Executive Branche Vocab

Question 1

Formal Power

Answer 1

Power based on a person’s position/role

Ex: the president has veto power

Question 2

Informal Power

Answer 2

Power that isn’t tied to a position

Ex: Issuing executive orders (president)

Question 3

Executive Order

Answer 3

A presidential order to the executive branch that manages government operations and enforces a law without approval from Congress.

Ex: demand budget cuts from state government when the state legislature is not meeting

Question 4

Executive Agreement

Answer 4

An international agreement between the president and another country (does not require consent from the Senate)

Ex: president can sign nuclear arms term with another country without congressional approval

Question 5

Cabinet

Answer 5

A group of presidential advisers (including head of executive departments, attorney general, and members appointed by the president)

Ex: Secretaries of Commerce: promotion of national and foreign commerce, national economic growth, creating jobs, better living conditions, technological competition, and sustainable development)

Question 6

Bully Pulpit

Answer 6

A position/ability the President has to address and promote a message.

Question 7

State of the Union Address

Answer 7

The president’s annual message to a joint session of Congress where he addresses current situations, policy priorities, and proposes legislative measures.
Serves to communicate with the people and discuss administration agenda.

Question 8

Executive Privilege

Answer 8

The ability to withhold information from the people and other branches of government

Ex: During the Watergate Scandal, Nixon withheld tapes and documents regarding conversations in the Oval Office from being subpoenaed by the prosecutor investigating the break-in at the Democratic National Committee HQ.

Question 9

22nd Amendment

Answer 9

It prevents a president from running twice

Question 10

25th Amendment

Answer 10

If the president were to be removed from office, death, or resignation, the vice president will become president

Question 11

Veto

Answer 11

Stop a vote from becoming a law

Question 12

Pocket Veto

Answer 12

When a president doesn’t sign or veto a bill passed by Congress during the last 10 days (indirect veto)

Question 13

Line-Item Veto

Answer 13

When the president, or an executive power, can reject specific items from a spending bill without altogether vetoing it

Question 14

Signing Statement

Answer 14

When the president writes a declaration when signing a bill into law. In the statement, they write their interpretation of the law, raise concerns about specific aspects, and outline how they will enforce it.

Question 15

Impeachment

Answer 15

When the president is removed from office

Question 16

Pardon

Answer 16

Granting forgiveness or release from punishment/consequence

Question 17

Lame Duck

Answer 17

A political official whose term is about to end and will not seek re-election or has been defeated in an election

Question 18

Executive Bureaucracy

Answer 18

Government agencies that do the work of enforcing laws and running programs under the President or governor

Ex: The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) operates under the executive branch and is responsible for implementing and enforcing environmental laws/regulations

Question 19

Executive Office of the President

Answer 19

Compromised offices and agencies that aim to support the work of the president. They are responsible for communicating the president’s message to the public and promoting trade interests abroad.

Question 20

White House Staff

Answer 20

Group of people who work directly for the president

Ex: Press secretary - communicates the president’s messages to the media and public

Question 21

Executive Departments

Answer 21

Departments of the government that specialize in areas like defense, justice, or health.

Ex: The Department of Agriculture is responsible for policies and programs related to farming, food, and rural development.

Question 22

Independent Regulatory Commissions

Answer 22

Congress-created agencies, independent of executive departments, are meant to impose and enforce regulations without political influence.

Ex: Federal Reserve Board - they oversee monetary policy

Question 23

Government Corporations

Answer 23

Operates like a business entity; they provide specific services or commercial activities

Ex: United States Postal Service (USPS)

Question 24

Office of Management and Budget

Answer 24

Assists the president with how federal funds are spent in the yearly budget, oversees the performance of government agencies

Question 25

Discretionary Authority / Bureaucratic Discretion

Answer 25

Grants power to take action/make the decision they think is right when implementing laws

Question 26

Civil Service

Answer 26

Body of government officials that are hired on qualification rather than political affiliation. They implement and administer government policies and programs

Question 27

Merit System

Answer 27

Hiring and promoting government officials based on skills/qualification

Question 28

Pendleton Act

Answer 28

Established a merit system for hiring and promoting employees to ensure that decisions are based on qualification rather than connections

Question 29

Issue Network

Answer 29

An alliance of interest groups/people that work together to influence a policy or address a problem

Question 30

Regulation and Deregulation

Answer 30

Regulation: Creation and enforcement of rules by the government to control or guide activities within an industry or sector
Deregulation: reducing or removing government regulations in a specific industry.