Exam 2 Flashcards
How does a line item veto work?
It’s for merely spending items in the appropriations of a bill. Cancellation would take effect immediately unless Congress passed a disapproval bill which the president could also veto.
What are the two types of veto a president can use?
Line item veto and a pocket veto
How does a pocket veto work?
A ten day veto. If the president takes no action on a bill and congress is still in session it automatically passes if they are not in session it fails
What is the main point of webers theory?
Neutral competence; to depoliticize the administration/bureaucracy
5 characteristics of Weber’s theory
- Chain of command- hierarchical structure
- Division of labour- work is divided among many specialized workers
- Specification of authority- clear lines of responsibility
- Goal orientation- organizational goals determine the structure, authority, and rules
- Impersonality-all persons in the bureaucracy are treated on merit and all clients served by the bureaucracy are treated equally according to the rules
What is the spoils system? Are there any advantages to it?
The act of electing/appointing officials that helped you gain your office. Usually leads to political credentials being more important than expertise and unqualified people are hired and corruption is prevalent. Advantages are that presidents can use the political leverage against congress and it also aided to the building of parties
What’s the difference between the merit and the spoils system?
The merit system attempts to depoliticized the system by staffing hierarchically, by divisions in labour and standard operating procedure workers are not dependent on who is in office and the bureaucracy is staffed by experts with a focus on efficiency and professionalism. The spoils system staffs on who is financially or politically supporting their overseer in office, often making them under qualified for their jobs.
What is the sunset review process? How is it useful?
The sunset review process reviews all agencies every 12 years by a self-evaluation report that has to show proof of efficiency and continued need for services. It helps make government more successful and also puts qualified representatives on the boards for eac agency.
List and explain 3 presidential powers
- veto legislation to check and balance the legislative form of government
- he can convene special sessions of congress
- appoints various officials
- makes treaties
How did FDR expand the presidency during the great depression?
- created new agencies under the new deal
- proposed new and bold policies which congress adopted
- delegated vast discretionary power to implement the policies he saw fit
- white house staff went from a handful to 500-600
What effects presidential popularity? What is the honeymoon period?
- affected by economic health of the nation, international involvement, and also percentage of scandal.
- the honeymoon period is right after a president becomes president and can essentially “do no wrong”
What is executive privilege?
Executive privilege is the right to withhold confidential Communication from other branches of government. It does not apply during a criminal investigation.
According to the 25th amendment what happens if the president is unable to do his job?
The VP acts as president if president is disabled and if dead he nominates his own VP; line of presidential secession
3 ways to structure bureaucracy?
Ad hoc, circular, and pyramid
Pros of a plural executive in Texas
6 people all equal in power, elected democracy, independent office so the governed doesn’t have too much power, more accountable to people
