An election that narrows the field of candidates within a party (or across parties) ahead of the general election.
Political glossary
Plain-language, non-partisan definitions of the terms used across CivicGate — how laws are made, how money moves, how elections and courts work. 41 terms.
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Branches
- Committee
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A subgroup of legislators that reviews bills, holds hearings, and oversees an area of policy before legislation reaches the full chamber.
- Congress
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The federal legislature, made up of two chambers: the House of Representatives and the Senate. A new Congress convenes every two years.
- Executive Branch
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The branch that carries out (executes) laws. Headed by the President, it includes the Cabinet, federal agencies, and the military.
- House of Representatives — also the House, House
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The larger chamber of Congress, with 435 voting members apportioned to states by population. Members serve two-year terms; the House originates revenue bills.
- Judicial Branch
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The branch that interprets laws and resolves disputes. It comprises the federal courts, topped by the Supreme Court.
- Legislative Branch
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The branch of government that writes laws. At the federal level it is Congress — the House of Representatives and the Senate.
- Senate
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The upper chamber of Congress, with 100 members — two per state regardless of population. Senators serve six-year terms; the Senate confirms nominations and ratifies treaties.
Legislation
- Amendment
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A proposed change to a bill (or to the Constitution). Legislative amendments add, strike, or alter text before final passage.
- Bill
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A proposed law. Most bills must pass both the House and Senate in identical form and be signed by the President to become law.
- Law (Statute) — also statute, act
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A bill that has completed the legislative process and taken effect — passed by Congress and signed by the President (or enacted over a veto).
- Resolution
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A measure expressing the position or rules of one or both chambers. Simple and concurrent resolutions do not have the force of law; joint resolutions can.
Process
- Cloture
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The Senate procedure to end debate on a matter, typically requiring 60 votes, allowing a final vote to proceed.
- Executive Order
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A directive from the President managing operations of the federal government. It has the force of law but cannot override statutes or the Constitution.
- Filibuster
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A Senate tactic of extended debate used to delay or block a vote. Ending one generally requires 60 votes (cloture).
- Markup
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The committee meeting where legislators debate, amend, and rewrite a bill line by line before voting on whether to advance it.
- Participation Rate — also voting participation, attendance
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The share of recorded roll-call votes a legislator actually cast. CivicGate reports it as a coverage-honest metric, not a judgment.
- Quorum
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The minimum number of members who must be present for a chamber to conduct official business — a simple majority in each chamber of Congress.
- Roll-Call Vote
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A recorded vote in which each legislator's yea/nay/present is individually logged — the record CivicGate uses to show how members voted.
- Veto
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The President's rejection of a bill passed by Congress. Congress can override a veto with a two-thirds vote in both chambers.
Money
- Appropriations
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Legislation that sets the actual dollar amounts federal agencies may spend, as opposed to authorizing what programs may exist.
- Campaign Finance
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The raising and spending of money to influence elections — contributions, expenditures, and the disclosure rules that govern them.
- Continuing Resolution (CR) — also CR
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A stopgap spending bill that keeps the government funded at current levels when full appropriations aren't enacted in time.
- Dark Money
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Political spending by groups (often 501(c)(4) nonprofits) that are not required to disclose their donors, obscuring the original source of the funds.
- FEC (Federal Election Commission) — also Federal Election Commission
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The federal agency that administers and enforces campaign-finance law and publishes contribution and spending data.
- Federal Budget
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The government's annual plan for revenue and spending. Authorization sets what may exist; appropriations set what is funded.
- Independent Expenditure
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Spending that expressly advocates for or against a candidate but is made independently — not coordinated with any campaign.
- Lobbying
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Attempting to influence legislation or policy on behalf of an interest. Federal lobbyists must register and file public activity reports.
- PAC (Political Action Committee) — also political action committee
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An organization that pools contributions to support or oppose candidates. Contribution limits apply to traditional PACs.
- Revolving Door
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The movement of individuals between government roles and the private-sector industries they regulated or lobbied — a common conflict-of-interest concern.
- Super PAC — also independent expenditure committee
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A committee that may raise and spend unlimited sums to advocate for or against candidates, but cannot contribute directly to or coordinate with a campaign.
Elections
- Ballot Measure — also proposition, initiative, referendum
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A question put directly to voters — an initiative, referendum, or proposition — rather than decided by legislators.
- Caucus
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A local gathering where party members discuss and select their preferred candidate — an alternative to a primary ballot in some states.
- Congressional District
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A geographic area that elects one member of the House. States are divided into districts by population; boundaries are redrawn after each census.
- Electoral College
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The body of electors, apportioned to states by their congressional seats, that formally elects the President. 270 of 538 electoral votes are needed to win.
- General Election
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The decisive election in which voters choose among the candidates who advanced from primaries to fill an office.
- Gerrymandering
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Drawing district lines to favor one party or group. Neutral term for the practice; CivicGate reports boundaries and outcomes, not intent.
- Incumbent
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The current holder of an office who is running to keep it. Incumbents typically enjoy name recognition and fundraising advantages.
- Primary Election
- Redistricting
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The redrawing of legislative district boundaries, done after each decennial census to reflect population changes.
Courts
- Judicial Review
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The power of courts to strike down laws or executive actions they find unconstitutional — established in Marbury v. Madison (1803).
- Supreme Court — also SCOTUS
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The highest federal court, with nine justices appointed for life. It has final say on questions of federal law and the Constitution.