Unit 4 vocab

Question 1

Appointment power

Answer 1

the President of the United States can appoint certain public officials with the “advice and consent” of the U.S. Senate

Question 2

Executive privilege

Answer 2

the power of the President and other officials in the executive branch to withhold certain forms of confidential communication from the courts and the legislative branch

Question 3

Line item veto

Answer 3

governor’s ability to strike out or cancel portions of a bill while letting the remainder of the bill pass.

Question 4

War powers act

Answer 4

congressional resolution designed to limit the U.S. president’s ability to initiate or escalate military actions abroad. Aims to check the executive branch’s power when committing U.S. military forces to an armed conflict without the consent of the U.S. Congress.

Question 5

Veto message

Answer 5

official order that stops something from occurring that would otherwise happen such as the President’s or a governor’s right to stop something from being passed into law.

Question 6

Legislative veto

Answer 6

ejection of a presidential or administrative action by a vote of one or both houses of Congress without the consent of the president

Question 6

Executive agreement

Answer 6

agreement between the United States and a foreign government that is less formal than a treaty and is not subject to the constitutional requirement for ratification by two-thirds of the U.S. Senate.

Question 7

Vesting clause

Answer 7

The president’s constitutional authority to control most executive functions.

Question 8

Unitary Executive Theory

Answer 8

strong presidency theory holding that the president embodies executive authority and is the sole judge, particularly in wartime, of what is required to protect the nation.

Question 9

Bully pulpit

Question 10

Impeachment

Answer 10

An action by the House of Representatives to accuse the president, vice president, or other civil officers of the United States of committing “Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.” Will take them out of office

Question 11

Pardon power

Answer 11

The granting of a release from the punishment or legal consequences of a crime; a pardon can be granted by the president before or after a conviction.

Question 12

Divided government

Answer 12

describes a situation in which one party controls the White House (executive branch), while another party controls one or both houses of the United States Congress (legislative branch).

Question 13

Signing statement

Question 14

Lame duck

Answer 14

a political official during the time he or she remains in office after a defeat or inability to seek another term, whose power is therefore diminished.

Question 15

Foreign policy deference

Answer 15

the programs and policies that determine America’s relations with other nations and foreign entities.

Question 16

Treaty

Answer 16

a binding formal agreement, contract, or other written instrument that establishes obligations between two or more subjects of international law (primarily states and international organizations).

Question 17

Press secretary

Answer 17

senior advisor who provides advice on how to deal with the news media and, using news management techniques, helps their employer to maintain a positive public image and avoid negative media coverage.

Question 18

Cabinet

Answer 18

a small group of the most important people in government, who advise the President or Prime Minister and make important decisions:

Question 19

Imperial presidency

Answer 19

term used to describe a president as an emperor who acts without consulting Congress or acts in secrecy to evade or deceive congress

Question 20

Clemency

Answer 20

a mechanism for granting a person convicted of a criminal offense relief from a court-ordered sentence or punitive measure.

Question 21

Unified government

Answer 21

A government in which the same party controls both the white house and both houses of Congress.

Question 22

Impoundment

Question 23

Executive order

Question 24

“Take Care” clause

Answer 24

requiring the President to “take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed.”

Question 25

Executive agreement

Answer 25

executive agreement, an agreement between the United States and a foreign government that is less formal than a treaty and is not subject to the constitutional requirement for ratification by two-thirds of the U.S. Senate.

Question 26

Chief of staff