AP Gove Capter 5 and 7 vocab

Formal powers

Powers explicitly granted to the president in Article II of the

Constitution, such as the power to command the armed forces.

informal powers

Powers not stated in the Constitution but necessary to

carry out the duties of the presidency, such as issuing executive orders.

veto

The constitutional power of the president to send a bill back to

Congress with reasons for rejecting it.

pocket veto

A formal decision to reject a bill passed by Congress after it has

adjourned; if Congress is out of session and the president takes no action for

10 days, the bill dies.

commander in chief

The role of the president as the supreme commander of the military forces of the United States.

executive order

A rule or regulation issued by the president that has the effect and formal status of legislation.

executive agreement

An international agreement, usually regarding routine administrative matters, made by the executive branch without ratification by the Senate.

executive priveledge

The power kept by the executive branch to resist certain subpoenas and other interventions by the legislative and judicial branches of government.

bully pulpit

The president's use of their prestige and visibility to guide or enthuse the American public.

state of the union address

An annual message delivered by the president to a joint session of the United States Congress, fulfilling the constitutional requirement to report on the "state of the union."

signing statement

A written pronouncement issued by the President of the United States upon the signing of a bill into law, often expressing how they intend to interpret or execute it.

bully pulpit

Informal power of persuasion the President possesses. Utilized to rally public support and push pressure on Congress to pursue a particular policy. 

cabinet

A group of advisers to the president that includes the heads of 15 executive departments.

impeachment

 The power of the House of Representatives to formally charge a civil officer of the United States with "Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors." Requires a simple majority vote (218/435) exclusively in the House. 

removal

The power of the US Senate to formally remove a President or other high official for "Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors." Requires 2/3rds vote (67/100) exclusively in the Senate. 

advice and consent

The power of the Senate to consult and approve the president's treaties and appointments (including Cabinet secretaries and federal judges).

22nd amendment

The constitutional amendment that limits presidents to two terms of office.

25th amendment

The constitutional amendment that establishes procedures for filling vacancies in the office of president and vice president and for dealing with presidential disability.

lame duck period

 The period of time between the election of a new president and the inauguration, when the outgoing president's power and influence are often diminished.

war powers resolution

A law passed in 1973 spelling out the conditions under which the president can commit troops without congressional approval, intended to check the president's power.

bureaucracy

A large, complex organization composed of unelected appointed officials who carry out the day-to-day operations of the government.

patronage (spoils system)

A system in which jobs and promotions are awarded for political reasons rather than for merit or competence; "who you know, not what you know."

merit system

The system of employing and promoting civil servants on the basis of ability and qualifications (usually via competitive testing), established by the Pendleton Act.

civil service

 A system of hiring and promotion based on the merit principle and the desire to create a nonpartisan government service.

iron triangle

The mutually advantageous relationship between a bureaucratic agency, a congressional committee, and an interest group.

delegated discretionary authority

The power given by Congress to the bureaucracy to decide how a law is going to be implemented and to make rules/regulations.

rule making

The quasi-legislative process by which bureaucratic agencies create regulations that have the force of law.

independent regulatory commission

A government agency with responsibility for making and enforcing rules to protect the public interest in some sector of the economy (e.g., the SEC or FCC).

government cooperation

A government organization that, like a business corporation, provides a service that could be delivered by the private sector and typically charges for its services (e.g., the U.S. Postal Service).

independent executive agency

Government units that closely resemble a Cabinet department but have narrower areas of responsibility and perform services rather than regulatory functions (e.g., NASA).

oversight

The power of Congress to review, monitor, and supervise bureaucratic agencies and their implementation of legislation (often through committee hearings).

power of the purse

The constitutional power of Congress to influence the bureaucracy by increasing or decreasing an agency's budget.

Executive orders

Presidential directive to a Bureaucratic agency that changes the enforcement/executions of the law.