Unit 5 AP GOV 2025

Appropriation

money that Congress has allocated to be spent.

Executive agreement

an agreement between the President and another head of state that, unlike a treaty, does not require Senate consent.

Executive order

presidential rule or regulation that has the force of law.

Executive privilege

the privilege of a President and his staff to withhold their "privileged" conversations from Congress or the courts.

Legislative oversight

ongoing process of congressional monitoring of the executive branch to ensure that the latter complies with the law.

Line item veto

power of most governors (and President Clinton for only a few years) to delete or reduce funding in a bill on a line by line basis.

Merit system/Civil Service

system of hiring federal workers based upon competitive exams.

Patronage/Spoils system

power to appoint loyal party members to federal positions.

Political appointees

those who have received presidential appointments to office. Contrast with Civil Service employees, who receive federal jobs by competitive exams.

Red tape

complex rules and procedures required by bureaucratic agencies.

Senatorial courtesy

tradition in which the President consults with the senators within a state in which an appointment is to be made.

Whistleblower

an employee who exposes unethical or illegal conduct within the federal government or one of its contractors.

discretionary authority

The ability of a bureaucracy to choose courses of action and make policies not spelled out in advance by laws

duplication

A bureaucratic pathology in which two or more government agencies seem to be doing the same thing

Pendleton Act

A law passed in 1883 which began the process of transferring federal jobs from patronage to the merit system

Cabinet

secretaries of the executive departments, the vice president, and other top officials that help the president make decisions and policy

Pardon

a release from legal punishment

Amnesty

a group pardon to individuals that offense against the government

Treaty

formal agreement between the governments of 2 or more countries

Commander-in-Chief

the role of the president as supreme commander of the military forces of the united states and of the state national guard units when they are called into federal service

Executive Office of the President

the cluster of presidential staff agencies that help the president carry out his responsibilities. Currently the office includes the Office of Management and Budget, the Council of Economic Advisers, and several other units

Impeachment

formal accusation against the president or other public official; the first step in removal from office

Imperial presidency

term used to describe a president as an "emperor" who acts without consulting congress or acts in secrecy to evade or deceive congress

Office of Management and Budget

Presidential staff agency that serves as a clearing-house for budgetary requests and management improvements for government agencies

Pocket veto

a veto exercised by the president after Congress has adjourned; if the president takes no action for ten days, the bill does not become law and is not returned to Congress for a possible override

State of the Union Address

The president's annual statement to Congress and the nation

Veto

Rejection by a president or governor of legislation passed by a legislature

White House Staff

personnel who run the white house and advise the president. Includes the chief of staff and press secretary

Chief of Staff

The head of the White House staff

Take Care Clause

The constitutional requirement (in Article II, Section 3) that presidents take care that the laws are faithfully executed, even if they disagree with the purpose of those laws

Bureaucracy

An organization of government departments, agencies, and offices

Secretary

An official who heads an executive department

Attorney General

The chief legal officer of a nation or a state

Embassy

American Soil: Official residence of an ambassador in a foreign country. - Place when you can get asylum

Government Corporation

a government owned business-like entity that accepts a fee for service.