AP Government Unit 2 Study Guide Flashcards
What are the 3 branches of government?
legislative, judicial, executive
what does the legislative consist of?
house of representatives and senate
how many years can you serve in the House of Representatives?
2 years
how many years can you serve in the senate?
6 years
what is the relation between the senate and the people?
the senate is more elite to the people
what is the relation between the house of reps and the people?
the house is closer to the people
what is the house of representatives based on?
based on districts
what is the senate based on?
2 representatives from each state
what does the House of Representatives represent?
a district
what does the House of Representatives do?
impeachment and passes tax + budget bills
what does the senate do about impeachment?
the senate holds impeachment trials
is the senate formal?
the senate is not formal, it is institutionalized
is the House of Representatives formal?
the house is formal and more structured
what does the US Congress do?
congress makes public law and policy.
what does article 1 of the constitution do?
article 1 creates and defines the role of congress
how does congress effect policymaking?
congress affects policymaking because they have specific enumerated and implied powers and they create legislation based on the necessary + proper clause
what is the delegate model?
people vote as the constituents want
what is the trustee model?
people vote with conscience
what enumerated + implied powers does congress have?
they can pass a federal budget, coin money, declare war, maintain armed forces, and raise revenue.
what policy does the senate specialize in?
the senate specializes in foreign policy.
How are the House and Senate designed for different types of representation?
the senate represents each state equally while the house representation is based on the state’s population.
How do different chamber sizes and constituencies influence the formality of debate in each house?
larger chamber sizes like in the house make debates more formal compared to debate in the Senate.
what did the 17th amendment allow?
direct election of us senators.
How do enumerated and implied powers in the Constitution allow
for the creation of public policy by Congress?
enumerated + implied powers allow congress to do things like pass a federal budget, coin money, declare war, maintain armed forces, and raise revenue.
what does the necessary + proper clause mean?
means that congress can make laws necessary in order to maintain enumerated and implied powers.
what policy does the house of representatives specialize in?
the house specializes in local policies like budgeting and tax policy.
what powers does the House of Representatives have?
they can declare war, tax and fund bills, impeach the president, oversight, and investigation.
what powers does the senate have?
advice and consent, declare war, ratify treaties, try impeachments, and confirm presidential appointments.
what is debate like in the house?
debate is limited, majority party dominates.
what is debate like in the senate?
debate is unlimited, both parties are strong. Senate can block bills with filibusters.
why do congress members vote they way they do?
because of partisanship, divided government, lobbyists, and campaigns.
what is partisanship?
party loyalty.
what is a divided government?
when the executive and legislative branches are controlled by 2 different parties.
what is gerrymandering?
drawing of congressional districts to benefit one party over the other.
what does gerrymandering do?
makes districts more partisan and elections less competitive
BAKER v CARR (1961)
court case ruling that the gov’t can regulate state district creation, how lines are drawn, and established the one person, one vote doctrine.
what does the one person one vote doctrine do?
makes each district roughly equal
SHAW v RENO (1993)
redistricting must be conscious of race and align with the voting protection act of 1965.
what does Shaw v Reno conclude?
that racial gerrymandering can only happen with a compelling gov’t interest.
what is the role of the speaker of the house?
presiding officer and channels bills to the committee.
what is the role of the president of the senate?
casts a tie-breaking vote
role of the Majority / Minority Floor Leaders
get bills to the floor, and establish opposition.
what is the role of the majority/minority whips?
they work with party leaders to make sure people vote with the dominating party
what is the standing committee?
a committee that works on permanent subject matters
what is a select committee?
a committee that works on temporary specific issues
what is a joint committee
a committee that both houses work in
what is a conference committee
working out 2 different versions of the same bill.
what are the committees of congress?
house and senate committees that divide up the work of the legislative branch.
what are the four types of committees?
standing, select, joint, conference
how is the house of representatives closer to the people?
2-year terms with less strict qualifications, each representative represents a district.
How is the senate elite to the people.
longer terms, unlimited debate, both parties strong
who is the leader of the standing committee?
chairperson
what types of bills does the senate work on?
foreign affair and judiciary bills
what types of bills does the house work on?
budget and tax bills
what do bill hearings constitute of
stakeholders present bill
members mark up bills
what is the discharge petition
the house can vote to get a bill that is stuck in the committee out onto the floor to be debated.
what are the senate rules for debate
unlimited debate, both parties strong, all amendments can be debated
what is pork barrel legislation and riders
legislation that benefits Specific District / States and isn’t relevant to main bill topic.
what is a filibuster
the senate can block a vote
what is a cloture
ending a debate and voting
what is a senate hold
1 Senator can request to party leader to delay vote
what is unanimous consent
agreement that sets aside procedural rule to expedite process
what is advice and consent
the unique power the senate has to confirm appointments and ratify treaties.
what is treaty Ratification
the senate can ratify a treaty with a 2/3 vote.
what is confirmation role
the senate can confirm a treaty with a simple majority confirmation.
what can the president do about a bill
the president can sign it into law, ignore it for up to 10 days or veto it.
what is congressional oversight
congress can monitor, supervise and review policies and programs of the executive branch.
what is the purpose of committee hearings
to raise awareness on issues, investigate events, and oversight and investigation.
How does Congress make sure legislation is implemented as intended
committee hearings and power of the purse.
what is the federal government budget
the document of federal spending and taxing in a fiscal year.
what is authorization legislation
congress’ permission to begin or continue any agency funded by tax dollars.
what are appropriations
legislative grant of money for a specific purpose
what effects coalitions in congress?
Coalitions in Congress are affected by term-length differences.
what are the formal powers of the president?
chief legislator, nomination power, vetoes, pocket vetoes, and foreign policy powers.
what are the informal powers of the president?
bargaining + persuasion, signing statements, foreign policy, executive orders.
what is being chief legislator mean?
means the president has the power to shape policy and laws in congress.
who checks the presidents nomination power?
congress checks the nomination power
what are presidential foreign policy powers?
The president can influence relations with other nations because he is the chief legislator and can ratify treaties with a 2/3 senate approval.
what are executive orders
Presidential proclamation issued with the full force of law.
what is bargaining + persuasion?
source of political power that the president uses to secure congressional action.
what are signing statements?
statements that inform congress and the public of the president’s interpretation of laws
who passes and signs signing statements?
congress passes them and the president signs them.
What is foreign policy in the Senate?
The senate can influence relations with other nations by creating and ratifying treaties.
how has the presidential role changed?
The power of the executive branch has increased because of the president’s informal powers.
There is debate about limited vs. expansive presidential powers
The war powers act passed in (1973)
what is the communication impact of the president?
modern tech, social media, national broadcast of the state of the union address, president’s bully pulpit.
what is the president’s bully pulpit?
the president using the prestige of the office to influence and shape public policy
what is the greatest source of presidential power?
politics and public opinion
what does Federalist 70 highlight?
the justifications for a single unified executive branch.
what does unity in Federalist 70 mean?
one person making the branch more accountable
what is the bureaucracy?
a large government organization that carries out policy and laws.
what is discretional authority?
the extent to which bureaucrats can make decisions not
spelled out by law
what is imperial presidency?
presidential power that increases constitutional authority
what is the 22nd amendment? (1951)
a response to the expansion of presidential power. Established 2 terms or a 10-year limit to being president.
what are the presidential interactions with the senate?
foreign policy advice, and the ability to confirm/deny judge appointments
what is foreign policy advice?
the president can confirm ambassadors for the senate and ratify treaties with a 2/3 senate agreement.
how can the bureaucracy enforce federal law?
by writing/enforcing regulations, issuing fines, and testifying before congress.
what is political patronage?
getting a job in the bureaucracy based on support of the ruling party.
what is civil service?
federal government providing service to citizens.
what is the merit system?
bureaucracy workers hired based on qualifications.
what are the tasks of the bureaucracy ?
writing and enforcing regulations, issuing fines, testifying before congress, and issuing networks.
how does the President have control over the bureaucracy?
The President appoints leaders, issues executive orders, executes laws, and practices the bully pulpit.
How do Presidents make policy in the US?
The President carries out laws, works closely with congress and the bureaucracy, and the office of management and budget.
what does the office of Management and budget do?
-implements presidential vision across the bureaucracy
-enforces and implements presidential policy
-communicates with congress
-gets funding for programs the President wants
what holds the Bureaucracy accountable?
-formal and informal powers of congress
-the President
-courts over the bureaucracy
what makes the Bureaucracy powerful?
the Bureaucracy has rule-making and discretional authority.
what is rule making authority?
the bureaucracy can make rules that states have to follow.
what is discretional authority?
individual bureaucrats can make decisions that aren’t written in law.
what is the iron triangle?
the 3 way relationship between the executive agency, congressional committee, and interest groups.
who are the leaders of the bureaucracy?
the President, 15 executive departments, cabinet advisors.
what does the executive office of the President do?
assist President in administration, help run cabinets, press releases, write and make statements, and issue reports.
what is the judicial branch?
the judicial branch is the most removed branch and checks state government + executive and legislative branches.
what is jurisdiction?
the right to make a decision
what is original jurisdiction?
when a case is heard for the first time
what is appellate jurisdiction?
when a case is heard on appeal
how does the Supreme Court interpret laws or cases?
-they hear the case in open court
-meet in private to discuss the case
-decide on case
-announce decision
what are the 3 types of courts?
Supreme Court, District Court, Courts of Appeal
what does Presidential appointment power mean?
The President can appoint supreme court judges who vote like them.
what is stare decisis?
when past rulings are allowed to control a current case
what is judicial activism?
the Supreme Court can actively make policy and redefine the Constitution.
what is judicial restraint?
Supreme Court should not actively redefine the constitution.
what is strict construction?
if the constitution doesn’t say it the gov’t can’t do it.
what is loose construction?
the gov’t can do things that aren’t necessarily stated in the Constitution.
What does “unity” mean in Federalist 70?
Unity refers to a single President of the executive branch.
