ABSTRACT
This chapter examines jokes about political institutions like Congress, the Supreme Court, and the political parties. Poking fun at Congress is a time-honored American pastime. No less a luminary than Mark Twain held Congress in open contempt. In fact, some of the most commonly cited historical examples of political humor are quotations from Twain railing at Congress. Unlike Congress, a majority of the public typically approves of the Supreme Court. Further, Supreme Court justices are not elected; thus, they tend not to be viewed by most of the public as political figures. Moreover, if people know little about Congress, they know less about the Supreme Court. In particular, many jokes about Supreme Court justices focus on their advanced ages or their demographic characteristics. More than citizens in most other advanced democracies, Americans view political parties with skepticism and disdain. Jokes about the parties focus on various issue positions that each is known for, their stereotypical supporters, and other common perceptions.
