05. Key Terms- Presidential Elections, The Presidency, and the Bureaucracy

Question 1

A primary in which voters are required to identify a party preference before the election and are not allowed to split their ticket

Answer 1

Closed primary

Question 2

The recent pattern of states holding primaries early in order to maximize their media attention and political influence

3/4’s of the presidential primaries are now held between February and mid-March

Answer 2

Frontloading

Question 3

Contributions to political parties for party-building activities

(these type of contributions are used to circumvent limits of their counterparts)

Answer 3

Soft money

Question 4

A tax-exempt organization created to influence the political process

These groups are not regulated by the Federal Election Commission because they don’t coordinate their activities with a candidate or party

Answer 4

527 group

Question 5

The president’s constitutional power to reject a bill passed by Congress; Congress can overried this with 2/3’s vote in each chamber

Answer 5

Veto

Question 6

The power to veto specific dollar amounts or line items from major congressional spending bills

The Supreme Court struck down this type of veto as an unconstitutional expansion of the president’s veto power

Answer 6

Line-item veto

Question 7

An agreement between the president and a head of a foreign state

These agreements don’t have to be approved by the Senate, but unlike treaties, these are agreements are not part of U.S. law and aren’t binding on future presidents

Answer 7

Executive agreement

Question 8

The president’s power to refuse to disclose confidential information

In United States v. Nixon (1974), the Supreme Court ruled that there’s no constitutional guarantee of unqualified presidential power of refusing to reveal confidential information

Answer 8

Executive privilege

Question 9

A period of time where the president’s term is about to an end; presidents usually have less influence during this time period

Answer 9

Lame-duck period

Question 10

A large, complex organization of appointed officials

Answer 10

Bureaucracy

Question 11

A directive, order, or regulation issued by the president

These are based on constitutional or statutory authority and have the force of law

Answer 11

Executive order

Question 12

An alliance among an administrative agency, an interest group, and a congressional committee

Each member of this alliance provides key services, information, or policy for others

Answer 12

Iron triangle

Question 13

A network that includes policy experts, media pundits, congressional staff members, and interest groups who regularly debate an issue

Answer 13

Issue network

Question 14

A set of issues and problems that policy makers consider important

The mass media play an important role in influencing the issues which receive public attention

Answer 14

Policy agenda