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PLS 101 - American Government > 1. Institutions and Policy Processes > Flashcards

1. Institutions and Policy Processes Flashcards

1
Q

Three Categories of powers that give Congress a broad scope of authority to fulfil its responsibilities:

A
  • Enumerated
  • Implied
  • Inherent
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2
Q

Enumerated Powers

A

Congress’s primary function of making laws. Clearly spelled out in the Constitution to prevent the government from overstepping its authority.

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3
Q

Which Section of Article I are the Enumerated Powers derived from?

A

Section I

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4
Q

Implied Powers

A
  • Not stated in the Constitution
  • Implied by Necessary and Proper Clause/Elastic Cause
  • Provides Flexibility in adapting to change
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5
Q

Inherent Powers

A

Not explicitly stated but still necessary to any government

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6
Q

Give 2 Examples of Congress’s Enumerated Powers

A
  • Levy taxes and collect revenue for the functioning of the federal government.
  • Regulate interstate and foreign commerce.
  • Declare war and raise and support the armed forces.
  • Coin money and regulate its value.
  • Establish post offices and post roads.
  • Establish rules for naturalization and bankruptcy.
  • Commerce with Foreign Nations
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7
Q

Give 2 Examples of Congress’s Implied Powers

A
  • Establishment of a National Bank
  • Creation of Federal Agencies
  • Civil Rights Legislation
  • Regulation of Air and Space Travel
  • Environmental Regulations
  • Imposition of Regulatory Standards
  • Creation of the Federal Reserve System
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8
Q

Give 2 Examples of Congress’s Inherent Powers

A
  • Establishment of a National Bank
  • Creation of Federal Agencies
  • Civil Rights Legislation
  • Regulation of Air and Space Travel
  • Environmental Regulations
  • Imposition of Regulatory Standards
  • Creation of the Federal Reserve System
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9
Q

Name two other Categories of Congress’s powers, not included before.

A
  • Non-Legislative Powers
  • War Powers
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10
Q

Non-Legistlative Powers

A
  • Refers to specific functions and responsibilities of Congress outside of Lawmaking
  • Derived from Congress’s Unique ability to keep the other branches, Exectutive and Judicial, in check.
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11
Q

Give 2 examples of Congress’s Non-Legistlative powers

A
  • Oversight and Investigative Powers
  • Power of Impeachment
  • Approval of Treaties and Presidential Appointments
  • Electoral Duties
  • Control over Congressional Procedures
  • Amendment Process
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12
Q

War Powers

A
  • Refers to the use of Military force
  • Divides the war powers between Congress and the President
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13
Q

Give 2 examples of Congress’s War powers

A
  • Declaration of War
  • Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF)
  • War Powers Resolution (1973)
  • Power of the Purse
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14
Q

What are 3 things Congress does NOT have the power to do?

A
  • Create Post facto laws
  • Habeas Corpus
  • Create Nobility
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15
Q

What is a Post Facto Law?

A

A law after the action has been committed

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16
Q

What is “Habeas Corpus”

A
  • “You have the Body”
  • A person has the right to be brought before a judge who will explain the charges clearly against the prisoner
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17
Q

Define this type of Tax:

Income

A

Levied on Income

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18
Q

Define this type of Tax:

Progressive

A

The more you earn, the higher your tax rate

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19
Q

Define this type of Tax:

Payroll

A

Payed in addiction to an income tax

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20
Q

Define this type of Tax:

Social Security and Medicare

A
  • Flat Type
  • Not levied on Investments
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21
Q

Explain the 1921 Budget and Accounting Act

Budget Authority, Budget Outlay, Reciepts

A

The President submits a budget to congress for approval for each fiscal year from OCT 1 - SEPT 30
- Budget Authority (the amount certain agencies will be allowed to spend
- Budget Outlay (The amount agencies are expected to spend)
- Reciepts (the amount the government is expected to take in via taxes and other sources)

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22
Q

Explain the Budget Enforcement Act (BEA)

A

The BEA created two new budget control processes:
- a set of caps on annually-appropriated discretionary spending
- “pay-as-you-go” or “PAYGO” process for entitlements and taxes.

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23
Q

Explain the Balanced Budget of 1997

A
  • Dramatically expanded the authority of state Medicaid agencies to provide covered health care services through managed care organizations (MCOs).
  • Expired in 2002
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24
Q

Speaker of the house

A
  • Second in line for the Presidency if anything happens to the President or Vice President
  • Selected by the Majority Party
  • Pincipal leader of the Majority party
  • Presiding officer of the entire house
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25
Q

What is a Whip

A
  • Keeps party leader informed on what party members are thinking on certain bills
  • In charge of determining what the likely vote will be on a controversial issue
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26
Q

Who does the Organization of the House Consist of?

A
  • Speaker
  • Majority Leader and Whip
  • Minority Leader and Whip
  • Deputy Whip
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27
Q

Who does the Organization of the Senate consist of?

A
  • Two senators from each state: A senior and a junior
  • Vice President = President of the Senate
  • Leadership of the Senate (President Pro Tempore)
  • Majority Leader and Whip
  • Minority Leader and Whip
  • Deputy Whip
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28
Q

What is the role of the Vice President as the President of the Senate?

A

Tie Breaker

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29
Q

Who is third in line for Presidential Succession?

Latin for “Of the Time”

A

President Pro Tempore

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30
Q

Who chooses the President Pro Tem?

A

The Majority Leader and Whip of the Senate

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31
Q

Both Chambers employ a complex system of \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ Comittees to help them carry out their legistlative duties

A

Permanent

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32
Q

Select Committees

A

Formed to deal with a temporary matter and is disbanded once the issue is resolved.

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33
Q

Steering Committees

A

Provide advice, ensure delivery of the project outputs and the achievement of project outcomes.

34
Q

Appropriations Committees

A

Reviews all bills with any fiscal impact after passage by a policy committee.

35
Q

Armed Services Committees

A

The Military forces of the United States

Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Coast Guard

36
Q

Judiciary Committees

A

In charge of the Consideration of all Article III judicial nominations

Supreme Court, Appellate Court, and District Court Nominations

37
Q

Standing Committees

A

Consider bills and issues recommended measures for consideration by the House

20 Members for each Chamber

38
Q

House Committees

A

Consider bills and issues and oversee agencies, programs, and activities within their jurisdictions.

39
Q

Rules Committee

A

Limits the time for debate and deternines whether the amendments to a bill can be considered

40
Q

Which Article of the Consistution explains the President and his Powers?

A

Article 2

41
Q

Qualifications for a Presidential Candidate

A
  • Must be either born in the US or a citizen
  • Must be atleast 35 years old
  • Must take the oath of office as prescribed in the constitution
42
Q

The principle source of the president’s political influence is their …

A

constitutional authority to execute public policies

43
Q

Article II Section 2 states that the president is

A
  • commander in chief of the armed forces
  • commander in chief is a citizen
44
Q

The President has the power to

A
  • grant pardons except for impeachment
  • recognize foreign governments
  • treaty with foreign governments
  • veto acts of Congress
  • Appoint ambassadors and federal judges
45
Q

Executive order 9022

A

Relocated Japanese Americans to internment camps during WW2

46
Q

Executive Privalege

A

A way of withholding information from Congress, Judicary, and the Public

47
Q

Signing Statements

A
  • Used to express how they intend to execute the bill they are signing into law
  • developed in the 1800s
  • President Bush used this the most (800x)
48
Q

How long can the President serve?

A

2 terms of 4 years each

49
Q

12th Amendment

A

Stipulates that each elector must cast distinct votes for president and vice president, instead of two votes for president.

50
Q

25th Amendment

A

In case of the removal of the President from office or of his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become President.

Ratified in 1967

51
Q

What is the first Lady’s Role

A

In many cases, the first lady’s role involves firecting social functions, but it can also inclue a focus on core causes and initiatives

52
Q

Which of the following best explains the consistent growth of the federal bureaucracy over the past hundred years?

(A) Increases in federal income tax since 1925
(B) The inability of Congress to cut programs
(C) The success of Democratic presidents in promoting their policies
(D) Public demand for, and expectation of, social services
(E) United States Supreme Court rulings requiring Congress to assist those living in poverty
unanswered

A

(D)

53
Q

Which of the following is clearly a task charged to the Federal Reserve as a regulatory agency?

(A) Protecting market users and the public from fraud, manipulation and abusive practices related to the sale of commodity and financial futures and options
(B) Eliminating and preventing what regulators perceive to be harmfully anticompetitive business practices, such as coercive monopolies
(C) Disclosing campaign-finance information and overseeing the public funding of presidential elections
(D) Developing government-wide, cost-minimizing policies and offering superior workplaces, expert solutions, acquisition services and management policies
(E) Providing financial services to depository institutions, the United States government and foreign institutions, as well as playing a key role in operating the nation’s payments system
unanswered

A

(E)

54
Q

An example of an independent regulatory agency is

(A) The Federal Reserve
(B) The Senate
(C) Amtrak
(D) The Department of Agriculture
(E) The Supreme Court

A

(A)

55
Q

Which of the following is a difference between the House of Representatives and the Senate?

(A) Seniority is more important in the Senate than in the House.
(B) Leadership is more centralized in the Senate than in the House.
(C) The Senate has the exclusive power to ratify treaties. correct
(D) The Senate has more committees than does the House.
(E) The Senate may veto laws passed by the House, but the House may not veto senatorial legislation.

A

(C)

56
Q

If the vice presidency of the United States is vacated, the Constitution stipulates that the president must

(A) appoint a new vice president with the approval of the House only
(B) appoint a new vice president with the approval of the Senate only
(C) appoint a new vice president with the approval of both houses of Congress correct
(D) instate the Speaker of the House as the new vice president
(E) leave the vice presidency vacant for the remainder of the term of office

A

(C)

57
Q

The principal source of presidents’ political influence is their

(A) constitutional authority to declare war
(B) power to convene Congress
(C) constitutional authority to execute public policies correct
(D) power to dictate diplomatic relations with other countries
(E) constitutional authority to grant pardons

A

(C)

58
Q

Each of the following is a power of Congress EXCEPT

(A) recognizing foreign governments correct
(B) declaring war
(C) ratifying treaties
(D) confirming ambassadors
(E) appropriating funds for war

A

(A)

59
Q

The Twenty-Fifth Amendment to the Constitution states that the vice president becomes president in all of the following cases except when

(A) The president dies
(B) The president is removed from office
(C) The president travels abroad to negotiate treaties correct
(D) The president resigns
(E) The president is impeached

A

(C)

60
Q

Which of the following ensures that the president and the vice president are of the same party affiliation?

(A) The Twelfth Amendment correct
(B) Baker v. Carr
(C) The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
(D) Gerrymandering
(E) Representative democracy

A

(A)

61
Q

Although the Constitution does not explicitly give Congress the right to enact a military draft, which clause in the Constitution allows Congress to do so?

(A) Necessary and proper clause correct
(B) Take care clause
(C) Taxing and spending clause
(D) Due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment
(E) Equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment

A

(A)

62
Q

Which of the following committee assignments would confer the most power and influence on members of the House of Representatives?

(A) Agriculture
(B) Ways and Means correct
(C) Veterans’ Affairs
(D) Armed Services
(E) Education and Labor

A

(B)

63
Q

The power of the Rules Committee in the House of Representatives primarily stems from its authority to

(A) choose the chairs of other standing committees and issue rules for the selection of subcommittee chairs
(B) initiate all spending legislation and hold budget hearings
(C) limit the time for debate and determine whether amendments to a bill can be considered correct
(D) determine the procedures by which nominations by the president will be approved by the House
(E) choose the president if no candidate wins a majority in the electoral college

A

(C)

64
Q

Which of the following is true of both the House of Representatives and the Senate?

(A) Both chambers must approve the president’s nominees for judicial and administrative positions.
(B) Both chambers employ a complex system of permanent committees to assist them in carrying out their legislative duties.correct
(C) Both the Speaker of the House and the Senate’s president pro tempore are elected by majority vote of their respective chamber.
(D) Both chambers encourage and permit extensive discussion of important issues and proposed legislation on the chamber floor.
(E) When midterm vacancies occur in either chamber, state governors are permitted to appoint replacement members.

A

(B)

65
Q

Among the expressed powers of the federal government enumerated in the Constitution of the United States is the power to

(A) monitor discrimination in the workplace
(B) establish national political parties
(C) standardize the licensing of lawyers
(D) regulate interstate trade and commerce correct
(E) standardize high school curriculums across states

A

(D)

66
Q

A tax levied after one dies is called

(A) An estate tax correct
(B) A progressive tax
(C) A payroll tax
(D) A sales tax
(E) A sin tax

A

(A)

67
Q

According to the Constitution, Congress may not

(A) Discipline itself
(B) Grant titles of nobility correct
(C) Regulate interstate commerce
(D) Declare war
(E) Govern Washington, D.C.

A

(B)

68
Q

The president has been required to submit a budget to Congress since the passage of the

(A) Budget and Accounting Act correct
(B) The Judiciary Act
(C) Lobbying Disclosure Act
(D) Gramm-Rudman Act
(E) The 1965 Voting Rights Act

A

(A)

69
Q

Differences between House and Senate versions of a bill are resolved

(A) in a conference committee
(B) by the Rules committees of both chambers
(C) in subcommittee hearings
(D) by the president before the bill is signed into law
(E) during the bill’s markup phase

A

(A)

70
Q

The passage of legislation in Congress often depends on mutual accommodations among members. This suggests that, to some extent, congressional behavior is based on

(A) ideological divisions
(B) partisan division
(C) the principle of reciprocity
(D) deference to state legislatures
(E) norms of seniority

A

(C)

71
Q

Which of the following is most likely to weaken party leadership in the Senate?

(A) The confirmation of appointments to the Supreme Court
(B) The assignment of senators to permanent committees
(C) The use of filibuster by individual senators
(D) The removal of the president following impeachment
(E) The ratification of treaties presented by the president

A

(C)

72
Q

What rule can end a filibuster?

A

Cloture Rule

73
Q

Closed Rule

A

Severely limits amendments

74
Q

Open Rule

A

Permits amendments

75
Q

Which of the following actions gives the president an advantage over Congress in promoting policy?

(A) Using the franking privilege
(B) Impounding funding for projects of which the president disapproves
(C) Invoking senatorial courtesy
(D) Utilizing the media through the bully pulpit correct
(E) Invoking the power to end a filibuster

A

(D)

76
Q

Which of the following best describes the relationship between the media and citizens?

(A) Most media are independent and unbiased, allowing citizens to form their own opinions.
(B) The media are regulated by the government to ensure that consumers receive factually accurate information.
(C) The media have greater influence in shaping the political ideology of citizens than any other factor does.
(D) Citizens have little choice about how to consume media because of the consolidation of media ownership.
(E) Citizens tend to seek out media that reinforce rather than challenge existing ideological views.

A

(E)

77
Q

The ability of the media to define the importance of particular events and issues is called

(A) preemption
(B) agenda setting correct
(C) investigative reporting
(D) minimal effects thesis
(E) adversarial journalism

A

(B)

78
Q

Biameralism

A

The division of legislators into two separate assemblies

79
Q

Gerrymandering

A

The manipulation of legislative district boundaries as a way of favoring a particular candidate

80
Q

Explain how fundamental characteristics of the House and Senate shape their elections

A

Size and Proportional Representation:
House of Representitives: the number of representatives from each state is based on its population size
The Senate: Fixed size of 100 members. Each state has 2 Senators.
Term Lengths:
House: Representatives serve 2 year terms. Frequent turnover = Frequent change in Composition
Senate: Senators serve 6-year terms. Long term lengths provide stability and continuity for longer-term goals
Constituencies:
House:
Senate:
Roles within the Legislative Process:
House:
Senate:

81
Q

Discuss campaign funding and the effects of incumbency in the House and Senate

A
82
Q

Analyze the way congressional elections can sometimes become nationalized

A

PLS 101 - American Government (5 decks)

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