Unit 2.5 President Vocab

This states that it is easier and more effective to have a singular executive rather than a plural one

Federalist #70

to ensure judicial independence, 1) judges must be appointed not elected, 2) serve for life and 3) have a superior (supreme)

Federalist #78

The President as the holder of the executive power of the United States; enforces law

Chief executive

The President as ceremonial head of the United States

Chief of State

The President as the leader of the executive branch of the federal government; runs government agencies, leads cabinet

Chief Administrator

The President as the main architect of American foreign policy and the nation's chief spokesperson to other countries

Chief Diplomat

The top person in charge of the nation's armed forces

Commander in Chief

Proposes laws, shapes laws through veto power

Chief Legislator

The President as the leader of his or her political party

chief of party

making appointments to office in return for political support; begun by Andrew Jackson and called the "spoils system"

patronage

Law requiring people to take a civil service exam for certain government jobs; and be hired and fired based on merit

Pendleton Civil Service Act

A federal law prohibiting government employees from active participation in partisan politics

Hatch Act

set up to combat issues of terrorism, border control, and intelligence: immigration services. FEMA, and the Coast Guard (cabinet department)

Homeland Security Department

Manages the nations highways, railroads, airlines, and sea traffic (cabinet department)

Department of Transportation

provides services for veterans including health care and other benefits (cabinet department)

Veterans Affairs Department

administers federal aid to schools and conducts educational research (cabinet departent)

Department of Education

a governmental agency with environmental protection regulatory and enforcement authority (independent executive agency)

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

a bipartisan federal agency that oversees the financing of national election campaigns (independent regulatory agency)

Federal Election Commission (FEC)

bipartisan federal agency that monitors the stock market and enforces laws regulating the sale of stocks and bonds (independent regulatory agency)

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

describes the executive branch

Article II of the Constitution

This case establishes the Supreme Court's power of Judicial Review

Marbury v. Madison

Let the decision stand; the principle which states importance of making court decisions based on precedents

stare decisis

Philosophy proposing that judges should interpret the Constitution in a broad manner

judicial activism

Philosophy proposing that judges should interpret the Constitution in a strict manner

judicial restraint

The theory that assumes the Constitution was meant to be a dynamic document whose meaning has to account for contemporary

Living Constitution

A view that the Constitution should be interpreted according to the intent of the framers

original intent

general term describing the process by which a law or policy is put into operation by bureaucratic agencies

implementation

a form of implementation in which bureaucracies make rules that provide details to otherwise vague laws; quasi-legislative

regulation

a form of implementation in which bureaucracies interpret their rules to determine if they have been violated; quasi judicial

adjudication

dozens of agencies, interest groups and congressional committees overlapping in a given policy area

issue networks

Cabinet members are heads of:

executive departments

an official representative of the United States appointed by the President to represent the nation in matters of diplomacy;

ambassador

Personnel who run the White House and advise the President. Includes the Chief of Staff and Press Secretary. They do not require Senate appointment approval

White House Staff

Approves the president's choices for key government positions through the Constitution's "advice and consent" power

Senate

Presidential appointment made without Senate confirmation during Senate recess

recess appointment

issued by the president to executive branch of the government and having the force of law

executive order

A formal agreement between the US president and the leaders of other nations that does not require Senate approval

executive agreement

Limits the president to two terms

22nd Amendment

(1) Succession of VP if president dies or become incapable to do his job. (2) if there is no VP, president must appoint one

25th amendment

the president has the power to negotiate with other nations but must be presented to the Senate

treaty

spending category about which government planners can make choices; largest category is defense

discretionary

Federal spending required by law that continues without the need for annual approvals by Congress

mandatory

Federal Entitlement Examples

Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid