4B Vocab

Question 1

Federalist #70

Answer 1

Alexander Hamilton argues that a single executive (led by one person as president, rather than several people acting as a council) is the best form for the executive branch of the United States

Question 2

Signing statements

Answer 2

Informal power that informs Congress and the public of the president’s interpretation of laws passed by Congress and signed by the president

Question 3

Treaty

Answer 3

A formal, public agreement between the United States and one or more nations that must be approved by two thirds of the Senate

Question 4

Executive agreement

Answer 4

A formal agreement between the U.S. president and the leaders of other nations that does not require Senate approval

Question 5

Veto

Answer 5

A formal decision to reject a bill passed by Congress

Question 6

Pocket veto

Answer 6

A formal decision to reject a bill passed by Congress after it adjourns- if Congress adjourns during the ten days that the President is allowed in order to sign or veto a law, the president can reject the law by taking no action at all

Question 7

Take care clause

Answer 7

The constitutional requirement (in Article II, Section 3) that presidents can take care that the laws are faithfully executed, even if they disagree with the purpose of those laws

Question 8

Inherent powers

Answer 8

Powers that grow out of the very existence of government

Question 9

State of the Union Address

Answer 9

The president’s annual statement to Congress and the nation

Question 10

Impeachment

Answer 10

Formal accusation against a president or other public official, the first step in removal from office

Question 11

War Powers Resolution

Answer 11

A resolution passed in 1973 requiring the president to give advance warning of a military attack or ask Congress for a declaration of war or specific legislation

Question 12

Executive privilege

Answer 12

The right to keep executive communications confidential, especially if they relate to National Security

Question 13

Executive orders

Answer 13

Formal orders issued by the president to direct action by the Federal bureaucracy

Question 14

Impoundment

Answer 14

A decision by the president not to spend money appropriated by Congress, now prohibited under Federal law

Question 15

Line item veto

Answer 15

Presidential power to strike, or remove, specific items from a spending bill without vetoing the entire package; declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court

Question 16

Chief of Staff

Answer 16

The head of the White House staff

Question 17

Executive Office of the President

Answer 17

The cluster of presidential staff agencies that help the president carry out his responsibilities. Currently the office includes the Office of Management and Budget, the Council of Economic Advisers, and several other units

Question 18

Office of Management and Budget

Answer 18

The presidential staff agency that serves as a clearinghouse for budgetary requests and management improvements for government agencies

Question 19

Cabinet

Answer 19

Advisory council for the president consisting of the heads of the executive departments, the vice president, and a few other officials selected by the president

Question 20

Mandate

Answer 20

A president’s claim of broad public support

Question 21

Rally point

Answer 21

A rising public approval of the president that follows a crisis as Americans “rally ‘round the flag” and the chief executive