The Executive Branch

Question 1

Bureaucracy (a term to generalize the following terms)

Answer 1

departments, agencies, bureaus, and commissions in the executive branch of government

Question 2

Constituents (representees- I know it isn’t a word spell check)

Answer 2

the people represented by elected officials

Question 3

Cabinet (think of patronage)

Answer 3

formal body of presidential advisers who head the fifteen executive apartments

Question 4

Divided Government (national government experiences conflict)

Answer 4

government in which one party controls the Presidency, while another controls Congress

Question 5

Executive Agreement (something done without permission)

Answer 5

an agreement between the President and another head of state that, unlike a treaty, does not require Senate consent

Question 6

Executive Order (a loophole)

Answer 6

presidential rule or regulation that has the force of law

Question 7

Executive Privilege (something that doesn’t work with parents)

Answer 7

the priviledge of a President and his staff to withhold their “privileged” conversations from Congress or the courts for reasons of national security

Question 8

Impeachment (this happened to Nixon)

Answer 8

House action that formally charges an official with wrongdoing. Conviction requires 2/3 vote from Senate

Question 9

Impoundment (pound- jail- loss of freedom-this)

Answer 9

refusal of a President to spend money that has been appropriated by Congress

Question 10

Iron Triangle (a triangle has three sides just like this is made up of three parts together making one product)

Answer 10

an informal association of federal agencies, congressional committees, and interest groups that are said to have heavy influence over policy making

Question 11

Merit System (my grandfather had to do this)

Answer 11

system of hiring federal workers based on competitive exams

Question 12

Patronage (“friends come first”)

Answer 12

power to appoint loyal party members to federal positions

Question 13

Pocket Veto (thank Mr. Carr every time you see this word; because of him this is the easiest one)

Answer 13

presidential killing of a bill by inaction after Congress adjourns

Question 14

Political Appointees (this is almost like cheating, but all Cabinet members have had this)

Answer 14

those who have received presidential appointments from office; contrast with Civil Service employees, who receive federal jobs by competitive exams

Question 15

Red Tape (red is a shocking color, just like all of the pieces involved in this vocabulary; think of Mr. Kress’ summer bridge activities)

Answer 15

complex rules and procedures required by bureaucratic agencies

Question 16

Senatorial Courtesy (it’s a polite face to face ordeal)

Answer 16

tradition in which the President consults with Senators within a state in which an appointment is to be made

Question 17

Spoils System (who do you spoil)

Answer 17

Patronage- those in charge give their trusted supporters high posititions

Question 18

Whistleblower (Edward Snowden did this)

Answer 18

an employee who exposes unethical or illegal conduct within the federal government or one of its contractors

Question 19

Pendleton Act (attempt to slightly prevent patronage over merit)

Answer 19

created the Civil Service Commission to administer a partial merit system in the bureaucracy; classified federal service by grades (appointment to grade made based on results of competitive examination), making it illegal for appointees to be required to contribute to a particular party (brought an end to Spoils system)

Question 20

Hatch Act, 1939 (restricts political freedoms)

Answer 20

limits political activities of civil service employees; could not make contributions or work for a particular party or campaign for a particular candidate

Question 21

Federal Employees Political Activities Act, 1993 (the act you always feel is sneaky and contradicts itself)

Answer 21

federal employees are now able to run for office in nonpartisan elections and to contribute money to campaigns in partisan elections

Question 22

War Powers Act, 1973 (Obama had to follow this during the ISIS situation)

Answer 22

President could send troops overseas to an area where hostiles were imminent only if: He notified Congress within 48 hours He withdrew troops within 60-90 days He consulted with Congress if troops were to engage in combat Congress can pass resolution to have troops at any time

Question 23

Budget and Impoundment Control Act, 1974 (established an agency during its policy making process)

Answer 23

Established Congressional Budget Office Extended budget process by three months

Question 24

12th Amendment (concerns voting ability)

Answer 24

electors receive one ballot for President and one ballot for VP

Question 25

20th Amendment (ironic considering how late Obama’s inauguration first term was)

Answer 25

“Lame Duck” Amendment- moved inauguration date (and start of Congress) from March to January

Question 26

22nd Amendment (George Washington was the first to do this)

Answer 26

Term Limits- President is limited to two four-years terms of office

Question 27

23rd Amendment (it’s an odd number for an odd amendment)

Answer 27

Electoral Votes for DC- granted three electoral college votes in a Presidential election

Question 28

25th Amendment (think of impeachment)

Answer 28

Presidential Disability- defined replacement procedure for President and Vice President

Question 29

Article II (a piece of the Constitution)

Answer 29

defining and limiting the presidential powers

Question 30

Electoral College, 270 (voting requirements)

Answer 30

the electoral votes needed to win the Presidency