Executive Branch Vocabulary

Electoral College

A group of people named by each state legislature to select the president and vice president

Veto

A presidential power which is used to reject a bill passed by Congress

State of the Union Address

The annual message delivered before Congress in which the President outlines legislation for discussion in the next congressional session.

Chief Executive

The official who runs or administers a government.

Civil service system

government employees are hired and promoted based on competitive tests and personal qualifications.

Ambassador

The highest-ranking diplomat appointed by the President to carry out foreign policy in a specific country; other nations send such an official to the US.

Bureaucracy

The agencies and offices that work for a government and carry out its policies. The are nonelected officials.

Cabinet

the advisory body (and head of executive departments) that helps the President make decisions and set government policy

Commander-in-chief

The President of the US in his position as head of the military.

White House Office

Includes the President's most trusted personal friends and political allies; staff members advise the President on such important matters as congressional relations, foreign affairs, and public relations.

War Powers Act

A 1973 law specifying certain conditions the President must meet to to commit U.S. troops to combat without the approval of Congress.

line-item-veto

The executive power to veto specific items included in a piece of legislation without vetoing the entire piece of legislation.

National Convention

The meeting of party delegates in a presidential election year to nominate candidates for President and Vice President

Pardon

The freeing of a suspected or convicted criminal from any further trial or punishment by the President or the governor of a state.

Patronage

A public official's power to hand out jobs, building contracts, and other favors to party supporters.

Pocket veto

action whereby a chief executive kills a bill by refusing to accept or reject it by the time the legislature adjourns. The bill cannot become law without the executive's signature, and the veto cannot be overridden because the legislature is not in session.

presidential primary

A primary election in which voters choose the candidate they want their convention delegates to nominate.

executive order

Regulations issued by a chief executive based upon either constitution or legal authority and having the force of the law.

Executive privilege

The President's right to refuse to testify before, or provide information to, Congress or a court.

Independent agencies

Regulate specific aspects of teh national economy and administer government programs; examples are inte Federal Reserve System and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Reprieve

An official order by a chief executive to delay temporarily the carrying out of an execution or prison sentence.

Presidential succession

The order in which the office of President is to be filled if it becomes vacant before an election; after the Vice President, the first three people to succeed to the presidency are the Speaker of the House, President Pro tem pore of the Senate, and Secretary of State

Coattail effect

the impact that a popular candidate for a top office, such as presidency, can have on the voters' support for other candidates in his or her party on the same ballot

Chief of Staff

The assistant to the President who directs the White House Office and advises the President.

Impeachment

a formal action by the House of Representatives accusing the President, Vice President, or any civil officer of the United States of "treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors;" the Senate must then try the accused official.