politicians
Capitol Hill denizens
Politicians are people who hold or seek political office—those who run for election, serve in government, or make careers in the machinery of governance.
The word often carries a negative connotation, suggesting someone more skilled at winning votes than governing well: He's just a politician, not a leader.
A shrewd politician knows how to work a room, make deals, and say the right thing to the right audience.
Formal argument on issues
- oratoryFormal eloquent discourse
- persuasionConvincing through reasoning
- speechifyingDelivering pompous addresses
- polemicsArt of controversial argument
talking-points · filibuster · grandstanding · pandering · doublespeak · gaffe · soundbite · platitude
Elected leader of nation
- senatorUpper chamber member
- representativeOne who acts for another
- congressmanHouse of Representatives member
- governorState's chief executive
mayor · councillor · minister · secretary · ambassador · speaker · whip · delegate
Gathering for a cause
- stumpTrunk base after felling
- speechOral communication ability
- canvassingSystematic direct voter outreach
- fundraisingSoliciting money for organizations
endorsement · grassroots · volunteers · advertising · slogan · townhall · mudslinging · incumbent
Those who cast ballots
- constituentsParts of a whole
- constituencyElectoral district's voters
- demographicsStatistical population characteristics
- turnoutNumber attending an event
suffrage · ballots · polling · precincts · grassroots · base · independents · partisans
Organizational oversight and control
- legislationOfficial enactment of statutes
- parliamentNational legislative assembly
- senateLegislative governing body
- cabinetEnclosed storage furniture
council · bureaucracy · executive · legislative · judiciary · policymaking · lawmaking · regulation
Disgraceful public affair
- briberyCorrupt payment for influence
- kickbackIllegal payment for services
- graftIllicit political gain
- cronyismFavoring friends in appointments
nepotism · embezzlement · cover-up · impeachment · indictment · resignation · lobbyist · quid-pro-quo
One proposed for position
- contenderOne competing seriously
- hopefulFeeling positive expectation
- frontrunnerLeading candidate or competitor
- challengerOne competing against incumbent
underdog · dark-horse · incumbent · ticket · primary · caucus · nomination · concession
debate
Formal argument on issues
- oratoryFormal eloquent discourse
- persuasionConvincing through reasoning
- speechifyingDelivering pompous addresses
polemics · talking-points · filibuster · grandstanding · pandering · doublespeak · gaffe · soundbite · platitude · promise
president
Elected leader of nation
- senatorUpper chamber member
- representativeOne who acts for another
- congressmanHouse of Representatives member
governor · mayor · councillor · minister · secretary · ambassador · speaker · whip · delegate · assemblyman
rally
Gathering for a cause
- stumpTrunk base after felling
- speechOral communication ability
- canvassingSystematic direct voter outreach
fundraising · endorsement · grassroots · volunteers · advertising · slogan · townhall · mudslinging · incumbent · reelection
voters
Those who cast ballots
- constituentsParts of a whole
- constituencyElectoral district's voters
- demographicsStatistical population characteristics
turnout · suffrage · ballots · polling · precincts · grassroots · base · independents · partisans · registration
administration
Organizational oversight and control
- legislationOfficial enactment of statutes
- parliamentNational legislative assembly
- senateLegislative governing body
cabinet · council · bureaucracy · executive · legislative · judiciary · policymaking · lawmaking · regulation · oversight
scandal
Disgraceful public affair
cronyism · nepotism · embezzlement · cover-up · impeachment · indictment · resignation · lobbyist · quid-pro-quo · whistleblower
nominee
One proposed for position
- contenderOne competing seriously
- hopefulFeeling positive expectation
- frontrunnerLeading candidate or competitor
challenger · underdog · dark-horse · incumbent · ticket · primary · caucus · nomination · concession · write-in
- Americanspresidents, senators, governors, generals, authors
- comedy targetslawyers, in-laws, teenagers, bosses, exes
- influential citizensleaders, public figures, community leaders, civic leaders, dignitaries
- men portraitsheadshots, studio portraits, close-ups, profile shots, posed portraits
- notable peopleartists, leaders, writers, scientists, musicians
- persuaderspersuader, orator, orators, public speaker, speechmaker
politicianscivil servants
Government agency employees
bureaucrats · technocrats · public servants · career officials · administrators
politicianscitizens
Members of a nation
constituents · ordinary people · the public · common people · subjects
politiciansstatesmen
Experienced government leaders
idealists · true believers · activists · reformers · visionaries
- career politicians
- professional politicianCareer public servant
- crooked politician
- radical politicianAdvocate for extreme change