Where everything is bipartisan until it is not.
A 2010 Supreme Court decision that basically ruled 'corporations are people and money is speech'—fundamentally transforming American politics into an open auction.
To ceremonially seat someone on a throne with all the pomp, circumstance, and legal legitimacy that comes with claiming sovereign power. It's coronation's formal cousin—you don't just sit down, you're installed with witnesses and pageantry.
The fundamental act of democracy where citizens choose their preferred option from a list of choices they usually aren't thrilled about. It's how societies make collective decisions while ensuring that roughly half the population will be disappointed with the outcome. Despite being the cornerstone of representative government, voter turnout suggests many people treat it as optional homework.
When a popular candidate at the top of the ticket (usually president or governor) boosts down-ballot candidates from their party to victory. Essentially, political hitchhiking on someone else's charisma.
An arrangement where two legislators on opposite sides of an issue agree to abstain from voting, canceling each other out, allowing one or both to miss the vote. It's the gentleman's agreement of parliamentary procedure.
The most senior member of the minority party on a congressional committee, serving as the loyal opposition's chief strategist. All the work of a chair with none of the power.
The practice of attempting to influence legislators on behalf of special interests, conducted by professionals who get paid handsomely to take lawmakers to expensive dinners and explain why their client's interests perfectly align with the public good. Pure coincidence, really.
A news event or revelation deliberately timed to drop shortly before an election to maximize impact and minimize response time. Democracy's ambush marketing strategy.
In politics, the art of "encouraging" party members to vote the party line through various techniques ranging from gentle persuasion to outright threats about committee assignments. Whips are the enforcers of legislative loyalty, keeping rebellious members in check and counting votes like a bookie tracking bets. The term comes from fox hunting's "whipper-in" who kept hounds from straying—an oddly appropriate metaphor for managing politicians.
The brief window after an election when the new administration gets benefit of the doubt and media treats them like they might not be terrible. It lasts anywhere from 100 days to about 100 minutes depending on how quickly someone says something stupid.
Restricting government benefits to individuals below certain income or asset levels. The bureaucratic process of determining who's poor enough to deserve help, complete with forms, documentation, and indignity.
Constitutional division of government into distinct branches (executive, legislative, judicial) with different powers and the ability to check each other. Montesquieu's brilliant idea to prevent tyranny, assuming the branches actually want to check each other.
A temporary administration with limited powers that manages routine business during transitions between elections or governments. The political equivalent of a house-sitter who's allowed to water plants but not redecorate.
Legislation adorned with so many amendments, earmarks, and special provisions that it resembles a decorated holiday tree, with each member of Congress hanging their pet project on it. A must-pass bill that becomes a legislative grab bag because everyone knows it's going through regardless.
The legislative equivalent of a clogged drain, where bills pile up and nothing flows through the system. It's what happens when political opponents decide that preventing action is better than compromise. Unlike your kitchen sink, you can't just call a plumber—you need 60 senators or a complete change in party control.
A position of advantage or control in political negotiations, sitting pretty while others scramble. The legislative equivalent of holding all the cards.
The mathematical certainty that whoever holds office already will probably keep it, because they have more money, name recognition, and gerrymandered districts. The deck is stacked.
A vote where each member's position is recorded on the public record, making it easy for opponents to run ads about how you voted against popular things.
Bad government that creates chaos and lawlessness—essentially what happens when someone's 'leadership philosophy' is 'see how much I can break before anyone notices.'
The number of people who actually show up to vote, which politicians obsess over because it directly correlates to their job security. High turnout means your preferred voters actually got off the couch.
An unrelated provision attached to a bill like a barnacle on a ship's hull, often sneaking through policy that couldn't survive on its own merits. Politicians use riders to smuggle controversial items through on popular legislation.
A policy idea deliberately leaked to media to gauge public reaction before officially proposing it. If it crashes and burns, the official can claim it was never seriously considered; if it flies, they take credit.
The vice presidential candidate chosen to balance the ticket and deliver a key demographic or state, then spend the campaign attacking the opponent so the presidential candidate can seem above the fray. They're the political equivalent of a plus-one who has to do all the talking.
The designated area after debates where campaign representatives tell media why their candidate clearly won, regardless of what actually happened. Reality's editing suite.