Executive power

Question 1

undertaking

Answer 1

engagement

Question 2

“The President of the United States enjoys almost royal prerogatives which he has no
chance of exercising and those rights which he can at present use are very circumscribed.
The laws enable him to be strong; circumstances keep him weak’’.

Answer 2

Alexis de Tocqueville, 1835 Democracy in America

Question 3

to ensure

Answer 3

garantir

Question 4

threat

Answer 4

menace

Question 5

the constitutional pecking order

Answer 5

la hiérarchie constitutionnelle

Question 6

“the President claims the silences of the
Constitution”

Answer 6

Richard Pious

Question 7

to curtail

Answer 7

réduire

Question 8

fate

Answer 8

destin

Question 9

expedient

Answer 9

opportun

Question 10

misdemeanor

Answer 10

délit

Question 11

bribery

Answer 11

corruption

Question 12

trial

Answer 12

procès

Question 13

impeachment

Answer 13

mise en accusation

Question 14

remove from office

Answer 14

= démettre de ses fonctions
This is the final outcome of the impeachment process. After a
President has been impeached by a simple majority of the House of Representatives and
convicted by 2/3 of the Senate, he/she can no longer serve the rest of his/her term.

Question 15

Administration

Answer 15

in the US= the federal political executive, +/- the White House / the
government

Question 16

Advice and Consent

Answer 16

procedure whereby the US Senate approves or disapproves of
presidential executive and judicial nominations as well as of treaties signed by the President
(by a two-thirds vote for treaties). !!! advice is a noun, the verb would be to advise

Question 17

Agenda

Answer 17

here, a list of bills or matters to be voted upon. In general, a list of things/matters
to be done or acted upon !!! faux-ami # a diary=un agenda

Question 18

Appoint

Answer 18

to assign to a position or office

Question 19

Bully pulpit

Answer 19

a position of authority or public visibility, especially a political office, from
which one may express one’s views. A pulpit= a platform + to bully= to intimidate, browbeat

Question 20

Commander-in-chief

Answer 20

the head of the US armed forces (a civilian)

Question 21

Concur

Answer 21

agree with. concurrence= noun + concurrent=adjective !!! faux-amis #
competition, competitor…

Question 22

Convene

Answer 22

summon, convoke

Question 23

Eligibility

Answer 23

when one meets the requirements to be chosen for…Here, when one is legally
qualified to be elected or appointed to office

Question 24

enforce a law

Answer 24

put or keep in force

Question 25

executive branch

Answer 25

the second of the three federal branches of the federal government to be
listed in the Constitution. It is responsible, among other things, for executing the law,
proposing policy and serving as the head of the US armed forces

Question 26

Executive Order

Answer 26

an order having the force of law issued by the President of the U.S.
to the army, navy, or another part of the executive branch of government

Question 27

Executive Privilege

Answer 27

power sometimes claimed by presidents or members of the executive,
which consists in refusing to disclose information (to Congress, the judiciary, etc.) if disclosure
would impede the decision-making process and good functioning of the executive. The
Supreme Court recognized the existence of such a right in US v. Nixon in 1974.

Question 28

Nominate

Answer 28

suggest a candidate for a specific office/position

Question 29

Pardon

Answer 29

release from punishment for an offense - Presidency: cf. the executive
branch

Question 30

recess

Answer 30

when one house or both houses of Congress are not sitting/are
on a break or vacation

Question 31

reprieve

Answer 31

respite from an impending punishment

Question 32

Signing statement

Answer 32

whenever the President signs a bill into law, he/she sometimes
adds a statement to specify his/her understanding of the law and how it will be implemented.
These are often controversial since they have sometimes been used to disrespect the will and
intent of Congress.

Question 33

State of the Union Speech

Answer 33

an annual address delivered in Congress by the President
at the beginning of a session (in January) to outline his/her legislative agenda and national
priorities

Question 34

Veto

Answer 34

: oppose the passage of a bill (refuse to sign it into law).