PoSci 100 Final

Question 1

Who voted in the 2012 election?

Answer 1

Minnesota 74.6%, Wisconsin 70.9%, California 45.5%, Hawaii 43.6%. Young voters (18-29 years) 19%. Seniors (65+) 16%. Whites 72%, Blacks 13%, and Latinos 10%. Conservatives 35%.

Question 2

Obama Coalition

Answer 2

Latinos, Asians, Blacks, Young people, Women, and Highly educated.

Question 3

Pocketbook voting

Answer 3

Political concept that sees voters casting their election ballots based on how they perceive their personal economic circumstances. People vote their “pocketbook” on the belief that the person for whom they are voting will help their personal economic situation.

Question 4

Sociotropic voting

Answer 4

Political concept that sees voters casting their election ballots based on the state of the national economy.

Question 5

Realignment

Answer 5

Occurs when a party undergoes a major shift in its electoral base and political agenda. The groups of people composing the party coalition may split up, resulting in a vastly different party. (Permanent shift in party coalitions, Extended era of party control, and Shift in public policy).

Question 6

Line Item Veto

Answer 6

Power held by some chief executives (governors) to excise some portions of a spending bill without rejecting the entire bill. This can eliminate or change part of a legislation but not the whole thing. The purpose of this power is to allow executives to eliminate frivolous appropriations.

Question 7

Pocket veto

Answer 7

If the president fails to approve a bill passed during the last ten days of a congressional session, the bill does not become law; effected by retaining the bill unsigned until Congress adjourns

Question 8

Fiscal Clift

Answer 8

The purpose is to reduce the budget deficit by 2013. Bush tax cuts will expire. Obama wants the tax cuts on the wealthy to expire, while republicans wants the tax cuts to keep going.

Question 9

“Take Care” clause

Answer 9

The constitutional requirement (in Article II, Section 3) that presidents take care that the laws are faithfully executed, even if they disagree with the purpose of those laws.

Question 10

Executive Order

Answer 10

A rule or order issued by the president to an executive branch of the government and having the force of law.Examples: Emancipation Proclamation (Ended slavery); Executive Order 9066 (Japanese internment); Executive Order 9981 (Segregation in the military); Executive Order 11246 (Affirmative action); Obama vs. Bush (Stem cell research, International family planning, and End of “enhanced interrogation techniques”)

Question 11

Executive Privilege

Answer 11

Claim that the President, as the leader of the Executive Branch, has the prerogative to divulge or refuse to divulge information in a manner that he believes most consistent with the national interest. Claim that the President, as the leader of the Executive Branch, has the prerogative to divulge or refuse to divulge information in a manner that he believes most consistent with the national interest. The Supreme Court confirmed the legitimacy of this doctrine in United States v. Nixon, but only to the extent of confirming that there is a qualified privilege.

Question 12

U.S. v Nixon 1974

Answer 12

A landmark United States Supreme Court decision. It was a unanimous 8-0 ruling falling against President Richard Nixon and was important to the late stages of the Watergate scandal. It is considered a crucial precedent limiting the power of any U.S. president.

Question 13

Impeachment

Answer 13

A process that is used to charge, try, and remove public officials for misconduct while in office.

Question 14

Executive Agreement

Answer 14

.An agreement between the United States and a foreign government that is less formal than a treaty and is not subject to the constitutional requirement for ratification by two-thirds of the U.S. Senate. An agreement made between the executive branch of the U.S. government and a foreign government without ratification by the Senate.

Question 15

Office of Management and Budget

Answer 15

.A Cabinet-level office, and is the largest office within the Executive Office of the President of the United States (EOP). The main job of the OMB is to help the President prepare the budget .Also the OMB clears the President’s proposed legislation.

Question 16

“Honeymoon” period

Answer 16

.The short period after a President is inaugurated when the opposition party refrains from attack, Congress is inclined to support some of the President’s initiatives, and the President receives high public approval ratings. Within a month or two partisan attacks generally resume and the honeymoon period ends.

Question 17

Rally around the flag effect

Answer 17

.A concept used to identify the tendency for domestic differences to be set aside in a foreign policy crisis.

Question 18

Signing Statements (constitutional, interpretive, and rhetorical)

Answer 18

Rhetorical: To point out positive or negative aspects of the bill and how they fit in with the administration’s views, those that raise objections to the bill, but without claiming constitutional violations.. Constitutional: To announce the president’s view of the constitutionality of certain aspects of the bill, one in which the president objects to a provision of the bill based on a violation of the Constitution. Interpretive: non-object statements, ones in which the president does not raise any objection to the bill. They usually show the president’s general support for the bill, praise its accomplishments, or enumerate its benefits.

Question 19

Presidential succes in foreing affairs vs. domestics affairs

Answer 19

President more likely to get what he wants in foreign affairs because he has more powers, more resources and fewer constraints when it comes to foreign policy than on domestic policy.

Question 20

“Going through congress”

Answer 20

When you work with congress by getting a majority to support your legislation. The problem with this strategy is that you may not have a congressional majority.

Question 21

“Going above congress”/”Going public”

Answer 21

The President makes an appeal to the public to support his policies. If you can get the public on your side then you can influence congress. The public’s strength can be seen in a variety of cases from equality cases, to cases having to do with race. If there are enough people in the public that speak out and capture the attention of congress then congress is forced to re-evaluate their situation and agenda.

Question 22

“Going around congress”

Answer 22

The President takes what Congress does and implements it in a way that is consistent with their views. One example would be Signing statements and executive orders.

Question 23

“Going under congress”

Answer 23

The president is breaking the law. This strategy is illegal, and if caught the president can face severe consequences. Out of the four this presents itself as the worst strategy with the worst repercussions.

Question 24

War Powers Resolution 1973

Answer 24

A United States Congress joint resolution providing that the President can send U.S. armed forces into action abroad only by authorization of Congress or if the United States is already under attack or serious threat.

Question 25

Executive oversight

Answer 25

The effort by Congress, through hearings, investigations and other techniques, to exercise control over the activities of executive agencies.

Question 26

Constituent Service

Answer 26

Actions taken by members of congress and their staff to attend to the individual, particular needs of constituents.

Question 27

Enumerated Powers

Answer 27

Those powers specifically delegated to the Congress by the US Constitution.

Question 28

Implied Powers

Answer 28

Implied powers are powers not specifically spelled out in the Constitution, but which can deduced from the text. That these powers are permitted to Congress can be seen in the so-called "elastic clause," the final sentences of article 1 section 8 of the Constitution, which say that congress has the right to create laws that are "necessary and proper" to carry out the powers which are specifically stated.

Question 29

National Debt

Answer 29

The total amount of money that a country's government has borrowed, by various means.

Question 30

National Deficit

Answer 30

The amount by which a government's expenditures exceed its tax revenues. The difference is made up for by borrowing from the public through the issuance of debt.

Question 31

Sources of national deficit

Answer 31

Reduced tax payments, military, national defense, social spending, less tax revenue, and the unemployment rate (bad for businesses too).

Question 32

Filibuster

Answer 32

Informal term for any attempt to block or delay Senate action on a bill or other matter by debating it at length, by offering numerous procedural motions, or by any other delaying or obstructive actions.

Question 33

Cloture

Answer 33

The only procedure by which the Senate can vote to place a time limit on consideration of a bill or other matter, and thereby overcome a filibuster. Senate may limit consideration of a pending matter to 30 additional hours, but only by vote of three-fifths of the full Senate, normally 60 votes.

Question 34

Open rule

Answer 34

Permits amendments and often has less strict time limits, allowing for input from other members. Allows for any number of amendments to be made to a bill being considered on the floor.

Question 35

Closed rule

Answer 35

Sets strict time limits on debates and forbids amendments from the floor. Forbids any amendments to a bill being considered on the floor

Question 36

Committee System (Strengths and Weaknesses)

Answer 36

Strengths: Expertise and experience, and Representation. Weaknesses: Lack of major policy change, and Lack of responsiveness to majority.

Question 37

Standing Committee

Answer 37

Formed to do its assigned work on an ongoing basis. Examples: Agriculture, International Relations, Veteran’s Affairs, House Administration, Government Reform, Energy and Commerce

Question 38

Select Committee

Answer 38

Formed to examine and report on a specific bill or issue. Examples: Select Committee on the Year 2000 Problem, Committee to Investigate Iran-Contra Affair.

Question 39

Joint Committee

Answer 39

Appointed from both houses of a bicameral legislature in order to reach a compromise on their differences concerning a particular issue. Examples: Economic, Taxation, Library, Printing.

Question 40

Conference Committee

Answer 40

Formed for the purpose of reconciling differences in legislation that has passed both chambers. Conference committees are usually convened to resolve bicameral differences on major and controversial legislation.

Question 41

Congressional Budget Office (CBO)

Answer 41

Evaluates the president's budget. Provides economic data to Congress.

Question 42

Incumbency Advantage

Answer 42

f you are elected into Congress, hard to lose spot because of redistricting, Campaign fundraising disparities, Constituent service, Pork barrel legislation, and Franking privilege.

Question 43

Pork barrel legislation

Answer 43

When a representative uses government spending to benefit his own district. Pays off, but easier for those already in congress to do this than a newcomer.

Question 44

Franking privilege

Answer 44

Refers to the privilege of sending mail without payment of postage. This privilege is exercised in pursuance of personal or official designations. The members of Congress have the right to send mail to their constituents at the government's expense. Their signature (or a facsimile) is placed on the corner of the envelope, where the stamp would normally go.

Question 45

Redistricting/Reapportionment

Answer 45

Reapportionment: determines how many representatives will be allocated to that state based upon population. Redistricting: process of drawing United States electoral district boundaries, often in response to population changes determined by the results of the decennial census.

Question 46

Gerrymandering

Answer 46

To divide a geographic area into voting districts so as to give unfair advantage to one party in elections.

Question 47

Individual rationality leading to collective irrationality in congress

Answer 47

The idea that people do what is best for themselves, and that they think it benefits everybody else as well. Example: Military base closures: Base Realignment and Closure commission.

Question 48

Status quo bias in congress

Answer 48

The current system of government is stacked to favor the status quo, prevent policy changes, because proponents of legislation have to win a sequence of victories. Examples: in subcommittee, In committee, In Rules (in the House), In conference, On the floors of both chambers (repeatedly), In the White House

Question 49

Judiciary Act of 1789

Answer 49

Established the organization of the U.S. federal court system. It established a three-part judiciary: made up of district courts, circuit courts, and the Supreme Court—and outlined the structure and jurisdiction of each branch.

Question 50

Original jurisdiction

Answer 50

The authority that initially considers a case. The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction cases that involve State v. State, State v. Federal govt, Federal govt v Foreign ambassadors, etc.

Question 51

Senatorial courtesy

Answer 51

A custom whereby presidential appointments are confirmed only if there is no objection to them by the senators from the appointee's state, esp. from the senior senator of the president's party from that state.

Question 52

Writ of certiorari

Answer 52

Gives court the right to decide which cases should and shouldn't be heard. A decision of at least 4 of the 9 supreme court justices to review a decision of a lower court. Created by Judiciary Act of 1925.

Question 53

Supreme Court as the "least dangerous" branch

Answer 53

Supreme court doesn't have power of the purse, power of the sword (military enforcement), can't initiate action. On the other hand, it is very hard to get rid of Supreme Court members.

Question 54

Judicial review

Answer 54

Power of the courts to decide what does and does not violate the Constitution. Supreme court asserted this power in Marbury v. Madison.

Question 55

Marbury v. Madison

Answer 55

Thomas Jefferson replaced John Adams in white house. Jefferson's secretary of state, James Madison, refused to deliver an official commission to William Marbury, who had been appointed to a minor office by Adams. Marbury petitioned Supreme Court to order Madison to deliver the commission. The court turned down Marbury's petition because the legislation upon which Marbury had based his claim was unconstitutional. Formed basis of judicial review and helped define "checks and balances" in the U.S.

Question 56

Stare Decisis

Answer 56

"To stand by that which has been decided". If the court says something in the past, it should be very reluctant to make changes.

Question 57

judicial activeism

Answer 57

The idea that the Supreme Court should use judicial review frequently and overturn previous rulings if necessary. Ex: Brown v. Board of Education, segregation=wrong.

Question 58

judicial restraint

Answer 58

Strict interpretation of the Constitution, not considering the broader societal implications of its decisions.