Executive Branch

Ambassadors – Official representatives of a country sent to foreign nations to conduct diplomacy on behalf of the president.

Bargaining and persuasion – The president’s ability to negotiate with Congress and other political actors to achieve policy goals.

Bully Pulpit – The president’s use of visibility and influence to push an agenda and rally public support.

Cabinet – A group of presidential advisors, including the heads of executive departments, who help the president make decisions and execute policies.

Chief of Staff – The top aide to the president who manages the White House staff and controls access to the president.

Commander in Chief – The president's role as the supreme leader of the military forces of the U.S.

Delegate – A representative who acts based on the wishes of their constituents rather than their own judgment.

Divided Government – When one party controls the presidency and another controls one or both houses of Congress, often leading to political gridlock.

Electoral College – The system established by the Constitution to elect the president, where electors from each state vote based on the popular vote in their state.

Executive Agreement – A formal agreement between the president and a foreign leader that does not require Senate approval.

Executive Office of the President (EOP) – The group of agencies and advisors that help the president manage the executive branch.

Executive Order – A directive issued by the president that has the force of law without needing congressional approval.

Executive Privilege – The president’s right to withhold certain communications from Congress or the courts in matters of national security or confidentiality.

Going public – When the president appeals directly to the American people to pressure Congress into supporting their policies.

Gridlock – A situation where government action is halted due to political stalemate or opposition between branches.

Honeymoon Period – The early months of a presidency when public approval is high and the president’s influence in Congress is strongest.

Impeachment – The process by which Congress can remove a president from office for "high crimes and misdemeanors."

Imperial Presidency – A term describing a president who acts beyond constitutional limits, exerting excessive power without congressional approval.

Impoundment – The president’s refusal to spend money appropriated by Congress, now largely restricted by law.

In-and-Outers – Political appointees who alternate between government service and private sector jobs.

Independent Agencies – Federal organizations that operate independently from executive departments, such as NASA or the EPA.

Informal Powers – Powers not explicitly stated in the Constitution but used by the president, like executive agreements and persuasion.

Inherent Powers – Powers claimed by the president based on the Constitution’s vesting of executive authority, even if not explicitly mentioned.

Lame Duck Period – The time between a new president's election and the outgoing president’s departure, often reducing the outgoing president’s influence.

Legislative Veto – The ability of Congress to override an executive action, ruled unconstitutional in INS v. Chadha (1983).

Line-Item Veto – The ability to reject specific parts of a bill without vetoing the entire bill; ruled unconstitutional at the federal level in Clinton v. City of New York (1998).

National Security Council (NSC) – A presidential advisory group focusing on national security, foreign policy, and military affairs.

Office of Management and Budget (OMB) – The agency responsible for preparing the president’s budget and overseeing executive branch agencies.

Pocket Veto – When the president takes no action on a bill within 10 days while Congress is adjourned, effectively vetoing it.

Presidential Pardon – The president’s power to forgive individuals for federal crimes, removing penalties.

Presidential Succession Act (1947) – A law outlining the order of succession if the president and vice president are unable to serve.

Recess Appointment – When the president fills a vacancy while the Senate is in recess, bypassing the usual confirmation process.

Representative Democracy – A system where citizens elect representatives to make government decisions on their behalf.

Signing Statement – A written statement issued by the president when signing a bill into law, often explaining how they interpret the law.

State of the Union – An annual speech by the president to Congress outlining the administration’s agenda and priorities.

Stewardship Theory – The idea that the president has broad powers to act in the national interest, unless explicitly restricted by law.

Treaty – A formal agreement between countries, requiring Senate approval by a two-thirds vote.

Trustee – A representative who acts based on their own judgment rather than strictly following the wishes of constituents.

Twelfth Amendment – Changed the presidential election process by requiring separate electoral votes for president and vice president.

Twentieth Amendment – Moved the presidential inauguration from March 4 to January 20 to reduce the lame duck period.

Twenty-Fifth Amendment – Outlines the process for presidential succession and handling presidential disabilities.

Twenty-Second Amendment – Limits the president to two elected terms.

Twenty-Third Amendment – Grants Washington, D.C., electoral votes in presidential elections.

Unified Government – When the presidency and Congress are controlled by the same political party, reducing gridlock.

Veto – The president’s power to reject a bill passed by Congress.

Veto Message – A statement issued by the president explaining why they vetoed a bill.

War Powers Act (1973) – A law limiting the president’s power to deploy military forces without congressional approval.

White House Staff – The president’s personal assistants and advisors, including the Chief of Staff and other key aides.

Executive Orders – Directives issued by the president to manage the operations of the federal government.