The Executive Branch Structure
This group consists of the president’s closest personal advisors, located directly in the West Wing.
What is the White House Office?
Congress once used these to block agency actions, but the Supreme Court ruled them unconstitutional.
What are legislative vetoes?
This term refers to the president’s right to keep certain communications confidential.
What is executive privilege?
A president uses this power to reject a bill sent by Congress.
What is a veto?
This Federalist Paper by Alexander Hamilton argues for a single energetic executive.
What is Federalist No. 70?
Advisors and assistants who help the president manage the executive branch but are not Senate-confirmed.
What is the White House staff?
An agency that hires employees based on exams and professional training.
What is the Civil Service?
This scandal involving a break-in and cover-up led to major restrictions on executive power.
What is Watergate?
This occurs when the president does not sign a bill within 10 days while Congress is adjourned.
What is a pocket veto?
This amendment limits the president to two terms.
What is the Twenty-Second Amendment?
Heads of executive departments who advise the president collectively.
What is the cabinet?
This act restricts the political activities of federal employees.
What is the Hatch Act?
This law requires presidents to notify Congress when sending troops into combat.
What is the War Powers Act?
These legally binding directives from the president tell federal agencies how to carry out laws.
What are executive orders?
This amendment outlines presidential succession and procedures for removing an unfit president.
What is the Twenty-Fifth Amendment?
This department handles national transportation policy, highways, and aviation.
What is the Department of Transportation?
This term refers to the complex system of departments and agencies that implement federal law.
What is the bureaucracy?
Presidents sometimes make these deals with foreign leaders that do not require Senate approval.
What are executive agreements?
These written statements are issued when signing a bill and may indicate how the president intends to enforce (or not enforce) the law.
What are signing statements?
Congress can remove a president for “high crimes and misdemeanors” using this process.
What is impeachment?
This department was created after 9/11 to coordinate national security and emergency response.
What is the Department of Homeland Security?
Government jobs awarded based on qualifications rather than political connections.
What is the merit system?
A proposed power allowing presidents to reject part of a spending bill without rejecting the entire bill.
What is the line-item veto?
This power allows a president to reduce sentences or forgive crimes.
What are pardons?
The Electoral College decides this key outcome in U.S. politics.
What is the election of the president?