AP Government Vocabulary III
Terms
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- Electoral College
- a body of electors chosen by the voters in each state to elect the President and Vice President of the U.S.
- Faithless elector
- name given to electors who do not vote for their party's candidate
- Unwritten constitution
- a constitution not codified as a document but defined by custom and precedent as embodied in statutes and judicial decisions.
- President's cabinet
- a part of the executive branch of the U.S. federal government consisting of the heads of federal executive departments.
- Delegated Powers
- powers granted to Congress by the Constitution.
- Informal powers
- powers assigned to the president that are not mentioned in the constitution
- State of the Union
- an annual event in which the President of the United States reports on the status of the country
- Impound funds
- appropriations assigned by congress in which the president does not spend
- Executive privilege
- Right of the president to keep information from the branches
- Executive agreement
- agreements between the United States President and heads of foreign nations.
- Executive order
- an extension of the President’s power to execute the law.
- Fiscal Policy
- Taxationa and spending assigned by congress
- Monetary Policy
- Money supply & credit assigned by federal reserve board
- The Football
- Briefcase with launch codes
- Government Corporation
- a legal entity created by a government to exercise some of the powers of the government.
- Civil Service
- a civilian career public sector employee working for a government department or agency.
- Legislative veto
- a veto exercised by a legislature nullifying or reversing an action, decision
- Quasi Legislative
- something concerned with the declaration of rules and regulations, or orders based on authority derived from the legislature
- Quasi Judicial
- noting, pertaining to, or exercising powers or functions that resemble those of a court or a judge
- Bully Pulpit
- Unlike the congress or the courts which have many voices, the president speaks with a single voice.
- Partisanship
- a person who shows a biased, emotional allegiance.
- Bureaucracy
- Administration of a government chiefly through departments staffed with nonelected officials.
- "the west wing"
- the location of the Oval Office and offices for senior members of the Executive Office of the President of the United States
- Presidential succession
- a series of steps made by the government to assure transition of power should any executive authority be unable to complete their duties.
- Administration
- refers to the executive branch under a specific president
- Reprieves
- To postpone or cancel the punishment of.
- Pardon
- a release from the penalty of an offense
- amnesty
- an act of justice by which the supreme power in a state restores those who may have been guilty of any offence against it to the position of innocent persons
- bi-partisan
- refers to any bill, act, resolution, or any other action of a political body in which both of the major political parties are in agreement.
- advice and consent
- a power of the United States Senate to be consulted on and approve treaties signed and appointments made by the President
- Lame Duck
- an elected official who has lost a re-election or who did not seek re-election, but continues to hold office in between the time of the election and the time of the inauguration of the successor.
- Red Tape
- excessive regulations, rigid conformity to formal rules that are considered redundant and hinders action or decision-making.
- Spoils system
- the system or practice in which advantages are at the disposal of the victorious party for its own purposes.
- Trust Funds
- a government fund administered separately from other funds and used for a specified purpose
- Annual Authorizations-
- legislative permission to begin or continue a government program or agency.
- Committee Clearance-
- ability of a congressional committee to review and approve certain agency descions in advanced and without passing a law.
- Discretional Authority
- extent to which appointed bureaucrats can choose courses of action and make policies that are not spelled out it advance by laws.
- Quasi Executive
- having a partly legislative character by possession of the right to make rules and regulations having the force of law