Civics: Chapt. 6 Vocabulary

pardon

Presidential action forgiving a person convicted of a crime

passports

Formal documents that allow U.S. citizens to travel abroad

presidential succession

Term for the order in which the office of the president is to be filled if it becomes vacant

War Powers Act

Congressional limitation on the president's military powers

treaties

Written agreements between nations

foreign policy

A nation's plan for dealing with other nations of the world

ambassadors

Highest-ranking government officials who represent the United States abroad

attorney general

Head of the Department of Justice

embassy

The official residence of an ambassador in a foreign country

reprieve

President's power to postpone the carrying out of a prison sentence

Joint Cheifs of Staff

Highest-ranking officers of the Army, Navy and Air Force who advise the president on military powers

bureaucracy

Agencies, departments, and people that make up the executive branch of government

secretary

Title of most cabinet members

diplomacy

Art of dealing with foreign governments

consul

U.S. government official who works in a foreign country to develop trade and to help Americans in that country

commutation

President's power to change a convicted person's sentence to make the sentence less severe

veto

A way the president influences legislation

cabinet

The heads of the executive departments are all members of the president's _________

visa

A document that allows a person from another nation to enter the United States

regulatory commissions

Powerful independent agencies that make and enforce rules and have the force of laws

executive departments

Divisions of the federal government with specific areas of responsibility in helping the president carry out laws