Quarter 2 Exam - Vocabulary

Administration Discretion / Discretionary Authority

Ability of bureaucrats and agencies to make choices when implementing laws

Appointment Power

President’s power to nominate officials to government positions

Approval Ratings

Public opinion polls showing how much people approve of the president’s performance

Bully Pulpit / Going Public

Using the presidency to speak directly to the public to influence opinion or Congress

Bureaucratic “Red Tape”

Complicated rules and procedures that slow down government action

Cabinet Departments / Cabinet Secretaries

Major executive departments led by secretaries who advise the president

Candidate-Centered Campaign

Election focused more on the candidate than the political party

Caucus

Private meeting of party members to choose candidates or plan strategy

Civil Service Reform Act of 1978

Law that reorganized the civil service and strengthened merit-based hiring

Electoral College

Group of electors who formally elect the president and vice president

Executive Office of the President

Agencies and advisors that directly assist the president

Executive Agreement

International agreement made by the president without Senate approval

Executive Order

Directive issued by the president that has the force of law

Executive Privilege

President’s right to withhold certain information from Congress or courts

Federalist 70

Essay by Alexander Hamilton arguing for a strong, energetic executive

Formal Powers of the President

Powers explicitly listed in the Constitution

Government Accountability Office (GAO)

Congressional agency that audits and evaluates government spending

Government Corporation

Government-owned business that provides a public service

Hatch Act

Law limiting political activities of federal employees

Impeachment

Process where the House charges a federal official with wrongdoing

Impoundment of Funds

When the president refuses to spend money approved by Congress

Impoundment of Funds Act of 1974

Law restricting the president’s ability to withold congressionally approved funds

Independent Executive Agency

Agency outside cabinet departments that reports directly to the president (Example NASA)

Independent Regulatory Commission

Agency that regulates industries and is insulated from direct presidential control

Informal Powers of the President

Powers not written in the Constitution but gained through custom and influence

Line-Item Veto

Power to reject specific parts of a bill without vetoing the whole bill

National party conventions (DNC and RNC)

Meetings where parties officially nominate presidential candidates

National Security Council

Group that advises the president on national security and foreign policy

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

Agency that helps prepare the federal budget and oversee agencies

Office of Personnel Management

Agency that manages federal hiring and civil service policies

Pendleton Act

Law that established the merit system for federal employment

Pocket Veto

Indirect veto that occurs when the president takes no action on a bill as Congress adjourns

Presidential Primary

Elections where parties choose presidential nominees, open to all voters or closed to only party members

Rally-Round-the-Flag

Surge in public support for the president during national crisis

Senate “Advice and Consent”

Senate’s power to approve or reject presidential appointments and treaties

Signing Statement

Written statement by the president explaining how they interpret a new law

Spoils System

Practice of giving government jobs to political supporters

State of the Union Address

Annual speech where the president outlines goals and policies

Swing State

State where neither party has a guaranteed electoral advantage

Take Care Clause

Constitutional requirement that the president enforce the laws

Treaty Ratification

Senate approval of an international treaty by a two-thirds vote

War Powers Resoution

Law limiting the president’s ability to deploy troops without congressional approval

White House Staff

Advisors and aides who assist the president in daily operations

Winner-Takes-All

Electoral system where the candidate with the most votes wins all electoral votes in a state

12th Amendment

Established the modern process for electing the president and vice president

20th Amendment

Changed the start dates of presidential and congressional terms

22nd Amendment

Limited presidents to two elected terms

25th Amendment

Clarified presidential succession and procedures for presidential disability