Chapter 12 AP Gov Vocab – Flashcards

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22nd Amendment
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sets a term limit for election and overall time of service to the office of President of the United States
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25th Amendment
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codifies the Presidential line of succession. It explains to whom the presidency passes in the event that the President is unable to serve his entire term
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impeachment
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formal process in which an official is accused of unlawful activity, the outcome of which, depending on the country, may include the removal of that official from office as well as criminal or civil punishment
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cabinet
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a group consisting of the heads of the cabinet executive departments, who are appointed by the president, subject to confirmation by the Senate. the cabinet was once the main advisory body to the president but it no longer plays this role
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honeymoon period
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the president's first months in office, a time when Congress, the press, and the public are more inclined than usual to support presidential initiatives
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open party caucuses
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meetings at which a party's candidates for nomination are voted on and that are open to all the party's rank-and-file voters who want to attend
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presidential approval ratings
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a measure of the degree to which the public approves or disapproves of the president's performance in office
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imperial presidency
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term used to describe the modern presidency of the United States. a U.S. presidency that is characterized by greater power than the Constitution allows
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chief of staff
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highest ranking employee of the White House. The position is a modern successor to the earlier role of the President's private secretary
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vice president
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an officer in government or business who is below a president
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press secretary
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senior White House official whose primary responsibility is to act as spokesman for the United States government administration, especially with regard to the president, senior executives, and policies
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balancing the ticket
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political candidate chooses a running mate, usually of the same party, with the goal of bringing more widespread appeal to the campaign
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formal powers
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powers clearly outlined in the Constitution. constitutional powers/enumerated powers
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informal powers
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powers not explicitly written in the Constitution. similar to "necessary and proper" powers of Congress
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inherent powers
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the President derives these powers from the loosely worded statements in the Constitution that "the executive Power shall be vested in a President" and the president should "take care that the laws be faithfully executed
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expressed powers
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powers that are specifically named in the U.S. Constitution
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National Security Council
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principal forum used by the President of the United States for a peaceful consideration of national security and foreign policy matters with his senior national security advisors and Cabinet officials and is part of the Executive Office of the President of the United States
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Council of Economic Advisers
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agency within the Executive Office of the President that advises the President of the United States on economic policy
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Office of Management and Budget
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largest office within the Executive Office of the President of the United States. The main function of OMB is to produce the President's Budget. OMB also measures the quality of agency programs, policies, and procedures and to see if they comply with the president's policies
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Stewardship theory
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a theory that argues for a strong, assertive presidential role, with presidential authority limited only at points specifically prohibited by law
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unit rule/winner-take-all
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the rule that grants all of a state's electoral votes to the candidate who receives most of the popular votes in the state
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whig theory
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a theory that prevailed in the nineteenth century and held that the presidency was a limited or restrained office whose occupant was confined to expressly granted constitutional authority
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mandate
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an official order or commission to do something
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State of the Union Address
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presented by the President of the United States to a joint session of the United States Congress, typically delivered annually. The address not only reports on the condition of the nation but also allows the President to outline his or her legislative agenda and national priorities
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Chief Executive
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Executes the laws, appoints key federal officials, grants pardons and reprieves
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Commander-in-Chief
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Runs the armed forces
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Chief Dimplomat
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Negotiates with other countries
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Chief Economic Planner
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the president is concerned with such things as unemployment, high prices, taxes, business profits, and the general prosperity of the country
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Chief Legislator
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Signs or vetoes legislation, introduces legislation, works with Congress on the budget
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Chief of Party
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In this role, the president helps members of his political party get elected or appointed to office
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Chief of State/Head of State
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Acts as the symbolic leader of the country
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Appointment power
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President has power to appoint key officials in all executive departments and agencies. US Senate must confirm presidential appointments
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pocket veto
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legislative maneuver that allows a president or other official with veto power to exercise that power over a bill by taking no action (instead of affirmatively vetoing it)
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presidential coattails
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tendency for a popular political party leader to attract votes for other candidates of the same party in an election
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War Powers Resolution
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federal law intended to check the president's power to commit the United States to an armed conflict without the consent of the U.S. Congress
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Legislative veto
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a veto exercised by a legislature nullifying or reversing an action, decision, etc., of the executive branch.
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bully pulpit
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a public office or position of authority that provides its occupant with an outstanding opportunity to speak out on any issue
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Executive Office of the President
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consists of the immediate staff of the current President of the United States and multiple levels of support staff reporting to the President. The EOP is headed by the White House Chief of Staff
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inauguration
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the formal admission of someone to office
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signing statements
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written pronouncement issued by the President of the United States upon the signing of a bill into law
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Budget and Impoundment Act
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created standing budget committees in both the House and the Senate, established the Congressional Budget Office, and moved the beginning of the fiscal year from July 1 to October 1
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executive agreements
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an international agreement, usually regarding routine administrative matters not warranting a formal treaty, made by the executive branch of the US government without ratification by the Senate
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executive order
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A presidential policy directive that implements or interprets a federal statute, a constitutional provision, or a treaty
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inner cabinet
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consists of the Secretaries of the State, Treasury, Defense, and the Attorney General. They are called "inner" because their jobs cover more of a national jurisdiction rather than something more specific such as the Department of Education or Transportation
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inner circle
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an exclusive group close to the center of power of an organization or movement, regarded as elitist and secretive
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two presidencies
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thesis is that presidents fare better with Congress on foreign policy than on domestic policy. based on the principle that there are two versions of the American President: one who is concerned with domestic policy and one concerned with foreign policy
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executive privilege
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power claimed by the President of the United States and other members of the executive branch to resist certain subpoenas and other interventions by the legislative and judicial branches of government to access information and personnel relating to the executive branch
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illusion of presidential government
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the presidential image-building through public relations that contributes to the idea that the president is in charge of the national government
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