AP Gov chapter 5

Executive Branch

The institution responsible for carrying out laws passed by the legislative branch.

Formal/ Enumerated powers

Powers expressly granted in the constitution.

Informal Powers

Powers not laid out in the constitution but used to carry out presidential duties.

Presidential Pardon

Presidential authority to release individuals convicted of a crime from legal consequences and to set aside punishment for a crime.

Executive Privilege

A right claimed by president to keep certain conversation records, and transcripts confidential from outside.

Executive Agreements

An agreement between a president and another nation that does not have the same durability as a treaty but does not require senate ratification.

Signing Statements

Written comments issued by presidents while signing a bill into aw that usually consistent of political statement or reasons for signing the bill but that may also includes a presidents interpretation of the law itself.

Treaties

An agreement with a foreign government negotiated by the president and requiring a two/thirds vote in the senate to ratify.

State of the Union Address 

The annual speech given by the president to congress on the state of national affairs.

Veto

Constitutional power of a president to formally reject a bill passed by congress, sending it back with objections.

Pocket Veto

An informal veto that occurs when the president chooses not to sign a bill within ten days, during a time when congress has adjourned at the end of a session.

Impeachment

The process of removing a president or other officeholder from office, articles of impeachment of a federal officeholder are issued by a majority vote in the house of representatives, followed by a trial in the senate, with a two/thirds vote necessary to convict and remove.

Executive Office of the President (EOP)

A collection of offices within the white house organization designed mainly to provide information to the president.

Bargaining and persuasion

An informal tool used by the president to persuade members of congress to support the administration’s policy initiatives.

Bully Pulpit

Presidential appeals to the public to pressure other branches of government to support the president’s policies.