AP Gov - Unit 3 Vocab

Cabinet

Cabinet

The formal body of presidential advisors who head the 15 executive departments. Presidents often add others to this body

Executive Agreements

Formal international agreements entered into by the president that do not require consent of the Senate

Executive Order

Rule or regulation issued by the president that has the effect of law. Must be published in Federal Register

Executive Privilege

Implied presidential power that allows the president to refuse to disclose information regarding confidential conversations/national security to Congress or the judiciary

Office of Management & Budget

Office that prepares the president’s annual budget proposal, reviews the budget and programs of the executive departments, supplies economic forecasts and conducts detailed analyses of proposed bills/agency rules

Pardon

Executive grant providing restoration of all rights and privileges of citizenship to a specific individual charged with or convicted of a crime

Presidential Succession Act of 1947

Law enacted by Congress that provides for the filling of any simultaneous vacancy of the president and vice president

Signing Statements

Occasional written comments attached to a bill signed by the president

25th Amendment

Adopted in 1967 to establish procedures for filling vacancies in the office of president and vice president as well as providing for procedures to deal with the disability of a president

22nd Amendment

Adopted in 1951, prevents presidents from serving more than 2 terms or more than 10 years if they came to office via death, resignation, or removal of predecessor

U.S. v. Nixon

Supreme Court ruling on power of the president, holding that no absolute constitutional executive privilege allows a president to refuse to comply with a court order to produce information needed in a criminal trial

Administrative Discretion

Ability of bureaucrats to make choices concerning the best way to implement congressional/executive intentions

Cabinet Departments

Major administrative units with responsibility for a broad area of government operations. Departmental status usually indicates a permanent national interest in a particular government function (defense, commerce, or agriculture)

Civil Service System

Merit system by which many federal bureaucrats are selected

Federal Bureaucracy

Thousands of federal government agencies and institutions that implement and administer federal laws and programs

Government Corporations

Businesses established by Congress to perform functions that private businesses could provide (Postal Service, Amtrack). Often established when financial incentives for private industry to provide services are minimal

Implementation

Process by which a law/policy is put into operation

Iron Triangles

Relatively ironclad relationships and patterns of interaction that occur among agencies, interest groups, and congressional committees/subcommittees

Issue Networks

Loose and informal relationships that exist among a large number of actors who work in broad policy areas

Merit System

System of employment based on qualifications, test scores, and ability rather than loyalty

Patronage

Jobs, grants, or other special favors that are given as rewards to friends and political allies for their support

Pendleton Act

Reform measure that established the principle of federal employment on the basis of open, competitive exams and created the Civil Service Commission

Regulations

Rules governing the operation of all government programs that have the force of law

Rulemaking

Quasi-legislative process resulting in regulations that have the characteristics of a legislative act

16th Amendment

Amendment to Constitution that authorized Congress to enact a national income tax

Spoils System

Firing of public-office holders of a defeated political party to replace them with loyalists of the newly elected party