Political Jargon Summer 2018 Flashcards
(50 cards)
“The Hill”
The Hill is an American political newspaper and website published in Washington, D.C. since 1994. It is published by Capitol Hill Publishing, which is owned by News Communications, Inc.
Bipartisan
involving the agreement or cooperation of two political parties that usually oppose each other’s policies.
Blue State
a US state that predominantly votes for or supports the Democratic Party.
Bully Pulpit
a public office or position of authority that provides its occupant with an outstanding opportunity to speak out on any issue.
Coattails Effect
the tendency for a popular political party leader to attract votes for other candidates of the same party in an election.
Conservative
a person who is averse to change and holds to traditional values and attitudes, typically in relation to politics.
Constituent
being a voting member of a community or organization and having the power to appoint or elect.
Demographics
characteristics of a population, including age, sex, and race. Demographics are often used to determine changes in the make-up of a population.
Earmark
pet projects added to appropriation bills by congressmen, called “wasteful spending” and “pork barrel legislation” by critics.
Entitlements
those benefits guaranteed by law paid to individuals by the fed gov, such as social security
Flip-flopper
a person who suddenly changes his or her opinion or policy
Free-Rider Problem
A person who chooses to receive the benefits of a “public good” or a “positive externality” without contributing to paying the costs of producing those benefits.
Gender Gap
a significant deviation between the way men and women vote.
Gerrymandering
state legislatures, based on pol affiliation, create congressional districts, many of which are oddly shaped and factor the pol party in power in the state making the changes.
GOP
another way of identifying the Republican Party
Grassroots
A type of social movement organization that relies on high levels of membership participation to promote social change.
Gridlock
when there is difficulty passing laws that satisfy the needs of the people
Independent Expenditure
Spending by political action committees, corporations, or labor unions that is done to help a party or candidate but is done independently of them.
Inside the Beltway
used to characterize matters that are, or seem to be, important primarily to officials of the U.S. federal government
K Street
location of the offices of nearly seven thousand organizations that are represented in Washington
Lameduck
A politician who is still in office after having lost a reelection bid
Liberal
favor government efforts to ensure that everyone has a job, to spend more money on medical and educational programs, and to increase rates of taxation for well-to-do-persons
Libertarian
People who wish to maximize the personal liberty on both economic and social issues.
Litigation
when people go to court in order to get a positive ruling for their cause. If there is a law that hurts a certain group of people, they can go to court and say that it is unlawful, and that it impinges on their rights.
