Studied by 0 people
Executive branch
the branch of government charged with putting the nation’s laws into effect
Formal powers
powers expressly granted in the Constitution
Informal powers
powers not laid out in the Constitution but used to carry out presidential duties
Treaty
an agreement with a foreign government negotiated by the president and requiring a two-thirds vote in the Senate to ratify
State of the Union Address
the annual speech from the president to Congress updating that branch on the state of national affairs
Veto
formal rejection by the president of a bill that has passed both houses of Congress
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 pardon
presidential authority to release individuals convicted of a crime from legal consequences and set aside punishment for a crime
Executive privilege
a right claimed by presidents to keep certain conversations, records, and transcripts confidential from outside scrutiny, especially that of Congress
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
Signing statement
written comments issued by presidents while signing a bill into law that usually consist of political statements or reasons for signing the bill but that may also include a president’s interpretation of the law itself
Executive order
policy directives issued by presidents that do not require congressional approval
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
Impeachment
the process of removing a president from office, with articles of impeachment issued by a majority vote in the House of Representatives, followed by a trial in the Senate, with a two-thirds vote necessary to convict and remove
Executive office of the President
a collection of offices within the White House organization designed mainly to provide information to the president
Bargaining and persuasion
an informal tool used by the president to persuade members of Congress to support his or her policy initiatives
Bully pulpit
presidential appeals to the public to pressure other branches of government to support his or her policies
Going public
a tactic through which presidents reach out directly to the American people with the hope that the people will, in turn, put pressure upon their representatives and senators to press for a president’s policy goals
Electoral mandate
the perception that an election victory signals broad support for the winner's proposed policies
Line-item veto
a special form of veto power that authorizes a chief executive to reject particular provisions of a bill enacted by a legislature without vetoing the entire bill
National Security Council
council formed in 1947 in response to the Cold War and the greater need for coordination of foreign policy
Presidential coattails
the coattail effect is the tendency for a popular political party leader to attract votes for other candidates of the same party in an election; members of Congress who are elected in this way are voted into office "on the coattails" of the president
White House Office
part of the EOP; composed of White House staff, who are appointed by the president, that report directly to the president; includes directors of communications, the press secretary, etc.
Federal bureaucracy
the departments and agencies within the executive branch that carry out the laws of the nation
Bureaucrat
an official employed within a government bureaucracy
Political patronage
filling of administrative positions as a reward for support, rather than solely on merit
Pendleton 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 the Civil Service Reform Act of 1883)
Federal civil service
the merit-based bureaucracy excluding the armed forces and political appointments
Merit system
a system of hiring and promotion based on competitive testing results, education, and other qualifications rather than politics and personal connections
Iron triangle
coordinated and mutually beneficial activities of the bureaucracy, Congress, and interest groups to achieve shared policy goals
Issue network
webs of influence between interest groups, policymakers, and policy advocates
Implementation
the bureaucracy’s role in putting into action the laws that Congress has passed
Bureaucratic discretion
the power to decide how a law is implemented and to decide what Congress meant when it passed a law
Regulation
the process through which the federal bureaucracy makes rules that have the force of law, to carry out the laws passed by Congress
Bureaucratic adjudication
when the federal bureaucracy settles disputes between parties that arise over the implementation of federal laws or determines which individuals or groups are covered under the regulation or program
Deregulation
the process of reducing or eliminating government rules and restrictions on industries, businesses, and markets
Hatch Act
law where government employees are prohibited from engaging in political campaign activities while on duty or using their official authority to influence an election
Federal register
official document, published every weekday, that lists the new and proposed regulations of executive departments and regulatory agencies.
Governmental Accountability Office (GAO)
bureaucratic agency established by Congress that allows Congress to check on how executive agencies are exercising their authority and whether they are spending the funds appropriated to them wisely
Independent regulatory agency
federal agencies that have been established by Congress to have a certain amount of independence from the President
Independent executive agency
agencies that, while considered part of the executive branch, have regulatory or rulemaking authority and are insulated from presidential control, usually because the president's power to dismiss the agency head or a member is limited
Government corporation
a government agency that operates like a business corporation, created to secure greater freedom of action and flexibility for a particular program
Street level bureaucrats
bureaucrats who are in constant contact with the public and have considerable discretion (including police officers, welfare workers, and lower court judges)
Rule making
the policy-making process for Executive and Independent Agencies of the federal government
Note 
Flashcard (25)