Chapter 6 - The Presidency Flashcards
Spoils system
The practice of rewarding loyal partisans with government positions after they demonstrate their support during an election.
Divided government
A government in which the president is from a different party than the majority in Congress.
Unified government
A government in which the president is from the same party as the majority in Congress
Going public
Action taken by a president to communicate directly with the people, usually through a press conference, radio broadcast, or televised speech, in order to influence public opinion and put pressure on Congress
Administrative law
The body of law created by executive agencies with the purpose of refining general law passed in legislation
Pocket veto
A veto that occurs automatically if a president does not sign a bill for 10 days after passage in Congress and Congress has adjourned during that 10-day period
Veto threat
A public statement issued by the president declaring that if Congress passes a particular bill that the president dislikes it will ultimately be vetoed
Executive order
An official means by which the president can instruct federal agencies on how to execute the laws passed by Congress
Executive agreement
An agreement between the United States and one or more foreign countries. Because it is not a formal treaty, it does not need Senate approval
Signing statement
A public statement written by the president and attached to a particular bill to outline the
president’s interpretation of the legislation
Parliamentary democracy
A form of democracy in which the executive is elected by the legislature and government is responsible to the legislature
Presidential system
A form of democracy in which the executive is elected independently and the government is not responsible to the legislature
Mixed presidential system
A form of democracy in which the executive is elected independently and shares responsibility for the government with the
legislature
Line-item veto
A partial veto that allows the executive to
strike specific passages from a given bill
Special prosecutor
Independent, private-sector counsel hired by Congress to investigate government officials
