POLS 021 - Magleby, et. al - Ch. 11

parliamentary government

A form of government in which the chief executive is the leader of the majority party in the legislature

Electoral College

The electoral system used in electing the president and vice president, in which voters vote for electors pledged to cast their ballots for a particular party's candidates

presidential ticket

The joint listing of the presidential and vice presidential candidates on the same ballot, as required by the Twelfth Amendment

vesting clause

The president's constitutional authority to control most executive functions

presidential roles

1) commander in chief
2) diplomat in chief
3) administrator in chief

treaty

A formal, public agreement between the United States and one or more nations that must be approved by two-thirds of the Senate

executive agreement

A formal agreement between the U.S. president and the leaders of other nations that does not require Senate approval

congressional-executive agreement

A formal agreement between the U.S. president and the leaders of other nations that requires approval by both houses of Congress

additional executive powers

1) The Appointment Power
2) The Veto Power
3) The Pardon Power
4) The Take Care Power
5) The Power to Inform and Convene Congress

The Appointment Power

the power to nominate judges and the top officers of government

The Veto Power

the power to veto legislation

The Pardon Power

the power to grand pardons to individuals convicted of federal crimes

recess appointment

Presidential appointment made without Senate confirmation during Senate recess

veto

A formal decision to reject a bill passed by Congress

pocket veto

A formal decision to reject a bill passed by Congress after it adjourns--if Congress adjourns during the ten days that the president if allowed to sign or veto a law, the president can reject the law by taking no action at all

take care clause

The constitutional requirement (in Article II, Section 3) that presidents take care that the laws are faithfully executed, even if they disagree with the purpose of those laws

inherent powers

Powers that grow out of the very existence of government

State of the Union Address

The president's annual statement to Congress and the nation

signing statements

A formal document that explains why a president is signing a particular bill into law. These statements may contain objections to the bill and promises not to implement key sections

impeachment

A formal accusation against the president or another public official; the first step in removal from office

War Power Resolution

A resolution passed in 1973 requiring the president to give advance warning of a military attack or ask Congress for a declaration of war or specific legislation

executive privilege

The right to keep executive communications confidential, especially if they relate to national security

executive orders

Formal orders to government or an agency or agencies as a whole that carry the force of law issued by the president to direct action by the federal bureaucracy

executive memorandum

A less powerful formal order to an agency or agencies, that does not carry the force of law, to undertake a particular course of action

impoundment

A decision by the president not to spend money appropriated by Congress, now prohibited under federal law

line item veto

Presidential power to strike, or remove, specific items from a spending bill without vetoing the entire package; declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court

competitive approach

survival of the fittest" approach

collegial approach

encouraging aides to work together toward a common position

groupthink

the tendency of small groups to stifle dissent in the search for common ground

hierarchical approach

the president establishes tight control over who does what in making decisions

chief of staff

The head of the White House staff

political offices

offices designed to help the president run for reelection, control the national party, and shape the president's image through press conferences, television and radio addresses, polling, and travel

policy offices

offices designed to shape the president's foreign and domestic program

Executive Office of the President (EOP)

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

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

A presidential staff agency that serves as a clearinghouse for budgetary requests and management improvements for government agencies

cabinet

The advisory council for the president, consisting of the heads of the executive departments, the vice president, and a few other officials selected by the president

presidential support score

The percentage of times a president wins on key votes in Congress

mandate

A president's claim of broad public support

political capital

The amount of overall public approval that a president can use to win support for major decisions and proposals

rally point

A rise in public approval of the president that follows a crisis as Americans "rally round the flag" and the chief executive