Presidential Power and Federal Bureaucracy

Vocabulary flashcards covering the roles, structures, and institutional relationships of the U.S. Presidency and Federal Bureaucracy.

President’s Office

The office responsible for providing advice, coordination, and support for presidential decision-making.

Cabinet

A group of department heads, such as the Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense, who advise the president.

Cabinet politics

The competition and conflict occurring among Cabinet members and agencies for influence.

Executive Office of the President (EOP)

A group of agencies and staff, including the White House Office and OMB, that directly support the president.

White House Office

A component of the EOP that provides the president with close advisors, such as the chief of staff and press secretary.

Chief of Staff

The official who manages the president’s schedule, controls access, and coordinates policy.

Hierarchical staffing system

A structured and controlled staffing arrangement characterized by a strong chief of staff.

Collegial staffing system

An open staffing arrangement where many advisors have direct access to the president.

Federal bureaucracy

The administrative agencies responsible for implementing laws and policies.

Administrative presidency

A strategy where presidents use the bureaucracy, through tools like executive orders and rulemaking, to achieve policy goals without Congress.

Executive order

A directive issued by the president that carries the force of law.

Political appointees

Individuals chosen specifically by the president to lead government agencies.

Career civil servants

Permanent government employees who are hired based on merit rather than political appointment.

Divided government

A situation where the president and Congress are controlled by different political parties.

Unified government

A situation where the same political party controls both the presidency and Congress.

Presidential bargaining

The process of negotiating with Congress to pass legislation.

Veto power

The constitutional authority of the president to reject legislation passed by Congress.

Veto override

The process by which Congress can pass a law over a president's objection with a $2/3$ vote in both chambers.

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

The agency that assists the president in preparing the federal budget and evaluating policies.

Fiscal policy

Government decisions regarding spending and taxation.

Commander in Chief

The president's constitutional role as the leader of the military.

National Security Council (NSC)

The body that advises the president on foreign and defense policy.

Treaty

An agreement with another country that requires Senate approval.

Executive agreements

International agreements conducted by the president that do not require Senate approval.

Judicial review

The power of the courts to declare laws unconstitutional.

The Trajectory of Power

An argument by Howell & Moe stating that presidential power has expanded over time due to political incentives.

Symmetric logic

The concept that both political parties expand presidential power when they are in control.

Asymmetric logic

The idea that institutional weaknesses, such as gridlock, push presidents to act unilaterally.

Strongman presidency

A powerful executive model that may threaten democratic checks and balances by weakening Congress.

What determines the power of the president?

Presidential power depends on institutional factors (Constitution, bureaucracy), political conditions (party control, polarization), and the president’s ability to use strategic tools effectively.

What are the main limits on presidential power?

Congress (laws, veto override), courts (judicial review), the bureaucracy (resistance), and political conditions like polarization all limit presidential authority.

Why do presidents rely on unilateral tools like executive orders?

Presidents rely on unilateral action when Congress is gridlocked or divided, allowing them to achieve policy goals without legislative approval.

What is rulemaking?

The process by which bureaucratic agencies create regulations to implement laws passed by Congress.

Why might the bureaucracy resist presidential control?

Career civil servants have expertise, job security, and their own priorities, which can conflict with political directives.

Why is the federal bureaucracy so influential?

It controls how laws are implemented, possesses specialized expertise, and operates with a degree of independence from political leadership.

How does polarization affect presidential success?

Increased polarization makes it harder for presidents to work with Congress, leading to gridlock and more reliance on unilateral action.

What is presidential agenda setting?

The president’s ability to influence which issues Congress considers and prioritizes.

How does the president use the budget as a tool of power?

The president uses the budget to set priorities, influence policy direction, and guide agency actions.

Why does the president dominate foreign policy?

The president has advantages in speed, secrecy, access to intelligence, and constitutional authority as Commander in Chief.

Why are judicial appointments a major source of presidential power?

They allow presidents to influence policy long-term, as judges serve for life and interpret laws for decades.

Why do Howell & Moe argue the presidency threatens democracy?

Expanding unilateral power weakens Congress and concentrates authority in the executive branch, risking imbalance in the separation of powers.

How does divided government increase the use of the administrative presidency?

When Congress is controlled by the opposing party, presidents turn to the bureaucracy and unilateral tools to bypass legislative gridlock.

How does the conflict between appointees and careerists affect presidential power?

It creates tension between political goals and bureaucratic expertise, limiting how much control the president has over agencies.

How does the strongman presidency challenge checks and balances?

It concentrates power in the executive branch and reduces the influence of Congress and the courts.