaganda.) Propaganda was a …
The aisle refers to the space which divides the majority side from the minority on the House and Senate floor. When debating, members frequently refer to their party affiliation as “my side of the aisle.”
When facing the front of …
To “Akinize” is to try to diminish a political foe by likening his or her words to remarks on “legitimate rape” made by former Missouri Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO) while seeking a U.S. Senate seat in 2012.
As …
“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 of voters.
The expression is usually derogatory; it carries roughly …
The term “alternative facts” was a phrase coined by White House adviser Kellyanne Conway to defend a false statement by press secretary Sean Spicer about the attendance of President Donald Trump’s inauguration.
When pressed during an interview to explain why …
“Amen corner” is a term used in politics to refer to a group of people or legislators who always support or agree with a particular leader, party, or policy without reservation.
The term originally was used in a religious context. …
“Appeasement” is a diplomatic policy in which nations attempt to make peace by making concessions to an aggressive nation. Appeasement is often linked with the policies of British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain during World War II.
The most famous case …
“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 party have resulted in an improvement in the economic and social well-being of the citizens.…
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 a derogatory manner.
“Armchair general” is often used interchangeably with armchair strategist. Terms like “armchair …
“Arsenal of democracy” is a term that was first coined by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in a radio address to the nation on December 29, 1940.
The term refers to the role that the United States played in …
The “art of the possible” is idea that politics is a matter of pragmatism, instead of idealism.
According to this worldview, politics is a matter of creating achievable goals and implementing them in the real world.
The idea probably dates …
Astroturfing is an artificially-manufactured political movement designed to give the appearance of grassroots activism.
It involves presenting a biased or skewed view of public opinion as if it were a genuine, grassroots movement, when in fact it is a coordinated …
“Astrotweeting” is the creation of fake Twitter profiles to show support for a political candidate.
Bill White described the practice in an Texas Monthly interview about his 2010 race against Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R):
…There were also some silly