Affirmative action - the term used to describe a series of programs -- federal, state and local -- designed to compensate for discrimination. Most affirmative action programs pertain to employment, college admissions and contracting.
agrarianism - the doctrine of an equal division of landed property and the advancement of agricultural groups. Also called agrarian reform.
analytical stasiology - an attempt, through the construction of conceptual frameworks, to develop a science of political parties.
anti-Jacobinism - opposition to the Jacobins, one of the revolutionary parties of the French revolution; by extension, the term denotes opposition to the French Revolution and any of its supporters.
anticivism - opposition to doctrines on citizenship, especially those promulgated in France during the French Revolution.
antimilitarism - the quality of being opposed to the establishment or maintenance of a governmental military force.
antiterrorism - the techniques, policies, and training of special police who deal with terrorists, especially those who take hostages.
anythingarianism - the holding of no particular belief, creed, or political position. Cf. nothingarianism. — anythingarian.
Arabism - a devotion to Arab interests, custom, culture, ideals, and political goals.
Arnoldist - a follower of Arnold of Brescia, 12th-century Italian political reformer, especially his attacks upon clerical riches and corruption and upon the temporal power of the pope.
autonomy - independent self-rule free from outside influence.
B -
Ballot initiative - A ballot initiative or measure, called "propositions" in some states, which allows voters to propose a legislative measure or state constitutional amendments. Ballot measures are an example of direct democracy in the United States. But they do not supercede the Constitution. Controversial ballot measures, in particular, are often litigated, and sometimes overturned by the courts.
Blanket primary - A primary in which all the names of the candidates for all parties are on one ballot.
Blue Dog Democrat - Conservative, mostly Southern Democrats, who took their name from paintings by Louisiana artist George Rodrigue, who features a blue dog in a series of political situations.
Boll weevil - Politically, a boll weevil is a term used to describe conservative Southern Democrats. The name derives from the boll weevil insect, a beetle that infests cotton plants in the South.
Buckley v. Valeo - Landmark 1976 Supreme Court decision on campaign finance law that upheld the Federal Election Campaign Act's disclosure requirements, contribution limits, and provision for public funding of presidential election campaigns. However, the court struck down spending limits in the law, except for the limits accepted voluntarily by presidential candidates who receive public funds. Thus, the ruling allowed for unlimited spending by congressional candidates (they do not receive public funds), and by persons or groups who campaign for or against a candidate, but who do not coordinate their activities with any candidate or campaign. The ruling also said that candidates who do not receive public money do not have to limit spending of their own personal funds on their campaigns.
Babouvism - a social and political doctrine advocating egalitarianism and communism. — Babouvist
bipartisanism - the state of being composed of members of two parties or of two parties cooperating, as in government. — bipartisan
Boloism - the practice, during war, of promoting propaganda and defeatist activities favoring an enemy country.
Bonapartism - 1. support of the actions and doctrines of Napoleon Bonaparte. 2. the desire for a leader to emulate Napoleon Bonaparte. — Bonapartist
boodleism - U.S. Slang, the practice of bribery or illicit payments, especially to or from a politician. Also boodling. — boodier.
bossism - U.S. - a control by bosses, especially political bosses.
Bourbonism - 1. an adherence to the ideas and system of government developed by the Bourbons. 2. an extreme conservatism, especially in politics. — Bourbonist, n. — Bourbonian, Bourbonic, adj.
brinkmanship (or brinksmanship) - the technique or practice in foreign policy of manipulating a dangerous situation to the limits of tolerance or safety in order to secure advantage, especially by creating diplomatic crises.
C -
Caesarism - the characteristics shown by a dictatorship or imperial authority. — Caesarist
Carlism - adherence to Don Carlos of Spain and to his successors. — Carlist
Castroism - the doctrines and policies of Fidel Castro, communist premier of Cuba.
centrism - adherence to a middle-of-the-road position, neither left nor right, as in politics. — centrist.
Chartism - the principles of a movement or party of English political reformers, chiefly workingmen, from 1838 to 1848, advocating better working and social conditions for laborers in its People’s Charter (1838). — Chartist.
civicism - the doctrine that all citizens have the same rights and obligations.
civilist - a person who studies politics and/or civil law.
capitalism - a theory or system in which property and investment in busines; are owned and controlled by individuals directly or through ownership of shares in companies. Cf. communism. — capitalist, n., adj. — capitalistic, adj.
caucus - a meeting, in particular a meeting of people whose goal is political or organizational change. In American presidential politics, the word has come to mean a gathering of each party’s local political activists during the presidential nomination process. In a “layered” caucus system, local party activists, working at the precinct level, select delegates to county meetings, who in turn select delegates to state meetings. These state-level conventions select delegates to their party’s national nominating convention. The purpose of the caucus system is to indicate, through delegate choice, which presidential candidate is preferred by each state party’s members. Its effect is to democratize presidential nominations, since candidate preferences are essentially determined at the precinct level, at the beginning of the process.
closed primary - only voters registered with a particular political party can vote in that party's primary. For example, if it is a Democratic primary, only registered Democrats can vote.
clubbism - a system of political clubs, especially the clubs of the French Revolution. — clubbist, — clubbish
coattails (coat tails) - an allusion to the rear panels (“tails”) of a gentleman’s frock coat. In American politics, it refers to the ability of a popular officeholder or candidate for office, on the strength of his or her own popularity, to increase the chances for victory of other candidates of the same political party. This candidate is said to carry others to victory “on his coattails.” or "the vice president is riding on the coattails of the president."
Cobdenism - the political doctrines of Richard Cobden, who believed in peace and the withdrawal from European competition for balance of power.
collectivism - the socialist principle of control by the state of all means of productive or economic activity. — collectivist, collectivistic.
communalism - 1. a theory or system of organization in which the major political and social units are self-governing communes, and the nation is merely a federation of such groups. - 2. the principles or practices of communal ownership. Cf. communism, socialism. — communalist, n. — communalistic
communism - a theory or system in which all property is owned by all of the people equally, with its administration vested by them in the state or in the community. Cf. capitalism. — communist, n., adj. — communistic, adj.
conservative - any shade of political opinion from moderately right-of-center to firmly right-of-center. Of the two major parties in the United States, the Republican Party is generally considered to be the more conservative. “Political” conservatives in the United States usually support free-market economic principles and low taxes, and distrust federal, as opposed to state and local, government power. “Cultural” conservatives may be opposed to abortion or to the excesses of popular media.
conservatism - 1. the disposition to retain what is established and to practice a policy of gradualism rather than abrupt change. Cf. radicalism. 2. the principles and practices of political conservatives, especially of the British Conservative party. — conservative
constitutionalism - 1. the principles of the form of government defined by a constitution. 2. an adherence to these principles. 3. constitutional rule or authority. — constitutionalist
continentalism - 1. an attitude or policy of favoritism or partiality to a continent. 2. a policy advocating a restriction of political or economie relations to the countries of one continent. — continentalist.
convention bounce - An increase in a presidential candidate’s popularity, as indicated by public-opinion polls, in the days immediately following his or her nomination for office at the Republican or Democratic national convention.
corruptionist - a person who practices or advocates corruption, especially in politics or public life.
cronyism - favoritism, especially in the giving of political appointments.
culottism - the habits and principles of nonrevolutionaries, of the bourgeoisie. Cf. sansculottism. — culottic.
czarism - 1. an autocratic government. 2. dictatorship. Also spelled tzarism, tsarism. — czarist.
D -
debate - a discussion involving two or more opposing sides of an issue. In American politics in recent years, debates have come to be associated with televised programs at which all candidates for the presidency or the vice presidency present their own and their party’s views in response to questions from the media or members of the audience. Debates may also be held via radio or at a meeting place for community members, and they may be held for elective office at all levels of government.
Decembrist - one of those who conspired to overthrow Russian Czar Nicholas I in December of 1825. Also Dekebrist.
demagogism (demagoguism, demagogy) - the art and practice of gaining power and popularity by arousing the emotions, passions, and prejudices of the people. Also demagoguery.
Democrat - a member of the Democratic party; a member of the "Democratic-Republican party." (Also called democrat wagon.)
democratism - a doctrine of or belief in social equality or the right of all people to participate equally in politics.
denominationalism - 1. the policy of being sectarian in spirit, especially in carrying out religious policy. 2. The tendency to separate or cause to separate into sects or denominations. — denominationalist.
departmentalism - advocacy of the division of something, such as an educational institution, into departments. — departmentalization
divided government - a term that generally refers to a situation where the president is a member of one political party and at least one chamber of Congress (either the Senate or the House of Representatives) is controlled by the opposite party. This situation can also exist at the state level, with one party controlling the governorship, and another controlling the state legislature. Divided government frequently occurs in the U.S. political system. Its historical impact has been to discourage radical change and to motivate politicians of both parties to compromise on proposed legislation.
Dixicrats (1948 - also see Third Party ) - The Dixiecrats led by Strom Thurmond, the (now late) Senator from South Carolina. The Dixiecrats were a group of dissident Democrats who opposed the racial integration policies of Democrat nominee Harry Truman. Thurmond garnered only 2.4 percent of the popular vote, but because he confined his campaign to the South, won four states there. Thurmond's purpose was not to win the presidency, but to deny victory to Truman by winning traditional Democratic states in the region. The effort failed, however. Truman won without the four Southern states.
diversionism - the actions used by a saboteur against his own government and military forces. — diversionist, diversionary.
dynamitism - the activity of terrorists who use dynamite to blow up public places.
E -
egalitarianism - a social and political philosophy asserting the equality of all men, especially in their access to the rights and privileges of their society. Also equalitarianism. — egalitarian, equalitarianism, egalitarianism.
etatism - a form of state socialism.
expansionism - a policy of expansion, as of territory or currency. — expansionist, expansionistic.
F -
factionalism (factionism) - the state or quality of being partisan or self-interested. — factional, factionalist.
falangism - the doctrines and practices of the Spanish fascist party. — Falangist.
Fayettism - the beliefs and activities of the followers of the Marquis de Lafayette.
Fenianism - the principles and practices of an Irish revolutionary organization founded in New York in 1858, especially its emphasis on the establishment of an independent Irish republic. — Fenian.
Feuillant - (in France) a member of a club of constitutional monarchists, named after their meeting place at Notre Dame des Feuillants.
Free Soilism - the principles of the Free Soil party (1846-56), which opposed the extension of slavery into any new territories of the United States. — Free Soiler.
fusionism - the quality of having a coalition between certain political parties. — fusionist.
Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) - The 1971 law that governs the financing of federal elections; it was amended in 1974, 1976, and 1979. The act requires candidates and political committees to disclose the sources of their funding and how they spend their money; it regulates the contributions received and expenditures made during federal election campaigns; and it governs the public funding of presidential elections.
Federal Election Commission (FEC) - An independent regulatory agency charged with administering and enforcing federal campaign finance law. The FEC was established by the 1974 amendment of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971.
front-loading - the practice of scheduling state party caucuses and state primary elections earlier and earlier in advance of the general election. By moving their primaries to early dates, states hope to lend decisive momentum to one or two presidential candidates and thus have disproportionate influence on each party’s nomination. See also Rear-loading
Front-runner - a candidate in any election or nomination process who is considered to be the most popular
or likely to win.
G -
Gandhiism (Gandhism) - the principles of Mohandas K. Gandhi, Indian political and spiritual leader, especially his advocacy of passive resistance and noncooperation to achieve social and political reforms. — Gandhist, Gandhiist, — Candhian.
Gaullism - 1. the principles and policies of Charles de Gaulle during World War II in support of the Free French and opposed to the Vichy regime. 2. the political principles, chiefly conservative and nationalistic, of de Gaulle as French president, 1959-69. — Gaullist.
Gender gap - in recent elections, American women have tended to vote in patterns different from those of men, often preferring Democratic to Republican candidates or candidates on the more liberal side of the political spectrum. The press has dubbed this phenomenon the “gender gap.”
geopolitics - 1. the study or application of the effect of political or economic geography on the political structure, programs, or philosophy of a state. 2. a policy or policies based on such factors. 3. the complex of geographical and political factors affecting or determining the nature of a state or region. 4. the study of the relationship between geography and politics, applied especially to the study of the doctrines and actions of Nazi Germany in the context of world domination. — geopolitician, n. — geopolitical.
Ghibellinism - the principles of the imperial and aristocratic party of medieval Italy, especially their support of the German emperors. Cf. Guelphism. — Ghibelline.
Girondism - a form of mild republicanism in France, 1791-1793, led by natives of the Gironde. — Girondist.
GOP - Epithet of the Republican party originated 1880, which stands for "Grand Old Party."
gradualism - the principle or policy of achieving a goal, as political or economic, by gradual steps rather than by sudden and drastic innovation. Cf. conservatism, radicalism. — gradualist, n., adj. — gradualistic, adj.
gridlock - in politics, when one side in a political matter manages to stall things so there is no way to maneuver around and nothing can be accomplished.
Guelphism (Guelfism) - the principles and practices of the papal and popular party in medieval Italy. Cf. Ghibellinism. — Guelphic, Guelfic.
Guesdism - the principles of Marxian socialism as interpreted by the French socialist, editor, and writer Jules Guesde. — Guesdist.
H -
hard money / soft money - terms used to differentiate between campaign funding that is and is not regulated by federal campaign finance law. Hard money is regulated by law and can be used to influence the outcome of federal elections — that is, to advocate the election of specific candidates. Soft money is not regulated by law and can be spent only on activities that do not affect the election of candidates for national office — that is, for such things as voter registration drives, party-building activities, and administrative costs, and to help state and local candidates.
Hatch Act - the Hatch Act places restrictions on the political activities of employees of the U.S. federal government. The original 1939 Hatch Act was amended in 1993 to permit more political activity, but the following restrictions still apply: 1. Federal workers cannot use offical authority or influence to interfere with an election. 2. Federal workers cannot solicit or discourage political activity of anyone doing business with a federal agency. 3. Federal workers cannot solicit or receive political contributions. 4. Federal workers cannot be candidates for public office in partisan elections. 5. Federal workers cannot engage in political activity while on duty. 6. Federal workers cannot wear political buttons on duty.
Horse race - Used as a metaphor for an election campaign, “horse race” conveys the feeling of excitement that people experience when watching a sporting event. The term also refers to media coverage of campaigns, which frequently emphasizes the candidates’ standings in public-opinion polls — as if they were horses in a race — instead of the candidates’ stands on the issues.
Hamiltonianism - the political theories, doctrines, or policies of Alexander Hamilton, especially federalism, strong central government, and protective tariffs. — Hamiltonian.
heteronomy - the condition of being under the rule or domination of another.
I -
ideology - the body of doctrine, myth, symbol, etc., with reference to some political or cultural plan, as that of communism, along with the procedures for putting it into operation. — ideologist, idealogue, ideologic, ideological.
illiberalism - opposition to liberalism.
institutionalism - 1. the system of institutions or organized societies devoted to public, political, or charitable, or similar purposes. 2. a strong attachment to established institutions, as political systems or religions. — institutionalist.
insurgentism - the state of being an insurgent or rebel; the activities of insurgents or rebels.
internationalism - 1. the belief in cooperation between nations for the common good. 2. advocacy of this concept. Internationalist.
interpolity - rare. the holding of mutual citizenship.
interventionism - the doctrine supporting intervention, especially in international affairs and the politics of other countries. — interventionist.
irredentism - 1. a national policy advocating the acquisition of some region in another country by reason of common linguistic, cultural, historical, ethnic, or racial ties. 2. (cap.) the policies of a 19th-century Italian party that sought to annex parts of certain neighboring regions with chiefly Italian populations. — irredentist.
isolationism - the policy or doctrine directed toward the isolation of a country from the affairs of other nations by a deliberate abstention from political, military, and economic agreements. — isolationist.
isonomy - the possession of equal political and legal rights by all citizens of a state.
isopolity - the granting of equal or reciprocal political rights by different countries to each other’s citizens. Isopolite, isopolitical.
J -
Jacobinism - the practices of the Jacobins, a political group advocating equalitarian democracy during the French Revolution. — Jacobin, Jacobinic.
Jeffersonianism - the political theories, doctrines, or policies of Thomas Jefferson, especially rigid interpretation of the U.S. Constitution, belief in an agrarian economy, states’ rights, and in the political acumen of the ordinary citizen. — Jeffersonian.
jusquaboutism (jusquaboutisme) - a policy of self-sacrificing and determined radicalism. — jusquaboutist,
kaiserism - the autocratie political system and policies of a German kaiser.
Khomeinism - the religious and political doctrines of the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini (1900?-), who founded the Islamic Republic in Iran in 1979.
Know-Nothingism - doctrines of the American Party (1853-1856), the main goal of which was to bar foreign-born citizens from participating in government. — know-nothing.
leftism - a radical or liberal position or doctrine, especially in politics. — leftist (liberalism) 1. a political or social philosophy advocating the f reedom of the individual, parliamentary legislatures, governmental assurances of civil liberties and individual rights, and nonviolent modification of institutions to permit continued individual and social progress. 2. the principles and practice of a liberal political party. — liberalist, liberalistic.
liberal - In the U.S. political spectrum, “liberals” are said to be slightly left-of-center or somewhat left-of-center. Of the two main political parties, the Democrats are thought to be more liberal, as the term is currently defined. “Political” liberals tend to favor greater federal power to remedy perceived social inequities; “cultural” liberals tend to support a woman’s right to choose when to give birth, as well as feminism, homosexual rights, and similar freedoms of personal choice and behavior.
liberationism - the principles of the liberationists, an English society opposed to a state or established church and favoring disestablishment. — liberationist.
lobbyism - the practice of influencing legislators to favor special interests. — lobbyist.
Locofocoism - the doctrines of the Locofocos, a radical faction of the New York City Democrats, organized in 1835 to oppose the conservatives in the party. — Locofoco
loyalism - 1. a dedication to the British cause during the American revolution; Toryism. 2. an adherence to the cause of the republic during the Spanish Civil War. — Loyalist.
matching funds - public money given to presidential candidates that “matches” funds they have raised privately from individuals. During the primary season, eligible candidates may receive up to $250 in matching funds for each individual contribution they receive.
midterm election - an election for seats in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives that occurs during a presidential term of office — that is, two years into the four-year presidential term. The results are sometimes interpreted as a popular referendum on that president’s performance for the first two years of his term. Midterm elections determine some members of the U.S. Senate and all members of the House of Representatives, as well as many state and local officials.
Machiavellianism (Machiavellian) 1. the principles of government set forth in The Prince by Machiavelli, in which political expediency is exalted above morality and the use of er aft and deceit to maintain authority or to effectuate policy is recommended. Also Machiavellism. 2. activity characterized by subtle cunning, duplicity, or bad faith.
Malanism - the principles and attitudes of Daniel F. Malan, prime minister of the Union of South Africa (1948-54), whose policies of apartheid and Afrikander supremacy were first made law during his term of office.
McCarthyism - 1. U.S. the practice of making accusations of disloyalty, especially of pro-Communist activity, often unsupported or based on doubtful evidence. 2. any attempt to restrict political criticism or individual dissent by claiming it to be unpatriotic or pro-Communist.
Medism - an attitude of sympathy towards the Medes (Persians), held by some Greeks in the 6th and 5th centuries B.C.
militarism - 1. the principle of maintaining a large military establishment. 2. the policy of regarding military efficiency as the supreme ideal of the state, and the subordinating of all other ideals to those of the military. Also militaryism. — militarist, — militaristic
moderantism (moderantist) - the principle or policy of moderation, especially in politics and international relations.
mugwumpism (mugwump) 1. the practice of independence, especially in politics. 2. an inability to make up one’s mind, especially in politics; neutrality on controversial issues. Also mugwumpery, mugwumpian, mugwumpish.
multitudinism - a doctrine that lays stress on the importance of the multitude instead of the individual. — multitudinist, multitudinal.
negative ads - advertisements that try to persuade voters to vote for one candidate by making the opponent look bad, either by attacking the opponent’s character or record on the issues.
Nazism (Naziism, Nazi) - the principles and practices of the National Socialist Workers’ party under Adolf Hitler from 1933 to 1945.
negrophilism - the advancement and advocacy of equal rights for Negroes. — negrophilist, n. — negrophile.
neocolonialism - domination of a small or weak country by a large or strong one without the assumption of direct government. — neocolonialist, neocolonial.
neoconservatism - a new movement in conservatism, usually seen as a move further to the right of the position currently occupied by conservatives in politics or in attitudes. — neoconservative.
neoliberalism - a movement that modifies classical liberalism in light of 20th-century conditions.
neutralism - the practice or policy of remaining neutral in foreign affairs. — neutralist.
noninterventionism (noninterventionist) - the doctrine that governments should not interfere in the politics of other countries.
nonpartisanism - the practice or policy of nonsupport for established or regular political parties. Also nonpartisanship, nonpartisan.
nothingarianism - the holding of no belief, creed, or political position. Cf. anythingarianism. — nothingarian
open primary - all registered voters may participate in the primary, whether they are registered as Democrats, Republicans or independents.
platform - in the context of U.S. presidential politics, this term refers to a political party’s formal written statement of its principles and goals, put together and issued during the presidential nomination process. While Democratic and Republican nominees for president have traditionally paid lip service to their party’s platform, these lofty, legalistic documents have become less important in recent years as television has focused more on each candidate’s appearance, personality, and perceived leadership ability.
plurality rule - a method of identifying the winning candidate in an election. A plurality of votes is the total vote received by a candidate greater than that received by any opponent but often less than a 50 percent majority of the vote. That is, if one candidate receives 30 percent of the votes, a second candidate also receives 30 percent, and a third receives 40 percent, the third candidate has a plurality of the votes and wins the election.
Political Action Committee (PAC) - Political committees that are not the official committees of any candidate or political party. PACs may be affiliated with corporations, labor unions, or other organizations, and they contribute money to candidates and engage in other election-related activities. Most PACs have specific legislative agendas and are a dominant force in congressional elections. PACs have increased significantly in influence and numbers in recent years: in 1976, there were 608 PACs, and in 1996, there were more than 4,000.
primary - an electoral contest held to determine each political party’s candidate for a particular public office. Primaries may be held at all levels of government, including local contests for mayor, district races for the U.S. House of Representatives, statewide elections for governor or U.S. senator, and president of the United States. Primaries for presidential candidates are held at the state level to indicate who the people of that state prefer to be the parties’ candidates. Depending on state law, voters cast ballots directly for the presidential candidate they prefer or for delegates who are “pledged” to support that presidential candidate at convention time. State primary elections, if early enough in the political season, can occasionally stop leading presidential candidates in their tracks and create a surge of support for a lesser-known candidate. Also see blanket primary, closed primary, and open primary.
progressive movement - a term used to refer to a great era of reform in American life in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
proposition (See ballot initiative)
Proposition 187 - appeared on the ballot in California in the 1994 Congressional elections. It proposed that illegal aliens would be ineligible for social services throughout the state. Although the measure passed by 59 percent to 41 percent, it is currently under challenge in the courts.
protest vote - a vote for a third-party candidate made not to elect that candidate but to indicate displeasure with the candidates of the two major political parties.
public funding - the financing, in part, of presidential election campaigns from a fund maintained by the U.S. Treasury. The money in the fund comes exclusively from voluntary contributions made by U.S. taxpayers when they pay their annual federal income tax. (See Taxpayer checkoff system.)
push polling - a public-opinion polling technique that is used to test possible campaign themes by asking very specific questions about an issue or candidate. Some unscrupulous campaigns have used the technique to “push” voters away from their opponent by including false or misleading information in their questions.
Pan-Africanism - the doctrine or advocacy of alliance or cooperation among all African states. — Pan-Africanist.
Pan-Americanism - the idea of a single state including all of North and South America.
Pan-Arabism - the doctrine or advocacy of alliance or cooperation among all Arab states. — Pan-Arabist.
Pan-Germanism - a 19th-century political movement whose aim was the unification of all Germans.
partisanism - an action or spirit of partiality for a specific political party. Also partisanship. — partisan
partyism - 1. the system of political parties. 2. a strong adherence to a party. — partyist.
passivism - 1. the state or quality of being passive. 2. the doctrine or advocacy of a passive policy, as passive resistance. — passivist.
physiocratism - the principles and doctrines of political economists following the ideas of Francois Quesnay in holding that an inherent natural order adequately controlled society and advocating a laissezfaire economy based on land as the best system to prevent interference with natural laws. — physiocrat, — physiocratic.
Pittism - the policies of William Pitt the Younger, chief minister under King George III of England and sympathizer with the colonies during the American Revolution. — Pittite.
pluralism - 1. Ecclesiastic. the holding of two or more church offices by a single person. 2. the state or condition of a common civilization in which various ethnic, racial, or religious groups are free to participate in and develop their common cultures. 3. a policy or principle supporting such cultural plurality. — pluralist, pluralistic.
politicomania - a mania or obsession for politics.
politology - the study of politics; political science. Also politicology. — politologist, politological.
polycentrism - the existence of a number of basic guiding principles in the political system of a Communist government.
popular sovereignty - 1. the doctrine that sovereign power is vested in the people and that those chosen by election to govern or to represent must conform to the will of the people. 2. U.S. History. a doctrine, held chiefly before 1865 by antiabolitionists, that new territories should be free of federal interference in domestic matters, especially concerning slavery.
populism - 1. the principles and doctrines of any political party asserting that it represents the rank and file of the people. 2. (cap.) the principles and doctrines of a late 19th-century American party, especially its support of agrarian interests and a silver coinage. — populist, populistic
pornocracy - domination of government by prostitutes, especially in reference to the Roman government in the flrst half of the 10th century.
progressivism - 1. Also called progressionism, progressism. the principles and practices of those advocating progress, change, or reform, especially in political matters. 2. (cap.) the doctrines and beliefs of the Progressive party in America. — progressivist
proletarianism - the practices, attitudes, social status, or political condition of an unpropertied class dependent for support on daily or casual labor. — proletarian.
proportionalism - the principle of electing officials by proportionality. — proportionalist
psephology - the study of elections. — psephologist, psephological.
quislingism - the traitorous rejection of one’s native country foliowed by the acceptance of a position of authority in the government of an occupying power. — quisling
radicalism - 1. the holding or following of principles advocating drastic political, economie, or social reforms. Cf. conservatism, gradualism. 2. the principles or practices of radicals. — radical.
realpolitik - realism in politics, especially policies or actions based on considerations of power rather than ideals.
Rebeccaism - the beliefs of rioters in South Wales in 1843-44, who were led by a man dressed as a woman and called Rebecca. — Rebeccaite.
reformism - the doctrine or movement of reform whether it be social, moral, or of any other type. — reformist, reformistic.
retrogradism - adherence to reactionary politics. — retrogradist.
royalism - the support or advocacy of a royal government. — royalist, royalistic.
rear-loading - this refers to the intense campaign event and media activity at the end of the year-long cycle -- just prior to the election -- which includes a series of nationally televised debates, a flurry of television ads and extensive campaign travel on the part of the presidential candidates. (See also front-loading).
redistricting - The process of redrawing the geographic boundaries of congressional districts, the electoral districts within states from which members of the House of Representatives are elected. Both Democrats and Republicans at the state level compete to get hold of the legal and political mechanisms of redistricting — usually by controlling the state legislature. By doing so, they can redraw boundaries of congressional districts in ways that will lend an electoral advantage to their own party.
referendum - a measure referred to voters by a state legislature proposing that specific legislation be approved or rejected. Oftentimes, the terms "ballot initiative," "referendum" and "proposition" are used interchangeably.
regionalization - the 50 United States are unofficially grouped into about six regions in which states share certain geographic and cultural traits with each other that make them somewhat different from the other regions. During the presidential primary season, “regionalization” refers to the practice of states’ joining with other states in their region to maximize the effect of the region on the electoral process, often by holding their primary elections on the same day.
Republican - of, pertaining to, or of the nature of a republic. Or, favoring a republic. Fitting or appropriate for the citizen of a republic: "a very republican notion." The Republican Party. One who favors a republican form of government. (Also see GOP)
sanscullotism - any extreme republican or revolutionary principles. Cf. culottism. — sanscullotist, sanscullotic, sanscullotish.
secessionism - the doctrines and practices of the secessionists. — secessionist, secessional.
separatism - an advocacy of separation, especially ecclesiastical or political separation, as the secession of U.S. states before the Civl War. — separatist.
sinarquism - a secret Mexican counterrevolutionary movement, advocating the return to Christian social standards and opposing communism, labor unions, conscription, and Pan-Americanism. — sinarquist.
Slavophobia - fear or hatred of things Slavic, especially of real or imagined political influence. — Slavophobe, Slavophobic.
Socialism - 1. a theory or system of social organization advocating placing the ownership and control of capital, land, and means of production in the community as a whole. Cf. utopian socialism. 2. the procedures and practices based upon this theory. 3. Marxist Theory: the first stage in the transition from capitalism to communism, marked by imperfect realizations of collectivist principles. — socialist, socialistic.
Spartacist - 1. a member of a German socialist party founded in 1918. 2. an extreme socialist. [Allusion to Spartacus, leader of a slave revolt against Rome, 73-71 B.C.]
stalwartism - the principles and actions characteristic of one who is a strong partisan of a cause. — stalwart
stand pattism - extreme conservatism.
suffragettism - militant advocacy of suffrage for women. Cf. - Suffragism - any advocacy of the granting or extension of the suffrage to those now denied it, especially to women. — suffragist
syndicalism - 1. an economic system in which workers own and manage an industry. 2. a revolutionary form or development of trade unionism, originating in France, aiming at possession and control of the means of production and distribution and the establishment of a corporate society governed by trade unions and workers’ cooperatives. — syndicalist. — syndicalistic.
single-member district - the current arrangement for electing national and state legislators in the United States in which one candidate is elected in each legislative district; the winner is the candidate with the most votes. The single-member system allows only one party to win in any given district. This is directly opposite to the more common proportional system, in which much larger districts are used and several members are elected at one time based on the proportion of votes their parties receive.
sound bite - a brief, very quotable remark by a candidate for office that is repeated on radio and television news programs.
spin doctor - putting a spin on a story, situation or even. As it relates to media and politics, advisers or political consultants employed by a campaign attempt to ensure that a candidate receives the best possible publicity in a given situation. Example: after a debate between the presidential candidates, each candidate’s “spin doctors” will seek out journalists so they can point out their candidate’s strengths in the debate and try to convince the press, and by extension the public, that their candidate “won” the debate. When these media advisers practice their craft, they are said to be “spinning” or putting “spin” on a situation or event.
straw poll / vote - an unofficial vote that is used either to predict the outcome of an official vote, or to gauge the relative strength of candidates for office in a future election. Example: Long before the Republican caucuses took place in 1996 for the selection of a nominee for president, straw votes were conducted in various states. A good showing in a straw vote can give a candidate a boost, but does not necessarily predict later success.
swing voters (swing votes) - voters not loyal to a particular political party, usually independents, who can determine the outcome of an election by "swinging" one way or the other on an issue or candidate, often reversing their choices the next time around.
Super Tuesday (Titanic Tuesday) - a day on which many primaries are held. The term began in 1988, when many southern states decided to hold their primaries on the same day to try to boost their political importance (in relation to the importance of the New Hampshire primary and Iowa caucuses). Usually refers to the Tuesday in February or March of a presidential election year.
Tammanism (Tammanyism) - 1. the activities and principles of Tammany Hall, a powerful New York City Democratic political society of the 1800s, founded as a benevolent organization, which later deteriorated into a force for political patronage and corruption. 2. activities or beliefs similar to those of Tammany Hall. — Tammanyite.
taxpayer checkoff system - mechanism whereby U.S. taxpayers can choose to contribute $3 of their annual federal income tax payment to a public fund for financing presidential elections. To contribute, taxpayers simply check a box on their tax return that says that they want to participate in this system. Making the contribution does not raise or lower an individual’s taxes; it simply deposits $3 of the tax payment into the presidential election campaign fund. (See public funding.)
territorialism - 1. the principle of the political predominance of the landed classes; landlordism. 2. the theory of church policy vesting supreme ecclesiastical authority in a civil government, as in 16th-century Germany. Also called territorial system. — territorialist
terrorism - 1. a method of government or of resisting government involving domination or coercion by various forms of intimidation, as bombing or kidnapping. 2. the state of fear and terror so produced. — terrorist, terroristic.
third party - any political party that is not one of the two parties that have dominated U.S. politics in the 20th century — the Republican Party and the Democratic Party — and that receives a base of support and plays a role in influencing the outcome of an election.
ticket splitting - voting for candidates of different political parties in the same election — say, voting for a Democrat for president and a Republican for senator. Because ticket splitters do not vote for all of one party’s candidates, they are said to “split” their votes.
Toryism - 1. a support of the British cause during the American Revolution. 2. an advocacy of conservative principles opposed to reform and radicalism. 3. the actions of dispossessed Irishmen in the 17th century who were declared outlaws and noted for their outrages and cruelty. 4. the principles of a conservative British party in power until 1832. — Tory, Toryish.
town meeting - an informal gathering of an officeholder or candidate for office with a group of people, often local, in which the audience raises questions directly to the officeholder or candidate.
tracking survey - a type of public-opinion poll that allows candidates to follow, or “track,” voters’ sentiments over the course of a campaign. For the initial survey, the pollster interviews the same number of voters on three consecutive nights — for example, 400 voters a night, for a total sample of 1,200 people. On the fourth night, the pollster interviews 400 more voters, adds their responses to the poll data, and drops the responses from the first night. Continuing in this way, the sample rolls along at a constant 1,200 responses drawn from the previous three nights. Over time, the campaign can analyze the data from the entire survey and observe the effect of certain events on voters’ attitudes.
two-partyism - the condition in a nation of having two political parties with equal voting strength and little opposition from other parties.
tzarism, tsarism - czarism.
ultraconservatism - extreme conservatism, especially in politics. — ultraconservative.
ultraism - 1. the principles of those who advocate extreme points of view or actions, as radicalism. 2. extremist activities. — ultraist, ultraistic.
un-Americanism - the state or condition of being out of sympathy with or against an ideal of American behavior, attitudes, beliefs, etc. — un-American
utopian socialism - an economie theory based on the premise that voluntary surrender by capital of the means of production would bring about the end of poverty and unemployment. Cf. socialism.
Watergatism (basis of Watergate Scandal) - 1. any underhanded, illegal, unethical, or dishonest political practice or action. 2. behavior attempting to conceal such practices or action.
Whiggarchy - Rare. government or rule by Whigs.
Whiteboyism - relates to the doctrines and activities of the "Irish Whiteboys," a secret agrarian society formed in 1761 to fight high rents [from the white shirts worn by the members at night for identification]. (Whiteboy.)
