Executive branch – the branch of government charged with putting the nation’s laws into effect Formal or enumerated powers – powers expressly granted in the Constitution Informal powers – powers not laid out in the Constitution but used to carry out presidential duties Treaty – an agreement with a foreign government negotiated by the president and requiring a two- thirds vote in the Senate to ratify State of the Union Address – the annual speech from the president to Congress updating that branch on national affairs Pocket veto – an informal veto caused when the president chooses not to sign a bill within ten days, during a time when Congress has adjourned at the end of a session Presidential pardon – presidential authority to release individuals convicted of a crime from legal consequences and set aside punishments for a crime Executive privilege – a right claimed by presidents to keep certain conversations, records, and transcripts confidential from outside scrutiny, especially that of Congress

Executive agreement – an agreement between a president and another nation that does not have the same durability in the American system as a treaty but does not require Senate ratification Signing statement – written comments issued by presidents while signing a bill into law that usually consist of political statements or reasons for signing the bill but that may also include a president’s interpretation of the law itself Executive order – policy directives issued by presidents that do not require congressional approval War Powers Resolution – a law passed over President Nixon’s veto that restricts the power of the president to maintain troops in combat for more than sixty days without congressional authorization Impeachment – the process of removing a president from office, with articles of impeachment issued by a majority vote in the House of Representatives, followed by a trail in the Senate, with a two-thirds vote necessary to convict and remove Executive Office of the President (EOP) – a collection of offices within the White House organization designed to mainly provide information to the president Bargaining and persuasion – an informal tool used by the president to persuade members of Congress to support his or her policy initiatives Bully pulpit – presidential appeals to the public to pressure other branches of government to support his or her policies Going public – a tactic through which presidents reach out directly to the American people with the hope that the people will, in turn, put pressure upon their representatives and senators to press for a president’s policy goals