obstructionism
“Obstructionism” is the act of deliberately stalling, delaying, or preventing legislation from being passed.
It is a tactic used to delay, alter, or prevent specific …
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October surprise
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 …
off the record
“Off the record” is a term used in journalism meaning that the information given to the reporter cannot be attributed to the person saying it.…
Off the Reservation
The phrase “off the reservation” is used to describe someone who deviates from the expected or orthodox position, particularly within a political party or ideological …
off-year election
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 …
old bull
An “old bull” is a powerful and influential Member of Congress.
Old bulls are typically senior members who have worked their way into positions of …
old guard
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 …
One Man, One Vote
“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 …
one minute speeches
“One minute speeches” refers to a procedure that allows members of a legislative body, such as a parliament or congress, to speak briefly
one-house bill
A “one-house bill” is a bill introduced by a lawmaker for the purpose of grandstanding or to demonstrate their effort to fulfill political promises without …
open convention
A party convention in which delegates are able to vote for the candidate of their choice, and are not tied to the results of primaries …
Open Primary
An “open primary” is an election that allows voters to select candidates on one party’s ballot without declaring their own party affiliation.
Open …
opiate of the people
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 …
opinion leader
An “opinion leader” is one whose opinions about something have a significant impact on the opinions of others.
Today, an “influencer” is sometimes used as …
Oppo
The term “oppo” refers to opposition research, a crucial activity undertaken by political entities to collect information on adversaries that could be used to their …
Orwellian
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 …
Out of the Loop
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 …