Chapter 13 - Vocabulary

divided government

A ____ occurs when one political party has control of the presidency and another political party has control of one or both houses of Congress.

dignified aspect

A government that expresses the unity of the people, their high moral purposes, and their hopes for the future will generate a ____ of their loyalty and trust.

Cabinet

A political institution of the executive branch of government that is comprised of fifteen department heads who collectively serve as advisors to the president is called the ____. Each department head is appointed by the president and carry out the administrative policies of the president in their respective departments

independent counsel

An official or a panel of judges appointed by a court to investigate allegations of criminal activity by high-ranking members in the executive branches of government is called the ____.

override

Congress can pass a vetoed bill with at two-thirds majority vote in each House to ____ a presidential veto. The bill then becomes law without the president's approval.

secretary

Each of the fifteen cabinet departments is headed by a ____, chosen by the president and approved by the Senate. Each department head manages a specific area of public policy with unique duties and responsibilities.

state of the Union Address

Each year the president usually outlines his legislative and foreign policy priorities for the coming year in the ____. It is usually given in January before a joint session of Congress.

inherent executive power

Many presidents have claimed additional rights and privileges beyond the powers specified in the Constitution. Presidents have claimed ____ many times when making foreign policy decisions.

pocket veto

Once Congress has passed a bill and sent it to the president, he has to sign it, veto it, or let it become law after ten working days by not doing anything. If Congress adjourns within the ten days after submitting the bill, the president can let it die automatically by doing nothing. This process is called a ____.

beltway insider

Political and influential people who work and live inside the freeway system that surrounds the Washington, D.C. area are known as ____.

executive orders

Presidents can issue ____ to direct and control federal employees and the armed forces; they can also direct the implementation of congressional statutes and provisions of the Constitution.

bully pulpit

Presidents often use their office as a ____ to gain support for the policies they favor. They make speeches, take presidential trips, and make bold gestures to rally support from the members of Congress and the public.

line item veto

The Constitution does not give the president the power of ____; the authority to negate specific parts of a bill while passing the remainder.

Commander in Chief

The Constitution established civilian control over the military by placing the president as ____ over the armed forces of the United States.

veto power

The Constitution gives the president ____ to prevent bills passed by Congress from becoming law.

chief of staff

The Head of the White House Staff is the ____, who meets daily with the president to communicate information from cabinet officers, members of Congress, and other staff personnel.

Executive Office of the President

The ____ is the managerial arm of the presidency. It consists of a collection of offices and organizations of policy making bodies. Three major policymaking bodies are: the National Security Council, the Office of Management and Budget, and the Council of Economic Advisers.

efficient aspect

The ____ of a government involves the making of public policies, the administration of the law, and the settling of political disputes.

administration

The appointment power of the president enables him to place thousands of officials into high positions of the government. These political appointees form the ____ of the president that direct the executive branch of government.

honeymoon

The first months of a president's first term are usually a period of cooperation with Congress, the media are granted numerous personal interviews, and the public is receptive to their new ideas on policy issues. This period is usually referred to as the ____ phase.

First Lady

The historical role of the ____ is typically to host social events at the White House, visit public institutions, promote social or welfare issues, and to loyally stand by her husband.

transition

The period of time between an outgoing president and an incoming presidential candidate is known as a ____ period. It occurs between Election Day and goes until the inauguration of the new president.

executive privilege

The right of the president to refuse information requested by Congress and the Courts is called ____. Since President George Washington, presidents have claimed that personal communications with their advisors are immune from congressional and judicial scrutiny.

White House Offices

The top aides to the president are people who are completely loyal to him and provide advice on the most serious to mundane matters of government. Many occupy ____ and see the president on a routine basis.

impeachment

To remove the president from office before the end of his term, the House of Representatives must pass an indictment by a two-thirds majority vote. The Constitution provides a process called ____ for the removal of government officials who commit treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.

Presidential Popularity

____ is determined by surveys that ask voters how well they think the president is doing his job.