US Government Executive Branch – Flashcards
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term for the President as the ceremonial head of the United States, the symbol of all the people of the nation
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chief of state
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term for the President as vested with the executive power of the United States
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chief executive
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term for the President as head of the administration of the federal government
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chief administrator
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term for the president as the main architect of foreign policy and spokesperson to other countries
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chief diplomat
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term for the president as commander of the nation's armed forces
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commander in chief
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term for the president as architect of public policy and the one who sets the agenda for Congress
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chief legislator
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term for the president as the leader of his or her political party
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chief of party
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term for the president as the representative of the people, working for the public interest
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chief citizen
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a person elected by the voters to represent them in making a formal selection of the Vice President and President
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presidential elector
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votes cast by electors in the electoral college
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electoral vote
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group of persons chosen in each State and the District of Columbia every four years who make a formal selection of the President and Vice President
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electoral college
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an election in which a party's voters 1) choose State party organization's delegates to their party's national convention, and/or 2) express a preference for their party's presidential nomination
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presidential primary
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an almost obsolete system whereby a presidential aspirant who won the preference vote in a primary automatically won all the delegates chosen in the primary
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winner-take-all
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rule applied in Democratic primaries whereby any candidate who wins at least 15% of the votes gets the number of State democratic convention delegates based on his or her share of that primary vote
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proportional representation
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as a nominating device, a group of like-minded people who meet to select the candidates they will support in an upcoming election
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caucus
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meeting at which a party's delegates vote to pick their presidential and vice-presidential candidates
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national convention
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a political party's formal statement of basic principles, stands on major issues, and objectives
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platform
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speech given at a party convention to set the tone for the convention and the campaign to come
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keynote address
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members of the electorate who have not made up their minds at the start of a campaign and are open to persuasion by either side
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swing voter
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states in which the outcome of an election is too close to call and either candidate could win
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battleground state
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(electoral college reform) proposal for choosing presidential electors by which two elector would be selected in each state according to the Statewide popular vote and the other electors would be selected separately in each of the State's congressional districts
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district plan
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(electoral college reform) proposal by which each presidential candidate would receive the same share of a State's electoral vote as he or she received in the State's popular vote
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proportional plan
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(electoral college reform) proposal to do away with the electoral college and allow the people to vote directly for President and Vice President
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direct popular election
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(electoral college reform) proposal for electing the President whereby each State's election laws would provide for all of the State's electoral votes and enter into an interstate compact agreeing to elect the President by this method
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national popular vote
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scheme by which a presidential vacancy is filled
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presidential succession
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law specifying the order of presidential succession following the Vice President
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Presidential Succession Act of 1947
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when a presidential candidate chooses a running mate who can strengthen his chance of being elected
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balance the ticket
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Article II of the Constitution. Establishes the presidency and gives the executive power of the federal government to the President
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Executive Article
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term used to describe a president as an "emperor" who acts without consulting Congress or acts in secrecy to evade or deceive Congress; often used in reference to Richard Nixon's presidency
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imperial presidency
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directive, rule, or regulation issued by a chief executive or subordinates, based upon constitutional or statutory authority and having the force of law
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executive order
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the President's power to execute, enforce, and administer the law
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executive privilege
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a formal agreement between two or more sovereign states
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treaty
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the exclusive power of a President to legally establish formal diplomatic relations with foreign states
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recognition
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an unwelcome person; used to describe recalled diplomatic officials
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persona non grata
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type of veto a chief executive may use after a legislature has adjourned; when the chief executive does not sign or reject a bill within the time allowed to do so
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pocket veto
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a President's cancellation of specific dollar amounts (line items) from a congressional spending bill; instituted by a 1996 congressional act, but struck down by a 1998 Supreme court decision
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line-item veto
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an official postponement of the execution of a sentence
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reprieve
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release from the punishment or legal consequences of a crime, by the President (in a federal case) or a governor (in a state case)
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pardon
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mercy or leniency granted to an offender by a chief executive
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clemency
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the power to reduce the length of a sentence or fine for a crime
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commutation
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a blanket pardon offered to a group of law violators
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amnesty
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Amendment that creates a chain of succession for filling in the presidential seat in case of death/incapacitation.
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25th amendment
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an agency which performs the tasks for which the organization exists
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line agency
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An agency which supports the chief executive and other administrators by offering advice and other assistance and management in the organization
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staff agency
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Federal board or commission that is not part of any cabinet department
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independent agency
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A system of public employment based on rewarding party loyalists and friends
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spoils system
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independent agencies created by Congress; designed to regulate important aspects of the nation's economy, largely beyond the reach of presidential control
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independent regulatory commissions
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A formal agreement between the U.S. president and the leaders of other nations that does not require Senate approval
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executive agreement
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A law passed in 1973 in reaction to American fighting in Vietnam and Cambodia that requires presidents to consult with Congress whenever possible prior to using military force and to withdraw forces after 60 days unless Congress declares war or grants an extension. Presidents view the resolution as unconstitutional
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war powers resolution
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Brought about by the Jefferson/Burr tie, stated that presidential and vice-presidential nominees would run on the same party ticket. Before that time, all of the candidates ran against each other, with the winner becoming president and second-place becoming vice-president
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12th amendment
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salary of the president
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$400,000
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A policy of nonparticipation in international economic and political relations
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isolationism
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Involvement in world affairs
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internationalism
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Economic, social or military assistance given to a country by another government or international institution
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foreign aid
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A policy governing international relations
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foreign policy
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A government's plan to deal with internal issues of the country
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domestic policy
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An international organization formed after WWII to promote international peace, security, and cooperation
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United Nations
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A government agency that operates like a business corporation, created to secure greater freedom of action and flexibility for a particular program
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government corporation
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Amendment that created a 2 term limit on presidents
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22nd amendment
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8 roles of the president
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chief of state executive administrator commander in diplomat legislator party chief citizen
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steps to become president
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1. eligibility (35 yrs old, natural born citizen, 14 yr resident) 2. primaries/caucuses (members of political party vote for one person within their party to be their party's presidential nominee) 3. national convention (each political party holds their national convention where a presidential nominee is confirmed and a VP candidate is picked) 4. general election (campaigning, voters vote for electors in their state, electors are supposed to vote for the presidential candidate in the electoral college) 5. electoral college (each state gets electors, equal to # of senators and reps. 538 total electors cast votes. Majority (>270) votes wins) 6. inauguration (president-elect and VP-elect take oath of office and become the president and VP)
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head of the Department of Justice
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attorney general
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only president to resign while in office
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Nixon
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Secretaries of the Cabinet are selected by the president and approved by the...
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senate
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When was the National Security Council created?
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1947
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house of Congress that can impeach the president
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House of Representatives
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house of Congress that holds a presidential impeachment trial
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senate
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number of times the Electoral College has failed to choose the popular vote winner
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4
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wing of the white house that houses the Oval office and the President's staff
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west wing
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reasons for presidential power growth
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-throughout American history, those who want a powerful president have usually prevailed -nation's increasingly complex economic and social life -need for immediate/incisive acting in times of crisis -Congress has passed laws the have added to the activities of the executive branch
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expressed power of the president to execute all federal laws
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executing the law
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implied power of the president to issue executive orders
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the ordinance power
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expressed power of the president to appoint ambassadors, diplomats, cabinet members, top aides, heads of independent agencies, federal judges, and all officers in armed forces
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the appointment power
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implied power of the president to remove an appointed officer
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the removal power
