AP GOV EXECUTIVE BRANCH VOCAB (Unit 2B)

Cabinet

Formal body of presidential advisors who head the 15 executive departments, with the possibility of additional advisors.

Council of Economic Advisors (CEA)

Advises the President on foreign and domestic economic policies.

Executive agreement

Formal international agreements entered into by the president that don’t require the advice and consent of the US Senate

Executive privilege

implied presidential power that allows the president to refuse to disclose information regarding confidential conversations to Congress or the judiciary

Impeachment

Constitutional process for removing government officials from office, initiated by the House of Representatives.

Line Item Veto

Power of executive authority to cancel specific parts of a bill.

National Security Council (NSC)

Agency within the White House that advises the president on foreign policy, led by the national security advisor.

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

Prepares the president’s annual budget proposal and reviews executive department budgets.

Pocket veto

Occurs when Congress is not in session and the president does not sign a bill within 10 days, resulting in the bill's demise.

Bully pulpit

The ability of the presidency to draw attention to and generate support for specific issues.

Twenty-fifth Amendment

Establishes procedures for filling presidential and vice-presidential vacancies and addressing presidential disability.

Twenty-second Amendment

Limits a president to serving two terms in office.

War Powers Resolution/Act

Requires congressional authorization for deploying troops overseas and limits deployment duration.

Watergate

Scandal involving a break-in at the Democratic National Committee's offices, leading to Nixon's resignation.

Bureaucracy

System of government where state officials make key decisions rather than elected representatives.

Administrative discretion

Bureaucrats' ability to make choices on implementing congressional or executive intentions.

Command and control policy

Regulatory system where the government directs businesses on achieving goals and enforces compliance.

Deregulation

Removal of government restrictions on business and industry activities.

Executive orders

Rules or regulations enacted by the president that have the force of law. (can be easily removed)

Governmental corporations

Agencies that conduct business or produce products for the nation.

Hatch Act

Limits political activities of federal employees to ensure nonpartisan administration of federal programs. Employees are advanced based on merit and not political affiliation.

Independent executive agencies

Governmental units that closely resemble a cabinet department but have narrower areas of responsibility and performs services rather than regulatory functions A federal agency who specializes in one area that is not part of a cabinet department but reports directly to the president. (CIA, NASA)

Independent regulatory agency

Federal agencies created by Congress that regulate specific interests or economic activities independently of the president.

Iron triangle/subgovernment

Relatively ironclad relationships and patterns of interaction that occur among agencies, interest groups, and congressional committees or subcommittees

Patronage

Jobs or favors given as rewards to friends or political allies for their support.

Pendleton Civil Service Act

Established the Civil Service Commission and the principle of federal employment based on competitive exams.