Unit 4 : Article II, Sections 2, 3 and 4: The Executive Power (the Powers of the President) (Vocabulary)

Administration (n.):

n the US= the federal political executive, +/- the White House / the government

Advice and Consent (n.)

procedure whereby the US Senate approves or disapproves of presidential executive and judicial nominations as well as of treaties signed by the President (by a two-thirds vote for treaties). !!! advice is a noun, the verb would be to advise “to give one’s advice and consent” NOT to advice and consent

Agenda (n.)

here, a list of bills or matters to be voted upon. In general, a list of things/matters to be done or acted upon !!! faux-ami # a diary=un agenda

Appoint (vb.)

to assign to a position or office

Bully pulpit (n.)

a position of authority or public visibility, especially a political office, from which one may express one's views. A pulpit= a platform + to bully= to intimidate, browbeat

Commander-in-chief (n.)

the head of the US armed forces (a civilian) 

Concur (vb.)

agree with. concurrence= noun + concurrent=adjective !!! faux-amis # competition, competitor...

Convene (vb.)

summon, convoke

Eligibility (n.)

when one meets the requirements to be chosen for...Here, when one is legally qualified to be elected or appointed to office 

Enforce a law (vb.)

put or keep in force 

Enumerated powers

(cf. Congress) 

Executive branch

the second of the three federal branches of the federal government to be listed in the Constitution. It is responsible, among other things, for executing the law, proposing policy and serving as the head of the US armed forces. 

Executive Order (EO)

an order having the force of law issued by the President of the U.S. to the army, navy, or another part of the executive branch of government.

Executive Privilege

power sometimes claimed by presidents or members of the executive, which consists in refusing to disclose information (to Congress, the judiciary, etc.) if disclosure would impede the decision-making process and good functioning of the executive. The Supreme Court recognized the existence of such a right in US v. Nixon in 1974.

Impeachment (n.)

(cf. Congress) 

Implied/inherent powers

(cf. Congress) 

Nominate (vb.)

suggest a candidate for a specific office/position 

Pardon (n./vb.)

release from punishment for an offense

Presidency

cf. the executive branch 

Recess (cf. Congress) (n./vb.)

when one house or both houses of Congress are not sitting/are on a break or vacation 

Remove from office

This is the final outcome of the impeachment process. After a President has been impeached by a simple majority of the House of Representatives and convicted by 2/3 of the Senate, he/she can no longer serve the rest of his/her term. 

Reprieve (n./vb.)

respite from an impending punishment 

Signing Statement (n.)

whenever the President signs a bill into law, he/she sometimes adds a statement to specify his/her understanding of the law and how it will be implemented. These are often controversial since they have sometimes been used to disrespect the will and intent of Congress.

State of the Union Speech (n.)

an annual address delivered in Congress by the President at the beginning of a session (in January) to outline his/her legislative agenda and national priorities. 

Veto (cf. Congress) (n./vb.)

oppose the passage of a bill (refuse to sign it into law).