Executive Branch, Bureaucracy & Budget

Flashcards covering essential vocabulary related to the Executive Branch, Bureaucracy, and Budget from the provided lecture notes.

22nd Amendment

Limits an individual to being elected president for no more than two terms.

25th Amendment

Establishes procedures for presidential succession and disability.

22nd Amendment

Limits an individual to being elected president for no more than two terms.

25th Amendment

Establishes procedures for presidential succession and disability.

Cabinet

A group of advisors to the president, consisting of the heads of the executive departments.

Council of Economic Advisors

A group that advises the president on economic policy and issues.

Executive agreement

An international agreement made by the president without ratification by the Senate.

Executive Office of the President

A group of agencies at the center of the executive branch.

Executive order

A directive issued by the president to manage the federal government.

Executive privilege

The right of the president to withhold information from Congress or the courts.

Impeachment

A formal process in which an official is accused of unlawful activity.

Legislative veto

The ability of Congress to reject an executive action.

National Security Council

Advises the president on national security and foreign policy matters.

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

Prepares the federal budget and oversees its administration.

Pocket veto

A special type of veto that occurs when the president does not sign a bill into law within ten days.

Veto

The power of the president to reject a bill passed by Congress.

Watergate

A major political scandal involving abuse of power by the Nixon administration.

War Powers Resolution

A law limiting the president’s ability to engage U.S. forces without congressional approval.

Administrative discretion

The ability of bureaucrats to make choices concerning the best way to implement policies.

Bureaucracy

A system of government in which most of the important decisions are made by state officials rather than by elected representatives.

Civil service

A system that includes most government jobs, excluding the military and those in elected office.

Deregulation

The reduction or elimination of government rules controlling how businesses can operate.

Government corporation

A government agency that operates like a business to provide services.

Hatch Act

A federal law prohibiting government employees from engaging in political activities.

Independent regulatory commission

An agency created by Congress to act independently of the executive branch.

Independent executive agency

A federal agency that is not part of a cabinet department.

Merit principle

The idea that government jobs should be awarded on the basis of merit, not political affiliation.

Office of Personnel Management

The agency that manages the civil service of the federal government.

Patronage

The practice of giving jobs and appointments to political friends and supporters.

Pendleton Civil Service Act

Established the principle of hiring federal employees on the basis of merit.

Policy implementation

The process of carrying out public policies.

Regulation

Rules or directives made and maintained by an authority.

Standard operating procedures

Established or prescribed methods to be followed routinely for the performance of designated operations.