CL Unit 5 U.S. Executive Branch and Bureaucracy

Flashcards covering key terms related to the U.S. Executive Branch, presidential powers, foreign policy mechanisms, and the federal bureaucracy system.

Electoral College

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

Presidential Succession Act

A $1947$ law enacted by Congress that provides for the filling of any simultaneous vacancy of the presidency and vice presidency.

faithless elector

An elector who votes for someone other than the candidate who won the most votes in the state.

executive order

A rule issued by the president that has the force of law.

Executive Order 9066

FDR's order to place all Japanese Americans in Internment Camps.

Executive Order 9981

An executive order issued by President Harry S. Truman in $1948$ ending segregation in the military.

pardon

A declaration of legal forgiveness and freedom from punishment.

reprieve

Cancel or postpone the punishment of (someone, esp. someone condemned to death).

amnesty

A pardon to a group of people.

War Powers Resolution

A law passed in $1973$ spelling out the conditions under which the president can commit troops without congressional approval. Congress must be notified within $48$ hours and troops must be brought home within $60$ unless Congress approves.

Foreign Policy

A nation's overall plan for dealing with other nations.

national security

The ability to keep the country safe from attack or harm.

treaty

A formal agreement between two or more sovereign states.

executive agreement

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

ambassador

An official representative of a country's government.

Bureaucracy

A system of managing government through departments run by appointed officials.

Diplomacy

The practice of conducting negotiations between countries.

Trade Sanctions

Government use of legal restrictions on trade to achieve desired political results.

Embargo

An agreement between a group of nations to refuse to trade with the target nation in order to push a particular action.

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.

Independent Agencies

Agencies in the executive branch of the federal government formed by Congress to help enforce laws and regulations not covered by the executive departments.

Chief of Staff

The person who oversees the operations of all White House staff and controls access to the president.

regulations

Rules governing the operation of all government programs that have the force of law.

government corporations

A government organization that, like business corporations, provides a service that could be provided by the private sector and typically charges for its services, such as the U.S. Postal Service.

civil service system/merit system

The merit system by which many federal bureaucrats are selected.

Spoils System

The system of employing and promoting civil servants who are friends and supporters of the group in power.

Pendleton Act

Reform measure that established the principle of federal employment on the basis of open, competitive exams and created the Civil Service Commission.