Chapter 13 The Presidency

Prerogative view of Presidential power

A view of presidential power promoted by Abraham Lincoln, which argues that the president is required to preserve the Constitution and take actions to do so that might otherwise be unconstitutional

Executive Order

Directives of the president that have the same weight as law and were not voted on by Congress

Positive Government

The idea that government should play a major role in preventing or dealing with the crises that face the nation

National Security Council

A group of presidential advisors made up of the vice president, attorney general, and cabinet officers chosen by the president to advise the president on national security issues; it is part of the Executive Office of the President

Spokes-of-the-wheel Model

A method of organizing the Presidency that calls for the president to be the center of activity with numerous advisors reporting directly to the president

Hierarchical Model

A method of organizing the presidency that calls for clear lines of authority and delegates responsibility from the president and through the chief of staff

Weak-Executive model

A model of the presidency in which the executive would have a limited term, would have no veto power, and would be allowed to exercise only the authority explicitly granted by Congress.

Strong-executive model

A model of the presidency in which the powers of the executive office are significant and independent from Congress.

Going Public

A political strategy in which the president appeals to the public in an effort to persuade Congress to support his or her political goals.

Signing Statements

A pronouncement of how the president intends to interpret and apply a law when he signs a bill into law

White House Office

A section of the Executive Office of the President that houses many of the most influential advisors tot he president, including the chief of staff; the White House legal counsel; presidential speech writers; the president's press secretary; assistants for domestic, foreign, and economic policy; and liaisons with Congress, the public, and state and local governments.

National Security Directive

A type of executive order with the force of law authorizing federal agencies or officials to take some action to protect national security

Restrictive View of Presidential Power

A view of presidential power that argues that the president can exercise only those powers listed in the Constitution

Stewardship Doctrine

A view of presidential power that states that the president is a steward of the people and should do anything the nation needs that is not prohibited by the Constitution

Executive Agreements

Agreements between the United States and other nations, negotiated by the president, that have the same weight as a treaty but do not require senatorial approval

Council of Economic Advisers

An agency of the Executive Office of the President that is responsible for advising the President on the U.S. economy.

office of Management and Budget

An agency of the Executive Office of the President that is responsible for assisting the president in creating the Budget

Unilateral Powers

Presidential directives that carry the weight of law even though they have not been formally endorsed by Congress.

Executive Office of the President

The organizational structure in the executive branch that houses the president's most influential advisors and agencies. The most important include the white house office, the Office of Management and Budget, and National Security Council, and the Council of Economic Advisors

Pocket Veto

The veto resulting from a president taking no action after Congress has adjourned on legislation that has passed Congress