Test 3 Free Response

Question 1

1. Conflicts between Congress and the President over war powers have their origin in the United States Constitution. In 1973 Congress passed the War Powers Resolution in an attempt to clarify the balance of powers between the two branches of government.

Answer 1

a. Describe the primary constitutional conflict between Congress and the President over the decision to go to war.
• Congress as a whole has power to declare war, President is Commander in Chief; break apart military power
b. Describe two provisions of the War Powers Resolution that were designed to limit the President’s power over war making.
• 60 days until pull troops out
• inform Congress within 24 hours and keep updated
c. The War Powers Resolution has received mixed reviews, but Congress has other powers over war making. Other than the constitutional power that you described in a, identify and explain two other formal powers Congress has over war making.
• Congress cannot pay for operation and stop funding to prevent, not raise and support
• Pass a law to restrict President in getting involved in conflict

Question 2

2. The Constitution of the United States creates a government of separate institutions that share power rather than a government that delegates power exclusively to a single branch. Frequently, this means that presidents and Congress struggle with each other.

Answer 2

a. For each of the presidential powers below, explain one way that congressional decision-making is affected by that power.
• Veto power: Congress could make the bill more palatable in the fist place
• Power to issue executive orders: write laws that make executive orders difficult
• Power as commander in chief: defund action, write law making it difficult
b. For each of the congressional powers below, explain one way that presidential decision-making is affected by that power.
• Legislative oversight power: president be more careful and within the law
• Senate advice and consent power: appoint people that Congress would like
• Budgetary power: President would spend within the means of the budget, pass bills that might have spending in areas congress agree with

Question 3

3. The federal bureaucracy as part of the executive branch exercises substantial independence in implementing governmental policies and programs. Most workers in the federal bureaucracy are civil-service employees who are organized under a merit system.

Answer 3

a. Describe one key characteristic of the merit system.
• promoted based on merit, pass civil service exam
b. For each of the following, describe one factor that contributes to bureaucratic independence.
• all throughout
• congress and president would differ from experts giving them independence