Period 6 Review Guide: The Presidency and the Federal Bureaucracy

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the constitutional roles of the President, the War Powers Resolution, presidential persuasion, bureaucratic rule-making and adjudication, iron triangles versus issue networks, and inter-branch checks and balances.

Legislative Leader

The presidential role of approving or vetoing legislation passed by Congress, as well as suggesting and promoting desired policies, making the president the final say in legislation (e.g., Obama promoting Obamacare).

Chief Executive

The presidential role of overseeing federal agencies, appointing department directors, and creating executive policies and orders to determine their administrative goals.

Commander-in-Chief

The constitutional role designating the President as the civilian head of the United States military.

Chief Diplomat

The presidential role of managing foreign relations and overseeing treaties with other countries (e.g., Woodrow Wilson traveling to France to develop the Treaty of Versailles).

Party Leader

The presidential role of serving as the head of their political party and endorsing, supporting, and promoting fellow party members running for public office.

Congressional Veto Override

The constitutional check on the Legislative Leader role allowing Congress to override a presidential veto with a $\frac{2}{3}$ vote in both chambers.

Senate Confirmation Power

The constitutional check on the Chief Executive role requiring the Senate to approve or reject presidential appointments and nominations.

Treaty Ratification Limit

The constitutional check on the Chief Diplomat role requiring the Senate to approve treaties negotiated by the president before they can permanently take effect.

War Powers Conflict

The constitutional tension arising between Congress and the executive branch because Congress possesses the formal power to declare war, while the President holds the power to wage war.

War Powers Resolution of 1973

A federal law passed by Congress in 1973 in an effort to clarify and limit the balance of war-making powers between Congress and the President.

War Powers 48-Hour Notification Provision

The statutory requirement in the War Powers Resolution mandating that the President notify Congress within 48 hours of deploying troops.

War Powers 60-Day Troop Withdrawal Provision

The statutory requirement in the War Powers Resolution stipulating that the President must withdraw armed forces after 60 days unless Congress formally declares war.

Power of the Purse (War Powers)

Congress's formal power over war making via controlling the military budget, which heavily influences United States military tactics and operations.

Federalist No. 70 Wartime Defense Argument

Alexander Hamilton's argument that a single, energetic executive allows for rapid, decisive decision-making during wartime crises, whereas the size and debate of Congress reduces efficiency.

Neustadt's Power to Persuade

The political science concept formulated by Richard Neustadt in the 1960s arguing that because constitutional powers are limited, presidential power is merely the power to persuade.

Bully Pulpit

A presidential appeal directed to the American public to mobilize popular support and pressure other branches of government to support the administration's policies.

State of the Union Address

The televised annual address delivered by the President to all branches of government and the American public, serving as the prime annual opportunity to utilize the bully pulpit.

Administrative Regulations

Detailed rules established by bureaucratic agencies to fill in statutory gaps, interpret congressional intent, and execute federal laws.

Administrative Adjudication and Fines

The quasi-judicial power held by bureaucratic agencies to settle disputes, investigate potential violations through trial-like proceedings, and assess financial penalties.

Iron Triangle

A long-term, mutually beneficial relationship and policy-making alliance formed among an interest group, congressional committees/subcommittees, and a federal bureaucratic agency.

Issue Network Theory

A challenge to the iron triangle concept proposing that contemporary policy-making is far more complex, fluid, and wide-ranging than a rigid, permanent three-sided alliance.

Arthur Schlesinger's Imperial Presidency Argument

The 1973 thesis asserting that the modern American presidency has grown excessively powerful and no longer remains subject to constitutional checks and balances.

United States v. Nixon

The landmark Supreme Court ruling that exercised a judicial check against the executive branch by rejecting President Richard Nixon's claim of absolute executive privilege.

Bureaucratic Discretion

The authority granted by Congress to executive agencies to decide how federal laws will be implemented, justified by agency specialized expertise and Congress's desire to avoid direct public blame for burdensome rules.

Civil Service Job Protection

Legal protections that safeguard career agency employees from arbitrary dismissal, creating an obstacle when a president attempts to direct bureaucratic priorities.

Congressional Committee Oversight Hearings

The practice of congressional committees calling agency administrators to testify publicly about operational activities and regulatory compliance to ensure legislative intent.

Judicial Review of the Bureaucracy

The authority of the Supreme Court and federal judiciary to examine agency actions and strike down administrative regulations that fail to faithfully execute congressional laws.