american national government - midterm exam - grahamling - charleston southern university Flashcards
what are the qualifications to run for president?
- must be a natural born citizen
- at least 35 years old
- a resident of the united states for at least 14 years
what are the expressed powers of the commander in chief?
- commander in chief
- appointment of officials
- veto power
- executive privelage
- pardon power
- executive agreements
- diplomatic power
- executive orders
- state of the union address
with regards to the presidency and bureacracy, what is the difference between expressed and delegated powers?
expressed powers are those explicitly granted to the president by the Constitution, while delegated powers are authority conferred upon the executive branch by Congress through legislative acts.
what is the president’s role in how a bill becomes law?
- the President’s role in the process of how a bill becomes law is primarily in the final stages, where they have the authority to sign the bill into law, veto it, or let it become law without their signature
Sign the bill: If the President agrees with the bill, they can sign it into law.
- Veto the bill: If the President opposes the bill, they can veto it, sending it back to Congress with their objections.
- No action: If the President takes no action on the bill within a certain period (usually 10 days while Congress is in session), it becomes law without their signature. However, if Congress adjourns before the 10 days are up and the President takes no action, it results in a “pocket veto,” effectively killing the bill.
where do delegated powers come from?
Delegated powers come from the Constitution. These are specific powers granted to the federal government by the Constitution, such as the power to regulate interstate commerce, declare war, and coin money. Delegated powers are spelled out in the Constitution, primarily in Article I, Section 8, and they establish the authority of the federal government over certain matters.
explain Bureaucracy
Bureaucracy refers to the system of government agencies and departments that implement and administer laws and policies. These agencies and departments are part of the executive branch of government. Bureaucracies are responsible for carrying out specific tasks assigned to them by Congress or the President. They have their own hierarchies, rules, and procedures for operation. Bureaucrats, or government officials, work within these agencies to enforce regulations, provide services, and manage government programs.
The great compromise
The Great Compromise in the U.S. Constitution created a two-part Congress:
House of Representatives: Representation based on population.
Senate: Equal representation for all states, with each state having two senators.
3/5 compromise
The Three-Fifths Compromise was a part of the U.S. Constitution that counted each enslaved person as three-fifths of a person when determining a state’s population for representation and taxation purposes.
impact on congress from the 3/5 compromise
The Three-Fifths Compromise increased the political power of Southern states in Congress by inflating their population counts for representation purposes, as enslaved individuals were counted as three-fifths of a person.
impact on congress from the great compromise
The Great Compromise established the structure of Congress with two chambers: the House of Representatives, where representation is based on population, and the Senate, where each state has equal representation with two senators. This ensured a balance between the interests of large and small states in the legislative process
Qaulifications for congress representatives:
- Must be at least 25 years old.
- Must have been a U.S. citizen for at least seven years.
- Must be an inhabitant of the state they represent at the time of election.
Qaulifications for Senate representatives:
- Must be at least 30 years old.
- Must have been a U.S. citizen for at least nine years.
- Must be an inhabitant of the state they represent at the time of election.
House of Representatives:
- Members are elected based on population, with each state having a different number of representatives.
- Represents the people directly, with members serving two-year terms.
- Initiates revenue bills and plays a primary role in impeachment proceedings.
Senate:
- Each state has two senators, regardless of population.
- Represents the states as political entities, with members serving six-year terms.
- Provides equal representation for all states and has additional powers such as confirming presidential appointments and ratifying treaties.
Bicameral system:
- Congress consists of two chambers: the House of Representatives and the Senate.
- both chambers must pass legislation for it to become law.
agency representation:
Involves elected representatives acting on behalf of constituents’ interests and preferences, regardless of demographic similarities.
sociological representation:
Reflects the demographic characteristics of constituents, such as race, gender, and socioeconomic status.
difference between sociological representation and agency representation:
Sociological representation: Matches constituents’ demographics like race or income.
Agency representation: Represents constituents’ interests in decisions regardless of demographic similarities.
Functions of US congress:
- Makes laws
- controls federal budget
- declares war.
Responsibilities: Oversight of executive branch, representing constituents, confirming appointments.
responsibilities of US Congress:
- Oversight of executive branch
- representing constituents
- confirming appointments
what is patronage:
Practice of appointing individuals to government positions based on political loyalty rather than merit.
what are the various types of patronage:
Spoils System: Rewarding supporters with government jobs.
Clientelism: Exchanging favors for political support.
Cronyism: Favoring friends or associates in appointments.
what are some examples of patronage:
- Appointing campaign donors to ambassadorships (cronyism).
- Giving government contracts to supporters (clientelism).
how does a bill become law?
Introduction: Bill is introduced in either the House or the Senate.
Committee Review: Assigned committee reviews, holds hearings, and may amend the bill.
Full Chamber Vote: Entire chamber votes on the bill; if passed, it moves to the other chamber.
Conference Committee (if necessary): If the other chamber amends the bill, a conference committee resolves differences.
Final Approval: Both chambers approve the final version.
Presidential Action: President signs the bill into law, vetoes it (returned to Congress with objections), or takes no action (bill becomes law if Congress is in session).
Explain the different influencing factors for members of congress
- Constituent preferences
- Party affiliation and leadership
- Interest groups and lobbyists
- Personal beliefs and values
- Campaign donors and fundraising
- Media coverage and public opinion
- Congressional rules and procedures
- Executive branch and bureaucratic influence
political apathy
lack of interest, concern, or participation in political affairs or processes. It involves a disengagement from political issues, elections, and civic responsibilities.
political efficacy
an individual’s belief in their ability to influence political processes and outcomes, as well as their confidence in the effectiveness of the political system as a whole.
how does political apathy and political efficacy affect one another?
Political efficacy, belief in one’s ability to influence politics, encourages engagement, while political apathy, disinterest, discourages it. They form a cycle: low efficacy leads to apathy, reducing participation, while high efficacy fosters engagement, breaking the cycle.
why is both political participation and political knowledge are important for good citizenship?
Political participation allows citizens to influence decision-making, while political knowledge ensures informed engagement. Both are vital for effective citizenship.
Autocracy:
One person holds all political power.
Oligarchy: A small group holds political power.
A small group holds political power.
Constitutional Government:
Government powers are limited by a constitution.
Democracy/Direct Democracy:
Citizens have direct participation in decision-making.
Authoritarian Government: Power is concentrated in a leader or small group, limiting political freedoms.
Power is concentrated in a leader or small group, limiting political freedoms.
Totalitarian Government:
Government controls all aspects of public and private life.