Chapter 13 AP Gov Vocabulary Terms

War Powers Resolution

A law passed in 1973 spelling out the conditions under which the president can commit troops without congressional approval.

Presidential Approval Ratings

A measure of the degree to which the public approves or disapproves of the president's performance in office.

Pyramid Approach

A method of organizing a president's staff in which most presidential assistants report through a hierarchy to the president's chief of staff

State of the Union Address

The president's annual statement to Congress and the nation.

Press Secretary

The president's spokesperson to the media

Chief Economic Planner

The President is responsible for planning the economic policies of the government, which includes submitting a federal budget.

Whig Theory

A theory that prevailed in the nineteenth century and held that the presidency was a limited or restrained office whose occupant was confined to expressly granted constitutional authority.

Council of Economic Advisers

A three-member body appointed by the president to advise the president on economic policy.

Honeymoon Period

A time early in a new president's administration characterized by optimistic approval by the public

Signing Statements

A written message that the president issues upon signing a bill into a law

Open Party Caucuses

Meetings at which a party's candidates for nomination are voted on and that are open to all the party's rank-and-file voters who want to attend.

22nd Amendment

No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once.

Budget and Impoundment Act

the president must spend all appropriated funds unless he tells congress what he wants to spend and congress agrees to delete the items (like a line-item veto); a U.S. federal law that governs the role of the Congress in the U.S. budget process

"Balancing the Ticket"

occurs when a presidential nominee chooses a vice presidential running mate who has different qualities in order to attract more votes for the ticket

Bully Pulpit

the president's use of his prestige and visibility to guide or enthuse the American public

Vice President

an official or executive ranking below and deputizing for a president.

Formal Powers

specific grants of authority defined in the Constitution or in law

"Inner Cabinet"

the four original department (state, defense, treasury, and justice) whose secretaries typically have the closest ties to the president

Chief of Party

Leader of the political party that controls the executive branch.

Inauguration

A ceremony in which the president takes the oath of office

Pocket Veto

A special presidential veto of a bill passed at the conclusion of a legislative session, whereby the president waits 10 days without signing the bill, and the bill dies

Imperial Presidency

A term coined by Arthur Schlesinger to describe the modern executive branch and the enormous powers the office gained through assertion, the size of the bureaucracy, and the presence of staff loyal to an individual president

Stewardship Theory

A theory that argues for a strong, assertive presidential role, with presidential authority limited only at points specifically prohibited by law.

Chief-of-Staff

Among the most important staff members of the white house office; serves as both an adviser to the president and the manager of the white house office

Executive Agreements

An international agreement between the United States and other nations, not subject to Senate approval and in effect only during the administration of the president who negotiated the agreement

Mandate

Clauses in legislation that direct state and local governments to comply with national legislation and national standards

National Security Council

Consisting of top foreign policy advisers and relevant cabinet officials, this is an arm of the Executive Office of the President that the president consults on matters of foreign policy and national security.

25th Amendment

In case of the removal of the President from office or of his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become President.

Informal Powers

Powers not directly granted by law.

Expressed Powers

Presidential powers enumerated in the constitution

Inherent Powers

Presidential powers that are implied in the constitution

"Illusion of Presidential Government"

Presidents get too much credit when things go well and too much blame when things go badly

Chief Diplomat

The President as the main architect of American foreign policy and the nation's chief spokesperson to other countries

Impeachment

The power of the House of Reps to formally accuse the president of crimes

Executive Order

The power of the president to issue orders that carry the force of law

Legislative Veto

The authority of Congress to block a presidential action after it has taken place. The Supreme Court has held that Congress does not have this power

Appointment Power

The authority vested in the president to fill a government office or position.

"Inner Circle"

The closest advisers to the president, including the First Lady.

Cabinet

The group of experts chosen by the president to serve as advisers on running the country

"Two Presidencies"

The idea that presidents have more interest in and power over foreign policy issues compared to domestic policy issues. This asymmetry is created by the president's greater influence over the making of foreign policy and the generally lower salience of foreign policy issues.

Office of Management and Budget

The office that creates the president's annual budget

Executive Office of the President

The offices, counsels, and boards that help the president to carry out his day-today responsibilities

Executive Privilege

The right of the chief executive and members of the administration to withhold information from congress or the courts, or the right to refuse to appear before legislative or judicial bodies

Chief Executive

The role of the president as head of the executive branch of the government.

Commander-in-Chief

The role of the president as supreme commander of the military forces of the United States and of the state National Guard units when they are called into federal service

Chief Legislator

The role of the president in influencing the making of laws.

Chief of State/Head of State

The role of the president to represent the nation and perform many ceremonial duties

Unit Rule/Winner-Take-All

The rule that grants all of a state's electoral votes to the candidate who receives the most popular votes in the state.

Presidential Coattails

These occur when voters cast their ballots for congressional candidates of the president's party because they support the president. Recent studies show that few races are won this way.

"Power of Persuasion"

a president's ability to convince Congress, other political actors, and the public to cooperate with the administration's agenda