Presidency, Executive Power, and the Judicial Branch Study Guide

Vocabulary terms covering the roles of the President, historical Supreme Court cases, judicial concepts, and U.S. foreign policy goals.

Chief Executive

The role of the President as the head of the executive branch, responsible for carrying out and enforcing laws.

Chief of State

The role of the President as the ceremonial head of the government of the United States.

Chief Diplomat

The role of the President in directing foreign policy and negotiating with other nations.

Commander in Chief

The role of the President as the supreme commander of the nation's military forces.

Chief Legislature

The role of the President in influencing the legislative process and the making of laws.

Party Leader

The role of the President as the head of their political party, helping to direct party strategy and support candidates.

Economic Chief

The role of the President in managing and overseeing the nation's economic health and policies.

Inherent powers

Powers claimed by the president that are not clearly expressed in the Constitution but are inferred from it.

Executive privilege

The principle that the executive branch may withhold certain information from the public, Congress, or the courts.

Pardon

A formal release from the legal punishment for a crime.

Line-item veto

The power of an executive to reject specific parts or 'lines' of a bill while signing the rest into law.

Youngstown Sheet and Tube Co. v. Sayer

A landmark Supreme Court case concerning the limits of presidential power, specifically regarding the seizure of private property.

Tenure of Office Act

A federal law that was the focus of the impeachment of Andrew Johnson regarding the removal of certain officeholders.

Obstruction of Justice

The criminal act of interfering with the work of police, lawyers, or court officials, which was a focus of Richard Nixon's resignation.

Incitement of insurrection

A charge related to the 2021 impeachment proceedings of Donald Trump.

Chiafalo v. Washington

A Supreme Court case addressing the role of the electoral college and the power of states to enforce electors' pledges.

Cabinet

The group of advisors to the President that includes the heads of the 15 executive departments.

Hatch Act

A law that limits the political activities of federal employees to ensure the government remains nonpartisan.

Interest groups

Organizations of people with shared policy goals who enter the policy process at several points to try to achieve those goals.

Injunction

A court order that either compels or restrains a specific act by an individual or government entity.

Kelo v. New London

A Supreme Court case involving the constitutional question of eminent domain and public use.

Spoils system

The practice of a successful political party giving public office to its supporters.

Rule of law

The principle that all people, including government officials, are subject to and accountable to the law.

Writ of certiorari

An order by a higher court directing a lower court to send up a case for review.

Appeal

A request made after a trial for a higher court to review a decided case for errors.

Errors of law

Mistakes made by a judge in applying or interpreting the law during a trial.

Arbitrary

Based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reason or system.

Precedent

A legal decision or case that may be used as a standard or guide in subsequent similar cases.

Stare decisis

The legal principle of determining points in litigation according to precedent.

Judicial review

The power of the court to determine the constitutionality of laws and executive actions, established by Marbury v. Madison.

Judicial restraint

A judicial philosophy in which judges play minimal policymaking roles and defer to legislatures.

Judicial activism

A judicial philosophy in which judges make bold policy decisions, sometimes even charting new constitutional ground.

Originalist view

The judicial interpretation that the Constitution should be understood according to the original intent of the framers.

Living document

The view that the Constitution should be interpreted in light of current times and evolving social values.

Isolationism

A foreign policy of avoiding involvement in world affairs and alliances.

Containment

A Cold War foreign policy designed to prevent the spread of communism.

Internationalism

A policy of active involvement and cooperation among nations in global affairs.

Equal protection

The 14th Amendment guarantee that no state shall deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.