u3 civics vocab

electoral college

a system in which the winner of the popular vote in each state receives all of the electoral votes of that state

electors

these people are appointed by each state, and they cast their vote for the major party candidate that wins the popular vote of that state

executive order

a rule or command issued by the President that has the force of law

pardon

a declaration of forgiveness and freedom from punishment issued by the President

reprieve

an order issued by the President to delay a person's punishment until a higher court can hear the case

amnesty

forgiveness granted by a court toward a group of people

foreign policy

a country's plan for dealing with other countries

national security

the ability to keep the country safe from attack or harm

treaty

a formal agreement between the government of two or more countries

executive agreement

an understanding between the president and the leader of another country

ambassador

an official representative of a country's government

trade sanctions

efforts to punish another country by restricting that country's ability to import or export goods

embargo

an agreement between a group of nations that prohibits them from trading with a target nation

cabinet

a group of presidential advisors that includes the heads of the fourteen top-level executive departments

federal bureaucracy

the agencies and employees of the executive branch

independent agencies

government organizations that are not part of the cabinet and include executive agencies, government corporations, and regulatory commissions

government corporations

these operate like private businesses except that the government owns and operates them

political appointees

people whom the president has chosen because they have proven executive ability or were important supporters of the president's election campaign

civil service workers

government employees whose employment is not tied to the president in office

civil service system

the practice of hiring government workers on the basis of open, competitive examinations and merit

spoils system

giving government jobs to people based on their political support

merit system

hiring new workers from lists of people who have passed the tests and/or who meet other requirements