Executive Branch Vocab

Question 1

Ambassadors

Answer 1

Official US reps to other countries

Question 2

Bully Pulpit

Answer 2

President’s role to shape public opinion and set a national agenda usually using media.

Question 3

Bureaucracy

Answer 3

System of administration consisting of appointed officials, he sum total of all executive agencies and personnel

Question 4

Cabinet

Answer 4

Presidents top advisors responsible for managing various departments and agencies in the executive branch.

Question 5

Civil Service System

Answer 5

Hiring and promotion based on the merit principle and desire to create nonpartisan government services. Government workers, ensure that appointments to government jobs are based on merit and ability as determined through a competitive process.

Question 6

Competitive Service

Answer 6

Government offices/ officials appointed based on merit.

Question 7

Compliance Monitoring

Answer 7

Ensures organizations meet policies and procedures

Question 8

Discretionary authority

Answer 8

Agencies power to decide whether or not to take a course of action when implementing laws using its discretion and judgement.

Question 9

Expected Service

Answer 9

Non competitive federal or civil service positions, hiring options when competitive service is not practical

Question 10

executive agreement

Answer 10

Agreement between the United States and another foreign country. an international agreement entered into by the President, pursuant to the President’s constitutional or statutory authority, without the Senate’s advice or consent.

Question 11

Executive Order

Answer 11

A rule or regulation issued by the president that has the effect of a law. State mandates for the executive branch and have the effect of a law.

Question 12

Executive Privilege

Answer 12

President’s right to withhold information from another branch especially congress. An implied power of the president.

Question 13

Impeachment

Answer 13

Bringing charges against a government official, A formal process in which an official is accused of unlawful activity

Question 14

Iron Triangle

Answer 14

Congress, bureaucracy, and interest group, work together to advance own agenda

Question 15

Issue Networks

Answer 15

Alliance among interest groups and individuals who unite to promote a common cause.

Question 16

Lame Duck

Answer 16

President at the end of term so they don’t have as much power and are left out of things. Obama not able to appoint new supreme court because he was on his way out of office.

Question 17

Legislative veto

Answer 17

Provision added to a policy that gives power to veto executive decisions.

Question 18

Line-Item Veto

Answer 18

President’s power to veto specific sections of a bill without vetoing the whole thing. Helps avoid riders and pork barrel spending

Question 19

Merit System

Answer 19

Selection and employment decided by performance, and not political patronage.

Question 20

Patronage

Answer 20

Granting favors or giving contracts in return for political support

Question 21

Pocket Veto

Answer 21

Automatic presidential veto by ignoring legislation for a bill for 10 days.

Question 22

Red Tape

Answer 22

Complex bureaucratic rules and procedures that must be followed to get something done. Makes process take much longer.

Question 23

Recess appointment

Answer 23

Authorizing the president or another person as an ambassador to make temporary appointments when the senate is not in session.

Question 24

Senior Executive Service

Answer 24

Position classification in the civil service oof the US federal gov, somewhat analogous to general officer or flag officer ranks in the US Armed Forces, Member of government who are equivalent to general officer or flag officer rank in the US armed forces the top civil service system

Question 25

Signing Statement

Answer 25

A statement issued by a president upon signing a bill as a law, offering president’s own interpretation.

Question 26

Spoils System

Answer 26

A system of public employment based on rewarding party loyalists and friends, opposite of merit system. successful political party giving public office to its supporters.

Question 27

Veto Message

Answer 27

Presidents reasoning behind a veto.