The Presidency (Definitions)

Question 1

State of the Union Adress

Answer 1

President lays out legislative agenda for the year in a joint session of Congress

Question 2

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

Answer 2

Part of President’s bureaucracy, draws up annual federal budget

Question 3

Executive Office of the President (EXOP)

Answer 3

Top staff agencies in the White House that help the President carry out duties of office. Functions of advice, co-ordination and administrative support

Question 4

Chief Executive

Answer 4

Role of the President. Means he is in charge of the entire executive branch and has final say over any decisions

Question 5

Commander in Chief

Answer 5

President’s role as head of the armed forces, which allows him to deploy ground troops and order air strikes without congressional approval

Question 6

Head of State

Answer 6

Power of President to be spokesperson for the nation in foreign policy and be the figurehead for foreign state visits

Question 7

Acting President

Answer 7

Power assumed by Vice President when the President is declared or declares himself disabled

Question 8

Federal Bureaucracy

Answer 8

Unelected, administrative strand of Executive branch. Made up of departments, agencies and commissions that carry out policy on a day to day basis

Question 9

Office of Personnel Management

Answer 9

Manages all the people in the federal bureaucracy, ensuring they are selected on merit rather than political persuasion

Question 10

Spoils system

Answer 10

Where jobs in the federal bureaucracy are given to political supporters of the President rather than on merit

Question 11

‘Going native’

Answer 11

Political appointees cease to be advocates for the President and instead promote their agency

Question 12

The Cabinet

Answer 12

Heads of Executive departments selected by the President to aid him in decision making and implementation of policy

Question 13

Cabinet Councils

Answer 13

Sub-cabinets that are responsible for a specific policy area. Fewer members, so more efficient than full cabinet

Question 14

Singular Executive

Answer 14

All Executive power is vested in President, departments merely help him manage the workload

Question 15

White House Office

Answer 15

One of the 10 offices that make up EXOP. Includes President’s most trusted and closest aides. Has 16 sub-offices

Question 16

White House Chief of Staff

Answer 16

Most important member of federal bureaucracy; important policy adviser and safety net for President

Question 17

National Security Council

Answer 17

Established in 1947 to help the President coordinate foreign, security and defence policy

Question 18

Presidential persuasion

Answer 18

President offers incentives and punishments to Congress in order to pass his proposed legislation

Question 19

The Partisan Presidency

Answer 19

Theory that President’s are increasingly dogmatic in following the party line and unwilling to co-operate with the other party

Question 20

The Imperial Presidency

Answer 20

Presidency characterised by misuse and abuse of power, with use of excessive secrecy. Used by most Presidents from FDR up until Nixon

Question 21

The post-imperial Presidency

Answer 21

Greater role of oversight from Congress, where the President is confined to roles set out in Constitution