The Executive Branch: President and Executive

AUMF

Authorization for Use of Military Force. Enabled the US president to unilaterally launch military operations across the world without any congressional oversight in response to terrorist threats

War Powers Resolution

Requires the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of committing armed forces to military action and forbids armed forces from remaining for more than 60 days, with a further 30-day withdrawal period, without congressional authorization for use of military force (AUMF)

Federalist 70

US requires a strong, energetic executive. A Plural executive is dangerous because of a lack of accountability.

Qualifications for President

35 years old, born in the U.S., and has to have lived in the U.S. for 14 years

12th Amendment

Election of President and Vice President

22nd Amendment

Limits the president to two terms.

Vesting Clause

Article II, Section 1, of the Constitution, which states that "executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America," making the president both the head of government and the head of state.

Presidential Veto

a president's authority to reject a bill passed by Congress. May be overridden only by a two-thirds majority in each house

Bully Pulpit

presidential appeals to the public to pressure other branches of government to support his or her policies

Take care clause

The constitutional requirement that presidents take care that the laws are faithfully executed, even if they disagree with the purpose of those laws

Executive Orders

Formal orders issued by the president to direct action by the federal bureaucracy.

Signing statements

occasional written comments attached to a bill signed by the president

Appointment power

The authority vested in the president to fill a government office or position. Congress can check this power through the confirmation process

Commander in Chief Power

the presidential power to control the military

Pardon power

Power of the president to forgive a federal offense without penalty or grant release from a penalty already imposed.

Executive privilege

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

US v. Nixon

The Supreme Court does have the final voice in determining constitutional questions. No person, not even the President of the United States, is completely above law and the president cannot use executive privilege as an excuse to withhold evidence that is 'demonstrably relevant in a criminal trial

State of the Union Address

the annual speech from the president to Congress updating that branch on the state of national affairs

Pocket Veto

an indirect veto of a legislative bill by the president retaining the bill unsigned until it is too late for it to be dealt with during the legislative session.

Chief Diplomat

The role of the president in recognizing foreign governments, making treaties, and effecting executive agreements.

Executive Agreement

A formal agreement between the U.S. president and the leaders of other nations that does not require Senate approval.

Impeachment

An action by the House of Representatives to accuse the president, vice president, or other civil officers of the United States of committing "Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors."

Executive Office of the President

a collection of offices within the White House organization designed mainly to provide information to the president

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

reform measure that established the principle of federal employment on the basis of merit, including open, competitive exams. Created the Civil Service Commission

Iron Triangle

coordinated and mutually beneficial activities of the bureaucracy, Congress, and interest groups to achieve shared policy goals

Issue network

webs of influence between interest groups, policymakers, and policy advocates

Implementation

The process of putting a law into practice through bureaucratic rules or spending.

Delegated / Bureaucratic Discretion

The power to decide how a law is implemented and to decide what Congress meant when it decided to pass a law

Regulation

the process through which the bureaucracy uses governmental authority to create rules controlling or changing the way a law is carried out

Bureaucratic Adjudication

when the federal bureaucracy settles disputes between parties that arise over the implementation of federal laws or determines which individuals or groups are covered under a regulation or program

Hobby Lobby v. Burwell

A landmark Supreme Court case in 2014 that ruled closely held corporations could deny contraceptive coverage based on religious objections, impacting the Affordable Care Act.

Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer

A Supreme Court case in 1952 that limited the power of the President to seize private property without Congressional approval even during wartime, reinforcing the principle of checks and balances.