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

A gag rule prevents members of a legislative body from raising a particular issue, usually because that issue is considered too controversial or divisive.

In the United States, the most …

The “Gang of Eight” refers to a group of eight elected officials who are responsible for reviewing and receiving sensitive intelligence information.

Who are the gang of eight? …

Gaslighting is a form of psychological manipulation that seeks to sow seeds of doubt in a targeted individual or group.

It makes them question their own memory, perception …

The term “germane” is used to describe the requirement that proposed amendments or provisions introduced during the legislative process must be relevant and directly related to the subject matter of …

“Give ’em hell Harry” is a reference to President Harry Truman’s 1948 re-election campaign. It’s also the name of a very successful play and movie.

In 1948, President Harry Truman …

A glad-hander is a highly extroverted person who makes a point of acting friendly in an over-the-top way.

However, in politics the term glad-hander connotes insincerity and opportunism.

Glad-handers are …

“Go fight City Hall” is a phrase expressing the futility of trying to battle government bureaucracy.

The phrase sounds like a call to action but in fact, it is the …

“Gobbledygook” is a term coined by Rep. Maury Maverick (D-TX) for obscure and euphemistic bureaucratic language.

He first used the word in a 1944 memo, while he …

Godwin’s Law is a term first promulgated in 1990 by author and lawyer Mike Godwin.

Originally intended as a lesson in information “memetics,” or how the evolution of information spreads …

The term “going rogue” is used to describe a situation where a politician breaks with established norms and party lines.

This can involve expressing views that diverge from the …

“Goo goo is short for “good government guys,” referring to people who would fight for government reform.

This was used during the 1970s as a derisive term for those who …

A “gotcha question” is one posed by a reporter in an effort to trick a politician into looking stupid or saying something damaging.

These questions are typically aimed at eliciting …

GOTV is an acronym for “get out the vote” or increasing voter turnout in an election.

It involves various activities and initiatives to increase voter turnout, including voter …

“Government relations” refers to the specialized practice of influencing public policy and decision-making processes within legislative bodies, executive agencies, and other governmental institutions.

Often executed by lobbyists, this discipline entails …

A “Grand Bargain” refers to a broad, bipartisan agreement that aims to resolve complex and often contentious issues through significant concessions from both sides of the aisle.

Typically deployed in …

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 …

“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 …

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 politics, having grassroots support means …

The “great debates” were a series of public debates between Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglas.

In 1858, Douglas, an Illinois Democrat, was running for re-election to the US Senate. Lincoln, …

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 …

The “Green Lantern Theory” is how political scientists describe the belief that presidents could do more if they just tried a bit harder.

The term refers to the DC Comics …

“Greenwashing” is an attempt by a company to create the impression that a consumer product has benefits to the environment, even when it does not or may even be harmful …

In politics, gridlock is a situation in which the government is unable to pass new legislation, often because the presidency and the Congress are controlled by different political parties.

As …

A “grifter” is a con artist, someone who obtains money by swindling or tricking others.

In politics, the word refers to people who use the political process as a way …

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 threats to achieve its policy …

“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 they be spent on domestic …

A “gutter flyer” is a political attack ad, traditionally distributed in paper form. It is also typically anonymous, so that nobody can be held accountable for it or asked to …

The term “gutter politics” refers to the use of personal attacks, character assassination, and scandal-mongering as a tactic to discredit or malign opponents rather than focusing on policy issues or …

A “gypsy moth Republican” is a pejorative term used by conservative Republicans to describe a moderate members of their party who represent a Northeastern or Midwestern urban part of the …

“The Great Mentioner” describes the phenomenon whereby certain people are “mentioned” to journalists as possible candidates for higher office.

It suggests that being mentioned or talked about in a positive …