Executive Branch Vocabulary

impeach

to accuse (a public official) before an appropriate tribunal of misconduct in office

primary

to challenge or oppose (the incumbent) in a primary election, usually for strong ideological reasons (often used in passive constructions)

deregulate

to remove government regulatory controls from (an industry, a commodity, etc.)

Electoral College

a body of electors chosen by the voters in each state to elect the president and vice president of the U.S.

third-party candidate

a candidate who does not belong to one of the two main US political parties, the Republicans or the Democrats

mandate

a command or authorization to act in a particular way on a public issue given by the electorate to its representative

leak

a disclosure of secret, especially official, information, as to the news media, by an unnamed source

executive agreement

a formal agreement between two or more states in reference to peace, alliance, commerce, or other international relations

amnesty

a general pardon for offenses, especially political offenses, against a government, often granted before any trial or conviction

winner-take-all system

a legislative body is elected by dividing the jurisdiction into geographic constituencies, each electing exactly one representative

caucus

a local meeting of party members to select candidates, elect convention delegates, etc.

convention

a local meeting of party members to select candidates, elect convention delegates, etc.

press secretary

a person officially responsible for press and public relations for a prominent figure or organization and who often holds press conferences to answer journalists' questions

elector

a person who elects or may elect, especially a qualified voter

pardon

a release from the penalty of an offense; a remission of penalty, as by a governor

iron triangle

In United States politics, the "iron triangle" comprises the policy-making relationship among the congressional committees, the bureaucracy, and interest groups, as described in 1981 by Gordon Adams

Veep

a vice president.

State of the Union Message

a yearly address delivered each January by the president of the US to Congress, giving the administration's view of the state of the nation and plans for legislation

Cabinet

an advisory body to the president, consisting of the heads of the 13 executive departments of the federal government

lame duck

an elected official or group of officials, as a legislator, continuing in office during the period between an election defeat and a successor's assumption of office

Oath of office

an official promise by a person who has been elected to a public office to fulfill the duties of the office according to the law

executive order

an order having the force of law issued by the president of the U.S. to the army, navy, or other part of the executive branch of the government

inherent powers

powers not explicitly specified in the Constitution that enable government to take actions necessary to efficiently perform essential duties

executive privilege

the discretionary right claimed by certain U.S. presidents to withhold information from Congress or the judiciary

White House

the official Washington residence of the president of the US

Veto

the power or right vested in one branch of a government to cancel or postpone the decisions, enactments, etc., of another branch, especially the right of a president, governor, or other chief executive to reject bills passed by the legislature

public policy

the principle that injury to the public good or public order constitutes a basis for setting aside, or denying effect to, acts or transactions

national security

the security and defence of a nation state, including its citizens, economy, and institutions, which is regarded as a duty of government

political patronage

the support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows on another

National Security Advisor

The Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, commonly referred to as the National Security Advisor is a senior aide in the Executive Office of the President, based at the West Wing of the White House

presidential succession

The United States presidential line of succession is the order in which officials of the United States federal government assume the powers and duties of the office of president of the United States if the incumbent president becomes incapacitated, dies, resigns, or is removed from office

White House Chief of Staff

The White House Chief of Staff position is the successor to the earlier role of the Secretary to the President of the United States