mocks summary Flashcards

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1
Q

arguments that the president is powerful in domestic affairs

A
  1. legislative powers
  2. influence over appointment process
  3. public approval and national events
  4. power of the EXOP
  5. oversight of other branches
  6. use of executive powers
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2
Q

arguments that the president is not powerful in domestic affairs

A
  1. weakness of the cabinet
  2. EXOPs limitations
  3. limits to appointment powers
  4. public approval and national events
  5. the iron triangle
  6. checks from congress and the supreme court
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3
Q

what are the president’s foreign policy powers

A

role as commander in chief
- ability to dispatch troops
- can exert pressure without using force

the limits of congress
- can no longer declare war
- can be bypassed in ratifying treaties

role as chief diplomat
- sets the national tone of foreign policy through inaugural address or state of the union address
- able to appoint and control diplomats

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4
Q

what are the four theories of presidential power

A
  1. neustadt power to persuade: presidents are weak and can achieve little unless they are skilled in the art of persuasion
  2. schlesinger the imperial presidency: presidents are powerful and face few effective checks
  3. Wildavski the dual presidency: limited in domestic but few checks in foreign policy
  4. Howell power without persuasion: presidential power has grown steadily particularly in the second half of C20
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5
Q

arguments that the constitution is effective?

A
  1. checks and balances effectively keep each branch in line
  2. federalism is still in place
  3. the amendment process stops it becoming a reflection of its time
  4. it is adaptable
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6
Q

arguments that the constitution is not effective?

A
  1. bipartisanship in the US has failed
  2. federalism is no longer in action
  3. the constitution is too difficult to amend
  4. the constitution is too vague
  5. the branches do not effectively check each other with the President and SC being too powerful
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7
Q

arguments that separation of powers is effective?

A
  1. there are effective checls on the President
  2. there are effective checks on congress
  3. there are effective checks on the judiciary
  4. a divided government can be healthy
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8
Q

arguments that separation of powers is not effective?

A
  1. weak checks on the president
  2. weak checks on congress
  3. weak checks on the judiciary
  4. bipartisanship has deteriorated and a divided government is not good
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9
Q

arguments that the US remains federal?

A
  1. the supreme court makes rulings in favour of states over federal government
  2. states retain autonomy through variation of electoral practices, healthcare, criminal punishment, taxation, drugs and national crises managements
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10
Q

arguments that the US is not federal?

A
  1. federal encroachment on state issues: education, homeland security and defense, illegal immigration, healthcare
  2. federal encroachment in national crises
  3. the supreme court makes rulings in favour of the federal government
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11
Q

arguments that the constitutions amendment process is effective?

A
  1. protects states and upholds federalism
  2. prevents ill thought out amendments
  3. requires broad support through supermajorities
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12
Q

arguments that the constitutions amendment process is not effective?

A
  1. goes against the concet of a majoritarian democracy
  2. difficult to amend outdated provisions or to incorporate new ideas
  3. enhances the power of the unelected supreme court to make interpretaive amendments
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13
Q

arguments that the electoral college does not need reform?

A
  1. preserves the vote of small population states
  2. promotes a two horse race
  3. there are no viable alternatives
  4. ensures candidates have nationwide appeal
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14
Q

arguments that the electoral college does need reform?

A
  1. small states are overrepresented, tyrrany of the minority
  2. the winner of the popular vote doesn’t necessarily become President - undemocratic
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15
Q

use and impact of campaign finance?

A
  1. fundraising is getting more expensive
  2. super PACS in the 2020 election
  3. where the money goes
  4. who is donating
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16
Q

history of campaign finance?

A
  • Federal election campaign act 1974, limited direct contributions to candidates
  • 1976 buckley v valeo, limits went against first amendment
  • 1979 congress weakened introduced soft money
  • McCain-Feingold act 2002
  • Obama’s role in 2008 election
  • 2010 citizens united v FEC
  • McCutcheon v FEC 2014
17
Q

arguments that congress is effective in its representative function?

A
  1. minority representation
  2. interest groups and lobbying
  3. representative models
18
Q

arguments that congress is not effective in its representative function?

A
  1. minority representation
  2. incumbency and gerrymandering
  3. conflict between party and constituents
  4. interest groups and lobbying
19
Q

arguments that congress is effective in its legislative function?

A
  1. the need for supermajorities ensures broad consensus and bipartisanship to pass legislation
  2. the low pass rate means only necessary legislation becomes law
  3. congress can pass emergency legislation
  4. significant laws have been passed historically
20
Q

arguments that congress is not effective in its legislative function?

A
  1. not enough major legislation is passed (2-3%)
  2. key individuals dominate the process
  3. gridlock is common due to a rise in polarisation
21
Q

arguments that the supreme court is political v judicial

A

they are obviously more political
- the appointment process
- commenting publicly on politics

are they interfering directly
- checks and balances
- it has a limited ability to enforce its rulings
- creating vs upholding policies

22
Q

race and rights protection in the US

A
  1. executive orders
  2. congressional law
  3. supreme court rulings
  4. statistics show improvement
23
Q

strengths of the judicial appointment process

A
  • they face high levels of scrutiny
  • justices may not follow the political outlook expected of them
  • it produces competent judges
24
Q

weaknesses of the judicial process

A
  • it is overly politicised
  • it doesn’t produce good judges