Executive Branch (Unit 2)

Cabinet- formal body of presidential advisors who head the 15 executive departments, presidents often add others to this body of formal 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- first step in constitutional process of of removing government officials from office, a power delegated to the HoR to charge pres, VP, or other “civil officers” with treason bribery or other crimes

Line Item Veto (partial veto)- the power of executive authority to nullify or cancel specific parts or provisions of a bill

National Security Council (NSC)- the agency within the white house, led by the national security advisor, which brings together key foreign policy actors to advise the president

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 forecasts, and conducts detailed analyses of proposed bills and agency rules.

Pocket veto- congress is not in session and the president doesn’t sign the bill within 10 days the bill is dead

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

Twenty-fifth Amendment- adopted in 1967 to establish procedures for filling vacancies in the office of president and vice president as well as providing procedures to deal with the disability of a president

Twenty-second Amendment- a president can only serve 2 terms (set term limit)

War Powers Resolution/Act- passed by congress in 1973 requires the authorization of congress to deploy troops overseas and limits the time of their deployment

Watergate- a scandal in the early 1970s involving a break in at the Democratic National Committees offices in the watergate office complex, the involvement of members of the Nixon administration and subsequent cover-ups lead to Nixon’s resignation from office and jail sentences for some members of his administration

Bureaucracy- a system of government where state officials make most important decisions rather than elected representatives

Administrative discretion- the ability of bureaucrats to make choices concerning the best ways to implement congressional or executive intentions

Command and control policy- typical system of regulations where government tells businesses how to reach certain goals, checks that those commands are followed, and punishes offenders

Deregulation- lifting of government restrictions on business, industry and profession activities

Executive orders- rule or regulation enacted by President that has the effect of law (can be easily removed)

Governmental corporations- agencies that conduct business or produce products for the nation 

Hatch Act- limits the political activities of federal employees to ensure that federal programs are administered in a non partisan fashion- 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 regulatory agencies that are independent, thus not fully under the power of the president, created by congress outside a major executive department that regulates a specific interest or economic activity

Iron triangle/subgovernment- relatively ironclad relationships and patterns of interaction that occur among agencies, interest groups, and congressional committees or subcommittees

patronage- jobs, grants, or other special favors that are given as rewards to friends and political allies for their support

Pendleton Civil Service Act- created the Civil Service Commission, it is a reform measure that established the principle of federal employment on the basis of open, competitive exams