smoke-filled room
Where deals happen
A smoke-filled room is where political deals get made away from public view—party bosses selecting candidates, power brokers trading favors.
The image comes from an era when cigar-smoking men in back rooms decided elections before voters had their say: The nomination was decided in a smoke-filled room.
Now used for any secretive decision-making by insiders.
Political influence wielder
- power brokerInfluential behind-scenes dealmaker
- party bossPolitical organization's chief
- political machinePatronage-based party structure
- brokered conventionNomination decided through delegate negotiations
wheeling and dealing · political maneuvering · horse trading · influence peddling · logrolling · quid pro quo · dealmaking · old boys' club
Private space for dealings
- conclavePrivate, secretive assembly
- caucusParty selection meeting
- summitPeak or diplomatic gathering
- parleyDiscussion between opposing sides
deliberation · closed session · private meeting · executive session · sidebar · huddle · inner circle · back channel
Secret unofficial agreement
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
- covertIntentionally concealed
- behind closed doorsIn private, unobserved
- hidden agendaUndisclosed true purpose
secrecy · confidential · hush-hush · off the record · under the table · private · undisclosed · insider
kingmaker
Political influence wielder
- power brokerInfluential behind-scenes dealmaker
- party bossPolitical organization's chief
- political machinePatronage-based party structure
brokered convention · wheeling and dealing · political maneuvering · horse trading · influence peddling · logrolling · quid pro quo · dealmaking · old boys' club · machine politics
backroom
Private space for dealings
parley · deliberation · closed session · private meeting · executive session · sidebar · huddle · inner circle · back channel · retreat
backroom deal
Secret unofficial agreement
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
- covertIntentionally concealed
- behind closed doorsIn private, unobserved
hidden agenda · secrecy · confidential · hush-hush · off the record · under the table · private · undisclosed · insider · need-to-know
- political jargonfilibuster, gerrymandering, caucus, pork barrel, lame duck
- shadow powerpuppet master, puppeteer, string puller, string pulling, string-pulling
- secret meetingsclandestine meeting, secret society, rendezvous, conclave, cabal
- vice densbrothel, opium den, speakeasy, gambling den, crack house
smoke-filled roomopen meeting
Assembly admitting all attendees
public forum · open government · public hearing · open session · C-SPAN
smoke-filled roomopen primary
Election open to all voters
direct democracy · popular vote · participatory democracy · grassroots democracy · ballot box
smoke-filled roomrule of law
Supremacy of established laws
due process · official channels · parliamentary procedure · legal framework · by the book
smoke, filled, room, smoky, smokiness, smoker, smoked, smoking, smokeless