Where everything is bipartisan until it is not.
Government funding allocated to projects that benefit a specific constituency primarily to boost a politician's re-election chances—because nothing says 'I care about you' like a bridge to nowhere.
The systematic process of surveying a representative sample of voters or population to gauge opinions, predict election outcomes, or validate policy support. Politicians obsess over it; statisticians argue about its accuracy.
The increasing ideological gap between political parties and voters, making compromise feel like betrayal to true believers on both sides.
Political Action Committee: a legal entity that bundled campaign contributions for candidates, because corporations are people with free speech rights.
Government spending allocated specifically to regional projects designed to curry favor with voters, regardless of actual merit or necessity. It's taxpayer money masquerading as economic stimulus, usually strategically timed before elections.
A political commentator who confidently predicts outcomes they have no special knowledge about, generating outrage and ratings in equal measure.
A voting system where voters rank candidates by preference, ensuring second and third choices count if no one wins outright—democracy's way of saying 'we'll count what you really want, not just your first impulse.' Common in progressive jurisdictions that believe your ballot should reflect nuance.
The deliberate process of reconciling conflicting parties and facilitating agreement between previously hostile groups—diplomacy's greatest hits album.