u3 civics vocab

electoral college - a system in which the winner of the popular vote in each state receives all of the electoral votes of that state

electors - these people are appointed by each state, and they cast their vote for the major party candidate that wins the popular vote of that state

excutive order - a rule or command issued by the President that has the force of law

pardon - a declaration of forgiveness and freedom from punishemt issued by the President

repreieve - an order issued by the President to delay a person’s punishement until a higher court can hear the case

amnesty - forgiveness granted by a court toward a group of people

foreign policy - a country’s plan for dealing with other countries

national security - the ability to keep the country safe from attack or harm

treaty - a formal agreement between the overmenet of two or more country

excutive agreement - an understanding between the presidient and the leader of another country

ambassador - an offical representative of country’s government

trade sanctions - efforts to punish anothewr country by retricing that country’s ability to import or export goods

embargo - an agreement between a group of nations that prohibits them from trading with a target nation

cabinet - a group of presidential adivsors that includes the heads of the fourteen top-level excutive departments

federal bureaucracy - the agencies and employees of the excutive branch

independent agencies - government organizations that are not part of the cabinet adn include excutive agencies, government corporations, and regulatory commissions

government coporations - these operate like private businesses except tht the government owns and operates them

political appointees - people whom the president has chosen because they have proven executive ability or were important supporters of the president’s election campain

civil service workers - government employees whose employment is not tied to the president in office

civil service system - the practice of hiring government workers on the basis of open, competitive examinations and merit

spoils system - giving government jobs to people based on their poltitical support

merit system - hiring new workers from lists of people who have passed the tests and/or who meet other requirements