The Presidency Flashcards

1
Q

Pardon

A

A release from punishment

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
1
Q

Executive Departments

A

Also means the President’s Cabinet (The president’s closest advisers and heads of executive departments that help run the government. Examples: State, Defense, Justice)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Bureaucracy

A

Keep the government running, various agencies and organizations that carry out the daily business of government.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Federal Deficit

A

Expenditures are much higher than Revenues. (The government spends more money than it takes in.)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Impoundment

A

Impoundment involves the refusal of a chief executive to spend funds that may have been appropriated by the legislature. Used primarily by Nixon and outlawed by Ford.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Discretionary Spending

A

Non-mandatory spending, programs and departments that congress spend money on as they see fit (example: defense).

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

This Chamber decides the winner of the Presidency if no candidate receives 270 electoral votes.

A

House of Representatives

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Impeachment

A

The removal of an elected official from office by the Congress.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

The “Gate Keeper” to the President

A

Chief of Staff

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Individual Income Tax

A

A tax on a person’s wages/income.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Runoff Election

A

A candidate must receive at least 50% of the vote in order to claim victory. If no candidate receives 50% of the vote the top two candidates must compete in a runoff election.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Social Insurance Tax

A

Payroll taxes used to fund programs for the elderly and poor. (Medicare, Social Security, Food Stamps)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Amnesty

A

A blanket pardon (release of punishment) to a group of people.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Executive Order

A

A rule issued by the president that has the force of law, example the Emancipation Proclamation.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Budget Resolution

A

A budget resolution sets guidelines for how much money Congress should spend in 20 broad categories. (Examples: national defense, agriculture, health)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Budget Proposal

A

The budget the president sends to Congress on how he/she plans to spend and tax for the next year.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Government Shutdown

A

When the Congress and President cannot agree on a budget proposal and the government is not funded.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Balanced Budget

A

Revenues and Expenditures are about even. (The government spends and takes in about the same amount of money.)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Federal Budget

A

The federal budget is an estimate of the money the government will take in over the next fiscal year.

17
Q

President’s Cabinet

A

The president’s closest advisers and heads of executive departments that help run the government. Examples: State, Defense, Justice

18
Q

Progressive Tax

A

A tax where the burden falls more heavily on wealthy taxpayers. Example of a progressive tax are income taxes and corporate taxes.

18
Q

What is the largest source of federal revenue?

A

Individual Income Tax

19
Q

National Debt

A

The amount of money the U.S. Government certainly owes to creditors. It sits at about $16 trillion.

20
Q

Excise Tax

A

Taxes levied on the sale of goods, like tobacco, and services, sometimes called “sin taxes.”

22
Q

Line of Succession

A

The order of people/offices that follow the president and other officials if they must leave office.

23
Q

Earmarks

A

Funds added to a budget resolution that pay for Congressional “pet” projects in individual districts.

24
Q

Privatization

A

Move agencies out of the bureaucracy and enlist private companies to take on some responsibilities of running the federal government.

25
Q

This group of people advise the president on a daily basis.

A

White House Staff - note the cabinet does not meet with the president on a daily basis.

26
Q

Exposes government wrong doing.

A

Whistle-Blower

28
Q

Tax Freedom Day

A

The day a person has made enough money to pay their taxes for the year.

29
Q

After income taxes what is the largest sources of government revenue?

A

Corporate Taxes

31
Q

Fiscal Year

A

The period of time an organization uses for its budgeting, record-keeping, and financial reporting. The U.S. Government’s fiscal year begins Oct. 1 and ends Sept. 30.

32
Q

Independent Agencies

A

An agency that falls under the Executive Branch but the President has no direct control over. They run their own departments. Example (Post Office, NASA, EPA)

33
Q

Reprieve

A

A postponement of punishment

34
Q

Recall Election

A

An elected official is removed from office by voters, only happens at the state level.

35
Q

Entitlements

A

Programs through which individuals receive benefits based on their age, income, or other special criteria. (Examples: Food stamps, Social Security, Medicare)

36
Q

Who runs the federal bureaucracy?

A

The Executive Office of the President (EOP)

38
Q

Who was the last president to pass a budget that resulted in a surplus?

A

Bill Clinton

39
Q

The only original cabinet positions still active today.

A

State and Treasury

40
Q

Mandatory Spending

A

The government has already appropriated funds for certain programs. The two main categories of mandatory spending are interest on national debt and entitlements (Social Security).

41
Q

Corporate Income Tax

A

A tax paid by businesses on their profits each year.

42
Q

Chief of Staff

A

The President’s closest adviser and most powerful member of his/her staff - control who gets access to the President.

43
Q

Budget Surplus

A

The government makes more money than it spends.

44
Q

Budget Cycle

A

The budget process that begins with the President writing a budget and ends with Congress passing a budget through both Chambers. Often the budget passed is much different than the President proposed.

45
Q

Regressive Tax

A

A tax where the burden more heavily on poor taxpayers. Excise taxes are an example of a regressive tax, a person earning less money has more of a burden when paying phone taxes or gasoline.