Appropriations Committee

Definition

The congressional committee that controls how much money each agency gets, making them vastly more powerful than policy committees.

Example Usage

The EPA's budget was slashed by the Appropriations Committee despite unanimous policy support.

Origin

From 'appropriate' meaning 'to allocate' funds

Fun Fact

Appropriations committee members are flooded with donations from industries trying to influence agency funding.

Source: Congressional structure terminology

Related Terms

Intermediate

propaganda

A carefully orchestrated barrage of messaging designed to shape public opinion, typically deployed by governments, political movements, or your company's PR department when things go sideways. Unlike regular marketing, propaganda isn't just selling you a product—it's selling you a worldview, one emotionally charged message at a time. The line between 'public information campaign' and propaganda is thinner than most officials would like to admit.

🏛️ Government / Politics

Advanced

sine die

Latin for 'without day,' referring to adjournment with no set date to reconvene, essentially lawmakers saying they're done and you can't make them come back. It marks the definitive end of a legislative session.

🏛️ Government / Politics

Intermediate

ex officio

Holding a position by virtue of one's office rather than by election or appointment to that specific role. The 'you're already here, might as well join this committee too' principle of government organization.

🏛️ Government / Politics

Intermediate

antiestablishmentarian

A person who opposes the established social, political, or religious order and its institutions, or the ideology supporting such opposition. The term encompasses those who reject the status quo and advocate for fundamental systemic change.

🏛️ Government / Politics

Intermediate

embargo

An official ban that prohibits trade with a specific country or restricts the release of information until a specified time. Journalists encounter embargoes constantly when companies want to control their news cycle, while nations use them as economic weapons that may or may not actually work. Breaking an embargo as a reporter is a great way to never get invited to another press event again.

🏛️ Government / Politics

Intermediate

scamble

A catch-all term for any shady, nonsensical, or fraudulent activity, especially when perpetrated by governments or institutions. It's what happens when 'scam' and 'scramble' had a cynical baby.

🏛️ Government / Politics

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