Final Review Flashcards

Question

What are political scientist views on parties?

Answer 1

They agree with Burke. The political parties created democracy and modern democracy is unthinkable save in terms of the parties. * Political scientists think that parties are good.

Answer 2

the practice where politicians exchange favors, especially by mutual voting for each other's proposed legislation12345. It often involves supporting a policy or regulation not directly advantageous to one party but in return for support in their own interests. "I'll support your bill if you support one of mine"

Answer 3

Parties have less influence than they once had. Voters don't like them as much and now there are more independent voters.

Answer 4

“A body of men united . . . Upon some particular principle” – Edmund Burke, 1770 * “A group whose members propose to act in concert in the competitive struggle for power” – Joseph Schumpeter, 1942

Answer 5

Schwartz-Aldrich: Parties have incentives to form “long coalitions.” * Coalitions are mutually beneficial to members * More beneficial than independent, atomistic lawmakers * (payoffs imply some form of distributive politics) * In effect, parties solve two prisoners’ dilemmas: * Getting people to vote * Getting legislators to cooperate

Answer 6

Lobbying is imperfect for groups * Generally, works with shared goals * Officeholders can be persuaded, but * Needs to be beneficial * Needs to line up with existing goals * Also, difficult * Principal-agent problem

Answer 7

* Parties control the nomination process * Candidates meet with groups, leaders, activists, etc * Invisible primary * Insider endorsements typically predict well

Answer 8

1. Created by Article III of the Constitution 2. Has 9 Justices (by statute (law)) 3. Justices are appointed by Presidents for life 4. Have the final word on statutory interpretation 5. Have the final word on the constitutionality of statutes 6. Most people consider them largely predictable: There are “liberal” justices and “conservative” justices

Answer 9

Authors dismiss several potential causes * Polarized electorate * but electorate seems less polarized than Congress (next slide) * Southern realignment * but what about non-Southern Republicans getting more conservative? * Gerrymandering * but there is polarization in Senate and single- member states. Tammy Baldwin and Ron Johnson? (next slide) * Primary elections * but there have always been primaries; can’t explain a change with a constant

Answer 10

In article 2 “The executive power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. He shall hold his office during the term of four years, and, together with the Vice President, chosen for the same term, be elected, as follows:” * The President shall be commander in chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and * of the militia of the several states, when called into the actual service of the United States; * he may require the opinion, in writing, of the principal officer in each of the executive departments, upon any subject relating to the duties of their respective offices, and * he shall have power to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States, except in cases of impeachment. He shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to make treaties, * provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with * the advice and consent of the Senate, shall appoint ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, judges of the Supreme Court, and all other officers of the United States, whose appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by law: * but the Congress may by law vest the appointment of such inferior officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the courts of law, or in the heads of departments. * The President shall have power to fill up all vacancies that may happen during the recess of the Senate, by granting commissions which shall expire at the end of their next session. * NOTE: Executive agreements are an exception to the treaty power – sometimes expeditious * Only last from president-to-president * Cannot supersede US laws * Give a state of the union message (does not have to be oral) * Call a joint session of Congress * Receive ambassadors [HEAD OF STATE] – think Articles of Confederation contrast * Recognition of governments? * Commission officers * “take care that the laws be faithfully executed” Take care clause implies the ability to: * Remove appointees * Issue regulations * Issue proclamations * Issue executive orders

Answer 11

The president oversees the implementation of laws primarily through the executive branch, which includes federal agencies and departments (like the Department of Justice, Homeland Security, etc.). Once Congress passes a law, it’s up to these agencies—under the president’s direction—to interpret and enforce it. The president exercises this oversight by: Appointing top officials (with Senate approval) who lead agencies and influence how laws are executed. Issuing executive orders to guide how laws should be implemented. Using budgetary tools and administrative oversight to shape how aggressively or passively laws are enforced.

Answer 12

The president and the bureaucracy are interconnected but distinct: The bureaucracy is made up of career civil servants and professionals who often remain in their positions across administrations. They provide continuity, expertise, and structure to government operations. The president, on the other hand, is a political figure who sets the vision and priorities for how the bureaucracy operates. However, the president doesn’t control every aspect of it. So while the president relies on the bureaucracy to carry out policies, he or she is not fully in control of it—bureaucrats may resist, reinterpret, or slow-roll implementation, depending on institutional dynamics and personal beliefs.

Answer 13

This question often implies a concern: What is happening to Congress’ power? In recent decades, many scholars argue that Congress has: Delegated significant authority to the executive branch, especially in areas like national security and regulation. Become more partisan and gridlocked, which sometimes makes it less effective in crafting and passing legislation. Allowed the president to take on a more central role in policymaking, especially through executive actions and emergency powers. So "whither Congress?" reflects anxiety over its diminishing assertiveness and its retreat from being the primary policy driver it was originally designed to be.

Answer 14

Technically, only Congress can introduce bills, but presidents play a major role in initiating legislative agendas: They often propose key policies in the State of the Union address or through formal proposals. They work with congressional allies to sponsor and champion bills that align with their priorities. They use their platform to influence public opinion and put pressure on lawmakers. While the president doesn’t write or pass laws directly, the modern presidency is a central force in shaping what Congress does or doesn’t consider.

Answer 15

Remove appointees * Issue regulations * Issue proclamations * Issue executive orders

Answer 16

The veto is the president's power to say "no" to a bill passed by Congress. But for Congress to care about a threat of a veto, they have to believe the president will really use it—that the threat is credible. Congress can try to combine laws they know the president wants with rules that limit what the president can do. For example: They might attach a popular funding bill (which the president likes) to a restriction (like limiting military actions or how money can be spent). This puts the president in a tough spot—either accept the restriction or veto the whole package and risk losing something important. So, sometimes Congress plays offense: they say, “You want this bill? Then you also have to take these limits on your power.” "Signing statements." A signing statement is a note the president writes when signing a bill into law. It often says: How the president interprets the law Whether they think parts of it are unconstitutional Sometimes even that they won’t enforce parts they disagree with So even if the president doesn’t veto the bill, they might push back by using a signing statement to undermine parts of the law after the fact. Putting it all together: This is saying that the president's threat to veto a bill is most believable (or "credible") when they really dislike parts of the bill—especially if Congress has added restrictions on the president’s powers. But if the president doesn’t want to go through the political cost of a veto, they might still sign the bill and just use a signing statement to quietly resist or reinterpret the parts they don’t like.

Answer 17

-Propose legislation:Even though only Congress can formally introduce bills, the president can still propose ideas for new laws. - Issue unilateral proposal (executive order) This means: The president can act alone (without Congress) by signing an executive order. An executive order is like a rule the president gives to federal agencies, telling them how to do their jobs or how to enforce existing laws. It’s fast, and it doesn’t need Congress’s approval. So if Congress is too slow or won’t cooperate, the president can still make things happen on their own—within limits. - Solve an international conflict: The president can influence policy by handling foreign affairs—like negotiating peace, sending aid, or managing crises. Why does this matter for policy? Because solving international issues can: Shift public opinion Strengthen the president’s leadership image Affect laws, spending, and national priorities For example: Ending a war, brokering a treaty, or responding to a global emergency can shape both foreign and domestic policy.

Answer 18

OMB’s central clearance is a presidential filter between the executive branch and Congress: * OMB reviews legislative proposals from agencies * OMB reviews: proposed executive orders; proclamations; executive branch testimony before Congress * OMB coordinates agency/president response to pending legislation in Congress, e.g., recommends whether president should sign/veto a bill * OMB reviews regulation Originated from 1970s efforts to reduce the impact of regulation on business * Presidents (Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, etc.) wanted to monitor government regulations that imposed heavy costs on businesses * subjected regulations to a cost-benefit analysis * OMB meets with industry/groups to discuss pending regulations

Answer 19

The scope of Congress’s involvement in administration is vast * detail in statutes (use of ”riders” in appropriation bills) * redundant and intrusive investigations * creation of independent commissions to perform regulatory tasks that could be carried out by existing executive departments * statutory restrictions on personnel policies * directives in committee reports * casework demands that consume agency time * passage of private bills * legislative vetoes (unconstitutional since 1983) * Repeal of agency rules are filibuster-proof, within a time-limit Many actors are actively involved in administration * Interests groups are formally invited to participate in agency proceedings, as defined by the Administrative Procedure Act of 1946, among other statutes * Courts frequently review agency decisions for constitutionality, consistency with congressional intent, and procedural fairness * So, it would be anomalous to restrict Congress to the role of an observer

Answer 20

Economic Stabilization Act of 1970 * president can ”issue such orders and regulations as he may deem appropriate” to stabilize prices, rents, wages, and salaries * OSHA * authorized the executive branch to ”assure so far as is possible every working man and woman in the nation safe and healthful working conditions”

Answer 21

* Initially thought to be Congress * Washington Disagreed * Washington wins * Early departments: * War, Foreign Affairs, Treasury in 1781 * For Treasury, various models, originally a board structure

Answer 22

PAS (1200, presidential appointments requiring Senate approval) * https://ourpublicservice.org/perfor mance-measures/political- appointee-tracker/ * PA (Presidential appointments NOT requiring approval) * SES (Non-career Senior Executive Service (700)) * Senior Management, link between PAS and rest of bureaucracy * Schedule C

Answer 23

A rule means the whole or part of an agency statement of general or particular applicability and future effect designed to implement, interpret or prescribe law or policy.” * Can address any area of public policy. * Constrained by existing law. * Authority-granting statute * The APA * Judiciary (RIP Chevron)

Answer 24

Regulatory review took several turns after 1980 Congress created the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) in 1980 as a part of the Paperwork Reduction Act OIRA only reviewed government information requests (e.g., surveys and forms) OIRA administrator appointed by OMB director Reagan issues executive order 12899, which adds regulatory review to OIRA OIRA was an appealing location because administrator was picked by OMB director In 1986, Congress makes OIRA administrator subject to Senate confirmation in PL 99-500, a 400-page omnibus appropriations bill

Answer 25

The legislative function does not cease with a bill that creates agency. Only by monitoring the operation of a law can member uncover statutory defects and correct agency misinterpretations.

Answer 26

Many actors are actively involved in administration * Interests groups are formally invited to participate in agency proceedings, as defined by the Administrative Procedure Act of 1946, among other statutes * Courts frequently review agency decisions for constitutionality, consistency with congressional intent, and procedural fairness * So, it would be anomalous to restrict Congress to the role of an observer

Answer 27

authorized the executive branch to ”assure so far as is possible every working man and woman in the nation safe and healthful working conditions