Chapter 13 & 14

Cabinet

The group of department heads and top advisers who meet with and advise the president.

Reprieve

A temporary postponement of a punishment ordered by the president.

Pardon

Presidential power to forgive a federal criminal and remove punishment.

Executive order

A directive issued by the president that has the force of law without needing Congress.

Bureaucracy

The collection of federal agencies and departments that implement and administer government policies.

Pocket veto

When the president takes no action on a bill and Congress delaying within ten days causing the bill to die.

Administration

The president together with the executive branch officials and agencies running government programs.

Whistle-blower

A government employee who exposes agency wrongdoing, fraud, or abuse.

Veto

Formal presidential rejection of a bill passed by Congress.

Commander in Chief

The president's constitutional role as head of the U.S. armed forces.

Executive privilege

The president's claimed right to withhold certain White House communications from Congress or courts for confidentiality or national security.

Chief of staff

The president's top aide who controls access to the president and coordinates the White House staff.

Executive Office of the President (EOP)

A group of agencies that assist the president (includes OMB, CEA, NSC).

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

EOP agency that helps the president prepare the annual budget proposal.

Council of Economic Advisers (CEA)

EOP unit that provides the president with economic analysis and advice.

National Security Council (NSC)

EOP body that advises the president on national security and foreign policy.

Executive departments

Major administrative units (15 departments) that carry out broad areas of public policy (e.g., State, Defense, Treasury).

Independent agencies

Agencies that implement policy independently, aren’t inside executive departments (NASA, FCC, FDA).

Civil service

The system of hiring federal government employees on the basis of quality rather than political affiliation.

Privatization

Practice of contracting private companies to perform government tasks formerly done by civil servants.

Chief executive (role)

President's role overseeing the executive branch and enforcing laws.

Chief diplomat

President's role in directing foreign policy and negotiating with other nations.

Chief legislator

President's role in shaping legislation and proposing policy priorities, called the State of the Union.

Chief manager of the economy

President's role in proposing budgets and guiding economic policy (no formal constitutional economic power).

Chief of party

President's role as leader of his/her political party.

Chief citizen

President's symbolic role representing national values and comforting the public in crises.

Bully pulpit

Term for using the presidency as a platform to shape public opinion and policy (used for Theodore Roosevelt).

Fireside chats

FDR's radio addresses used to speak directly to Americans; example of presidential communication power.

War Powers Act (1973)

Act passed requiring the president to consult Congress when committing U.S. forces and to obtain approval for prolonged engagements.

Impeachment

The House's power [simple majority to formally accuse a president or official; conviction and removal require a two-thirds Senate vote.

Succession

Legal order of who becomes president if vacancy occurs (vice president, speaker of the House, President Pro Temporate, Secretary of the State, Cabinet Secretary officers.)

Electoral College

The constitutional body that formally elects the president, based on state popular vote outcomes.

Appointment power

President's ability to nominate federal officials and judges(mostly Senate confirmation)

Treaty

Formal international agreement requiring Senate approval.

Executive agreement

International agreement the president can make without Senate approval.

Amnesty

A broad, group pardon (example: Jimmy Carter's Vietnam-era amnesty).

George Washington

President who set many presidential precedents (first veto, Cabinet, enforcement of laws).

Andrew Jackson

President who used vetoes to shape policy - strong presidency precedent.

Abraham Lincoln

Expanded executive power during Civil War with the Emancipation Proclamation.

Theodore Roosevelt

Used the presidency as a bully pulpit.

Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR)

Transformed the presidency with fireside chats to communicate with Americans.

Harry Truman

Used executive order to desegregate the armed forces.

Gerald Ford

Handled Saigon evacuation decisions as president.

Ronald Reagan

Created the Office of National Drug Control Policy (an EOP agency created by law he signed).

Balanced budget

A budget where government spending equals revenue in a fiscal year.

Budget surplus

When government revenue exceeds spending during a fiscal year.

Federal deficit

When the federal government spends more than it collects in a single year.

National debt

The total cumulative amount the federal government owes from past deficits.

Progressive tax

A tax system where tax rates increase as income increases (higher earners pay a larger share).

Regressive tax

A tax system that takes a larger percentage of income from low-income people than from high-income people (sales taxes often behave this way).

Entitlement

Government program that provides benefits to all eligible citizens (e.g., Social Security, Medicare); spending is often mandatory.

Earmarks

Specific spending items added to bills by members of Congress to fund projects in their districts.

Appropriations

Formal congressional approval to spend government funds for specific purposes.

Revenue

Money collected by the government, mainly from taxes.

Expenditures

Government spending on programs and services.

Fiscal year

The government's annual budget period (starts and ends on set dates for federal budget).

Mandatory spending

Government spending required by law (e.g., entitlements, interest on debt).

Discretionary spending

Spending that Congress can adjust each year (defense, many agency budgets).

Continuing resolution

Temporary measure to keep the government funded when a new budget has not been passed.

Congressional Budget Office (CBO)

Nonpartisan legislative agency that provides Congress with budgetary and economic analyses and 'scores' bills.

Impoundment

A president's refusal to spend funds appropriated by Congress (limited by law after 1974).

Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974

Act that reformed the federal budget process, created CBO, and limited presidential impoundment.

Budget resolution

A concurrent congressional statement that sets overall spending and revenue targets for the budget process.

Revenue scoring

The CBO and other agencies estimate the budgetary impact of proposed bills (how they affect revenue/deficits).

Sequestration

Automatic, across-the-board cuts to federal spending triggered under certain budget enforcement rules.

Revenue sharing

Program that distributed federal funds to states with few restrictions.

Tax return

Annual filing by individuals/businesses reporting income and calculating taxes owed.

Inflation

General increase in prices that affects government purchasing and budget planning.

Welfare Reform Act (1996)

Act shifting more control of welfare to states.

Federal agencies

FBI (Justice Dept. agency), U.S. Mint (Treasury), NASA, CIA, FCC, FDA, U.S. Postal Service.

12th Amendment

Changed way we elect VP’s. In the Original Constitution, VP was runner up / 2nd place. In 1800 there was a tie so this amendment written in 1803 made members elect separately.

1st ballot —> President & 2nd ballot —> Vice President

22nd Amendment

Limits president to two terms or 10 years.

25th Amendment

Line of succession, establishes that in the case of death, the role of resignation, VP becomes P If VP & P die, the President Pro Temporate takes over. Secretary of state is 4th in line, and the other cabinet secretary officers are 5th.

Social Insurance Taxes

Social Security and Medicade deductions from a paycheck.

Corporate Income Tax

Tax paid by businesses on their profits each year.

Excise Tax

A legislated tax on specific goods or services at purchase such as fuel, tobacco, and alcohol. aka user tax [more is used, the more is paid].

Budget & Accounting Act of 1921

Act where Congress gave the President authority to make the budget.

Tax Freedom Day

Every penny Florida businessman Dallas Hostetler earned from Jan-March went to pay taxes. He named this after the first day he began earning money.