Political Science Chapter 13

Front 1

divided government

Back 1

the control of the presidency by one party and the control of one or both houses of Congress by the other

Front 2

state of the union address

Back 2

annual speech delivered by the president in late January or early February in fulfillment of the constitutional obligation of reporting to Congress the state of the union.

Front 3

bully pulpit

Back 3

the nature of presidential status as an ideal vehicle for persuading the public to support the president's policies.

Front 4

veto power

Back 4

power giving presidents the capacity to prevent bills passed by Congress from becoming law. It may be overridden by a two-thirds vote in each congressional chamber. Most state governors also have veto power over their legislatures.

Front 5

override

Back 5

congressional passage of a bill by a two-thirds vote despite the president's veto

Front 6

pocket veto

Back 6

presidential veto after congressional adjournment, executed merely by not signing a bill into law

Front 7

line item veto

Back 7

presidential authority to negate particular provisions of a law while letting the remainder stand; granted by Congress in 1996 but struck down by the Supreme Court in 1998

Front 8

administration

Back 8

the president and his political appointees, who are responsible for directing the executive branch of government

Front 9

cabinet

Back 9

top administration officials, most of whom are heads of departments in the executive branch

Front 10

secretary

Back 10

the title of the head of a department within the executive branch

Front 11

white house office

Back 11

political appointees who work directly for the president, many of whom occupy offices in the White House

Front 12

executive office of the president (EOP)

Back 12

agency that houses both top coordinating offices and other operating agencies

Front 13

chief of staff

Back 13

head of the White House staff, who has continuous, direct contact with the president

Front 14

transition

Back 14

the period after a presidential candidate has won the November election, but before the candidate assumes office as president on January 20

Front 15

honeymoon

Back 15

the first several months of a presidency, when reporters are more forgiving than usual, Congress is more inclined to be cooperative, and the public is more receptive to new approaches

Front 16

commander in chief

Back 16

the president in his constitutional role as head of the U.S. armed forces

Front 17

efficient aspect

Back 17

according to Walter Bagehot, the aspect of government that involves making policy, administering the laws, and settling disputes

Front 18

dignified aspect

Back 18

according to Walter Bagehot, the aspect of government, including royalty and ceremony, that generates citizen respect and loyalty

Front 19

first lady

Back 19

traditional title of the president's wife

Front 20

inherent executive power

Back 20

presidential authority inherent in the executive branch of government, although not specifically mentioned in the Constitution

Front 21

executive order

Back 21

a presidential directive that has the force of law, although it is not enacted by Congress

Front 22

executive privilege

Back 22

the right of the president to deny Congress information it requests on the grounds that the activities of the executive branch must be kept confidential

Front 23

impeachment

Back 23

recommendation by a majority of the House of Representatives that a president, another official in the executive branch, or a judge of the federal courts be removed from office; removal depends on a two-thirds vote of the Senate

Front 24

independent counsel

Back 24

legal officer (originally called special prosecutor) appointed by a court to investigate allegations of criminal activity on the part of high-ranking members of the executive branch

Front 25

beltway insider

Back 25

the politically influential people who work inside the highway that surrounds Washington, DC.

Front 26

presidential popularity

Back 26

evaluation of a president by voters, usually as measured by a survey question asking the adult population how well they think the president is doing the job