DEFIONITIONS THAT ARE LESS THAN 30 WORDS FOR:
amnesty
appropriations
commander–in-chief
commutation
Great Depression
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
imperial presidency
line-item veto
nuclear football
override
pardon
pocket veto
pork barrel project
presidential veto
reprieve
rider
special session
State of the Union address
veto message
War Powers Act
Amnesty: A pardon granted to a group of people who have committed a specific crime or offense.
Appropriations: The act of setting aside funds for a specific purpose by a legislative body.
Commander-in-chief: The highest-ranking officer of a military organization, typically the President in the United States.
Commutation: The reduction of a criminal sentence, typically from a longer prison term to a shorter one.
Great Depression: A severe economic downturn that lasted from 1929 to the late 1930s, marked by high unemployment and widespread poverty.
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution: A Congressional resolution passed in 1964 that authorized the escalation of US military involvement in Vietnam.
Imperial presidency: A term used to describe a presidency with excessive power and influence over other branches of government.
Line-item veto: The power of a government executive to reject specific provisions of a bill without vetoing the entire bill.
Nuclear football: A briefcase carried by the President's military aide containing the codes needed to launch a nuclear strike.
Override: A legislative process that allows a bill to become law despite a presidential veto, typically requiring a two-thirds majority vote.
Pardon: The act of forgiving a person for a crime and eliminating their punishment.
Pocket veto: An indirect veto of a bill by the President holding it in their pocket (not signing or vetoing it) until Congress adjourns.
Pork barrel project: Government spending that benefits a specific constituency or region and is often criticized for being wasteful.
Presidential veto: The power of the President to reject legislation passed by Congress.
Reprieve: A temporary delay or suspension of a punishment, typically a death sentence.
Rider: A provision attached to a legislative bill that is not directly related to the main issue.
Special session: A meeting of a legislative body called outside of its normal schedule to address specific issues or emergencies.
State of the Union address: An annual speech delivered by the President to Congress, outlining the administration's policy agenda.
Veto message: A statement issued by the President explaining the reasons for vetoing a bill.
War Powers Act: A federal law passed in 1973 limiting the President's ability to commit US forces to military action without congressional approval.