Executive Branch Key Terms Flashcards
Bully pulpit
The President uses the bully pulpit to communicate with the American people through the media coverage of presidential events
Cabinet
Advisory group selected by the president to aid in making decisions; includes the heads of fifteen executive departments and others
Executive agreement
International agreement not warranting a formal treaty made by the executive branch without ratification by the Senate
Executive order
Rule or order issued by the president to an executive branch of the government and having the force of law
Executive privilege
Right of the president and the executive branch to maintain confidential communications under certain circumstances
Impeachment
Power delegated to the House to charge the president or any other official with a crime
Lame duck president
A president who is still in office after having lost a reelection bid
Veto
A formal decision to reject the bill passed by Congress
Line-item veto
Special form of veto power that authorizes a chief executive to reject provisions of a bill enacted by Congress
Pocket veto
In the ten days that the president can sign or veto law, the president can reject the law by taking no action at all
President Succession Act
(1947)
The office passes to the vice president; then powers/duties pass to the speaker of the House, president pro tempore, and then Cabinet
State of the Union
Yearly address by the president to Congress, giving the administration’s view of the state of the nation and plans for legislation
Stewardship theory
The president has the power/duty to take whatever actions necessary in the national interest, unless prohibited by the Constitution/law
War Powers Act (1973)
Federal law intended to check the U.S. president’s power to commit the United States to an armed conflict without consent of Congress
Twelfth Amendment
Requires separate and distinct ballots for presidential and vice-presidential candidates.
