U.S. GOVERNMENT
The senator with this title presides over the Senate in the absence of the vice president
president pro tempore
1863
Lincoln
This oldest delegate declared that a carved sun on Washington's chair was "a rising and not a setting sun"
Benjamin Franklin
To test public reaction to some controversial idea, politicians may send up a "trial" one of these
a balloon
In 1775 Virginia's governor offered this to "indented servants, Negroes or others" who'd fight for the king
their freedom
This cabinet department administers the Food Stamp program
the USDA (the Department Agriculture)
1868
Andrew Johnson
Sessions of the convention took place in the assembly room of this brick building in Philadelphia
Independence hall
While scrambling eggs for her kids, Congresswoman Pat Schroeder got the idea of calling Reagan this "President"
the Teflon president
After helping prevent Cornwallis from crossing the Raritan River at Trenton, he was Washington's right-hand man
Hamilton
This office supplies paper & ink to government offices & distributes publications for them
the GPO (Government Printing Office)
1946
Harry Truman
This "Father of the Constitution" told delegates they "would decide forever the fate of republican government"
James Madison
A legislator who abandons the party line & votes for the other party's bill is said to be "crossing" this
Aisle
Overconfident, British Gen. Howe went into this 1775 Boston battle with a servant carrying wine on a silver tray
Bunker hill
This cabinet member is custodian of the Great Seal of the United States
the Secretary of State
1798
John Adams
The original intent of the convention was to revise this first constitution
the Articles of Confederation
The sight of hungry people grabbing meat from a keg probably inspired this term for certain spending
Pork barrel
A British band played a tune titled "The World Turned Upside Down" during the surrender here on Oct. 19, 1781
Yorktown
It's the only word in the presidential oath of office that may be replaced with another
swear
1930
Hoover
Elbridge Gerry from this state refused to sign the Constitution because in it "liberties... were not secured"
Massachusetts
Folks in this job are called the "Boys on the Bus" after a book that documented the 1972 presidential campaign
reporters
"The sun never shine on a cause of greater worth" than the colonists', wrote Thomas Paine in this 1776 work
Common sense