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ANG 2 Flashcards

(48 cards)

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1
Q

Concern about Presidential Power?

A

Scared it would feel like a monarch

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2
Q

Requirement to run for President

A

At least 35 years of age

Natural-born citizen

Resident of the U.S. for at least 14 years

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3
Q

Requirement to run
US House
US Senate

A

Minimum age 25 U.S. Citizen at least 7 years (House)

Minimum age 30, U.S. Citizen at least 9 years (Senate)

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4
Q

Constitutional Requirement

A

Indirectly Elected-chosen by the electoral college

Four-year term- two term limit, 22nd Amendment 1951

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5
Q

Presidential Roles and Powers

A

many are formal, constitutional

others are not directly related to day-to-day governing

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6
Q

Presidential Powers/ Roles

A 
Chief of State
Chief Executive 
Chief Administrator 
Chief Diplomat
Commander in Chief 
Chief Legislator 
Chief of Party 
Chief Citizen
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7
Q

Chief of State (President)

A

Leader or symbol of the government and country

performs ceremonial or symbolic functions

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8
Q

Chief Executive

A

Management of the executive branch

responsible for ensuring the efficient and effective functioning of federal agencies

Institutional assistance in managing executive branch

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9
Q

Chief Executive (President Powers and Congressional Checks and Balances)

A

President powers - Congressional checks and Balances
Appointment Senate confirmation and impeachment
Executive Orders Legislation and Appropriations
Pardon No direct check

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10
Q

Commander in Chief

A

Commander of armed forces

makes military decisions – strategic operations

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11
Q

Commander in Chief (President Powers and Congressional Checks and Balances)

A

President powers - Congressional checks and Balances

Appoint military officers Senate Confirmation

Command U.S. military forces Declaration of war and appropriations

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12
Q

Chief Diplomat

A

Responsible for U.S. foreign policy

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13
Q

Chief Diplomat (President Powers and Congressional Checks and Balances)

A

President powers - Congressional checks and Balances

Negotiate and Sign Treaties Senate Ratification

Executive Agreements Appropriations, Legislation, and Occasional Approval

Diplomatic Recognition No direct check

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14
Q

Chief Legislator

A

The Single, most influential “Lawmaker”

Helps set congressional agenda
-e.g., State of the Union address

Involvement in legislative process
-influencing legislators; seeking to achieve legislative goals

Constitutional role after legislation is passed by Congress

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15
Q

Party Leader

A

Leader of a political party:

  • helps shape party’s agenda
  • keeps the party unified
  • helps candidates get elected
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16
Q

Presidential Powers

A

Expressed powers – granted by the Constitution
-e.g., appointment, veto

Inherent powers – implied, but not stated, by the Constitution
-e.g., executive orders, deploying military forces

Delegated powers – given by Congress to the president
-e.g., preparing the federal budget

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17
Q

Factors Affecting Presidential Power and Success

A

Level of public approval/support

Party composition of Congress
-impacts presidential appointments, legislative agenda (president’s vs. Congress’), legislative oversight, etc

Personality and leadership style

Persuasion – Richard Neustadt
ability to persuade members of Congress, the administration, or the public

Presidential character - Benjamin Barber
personality type – energy and enjoyment

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18
Q

Vice President (End of Chapter 10)

A

Two constitutional roles

  • President of the Senate
  • first in line of presidential succession

VP role in balancing the ticket
-assist presidential candidate in winning election

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19
Q

Bureaucracy

A

a large organization structured hierarchically and governed by formal rules to carry out specific functions

  • hierarchical structure
  • extensive rules
  • task specialization
  • operation on merit principle
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20
Q

Public Bureaucracy

Study These Flashcards
A

Public bureaucracy
federal
– ~2.8 civilian employees
19% of total govt. employees

state and local
– 81% of total govt. employees

21
Q

Powers of the Bureaucracy

Study These Flashcards
A

Implementation of policy
-e.g., EPA implements the Clean Air Act

Rule making / regulation

  • authority to control or change some practice in the private sector
    e. g., EPA sets vehicle emission standards

Administrative adjudication

  • authority to resolve disputes
    e. g., EPA judges preside over enforcement actions (e.g., civil penalties)
22
Q

Formal Organization

Study These Flashcards
A

Executive Office of the President- supports the work of the president
-policy advice, political advice, oversight of the executive branch, day-to-day White House functions, etc.

Cabinet departments

  • largest units of the executive branch
  • primary implementing bodies

Government corporations

  • organizations that operate and provide services similar to private businesses
  • e.g., US Postal Service, Amtrak

Independent regulatory agencies

  • organizations that make and enforce rules to protect the public interest
  • e.g., Food and Drug Administration, Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Independent executive agencies

  • organizations with broad powers set up outside of all other departments
  • e.g., National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Central Intelligence Agency, Environmental Protection Agency
23
Q

Personnel

Study These Flashcards
A

Political Appointees

  • appointed by the president
  • —most require confirmation by Senate
  • —patronage
  • most serve at the president’s leisure
  • serve in leadership positions

Civil Servants
-operate under the merit system
serve at all levels in the bureaucracy

24
Q

Iron Triangle

Study These Flashcards
A

Iron triangle
–policy-making relationship between a federal agency, congressional committee, and interest group(s)
-mutual-supporting relationship

25
Causes of Implementation Failure (End of Chapter 11)
Program design: policy is poorly designed Lack of clarity: policy is not specific or clearly defined Lack of resources: insufficient staff, training, equipment, or money
26
The Judiciary
Role is to resolve disputes (adjudicate) and interpret law Judicial review - power of courts to determine whether laws or actions are constitutional - Marbury v. Madison (1803)
27
The Legal System: Participants
Litigants - actual disputes, no hypothetical cases - ------justiciable disputes - standing Attorneys Judges Groups -amicus curiae briefs
28
The Legal System: Sources of Law
Constitution Statutory law Administrative law Case law - precedent – a decision made by a higher court is binding on all other courts - stare decisis – let the decision stand
29
The Legal System: Criminal Law
Criminal law – laws defining offenses against the public order -regulates the conduct of individuals, defines crimes, and specifies punishments for criminal acts Civil law – laws governing relationships between individuals groups, corporations, and other private entities -or between such litigants and the government
30
Federal Judiciary
Supreme Court -created by the Constitution Constitution gives Congress authority to create additional courts -Judiciary Act of 1789 – established Courts of Appeals and District Courts
31
District Courts
94 courts -91 (+3 territorial courts) ~675 judges -number of judges in each court ranges from 2 to 28 Only federal courts to use juries - grand jury: weigh evidence to determine whether indictment and trial is warranted - petit jury: weighs evidence to determine facts about a case Original jurisdiction: authority to hear a case first - determine facts about a case - trial courts - one judge per case
32
Court of Appeals
13 courts - 12 regional circuit courts - Federal Circuit Court ~180 judges -number of judges in each court ranges from 6 to 28 Appellate jurisdiction: - authority to review cases brought from lower courts - -review legal issues of a case, not facts Cases typically heard by three judge panel -some cases heard en banc
33
Supreme Court
9 members Original jurisdiction and appellate jurisdiction
34
Supreme Court Process
Federal Courts or State courts -> Request for Supreme Court Review -> Request discussed in conference -> If obtains four votes, Case placed on the docket -> Briefs submitted by both parties; amicus curiae brief filed -> Oral Argument -> Conference (Cases discussed; votes taken; opinion writing assigned) -> Opinions drafted; circulated for comment (statements of legal reasoning behind a judicial decision) -> DECISION ANNOUNCED When request does not obtain four votes, request gets DENIED
35
Supreme Court Process pt 2
Majority opinion - written by a majority of justices - decision of the Court Dissenting opinion -written by justice(s) opposed to the majority decision Concurring opinion -written by justice(s) in agreement with the majority decision, but based on different legal reasons
36
Federal Judges
Appointed by president -confirmed by Senate Life terms Experience, political ideology, age, gender, race/ethnicity, likelihood of confirmation, etc. Judicial philosophy - -judicial activism: judges should interpret the Constitution to reflect current conditions and values - -judicial restraint: judges should interpret the Constitution literally and to reflect what the framers intended Senatorial courtesy
37
Oversight of the Judiciary
Congress - Senate confirmation of judges - lawmaking - amend the Constitution - funding to carry out court decisions - impeachment - change structure and jurisdiction of courts President - appointment of judges - power of implementation - executive orders - pardon Judiciary - appellate process - precedent / stare decisis - rules governing conduct
38
Public Policy
Public policy – a course of action taken by government in response to some public problem or issue Economic policy and social welfare policy
39
Federal Budget
Budget -policy document specifying revenues and expenditures Revenues -financial resources of government Expenditures -government spending Budget surplus -revenues exceed expenditures Budget deficit -expenditures exceed revenues Debt -all the money borrowed by the federal government and still outstanding
40
Revenues
Taxes, fees, and fines - types of federal taxes - ----income taxes (personal and corporate), social insurance taxes, and excise taxes
41
Expenditures
Discretionary expenditures -expenditures that can be allocated by exact cost and with significant flexibility Mandatory expenditures -expenditures that are determined by automatic eligibility or previous obligation
42
Economic Policy
Goal is to: - maximize GDP growth - minimize unemployment - minimize inflation
43
Economic Policy | Fiscal Policy and Monetary Policy
Fiscal Policy - Taxing, spending, and borrowing activities in order to manage the economy - Congress and President Monetary Policy - Controlling the supply of money and credit in order to manage the economy - Federal Reserve Board
44
Economic Policy To increase rate of economic growth To reduce rate of economic growth
To increase rate of economic growth: (UP) spending, (DOWN) taxes (UP) money supply To reduce rate of economic growth: (DOWN) spending, (UP) taxes (DOWN) money supply
45
Social Welfare Policy
Social welfare policies | – programs to reduce poverty or protect people from poverty
46
Social Welfare Policies
Entitlement programs –benefits available to individuals regardless of income level Means-tested programs –benefits available only to individuals whose incomes are below a certain level Benefits - cash payments - in-kind benefits – goods and services
47
Entitlement Programs
Social Security -cash payments to retirees, disabled people, or surviving family members Medicare -health insurance program for seniors and disabled
48
Means-tested Programs
Medicaid -health insurance program for low-income individuals Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) -food assistance for low-income individuals

American National Government (2 decks)

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