ap gov chapter 5

Executive Branch

The branch of government charged with putting the nation's laws into effect

Formal/enumerated powers

Powers expressly granted in the Constitution

Informal powers

Powers not laid out in the Constitution but used to carry out presidential duties

Treaty

Agreement with a foreign government negotiated by the president and requiring a two-thirds vote in the Senate to ratify

State of the Union Address

Annual speech from the president to Congress updating that branch on the state of national affairs

Veto

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

Pocket veto

Informal veto by the president when they choose not to sign a bill within ten days, during a time when Congress has adjourned at the end of a session

Presidential Pardon

Presidential authority to release individuals convicted from a crime of legal consequences and forgive an individual and set aside punishment for a crime

Executive privilege

A right claimed by presidents to keep certain conversations, records, and transcripts confidential from outside scrutiny, especially that of Congress

Executive Agreement

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

Signing statement

Written comments issued by president while signing a bill into law that usually consist of political statements or reasons for signing the bill but that may also include a president's interpretation of the law itself

Executive order

Policy directives issued by presidents that do not require congressional approval

War Powers Resolution

Law passed over Nixon's veto that restricts the power of the president to maintain troops in combat for more than 60 days without congressional authorization

Impeachment

Process of removing a president from office, with articles of impeachment issued by a majority vote in the HoR, followed by a trial in the Senate, with a 2/3 vote necessary to convict and remove

Executive Office of the President

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

Bargaining and persuasion

Informal tool used by the president to persuade members of Congress to support his policy initiatives

Bully pulpit

Presidential appeals to the public to pressure other branches of government to support his policies

Going Public

Tactic through which presidents reach out directly to the American people with the hope that the people will, in turn, put pressure upon their representatives and senators to press for a president's policy goals