Executive Branch

Question 1

Primary Election

Answer 1

preliminary election to appoint delegates to a party conference or to select the candidates for a principal, especially presidential, election

Question 2

Caucus

Answer 2

a meeting at which local members of a political party register their preference among candidates running for office

Question 3

National Convention

Answer 3

a national meeting of delegates to nominate candidates for president and vice president, ratify the party platform, elect officers, or adopt rules

Question 4

Presidential coattails

Answer 4

when voters cast their ballots for congressional candidates of the president’s party because they support the president

Question 5

Cabinet

Answer 5

an advisory group selected by the president to aid in making decisions.

Question 6

White House Office

Answer 6

the personal office of the president which tends to presidential political needs and manages the media

Question 7

Honeymoon Period

Answer 7

beginning of a new president’s term during which the president enjoys generally positive relations with the press and Congress, usually lasting about 6 months

Question 8

Approval Ratings

Answer 8

a measure of the degree to which the public approves or disapproves of the president’s performance in office.

Question 9

executive office of the president

Answer 9

established by FDR; consists of eleven staff agencies that assist the president to carry out major duties

Question 10

Executive Agency

Answer 10

administrative agency that exists within the executive branch, often at the cabinet level; serve at the pleasure of the president and can be removed at his discretion

Question 11

Independent Agency

Answer 11

an agency of the US gov that is created by an act of Congress and is independent of the executive departments

Question 12

Government Corporation

Answer 12

gov organization that provides a service that could be provided by the private sector and typically charges for its services. the US POSTAL SERVICE is an example.

Question 13

Executive Privilege

Answer 13

an implied presidential power that allows the president to refuse to disclose information regarding confidential conversations or national security to Congress of judiciary

Question 14

Pocket Veto

Answer 14

a form of veto in which the president fails to sign a bill passed by both houses within ten days and Congress has adjourned during that time

Question 15

Line-item Veto

Answer 15

the authority of a chief executive to delete/reject part of a bill passed by the legislature

Question 16

Impoundment

Answer 16

the presidential refusal to spend money appropriated by congress

Question 17

Lame duck

Answer 17

a politician who is still in office after losing a reelection bid

Question 18

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

Answer 18

responsible for preparing the federal budget and for central clearance of legislative proposals from federal agencies

Question 19

Iron Triangle

Answer 19

mutually beneficial, three way relationship between
CONGRESS
GOV BUREAUCRATS
AND SPECIAL INTEREST LOBBY GROUPS

Question 20

Bureaucracy

Answer 20

organization characterized by hierarchy structure, worker specialization, explicit rules, and advancement by merit

Question 21

Hierarchal Authority

Answer 21

organization power structure; authority increases with each level higher a person or organization is in hierarchy

Question 22

Regulatory Agency

Answer 22

make and enforce rules designed to protect public interest; they also judge disputes over these rules.

ex: FCC SEC FTC

Question 23

Meritocracy

Answer 23

a system in which such persons are rewarded and advances

Question 24

Whistle-blowing

Answer 24

an internal check on the bureaucracy whereby employees report instances of mismanagement that they observe

Question 25

Chief Executive

Answer 25

the role of the president as the head of the executive branch of the gov

Question 26

Head of State

Answer 26

unifying role of the president as a symbolic representation of the whole country

Question 27

Unified Government

Answer 27

same party controls the WH and both houses of Congress

Question 28

Divided Government

Answer 28

one party controls WH and another party controls one or both houses or Congress