AP GOVERNMENT Vocab Unit 6: 1-36

veto

formal rejection by the president of a bill that has passed both houses of Congress

bureaucracy

the departments and agencies within the executive branch that carry out the laws of the nation

executive order

policy directives issued by presidents that do not require congressional approval

iron triangle

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

policy agenda

the set of issues to which government officials, voters, and the public are paying attention

independent regulatory agency

Organization that exists outside of the major cabinet departments and whose job is to monitor and regulate specific sectors of the economy.

independent executive agency

agency otherwise similar to cabinet departments but existing outside of the cabinet structure and usually having a narrower focus of mission

line-item veto

an executive's ability to block a particular provision in a bill passed by the legislature

executive agreement

an agreement between a president and another nation that does not have the same durability in the American system as a treaty but does not require Senate ratification

executive privilege

a right claimed by presidents to keep certain conversations, records, and transcripts confidential from outside scrutiny, especially that of Congress

honeymoon period

the time following an election when a president's popularity is high and congressional relations are likely to be productive

lame-duck period

period at the end of a presidential term when Congress may block presidential initiatives and nominees

issue network

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

impeachment

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

pocket veto

an informal veto caused when the president chooses not to sign a bill within ten days, during a time when Congress has adjourned at the end of a session

presidential coattails

These occur when voters cast their ballots for congressional candidates of the president's party because they support the president. Recent studies show that few races are won this way.

government corporation

A government agency that operates like a business corporation, created to secure greater freedom of action and flexibility for a particular program.

bureaucratic discretion

the power to decide how a law is implemented and, at times, what Congress actually meant when it passed a given law.

signing statements

text issued by presidents while signing a bill into law that usually consists of political statements or reasons for signing the bill but that may also include a president's interpretation of the law itself

regulation

the process through which the federal bureaucracy makes rules that have the force of law, to carry out the laws passed by Congress

deregulation

The reduction or elimination of government power in a particular industry, usually enacted to create more competition within the industry.

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.

legislative veto

A vote in Congress to override a presidential decision. Although the War Powers Resolution asserts this authority, there is reason to believe that, if challenged, the Supreme Court would find the legislative veto in violation of the doctrine of separation of powers.

22nd Amendment

Amendment that created a 2 term limit on presidents.

25th Amendment

(1) Succession of VP if president dies or become incapable to do his job.(2) if there is no VP, president must appoint one, and congress must approve

War Powers Resolution

a law passed over President Nixon's veto that restricts the power of the president to maintain troops in combat for more than sixty days without congressional authorization

Pendleton Civil Service Act

an act of Congress that created the first United States Civil Service Commission to draw up and enforce rules on hiring, promotion, and tenure of office within the civil service. Also known as Civil Service Reform Act of 1883

Hatch Act

A federal law prohibiting government employees from active participation in partisan politics.

United States v. Nixon

The 1974 case in which the Supreme Court unanimously held that the doctrine of executive privilege was implicit in the Constitution but could not be extended to protect documents relevant to criminal prosecutions

Office of Management and Budget

the executive branch office that assists the president in setting national spending priorities

Department of Homeland Security

US federal agency created in 2002 to coordinate national efforts against terrorism

Department of Defense

Cabinet-level agency in charge of the armed forces and military policy. HQ = The Pentagon. (Secretary Panetta)

Justice Department

the United States federal department responsible for enforcing federal laws (including the enforcement of all civil rights legislation)

State Department

A cabinet-level body charged with the execution of foreign policy

Treasury Department

A cabinet-level agency that is responsible for managing the federal government's revenue. It prints currency, collects taxes, and sells government bonds.

Federalist No. 70

-Argues the purpose of having a single executive (president) in government.

-States that an executive brings the government both the energy of one person & the safety of an accountability to the people

Streak

Streak