Chapter 13 Key Terms

Front 1

Twenty-second Amendment

Back 1

(1951) the amendment that limits presidents to two terms of office.

Front 2

Impeachment

Back 2

the political equivalent of an indictment in criminal law prescribed by the Constitution. The House of Representatives may do this to the president by a majority vote for “treason, bribery or other high crimes and misdemeanors.”

Front 3

Watergate

Back 3

the events and scandal surrounding a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in 1972 and the subsequent cover-up of White House involvement, leading to the eventual resignation of Nixon under the threat of impeachment.

Front 4

Twenty-fifth Amendment

Back 4

(1967) permits the Vice president to become acting president if both the vice president and the president’s cabinet determine that the president is disabled. The Amendment also outlines how a recuperated president can reclaim the job.

Front 5

Cabinet

Back 5

a group of presidential advisors not mentioned in the Constitution, although every president has had one., Today, the Cabinet is composed of 14 secretaries and the Attorney General.

Front 6

National Security Council (NSC)

Back 6

an office created in 1947 to coordinate the president’s foreign and military policy advisors. Its formal members are the president, vice president, secretary of state, and the secretary of defense. It is managed by the President’s national security assistant.

Front 7

Council of Economic Advisors (CEA)

Back 7

a three member body appointed by the president to advise the president on economic policy.

Front 8

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

Back 8

an office that grew out of the bureau of the budget, created in 1921, consisting of a handful of political appointees and hundreds of skilled professionals. Performs both managerial and budgetary functions.

Front 9

Veto

Back 9

the constitutional power of the president to send a bill back to Congress with reasons for rejecting it. A 2/3 vote in each house can override it.

Front 10

pocket veto

Back 10

a veto taking place when Congress adjourns within 10 days of submitting a bill to the President, who simply lets it die by neither signing nor vetoing it.

Front 11

presidential coattails

Back 11

occur when voters cast their ballots of Congressional candidates of the President’s party because they support the President. Recent studies show that few races are won this way.

Front 12

War Powers Resolution

Back 12

a law passed in 1973 in reaction to American fighting in Vietnam and Cambodia that requires presidents to consult with congress whenever possible prior to using military force and to withdraw forces after 60 days unless Congress declares war or grants an extension. Presidents view the resolution as unconstitutional.

Front 13

Legislative veto

Back 13

the ability ot Congress to override a presidential decision. Although the war power resolution asserts this authority, there is reason to believe that if challenged, the Supreme Court would find it in violation of the doctrine of separation of powers.

Front 14

Crisis

Back 14

a sudden, unpredictable and potentially dangerous event requiring the president to play the role of crisis manager.

Front 15

Press secretary

Back 15

the person on the white house staff who most often deals directly with the press, serving as a conduit of information. conduct daily press briefings.