term for the President as the ceremonial head of the United States, the symbol of all the people of the nation
chief of state
term for the President as vested with the executive power of the United States
chief executive
term for the President as head of the administration of the federal government
chief administrator
term for the president as the main architect of foreign policy and spokesperson to other countries
chief diplomat
term for the president as commander of the nation's armed forces
commander in chief
term for the president as architect of public policy and the one who sets the agenda for Congress
chief legislator
term for the president as the leader of his or her political party
chief of party
term for the president as the representative of the people, working for the public interest
chief citizen
a person elected by the voters to represent them in making a formal selection of the Vice President and President
presidential elector
votes cast by electors in the electoral college
electoral vote
group of persons chosen in each State and the District of Columbia every four years who make a formal selection of the President and Vice President
electoral college
an election in which a party's voters 1) choose State party organization's delegates to their party's national convention, and/or 2) express a preference for their party's presidential nomination
presidential primary
an almost obsolete system whereby a presidential aspirant who won the preference vote in a primary automatically won all the delegates chosen in the primary
winner-take-all
rule applied in Democratic primaries whereby any candidate who wins at least 15% of the votes gets the number of State democratic convention delegates based on his or her share of that primary vote
proportional representation
as a nominating device, a group of like-minded people who meet to select the candidates they will support in an upcoming election
caucus
meeting at which a party's delegates vote to pick their presidential and vice-presidential candidates
national convention
a political party's formal statement of basic principles, stands on major issues, and objectives
platform
speech given at a party convention to set the tone for the convention and the campaign to come
keynote address
members of the electorate who have not made up their minds at the start of a campaign and are open to persuasion by either side
swing voter
states in which the outcome of an election is too close to call and either candidate could win
battleground state
(electoral college reform) proposal for choosing presidential electors by which two elector would be selected in each state according to the Statewide popular vote and the other electors would be selected separately in each of the State's congressional districts
district plan
(electoral college reform) proposal by which each presidential candidate would receive the same share of a State's electoral vote as he or she received in the State's popular vote
proportional plan
(electoral college reform) proposal to do away with the electoral college and allow the people to vote directly for President and Vice President
direct popular election
(electoral college reform) proposal for electing the President whereby each State's election laws would provide for all of the State's electoral votes and enter into an interstate compact agreeing to elect the President by this method
national popular vote
scheme by which a presidential vacancy is filled
presidential succession
law specifying the order of presidential succession following the Vice President
Presidential Succession Act of 1947
when a presidential candidate chooses a running mate who can strengthen his chance of being elected
balance the ticket
Article II of the Constitution. Establishes the presidency and gives the executive power of the federal government to the President
Executive Article
term used to describe a president as an "emperor" who acts without consulting Congress or acts in secrecy to evade or deceive Congress; often used in reference to Richard Nixon's presidency
imperial presidency
directive, rule, or regulation issued by a chief executive or subordinates, based upon constitutional or statutory authority and having the force of law
executive order
the President's power to execute, enforce, and administer the law
executive privilege
a formal agreement between two or more sovereign states
treaty
the exclusive power of a President to legally establish formal diplomatic relations with foreign states
recognition
an unwelcome person; used to describe recalled diplomatic officials
persona non grata
type of veto a chief executive may use after a legislature has adjourned; when the chief executive does not sign or reject a bill within the time allowed to do so
pocket veto
a President's cancellation of specific dollar amounts (line items) from a congressional spending bill; instituted by a 1996 congressional act, but struck down by a 1998 Supreme court decision
line-item veto
an official postponement of the execution of a sentence
reprieve
release from the punishment or legal consequences of a crime, by the President (in a federal case) or a governor (in a state case)
pardon
mercy or leniency granted to an offender by a chief executive
clemency
the power to reduce the length of a sentence or fine for a crime
commutation
a blanket pardon offered to a group of law violators
amnesty
Amendment that creates a chain of succession for filling in the presidential seat in case of death/incapacitation.
25th amendment
an agency which performs the tasks for which the organization exists
line agency
An agency which supports the chief executive and other administrators by offering advice and other assistance and management in the organization
staff agency
Federal board or commission that is not part of any cabinet department
independent agency
A system of public employment based on rewarding party loyalists and friends
spoils system
independent agencies created by Congress; designed to regulate important aspects of the nation's economy, largely beyond the reach of presidential control
independent regulatory commissions
A formal agreement between the U.S. president and the leaders of other nations that does not require Senate approval
executive agreement
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
war powers resolution
Brought about by the Jefferson/Burr tie, stated that presidential and vice-presidential nominees would run on the same party ticket. Before that time, all of the candidates ran against each other, with the winner becoming president and second-place becoming vice-president
12th amendment
salary of the president
$400,000
A policy of nonparticipation in international economic and political relations
isolationism
Involvement in world affairs
internationalism
Economic, social or military assistance given to a country by another government or international institution
foreign aid
A policy governing international relations
foreign policy
A government's plan to deal with internal issues of the country
domestic policy
An international organization formed after WWII to promote international peace, security, and cooperation
United Nations
A government agency that operates like a business corporation, created to secure greater freedom of action and flexibility for a particular program
government corporation
Amendment that created a 2 term limit on presidents
22nd amendment
8 roles of the president
chief
of state
executive
administrator
commander in
diplomat
legislator
party chief
citizen
steps to become president
1. eligibility
(35 yrs old, natural born citizen, 14 yr resident)
2. primaries/caucuses
(members of political party vote for one person within their party to be their party's presidential nominee)
3. national convention
(each political party holds their national convention where a presidential nominee is confirmed and a VP candidate is picked)
4. general election
(campaigning, voters vote for electors in their state, electors are supposed to vote for the presidential candidate in the electoral college)
5. electoral college
(each state gets electors, equal to # of senators and reps. 538 total electors cast votes. Majority (>270) votes wins)
6. inauguration
(president-elect and VP-elect take oath of office and become the president and VP)
head of the Department of Justice
attorney general
only president to resign while in office
Nixon
Secretaries of the Cabinet are selected by the president and approved by the...
senate
When was the National Security Council created?
1947
house of Congress that can impeach the president
House of Representatives
house of Congress that holds a presidential impeachment trial
senate
number of times the Electoral College has failed to choose the popular vote winner
4
wing of the white house that houses the Oval office and the President's staff
west wing
reasons for presidential power growth
-throughout American history, those who want a powerful president have usually prevailed
-nation's increasingly complex economic and social life
-need for immediate/incisive acting in times of crisis
-Congress has passed laws the have added to the activities of the executive branch
expressed power of the president to execute all federal laws
executing the law
implied power of the president to issue executive orders
the ordinance power
expressed power of the president to appoint ambassadors, diplomats, cabinet members, top aides, heads of independent agencies, federal judges, and all officers in armed forces
the appointment power
implied power of the president to remove an appointed officer
the removal power
