electoral college
A group of people named by each state legislature to select the president and vice president.
elector
Person appointed to vote in presidential elections for the major candidates.
executive order
A rule or command that has the force of law
pardon
A declaration of forgiveness and freedom from punishment
reprieve
An order to delay a person's punishment until a higher court can hear the case
amnesty
A pardon to a group of people
foreign policy
A nation's overall plan for dealing with other nations.
national security
The ability to keep the country safe from attack or harm.
treaty
A formal agreement between the governments of two or more countries.
executive agreement
An agreement between the president and the leader of another country.
ambassador
An official representative of a country's government.
trade sanction
An effort to punish another nation by imposing trade barriers.
embargo
An agreement among a group of nations that prohibits them all from trading with a target nation.
cabinet
A group of advisers to the president that includes the heads of 15 top-level executive departments.
federal bureaucracy
Agencies and the employees of the executive branch of government.
independent agency
Federal board or commission that is not part of any cabinet department.
government corporation
A business owned and operated by the federal government.
political appointee
A person appointed to a federal position by the president.
civil service worker
Person hired into a government position.
civil service system
The practice of hiring government workers on the basis of open, competitive examinations and merit`
spoils system
Rewarding people with government jobs on the basis of their political support.
merit system
Hiring people into government jobs on the basis of their qualifications.