Richins Unit 2 review

Federalist 70

A Federalist Paper written by Alexander Hamilton, arguing for a strong executive branch led by a single president.

Federalist 78

A Federalist Paper written by Alexander Hamilton, which discusses the role and powers of the judiciary, emphasizing the importance of judicial independence.

Divided government

A situation in which the presidency is controlled by one party while the opposing party controls one or both houses of Congress.

Bully pulpit

A term coined by Theodore Roosevelt, referring to the president's ability to use their position to influence public opinion and shape legislation.

Line-item veto

A veto power that allows the president to reject specific provisions of a bill without vetoing the entire bill; however, the line-item veto is not allowed by the U.S. Constitution.

Origin of Revenue Bills

According to the Constitution, revenue bills must originate in the House of Representatives; this gives the House the primary authority over taxation and government spending.

Bureaucracies creating regulations

Bureaucracies, or government agencies, often have the authority to create rules and regulations to implement and enforce laws passed by Congress; this is part of the administrative rule-making process.

Iron triangles

Close relationships between regulatory agencies, the industries they regulate, and the congressional committees that oversee them; this often leads to regulatory capture.

Conference vs. select committees

Conference committees are temporary committees created to reconcile differences between House and Senate versions of a bill; select committees are appointed for a specific purpose and duration, such as investigating a particular issue.

Checks on the federal courts

Congress can check the federal courts through impeachment, changing the number and jurisdiction of courts, and amending the Constitution; the President also checks the judiciary through the power to appoint federal judges.

Creation of bureaucracies' annual budgets

Congress holds the power of the purse, determining how much funding government agencies receive; bureaucracies submit budget requests, and Congress approves or modifies these budgets.

How Congress interacts with bureaucracies

Congress interacts with bureaucracies through oversight, funding approval, and the confirmation process for agency heads; congressional committees are responsible for monitoring and influencing the activities of various agencies.

What area(s) is Congress likely to defer to the president

Congress often defers to the president on foreign affairs and military decisions due to the president's role as the Commander in Chief.

Delegate vs. trustee

Delegates vote according to the preferences of their constituents, while trustees use their own judgment to make decisions they believe are in the best interest of the public.

Lifetime appointments to the courts

Federal judges, including those in the Supreme Court, are appointed for life to ensure their independence from political pressures; this is meant to allow them to make decisions based on the law rather than political considerations.

Filibuster and cloture

Filibuster is a tactic used in the Senate to delay or block legislation by speaking for an extended period; cloture is a procedure to end a filibuster, requiring a three-fifths majority vote.

Formal and informal powers of the president

Formal powers are explicitly granted by the Constitution, while informal powers arise from the president's role as the leader of the nation and commander-in-chief. You have to study some of those yourself*

Independent regulatory agencies

Government agencies that operate independently of the executive branch and are designed to regulate specific industries or economic sectors.

Pork Barrel projects

Government projects or appropriations that benefit specific districts or states and are often used by politicians to gain support from local constituents.

Judicial activism vs. judicial restraint

Judicial activism involves judges interpreting the Constitution in a way that reflects their views on broader social issues, while judicial restraint involves judges limiting their own power and deferring to the decisions of elected officials.

Mandatory vs. discretionary spending

Mandatory spending includes budget items that are required by law, such as entitlement programs, while discretionary spending is optional and subject to annual budget decisions.

Gerrymandering

Manipulating the boundaries of electoral districts to favor one party or group, often for political advantage.

Where most bills die

Most bills die in committee; if a committee does not act on a bill, it cannot move forward in the legislative process.

Expansion of presidents' power over time (especially foreign powers)

Over time, presidents have expanded their power, especially in the realm of foreign affairs, due to factors such as increased global responsibilities and the rise of the United States as a superpower.

When is Senate confirmation required

Senate confirmation is required for certain presidential appointments, including federal judges and cabinet members.

Partisanship

Strong support for a specific political party, often leading to political polarization and influence on decision-making.

Importance of Supreme Court nominations to presidents

Supreme Court nominations are crucial for presidents as they can shape the Court's ideology and decisions for many years, even decades, influencing the direction of constitutional interpretation.

Nominations to the Supreme Court

Supreme Court nominations are made by the president and require Senate confirmation.

Characteristics of the Senate and the House

The Senate has longer terms (6 years), fewer members, and represents the entire state; the House has shorter terms (2 years), more members, and representation based on population.

Role of the Speaker of the House

The Speaker of the House is the leader of the House of Representatives; responsible for setting the legislative agenda, presiding over sessions, and representing the House to the President and Senate.

Leadership in the House and the Senate

The Speaker of the House leads the House of Representatives, while the Vice President serves as the President of the Senate; the Senate Majority Leader is a key leadership position in the Senate.

Power of the purse

The constitutional power of Congress to raise and spend money, giving it significant control over the budgetary process.

Separation of powers

The division of governmental responsibilities among the three branches—legislative, executive, and judicial—to prevent the abuse of power.

Boundary lines of single-member districts

The geographic areas represented by individual members of the House of Representatives; each representative is elected to represent a specific district.

Judicial review

The power of the courts, especially the Supreme Court, to review and potentially invalidate government actions that they find unconstitutional; this power was established in the landmark case Marbury v. Madison.

Presidents' publicity advantage over Congress

The president often has a greater ability to attract media attention and shape public opinion compared to individual members of Congress.

Veto

The president's constitutional power to reject a bill passed by Congress; this can be overridden by a two-thirds majority in both the House and the Senate.

Systems of checks and balance among all branches of Government

The system in which each branch of government has some measure of influence over the others to maintain a balance of power and prevent abuses.