AP Gov executive branch

Pocket veto

pres doesnt sign bill and congress adjourns in under 10 days and so bill dies, congress can’t veto override

what can pres do to bill -Take no action

same as pocket veto but over 10 days (when they know theres support and itll pass but they dont wanna attach their name to it)

line item veto

not anymore, can veto specific parts

sign bill into law

2/3 in both chambers can veto override

fed 70

strong single executive pres is essential for good gov (ensure energy, accountability, and exec leadership) (unitary executive)

state of union address

annual address to joint session of congress (highlights conditions and agenda); pres’s most powerful tool (persuasion)

treaties 

President negotiates treaties; Senate approves with 2/3.

Appointment Power

President appoints judges, ambassadors, agency heads (Senate confirms).

Commander-in-Chief

President leads the military; major influence over war and foreign policy.

faithfully execute clause

duty of enforcing, supervising executive branch and makes sure laws are enforced

25th amendment

vp becomes pres if they cant work or die

22nd amendment

limit to pres terms

20th amendment

shortens time for pres elections and innauguration bc of lame duck period

12th amendment

made seperate ballots bc pres and vp would b different parties which was problem

clemency

pardoning/reprieving power used to help unfairly treated individuals

midnight pardon

pardoning ppl at end of term that u wouldnt pardon while in office bc of media backlash 

reprieve

halt/pauses

bully pulpit

good speaking opportunity where they can speak directly to public

Impeachment

House impeaches, Senate removes; ultimate check on abuse.

War Powers Resolution

Notify Congress in 48 hours, withdraw troops in 60 days w/o approval.

Departments

Largest units (e.g., State, Defense), led by Cabinet secretaries.

Agencies

Smaller units within departments or independent (e.g., FBI, NASA).

Commissions

Independent bodies that regulate specific areas, often bipartisan (e.g., FCC, SEC).

Iron Triangle

A stable relationship between a congressional committee, an interest group, and a bureaucracy.

Issue Network

A more fluid, temporary alliance of experts, media, interest groups, and government officials around a policy issue.

Patronage

Jobs given based on loyalty or political connections.

Merit System

Jobs awarded based on qualifications and exams

Pendleton Act

created the civil service system and required government jobs to be filled based on merit, not political patronage — ending the spoils system.

Discretionary Rule-Making

Bureaucrats decide how to write regulations to enforce laws.

Implementation

Carrying out and enforcing the laws and rules that already exist.

Congress

Oversight, budget control, hearings, laws.

President

Appointments, executive orders, reorganization.

Courts

Judicial review — can rule actions unconstitutional.

Partisanship

Members vote with party over president → more gridlock.

Formal powers (pres-constitution)

Veto, military,treaty,appointment,pardon

Informal powers (pres)

exec orders, bully pulpit, sign laws