Waples, American Government: Stories of a Nation for the AP® Course, 1e, Chapter 5

executive branch

The branch of government charged with putting the nation's laws into effect.

formal or enumerated 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 (EOP)

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.