Unit 2B- Executive Branch Vocabulary

lame duck

A politician who is still in office after having lost a reelection bid

Pardon

express power of the president to forgive individuals of federal crimes resulting in the release from prison or punishment.

signing statement

A written declaration that a president may make when signing a bill into law.

House Managers

Members of the House Judiciary Committee who oversee the prosecution for an impeachment trial in the Senate.

chief of staff

the person who oversees the operations of all White House staff and controls access to the president

executive privilege

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

press secretary

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

Bully Pulpit

the president's use of his prestige and visibility to guide or enthuse the American public

executive agreement

an agreement between the president and the leader of another country

White House Counsel

appointee of the president to provide advice on all legal issues concerning the president, the White House, and policy.

reprieve

express power of the president to postpone a person's punishment for a federal crime.

clemency

general term for the president's power to grant forgiveness for a crime in whole or in part. Pardons and reprieves are two types of clemency

Patronage

granting favors or giving contracts or making appointments to office in return for political support

Presidential Succession Act of 1947

law specifying the order of presidential succession following the Vice President

inherent powers

powers claimed by a president that are not expressed in the Constitution but are inferred from it

Implied (informal) powers

powers not specifically given the president by the Constitution but have been traditionally exercised.

War-making powers

refers to the power of the president to use the military to engage in acts of war

Express (formal) powers

specific powers granted to the president by the Constitution.

Commander in Chief

term for the president as commander of the nation's armed forces

National Security Advisor

the director of the National Security Council

Line of Succession

the order of successors to the presidency if the president is unable to serve as specified in the Constitution and federal law (Vice president, Speaker of the House, President pro tempore, and Secretary of State)

22nd Amendment

(1951) No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once.

25th Amendment

(1967) Constitutional amendment that clearly defines that the vice-president becomes president (not just an acting president) in the event of the death or incapacitation of the President of the United States. The amendment also allows for the president to sign over her or his duties to the vice-president if (s)he will be unable to temporarily discharge her or his duties.

ad hoc model

(meaning "for this purpose" in Latin) Model of office organization in the White House where subordinates, cabinet officers, and committees report directly to the president on different matters.

cabinet

A group of advisers to the president.

circular model

A model of organizing a president's staff in which several presidential assistants report directly to the president

censure

A process by which a formal reprimand is issued to an individual by an authoritative body

executive order

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

policy agenda

A set of issues and problems that policy makers consider important. The mass media play an important role in influencing the issues which receive public attention.

veto message

A statement sent to Congress by the president giving the reasons for vetoing a bill

Office of Management and Budget

An office that prepares the president's budget and also advises presidents on proposals from departments and agencies and helps review their proposed regulations.

pocket veto

If Congress session ends before the ten day limit and the President does not sign the bill the bill dies.

West Wing

Part of the White house, houses the president's office(oval office) and the senior staff of the president.

recess appointment

Selection by the president of a person to be an ambassador or the head of a department while the Senate is not in session, thereby bypassing Senate approval. Unless approved by a subsequent Senate vote, recess appointees serve only to the end of the congressional term.

"advice and consent"

Terms in the Constitution describing the U.S. Senate's power to review and approve treaties and presidential appointments.

Impeachment

The House may bring charges, and charge the President, vice president, or any civil officer; case if tried in the Senate with the Senate acting as jury.

veto

The power of one branch of the government to refuse approval of measures proposed by another.

Executive Office of the President

The cluster of presidential staff agencies that help the president carry out his responsibilities. Currently the office includes the Office of Management and Budget, the Council of Economic Advisers, and several other units.

confirmation process

The period between when a presidential nomination is received in the Senate and when the nominee is either confirmed or defeated.

Chief Executive

The role of the president as head of the executive branch of the government.

presidential coattails

These occur when voters cast their ballots for congressional candidates of the president's party because they support the president.

Office of Economic Advisors

agency within the Executive Office of the President that advises the president on economic policy.

National Security Council

a committee in the executive branch of government that advises the president on foreign and military and national security

pyramid structure

a president's subordinates report to him through a clear chain of command headed by a chief of staff