The Presidency

cabinet

part of the "unwritten Constitution," it was first established by George Washington and includes federal departments such as state, defense, etc.

executive privilege

the ability of the president to protect personal material

bully pulpit

the ability to use the office of the presidency to promote a particular program and/or to influence Congress to accept legislative proposals

War Powers Act

1973 act that states that a president can commit the military only after a declaration of war by the Congress, by specific authorization by Congress, if there is a national emergency, or if the use of force is in the national interest of the United States

Commander in Chief

delegated power of the president

Council of Economic Advisers

White House staff agency created to give the president advice regarding economic and fiscal policy

line item veto

allows the president to veto selectively what he considers unnecessary spending items contained in legislation. It was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court

riders

amendments to bills, often in the form of appropriations, that sometimes have nothing to do with the intent of the bill itself and many times are considered to be pork barrel legislation

National Security Council

chaired by the president, it is the lead advisory board in the area of national and international security. The other members of the council include the vice president, secretaries of state and defense, director of the Central Intelligence Agency, and chair of the joint chiefs of staff.

Twenty-fifth Amendment

constitutional amendment outlining the criteria for presidential selection and presidential disability

State of the Union Address

constitutional requirement imposed on the president to deliver an annual report regarding the current state of the nation to Congress. Traditionally, the president delivers it every January, in the form of a speech before a joint session of Congress

executive office of the president

created by Franklin Roosevelt in 1939; it has four major policymaking bodies today--the National Security Council, the Council of Economic Advisers, the Office of Management and Budget, and the Office of National Drug Control Policy

appointment power

gives the president the power to nominate and appoint officers of the United States

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

its director, appointed with the consent of the Senate, is responsible for the preparation of the massive federal budget, which must be submitted to the Congress in January each year. Besides formulating the budget, it oversees congressional appropriations

impeachment

listing of accusations against a federal official of "high crimes and misdemeanors" for the purpose of removing that official from office for such misconduct. President Clinton was the only elected president to have this happen but not removed from office

White House staff

managed by the White House Chief of Staff, who directly advises the president on a daily basis, it includes the more than 600 people who work at the White House, from the chef to the advanced people who make travel arrangements. The key staff departments include the political offices of the Office of Communications, Legislative Affairs, Political Affairs, and Intergovernmental Affairs. It includes the support services of Scheduling, Personnel, and Secret Service and the policy offices of the National Security Affairs, Domestic Policy Affairs, and cabinet secretaries

executive order

order signed by the president that has the effect of law, even though it is not passed by Congress. An example includes President Clinton's order legalizing the abortion pill, RU486

senatorial courtesy

policy that gives senators the right to be notified by the president of pending judicial nominations. Once informed, the approval of the senators from the state from which the judge comes is obtained and the appointment process moves on. This courtesy does not apply to Supreme Court justice nominations

veto

power of the president to prevent enactment of legislation passed by Congress. A two-thirds majority vote of each house is required to override it

pardon power

power to excuse an offense without penalty or grant release from a penalty already imposed

pocket veto

rejection of legislation that occurs if the president does not sign a bill within 10 days and the Congress also adjourns within the same time period.

trial balloons

selective leaks aimed at testing the political waters

imperial presidency

term developed by historian Arthur Schlesinger Jr.; refers to presidents who dominate the political and legislative agenda

chief executive

used to describe the president. Powers found in Article II of the Constitution