political class
Professional power holders
The political class comprises career politicians, party operatives, lobbyists, consultants, and others who make their living from electoral politics and government.
The term usually carries critical undertones, suggesting an insular elite more concerned with maintaining power than serving constituents: The political class is out of touch with ordinary voters.
It implies professional politicians have become a self-perpetuating caste with interests distinct from those they represent.
Founded organization or venue
- oligarchyRule by few
- plutocracyRule by the rich
- aristocracyRule by hereditary elite
- privilegedHaving special advantages
influential · upper crust · patrician · gentry · power brokers · insiders · old guard · entrenched
Power to affect others
- authorityPower to enforce obedience
- controlAuthority to direct
- cloutInformal power or punch
- leverageBorrowed capital for amplified returns
dominance · hegemony · sway · ascendancy · supremacy · command · stronghold · grip
National legislative assembly
- legislationOfficial enactment of statutes
- bureaucracyRigid administrative system
- administrationOrganizational oversight and control
- senateLegislative governing body
assembly · cabinet · ministerial · executive · regulatory · statute · constitution · jurisdiction
Organized effort toward goal
- votersThose who cast ballots
- ballotVoting document
- primariesIntraparty nomination contests
- caucusParty selection meeting
nomination · candidate · incumbent · challenger · polls · turnout · constituency · electorate
Paid legislative influencer
- influence peddlingSelling political access
- interest groupsOrganizations promoting shared agendas
- campaign contributionsMoney given to candidates
- super PACsUnlimited-donation political groups
corporate interests · special interests · revolving door · advocacy · pressure groups · access · bundlers · dark money
establishment
Founded organization or venue
- oligarchyRule by few
- plutocracyRule by the rich
- aristocracyRule by hereditary elite
privileged · influential · upper crust · patrician · gentry · power brokers · insiders · old guard · entrenched · out of touch
influence
Power to affect others
leverage · dominance · hegemony · sway · ascendancy · supremacy · command · stronghold · grip · mandate
parliament
National legislative assembly
- legislationOfficial enactment of statutes
- bureaucracyRigid administrative system
- administrationOrganizational oversight and control
senate · assembly · cabinet · ministerial · executive · regulatory · statute · constitution · jurisdiction · protocol
campaign
Organized effort toward goal
caucus · nomination · candidate · incumbent · challenger · polls · turnout · constituency · electorate · swing state
lobbyist
Paid legislative influencer
- influence peddlingSelling political access
- interest groupsOrganizations promoting shared agendas
- campaign contributionsMoney given to candidates
super PACs · corporate interests · special interests · revolving door · advocacy · pressure groups · access · bundlers · dark money · quid pro quo
- elite poweroligarchy, plutocracy, oligarch, plutocrat, oligarchs
political classordinary citizens
common people · the masses · general public · masses · voters
political classcommon man
Typical ordinary citizen
working class · ordinary people · commoners · common folk · regular people
political classprivate sector
Economy outside government control
civil society · civilian population · business class · merchant class · technocrats
political, class, politic, politics, politically, politicize, politicized, politicization, politician