ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, March 10, 1996 TAG: 9603080036
SECTION: HORIZON PAGE: F-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: WASHINGTON
SOURCE: DEAN INOUYE KNIGHT-RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
Voters following the presidential campaign need to learn a specialized language to help them distinguish a populist from a conservative, PAC from GATT.
Though this language is commonly spoken inside the Beltway (see below), it bewilders most Americans. Here is a guide to some of the most frequently used terms this campaign season.
Balanced-budget amendment: An amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would require the federal government's spending not to exceed revenues each year. To be enacted, a constitutional amendment must be approved by two-thirds of both the House and Senate, and ratified by at least 38 states. Most of the Republican candidates favor the amendment; President Clinton opposes it.
The Beltway: A 64-mile stretch of interstate highways that encircle Washington, D.C. ``Inside the Beltway'' is an often derisive phrase referring to the inbred world of government, media and lobbyists. ``Beyond the Beltway'' is a synonym for the real world.
Brokered convention: If no candidate in the primary elections and caucuses can win enough delegates (see below) for the presidential nomination, the candidates, party officials and delegates will have to bargain at the national convention to produce a nominee. It has been so long since the last brokered convention (the Democrats in 1952), that there were still ``smoke-filled rooms'' where the horse-trading could take place.
Delegate: A person chosen in state caucuses or primary elections to attend the parties' national conventions and choose a presidential nominee. The outcome of voting in the states determines whom the delegate votes for at the convention. Winning the presidential nomination requires 996 delegates for the Republicans, and 2,147 for the Democrats.
Economic conservative: A person who favors free markets and free trade, and thus wants lower taxes and reduced government regulation of the economy. Examples: Steve Forbes, Bob Dole. (See ``social conservative.'')
Exit poll: On election nights, news organizations often anoint a winner long before the votes are counted. They do this after studying exit polls, in which voters leaving polling places are asked whom they voted for and why. If the sampling is done properly, people can know election results without missing their bedtimes. But the incorrect predictions of Bob Dole's finish in the Arizona primary last month show that the system is not foolproof.
Flat tax: An income-tax system in which there is only one tax rate. Details can vary significantly from plan to plan. Steve Forbes' campaign is based almost entirely on his proposal for a 17 percent flat tax, with large exemptions and no deductions. A flat tax differs from the current ``graduated income tax,'' in which tax rates rise as income increases.
Liberal: A label being shunned by every candidate in this presidential election.
Moderate: An elastic term covering those who believe in a somewhat activist role for government in economic matters and relatively little regulation of social issues. Often used as an insult in the Republican primaries.
NAFTA and GATT: The North American Free Trade Agreement is a treaty that will gradually eliminate trade barriers and tariffs among the United States, Canada and Mexico. A separate accord negotiated under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade calls for similar trade-liberalizing steps worldwide. Supporters such as President Clinton and Dole say that increased trade leads to stronger economic growth for all. Opponents such as Pat Buchanan say that open markets have led to a loss of American jobs to low-wage countries.
PAC: Political action committees are organizations that make campaign contributions on behalf of a company, industry, labor group or political viewpoint. Critics often use the term PAC interchangeably with ``corrupting special interest.''
Populism: A movement that began a century ago when farmers organized to fight the interests of big Eastern banks. The term has since broadened to cover a variety of politicians claiming to help the average person stand up to the power of Big Business and Big Government.
Protectionist: A pejorative term applied to someone who wants to set up trade barriers to protect domestic industries against competition from imports. Those who are called protectionist, like Pat Buchanan, often argue that they are actually ``fair traders'' who are simply compensating for the unfair trading practices of other countries.
Social conservative: A person who opposes abortion rights, homosexual rights, gun control and sex education in schools; is critical of sex and violence in the arts; wants to crack down on crime; favors prayer in public schools. Examples: Pat Buchanan, Bob Dornan.
LENGTH: Medium: 85 lines KEYWORDS: POLITICS PRESIDENTby CNB