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American National Government > Unit 3 (pt1) > Flashcards

Unit 3 (pt1) Flashcards

(58 cards)

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1
Q

Separation of Powers

A

The allocation of constitutional authority to each of the three branches of government, each with separate constituency base and term of office.

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2
Q

Checks and balances

A

Each branch has a role in the actions of others

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3
Q

Executive Orders

A

Supercedes slow moving system

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4
Q

Parliamentary and Presidential exist as…

A

Fast parliamentary
Slow presidential

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5
Q

(FAST) Parliamentary System Characteristics

A
  • No direct vote for a chief executive
  • Vote only for one or more members of legislature
  • Legislators choose a prime minister
  • Prime minister designates a cabinet
  • Legislative and executive functions are FUSED
  • “Too fast” for Americans
  • No aspect of blaming other people because they are working together
  • Make quick decisions but can’t turn around and change them as much
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6
Q

(SLOW) Presidential System Characteristics

A
  • Citizens vote “directly” for a chief executive
    -Or at least cast a vote independent of their legislative vote
  • Executive designates cabinet members
    -NOT current members of legislature
  • Legislative and executive functions are separated
    -Divided government
    -Even shutdowns, at least 20 times since the 1970’s
    -Most recently in January of 2019
    -Not fast, but can change
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7
Q

Structure of Congress (characteristics)

A
  • bicameral
  • staggered terms of service
  • committee system
  • leadership
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8
Q

Functions of Congress

A

Representation, oversight, education, lawmaking

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9
Q

Senate Constituency

A

Now elected statewide, 2 per state, regardless of population

Less than 1 Mill to more than 39 Mill in each district

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10
Q

House Constituency

A

Elected out of 435 regional districts, accordin to population

Approx 750,000 people per disrcit

Comparison: in 1790 in a house of about 1/4 the size, it was 34,000 per distrcit

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11
Q

Staggered Terms of Service

A

House: 2 year terms, all at once, even numbered years
Senate: 6 year, 1/3 at a time, even numbered years

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12
Q

Term Limits

A

Most states adopted them, 1990-today. Set limits for exec, legislative, AND state and national.
Notable Case: Inc. v Thornton (1995) He served from 1928-2016

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13
Q

Committee System (major types)

A

Standing
Select
Joint
Conference

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14
Q

Why Committees? (roles/functions)

A
  • Manage workload
  • Arenas for real debate
  • Foster expertise
  • Policy Incubators
  • Notable person: Thomas Brackett Reed, speaker of the house in 1890’s that advocated for committees
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15
Q

House leadership represented by…?

A

Speaker of the house
Majority party leader
Minority party leader
Majority and Minority party whip systems

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16
Q

Senate leadership represented by…?

A

Presiding officer
President pro tempore
Majority and Minority party leaders
Majority and Minority party whips

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17
Q

Representation

A

The process of bringing the people’s voices into government

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18
Q

Approaches to representation (when president is elected)

A

Delegate
Trustee

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19
Q

Delegate Representation

A

View themselves as a mirror of constituents, support constituents and sometimes go against their own values

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20
Q

Trustee Representation

A

Elected official relies on their own judgement when making decisions. Believe their constituents have elected them because they trust their judgement

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21
Q

Politicos

A

Combo of trustee and delegate

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22
Q

Burke’s Dilemma

A

?? Has to do with trustee versus delegate

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23
Q

Tools for Representation

A
  • Caucuses
  • Interest groups
  • parties/party leaders
  • the president
  • staff
  • staff agencies
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24
Q

Oversight

Study These Flashcards
A

The process by which the legislature reviews the activities of the executive agencies repsonsible for implementing the laws it authorized

25
Education
The process of informing the citizenry about affairs of government
26
Tools for Education
Elections and campaigns Committee hearings Government publication/documents Floor debates (any part of government that is publicized)
27
Lawmaking
Draft/introduce legislation Committee assignment/examination/debate Floor debate/amendment/passage Approval of executive Becomes law
28
Three Themes of Presidency
1. Growth of executive power 2. Expectations gap "puny giant" 3. Shift from formal to informal power "imperial presidency"
29
Three Theories of Presidential Power
1. Literalist theory 2. Stewardship theory 3. prerogative theory
30
Literalist theory
The president can exercise no power which cannot be fairly and reasonably traced to some specific grant of power or justly implied and included within such express grants as proper and necessary to it exercise Very literal, don’t step out of bounds of power, must be necessary and proper to do otherwise
31
Stewardship theory
Steward of the people, bound actively and affirmatively to do all he could for the people President’s duty to perform the needs that the nation demanded but still following constitution to ensure structure Quote by ??? During 9/11 maybe
32
Prerogative Theory
Abraham Lincoln quote A limb will be lost to safe a life, but a life will not be lost to save a limb Measures otherwise unconstitutional might become lawful by becoming indispensable to the preservation of the Constitution through the preservation of the nation.
33
Formal Powers of the president
- REQUIRES APPROVAL/NEGOTIATION FROM CONGRESS - Come from Article 2 - Executive power - Legislative role - commander in chief - chief of state
34
Executive Power (Formal)
Mainly, the responsibility to carry out the laws Includes appointment of cabinet secretaries Appoints thouands of others (not millions) Text: “chief administrator of the nation’s laws”
35
Legislative Role (Formal)
Power to recommend to congress for their consideration State of the union address The veto
36
Commander in Chief (Formal)
Head of army, navy, etc.
37
Chief of State (Formal)
“Shall appoint and receive ambassadors” -diplomat Treaties AND EXECUTIVE AGREEMENTS
38
Informal Powers of the President
DO NOT REQUIRE NEGOTIATION/APPROVAL OF CONGRESS - Come from Article 2 - Executive power - Legislative role - commander in chief - chief of state
39
Executive power (informal)
The responsibility to carry out the laws; includes appointment power of cabinet secretaries and others but also... EXECUTIVE ORDERS
40
Executive orders
desegregation of the military (Truman) Affirmative action in employment and conracting (Nixon) Military trials for suspected terrorists (G. W. Bush) Expanded family leave provisions (Obama)
41
Executive agreements
legal contracts with foreign countries that require only a presidential signature.
42
Legislative Role (informal)
- power to recommend to congress for their consideration, just state of union address and VETO - Remember executive orders - And also, the power to persuade/going public/bully pulpit - Signing statements
43
The Power to Persuade (tools)
Agenda setting Surrogates Spin doctors Honeymoon period/ approval ratings
44
Agenda setting
State of the union Press conferences and other speeches
44
Surrogates
First lady, vice president, cabinet secretaries, past presidents
45
Spin doctors
A person who publicizes favorable interpretations of the words and actions of a public figure
46
The Bully Pulpit
Associated with teddy roosevelt, perfect place to be able to speak out about issues.
47
Signing Statements
A public statement written by the president and attached to a particular bill to outline the president's interpretation of the legislation
48
Commander in Chief (informal)
head of army, navy, etc congress declares war? - war powers resolution/ vietnam CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION
49
Chief of state (informal)
shall appoint and receive ambassadors treaties AND... EXECUTIVE AGREEMENTS
50
Executive agreements
legal contracts with foreign countries that require only a presidential signature
51
Administering the Presidency (The office)
Cabinet White house staff Executive office of the president
52
Cabinet
Heads of executive departments appointed by the President and confirmed by the senate
53
Selecting cabinet members
- serving presidential political goals - diversity in the cabinet - independent stature and reputation before appointment - similar ideological standpoints - Team of rivals -emphasizing smarts over loyalty
54
White House Staff
A group of people whom the president relies on to organize schedules and plot political, legislative, and international strategies. A different selection process, different priorities NO SENATE APPROVAL NEEDED Major difference between cabinet and white house staff Friends/loyal campaign staff President's policies, agenda, political success are main priority
55
Executive Office of the President
The collection of nine organizations that help the president with policy and political objectives - includes the OMB, CEA, and NSC
56
Presidential Character Theory
Active positive (FDR, Kennedy), passive positive (GW Bush), active negative (Nixon, Johnson), passive negative (Eisenhower)
57
Psychobiographies
Intensive life-span study of an individual of historic significance in socio-cultural context using research

American National Government (4 decks)

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