Executive Branch

Veto

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

pocket veto

president's power to kill a bill, if Congress is not in session, by not signing it for 10 days

Commander in Chief

The role of the president as supreme commander of the military forces of the United States and of the state National Guard units when they are called into federal service

executive power

the power to execute, enforce, and administer law

State of the Union Address

a speech given annually by the president to a joint session of Congress and to the nation announcing the president's agenda

executive agreement

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

executive order

a rule or order issued by the president to an executive branch of the government and having the force of law.

signing statement

A written declaration that a president may make when signing a bill into law. Usually, such statements point out sections of the law that the president deems unconstitutional.

White House Staff

Personnel who run the White House and advise the President. Includes the Chief of Staff and Press Secretary

22nd Amendment

Limits the president to two terms.

Bully Pulpit

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

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.

Cabinet Departments

The fifteen largest and most influential agencies of the federal bureaucracy (e.g., Department of State, Treasury, Justice...) Headed by Secretary or Attorney General (Department of Justice)

independent agency

federal board or commission that is not part of any cabinet department

regulatory commissions

Independent agencies created by Congress that can make rules concerning certain activities and bring violators to court

Government Corporations (Examples)

Government agencies that perform services that might be provided by the private sector but that either involve insufficient financial incentive or are better provided when they are somehow linked with government; ex: Amtrak, post office

Iron Triangle

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

issue network

A network of people in Washington, D.C.-based interest groups, on congressional staffs, in universities and think tanks, and in the mass media, who regularly discuss and advocate public policies.

civil service

A system of hiring and promotion based on the merit principle and the desire to create a nonpartisan government service.

Patronage

Granting favors or giving contracts or making appointments to office in return for political support

discretionary authority

The extent to which appointed bureaucrats can choose courses of action and make policies that are not spelled out in advance by laws.

rule making authority

An agency's ability to make rules that affect how programs operate, and to force states and corporations to obey these rules as if they were laws.

Department of Homeland Security

Cabinet department created after the 9/11 terrorist attacks to coordinate domestic security efforts

Department of Transportation

Manages the nations highways, railroads, airlines, and sea traffic

Department of Veterans Affairs

This department administers benefit programs for our veterans.

Department of Education

Provides advice and funding for schools

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

an independent federal agency established to coordinate programs aimed at reducing pollution and protecting the environment

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

The agency of the U.S. government that oversees U.S. financial markets and accounting standard-setting bodies.

Congressional Oversight

Power used by Congress to gather information useful for the formation of legislation, review the operations and budgets of executive departments and independent regulatory agencies, conduct investigations through committee hearings, and bring to the public's attention the need for public policy