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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. …
Ronald Reagan’s critics often referred to the president as an “amiable dunce.”
The phrase was meant to suggest that Reagan was friendly and likeable, but fundamentally not very bright.
Clark Clifford, the former Defense secretary and presidential adviser, was …
“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
A “back channel” is an unofficial means of communication between two nations or two political entities. “Backchanneling” is also used as a verb, to refer to the act of holding behind-the-scenes talks.
Back channels are often used when two governments …
A “backbencher” is a junior member in the British House of Commons who occupies the back benches of Parliament, sitting behind party leaders and top government officials.
This term is most commonly used to describe legislators in parliamentary systems from …
A “backgrounder” is an off-the-record briefing for members of the media. Reporters are free to report on what they learn at a background briefing but normally are restricted as to how they cite their sources. Merriam Webster says that the …
The term “bafflegab” is used to describe language or speech that is intentionally vague, misleading, or difficult to understand.
In politics, it is often used to describe the language used by politicians and bureaucrats to obscure their true intentions, evade …
The term “bagman” is used to describe a person who acts as an intermediary or messenger, delivering or collecting money or other valuable items on behalf of others.
In many cases, a bagman may be involved in illegal or unethical …
The Baily memorandum was circulated among members of the Democratic party in 1956, arguing that Catholic voters were a key demographic that could be harnessed to win elections.
In 1956, Adlai Stevenson was the Democratic nominee for the presidency. John …
A balanced ticket is a paring of political party candidates designed to appeal to a broad swathe of the electorate. A balanced ticket normally includes candidates likely to be approved of by different racial, regional, and religious groups.
The term …
“Ballot box stuffing” is a term that refers to the practice of illegally submitting more than one vote in a ballot in which just one vote is actually permitted.
The goal is ballot box stuffing is to rig …
The term “ballyhoo” refers to a type of political propaganda that is designed to create a public spectacle or spectacle and attract attention to a particular cause or issue.
Ballyhoo often takes the form of sensational or exaggerated claims, emotional …
To be on the “bandwagon” is to follow a group that has a large and growing number of followers.
A bandwagon is literally a wagon which carries the band in a parade. The phrase “jump on the bandwagon” first appeared …
In politics, a “bargaining chip” refers to something that is used as leverage in a negotiation, an attempt to pass legislation, or an effort to get concessions from another party.
More often than not, the term is used cynically, or …
A barnstormer travels around the country or state making political appearances during a political campaign.
The phrase was first used when pilots would travel around the country to entertain with their flying skills.
The appearances are typically set up by …
The terms “battleground state” and “swing state” refer to states that have closely divided support for Democratic and Republican presidential candidates.
They are also sometimes called “purple states.”
Presidential campaigns are waged mainly in these battleground …
The term “bean counter” is a slang term used to refer to individuals who are perceived as overly focused on financial or budgetary concerns, often at the expense of other important considerations.
It is typically used to describe bureaucrats, government …
“Bed-wetting” refers to someone who expresses doubt or excessive worry about a political outcome.
David Plouffe, President Barack Obama’s former campaign manager and top political adviser, first coined the term in 2008 when Democrats began openly fretting about their political …
In politics, a “bellwether” refers to a geographic area whose political beliefs and voting preferences reflect that of a wider area.
For example, a county might be said to be a “bellwether county” if it consistently votes the same way …
“Beltway bandits” describes a private business or political entity that operates inside the Beltway, the interstate highway that encircles Washington, D.C.
More specifically, the term refers to government contractors, lobbyists, and other companies and organizations that have significant influence …
“Better Red Than Dead” is a phrase that reflects the belief that, despite the widespread perceived dangers of communism and the Soviet Union, it was preferable to the threat of nuclear war.
The phrase originated in the 1950s, during the …
Broadly speaking, “big government” is a political term that refers to how much influence the federal government has on the day-to-day lives of American citizens.
More granularly, as defined by the Brookings Institute, it refers how much government spends, …
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 will more easily believe a big lie than a smaller one, because most people assume …
In politics, a big tent refers to an inclusive party which encourages a wide swathe of people to become members. The opposite of “big tent” would be a party which is narrowly focused on only a few issues, or which …
A bill is a proposed law introduced in either the U.S. House of Representatives or the U.S. Senate.
A bill originating in the House is designated by the letters “H.R.” followed by a number and bills introduced in the Senate …
In politics, a Bircher is an adherent to the teachings and philosophies of the John Birch Society, an anti-communist organization founded in 1958. The heyday of the Bircher movement was in the 1960s and early 1970s, when the organization had …
A blanket primary is a primary election whereby each voter can select one candidate per office regardless of party. This primary is different from open or closed primaries, which require each ballot to only feature votes for candidates from …
The term “bleeding hearts” refers to people who care deeply — so deeply that their hearts bleed — about the suffering of the needy. The term is almost always derogatory. It’s usually applied to those on the left, hence the …
The Blue Dog Democrats are a coalition of moderate House Democrats.
The group is dedicated to fiscally conservative legislation and a strong national defense. They present themselves as the “commonsense” alternative to political extremism.
When the blue dog coalition was …
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 blue slip refers to a piece of paper in the color blue that the …
A “blue state” is one whose voters elect primarily Democratic candidates.
It is the opposite of a red state, which elects primarily Republican candidates.
There are different levels of how ‘blue’ a state can be. If a Democratic candidate …
Blue-slipping is a term that originates from the United States Congress and refers to a procedural action taken by the House of Representatives to assert its constitutional prerogative on matters of revenue and appropriations.
Specifically, blue-slipping is the process through …
A “body man” is an assistant who follows a political figure around the clock, providing logistical assistance for daily tasks ranging from paperwork to meals.
This is different than the advance man who typically prepares solely for campaign events.
The …
A Boll weevil Democrat was a conservative southern Democrat in the mid 1900s, largely known for his opposition to civil rights.
They used the term because the boll weevil, a southern pest, could not be eliminated by pesticides …
A “boodle” refers to a large sum of bribe money or graft money.
Boodle can also be used to mean a large collection of something. In fact, some linguists believe that the phrase “the whole kit and kaboodle” is a …
A “boondoggle” is a wasteful or extravagant project with no practical value. Usually, a boondoggle makes use of public funds and carries at least a whiff of corruption.
The word boondoggle dates back at least to the 1920s, when it …
“Borking” is attacking a person’s reputation and views.
The term was popularized by the Wall Street Journal editorial page after the Senate rejected the nomination of Robert Bork the U.S. Supreme Court in 1987.
Bork himself later discussed the origination …
The “Bradley effect” is a polling phenomenon involving high support for non-white and non-female candidates in opinion polls not reflected by election results.
This phenomenon was coined following Tom Bradley’s (D) run for California governor in 1982.
Bradley, …
A brokered convention takes place when no one candidate wins a majority delegates during the presidential primary to earn their party’s nomination in the first vote at the nominating conference.
When that happens, the nomination is “brokered,” or …
A bully pulpit is a public office or position of authority that provides the holder with an opportunity to speak out and be listened to on any matter.
In theory, the expression could refer to any position of authority. …
“Bundlers” refers to individuals or organizations that raise large sums of money from multiple donors to support a political campaign or cause.
These bundlers are typically well-connected and influential members of a political party or interest group, and they use …
“Bundling” refers to the practice of collecting contributions from multiple donors and submitting them to a political campaign or political action committee (PAC) as a single donation.
This allows individuals to aggregate their donations in order to make a larger …
“Bunk” is empty or nonsense talk.
In 1820, Rep. Felix Walker from Ashville, North Carolina justified his long-winded and somewhat irrelevant remarks about the Missouri Compromise by arguing that his constituents had elected him “to make a speech for …
A “by-election” is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections.
Typically, they occur when the incumbent has resigned or died, but it may also occur in the case of a recall…
A “cabal” is a group of people involved in a secret plot or conspiracy. Cabal can also refer to the plot itself, or to the secret organization of the plotters.
Cabal originally is derived from the Hebrew word Kabbalah, …
“Camelot” is a reference to President John F. Kennedy’s administration.
Kennedy’s brief, ill-fated presidency has been highly mythologized; some people point to it as a shining example of what the US government should look like.
Calling that administration …
The “can’t win technique” is a campaign strategy used during the primary season. Typically, it means telling delegates and voters that your rival can’t possibly win the general election. The idea is to present one candidate as more electable, while …
The “candy desk” is where a supply of candy is kept in the U.S. Senate.
Sen. George Murphy (R-CA) originated the practice of keeping a supply of candy in his desk for the enjoyment of his colleagues in 1965.
Soon …
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 they are the puppet or the pawn of an interest group.
As William Safire has …
A “carpetbagger” is a politician who runs for office or tries to appeal to a constituency in a geographic area where he or she has no roots or connection.
The term traces its roots back to the Civil …
The term “casework” refers to assistance provided by members of Congress to constituents who need help while filing a grievance with the federal government or a federal agency.
In a lot of cases, constituents don’t know how to get help …
Cats and dogs are are leftover “stray” bills on minor subjects saved for days when the House or Senate have light floor schedules.…
In politics, a public event at which a big group of political candidates all speak.
The term comes from the acting world, where a “cattle call” is a massive audition to fill a part in a movie or play. Merriam …
An informal meeting of local party members to discuss candidates and choose delegates to their party’s convention.
The term can also refer to informal groups of Members of the House of Representatives or the Senate used to discuss common issues …
The “cemetery vote” refers to a form of voter fraud, in which votes are cast in the names of registered voters who have, in fact, passed away. The term is also sometimes used when a vote is improperly cast by …
The Chatham House Rule is a system for holding discussions on potentially controversial topics, particularly in politics and public affairs.
At a meeting held under the Chatham House Rule, you are free to use information from the discussion, but you …
The “Checkers speech” was a televised address given by then-Senator Richard Nixon on September 23, 1952 as he was fighting to retain his spot on the national Republican ticket as the vice presidential nominee.
The speech was given …
The term “checks and balances” refers to the separation of powers that results from divided branches of government outlined in the U.S. Constitution.
The U.S. divides power among the three branches of government — executive, legislative, and judicial …
A “Cherokee Strip” is the seating area in the U.S. Senate chamber when some members of the majority party mist sit on the side of the minority party.
The term in the U.S. Senate comes from the a strip of …
“Chicago-style politics” is a phrase used to characterize a supposedly offensive tough, “take-no-prisoners” or “hardball” approach to politics.
As Jacob Weisberg explained:
…Chicago-style politics, in common parlance, refers to the 1950s-1970s era of the Richard J. Daley machine…
“Chicken in every pot” was Republican campaign slogan of the late 1920s. The slogan is often incorrectly attributed to Herbert Hoover; it became a means for Democrats to attack Republicans as out of touch with economic reality.
The desire for …
A “chilling effect” is a situation in which rights are restricted, often because of indirect political pressure or overbroad legislation. Chilling effect is usually used to refer to free speech restrictions.
The term, and in fact the doctrine, first became …
“Chum” is campaign gear such as bumper stickers, lawn signs, and campaign buttons.
The concept of chum draws its metaphorical origins from the practice of using fish bait, also known as chum, to attract larger fish.
Similarly, in political campaigns, …
A “city on a hill” is a phrase used to refer to America’s supposed standing in the world, as a “beacon of hope” which other nations can look to for moral guidance.
The phrase can be traced back to the …
In politics, a “clean sweep” occurs in an election when a candidate or party achieves an overwhelming or complete victory, winning in all or almost all districts or precincts. A related term is “landslide” or “wipeout” victory.
In open democracies …
In politics, cloakrooms are spaces adjacent to the chambers of the Senate and the House where politicians from both parties can gather to discuss Congressional business privately. There is a separate cloakroom for each political party. Put simply, a cloakroom …
A “clothespin vote” is a colorful term referring to a vote given to the “less objectionable” candidate despite a distaste for him or her. It’s commonly used during elections in which both choices are equally disliked. The concept is akin …
“Cloture” is legislative term referring to a motion or process by which debate is brought to a quick end.
From the French word meaning “the act of terminating something,” cloture is “basically a vote to go ahead on a vote, …
The “coattail effect” is a phenomenon whereby a political candidate or leader’s popularity leads to improved vote totals for fellow party candidates further down the ballot.
A coattail refers to a part of the coat extending below the waist that …
A “codel,” or congressional delegation, is a group of members of the United States Congress who travel together on official business.
These trips are often called “codels,” and they can include visits to other countries, meetings with foreign …
The Committee of the Whole is a procedural device used to expedite debates in the U.S. House of Representatives.
To use it, the House adjourns and enters into a committee, with all representatives being members – this procedure allows congressmen …
In the summer of 1960, aspiring presidential candidate Richard Nixon met Nelson Rockefeller in Rockefeller’s New York City home to discuss Nixon’s campaign. What resulted from that meeting is known as the “Compact of Fifth Avenue.”
Also referred to as …
A “concession speech” is the speech a candidate delivers after the vote results are clear, when they publicly acknowledge that they’ve been defeated in an election. These speeches are typically delivered in front of supporters, and when they’re at their …
The Congressional Record is the official record of the proceedings and debates of the United States Congress.
It is a comprehensive and authoritative reference source that provides a written account of everything said on the floor of the House of …
A “contested convention,” sometimes also referred to as a “brokered convention,” occurs when no single candidate for president secures the majority of delegates needed to win a political party’s nomination in advance of that party’s convention.
When that …
A convention bounce refers to the surge of support a presidential candidates may enjoy after the televised national convention of their party.
The size and impact of a convention bounce is sometimes seen as an early indicator of party unity.…
A “cookie-cutter campaigns” are political campaigns run by political consultants who use virtually identical strategies in different jurisdictions. The typical sign of such campaigns are websites or direct mail advertisements that use identical layouts and stock photographs.
The increased number …
The Copperheads were Northern Democrats who opposed the Civil War and wanted a peace settlement with the Confederates.
Republicans started calling them Copperheads, likening them to the poisonous snake. Interestingly, they accepted the label but because the copperhead to them …
The “cracker vote” refers to native Floridian white voters, whose families have typically lived in the state for generations.
The term “cracker” originated in the American South, particularly in Florida, where it was historically used to refer to poor white …
The acronym CREEP is short for The Committee for the Re-election of the President, which in 1972 was the fundraising organization of then-president Richard Nixon’s re-election campaign.
The committee officially launched in 1971 and was originally abbreviated CRP. After the …
A “cromnibus” bill is legislation which combines a long-term omnibus spending bill with a shorter-term continuing resolution.
From Marketplace:
…It’s that time of year again. No, not the holidays, but Congress’ annual maneuvering to pass a budget. It has
The term “cuckservative” is a pejorative used by alt-Right conservatives to insult moderate Republicans.
It implies they have sold out and is similar to the term RINO.
It suggests moderates who are weak and effeminate.
It is a portmanteau …
According to Time, a “cuff links gang” refers to the group of friends who helped Franklin D. Roosevelt run for Vice President in 1920 “and to whom he gave sets of cuff links in remembrance of that unfortunate political …
“Cutting turf” is plotting canvassing routes for campaign workers to knock on doors.
The term refers to the process of breaking up a precinct map into smaller “turfs” that each contain a certain number of houses or voters.…
A “czar” is an unofficial title used to refer to high-ranking executive branch appointments.
Czars are usually given responsibility for a specific policy area and do not have to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate. They usually have an official …