American Texas Govt Exam 2

Indirect election

Voters choose electors who then vote for the president (Electoral College)

Electoral College

A body of electors chosen from each state to elect the president and vice president

Succession

The order of officials who take over if the president dies or leaves office

Expressed powers

Powers explicitly granted to the president by the Constitution

Delegated powers

Powers Congress gives to the president to carry out laws

Inherent powers

Powers claimed by the president that aren’t explicitly stated but implied by the Constitution

Commander-in-Chief

The president is the head of the military

War Powers Resolution

Limits the president’s ability to send troops without congressional approval

Executive privilege

The president’s right to keep communications private for national security

U.S. v. Nixon

The Supreme Court ruled that executive privilege cannot be used to block evidence in criminal cases

Veto

The president’s power to reject a bill passed by Congress

Pocket veto

When the president does not sign a bill and Congress adjourns within 10 days—bill dies

State of the Union

The president’s yearly address to Congress outlining goals and policies

Executive orders

Directives from the president that have the force of law

Signing statement

A written comment issued when signing a bill into law, often stating how the president interprets it

Divided government

When one party controls the presidency and another controls Congress

Unified government

When the same party controls both the presidency and Congress

New Deal

FDR’s programs expanding federal power and presidential authority

Bureaucracy

A system of government agencies that implement and enforce laws

Implementation

The process of putting laws into effect through bureaucratic actions

Rule-making

Bureaucratic agencies creating regulations that have the force of law

Administrative adjudication

Agencies resolving disputes or enforcing regulations like courts

Clientele agency

An agency serving a specific group or interest (e.g., Department of Agriculture)

Regulatory agency

Oversees rules that protect the public interest (e.g., FDA, EPA)

Redistributive agencies

Manage fiscal or monetary policy (e.g., IRS, Federal Reserve, welfare programs)

Principal-agent problem

When bureaucrats (agents) don’t perfectly follow the wishes of elected officials (principals)

Bureaucratic drift

Bureaucrats implement policies closer to their preferences than to Congress’s intent

Coalitional drift

Policy direction changes when new elected officials shift priorities

Deregulation

Reducing government rules and oversight of industries

Devolution

Transferring federal power to state or local governments

Privatization

Transferring government services to private businesses

Plural executive

Multiple elected officials share executive power, limiting the governor

Qualifications for governor

U.S. citizen, 30 years old, resident of Texas for 5 years

Line-item veto

Governor’s power to veto specific parts of a spending bill

Special session

A session the governor calls outside regular legislative dates

Texas National Guard

The state’s military force under the governor’s command

Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles

Recommends clemency decisions to the governor

Lieutenant Governor

Presides over the Texas Senate and shares executive power

Railroad Commission

Elected board regulating Texas oil, gas, and energy industries

State Board of Education

Elected body overseeing Texas public school policy

Sunset Advisory Commission

Reviews state agencies and can recommend their termination