Explained: Dennis Hastert, longtime Republican House speaker who went to prison, dies at age 84

Dennis Hastert, the nation's longest-serving Republican House speaker, died over the weekend at age 84 of natural causes at his home, according to Kendall County Coroner Jacquie Purcell.

earmarks

Congressional funding designated for specific local projects, often criticized as pork-barrel spending.

Electoral College deadlock

A scenario where no presidential candidate secures enough electoral votes, potentially triggering alternate succession procedures.

hush money

Payments made to someone to keep them from disclosing damaging information.

GOP

Common abbreviation for the Republican Party ('Grand Old Party').