Final

Question 1

Constitutional powers of the presidency (5)

Answer 1

1. Head of executive branch
2. Powers in relation to Congress
3. Commander in chief
4. Head of foreign affairs
5. Appoints important governmental powers

Question 2

Presidential inherent powers (4)

Answer 2

1. Executive privilege
2. Executive orders
3. Executive agreements
4. Emergency powers

Question 3

Executive privilege

Answer 3

Presidential claim that he may withhold information from Congress if necessary for the executive of his job

Question 4

Executive orders

Answer 4

Directives issued by the president to enforce laws passed by Congress, enforce the constitution or treaties, and establish or modify rules/practices of executive agencies

Question 5

Executive agreements

Answer 5

International agreement that does not require legislative approval - agreement between leaders, NOT nations

Question 6

Traits of the modern presidency (3)

Answer 6

1. President is national government’s legislative leader
2. Nation’s preeminent political actor
3. Face of the national government

Question 7

Roles of the modern president (7)

Answer 7

1. Head of state
2. Chief Executive (Constitutional powers)
3. Commander in chief
4. Chief legislator
5. Chief Diplomat
6. Chief Judicial Officer
7. Head of party

Question 8

Patronage power

Answer 8

Power of president to award faithful party members with appointments

Question 9

Causes of rivalry between president and Congress (2)

Answer 9

1. They are constitutionally required to share power

2. They serve overlapping constituencies

Question 10

Effects on President’s power to persuade (4)

Answer 10

1. President’s popularity with the public
2. Whether the president is presiding over a united or divided government
3. Position the president held before being elected
4. President’s personal capacity for persuasion

Question 11

Congress’s most important powers (4)

Answer 11

1. Power to tax
2. Power to spend
3. Power to regulate commerce
4. Power to declare war

Question 12

Differences between House and Senate (4)

Answer 12

1. Election terms
2. Entire House is up for reelection every 2 years (Senate staggered)
3. Number of House representatives based on population
4. House is directly elected by the people

Question 13

Functions of Congress (6)

Answer 13

1. Legislating
2. Representation
3. Service to constituents
4. Oversight
5. Public education
6. Conflict resolution

Question 14

Co-equal and shared powers of Congress (4)

Answer 14

1. Bills on money must start in the House
2. Bills must be the same in both houses in order to pass
3. Equal but different powers
4. House has power to impeach and Senate removes president

Question 15

Methods in building a winning majority coalition on a bill (3)

Answer 15

1. Debate and discuss
2. Compromising
3. Log-rolling

Question 16

Instructed-delegate representation

Answer 16

Representatives should do what their constituents want them to do

Question 17

Trustee representation

Answer 17

Legislators supposed to act as trustees of their constituents and act in their best interests

Question 18

Caucus

Answer 18

An association of members of Congress created to advocate a political ideology or a regional, ethnic, or economic interest

Question 19

Types of committees (4)

Answer 19

1. Standing
2. Joint
3. Conference
4. Select

Question 20

Factors members consider when deciding on bills (5)

Answer 20

1. Personal feelings about bill
2. How bill impacts district
3. How bill impacts reelection
4. How bill impacts likelihood of future support from Congress
5. Cue-taking: look to other members for advice

Question 21

Distinctions that make the American bureaucracy unique (4)

Answer 21

1. Political authority over bureaucracy is shared between the executive and legislative branches
2. Most federal agencies share their functions with related agencies in local and state governments
3. Acts under strict public scrutiny with greater prospect of court challenges
4. Scope as well as style of bureaucratic government differs

Question 22

Discretionary authority

Answer 22

The extent to which appointed bureaucrats can choose courses of action and make policies that are not spelled out in advance by law

Question 23

Expanded capabilities of bureaucracy (2)

Answer 23

1. Can pay subsidies to particular groups or organizations in society
2. Can devise and enforce regulations

Question 24

Factors that effect how officials use power (4)

Answer 24

1. The manner in which they are recruited/rewarded
2. Their personal attributes
3. Nature of their jobs: roles and missions
4. The way in which outside forces influence their behavior

Question 25

Competitive service

Answer 25

The government offices to which people are appointed on grounds of merit

Question 26

Exempted service

Answer 26

Provision for appointing federal offices without going through the competitive service

Question 27

Iron triangle

Answer 27

Alliance between an agency, interest group, and congressional committee

Question 28

Issue network

Answer 28

A loose connection of leaders, interest groups, bureaucratic agencies, and congressional committees interested in some public policy

Question 29

Congressional oversight of the bureaucracy (4)

Answer 29

1. No agency may exist without Congressional approval 2. No money may be spent unless authorized by Congress 3. Funds authorized by Congress must also be appropriated 4. Can investigate bureaucratic agencies

Question 30

Authorization legislation

Answer 30

Legislative permission to begin or continue a government program or agency

Question 31

Issues with bureaucracy (5)

Answer 31

1. Red tape 2. Conflict 3. Duplication 4. Imperialism 5. Waste

Question 32

The powers of the federal courts

Answer 32

Expressed: jurisdiction Inherent: judicial review

Question 33

Elements of determining policy-making (2)

Answer 33

1. Constitutionality of the government action | 2. How the government action needs to be implemented in order to be constitutional

Question 34

Factors courts use to decide cases (2)

Answer 34

1. The Constitution | 2. Precedent

Question 35

Beliefs on interpreting the Constitution (2)

Answer 35

1. Strict constructionism - tradition | 2. Broad constructionism - progression

Question 36

Overarching doctrines of judicial activism (3)

Answer 36

1. Majoritarian (low) 2. Minimalist (middle) 3. Strong (high)

Question 37

Judicial activism

Answer 37

When the courts overturn the action of one or both of the other branches

Question 38

Bodies who check the judiciary (4)

Answer 38

1. Executive 2. Legislature 3. The people 4. The courts themselves

Question 39

Legislative checks on judiciary (6)

Answer 39

1. Impeachment 2. Confirming appointments 3. Altering the number of judges 4. Can change amendments to overturn Supreme Court's ruling 5. Can repass a law deemed unconstitutional 6. Congress has power to dictate the entire jurisdiction of the lower courts

Question 40

Jurisdiction of the federal courts (4)

Answer 40

1. Federal-question cases 2. Diversity cases 3. Breaking of a federal law 4. Writ of certiorari

Question 41

Powers and obligations of president as head of the executive branch (5)

Answer 41

1. Executive power held in the position 2. Responsible for the execution of laws 3. All executive department heads report to the president 4. President holds power to grant reprieves and pardons 5. Power to appoint executive officers

Question 42

Presidential powers in relation to Congress ( 4)

Answer 42

1. State of the Union 2. May convene Congress in extraordinary circumstances 3. May dismiss Congress 4. Power to veto legislation