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