2B vocab/Terms

Commander-In-Chief

-Control over the military

-Wartime Powers: Congress has the power to declare war, only the President has the power to launch nuclear weapons

-War Powers Act: Report to Congress within 48 hours, Congress must approve within 60 days

Executive Agreements

Simple contract between two heads of state: the President and a prime minister, king, or president of another nation.

Executive Order

Empowers the president to carry out the law or to administer the government

Executive Privilege

The right to withhold information or their decision-making process from another branch

Signing Statement

These statements explain the President's interpretation of a bill, their understanding of what is expected of them to carry it out, or just a commentary on the law.

Cabinet

-Low potential for conflict

-The principal officers in each of the executive departments. Also have the informal Kitchen Cabinet.

White House Staff

-No potential for conflict

-Legal counsel, secretary, press secretary, appointments secretary

-Permanent campaign

-Chief of Staff

-Day-to-Day workers with the President

22nd Amendment

Limits a president's tenure to two terms or 10 years

Bully Pulpit

-A brightly lit stage to pitch ideas to the American people

-The President can speak to the people using how powers of persuasion, and the people would in turn persuade Congress

State of the Union

The President explains the economic, military, and social state of the nation, proposes new policies or acts Congress should pass, and explains how he is administering government programs

Issue Networks

-Committee staffers, academics, think tanks, advocates, interest groups, and/or members of the media

-These experts and stakeholders collaborate to create specific policy on one issue

-Attempt to exert influence on the executive branch, on Congress, on the courts, or on the media to see their policy position enacted

Iron Triangles

3-way alliance between an agency, a congressional committee, and an interest group to join forces to create policy

Patronage

The bureaucracy became a place to reward loyal party leaders with federal jobs

Discretionary Authority

-Congress has granted departments, agencies, bureaus, and commissions--staffed with experts in their field--varying degrees of discretion in developing rules and interpreting legislation.

-The legislative branch decides on the broad principles for law. Congress leaves the specific regulations for implementing the policy up to the members of the bureaucracy.

Merit System

-Competitive written exams for many job applicants

-Came from the Civil Service Reform Act of 1883 (aka the Pendleton Act)

-The Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 brought along the Merit Systems Protection Board

Spoils System

Presidents appointed regional and local postmasters based on their efforts to help elect the presidents and with an expectation of loyalty after the appointment

Head of State

• Ceremonal head of government

• Decorates War Heroes

• Throws out the first pitch of the baseball season

• Dedicating national parks

• Opening new factories

• Receiving visiting heads of state at the White House

• Laying Wreath at TOUS

• Using role to win re-election

Chief Executive

• The powers of Appointment and Removal

• The Power to Grant Reprieves and Pardons (except in cases of impeachment)

• Ability to implement and give administrative effect to provisions in the constitution, to treaties, and to statutes

• All executive orders must be recorded in the Federal Register

Chief Diplomat

• Diplomatic Recognition

• Ability to Nominate and Recieve amabassadors

• Proposal and ratification of Treaties (needs to work w senate 2/3rds vote)

Veto

president's formal rejection of an entire bill, which is sent back to Congress within 10 days and can be overridden. (2/3rds)

Pocket Veto

occurs when Congress adjourns during those 10 days, allowing the bill to die without a signature and no option for override.

Line Item Veto

allows rejecting specific spending parts while signing the rest, but it is unconstitutional for the president. 

Chief Legislator

• State of the Union/Bully pulpit

• Getting legislation passed

• Veto

• Pocket Veto

• Line Item Veto

• Congress’ Power to override Presidential votes

Party Chief/Superpolitician

• Patronage

• Fundraising through appearances and speaking engagements

• influencing members of Congress

• Power of Social Media/TV