Term
| Budget Reform Act of 1974 |
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Definition
| A congressional effort to control presidential impoundments. It requires, among other things, that the president spend all appropriated funds forty-five days, agress to delete the items. If he wishes simply to delay spending money, he need only inform Congress, but Congress in turn can refuse the delay by passign a rersolution requiring immediate release of the funds. |
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Term
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| By custom, the heads of the thirteen major executive departments who meet to discuss matters with the President. These "secretaries" receive their positions by presidential nomination and confirmation by the Senate. They can be removed at the will of the president. |
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| A government in whcih one party controls the White House and a different party controls one or both houses of Congress |
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| The body that formally slects the president. Each state is allotted electoral votes equal to the number of its representatives in Congress. It can decide how its electors are to be chosen and under what method they cast their votes for president. The canidate for the presidency who receives a majority of these votes wins. If no canidate obtains a majority, the House of Representatives chooses the top three in electoral votes. |
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Term
| Executive Office of the President |
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Definition
| Executive agencies that report directly to the president and whose purpose is to perform staff servies for the president. Top positions are filled by presidental nomination with Senate confimation. |
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| A claim by the preisent entitling him to withhold informationfrom the courts of Congress. In 1973, the Supreme Court ruled that such a claim is valid when sensitive military or diplomatic matters are involved, but it refused to recognize an "absolute unqualifed" presidential privilege of immunity. |
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| A form of indictment voted on by the House of Representatives. It can be brought against the president, the vice president, and all "civil officers" of the federal government. To be removed from his or her position, the impeached officer must be convicted by a tw-thirds vote of the Senate. |
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| The refusal of the president to spend money appropriated by Congress. The Constitution is silent on this power, buth the Budget Reform Act of 1974 limits the president's ability to impound funds. |
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| Federal agencies that are part of the executive branch but outside the structure of cabinet departments. Their heads typically serve fixed terms of office and can be removed only for cause. |
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| Powers not specified in the Constitution which the president claims. These powers are asserted by virtue of office. |
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| A politician whose power has been diminished because he or she is about to leave office as a result of electoral defeat or statutory limitation. |
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| A method by which Congress in a law allows either on e or both houses to block a proposed executive action. It is frequently used for presidential reorganization plans of the executive branch. These vetoes were declared unconstitutional in 1981. |
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| A power possessed by most state governors, but not the president, to approve some provisions ina law and to disapprove of others. The president must accept or reject an entire bill. |
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| A short form of the term "perquisites," meaning the fringe benefits of office |
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| One of two ways for a president to disapprove a bill sent to him by Congress. If the president does nto sign the bill within ten days of receiving it, and Congress has adjourned within tha time, the bill does not become a law. |
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| The charismatic power of a president which enables congressinal canidates of the same party to ride into office on the strengh of his popularity. This influence has declined in recent elections. |
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| A dictum that applies to the behavior of presidental assistants. The rule holds that power is wielded by people who are in the room when a decision is made. Thus members of the White House Office jockey for offices clsoe to that of the president. |
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