The Executive Branch Vocabulary

Question 1

bully pulpit

Answer 1

the president’s use of his prestige and visibility to guide or enthuse the American public

Question 2

cabinet

Answer 2

the heads of the fifteen executive branch departments of the federal government

Question 3

chief executive

Answer 3

“faithful execution” of the laws of the nation with help of cabinet, executive office, and White House Staff

Question 4

divided government

Answer 4

one party controls the White House and another party controls one or both houses of Congress

Question 5

Electoral College

Answer 5

the people chosen to cast each state’s votes in a presidential election

Question 6

Executive office of the President

Answer 6

NSC, CEA, OMB, Office of Drug Control Policy

Question 7

executive order

Answer 7

a presidential policy directive that implements or interprets a federal statue, a constitutional provision, or a treaty

Question 8

executive privilege

Answer 8

the principle that members of the executive branch of government cannot legally be forced to disclose their confidential communications when such disclosure would adversely affect the operations or procedures of the executive branch

Question 9

gridlock

Answer 9

the inability of the government to act because rival parties control different parts of the government

Question 10

impeachment

Answer 10

charges against the President approved by a majority of the House of Representatives

Question 11

Lame duck

Answer 11

a person still in office after having lost a bid of re-election

Question 12

legislative veto

Answer 12

the authority of Congress to block a presidential action after it has taken place (unconstitutional–INS v Chadha, 1983)

Question 13

line item veto

Answer 13

the authority, held by many governors, but not the President, to veto specific items in a bill without vetoing it in its entirety. Or, an executive’s ability to block a particular provision in a bill passed by the legislature

Question 14

Pocket Veto

Answer 14

a bill fails to become a law because the president did not sign it within the ten days before Congress adjourns

Question 15

powers of the president

Answer 15

1. grant pardons 2. make treaties 3. sign and veto legislation 4. appoint ambassadors, justices, and other officials 5. commander-in-chief of armed forces

Question 16

trial balloons

Answer 16

information leaked to the media to test reaction to a possible policy

Question 17

25ht Ammendment

Answer 17

defines presidential disability and succession

Question 18

unified government

Answer 18

the same party controls both Congress and the White House

Question 19

veto (message)

Answer 19

a message from the President to Congress stating that he will not sign a bill Congress has passed. Must be produced within 10 days of the bill’s passage

Question 20

War Powers Resolution

Answer 20

requires the President to report to Congress any introduction of U.S. Forces into hostilities or imminent hostilities. Then it requires that the use of forces must be terminated within 60 to 90 days unless Congress authorizes such use or extends the time period.

Question 21

White House Staff

Answer 21

advises President on a daily basis, led by WH Chief of Staff. Reporting structure can be organized in a pyramid, circular, and/or ad hoc system

Question 22

appropriation

Answer 22

a legislative grant of money to finance a government program or agency

Question 23

authorization legislation

Answer 23

legislative permission to begin or continue a government program or agency

Question 24

bereaucracies

Answer 24

large administrative agencies with hierarchical authority and job specialization

Question 25

cabinet-level departments

Answer 25

15, with appointed heads

Question 26

captured agency

Answer 26

a government agency, especially a regulatory agency, that is largely under the influence of the economic interest group(s) most directly and massively affected by its decisions and policies from the industry or economic sector being regulated

Question 27

committee clearance

Answer 27

the ability of a congressional committee to review and approve certain agency decisions in advance and without passing a law

Question 28

competitive service

Answer 28

government offices to which people are appointed on the basis of merit, as ascertained by a written exam or by applying certain selection criteria

Question 29

discretionary authority

Answer 29

the extent to which appointed bureaucrats can choose courses of action and make policies that are not spelled out in advance by laws

Question 30

government corporation

Answer 30

ad hoc, created to deal with problems in a specific industry or region (ex. TVA, RTC)

Question 31

Independent executive agency

Answer 31

independent agency of the United States government that exists outside of the departments of the executive branch. Established through separate statutes passed by the U.S. Congress, each respective statutory grant of authority defines the goals the agency must work towards, as well as what substantive areas, if any, it may have power of rule making over

Question 32

independent regulatory agencies

Answer 32

independent agencies whose regulatory powers are both quasi legislative and quasi judicial

Question 33

Iron triangle

Answer 33

the closed, mutually supportive relationships that often prevail in the United States between government agencies, the special interest lobbying organizations, and the legislative committees or subcommittees with jurisdiction over a particular functional area of government policy

Question 34

issue network

Answer 34

people in DC-based interest groups, on congressional staffs, in universities and think-tanks, and in the mass media, who regularly discuss and advocate public policies

Question 35

name-request job

Answer 35

job that is filled by a person whom an agency has already identified

Question 36

Pendleton Act (1883)

Answer 36

U.S. legislation establishing the modern civil-service system of permanent federal employment based on merit

Question 37

Quasi judicial

Answer 37

act in a manner which is judicial when enforcing penalties for violations of their regulations

Question 38

quasi legislative

Answer 38

act in a manner that is legislative when issuing regulations

Question 39

red tape

Answer 39

complex bureaucratic rules and procedures that must be followed to get something done

Question 40

trust funds

Answer 40

funds for government programs that are collected and spent outside the regular government budget

Question 41

the president's use of his prestige and visibility to guide or enthuse the American public

Answer 41

bully pulpit

Question 42

the heads of the fifteen executive branch departments of the federal government

Answer 42

cabinet

Question 43

"faithful execution" of the laws of the nation with help of cabinet, executive office, and White House Staff

Answer 43

chief executive

Question 44

one party controls the White House and another party controls one or both houses of Congress

Answer 44

divided government

Question 45

the people chosen to cast each state's votes in a presidential election

Answer 45

Electoral College

Question 46

NSC, CEA, OMB, Office of Drug Control Policy

Answer 46

Executive office of the President

Question 47

a presidential policy directive that implements or interprets a federal statue, a constitutional provision, or a treaty

Answer 47

executive order

Question 48

the principle that members of the executive branch of government cannot legally be forced to disclose their confidential communications when such disclosure would adversely affect the operations or procedures of the executive branch

Answer 48

executive privilege

Question 49

the inability of the government to act because rival parties control different parts of the government

Answer 49

gridlock

Question 50

charges against the President approved by a majority of the House of Representatives

Answer 50

impeachment

Question 51

a person still in office after having lost a bid of re-election

Answer 51

Lame duck

Question 52

the authority of Congress to block a presidential action after it has taken place (unconstitutional--INS v Chadha, 1983)

Answer 52

legislative veto

Question 53

the authority, held by many governors, but not the President, to veto specific items in a bill without vetoing it in its entirety. Or, an executive's ability to block a particular provision in a bill passed by the legislature

Answer 53

line item veto

Question 54

a bill fails to become a law because the president did not sign it within the ten days before Congress adjourns

Answer 54

Pocket Veto

Question 55

1. grant pardons 2. make treaties 3. sign and veto legislation 4. appoint ambassadors, justices, and other officials 5. commander-in-chief of armed forces

Answer 55

powers of the president

Question 56

information leaked to the media to test reaction to a possible policy

Answer 56

trial balloons

Question 57

defines presidential disability and succession

Answer 57

25ht Ammendment

Question 58

the same party controls both Congress and the White House

Answer 58

unified government

Question 59

a message from the President to Congress stating that he will not sign a bill Congress has passed. Must be produced within 10 days of the bill's passage

Answer 59

veto (message)

Question 60

requires the President to report to Congress any introduction of U.S. Forces into hostilities or imminent hostilities. Then it requires that the use of forces must be terminated within 60 to 90 days unless Congress authorizes such use or extends the time period.

Answer 60

War Powers Resolution

Question 61

advises President on a daily basis, led by WH Chief of Staff. Reporting structure can be organized in a pyramid, circular, and/or ad hoc system

Answer 61

White House Staff

Question 62

a legislative grant of money to finance a government program or agency

Answer 62

appropriation

Question 63

legislative permission to begin or continue a government program or agency

Answer 63

authorization legislation

Question 64

large administrative agencies with hierarchical authority and job specialization

Answer 64

bereaucracies

Question 65

15, with appointed heads

Answer 65

cabinet-level departments

Question 66

a government agency, especially a regulatory agency, that is largely under the influence of the economic interest group(s) most directly and massively affected by its decisions and policies from the industry or economic sector being regulated

Answer 66

captured agency

Question 67

the ability of a congressional committee to review and approve certain agency decisions in advance and without passing a law

Answer 67

committee clearance

Question 68

government offices to which people are appointed on the basis of merit, as ascertained by a written exam or by applying certain selection criteria

Answer 68

competitive service

Question 69

the extent to which appointed bureaucrats can choose courses of action and make policies that are not spelled out in advance by laws

Answer 69

discretionary authority

Question 70

ad hoc, created to deal with problems in a specific industry or region (ex. TVA, RTC)

Answer 70

government corporation

Question 71

independent agency of the United States government that exists outside of the departments of the executive branch. Established through separate statutes passed by the U.S. Congress, each respective statutory grant of authority defines the goals the agency must work towards, as well as what substantive areas, if any, it may have power of rule making over

Answer 71

Independent executive agency

Question 72

independent agencies whose regulatory powers are both quasi legislative and quasi judicial

Answer 72

independent regulatory agencies

Question 73

the closed, mutually supportive relationships that often prevail in the United States between government agencies, the special interest lobbying organizations, and the legislative committees or subcommittees with jurisdiction over a particular functional area of government policy

Answer 73

Iron triangle

Question 74

people in DC-based interest groups, on congressional staffs, in universities and think-tanks, and in the mass media, who regularly discuss and advocate public policies

Answer 74

issue network

Question 75

job that is filled by a person whom an agency has already identified

Answer 75

name-request job

Question 76

U.S. legislation establishing the modern civil-service system of permanent federal employment based on merit

Answer 76

Pendleton Act (1883)

Question 77

act in a manner which is judicial when enforcing penalties for violations of their regulations

Answer 77

Quasi judicial

Question 78

act in a manner that is legislative when issuing regulations

Answer 78

quasi legislative

Question 79

complex bureaucratic rules and procedures that must be followed to get something done

Answer 79

red tape

Question 80

funds for government programs that are collected and spent outside the regular government budget

Answer 80

trust funds