Political Jargon terms

Question 1

“The Hill”

Answer 1

1. the US Congress 2. the hill in Washington D.C. where the Capitol building stands

Question 2

Bipartisan

Answer 2

of or involving the agreement or cooperation of two political parties that usually oppose each other’s policies.

Question 3

Blue State

Answer 3

a US state that predominantly votes for or supports the Democratic Party

Question 4

Bully Pulpit

Answer 4

a public office or position of authority that provides its occupant with an outstanding opportunity to speak out on any issue.

Question 5

Coattails Effect

Answer 5

The tendency for a popular political party leader to attract votes for other candidates of the same party in an election. For example, the party of a victorious presidential candidate will often win many seats in Congress as well; these congressmen are voted into office “on the coattails” of the president.

Question 6

Conservative

Answer 6

a person who is averse to change and holds to traditional values and attitudes, typically in relation to politics.

Question 7

Constituent

Answer 7

being a voting member of a community or organization and having the power to appoint or elect.
“the constituent body has a right of veto”

Question 8

Demographics

Answer 8

statistical data relating to the population and particular groups within it.

Question 9

Earmark

Answer 9

a congressional directive that funds should be spent on a specific project.

Question 10

Entitlements

Answer 10

the belief that one is inherently deserving of privileges or special treatment

Question 11

Flip-flopper

Answer 11

a person, especially a politician, who suddenly changes his or her opinion or policy He described his opponent as a flip-flopper.

Question 12

Free-Rider Problem

Answer 12

It is a market failure that occurs when people take advantage of being able to use a common resource, or collective good, without paying for it, as is the case when citizens of a country utilize public goods without paying their fair share in taxes.

Question 13

Gender Gap

Answer 13

the discrepancy in opportunities, status, attitudes, etc., between men and women

Question 14

Gerrymandering

Answer 14

manipulate the boundaries of (an electoral constituency) so as to favor one party or class.

Question 15

GOP

Answer 15

short for Grand Old Party, is a nickname for the Republican Party of the United States.

Question 16

Grassroots

Answer 16

ordinary people regarded as the main body of an organization’s membership.

Question 17

Gridlock

Answer 17

refers to a situation when there is difficulty passing laws that satisfy the needs of the people. A government is gridlocked when the ratio between bills passed and the agenda of the legislature decreases.

Question 18

Independent Expenditure

Answer 18

Spending by political action committees, corporations, or labor unions that is done to help a party or candidate but is done independently of them.

Question 19

Inside the Beltway

Answer 19

American idiom used to characterize matters that are, or seem to be, important primarily to officials of the U.S. federal government, to its contractors and lobbyists, and to the corporate media who cover them—as opposed to the interests and priorities of the general U.S. population.

Question 20

K Street

Answer 20

K Street is a major thoroughfare in the United States capital of Washington, D.C. known as a center for numerous think tanks, lobbyists, and advocacy groups.

Question 21

Lame duck

Answer 21

an official (especially the president) in the final period of office, after the election of a successor

Question 22

Liberal

Answer 22

open to new behavior or opinions and willing to discard traditional values

Question 23

Libertarian

Answer 23

a person who believes in the doctrine of free will

Question 24

Litigation

Answer 24

the process of taking legal action

Question 25

Lobbyist

Answer 25

a person who takes part in an organized attempt to influence legislators

Question 26

Logrolling

Answer 26

the practice of exchanging favors, especially in politics by reciprocal voting for each other’s proposed legislation.

Question 27

Mandate

Answer 27

the authority to carry out a policy or course of action, regarded as given by the electorate to a candidate or party that is victorious in an election.

Question 28

Partisan

Answer 28

a strong supporter of a party, cause, or person.

Question 29

Party Platform

Answer 29

a set of beliefs that are accepted as characteristic of a particular political party and presented to the public to help the public know the principles and values for which that party stands.

Question 30

Polarization

Answer 30

division into two sharply contrasting groups or sets of opinions or beliefs.

Question 31

Political Action Committee (PAC)

Answer 31

is an organization that pools campaign contributions from members and donates those funds to campaign for or against candidates, ballot initiatives, or legislation.

Question 32

Political Culture

Answer 32

is the set of attitudes, beliefs, and sentiments which give order and meaning to a political process and which provide the underlying assumptions and rules that govern behavior in the political system. It encompasses both the political ideals and the operating norms of a polity.

Question 33

Political Efficacy

Answer 33

is the citizens’ faith and trust in government and their belief that they can understand and influence political affairs.

Question 34

Political Socialization

Answer 34

is the process by which people form their ideas about politics.

Question 35

Political Suicide

Answer 35

is a concept by which a politician or political party loses widespread support and confidence from the voting public by proposing actions that are seen as unfavourable or that might threaten the status quo.

Question 36

Pork Barrel Spending

Answer 36

is a metaphor for the appropriation of government spending for localized projects secured solely or primarily to bring money to a representative’s district.

Question 37

POTUS

Answer 37

the President of the United States.

Question 38

Rank and File

Answer 38

1 : the enlisted personnel of an armed force. 2 : the individuals who constitute the body of an organization, society, or nation as distinguished from the leaders.

Question 39

Red State

Answer 39

a US state that predominantly votes for or supports the Republican Party.

Question 40

Red Tape

Answer 40

excessive bureaucracy or adherence to rules and formalities, especially in public business.

Question 41

Safe Seat

Answer 41

a legislative seat that is likely to be retained with a large majority in an election.

Question 42

SCOTUS

Answer 42

the Supreme Court of the United States.

Question 43

Sound Bite

Answer 43

a short extract from a recorded interview, chosen for its pungency or appropriateness.

Question 44

Spin Control

Answer 44

the act or practice of attempting to manipulate the way an event is interpreted by others.

Question 45

Stump Speech

Answer 45

is a standard speech used by a politician running for office. Typically a candidate who schedules many appearances prepares a short standardized stump speech that is repeated verbatim to each audience, before opening to questions.

Question 46

Super PAC

Answer 46

a type of independent political action committee which may raise unlimited sums of money from corporations, unions, and individuals but is not permitted to contribute to or coordinate directly with parties or candidates.

Question 47

Superdelegate

Answer 47

(in the Democratic Party) an unelected delegate who is free to support any candidate for the presidential nomination at the party’s national convention.

Question 48

Swing State

Answer 48

a US state where the two major political parties have similar levels of support among voters, viewed as important in determining the overall result of a presidential election.

Question 49

Talking Points

Answer 49

a topic that invites discussion or argument.

Question 50

Whistle Blower

Answer 50

a person who informs on a person or organization engaged in an illicit activity.