Executive and Judicial Branches: Presidential Roles, Powers, and Court Systems

A comprehensive vocabulary review of the nine roles of the President, formal and informal executive powers, checks and balances, and judicial branch concepts.

Chief of State

The role of the President as the ceremonial head and symbol of the nation.

Chief Executive

The role of the President that enforces the laws.

Chief Administrator

The role of the President that runs the executive branch and bureaucracy.

Chief Diplomat

The role of the President that directs foreign policy and negotiates treaties.

Commander in Chief

The role of the President that commands the armed forces.

Chief Legislator

The role of the President that works with Congress on legislation.

Chief of Party

The role of the President where they lead their own political party.

Chief Citizen

The role of the President that represents the public interest.

Chief Economist

The role of the President that manages the nation's economy.

Formal Powers

Presidential powers that are explicitly written in the Constitution.

Veto

A formal presidential power to reject a bill passed by Congress.

Pardon

A formal power of the President to forgive a federal crime.

Appointment Power

A formal presidential power to name officials, including the cabinet, US attorneys, ambassadors, and federal judges.

Informal Powers

Presidential powers that are not written in the Constitution.

Bully pulpit

An informal power where the President uses public visibility to pressure Congress.

Bargaining

An informal presidential strategy to negotiate with legislators.

Executive orders

Directives issued by the President to direct the bureaucracy without congressional legislation.

Executive agreements

Foreign agreements made by the President that do not require Senate approval.

Signing statements

Presidential statements made when signing a bill that state how a law will be interpreted.

Electoral mandate

The claim of public approval made by a President after winning an election.

Legislative oversight and subpoena power

A congressional check on the presidency that investigates the executive branch.

Judicial invalidation

A judicial check where courts strike down unconstitutional presidential actions.

Senate confirmation

A legislative check required for presidential appointments of cabinet members, US attorneys, ambassadors, and federal judges.

Line of Succession

The order of replacement for the presidency: Vice President, then Speaker of the House, then President pro tempore.

EOP

Executive Office of the President.

Original jurisdiction

The authority of a court where a legal case starts.

Appellate jurisdiction

The authority of a court that reviews a lower court's decision.

Federal question

A legal issue in which a case involves the Constitution or federal law.

Diversity of citizenship

A basis for federal court jurisdiction involving cases where parties are from different states.

Exclusive jurisdiction

A jurisdiction rule stipulating that only federal courts can hear the case.

Judicial review

The power of the courts to check whether a law is constitutional.

Judicial activism

A judicial philosophy that interprets the law to promote change.

Judicial restraint

A judicial philosophy that strictly follows the letter of the law.

Types of Court Opinions

The forms of opinions issued by courts: majority, unanimous, dissenting, concurring, plurality, seriatim, and per curiam.

Types of Courts

Categories of courts in the judicial system: trial, appellate, supreme; criminal and civil.

Bureaucracy

The executive administrative system that enforces laws and keeps administration fair.

Cabinet

An appointed body of officials that advises the President.

Life tenure

A judicial protection that keeps judges out of politics.

Vice President

The official who takes over if the President dies and presides over the Senate.

Requirements to be President

Must be at least $35$ years old, a natural born citizen, and have $14$ years of US residency.