Executive Branch Vocabulary List
1. Gridlock- The inability of the government to act because opposing parties control
different parts of the government and cannot agree on a course of action.
2. Formal Power- Authority given to the president that is specifically mentioned in the
Constitution.
3. Informal Power- Authority given to the president that is not specifically mentioned in
the Constitution.
4. Executive Order- A directive that carries the weight of law that is given by the president
without the consent of Congress.
5. Executive Agreement- A pact between the president and the head of a foreign nation.
Unlike treaties, they do not require Senate consent and may only last for the duration of a
president’s term.
6. Treaty- A formal, public agreement between the United States and one or more nations
that must be approved by two-thirds of the Senate.
7. Cabinet- The heads of the fifteen executive branch departments that also serve as
advisors to the president.
8. Bully pulpit- The president’s use of his position and visibility to guide or influence the
American public.
9. State of the Union- An annual address given by the president to Congress in which the
president outlines his legislative agenda.
10. Executive Privilege- The president’s ability to keep certain communications private.
United States v. Nixon clarified its limitations.
11. 22
nd
Amendment- This provision of the Constitution limits presidential terms to two,
not to exceed 10 years.
12. 25
th
Amendment - This provision of the Constitution states the process for
presidential succession and disability.
13. Veto- The presidential power to deny a bill passed by Congress.
14. Pocket veto- When a bill fails to become law, because the president did not sign it
within 10 days before Congress adjourned.
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15. Line-Item Veto- The power to cancel specific dollar amounts within a bill. While the
Supreme Court has ruled presidents may not use these, state governors still can.
16. Signing statement - Issued by the president after passing a bill into law; reveals what
the president thinks of a new law and how it ought to be enforced.
17. Impeachment- The constitutional process of bringing charges against a government
official.
18. Pardon- Official forgiveness of a crime.
19. Lame duck- An official still in office after he or she has lost a bid for re-election or has
reached his/her term limit.
20. Congressional Oversight- The authority of Congress to conduct hearings,
investigations, and budget reviews regarding the actions executive branch.
21. Bureaucracy- A large, complex organization composed of appointed officials.
22. Executive Office of the President- The part of the executive branch that supports the
president in his responsibilities, from security to trade.
23. White House Staff- Personnel who run day-to-day operations in the White House and
advise the president.
24. Executive Departments- 15 large agencies of the federal government that carry out
laws and regulate within their respective areas. Each is headed by a secretary.
25. Independent Regulatory Commissions- Agencies that are responsible for monitoring
large government sectors, such as the Federal Reserve, and are not subject to control by
either Congress or the President.
26. Government Corporations- A government agency that carries out business-like
functions, such as the US Postal Service.
27. Office of Management and Budget- This part of the bureaucracy helps the president
prepare the budget for the fiscal year.
28. Discretionary authority/Bureaucratic Discretion-The extent to which appointed
bureaucrats can choose courses of action and make policies that are not spelled out in
advance by the laws of Congress.
29. Civil service- The part of the government that fulfills the daily functions of the
bureaucracy. These government workers are hired on the basis of merit.
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30. Merit system- Procedure of hiring and promoting government employees on the basis
of their abilities and competence rather than political favors.
31. Pendleton Act- The law that created a merit-based system for the hiring of members of
the civil service.
32. Iron triangle-A mutually beneficial relationship between an agency, a congressional
committee, and an interest group.
33. Issue Network- A link of policy experts, interest groups, think tanks, congressional
staff members, media pundits, etc. who regularly debate an issue.
34. Appropriation-A legislative grant of money to finance a government program or
agency.
35. Regulation- The use of government authority to control or change business practices in
the private sector.
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