AP Gov: Chapter 8 - The Presidency

Riders

An additional provision added to a bill or other measure.

Cabinet

A body of high-ranking state officials, typically consisting of the top leaders of the executive branch. They are usually called ministers, but in some jurisdictions are sometimes called secretaries.

Impeachment

A charge of misconduct made against the holder of a public office.

National Security Council

A committee in the executive branch that advises the president on matters relating to domestic, military, and foreign security. The NSC also directs the operation of the Central Intelligence Agency.

Bully Pulpit

A conspicuous position that provides an opportunity to speak out and be listened to. This term was coined by President Theodore Roosevelt, who referred to the White House as a "bully pulpit", by which he meant a terrific platform from which to advocate an agenda.

Veto

A constitutional right to reject a decision or proposal made by a law-making body.

War Powers Resolution

A federal law intended to check the president's power to commit the United States to an armed conflict without the consent of the U.S. Congress.

Appointment Power

A power of appointment is a term most frequently used in the law of wills to describe the ability of the testator (the person writing the will) to select a person who will be given the authority to dispose of certain property under the will.

Trial Balloons

A tentative measure taken or statement made to see how a new policy will be received.

Imperial President+

A term used to describe the modern presidency of the United States which became popular in the 1960s and served as the title of a 1973 volume by historian Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.

Council of Economic Advisers

An agency within the Executive Office of the President that advises the President of the United States on economic policy. The CEA provides much of the objective empirical research for the White House and prepares the annual Economic Report of the President.

White House Staff

An entity within the Executive Office of the President of the United States. The White House Office is headed by the White House Chief of Staff, who is also the head of the Executive Office.

Pocket Veto

An indirect veto of a legislative bill by the president or a governor by retaining the bill unsigned until it is too late for it to be dealt with during the legislative session.

Executive Office of the President

Consists of the immediate staff of the incumbent 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.

Pardon Power

One of the least limited powers granted to the President in the Constitution. The only limits mentioned in the Constitution are that pardons are limited to offenses against the United States (i.e., not civil or state cases), and that they cannot affect an impeachment process.

Executive Order

Orders issued by United States Presidents and directed towards officers and agencies of the Federal government of the United States.Executive orders have the full force of law, based on the authority derived from statute or the Constitution itself.

25th Amendment

Provides the procedures for replacing the president or vice president in the event of death, removal, resignation, or incapacitation.

Office of Management and Budget

The business division of the Executive Office of the President of the United States that administers the United States federal budget and oversees the performance of federal agencies.

Commander-in-Chief

The person or body that exercises supreme operational command and control of a nation's military forces or significant elements of those forces.

Line Item Veto

The power of an executive authority to nullify or cancel specific provisions of a bill, usually a budget appropriations bill, without vetoing the entire legislative package. AKA Partial Veto

Chief Executive

The president is the "boss" for millions of government workers in the Executive Branch. He or she decides how the laws of the United States are to be enforced and chooses officials and advisors to help run the Executive Branch.

Executive Privilege

The privilege, claimed by the president for the executive branch of the US government, of withholding information in the public interest.

State of the Union Address

U.S. Constitution Article II, Section 3, Clause 1. The President "shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient."