Executive Powers and Foreign Policy

Vocabulary flashcards covering presidential executive, legislative, judicial, and diplomatic powers, as well as foreign policy concepts and just war theory.

Executive orders

Formal, signed statements that instruct or guide executive officials and have the force of law.

Signing statements

Statements issued by the president that make modifications to existing laws.

Executive privilege

The power that allows a president to refuse to release information to Congress or a court.

Executive agreements

Arrangements made by the president directly with the heads of other countries concerning foreign relations that do not require Senate consent.

Diplomatic recognition

The presidential power to formally recognize the legitimacy of a foreign government.

War Powers Resolution

A 1973 congressional measure that calls on the president to consult with Congress before and during any possible armed conflict involving American forces.

Veto

The president's power to refuse to sign a bill into law, which Congress can override by a two-thirds vote in each house.

Clemency

Presidential powers of mercy granted in federal cases, consisting of reprieves, pardons, amnesty, and commutations.

Reprieve

An act of presidential clemency that postpones jail time.

Pardon

An act of presidential clemency that releases a convicted criminal from a sentence.

Amnesty

An act of clemency that grants a general pardon to a group of offenders.

Commute

The presidential power to reduce a convicted criminal's sentence.

Foreign policy

A nation's set of plans and procedures for dealing with foreign countries.

Isolationism

An approach to foreign policy in which a government's leaders look after domestic issues and stay out of world affairs in order to avoid war.

Internationalist

An approach to foreign policy in which a country takes an active role in international politics as the best way to pursue national security.

Neoisolationism

A foreign policy stance holding that the United States should refrain from most involvement in foreign affairs in the interest of itself and other countries.

Embassies

Diplomatic centers maintained by a nation in foreign countries.

Defense alliance

An agreement between nations to come to each other's aid in the event of an attack.

Collective security

Attempts at keeping international peace and order, exemplified by defensive alliances.

Economic sanctions

Acts of withholding money by restricting imports, exports, trade, or financial transactions to pressure another nation to make social or political changes.

Just war theory

A theory of warfare in which a state may justly go to war under certain specific circumstances and must limit its conduct according to certain standards.

Jus ad bellum

The justification for going to war, requiring open declaration for a just cause, justice as the purpose, consideration of alternatives and costs, and an outcome of just peace.

Jus in bello

The rules governing the conduct of war, limiting actions to military targets only and forbidding anything beyond what is necessary to achieve the war's goal.