AP Government: Executive & Bureaucracy (For M)

Veto

President rejecting a bill passed by Congress.

Pocket veto

If the president does not sign a bill passed by Congress within 10 days and Congress is not in session, the bill is killed.

Executive Order

Informal power that allows the president to manage/guide government agencies. President telling a bureaucratic agency to do something.

Signing statement

informal power that informs Congress and the public of the president's interpretation of laws passed by Congress and signed by the president

Federalist 70

Alexander Hamilton arguing that the US should have a single individual as President (some wanted multiple executives) because it would be more stable, allow for quicker decisions, and be more accountable to the people.

Twenty-second amendment

limits presidents to two terms of office.

Bully pulpit

the president's use of his prestige and visibility to guide or enthuse the American public. Helps the president with agenda setting

State of the Union

An annual speech in which the president addresses Congress to report on the condition of the country and recommend policies. Helps the president with agenda setting.

Issue network

A TEMPORARY coalition that includes policy experts, media pundits, congressional staff members, and interest groups form to promote a common issue or agenda.

Iron triangle

Mutually beneficial relationship/alliance between a bureaucratic agency, a congressional committee or subcommittee, and an interest group. Influences public policy by getting policies they favor enacted.

Political patronage

The practice of victorious politicians (presidents) rewarding their followers (party members, those who helped on their campaign) with jobs. Also known as the spoils system.

Civil service

A system of hiring and promotion in bureaucratic agencies based on the merit principle and the desire to create a nonpartisan government service.

Merit system

a system of employment based on qualifications, test scores, and ability, rather than party loyalty

Pendleton Act

1883 law that established the principle of federal employment on the basis of open, competitive exams and created the Civil Service Commission

Rule-making

Process where bureaucratic agencies have power to make regulations that are similar to laws

Oversight

The effort by Congress, through hearings, investigations, and other techniques, to monitor, supervise, & exercise control over the activities of bureaucratic agencies, particularly in making sure laws are implemented correctly after having been passed. Able to do b/c of power to appropriate or withhold funds.

Power of the Purse

Constitutional power given to Congress to raise and spend money. Congress can use this to exercise oversight of bureaucratic agencies (threaten to cut off $ of they don't cooperate, testify, etc.)

Electoral College

a body of people representing the states of the US, who formally cast votes for the election of the president and vice president.

Formal powers

Powers explicitly granted by the Constitution (powers clearly given to the President)

Informal powers

Powers not explicitly granted by the Constitution but that have been interpreted by presidents and tradition as things presidents can do.

Executive agreements

Formal international agreements entered into by the president that do not require the advice and consent of the U.S. Senate. Future presidents don't have to abide by.

OMB

the executive agency that advises the President on the federal budget

Going public

a president's strategy of appealing to the public on an issue, expecting that public pressure will influence other political actors, like Congress

Cabinet

Advisory council for the president consisting of the heads of the executive departments, the vice president, and a few other officials selected by the president.

White House Staff/White House Office

President's closest advisors. Typically come from President's inner circle & campaign team. Includes the Chief of Staff and Press Secretary. Require no Senate approval. Typically operate in West Wing.

Federal bureaucracy

Agencies and the employees of the executive branch of government. Responsible for carrying out the laws.

Cabinet departments

The fifteen largest and most influential agencies of the federal bureaucracy (e.g., Department of State, Treasury, Justice…) Each headed by Secretary.

Executive agencies

Federal agencies that resemble Cabinet departments but have narrower responsibilities (NASA, CIA)

(Independent) Regulatory commissions/agencies

Part of bureaucracy. Often regulate an activity. Headed by a board of people instead of an individual. President can't remove members. (Federal Reserve, FCC). Have rulemaking authority.

Government corporations

A government organization that, like business corporations, provides a service that could be provided by the private sector and typically charges for its services. (Ex: U.S. Postal Service, Amtrak)

Bargaining and persuasion

Informal tools used by the president to persuade members of Congress to support his or her policy initiatives

Commander in Chief

The role of the president as supreme leader of the military forces of the United States

Executive privilege

Informal power of President to keep executive communications confidential, especially if they relate to national security.

Line-item veto

Presidential power to strike, or remove, specific items from a bill without vetoing the entire package; declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

Chief of Staff

the person who oversees the operations of all White House staff and controls access to the president. Can be influential in presidential decisions.

Federalist 70

Federalist paper by Alexander Hamilton supporting the idea of the presidency as a branch united in one individual (unitary theory of the presidency) so that the presidency can execute the law quickly and without hesitation while remaining constrained by their sole responsibility for action to the people through elections. The president's energy is essential to good governance, as a multiplicity of executives is inherently weak.

Imperial presidency

a U.S. presidency that is characterized by greater power than the Constitution allows.

22nd Amendment

Limits the president to two terms.

War Powers Act

Passed by Congress in 1973; the president is limited in the deployment of troops overseas to a sixty-day period in peacetime unless Congress explicitly gives its approval for a longer period.

Chief Executive

Role of President as head of the executive branch. Decides how the laws of the US are to be enforced. Chooses officials and advisors to help run the Executive Branch & carry out the laws.

Executive Office of President (EOP)

Agencies that perform staff services for the president but are not part of the White House (OMB, National Security Council, CIA)

Press secretary

One of the president's top assistants who is in charge of media relations. Holds news conferences and speaks for the President.

Bureaucrat

individuals working in the executive branch of government (government employee)

head of state

The role of the president as ceremonial head of the government.

recess appointment

A presidential appointment made when the Senate is not in session. Might be someone that lacks enough votes in the Senate for confirmation. Although person takes office, they must be confirmed by the Senate by the end of the next session of Congress.

vesting clause

Article II, Section 1, of the Constitution, which states that "executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America". Has been interpreted to give president "executive" powers not otherwise found in the Constitution.

civil servants

bureaucrats hired through a merit-based personnel system and who have job protection (career bureaucrats, not political appointees)

lame duck

an outgoing politician who continues to serve until the assumption of their elected successors. (Pres is a lame duck in the time between the election in November and Jan 20 if (s)he will not be the next president)

Department of Transportation

the executive department responsible for managing and administering public transportation and infrastructure projects

Department of Homeland Security

the executive department responsible for public security, including anti-terrorism, border security, immigration and customs, cyber security, and disaster prevention and management

Department of Veterans Affairs

the executive department responsible for providing and managing healthcare and financial benefits for military veterans

Department of Education

the executive department responsible for government education programs, educational financial aid, and equity access policies in public education

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

the executive agency responsible for environmental-related programs and policies to protect human health and safeguard natural environments

Federal Elections Commission (FEC)

the regulatory commission responsible for enforcement of campaign finance laws in federal elections

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

the regulatory commission responsible for enforcement of laws to protect financial markets, investors, and capital formation

Compliance monitoring

When the agencies ensure regulations/laws are being followed & funds used properly by organizations/individuals. Includes ability to issue fines.

discretionary power

Power of bureaucratic agencies to interpret laws passed by congress and to create and enforce regulations using rule-making to carry out those laws. When laws are vague, agencies have more leeway (or discretion) in determining what these regulations look like.

policy implementation

bureaucratic agency carrying out a policy (done by writing & enforcing regulations and issuing fines)