AP Government Chapter 5

Formal (enumerated) powers

Powers of the President expressly granted in the constitution

Informal (enumerated) powers

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

Treaty

Agreement with a foreign government negotiated by the president and requiring 2/3 Senate vote to ratify

State of the Union Address

Annual speech from the President to Congress updating that branch on the state of national affairs

Veto

Formal rejection by the president of a bill that has passed both Houses of Congress

Executive Privillege

President’s right to keep certain conversations records and transcripts from outside scrutiny

Executive Agreement

Agreement between President and another nation that is less formal than a treaty (does not require Senate ratification)

Executive Order

Policy directives issued by Presidents that do not require congressional approval

Signing Statement

That is issued by President when signing a bill usually consisting of political statements or reasons for signing the hill

War Powers Resolution

Restricts the power of the President to maintain troops in combat for more than 60 days with Congress authorization

Impeachment

Process of removing a President from office

Bully pulprit

Presidential appeals to general public to pressure other branches of government to support their policies

Going public

Presidential appeals to the general public to get constituents to pressure Congress into supporting the President’s policy goals

22nd Amendment

Limited the number of terms a president can serve (10 years max)

25th Amendment

Clarifies what happens if the Presidency is vacated or the President can not preform their duties

President’s Cabinet

Consists of the heads of the 15 major executive branch departments, the VP, and other agencies the President wishes