Civics Unit 4 Study Guide Flashcards

Pardon

A release from legal punishment

Executive Privilege

The president’s right to withhold information from Congress or the courts

Reprieve

Postponement of legal punishment

Cabinet

The heads of the 15 executive departments, the VP, and other top officials

National Security Council

Agency that advises the president and coordinates military and foreign policy

Mandate

Popular support or the expressed will of the people

Nebraska and Maine

States that do not use the "Winner Take All" electoral system

Four

The number of years for one presidential term

Amnesty

A group pardon to people for an offense against the government

Speaker of the House

Next in line after the Vice President for presidential succession

Covert Operations

Secret government activities

Theodore Roosevelt

President who named the White House

Impoundment

President refusing to spend money Congress has allocated

War Powers Act

Prevents the president from committing troops to combat for more than 60 days without Congressional approval

Executive Orders

Rules that have the force of law issued by the president

10 years

Maximum number of years a person can serve as president (22nd Amendment)

2 terms

Maximum number of terms a president can be elected (22nd Amendment)

Lame Duck

President waiting to take office under the 20th Amendment

Winner-Take-All

System where the popular vote winner in a state gets all the electoral votes

538

Total number of Electoral College electors

Presidential Powers in Article II

Command the military, grant pardons, make treaties, appoint officials, deliver State of the Union, convene/adjourn Congress, enforce laws, veto legislation

25th Amendment

Sets the order for presidential succession

35 years old

Minimum age to be U.S. president

14 years

Residency requirement for U.S. president

4 terms

Number of terms Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected

Department of Homeland Security

Created after the 2001 terrorist attacks