AP Gov Chapter 7

President

The chief executive officer of the United States, as established by Article II of the U.S. Constitution

Vice President

An officer created by Article II of the U.S. Constitution to preside over the U.S. Senate and to fill any vacancy in the office of the president due to death, ressignation, removal, or (since 1967) disability.

22nd Amendment

Adopted in 1951; prevents presidents from serving more than two terms, or more than ten years if they came to office via death, resignation, or removal of their predecessor.

Watergate

A scandal in the early 1970s involving a break-in at the Democratic National Committee offices in the Watergate office complex. The involvement of members of the Nixon administration and subsequent cover-up attempts led to President Richard Nixon’s resignation from office and jail sentences for some members of his administration.

Executive privilege

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

U.S. v. Nixon (1974)

Supreme Court ruling on power of the president, holding that no absolute constitutional executive privilege allows a president to refuse to comply with a court order to produce information needed in a criminal trial.

Presidential Succession Act

A 1947 law enacted by Congress that provides for the filling of any simultaneous vacancy of the presidency and vice presidency.

25th Amendment

Adopted in 1967 to establish procedures for filling vacancies in the office of president and vice president as well as providing for procedures to deal with the disability of a president.

Cabinet

The formal body of presidential advisers who head the fifteen executive departments. Presidents often add others to this body of formal advisers.

League of Nations

A multilateral diplomatic organization that existed from 1920-1946 that sought, unsuccessfully, to prevent future wars; the United States never joined.

Executive Agreements

Formal international agreements entered into by the president that do not require the advice and consent of the U.S. Senate.

Veto

The formal, constitutional authority of the president to reject bills passed by both houses of Congress, thus preventing them from becoming law without further congressional action.

pardon

An executive grant providing restoration of all rights and privileges of citizenship to a specific individual charged with or convicted of a crime.

Inherent powers

Powers that belong to the president because they can be inferred from the Constitution.

First lady

 The designation provided to the wife of a president or, at the state level, of a governor; no specific analogue exists for a male spouse.

Executive Office of the President (EOP)

A mini-bureaucracy created in 1939 to help the president oversee the executive branch bureaucracy.

Bully pulpit

The view that a major power of the presidency, albeit not one prescribed by the Constitution, is to draw attention to and generate support for particular positions.

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

The office that prepares the president’s annual budget proposal, reviews the budget and programs of the executive departments, supplies economic fore- casts, and conducts detailed analyses of proposed bills and agency rules.

Executive order

Rule or regulation issued by the president that has the effect of law. All executive orders must be published in the Federal Register.

Signing statements

Occasional written comments attached to a bill signed by the president.