The Presidency

Question 1

Pardon

Answer 1

A release from punishment

Question 1

Executive Departments

Answer 1

Also means the President’s Cabinet (The president’s closest advisers and heads of executive departments that help run the government. Examples: State, Defense, Justice)

Question 2

Bureaucracy

Answer 2

Keep the government running, various agencies and organizations that carry out the daily business of government.

Question 2

Federal Deficit

Answer 2

Expenditures are much higher than Revenues. (The government spends more money than it takes in.)

Question 2

Impoundment

Answer 2

Impoundment involves the refusal of a chief executive to spend funds that may have been appropriated by the legislature. Used primarily by Nixon and outlawed by Ford.

Question 4

Discretionary Spending

Answer 4

Non-mandatory spending, programs and departments that congress spend money on as they see fit (example: defense).

Question 5

This Chamber decides the winner of the Presidency if no candidate receives 270 electoral votes.

Answer 5

House of Representatives

Question 5

Impeachment

Answer 5

The removal of an elected official from office by the Congress.

Question 6

The “Gate Keeper” to the President

Answer 6

Chief of Staff

Question 7

Individual Income Tax

Answer 7

A tax on a person’s wages/income.

Question 9

Runoff Election

Answer 9

A candidate must receive at least 50% of the vote in order to claim victory. If no candidate receives 50% of the vote the top two candidates must compete in a runoff election.

Question 10

Social Insurance Tax

Answer 10

Payroll taxes used to fund programs for the elderly and poor. (Medicare, Social Security, Food Stamps)

Question 11

Amnesty

Answer 11

A blanket pardon (release of punishment) to a group of people.

Question 12

Executive Order

Answer 12

A rule issued by the president that has the force of law, example the Emancipation Proclamation.

Question 13

Budget Resolution

Answer 13

A budget resolution sets guidelines for how much money Congress should spend in 20 broad categories. (Examples: national defense, agriculture, health)

Question 13

Budget Proposal

Answer 13

The budget the president sends to Congress on how he/she plans to spend and tax for the next year.

Question 13

Government Shutdown

Answer 13

When the Congress and President cannot agree on a budget proposal and the government is not funded.

Question 14

Balanced Budget

Answer 14

Revenues and Expenditures are about even. (The government spends and takes in about the same amount of money.)

Question 15

Federal Budget

Answer 15

The federal budget is an estimate of the money the government will take in over the next fiscal year.

Question 17

President’s Cabinet

Answer 17

The president’s closest advisers and heads of executive departments that help run the government. Examples: State, Defense, Justice

Question 18

Progressive Tax

Answer 18

A tax where the burden falls more heavily on wealthy taxpayers. Example of a progressive tax are income taxes and corporate taxes.

Question 18

What is the largest source of federal revenue?

Answer 18

Individual Income Tax

Question 19

National Debt

Answer 19

The amount of money the U.S. Government certainly owes to creditors. It sits at about $16 trillion.

Question 20

Excise Tax

Answer 20

Taxes levied on the sale of goods, like tobacco, and services, sometimes called “sin taxes.”

Question 22

Line of Succession

Answer 22

The order of people/offices that follow the president and other officials if they must leave office.

Question 23

Earmarks

Answer 23

Funds added to a budget resolution that pay for Congressional "pet" projects in individual districts.

Question 24

Privatization

Answer 24

Move agencies out of the bureaucracy and enlist private companies to take on some responsibilities of running the federal government.

Question 25

This group of people advise the president on a daily basis.

Answer 25

White House Staff - note the cabinet does not meet with the president on a daily basis.

Question 26

Exposes government wrong doing.

Answer 26

Whistle-Blower

Question 28

Tax Freedom Day

Answer 28

The day a person has made enough money to pay their taxes for the year.

Question 29

After income taxes what is the largest sources of government revenue?

Answer 29

Corporate Taxes

Question 31

Fiscal Year

Answer 31

The period of time an organization uses for its budgeting, record-keeping, and financial reporting. The U.S. Government’s fiscal year begins Oct. 1 and ends Sept. 30.

Question 32

Independent Agencies

Answer 32

An agency that falls under the Executive Branch but the President has no direct control over. They run their own departments. Example (Post Office, NASA, EPA)

Question 33

Reprieve

Answer 33

A postponement of punishment

Question 34

Recall Election

Answer 34

An elected official is removed from office by voters, only happens at the state level.

Question 35

Entitlements

Answer 35

Programs through which individuals receive benefits based on their age, income, or other special criteria. (Examples: Food stamps, Social Security, Medicare)

Question 36

Who runs the federal bureaucracy?

Answer 36

The Executive Office of the President (EOP)

Question 38

Who was the last president to pass a budget that resulted in a surplus?

Answer 38

Bill Clinton

Question 39

The only original cabinet positions still active today.

Answer 39

State and Treasury

Question 40

Mandatory Spending

Answer 40

The government has already appropriated funds for certain programs. The two main categories of mandatory spending are interest on national debt and entitlements (Social Security).

Question 41

Corporate Income Tax

Answer 41

A tax paid by businesses on their profits each year.

Question 42

Chief of Staff

Answer 42

The President's closest adviser and most powerful member of his/her staff - control who gets access to the President.

Question 43

Budget Surplus

Answer 43

The government makes more money than it spends.

Question 44

Budget Cycle

Answer 44

The budget process that begins with the President writing a budget and ends with Congress passing a budget through both Chambers. Often the budget passed is much different than the President proposed.

Question 45

Regressive Tax

Answer 45

A tax where the burden more heavily on poor taxpayers. Excise taxes are an example of a regressive tax, a person earning less money has more of a burden when paying phone taxes or gasoline.