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executive branch voc
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Gridlock | The inability of the government to act because opposing parties control different parts of the government and cannot agree on a course of action |
| Formal Power | authority given to the president that is specifically mentioned in the constitution |
| informal power | authority given to the president that is not specifically mentioned in the constitution |
| executive order | A directive that carries the weight of law that is given by the president without the consent of congress |
| executive agreement | a pact between the president and the head of a foreign nation. unlike treaties, they do not require senate consent and may only last for the duration of a president's term |
| treaty | a formal, public agreement between the untied states and one or more nations that must be approved by two-third of the senate |
| cabinet | the heads of the fifteen executive branch departments that also serve as advisors to the president |
| bully pulpit | the presidents use of his position and visibility to guide or influence the american public |
| state of the union | an annual address given by the president to congress in which the president outlines his legislative agenda |
| executive privilege | the president's ability to keep certain communications private |
| 22nd amendment | Limits the president to two terms, not to exceed 10 years |
| 25th amendment | The process for presidential succession and disability |
| veto | The presidential power to deny a bill passed by congress |
| pocket veto | when a bill fails to become law, because the president did not sign it within 10 days before congress adjourned |
| line item veto | the power to cancel specific dollar amounts within a bill. while the supreme court has ruled presidents may not use these state governor still can |
| signing statement | issued by the president after passing a bill into law; reveals what the president thinks of a new law and how it ought to be enforced |
| impeachment | the constitutional process of bringing charges against a government official |
| pardon | official forgiveness of a crime |
| lame duck | an official still in office after he or she has lost a bid for re election or has reached his/her term limit |
| congressional oversight | the authority of congress to conduct hearings, investigations, and budget reviews regarding the actions executive branch |
| bureaucracy | a large complex organization composed of appointed officials |
| executive office of the president | the part of the executive branch that supports the president in his responsibilities, from security to trade |
| white house staff | personnel who run day to day operations in the white house and advise president |
| executive departments | 15 large agencies the federal government that carry out laws and regulate within their respective area. each is headed by a secretary |
| independent regulatory commissions | agencies that are responsible for monitoring large government sectors such as the federal reserve and are not subject to control by either congress or the president |
| government corporations | a government agency that carries out business like functions such as the us postal service |
| office of management and budget | bureaucracy that helps the president prepare the budget |
| discretionary authority/bureaucratic discretion | the extent to which appointed bureaucrats can choose courses of action and make policies that are not spelled out in advance by the laws of congress |
| civil service | the part of the government that fulfills the daily functions of the bureaucracy. these government workers are hired on the basis of merit |
| merit system | procedure of hiring the promoting government employees on the basis of their abilities and competence rather than political favors |
| Pendleton act | the law that created a merit based system for the hiring of members of the civil service |
| iron triangle | a mutually beneficial relationship between an agency, a congressional committee, and an interest group |
| issue network | a link of policy experts, interest groups, think tanks, congressional staff members, media pundits, who regularly debate an issue |
| appropriation | a legislative grant of money to finance a government program or agency |
| regulation | the use of government authority to control or change business practices in the private sector |