Presidential Succession

Preisdential Succession

The order in which the office of president is to be filled if it becomes vacant.

Foreign Policy

A country's plan for dealing with other countries of the world.

Diplomacy

The art of dealing with foreign government.

Diplomatic Notes

Written communications between diplomats.

Treaties

Written agreements between nations.

Reprieve

A postponement in the carrying out of a prison sentence.

Pardon

An official act by the president or by a governor forgiving a person convicted of a crime and freeing that person from serving out his or her sentence.

Communication

The passing along of ideas, information, and beliefs from one person to another.

State of the Union Address

a yearly report by the president to Congress describing the nation's condition and recommending programs and policies.

Budget

a plan of income and spending

Executive Departments

departments in the executive branch of the federal government

Secretary

an official who heads an executive department in the federal government.

Attorney general

the chief legal officer of the nation or of a state

Ambassadors

the highest-ranking officials representing a government in a foreign country.

Embassy

the official residence of an ambassador in a foreign country

Ministers

officials sent to a small country to represent the U.S. government

Consul

an official who works to promote U.S. commerical interests in a foreign country

Consulate

the office of a consul

Passports

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

Visas

Documents that allow people from one country to visit another country

Counterfeiting

the making or distributing of fake money

Civilian

A nonmilitary person

Joint Chiefs of Staff

The group made up of the highest-ranking officers from the Army, Navy, and Air Force that advises the president on military affairs.

Independent Agencies

agencies in the executive branch of the federal governemtn formed by Congress to help enforce laws and regulations not covered by the executive department.

Regulatory commisions

independent agencies created by Congress that can make rules concerning certain activites and bring violators to court.

Bureaucracy

the many departments and agencies at all levels of goverment.