AP Gov - Chapter 13 Vocab

Line-item veto

The power of the president to strike out specific line items on an appropriations bill while allowing the rest of the bill to become law, declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 1997

Signing statement

A written message that the president issues upon signing a bill into law

Executive agreement

An international agreement between the United States and other nations, not subject to Senate approval and in effect only during the administration of the president who negotiates the agreement

Balanced ticket

The selection of a running mate who brings diversity of ideology, geographic region, age, gender, race, or ethnicity to the slate

Cabinet

The group of experts chosen by the president to serve as advisers on running the country

Executive Office of the President (EOP)

Offices, councils, and boards that help the president to carry out the day-to-day responsibilities of the office

White House Office (WHO)

The office that develops policies and protects the president’s legal and political interests

Chief of staff

Among the most important staff members of the WHO; serves as both an advisor to the president and manager of the WHO

Press secretary

The president’s spokesperson to the media

White House counsel

The president’s lawyer

National Security Council (NSC)

Consisting of top foreign policy advisers and relevant cabinet officials, this is an arm of the EOP that the president consults on matters of foreign policy and national security

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

Office that creates the president’s annual budget

Expressed powers

Presidential powers enumerated in the Constitution

Take care clause

The constitutional basis for inherent powers, which states that the president “shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed”

Inherent powers

Presidential powers that are implied in the Constitution

Statutory powers

Powers explicitly granted to presidents by congressional action

Executive order

Power of the president to issue orders that carry the force of law

Emergency powers

Broad powers exercised by the president during times of national crisis

Executive privilege

The right of the chief executive and members of the administration to withhold information from Congress or the courts, or the right to refuse to appear before legislative or judicial bodies

Honeymoon period

A time early in a new president’s administration characterized by optimistic approval by the public

Approval ratings

The percentage of survey respondents who say that they “approve” or “strongly approve” of the way the president is doing his job

Rally ‘round the flag effect

Peaks in presidential approval ratings during short-term military action

Works Progress Administration (WPA)

A New Deal program that employed 8.5 million people at a cost of more than $11 million between 1935 and 1943

Watergate

During the Nixon administration, a scandal involving burglaries and the subsequent cover-up by high-level administration officials

Impeachment

The power of the House of Representatives to formally accuse the president (and other high-ranking officials including the vice president and federal judges) of crimes

Articles of impeachment

Charges against the president during an impeachment