AP Government Unit 2b Terms

State of the Union Address

the annual speech from the president to Congress updating the branch about national affairs

veto

formal rejection by the president of a bill that has passed both the houses of Congress

pocket veto

an informal veto caused when the president chooses not to sign a bill within ten days, during a time when Congress has adjourned at the end of a session

executive order

policy directives issued by the president that do not require congressional approval

executive agreement

an agreement between a president and another nation that does not have the same durability in the American system as a treaty but does not require Senate ratification

treaty

an agreement with a foreign government negotiated by the president and requiring a two third’s vote in the Senate to ratify

signing statement

text issued by presidents while signing a bill into law that usually consists of political statements or reasons for signing the bill but that may also include a president’s interpretation of the law itself

bargaining and persuasion

an informal tool used by the president to persuade members of Congress to support his or her policy initiatives

commander-in-chief

All of the military leaders report and take orders from the president

president performs this duty as a civilian, someone who is not in military service

war powers resolution

a law passed over President Nixon’s veto that restricts the power of the president to maintain troops in combat for more than sixty days without congressional authorization

bully pulpit

president appeals to the public to pressure other branches of government to support his or her policies

agenda setting

the media’s ability to highlight certain issues and bring them to the attention of the public

12th amendment

House of Representatives chooses the president from the top three candidates, with each state getting one vote, while the Senate selects the vice president from the top two vote-getters.

22nd amendment 

prohibits anyone who has been elected president twice from being elected to the office again

25th amendment

Vice President becomes President if the President dies, resigns, or is removed, and or has a disability

federalist #70

an essay by Alexander Hamilton from 1788, argues for a strong, unitary executive (a single president) in the U.S. government, contending that unity is necessary for "energy" in the executive branch

federal bureaucracy 

the departments and agencies within the executive branch that carry out the laws of the nation

executive office of the president

a collection of offices within the White House organization designed mainly to provide information to the president

white house office

office that provides direct support for the president

cabinet 

the group of senior officials appointed by the President to advise them and head executive departments

chief of staff

the highest-ranking person in the White House Office, managing the President's schedule, controlling access to the President, overseeing White House staff and operations, and serving as a key advisor, essentially filtering information and ensuring the President's agenda runs smoothly within the Executive Office of the President (EOP)

national security council

a principal advisory body in the Executive Office of the President that advises the President on national security and foreign policy

office of management and budget 

a key agency in the Executive Office of the President that helps the President create the federal budget, manages agency funding, oversees regulatory review (through OIRA), and ensures federal programs align with presidential priorities, acting as a powerful tool for the President to implement their agenda and manage the bureaucracy, influencing the balance of power with Congress

council of economic advisors

an agency within the Executive Office of the President that provides the President with objective economic advice on domestic and international policy

department of homeland security

acts to protect the nation from terrorism and respond to natural disasters

department of transportation

oversees and administers federal policy in areas such as highway development and construction, rail and air travel and commerce, and the safety and operation of parts and pipelines

department of veterans affairs

Administers federal benefits for veterans and their dependents, including health care, rehabilitation, and employment

department of education

funds and oversees federal efforts to improve educational outcomes for students, distributes funds for students from low-income families and students with disabilities as well as loans for college students

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

a crucial independent federal agency created in 1970 to protect human health and the environment by creating and enforcing regulations for clean air, water, and land, based on laws passed by Congress, impacting policymaking, interest groups, and bureaucratic functions

Federal Election Commission (FEC)

an independent regulatory agency that administers and enforces federal campaign finance laws for federal elections, including monitoring contributions and expenditures and providing public disclosure of campaign finance information

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

policies the stock market:

protecting investors, ensuring fair and efficient markets, and enforcing federal securities laws against fraud and market manipulation like insider trading

Executive Department

the primary units of the federal government's executive branch, responsible for implementing and enforcing laws within specific areas of policy

Independent regulatory agency

organization that exists outside of the major cabinet departments and whose job is to monitor and regulate specific sectors of the economy

ex: FEC, SEC, Federal Reserve

Government corporation

a government agency that operates like a private business to provide public services, often charging for them

ex: USPS, AMTRAK, FDIC

United States Postal Service (USPS)

manages the nations domestic and international postal system

AMTRAK

a quasi-public corporation that provides a public service (intercity passenger rail) while operating with a degree of business-like flexibility and a for-profit structure, but it is ultimately owned by the government

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)

maintain stability and public confidence in the banking system by insuring deposits (up to $250,000 per depositor) and supervising financial institutions for safety, soundness, and consumer protection, funded by bank premiums, not taxpayer money

Independent executive agency

agency otherwise similar to cabinet departments but existing outside of the cabinet structure and usually having a narrower focus of mission

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

a federal agency responsible for the U.S. space program, civilian space exploration, and aeronautics research. As a government entity, its priorities, budget, and overall direction are shaped by political factors, and its operations are subject to the influence of the President and Congress

Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)

the U.S. government's primary civilian foreign intelligence service, created by the 1947 National Security Act to gather, analyze, and disseminate intelligence on foreign governments/actors to protect national security, distinct from domestic law enforcement (FBI) and focusing on overseas threats, covert ops, and advising the President/NSC. 

Civil Service

the non-elected, professional body of government employees hired based on merit

Patronage

the practice of political leaders rewarding supporters with government jobs, contracts, or other benefits in exchange for political loyalty and support

Merit system

a system of hiring and promotion based on competitive testing results, education, and other qualifications rather than poltics and personal connections

Iron Triangle

coordinated and mutually beneficial activities of the bureaucracy, Congress, and interest groups, policy makers, and policy advocates

Issue networks

webs of influence between interest groups, policymakers, and policy advocates

Bureaucratic discretion/ discretionary power

the power to decide how a law is implemented and, at times, what Congress actually meant when it passed a law

Rule-Making authority

the process through which the federal bureaucracy fills in critical details of law

regulation

the process through which the federal bureaucracy makes rules that habe the force of law, to carry out the laws passed by Congress

bureaucratic adjudication

when the federal bureaucracy settles disputes between parties that arise over the implementation of federal laws or determines which individuals or groups are covered under a regulation of program

congressional oversight

efforts by Congress to ensure that executive branch agencies, bureaus, and cabinet departments, as well as their officials, are acting legally and in accordance with congressional goals

power of the purse

Congress's constitutional authority to control government spending and taxation, serving as a vital check on the executive branch by allowing it to approve or deny funding for agencies and programs, thus influencing policy and ensuring accountability for how taxpayer money is spent. 

compliance monitoring

the process used by government agencies to ensure that individuals, states, companies, and other entities are following federal laws and regulations. This includes activities like audits, site visits, and data collection to verify that rules are being followed and that bureaucratic actions align with public policy goals