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Chapter 5

The document provides definitions for vocabulary terms related to chapters 4.4-4.6 of an AP Government class. It includes prompts for students to answer using content from different sections of the assigned reading on the various powers of the presidency and checks on presidential power.

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conorfrizelle4
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12 views

Chapter 5

The document provides definitions for vocabulary terms related to chapters 4.4-4.6 of an AP Government class. It includes prompts for students to answer using content from different sections of the assigned reading on the various powers of the presidency and checks on presidential power.

Uploaded by

conorfrizelle4
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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AP Government Name:

Murphy Date Completed:

Assignment: Chapter 4.4-4.6 - Congress

Vocabulary/Definitions: AP Government is a vocabulary-heavy class. As such, you are expected to have working
definitions – preferably in your own words - of all of the words listed for each chapter.

Vocabulary: Your Definition


Executive branch Branch required to put laws of the nation in effect
Formal powers Powers literally stated in the constitution
Informal powers Powers not stated but used to carry out the office of the president
Treaty An agreement with another country that is agreed upon by the president and voted on
with a 2/3 majority in the senate
State of the Union Speech given by the president to congress that updates everyone on the state of
national affairs
Veto Rejection of a bill passed in both houses of congress
Pocket veto Informal veto that means the president just hasn’t signed a bill in the ten days that was
given to him, and congress isn’t in session
Presidential pardon Power of the president to excuse people of a crime that they were convicted of
Executive privilege A right that means the president can keep some conversations, records, and transcript
hidden from the eyes of the public and congress
Executive agreement A treaty that doesn’t require the senate to pass, but it is less powerful
Signing statement Comments on a bill/law that the president has signed into law
Executive order Laws written by presidents that don’t require the congressional branch to agree on
War Powers Resolution Restricts the power of the president to keep troops active for more than 60 days
without congress’s permission
Impeachment The process itself of removing a president from office
Executive Office of the A bunch of people hired to give advice to the president on many issues
President
Bargaining and persuasion A tool used by the president to gain support for his policies
Bully pulpit Appeals to the public by the president to pressure other branches of government to do
what he wants
Going public A tactic used by the president to rely on the public to pressure their officials to do
whatever he wants

Using the Content: Write a response to the prompts for each section of the reading. Each of the following is written in
the style of an AP prompt, and – when responded to appropriately – will require you to utilize the content of the
associated section. Make sure to correctly use the vocabulary and content from the book in your responses.

Section 5.1:

1. Considering section 1, explain how combating terrorism is demonstrative of presidential powers.

The president can combat terrorism using executive orders, just like what George W. Bush did after the 9/11 terrorist
attacks. These executive orders that he signed put the army into action and then he had a “conflict” in Afghanistan,
where he used the clause in the constitution that made the president commander in chief of the military and captured
Yaser Hamdi. All of these actions the Bush took to combat terrorism demonstrates the powers that the president have
and how he can use them.

Section 5.2:
2. Summarize the various powers of the presidency.

The president has many powers, including but not limited to the debate over international treaties, the state of the
union address (which is a speech that he gives to congress and the American people to summarize how things have
been going), vetoes (either normal or pocket), pardoning people for most crimes, executive orders, and he has many
different privileges, the most important of which being the executive privilege.

3. Describe ways that the president has influence over bureaucratic agencies.

The president has influence of bureaucratic agencies through the use of the powers mentioned above. For example, a
president can sign an executive order to create a new agency, like the EPA. However, in most cases the president can
just do whatever he wants when it comes to influencing agencies. This is due to the fact that he basically has complete
control over them. The president can fire the head of the FBI and CIA, change any part of the program, and even
completely dismantle a program. A good example of the sheer influence that a president has is during the New Deal,
when FDR created hundreds of new programs to help the people.

Section 5.3:

4. Describe checks on presidential power held by the Congress and Supreme Court.

There are many different kinds of checks that congress can pull out when making sure that the president doesn’t
overstep his boundary. For example, congress has to approve budgets and can override vetoes that the president gives
out. The senate, specifically, can check members in the president’s cabinet and supreme court to make sure that they
are the right people for the job. As for the supreme court, they are the ones that can override an executive order if
they define one as unconstitutional. All of these actions help prevent tyranny in the US.

Section 5.4:

5. Examine how the role of the president has changed over time.

The role of the president has changed over time significantly. With George Washington, there was only 4 members in
the cabinet and the vice president was picked as the runner up in the election, along with many other differences.
Nowadays, the role is much more complex, and the president has many, many different decisions to make when it
comes to policy and public image. A good example of this is all of the actions that the president can take when it
comes to public support. When the president is popular with the public, then have much more power because they
can influence representatives and senators to do what they want to do, using tactics like the bully pulpit and going
public.

6. Explain how 21st century presidents interact with the executive branch, the legislative branch and the
American public.

Modern presidents interact with all of the branches of government in many different ways, and this changes
depending on the branch of government that they are talking to. With the executive branch, the president can sign
executive orders to change everything how they see fit. They can create agencies, change them, get rid of them, it
doesn’t matter. As for the legislative branch, the president can veto bills that come to his desk from them, however
the legislative branch can override this vote with a 2/3 majority. Finally, with the American public, the president has to
run for office, meaning that he has to be voted in. (Also state of the union.)

Section 5.5:

7. Evaluate how presidents have used their powers in the war on terror.
Most presidents have signed executive orders when it comes to the war on terror. These executive orders create
agencies like TSA that checks all airports and they have also created the department of homeland security in
response to 9/11. Certain presidents have made the war on terror their whole campaign when it comes to
election, and Obama’s government killed Osama Bin Laden.

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