Definition

Capitalized, this label names a member of a major U.S. political party, and lowercase, it describes someone who thinks a nation should be run by elected citizens rather than a monarch. Either way, you're going to hear it at every dinner party for the next four years.

Example Usage

The republican candidate promised to 'restore the republic,' which voters interpreted as a sincere request for fewer ads and more reasonable gas prices.

Source: Provided dictionary definitions; standard political terminology

Related Terms

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motion to recommit

A final procedural maneuver to send legislation back to committee, typically as a last-ditch effort by the minority to kill or amend a bill. It's democracy's 'wait, can we talk about this?' moment.

🏛️ Government / Politics
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District

The geographic area a representative is supposed to serve, unless gerrymandering has made that area look like a Rorschach test.

🏛️ Government / Politics
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Party Whip

A legislative official whose job is to enforce party discipline by convincing, threatening, or bribing fellow party members to vote the right way, which sounds dystopian but is basically just normal politics.

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impoundment

When the executive branch refuses to spend money that Congress has appropriated. Presidential penny-pinching that led to a constitutional crisis in the 1970s and resulted in Congress finally saying "we meant spend it."

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recess

The blessed break when legislative bodies pause their feuding to catch their breath, regroup, or go home for a while without technically adjourning. It's the political equivalent of a timeout, allowing representatives to face constituents, fundraise, or simply escape each other's company. Not to be confused with elementary school recess, though the maturity levels can be comparable.

🏛️ Government / Politics
Intermediate

impeached

To formally charge a high-ranking government official with misconduct or, more broadly, to challenge someone's credibility or call their judgment into question. It doesn't mean removal from office—just the beginning of a very public legal headache.

🏛️ Government / Politics

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

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