Political Vocabulary Words
Students preparing for a high school exam, college freshmen studying for their first university test and working adults sitting down to watch the news all need some basic understanding of common political vocabulary. Some terms, such as "Electoral College," refer to concepts set by an official authority, while other terms, such as "red tape," develop over time as a result of political actions.
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Congressional Districts
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Congressional districts divide an individual state's population into sections of about 570,000 citizens for the purpose of representation. These political subdivisions determine the number and distribution of elected officials in the U.S. House of Representatives for that state.
Electoral College
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The Electoral College of each state holds direct responsibility for electing the president and vice president of the nation. A state's electors equal the number of representatives that state has in both houses of the U.S. Congress. Electors generally elect the candidates who received the most votes among the state's districts.
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Filibuster
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A filibuster occurs when a senator or group of senators block the passage of a bill by talking continuously. No limit exists to restrict a senator's speaking time; thus, a senator can prevent a bill from coming up for a vote by refusing to stop speaking, as Sen. Strom Thurmond attempted in 1957 when he spoke for more than 24 hours straight.
Lame Duck
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A lame duck is an elected official who has lessened power because his term is about to expire. A lame duck session is a congressional session that includes lame ducks.
Lobby
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A lobby is a group of people who seek to influence an elected official's actions. The term originated during the 17th century with the English House of Commons, when people wishing to speak to legislators waited in the hall's lobby.
Political Action Committee
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A political action committee, formed by any group of 50 or more people including labor unions and businesses, registers with the Federal Election Commission for permission to raise and donate up to $5,000 per political candidate during an election campaign.
Pork Barrel
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Pork barreling refers to the approval of unnecessary projects that politicians secure, usually for their local districts and at the expense of the national good, in an attempt to gain political favor with their district's voters.
Red Tape
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Red tape refers to the masses of paperwork and procedures required by government that slow things down. The term originates in 18th century Britain, when officials bound official papers with red twine.
Spin
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Spin refers to a politician's efforts to alter the way the public views a particular issue, regardless of the facts. Political commentators often refer to political advisers as "spin doctors."
Split-Ticket Voting/Straight-Ticket Voting
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Split-ticket voting occurs when an individual votes for candidates from multiple political parties. Straight-ticket voting occurs when an individual votes only for candidates of a single political party.
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