chief of state   Term for the President as the head of the government of the United States, symbol of all the people of the nation.

chief executive   Term for the President as vested with the executive power of the United States.

chief administrator   Term for the President as head of the administration of the vast federal bureaucracy.

chief diplomat   Term for the President as the main main architect of American foreign policy and spokesperson to other countries.

commander-in-chief   Term for the President as commander of the nation's armed forces.

chief legislator   Term for the President as architect of public public policy, both domestic and foreign, and one who sets the agenda for Congress.

chief of party   Term for the President as leader of the political party that controls the executive branch.

chief citizen   Term for the President as the prepresentative of the people, working ofr the public interest, not just the constituents of a State or congressional district, or those that voted for him/her.

presidential succession   The designated manner in which a vacancy in the presidency is to be filled.

electoral college   Groups 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.

presidential electors   Those persons comprising the electoral college and which are elected by the voters to represent them in making a formal selection of the President and Vice President.

cabinet   Presidential advisory body, traditionally composed of the heads of the executive departments and other officers the President may choose.

treaty   Formal agreement made between or among sovereign states.

executive agreement   Pacts between the President and the leaders of foreign countries, or their designees.

recognition   The exclusive power of a President to recognize or acknowledge the legal existence of a country and establish formal diplomatic relations with foreign states.

federal budget   Detailed estimate of federal income and outgo during the coming fiscal year, and a work plan for the execution of public policy.

reprieve   An official postponement of execution of a sentence. 

pardon   Release from the punishment or legal consequences of a crime, by the President (in a federal case) or governor (in a State case).

commutation   The power to reduce (commute) the length of a sentence or fines imposed for a crime committed.

amnesty    A general pardon offerred to an individual or group of law violators.

Chief Justice Richard Barajas
Advanced Placement U.S. Government and Politics
Cathedral High School, El Paso, Texas
Last updated: November 30, 2000