I Am the Law
“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 …
I
I’d Rather Be Right
Despite a storied career as a lawmaker and diplomat, Henry Clay is probably best-remembered for a speech in which he said, “I’d rather be right …
Impeachment
Impeachment is the process by which a public official, such as the President of the United States, can be removed from office for …
Imperial Presidency
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.…
Inartful
The term “inartful” is often used to describe statements or actions that are clumsily executed or poorly communicated, potentially leading to misunderstandings or negative public …
Incumbent
An incumbent is an official who already holds a political office.
A lot of ink has been spilled about whether the incumbent has a better …
Incumbent Rule
The “incumbent rule” is a rule of thumb used by pollsters that says incumbents rarely get a higher percentage in the election than they receive …
Influence Peddler
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 …
Infrastructure Week
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 …
Inside Baseball
The term “inside baseball” refers to any subject matter which is considered too highly specialized to be appreciated by the general public.
In …
Inside the Beltway
“Inside the Beltway” is a term used to describe the political landscape and culture within the Capital Beltway, the Interstate 495 highway that encircles …
Invisible Primary
An invisible primary begins when a candidate formally announces their plans to run for office.
It’s an opportunity to find out how much support they …
Iron Curtain
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 …
It’s a Long Way to Tipperary
“It’s a long way to Tipperary” is often employed metaphorically to underscore the complexity and length of a political process, suggesting that achieving a particular …
It’s Just Politics
“It’s just politics” is often invoked to downplay or rationalize actions, decisions, or maneuvers that may be contentious, controversial, or ethically murky.
It serves as …
It’s the Economy Stupid
“It’s the economy stupid” was a phrase coined by James Carville in 1992, when he was advising Bill Clinton in his successful run …