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16 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
Divided government
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One party controls the White House and another party controls one or both houses of Congress
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Unified government
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The same party controls the White House and both houses of Congress
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Gridlock
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The inability of the government to act because rival parties control different parts of the government
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Electoral college
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The peopel chosen to cast each state's votes in a presidential election. Each state can cast one electoral vote for each senator and representative it has. The District of Columbia has three electoral votes, even though it cannot elect a representative or senator
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Pyramid structure
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A president's subordinates report to him through a clear chain of command headed by a chief of staff
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Circular structure
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Several of the president's assistants report directly to him
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Ad hoc structure
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Several subordinates, cabinet officers, and committees report directly to the president on different matters
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Cabinet
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The heads of the fifteen executive branch departments of the federal government
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Bully pulpit
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The president's use of his prestige and visibility to guide or enthuse the American public
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Veto message
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A message from the president to Congress stating that he will not sign a bill it has passed. Must be produced within ten days of the bill's passage
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Pocket veto
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A bill fails to become law because the president does not sign it within ten days before Congress adjourns
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Line-item veto
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An executive's ability to block a particular provision in a bill passed by the legislature
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Signing statement
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A presidential document that reveals what the president thinks of a new law and how it ought to be enforced
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Legislative veto
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The authority of Congress to block a presidential action after it has taken place. The Supreme Court has held that Congress does not have this power
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Impeachment
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Charges against a president approved by a majority of the House of Representatives
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Lame duck
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A person still in office after he or she has lost a bid for reelection
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