Descriptionary

reactionary one who favors returning to the politics and policies of the past.

Reaganomics economic policies promoted by for­mer president Ronald Reagan. They included a reduc­tion of government spending and taxes, reduced regu­lations for business, and a limiting of inflation by the control of the money supply.

recession a period of prolonged economic down­turn, usually lasting from one to two years and marked by falling manufacturing, employment, and sales of goods. Recessions are handled in different ways by politicians, often with tax cuts by Republi­cans and increased government spending to stimulate employment by the Democrats. Not as severe or pro­longed as a depression.

red herring an issue used to distract the public from a more important issue, such as inflation.

referendum a submission to the public of an act, amendment, or statute for a vote.

regressive tax a tax that affects the poor more than the rich.

Republican Party created in 1854, with Abraham Lincoln serving as the first Republican president, the right-leaning major political party of the United States, symbolized by the elephant mascot and most often characterized as pro-business, with ideas such as a loosening of regulations that limit the free market, private charity programs to replace government ser­vices, and the shrinking of government with the goal of lower taxes. Republicans also tend to oppose abor­tion, minimum wages, affirmative action, gay mar­riage, and any additional gun controls. Also known as the GOP, or Grand Old Party.

rhetoric persuasive debate, argument, speech, or B.S., widely used by politicians.

right wing the part of a political organization opposed to progress and favoring a return to the poli­tics of the past.

roll call vote a vote in which the name of each mem­ber of a legislative body is called out and answered with either a "yea" or a "nay."

rubber chicken circuit election campaign tour­ing and speaking at public luncheons and dinners in which the menu offerings are the least important part of the program.

rubber-stamp to give routine approval to a bill or measure.

sacred cow any institution or subject that is con­sidered taboo to criticize or tear down, such as Social Security.

sanctions punitive measures such as restrictions on trade, taken to alter another nation's behavior.

secretary of state the chief foreign policy adviser to the president.

Security Council the U.N. council responsible for maintaining peace and preventing war.

sedition the inciting of a rebellion against the gov­ernment.

senator a member of the U.S. Senate.

separation of powers in a democracy, a system of checks and balances in which power is divided into branches. In the United States, power is split between the executive branch, the legislative branch, and the judiciary.

sergeant at arms the legislative officer who controls access and maintains order in a legislative chamber.

shoo-in a candidate who is a sure winner in an election.

shuttle diplomacy the shuttling back and forth between capital cities of a diplomat involved in negotiations.

sleeper legislation that has more than the expected effect after being passed. Also, an amendment tacked onto a bill to soften or alter its meaning.

smear campaign an election campaign in which politicians slander one another.

sobriquets affectionate nicknames given to politi­cians, such as the Father of Our Country, Rough Rider, the Chief.

sovereignty a nation's authority over its own affairs; self-government; independence.

Speaker of the House the Speaker of the House of Representatives, second in the line of succession after the vice president.

spin control the manipulation of the public's per­ception of a controversy or scandal, through omit­ting, twisting, or softening of facts.

spin doctor a politician's representative who manip­ulates the public's perception of a controversy or scandal by omitting, twisting, or softening facts; one who puts something negative in a positive light.

splinter group a dissenting group that splits off from a larger organization.

split ticket a ballot voting for candidates of more than one party.

stagflation a period of economic stagnation with high inflation and unemployment.

statesman a skillful politician who is perceived as exceptionally wise, diplomatic, and above partisan politics.

steering committee an organizing group of legisla­tors who facilitate the passage of bills.

stemwinder a crowd-rousing speaker or speech.