Definitions

If you’re ever confused on what a word means, just look below!

Act - A resolution that was approved by one or both chambers and signed into law

Alternate: Taking the place of another. 

Amendment - A proposal to change the text of a bill to new language

Appropriations - A way the government gets funds

Autocracy - a system of government by one person with absolute power.

Ballot: A process of voting, in writing and typically in secret

Basis Points: a unit of measure used in finance to describe the percentage change in the value of financial instruments or the rate change in an index or other benchmark

Bill - A proposal to acquire a new law

Bipartisan - when opposing political parties agree

Bond - A formal agreement between two parties in which one person has to perform a certain act

Cabinet: An advisory body made up of the heads of the 15 executive departments, appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate.

Caucus - meetings run by political parties in order to choose candidates and the distribution of delegates.

Censure - It is a statement of disapproval that is made into a resolution

Centrist - Possessing moderate political beliefs or policies

Citizenship - the position or status of being a citizen of a particular country

Clause - a particular and separate article, stipulation, or proviso in a treaty, bill, or contract

Committee - A group created by the House or Senate to review legislation, hold hearings and investigations, or complete other tasks as directed by its respective Chamber

Contempt: refusal to comply; disobedience

Delegate - entrust (a task or responsibility) to another person.

Delegates: Through their vote, delegates determine their party’s nominee. Each state, the District of Columbia, and some US territories are allocated a number of delegates, usually determined by population size. There are two main types of delegates: pledged delegates – who have to support the candidate to whom they were assigned in a primary or caucus, and unpledged or superdelegates – who can choose freely which candidate they would like to support.

Deposition - the process of giving sworn evidence

Endorsed: A political endorsement is a public declaration of one's personal or group's support of a candidate for elected office.

Expulsion - An act of taking away someone’s membership in an organization

Fascist: Fascism is a far-right form of government in which most of the country's power is held by one ruler or a small group, under a single party.

FEMA - The Federal Emergency Management Agency is an agency to help people before, during, and after disasters.

Floor Leader - Senators or lawmakers chosen to take the helm during floor debate on a bill or other measure. Typically, the reporting committee's chair and top minority member, or someone designated by them

Fracking: a drilling method used to extract petroleum (oil) or natural gas from deep in the planet.

Green card: a permit allowing a foreign national to live and work permanently in the US.

Gridlock: a situation when there is difficulty passing laws; political stalemate

G7: The Group of Seven is an intergovernmental political and economic forum consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States; also, the European Union is a "non-enumerated member.”

Hardliner: a member of a group, typically a political group, who strongly sticks to a set of ideas or policies.

Hearing - A committee or subcommittee gathering to hear testimonies on legislation under consideration, carry out an investigation, examine a federal agency or program, or take into account a nomination or treaty

Impeachment - A charge of wrongdoing against someone who holds office

Incumbent: (of an official or regime) currently holding office.

Indicted: Being accused or charged with a serious crime

Judgment: a decision of a court or judge.

Limbo - an uncertain period of awaiting a decision or resolution; an intermediate state or condition.

Majority Leader - The leader of the floor for the majority party

Martyrdom: a display of suffering to obtain sympathy or admiration.

Minority Leader - The leader of the floor for the minority party

Motion: a formal proposal by a member to do something

National Convention: Each party holds a national convention to select a final presidential nominee. State delegates from the primaries and caucuses selected to represent the people then “endorse” their favorite candidates and the final presidential nominee from each party is officially announced at the end of the conventions.

NATO: The North Atlantic Treaty Organization; an intergovernmental military alliance of 32 member states—30 European and 2 North American.

Orientation: When new members of Congress come to Washington DC to be trained on how to be members of Congress. 

Ousting: drive out or expel (someone) from a position or place. 

PAC: Political Action Committee - A term for a political committee organized for the purpose of raising and spending money to elect and defeat candidates.

Point-Blank: In a blunt and direct manner, without explanation or qualification

Polarization - A division into two sharply contrasting groups or sets of opinions or beliefs

Pro Tempore - For the time being.

Rebuttal: a refutation or contradiction.

Recess - A period of time when the legislature is not in session. The legislators and staff are focused on work in their individual districts or preparing to return to Session.

Redistricting - The process of which each state redraws its political boundaries. Typically every 10 years after the census

Representative - A representative is elected in the house for a 2-year term and represents their own district

Reprieve: a cancellation or postponement of a punishment.

Roll Call Vote - A Roll Call is where there is a voting on a certain bill or act that is trying to be passed

Running Mate: A person who runs with someone in an election.

Senator - A person who is elected to be a part of the Senate. A person who is a US citizen, at least 30 years old, and an inhabitant of the state they are elected for. There are 2 senators per state and they serve for 6 years.

Stagflation: Stagflation is an economic term that refers to when inflation is increasing, growth is slow, and unemployment is high.

State Dinner: A formal dinner held in honor of a foreign head of state, such as a king, queen, president, or any head of government. It is hosted by the President of the United States and is usually held in the State Dining Room at the White House in Washington, D.C.

Stop-gap: a temporary way of dealing with a problem or satisfying a need.

Speaker of the House - A member of the House of Representatives controls discussions, votes, appoints committees, and participates in all legislation

Subvert: undermine the power and authority of (an established system or institution).

The Squad: The Squad is an informal left-wing group composed of nine Democratic members of the United States House of Representatives. 

Toss-up: In politics, races that are most competitive and either party could win.

Treason - A crime where one betrays their own country.

Veto - The process by which a bill or joint resolution can be stopped from becoming law by the president. It happens when the legislation is given back to the chamber it came from and voted on again. It can be overridden by two-thirds votes in both House and Senate

Ward: In the United States, a ward is an optional division of a city or town for administrative and representative purposes, especially for purposes of an election.