Civics Unit 4

primary election

A private election where voters chose who they want to win the nomination for a party

Caucus

A public election where voters chose who they want to win the nomination for a party

delegate

A person appointed or elected to represent others

Electoral College

A group of people named by each state legislature to select the president and vice president

popular vote

the votes cast by individual voters in a presidential election, as opposed to the electoral vote

Swing State

a state that does not consistently vote either Democratic or Republican in presidential elections

third party

a party that challenges the two major parties

Commander in Chief

The role of the president as supreme commander of the military forces of the United States and of the state National Guard units when they are called into federal service

Department of State (DOS)

Plans and carries out the nation's foreign policy

Bureaucracy

A large, complex organization composed of appointed officials

Chief Executive

The role of the president as head of the executive branch of the government.

Head of State

The role of the president as ceremonial head of the government. Especially when it comes to hosting foreign leaders.

Chief Diplomat

The role of the president in recognizing foreign governments, making treaties, and effecting executive agreements.

George W. Bush

43rd president of the US who began a campaign toward energy self-sufficiency and against terrorism in 2001

Barack Obama

44th U.S. President 2009-2017 Democratic

Bill Clinton

42nd President advocated economic and healthcare reform; second president to be impeached

Executive Cabinet

The group that advises and assists the president.

Domestic Policy

administrative decisions that are directly related to all issues and activity within a nation's borders

Foreign Policy

A nation's overall plan for dealing with other nations

executive order

a rule or order issued by the president to an executive branch of the government and having the force of law.

State of the Union

An annual speech in which the president addresses Congress to report on the condition of the country and recommend policies.

veto power

The formal, constitutional authority of the president to reject bills passed by both houses of Congress, thus preventing them from becoming law without further congressional action.

Executive Branch

the branch of government, headed by the president, that carries out the nation's laws and policies as described in Article II of the Constitution

popular vote

the votes cast by individual voters in a presidential election, as opposed to the electoral vote

Pardon Power

Power of the president to forgive a federal offense without penalty or grant release from a penalty already imposed. Based on kingly power to intervene in judicial process in exceptional cases.

Impeachment

A formal document charging a public official with misconduct in office

Vice President

If the President can no longer serve, becomes president and President of the senate.

Treaties

Formal agreements with other countries

Presidential Term

Each term is 4 years and he can serve a max of 2 terms

Presidential Requirements

must be at least 35 years of age, be a natural born citizen, and must have lived in the United States for at least 14 years.

Department of Justice (DOJ)

federal executive division responsible for law enforcement and allied programs and services. Headed by the Attorney General of the United States

Department of Treasury

the government department that is in charge of handling a country's money

media

the tools and outlets that store and deliver information to a large number of people. The purpose of media is to educate, inform, or entertain.

intrest groups

a formally organized association that seeks to influence public policy.