AP Gov-Executive Branch

Entitlements

Programs that provide benefits to individuals regardless of need.

Means-tested programs

Benefits only given to people with specific needs (i.e. SNAP)

Discretionary

Part of the budget that is not mandatory.

Defense spending

Largest part of the discretionary budget

Fiscal Policy

Managing the nation's economy by spending or taxing.

Monetary policy

Managing the nation's money supply.

The FED

Entity that manages monetary policy by doing things like raising interest rates.

Congress

Group that has the power of the purse.

Reserve ratio

Term for the amount of money that the FED says banks need to keep on hand.

Political action committees

organization formed by a special-interest group to raise LIMITED money for their favorite political candidates

Super PACs

Entity that can accept unlimited donations & spend unlimited amounts to support candidates, but can't work with candidate.

527s

A tax-exempt organization that promotes a political agenda with issue-ads, but they can't expressly advocate for or against a specific candidate

501 (c) 4 groups

Tax-exempt group that can run campaign ads as long as it isn't a majority of what they do. Donors DO NOT have to be disclosed.

Dark Money

political money where the donors of the money do not have to be disclosed, such as is the case with 501 (c) 4 organizations.

hard money

Political contributions given to a party, candidate, or interest group that are limited in amount and fully disclosed.

soft money

Campaign contributions that are more difficult to regulate, usually given to parties and party committees to help fund general party activities.

independent expenditures

Expenses on behalf of a political message that are made by groups that are uncoordinated with any candidate's campaign.

Spoils System

the practice of a successful political party giving public office to its supporters.

Pendleton Act

1883 law that forced political positions (jobs) to be based on merit rather than politics.

Tillman Act

1907 law banning corporate contributions to political campaigns

Federal Election Campaign Act

1974 law for reforming campaign finance. The act created the FEC, provided public financing for presidential elections, and limited hard money contributions.

Buckley v. Valeo

A case in which the Supreme Court of the United States upheld federal limits on campaign contributions, but also stated candidates can give unlimited amounts of money to their own campaigns.

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (BCRA)

Also called McCain-Feingold. It limited soft money in elections and banned PACs from running ads 30 before general elections.

Citizens United v. FEC

A 2010 decision by the United States Supreme Court holding that independent expenditures are free speech protected by the 1st Amendment and so cannot be limited by federal law. This led to the creation of Super PACs.

The President

Person in charge of appointing the Chairman and the Board of the FED.

White House Staff

Non-cabinet advisors & consultants to the President. They are the most influential members of the President's inner-circle.

Chief of staff

Member of the President's staff known as the "gate keeper."

Bush v. Gore

2000 14th Amendment Supreme Court case.

Ethics in Government Act

Law passed in the wake of the Watergate scandal, the 1978 act forced political candidates to disclose financial contributions and limited the lobbying activities of former elected officials.

US v. Nixon

Supreme Court case that established executive privilege a "thing," but also limited it's use.

New York Times v. US

1st Amendment Supreme Court case that expanded freedom of the press.

Youngstown v Sawyer

1952 Supreme Court ruling that stated the President wasn't allowed to take possession of private property.

Stewardship

Theory of Presidential power that explains the President's power is not limited to specific Constitutional powers. His power can be expanded when needed.

Constitutional theory

a theory of presidential power holding that the president cannot exercise any power unless it can be traced back to the Constitution.

In Re Neagle

Expanded the executive branch's authority to appoint U. S. Marshals as bodyguards to Supreme Court Justices

War Powers Act

A 1973 resolution of Congress that stated the President can only send troops into action abroad by authorization of Congress or if America is already under attack or serious threat.

Executive Agreements

These are used by the President in place of treaties to get around Senate approval.

signing statement

A presidential document that is attached to bills to explain what the president thinks of a new law and how it ought to be enforced.

Delegation

Term for when Congress gives more power to the Executive branch.

Reasons for expanded Executive powers

• Increasing role of the federal government

• Delegation of power

• Politics (Congress doesn't want to get blamed for things that go wrong.)

• During times of crisis people desire leadership.

Federalist 70

Document that called for a single "energetic" executive (President).

ordinance power

power of the president to issue executive orders

Diplomatic Powers

Constitutional power that allows the President to make treaties, executive agreements, and receive ambassadors and other public ministers.

Legislative Powers

Constitutional power that allows the President to veto bills, call special sessions of Congress, and give the State of the Union address.

Executive Powers

Constitutional power that allows the President to execute, enforce, and administer law. He can appoint heads to bureaucratic agencies and issue executive orders.

Judicial Powers

Constitutional power that allows the President to issue pardons and commutations.

Military Powers

Constitutional power that allows the President to be commander-in-chief of the military.

Informal Powers

Term given to the powers that the President has that are not specifically in the Constitution.

clemency

General term given to pardons, commutations, and reprieves (literally means "mercy).

Chief of State

Roll of the President when he is acting as the ceremonial head of government.

Chief of Party

Roll of the president when he or she is acting as the leader of his or her political party

Chief Citizen

Roll of the President when he or she is representing the people, and working for the public interest The President is also wearing this hat when they are acting as "consoler in chief."

Budgetary Barriers (things that make it hard to balance the budget)

• Interest payments (increasing)

• Limited discretionary spending

• Partisan politics

• Interest groups

• The public

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

1964 Congressional resolution authorizing President Johnson to take military action in Vietnam

Federal Election Commission

An agency created by the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1974. They are in charge of administering and enforcing campaign finance laws.

Budget and Impoundment Control Act

Law that gave congress the power to prevent the president from refusing to fund congressional initiatives

Bully Pulpit

The president's use of his prestige and visibility to guide or enthuse the American public. The President's "mega-phone."

Federalist 51

Federalist paper that focused on separation of power and checks and balances among the 3 branches of government.

Federalist 10

Federalists paper that argued for a large republic to combat the issue of factions (interest groups).

Federalists 78

Federalist paper that argued for a strong judicial branch to be staffed with justices who serve life terms (in times of good behavior).

Articles of Confederation

Original governing document of the United States. It created a weak central government with only one branch (legislative).