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GOV Ch.12 Vocabulary
The Presidency
Term | Definition |
---|---|
chief executive | The head of the executive branch of government; in the United States, the president. |
commander in chief | The supreme commander of a nation's military force. |
head of state | The person who serves as the ceremonial head of country's government and represents that country to the rest of the world. |
diplomat | A person who represents one country in dealing with representatives of another country. |
chief diplomat | The role of the president of the United States in recognizing and interacting with foreign governments. |
patronage | The practice by which elected officials give government jobs to individuals who helped them gain office. |
treaty | A formal agreement between the governments of two or more countries. |
veto | A Latin word meaning "I forbid"; the refusal by an official, such as the president of the United States or a state governor, to sign a bill into law. |
executive order | A presidential order to carry out a policy or policies described in a law passed by Congress. |
signing statement | A written statement, appended to a bill at the time the president signs it into law, indicating how the president interprets that legislation. |
executive agreement | A binding international agreement, or pact, that is made between the president and another head of state and that does not require Senate approval. |
executive privilege | An inherent executive power claimed by presidents to withhold information form, or to refuse to appear before Congress or the courts. The president can also accord the privilege to other executive officials. |
Watergate scandal | A scandal involving an illegal break-in at the Democratic National Committee offices in 1972 by members of President Richard Nixon's reelection campaign staff. |
cabinet | An advisory group selected by the president to assist with decision making. Traditionally, the cabinet has consisted of the heads of the executive departments and other officers whom the president may choose to appoint. |
kitchen cabinet | The name given to a president's unofficial advisers. The term was coined during Andrew Jackson's presidency. |
Executive Office of the President (EOP) | A group of staff agencies that assist the president in carrying out major duties. |
White House Office | The personal office of the president; personnel handle the president's political needs and manage the media, among other duties. |
chief of staff | The person who directs the operations of the White House Office and advises the president on important matters. |
press secretary | A member of the White House staff who holds news conferences for reporters and makes public statements for the president. |
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) | An agency in the Executive Office of the President that has the primary duty of assisting the president in preparing and supervising the administration of the federal budget. |
National Security Council (NSC) | A council that advises the president on domestic and foreign matters concerning the safety and defense of the nation. |