AmericanPolitics: Chapter 11

constitutional authority (president)

powers derived from the provisions of the constitution that outline the president's role in government

statutory authority (presidential)

powers derived from laws enacted by congress that add to the powers given to the president in the constitution

vesting clause

states the executive power shall be vested in a president of the United States of America, making the president both the head of government and the head of state

head of government

one role of the president, through which he or she has authority over the executive branch

head of state

one role of the president, through which they represent the country symbolically and politically

recess appointment

selection by the president of a person to be an ambassador or the head of a department while the senate is not in session, thereby bypassing senate approval. unless approved by a subsequent senate vote recess appointees serve only to the end of the congressional term

executive orders

proclamations made by the president the change government policy without congressional approval

executive agreement

an agreement between the executive branch and a foreign government, which acts as a treaty but does not require senate approval

state of the union

an annual speech in which the president addresses congress to report on the condition of the country and to recommend policies

executive privilege

the right of the president to keep executive branch conversations and correspondence confidential from the legislative and judicial branches

executive office of the president

the group of policy-related offices that serve as support staff to the president

cabinet

the group of 15 executive department heads who implement the president's agenda in their respective positions

unilateral action (presidential)

any policy decision made and acted upon by the president and presidential staff without the explicit approval or consent of congress

signing statement

a document issued by the president when signing a bull into law explaining his or her interpretation of the law, which often differs from the interpretation of congress, in an attempt to influence how the law will be implemented

presidential approval rating

the percentage of Americans who think that the president is doing a good job in office

going public

a president's use of speeches and other public communications to appeal directly to citizens about issues the president would like the house and senate to act on