Ch 12 Executive Branch

Question 1

Vocabulary: Bully Pulpit

Answer 1

A position of authority or public visibility that makes one’s views known or rallies support

Question 2

Clemency

Answer 2

General term for the president’s power to grant forgiveness for a crime in who or in part. Pardons and reprieves are two types of clemency.

Question 3

Commander-in-Chief

Answer 3

Express role of the president to serve as head of the armed forces.

Question 4

Executive Agreement

Answer 4

Agreement made by the President of the United States and another foreign head of state that does not require a formal treaty and is not subject to Senate approval. This is an inherent power of the president in conducting foreign relations.

Question 5

Executive Order

Answer 5

Directive issued by the president to one or more agency or organization within the executive branch. This is an inherent power of the president that allows him/her to, as the Constitution directs, “take care that the laws be faithfully executed” (Article II, Section 3).

Question 6

Executive Privilege

Answer 6

The right of the president to withhold certain information from Congress or the courts.

Question 7

Express (Formal) Powers

Answer 7

Specific powers granted to the president by the Constitution.

Question 8

Implied (Informal) Powers

Answer 8

Powers no specifically given to the president by the Constitution but have been traditionally exercised.

Question 9

Inherent Powers

Answer 9

Specific powers needed to carry out the express duties of the president.

Question 10

Pardon

Answer 10

Express power of the president to forgive individuals of federal crimes resulting in the release from prison or punishment.

Question 11

Pocket Veto

Answer 11

Occurs when the president does not sign a bill into law within 10 days of arriving on his desk and if Congress has officially adjourned (but not simply recessed).

Question 12

Policy Agenda

Answer 12

A set of policies or issues or underlying motives to be addressed by a political party, group, or individual. The President of the United States drives (or sets) the policy agenda for the White House and his party in Congress.

Question 13

POTUS

Answer 13

President of the United States

Question 14

Presidential Coattails

Answer 14

When a popular president can help members of her or his party win an election or pass legislation because of that popularity (i.e.”riding the President’s coattails” to victory).

Question 15

Presidential Succession Act of 1947

Answer 15

Law that set the line of presidential succession if neither the president nor vice-president could no longer serve; behind the vice-president is the Speaker of the House, followed by the President Pro-Tempore of the Senate.

Question 16

Reprieve

Answer 16

Constitutionally provided power of the president to postpone a person’s punishment for a federal crime.

Question 17

Signing Statement

Answer 17

An addition issued by the President that accompanies the signing of a law. These are often controversial because their legal status remains uncertain.

Question 18

22nd Amendment

Answer 18

Constitutional amendment that limits the number of full terms a president can serve to two.

Question 19

25th Amendment

Answer 19

Constitutional amendment that clearly defines that the vice-president becomes president (not just an acting president) in the event of the death or incapacitation of the President of the United States. The amendment also allows for the president to sign over her/his duties to the vice-president if (s)he will be unable to temporarily discharge her or his duties.

Question 20

Veto

Answer 20

The power of one branch of the government to refuse approval of measure proposed by another.

Question 21

Veto Message

Answer 21

An official order that stops something from occurring that would otherwise happen (such as the President’s or governor’s right to stop something from being passed into law).

Question 22

Fourth Branch Of Government

Answer 22

Term sometimes made in reference to the mass media in relation to its capacity as a check on government power (also is a term referring to the bureaucracy, but that does not apply here).

Question 23

War-Making Powers

Answer 23

Refers to the power of the president to use the military to engage in acts of war.

Question 24

War Powers Act (Resolution) of 1973

Answer 24

Federal law passed after the Vietnam War attempting to limit presidential war-making powers by requiring more consultation with and oversight by Congress.

Question 25

Chief Executive

Answer 25

Formal Constitutional role of the president as head and chief administrator of the executive branch.

Question 26

Ad Hoc Model

Answer 26

(“For this purpose” in Latin) Model of office organization in the White House where subordinates, cabinet officers, and committees report directly to the president on different matters.

Question 27

Cabinet

Answer 27

A board to advise the President composed of the most senior appointed officers of the executive branch.

Question 28

Chief Of Staff

Answer 28

The highest ranking employee of the White House Office inside the Executive Office of the President and an assistant to the president. No one sees the president without going through the White House Chief of Staff.

Question 29

Circular (Hub and Spokes) Model

Answer 29

A method of organizing the president’s staff in which several presidential assistants report directly to the president.

Question 30

Executive Office Of The President

Answer 30

Those who work directly for the President of the United States and overseen by the White House Chief of Staff.

Question 31

Office (Council) Of Economic Advisors

Answer 31

Agency within the Executive Office of the President that advises the president on economic policy.

Question 32

Office Of Management And Budget (OMB)

Answer 32

A cabinet-level office and the largest office in the Executive Office of the President that assists the president in preparing and administering the federal budget.

Question 33

National Security Advisor

Answer 33

Serves as chief advisor to the president on issues of national security.

Question 34

National Security Council

Answer 34

The principle forum used by the president to consider issues and policy within the realm of national security; the Council comprises the president, vice-president, chief of staff, national security advisor, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (military head of all armed forces).

Question 35

Press Secretary

Answer 35

Senior advisor to he president who provides advice on dealing with the media and formulating the president’s message to the country; also is the mouthpiece of the president and the White House.

Question 36

Pyramid Structure

Answer 36

A structure in which the president’s subordinates report to him through as clear chain of command headed by a chief of staff.

Question 37

United States Ambassador to the United Nations

Answer 37

Presidential-appointed and approved by the Senate, this person represents the United States in the UN and follows the direction of the President of the United States

Question 38

West Wing

Answer 38

Location of the offices, including the president’s Oval Office, in the White House.

Question 39

“Advice And Consent”

Answer 39

Role of the United States Senate in relation to presidential appointments (i.e. cabinet posts or federal judges) and foreign policy agreements (treaties).

Question 40

Confirmation Process

Answer 40

Process in the Senate by which presidential appointments are approved or reject, first in committee then before the full Senate.

Question 41

Line Of Succession

Answer 41

Refers to the order in which the president is succeeded in office is (s)he were to no longer be able to discharge her or his duties.

Question 42

Recess Appointment

Answer 42

When the president appointments a judge, ambassador, or cabinet member while Congress is out of session (in recess). That individual remains at that post until the Senate is out of recess and can consider the appointment.

Question 43

Patronage

Answer 43

When the president or member of Congress appoints a political ally or supporter to a position of power.

Question 44

Censure

Answer 44

An option for punishment after findings of wrong doing of members of the United States government, including following a conviction in impeachment proceedings. Censure consists of a public reprimand, an embarrassing prospect for any politician.

Question 45

House Managers

Answer 45

Members of the House Judiciary Committee who oversee the prosecution for an impeachment trial in the Senate.

Question 46

Impeachment

Answer 46

A process that is used to charge, try, and remove public officials for misconduct while in office. Impeachment begins in the House of Representatives. If articles of impeachment are passed by a simple majority (218 of the 435) in the House, the trial takes place in the Senate. The vote to convict in the Senate must also be 2/3, or 67 of the 100 members.

Question 47

Lame Duck

Answer 47

When an elected official is approaching the end of his or her tenure and/or when an official’s successor has already been elected.