Final Flashcards
Constitutional powers of the presidency (5)
- Head of executive branch
- Powers in relation to Congress
- Commander in chief
- Head of foreign affairs
- Appoints important governmental powers
Presidential inherent powers (4)
- Executive privilege
- Executive orders
- Executive agreements
- Emergency powers
Executive privilege
Presidential claim that he may withhold information from Congress if necessary for the executive of his job
Executive orders
Directives issued by the president to enforce laws passed by Congress, enforce the constitution or treaties, and establish or modify rules/practices of executive agencies
Executive agreements
International agreement that does not require legislative approval - agreement between leaders, NOT nations
Traits of the modern presidency (3)
- President is national government’s legislative leader
- Nation’s preeminent political actor
- Face of the national government
Roles of the modern president (7)
- Head of state
- Chief Executive (Constitutional powers)
- Commander in chief
- Chief legislator
- Chief Diplomat
- Chief Judicial Officer
- Head of party
Patronage power
Power of president to award faithful party members with appointments
Causes of rivalry between president and Congress (2)
- They are constitutionally required to share power
2. They serve overlapping constituencies
Effects on President’s power to persuade (4)
- President’s popularity with the public
- Whether the president is presiding over a united or divided government
- Position the president held before being elected
- President’s personal capacity for persuasion
Congress’s most important powers (4)
- Power to tax
- Power to spend
- Power to regulate commerce
- Power to declare war
Differences between House and Senate (4)
- Election terms
- Entire House is up for reelection every 2 years (Senate staggered)
- Number of House representatives based on population
- House is directly elected by the people
Functions of Congress (6)
- Legislating
- Representation
- Service to constituents
- Oversight
- Public education
- Conflict resolution
Co-equal and shared powers of Congress (4)
- Bills on money must start in the House
- Bills must be the same in both houses in order to pass
- Equal but different powers
- House has power to impeach and Senate removes president
Methods in building a winning majority coalition on a bill (3)
- Debate and discuss
- Compromising
- Log-rolling
Instructed-delegate representation
Representatives should do what their constituents want them to do
Trustee representation
Legislators supposed to act as trustees of their constituents and act in their best interests
Caucus
An association of members of Congress created to advocate a political ideology or a regional, ethnic, or economic interest
Types of committees (4)
- Standing
- Joint
- Conference
- Select
Factors members consider when deciding on bills (5)
- Personal feelings about bill
- How bill impacts district
- How bill impacts reelection
- How bill impacts likelihood of future support from Congress
- Cue-taking: look to other members for advice
Distinctions that make the American bureaucracy unique (4)
- Political authority over bureaucracy is shared between the executive and legislative branches
- Most federal agencies share their functions with related agencies in local and state governments
- Acts under strict public scrutiny with greater prospect of court challenges
- Scope as well as style of bureaucratic government differs
Discretionary authority
The extent to which appointed bureaucrats can choose courses of action and make policies that are not spelled out in advance by law
Expanded capabilities of bureaucracy (2)
- Can pay subsidies to particular groups or organizations in society
- Can devise and enforce regulations
Factors that effect how officials use power (4)
- The manner in which they are recruited/rewarded
- Their personal attributes
- Nature of their jobs: roles and missions
- The way in which outside forces influence their behavior
Competitive service
The government offices to which people are appointed on grounds of merit
Exempted service
Provision for appointing federal offices without going through the competitive service
Iron triangle
Alliance between an agency, interest group, and congressional committee
Issue network
A loose connection of leaders, interest groups, bureaucratic agencies, and congressional committees interested in some public policy
Congressional oversight of the bureaucracy (4)
- No agency may exist without Congressional approval
- No money may be spent unless authorized by Congress
- Funds authorized by Congress must also be appropriated
- Can investigate bureaucratic agencies
Authorization legislation
Legislative permission to begin or continue a government program or agency
Issues with bureaucracy (5)
- Red tape
- Conflict
- Duplication
- Imperialism
- Waste
The powers of the federal courts
Expressed: jurisdiction
Inherent: judicial review
Elements of determining policy-making (2)
- Constitutionality of the government action
2. How the government action needs to be implemented in order to be constitutional
Factors courts use to decide cases (2)
- The Constitution
2. Precedent
Beliefs on interpreting the Constitution (2)
- Strict constructionism - tradition
2. Broad constructionism - progression
Overarching doctrines of judicial activism (3)
- Majoritarian (low)
- Minimalist (middle)
- Strong (high)
Judicial activism
When the courts overturn the action of one or both of the other branches
Bodies who check the judiciary (4)
- Executive
- Legislature
- The people
- The courts themselves
Legislative checks on judiciary (6)
- Impeachment
- Confirming appointments
- Altering the number of judges
- Can change amendments to overturn Supreme Court’s ruling
- Can repass a law deemed unconstitutional
- Congress has power to dictate the entire jurisdiction of the lower courts
Jurisdiction of the federal courts (4)
- Federal-question cases
- Diversity cases
- Breaking of a federal law
- Writ of certiorari
Powers and obligations of president as head of the executive branch (5)
- Executive power held in the position
- Responsible for the execution of laws
- All executive department heads report to the president
- President holds power to grant reprieves and pardons
- Power to appoint executive officers
Presidential powers in relation to Congress ( 4)
- State of the Union
- May convene Congress in extraordinary circumstances
- May dismiss Congress
- Power to veto legislation
