Unit 2: Interactions Among Branches of Government (Executive Only)

Twenty-Second Amendment

Limits the president to two terms in office

Formal (Enumerated) Powers

powers of the president specifically stated in the Constitution

Informal Powers

powers not laid out in the Constitution but used to carry out presidential duties

Treaty

A formal agreement between two or more sovereign states; must receive congressional approval

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

Chief executive's power to reject a bill passed by a legislature

Pocket Veto

A veto taking place when Congress adjourns within 10 days of submitting a bill to the president, who simply lets it die by neither signing nor vetoing it.

Pardon

A declaration of forgiveness and freedom from punishment

Reprieve

a respite; postponement of a sentence

Executive Privilege

The power to keep executive communications confidential, especially if they relate to national security.

Executive Agreement

an agreement between the president and the leader of another country; does not need congressional approval

Signing Statement

a presidential document that reveals what the president thinks of a new law and how it ought to be enforced

Executive Order

A rule issued by the president that has the force of law

War Powers Resolution

A law passed in 1973 in reaction to American fighting in Vietnam and Cambodia that requires presidents to consult with Congress whenever possible prior to using military force and to withdraw forces after 60 days unless Congress declares war or grants an extension. Presidents view the resolution as unconstitutional.

Impeachment

Charges against a president approved by a majority of the House of Representatives

Twenty-Fifth Amendment

A 1967 amendment to the Constitution that establishes procedures for filling presidential and vice presidential vacancies and makes provisions for presidential disability; sets presidential line of succession

Executive Office of the President

The cluster of presidential staff agencies that help the president carry out his responsibilities. Currently the office includes the Office of Management and Budget, the Council of Economic Advisers, and several other units.

Roles of the President

Chief Executive, Chief Diplomat, Commander in Chief, Legislative Leader, Head of State, Economic Leader, and Party Leader

Roles of the President

Chief Executive, Chief Diplomat, Commander in Chief, Legislative Leader, Head of State, Economic Leader, and Party Leader

Twelfth Amendment

Creates a ticket for the presidency where the president and VP are elected together.

Twentieth Amendment

Written by George Norris and also called the "Lame Duck Amendment," it changed the inauguration date from March 4 to January 20 for president and vice president, and to January 3 for senators and representatives. It also said Congress must assemble at least once a year.

Twenty-Third Amendment

amendment that gives the right of voting to citizens in Washington D.C. and that they get votes in the electoral college

Bully Pulpit

the president's use of his prestige and visibility to guide or enthuse the American public

Bureaucracy

A system of managing government through departments run by appointed officials

Political Patronage

appointment to political office, usually as a reward for helping get a president elected

Pendleton Act

1883 law that created a Civil Service Commission and stated that federal employees could not be required to contribute to campaign funds nor be fired for political reasons

Federal Civil Service

A system created by the 1883 Pendleton Civil Service Act in which bureaucrats are hired on the basis of merit rather than political connections.

Merit System

A system of public employment in which selection and promotion depend on demonstrated performance rather than political patronage.

Cabinet

Advisory council for the president consisting of the heads of the executive departments, the vice president, and a few other officials selected by the president.

Iron Triangle

A close relationship between an agency, a congressional committee, and an interest group

Issue Network

Relationships among interest groups, congressional committees and subcommittees, and the government agencies that share a common policy concern.

Bureaucratic Discretion

bureaucrats' use of their own judgement in interpreting and carrying out the laws of Congress

Regulation

the use of governmental authority to control or change some practice in the private sector

Bureaucratic Adjudication

Determining the rights and duties of particular parties within the scope of an agency's rules or regulations