Executive Branch Vocab Flashcards
Ambassadors
Official US reps to other countries
Bully Pulpit
President’s role to shape public opinion and set a national agenda usually using media.
Bureaucracy
System of administration consisting of appointed officials, he sum total of all executive agencies and personnel
Cabinet
Presidents top advisors responsible for managing various departments and agencies in the executive branch.
Civil Service System
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.
Competitive Service
Government offices/ officials appointed based on merit.
Compliance Monitoring
Ensures organizations meet policies and procedures
Discretionary authority
Agencies power to decide whether or not to take a course of action when implementing laws using its discretion and judgement.
Expected Service
Non competitive federal or civil service positions, hiring options when competitive service is not practical
executive agreement
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.
Executive Order
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.
Executive Privilege
President’s right to withhold information from another branch especially congress. An implied power of the president.
Impeachment
Bringing charges against a government official, A formal process in which an official is accused of unlawful activity
Iron Triangle
Congress, bureaucracy, and interest group, work together to advance own agenda
Issue Networks
Alliance among interest groups and individuals who unite to promote a common cause.
Lame Duck
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.
Legislative veto
Provision added to a policy that gives power to veto executive decisions.
Line-Item Veto
President’s power to veto specific sections of a bill without vetoing the whole thing. Helps avoid riders and pork barrel spending
Merit System
Selection and employment decided by performance, and not political patronage.
Patronage
Granting favors or giving contracts in return for political support
Pocket Veto
Automatic presidential veto by ignoring legislation for a bill for 10 days.
Red Tape
Complex bureaucratic rules and procedures that must be followed to get something done. Makes process take much longer.
Recess appointment
Authorizing the president or another person as an ambassador to make temporary appointments when the senate is not in session.
Senior Executive Service
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
Signing Statement
A statement issued by a president upon signing a bill as a law, offering president’s own interpretation.
Spoils System
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.
Veto Message
Presidents reasoning behind a veto.
