Government unit 4: The Executive Branch

Consulates

Office that promotes American business and safeguards its travelers in a foreign country.

Department of State

Often referred to as the State Department, is the United States federal executive department advises the President and leads the nation in foreign policy issues.

Press Secretary

One of the president's top assistants who is in charge of media relations.

Bureaucrat

One who works for a department or agency of the federal government-civil servant.

Civil Service System

Practice of government employment based on competitive examinations and merit.

National Security

Protection of a nation's borders and territories against invasion or control by foreign powers.

Compensation

Salary.

Cabinet

Secretaries of the executive departments, the vice president, and other top officials that help the president make decisions and policy.

Executive officer of the President

The Executive Office of the President of the United States (EOPOTUS or EOP) consists of the immediate staff of the current President of the United States and multiple levels of support staff reporting to the President. The EOP is headed by the White House Chief of Staff, currently Denis McDonough.

OAS

The Old Age Security (OAS) pension is a monthly payment available to most Canadians 65 years of age who meet the Canadian legal status and residence requirements.

Secretary of State

The Secretary of State, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, is the President's chief foreign affairs adviser.

Procurement

The purchasing of materials.

Leak

The release of secret information by anonymous government officials to the media.

Foreign Policy

The strategies and goals that guide a nation's relations with other countries.

Deregulate

To reduce regulation.

Bilateral Treaties

Agreement between two nations.

Hatch Act

An Act to Prevent Pernicious Political Activities, is a United States federal law whose main provision prohibits employees in the executive branch of the federal government, except the president, vice-president, and certain designated high-level officials of that branch, from engaging.

Council of Economics Advisors

An agency within the Executive Office of the President that advises the President of the United States on economic policy.

Mutual Defense Alliances

An agreement between nations to support each other in case of an attack.

Embassy

An ambassador's official residence and offices in a foreign country.

Department of Defense

An executive branch department of the federal government of the United States charged with coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the government concerned directly with national security and the United States Armed Forces.

Secretary of Defense

An executive branch department of the federal government of the United States charged with coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the government concerned directly with national security and the United States Armed Forces.

NATO

An intergovernmental military alliance based on the North Atlantic Treaty which was signed on 4 April 1949.

Ambassador

An official of the government who represents the nation in diplomatic matters.

Injuction

An order that will stop a particular action or enforce a rule or regulation.

Conscription

Compulsory military service; also called a draft.

Bipartisan

Consisting of members of both major political parties.

National Security Advisor

Director of the National Security Council staff

Multilateral Treaties

International agreement signed by several nations.

Internationalism

Involvement in world affairs.

Electors

Member of a party chosen in each state to formally elect the president and vice president.

Inner Cabinet

Members of the cabinet who wield influence with the president because they head departments that are concerned with national issues.

Central Clearance

Office of Management and Budget's review of all legislative proposals that executive agencies prepare.

Joint Chiefs of Staff

A body of senior uniformed leaders in the United States Department of Defense who advise the President of the United States, the Secretary of Defense, the Homeland Security Council and the National Security Council on military matters.

Government Corporation

A business that the federal government runs.

Liaison Officers

A cabinet department employee who helps promote good relations with Congress.

Central Intelligence Agency

A civilian foreign intelligence service of the United States federal government, tasked with gathering, processing and analyzing national security information from around the world, primarily through the use of human intelligence (HUMINT).

Foreign Service

A component of the United States federal government under the aegis of the United States Department of State.

Passport

A document entitling a traveler to certain protections established by international treaty.

Treaty

A formal agreement between the governments of two or more countries.

Mandate

A formal order given by a higher authority.

Consul

A government official who heads a consulate in a foreign nation.

Forum

A government-owned property that is open to public expression and assembly.

Amnesty

A group to individuals for an offense against the government.

Sanctions

A measurement such as withholding economic aid to influence a foreign government's activities.

Regional Security Pacts

A mutual defense treaty among nations of a region.

Iron Triangle

A relationship formed among government agencies, congressional committees, and client groups who work together.

Pardon

A release from legal punishment.

Executive Agreement

A rule issued by the president that has the force of law.

Executive Order

A rule issued by the president that has the force the law.

Visa

A special document, required by certain countries, that is issued by the government of the country that a person wishes to enter.

Most-favored-nation(MFN)

A status or level of treatment accorded by one state to another in international trade. ... (Trade advantages include low tariffs or high import quotas.)

Collective Security

A system by which the participating nations agree to take joint action against a nation that attacks any one of them.

Isolationism

The avoidance of involvement in world affairs.

Patronage

The dispensation of favors or rewards such as public office, jobs, contracts, subsidies, prestige or other valued benefits by a patron (who controls their dispensation) to a client.

Electoral College

The method of choosing the president and vice president.

Electoral vote

The official vote for president and vice president by electors in each state.

Presidential Succession

The order in which officials fill the office of president in case of a vacancy.

Containment

The policy designed to keep the Soviet Union from expanding its power.

Reprieve

The postponement of legal punishment.

Congressional Override

The power of Congress to pass legislation over a president's veto.

Spoils System

The practice of victorious politicians rewarding their followers with government jobs.

Impoundment

The president's refusal to spend money Congress has voted to fund a program.