Descriptionary

mandate a demand by the people to an elected offi­cial to carry out some action or to take a certain course of action, such as getting tough on environ­mental issues.

McCarthyism any kind of investigative probe that compromises one's rights and invades one's privacy unjustly.

minority leader the head of the minority party in the House or Senate.

moderate one who takes a middle-of-the-road posi­tion on an issue.

mollycoddle to pamper or spoil constituents at tax­payer expense, for example, to vote for every welfare program that is proposed.

mossback one strongly opposed to progress and change.

mouthpiece a politician's spokesperson.

muckraker a journalist who works to expose gov­ernment corruption and incompetence.

mudslinging the trading of insults and unsubstanti­ated charges between politicians; a smear campaign.

mugwump one who frequently votes the opposite of his party's wishes.

nonpartisan neutral; not favoring any one party; irrelevant to party ideology.

old guard nickname for conservative Republicans.

oligarchy a government run by a few individuals, such as one run by one family.

ombudsman a government official who investigates citizen complaints against the government and tries to counteract its bureaucracy.

Oval Office the office of the president.

pacifist a peace lover.

pairing an agreement between two politicians not to appear at an upcoming vote since their votes would cancel each other out.

palace guard the president's closest circle of advis­ers and friends; used pejoratively.

paper tiger a nation that flaunts a degree of power it does not have. Also, any danger that has been exag­gerated or blown out of proportion.

partisan of a particular party's principles and beliefs; favoring or supporting any one party.

party a large political group with specific beliefs, goals, and guiding principles, such as the Republican Party or the Democratic Party.

party line the ideology, policies, and philosophy of a political organization.

pecking order a hierarchy; the chain of command from top to bottom.

Pentagonese abstruse military jargon.

perks the fringe benefits and special privileges accrued to politicians and people in power.

platform a set of promises and goals to accomplish adopted by a candidate for office.

playing politics working more for the good of one's party than for the public interest.

play in Peoria the question "How will it play in Peoria?" refers to the reaction and acceptance of an issue or idea from America's heartland.

plum, political an appointed office or position with good pay for little or no work.

point of order in a legislative meeting, an objection that a rule of order is not being followed correctly.

politico a politician or one who is active in politics.

pork barrel the federal or state treasury from which a share of funds are taken by politicians for local projects.

presidential succession the political officials who move up in power in case something befalls the presi­dent in office. Specifically, the line of power is passed from the president to the vice president, followed by the speaker of the House, the president pro tempore of the Senate, the secretary of state, and the secretary of the treasury.

president of the Senate the vice president serves as the president of the Senate, but rarely presides. See president pro tempore.

president pro tempore a senator chosen to take the place of the vice president as president of the Senate.

pressure group any organization that seeks to influ­ence politicians through a variety of means.

primary an election of candidates for an upcoming general election.

progressive tax a tax based on a citizen's ability to pay. See regressive tax.

protectionist one who advocates protecting Ameri­can jobs and products by charging steep tariffs on competing imports.

psephology the study of elections and voting patterns.

pump priming using federal money to provide momentum for a sagging economy.

pundit a columnist or broadcaster educated in poli­tics and serving as an analyst or observer.

puppet a politician controlled or manipulated by others.

puppet government a nation controlled by the gov­ernment of another nation.

purge to eliminate, either through violent or non­violent means, opposition in a party or government.

quorum the minimum number of members of a legislative body who must be in attendance before official business can be conducted.

radical one who strongly advocates change in gov­ernment.

radicalism the belief in, advocacy for, or acting out of any extreme or revolutionary ideals.