AP Gov Executive Branch Vocabulary

Vocabulary terms and definitions covering the Executive Branch, bureaucracy, and presidential powers from AP Government Unit 4 (Chapters 13 and 14).

administrative rule making

When an independent commission or agency fills in the details of a vague law by formulating, proposing, and approving rules, regulations, and standards that will be enforced to implement the policy.

agency point of view

The tendency of bureaucrats to place the interests of their agency ahead of other interests and ahead of the priorities sought by the president or Congress.

appropriation law

A law that gives bureaucracies and other government entities the legal authority to spend money.

authorization law

A law that provides the plan of action to address a given societal concern and identifies the executive branch unit that will put the plan into effect.

budgetary process

The process through which annual federal spending and revenue determinations are made.

bureaucracy

The collection of all national executive branch organizations.

bureaucratic structure

A large organization with the following features: division of labor, specialization of job tasks, hiring systems, hierarchy, and standard operating procedures.

bureaucrats

People employed in a government executive branch unit.

honeymoon period

The president's first months in office, a time when Congress, the press, and the public are more inclined than usual to support presidential initiatives.

impeachment

The power of the HOR to formally accuse the president (and other high-ranking officials) of a crime.

independent agencies

Bureaucratic agencies that are similar to cabinet departments but usually have a narrower area of responsibility. Each such agency is headed by a presidential appointee who is not a cabinet member (for example, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration).

independent regulatory commission

Bureaucracies outside of the cabinet departments with the authority to develop standards of behavior for specific industries and businesses, to monitor compliance with these standards, and to impose sanctions on those it finds guilty of violating the standards.

merit (civil service) system

An approach to managing the bureaucracy whereby people are appointed to government positions on the basis of either competitive examinations or special qualifications, such as professional training.

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

The office that creates the president's annual budget.

Patronage/spoils system

An approach to managing the bureaucracy whereby people are appointed to important government positions as a reward for political services they have rendered and because of their partisan loyalty.

policy implementation

The primary function of the bureaucracy; it refers to the process of carrying out the authoritative decisions of Congress, the president, and the courts.

cabinet (executive) departments

The major administrative organizations within the federal executive bureaucracy, each of which is headed by a secretary or, in the case of Justice, the attorney general. Each department has responsibility for a major function of the federal government, such as defense, agriculture, or justice.

clientele groups

Special interest groups that benefit directly from the activities of a particular bureaucratic agency and therefore are strong advocates of the agency.

government corporations

Government bodies, such as the U.S. Postal Service and Amtrak, that are similar to private corporations in that they charge for their services but differ in that they receive federal funding to help defray expenses. Their directors are appointed by the president with Senate approval.

regulatory agencies

Administrative units, such as the Federal Communications Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency, that have responsibility for the monitoring and regulation of ongoing economic activities.

Senior Executive Service (SES)

Top-level career civil servants who qualify through a competitive process to receive higher salaries than their peers but who can be assigned or transferred by order of the president.

sunshine laws

Legislation that opens up government activities and documents to the public.

statutory powers

Powers explicitly granted to presidents by congressional action.

sunset clause

A clause in legislation that sets an expiration date for an authorized program or policy unless Congress reauthorizes it.

whistleblowing

An internal check on the bureaucracy whereby employees report instances of mismanagement that they observe.