The Judiciary and Bureaucracy

Question 1

Writ of Certorari

Answer 1

A formal request for a higher court to review a decision

Question 2

What is the organizaation of the executive branch?

Answer 2

• Executive offices
• 15 cabinet deparments (state, treasury, interior, agriculture, justice, health and human services, defense)
• Independent executive agencies (NIST, NASA, CIA, EPA). They aren’t that independent and are controlled by the president.
• Indpendent regulatory agencies (SEC, Federal Reserve, FCC, FTC) Actually independent.

Question 3

What do cabinet departments do?

Answer 3

• Create regulations. (FDA is part of Dep. of HHS)
• Compliance monitoring
• Executive actions: managing embassies, collect taxes, enforce federal law, oversee national parks.

Question 4

What does the Executive Office do?

Answer 4

Separate from the cabinet is the executive office of the president. It was created by Franklin Roosevelt in 1939. Today, its four major policy-making bodies are
1.​the National Security Council,
2.​the Council of Economic Advisors,
3.​the Office of Management and Budget, and
4.​the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

All of these are advisory, but their advice is weighted heavily.

Question 5

What do the executive offices do?

Answer 5

The Executive Office of the President of the United States (EOP) comprises the offices and agencies[2] that support the work of the president at the center of the executive branch of the United States federal government.[3] The office consists of several offices and agencies, such as the White House Office (the staff working closest with the president, including West Wing staff), the National Security Council, Homeland Security Council, Office of Management and Budget, Council of Economic Advisers, and others.[4]

Question 6

What are four important executive offices and what do they do?

Answer 6

• Office of management and budget. Largest agency. Director appointed with consent of Senate. Formulates the budget.
• Council of economic advisors. Approved by the senate. Prepare annual economic report to Congress.
• The National Security Council, chaired by the president, is the lead advisory board in the area of national and international security. The other members of the council include the vice-president and the secretaries of state
• The Office of National Drug Control Policy is a recent addition to the executive office. It is chaired by a director appointed by the president with the consent of the Senate. The head of the agency has been dubbed the nation’s “drug czar.” The responsibility of the agency is to prepare recommendations on how to combat the problem of drug abuse.

Question 7

White House Chief of Staff

Answer 7

The White House Chief of Staff is the highest-ranking member of the Executive Office of the President of the United States and a senior aide to the President

Doesn’t require senate confirmation.

Question 8

Doctrine of original intent

Answer 8

The “doctrine of original intent” suggests that courts should interpret laws, particularly the U.S. Constitution, based on the intentions of those who created or ratified them.

Question 9

How long are federal judges appointed for?

Answer 9

Life on good behavior unless impeached

Question 10

Which of the following is a way Congress can influence the federal judiciary?

Answer 10

It can change appellate jurisdiction of federal courts.

Question 11

How can congress use its congressional oversight power to influence the bureacracy?

Answer 11

• Hold hearings to expose wrongdoing and influence the public
• Control the budget
• Pass legislation
• Refuse to confirm appointments

Question 12

Which positions does the senate confirm/not confirm in the execuvtive?

Answer 12

Position Type | Senate Confirmation? |
| —————————- | ———————— |
| Cabinet Secretaries | ✅ Yes |
| Ambassadors | ✅ Yes |
| Federal Judges | ✅ Yes |
| White House Chief of Staff | ❌ No |
| National Security Advisor | ❌ No |
| EPA Administrator | ✅ Yes |
| Acting Officials (temporary) | ❌ No (but time-limited) |

Question 13

Regulatory preemption

Answer 13

Regulatory preemption occurs when a higher level of government (like a state) limits or eliminates the power of a lower level of government (like a city) to regulate a specific issue.

Question 14

How does the constitution get amended?

Answer 14

• proposed by either chamber of congress
• 2/3 in both chambers
• ratified by legislatures of 3/4 of states

OR 2/3 of the state legislatures call constitutional convention.