Talk Like A Conservative: A Newbie’s Guide To Political Verbiage

Absentee Ballot

An absentee ballot is a vote cast by someone who is unable to visit the official polling place on Election Day. This type of vote is normally submitted by mail.

BDS Movement

The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement (also known as BDS) is a Palestinian-led campaign promoting various forms of boycott against Israel.

Brexit

The withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union.

Blue State

A state whose voters elect primarily Democratic candidates. It is the opposite of a red state. States can be considered “dark blue” meaning they vote for Democrats nearly 100% of the time (like Vermont, New Jersey, and Oregon) or “light blue” meaning they primarily vote for Democrats but have elected Republicans a few times (like Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin). 

Boll Weevil/Blue Dog Democrats

Boll weevil Democrats were conservative southern Democrats in the mid-1900s, largely known for their opposition to civil rights. The term fell out of use in the 1980s, and conservative Democrats are now known as Blue Dogs.

Bush 41

Served as Vice President for Ronald Reagan before being elected the 41st President of the United States (1989-1993). He is known for his emphasis on foreign policy, including military operations in Panama and the Persian Gulf, as well as signing NAFTA. 

Bush 43

Eldest son of George H.W. Bush and 43rd President of the United States (2001-2009). He is known most famously for the “War on Terror” which he launched following the attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11th. He also signed many acts including the Patriot Act, the No Child Left Behind Act, AIDS Relief, and the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban. 

Capitalism

An economic and political system in which a country’s trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit, rather than by the state.

Caucus

A meeting at which local members of a political party register their preference among candidates running for office or select delegates to attend a convention. In some states, a caucus takes the place of a primary. 

Closed Primary

People may vote in a party’s primary only if they are registered members of that party prior to election day.

Conservative

A belief in personal responsibility, limited government, free markets, individual liberty, traditional American values, and a strong national defense. Believe the role of government should be to provide people the freedom necessary to pursue their own goals. Conservative policies generally emphasize the empowerment of the individual to solve problems.

Coolidge

Elected vice president and succeeded as 30th President of the United States when Harding died in 1923. He was nicknamed “Silent Cal” for being quiet and serious. 

DINO

Democrat In Name Only. See RINO. 

Elastic/Swing State/Purple State

States that could go either Republican or Democrat. These states are often the deciding factors of an election. Common swing states are Ohio, Florida, Nevada, North Carolina, Colorado, and Iowa. 

Electoral College

A body of people representing the states of the US, who formally cast votes for the election of the president and vice president.

Eleventh Commandment

The Eleventh Commandment was a phrase used by President Ronald Reagan during his 1966 campaign for Governor of California. The Commandment reads: Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican.

Filibuster

A political procedure where one or more members of parliament or congress debate over a proposed piece of legislation so as to delay or entirely prevent a decision being made on the proposal. It is sometimes referred to as “talking a bill to death”

Fourth Estate

Refers to the press and news media both in the explicit capacity of advocacy and implicit ability to frame political issues. Though it is not formally recognized as a part of a political system, it wields significant indirect social influence.

Gerrymander

Manipulate the boundaries of (an electoral constituency) so as to favor one party or class.

Israel/Palestine Conflict

The ongoing dispute between the Jewish and Arab populations in the former Ottoman Empire region of Palestine, consisting of the state of Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip. Since the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948, politicians and diplomats have attempted many times to create a two-state solution and establish an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel. However, substantial disagreements over issues including mutual recognition, borders, security, water rights, and control over the city of Jerusalem have prevented resolution. 

Laissez-Faire

Laissez-faire is an economic system in which transactions between private parties are free from any form of government intervention such as regulation, privileges, imperialism, tariffs, and subsidies. Proponents of laissez-faire argue for a complete separation of government from the economic sector.

Liberal

A belief in government action to achieve equal opportunity and equality for all. It is the duty of the government to alleviate social ills and to protect civil liberties and individual and human rights. Believe the role of the government should be to guarantee that no one is in need. Liberal policies generally emphasize the need for the government to solve problems.

Libertarian

A political party in the United States that promotes civil liberties, non-interventionism, laissez-faire capitalism and shrinking the size and scope of government.

Open Primary

A primary election that allows voters to select candidates on one party’s ballot without declaring their own party affiliation.

Reagan

An American politician who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. Reagan was twice elected President of the Screen Actors Guild—the labor union for actors—where he worked to root out Communist influence. He placed emphasis on anti-communism, the trickle-down (which was coined Reaganomics), the war on drugs and ending the Cold War. 

Red Flag Gun Laws

A gun control law that permits the police or family members to petition a state court to order the temporary removal of firearms from a person who may present a danger to others or themselves.

Red State

A state whose voters elect primarily Republican candidates. It is the opposite of a blue state. States can be considered “dark red” meaning they vote for Republicans nearly 100% of the time (like Texas, Wyoming and Tennessee) or “light red” meaning they primarily vote for Republicans but have elected Democrats a few times (like North Carolina and Indiana). 

RINO

Republican In Name Only (see DINO)

Socialism

A political and economic theory of social organization which advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole.

Trickle Down

Gradually benefit the poorest as a result of the increasing wealth of the richest.