Summer Work

Question 1

¨The Hill¨

Answer 1

A hill in Washington, D.C., where the Capitol Building sits and Congress meets

Question 2

Bipartisan

Answer 2

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

Question 6

Conservative

Answer 6

Holding to traditional attitudes and values and cautious about change or innovation

Question 7

Constituent

Answer 7

Being a voting member of a community or organization and having the power to appoint or elect

Question 8

Demographics

Answer 8

Statistical data relating to the population and particular groups within it

Question 9

Earmark

Answer 9

Designate (something, typically funds or resources) for a particular purpose

Question 10

Entitlements

Answer 10

Having a right to something

Question 11

Flip-Flopper

Answer 11

A reversal, as of a stand or position: a foreign policy

Question 12

Free-Rider Problem

Answer 12

A situation where some individuals consume more than their fair share or pay less than their fair share of the cost of a shared resource

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

(Grand Old Party) The Republican Party, is one of the two major political parties in the United States

Question 16

Grassroots

Answer 16

The common or ordinary people, especially as contrasted with the leadership or elite of a political party, social organization, etc.; the rank and file

Question 17

Gridlock

Answer 17

A situation in which no progress can be made

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

to characterize matters that are, or seem to be, important primarily to officials of the U.S. federal government 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

An area in downtown Washington, D.C. where many lobbyists, lawyers and advocacy groups have their offices

Question 21

Lameduck

Answer 21

An elected official or group continuing to hold political office during the period between the election and the inauguration 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 term used to describe proceedings initiated between two opposing parties to enforce or defend a legal right

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 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 political party's formal statement of its basic principles, objectives, and positions on major issues

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

A political committee organized for the purpose of raising and spending money to elect and defeat candidates

Question 32

Political Culture

Answer 32

A set of attitudes and practices held by a people that shapes their political behavior. EX: Moral judgments, political myths, beliefs, and ideas about what makes for a good society

Question 33

Political Efficacy

Answer 33

The citizens' faith and trust in government and their belief that they can understand and influence political affairs

Question 34

Political Socialization

Answer 34

A process by which people form their ideas about politics and acquire political values

Question 35

Political Suicide

Answer 35

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 unfavorable or that might threaten the status quo

Question 36

Pork Barrel Spending

Answer 36

The act of using government funds on local projects that are primarily used to bring more money to a specific representative's district

Question 37

POTUS

Answer 37

Abbreviation for the President of the United States

Question 38

Rank and File

Answer 38

The ordinary members of an organization as opposed to its 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 State

Answer 41

A state that is going to almost always vote a certain way

Question 42

SCOTUS

Answer 42

Abbreviation for 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

A speech that is made many times by a politician who is traveling to different places during a campaign for election.

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

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 statement designed to support persuasively one side taken on an issue

Question 50

Whistle Blower

Answer 50

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