Definition

The organized chaos where people choose leaders by voting, transforming rational humans into tribal partisans who can't discuss politics at Thanksgiving. It's the democratic process of selecting representatives, involving campaigns, debates, and enough advertising to make you hate everyone. The event that proves democracy is the worst system except for all the others.

Example Usage

After the election cycle, I've received 47,000 text messages and lost faith in humanity, but at least I got a sticker.

Source: Political terminology

Related Terms

Intermediate

Executive Order

The presidential equivalent of a parent saying "because I said so," but with more legal jargon and fewer bedtime negotiations. It lets the President make rules without Congress's approval, which is basically political speed-running.

🏛️ Government / Politics
Intermediate

Lobby

The practice of professionally pestering politicians until they do what you want, which is basically what children do but with more expensive suits and fancier dinners. It's free speech for people whose speech comes with a corporate expense account.

🏛️ Government / Politics
Advanced

detente

The diplomatic equivalent of agreeing to stop glaring at each other across the room, typically between countries that were previously one step away from conflict. It's a deliberate relaxation of tension and improvement in relations, though everyone keeps their weapons just in case. Made famous during the Cold War when the US and USSR decided mutual destruction wasn't that appealing.

🏛️ Government / Politics
Beginner

Constituent

A fancy word for "voter" that politicians use when they want to sound like they actually remember you exist between elections. You're a constituent when they need your vote and a statistic the rest of the time.

🏛️ Government / Politics
Beginner

sunshine laws

Legislation requiring government meetings and records to be open to public scrutiny, based on the principle that sunlight is the best disinfectant. Of course, politicians then invented executive sessions and confidential memos.

🏛️ Government / Politics
Advanced

Brinksmanship

The diplomatic strategy of pushing a situation to the absolute edge of disaster and then hoping someone blinks first. It's a game of chicken played with nuclear arsenals and national economies instead of cars.

🏛️ Government / Politics

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See “election” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.

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