The present invention relates to a terminal clamp for connecting an electrical conductor, comprising an insulating material housing (10) with at least one conductor clamping device (12) designed such that it can be operated by means of an actuating element (13), which is mounted pivotably about an axis in the insulating material housing (10), wherein the conductor clamping device (12) comprises a clamping point (15) for the electrical conductor formed by a contact element (16) arranged fixedly in the insulating housing (10) and a clamping spring (17) arranged movably by means of the actuating element (13) between an open position and a clamping position in the insulating material housing (10), in that a free leg (18) of the clamping spring (17) is articulated on the actuating element (13) by way of a connecting element (19) such that the clamping spring (17) is moved into the open position by means of a pivoting movement of the actuating element (13) in a first direction, by being subjected to a pulling force exerted by way of the connecting element (19), and is moved into the clamping position by means of a pivoting movement opposite to the first direction, wherein the actuating element (13) comprises an articulating element (20), which is radially at a distance from the axial centre (21) of said actuating element and designed for the articulation of the connecting element (19), and is distinguished by the fact that the articulating element (20) is arranged on the actuating element (13) in such a way that, in the open position, the lever arm formed by the articulating element (20) and the axial centre (21) is aligned at least substantially parallel to the direction of the pulling force acting on the free leg (18) of the clamping spring (17) by means of the connecting element (19).