Unit 5 PFRQ's—Executive branch

Describe one significant way the legislative branch influences fiscal policy

The legislative branch passes the federal budget, which could include increasing the amount that the government can spend.

Describe one significant way the executive branch influences fiscal policy

The president proposes the budget. This could include proposing a lower income tax.

Explain the three tools the fed has to influence monetary policy

Open Market Operations Buying a selling of government securities by the Federal Reserve Bank Discount Rate The rate of interest at which the Federal Reserve Board lends money to its member banks Reserve Requirement Government requirements that a portion of member banks' deposits be kept on hand as backing for their loans

Explain a specific limit on the President in carrying out each of the roles (you do not have to do this for Party Leader or Chief of State)

1) Chief Executive Congress can create or destroy agencies and can appropriate funds to them, how they see fit 2) Commander in Chief Only Congress can declare war 3) Chief Legislator Congress can override a President's veto by a two-thirds majority vote in both houses. 4) Chief Diplomat The Senate has to approve treaties with a ⅔ vote in order for them to be ratified 5) Chief Economist Congress has to approve the budget that is proposed by the Executive

Chief Executive

1) Chief Executive The President oversees federal (national) agencies, appointing their directors and creating policies to determine their goals during his term. Presidents also appoint federal judges and Supreme Court Justices.

Identify and explain each of the seven roles of the president. A clear and complete explanation will necessitate you providing an example of the President acting in that particular role.

1) Chief Executive The President oversees federal (national) agencies, appointing their directors and creating policies to determine their goals during his term. Presidents also appoint federal judges and Supreme Court Justices. 2) Commander in Chief The Constitution makes the President head of the U.S. military. Presidents may send troops into action, but only Congress can declare war. 3) Chief Legislator Congress is responsible for passing laws, but Presidents must approve or veto (reject) those laws. Congress can override a President's veto by a two-thirds majority vote in both houses. Presidents often shape laws through policy proposals and work with Congress directly to get policy they support passed. 4) Party Leader As head of his political party, a President can help members of his party run for office, and help the party raise money for campaigns. He can also appoint party members to important positions. 5) Chief (Head) of State The President represents the U.S. at official functions like meeting with the leaders of foreign nations. Presidents can also promote U.S. ideals through speeches and awards for causes the President finds important. 6) Chief Diplomat The President oversees treaties (agreements) with other countries. Presidents also direct aid to other countries, and set policies that affect U.S. relations with other nations. 7) Chief Economist The President makes plans to make sure the federal government's budget is as sound as possible. These plans can include policy proposals for creating jobs or asking Congress to raise or lower federal taxes (fiscal policy!).

Commander in Chief

2) Commander in Chief The Constitution makes the President head of the U.S. military. Presidents may send troops into action, but only Congress can declare war.

Chief Legislator

3) Chief Legislator Congress is responsible for passing laws, but Presidents must approve or veto (reject) those laws. Congress can override a President's veto by a two-thirds majority vote in both houses. Presidents often shape laws through policy proposals and work with Congress directly to get policy they support passed.

Party Leader

4) Party Leader As head of his political party, a President can help members of his party run for office, and help the party raise money for campaigns. He can also appoint party members to important positions.

Chief (Head) of State

5) Chief (Head) of State The President represents the U.S. at official functions like meeting with the leaders of foreign nations. Presidents can also promote U.S. ideals through speeches and awards for causes the President finds important.

Chief Diplomat

6) Chief Diplomat The President oversees treaties (agreements) with other countries and helps shape foreign policy. Presidents also direct aid to other countries, and set policies that affect U.S. relations with other nations.

Explain a challenge of the iron triangle theory (issue network) and include why many believe provides a superior explanation of how policy is formed.

A challenge to the iron triangle today is that issues today are very complex in nature and the iron triangle cannot encompass all the groups that interact on a single issue. There is now people like technical experts, academics and lawyers and media that have a significant impact on the interactions and the deliberations about proposed legislation

Define monetary policy

A form of government regulation in which the nation's money supply and interest rates are controlled

Policy Evaluation

Accomplishments, consequences and shortcomings are determined

Passing public policy requires a process. Identify and explain the five main steps in policy-making

Agenda Setting Gov recognizes a problem Public recognizes a problem, policy makers identify that the problem can be solved by gov, politicians buy into it Policy Formulation Ways to address the problem are identified Policy Adoption Legislature, executive and judicial branches formally select a policy How a bill becomes a law Policy Implementation Policy is funded and administered to their targets Policy Evaluation Accomplishments, consequences and shortcomings are determined

Bureaucracies are often compared to businesses. Why is this an unfair comparison?

Bureaucracy exists to carry out rules instituted by the executive branch and created by Congress. Businesses, in order to exist, have to make a profit—so it is their primary goal most of the time. It is unfair to compare them because the bureaucracy doesn't exist solely for the purpose of making a profit, while businesses do

For each of the following, explain one Constitutional provision that it can use to check the bureaucracy Congress The Courts Interest Groups

Congress Power of the Purse—Congress can withhold funds to check the bureaucracy The courts Judicial Review Interest groups Use of the first amendment Lobbying Media Protests

Other than the constitutional power that you described in (a), identify and explain two other formal powers Congress has over war making.

Congress can appropriate funds. They decide what programs get funding and much funding they get Congress has to approve treaties. So if the president makes a treaty, the Senate has to approve it with a ⅔ vote. Congress passes law. These could be laws related to war or the commitment of troops, like the War Powers Resolution.

Explain two reasons why Congress gives federal agencies policy-making discretion in executing federal laws.

Congress doesn't want to be blamed for bad policy decisions. If the federal agencies have more discretion than they can be blamed if policy makes things worse. More efficient, because Congress is so large and federal agencies are smaller. Also, the agencies have more expertise than Congress.

Describe the primary constitutional conflict between Congress and the President over the decision to go to war.

Congress has the power to declare war, but the President is the Commander in Chief of the armed forces.

Describe two ways in which Congress ensures that federal agencies follow legislative intent.

Congress is in charge of finalizing the budget/appropriations. So Congress can give federal agencies more money if they follow legislative intent (POWER OF THE PURSE) Congress can create or abolish departments Can pass legislation affecting the bureaucracy

Define fiscal policy

Deliberate use of the national government's taxing and spending policies to maintain economic stability

Often the answer to the question of "who governs" is based on the type of policy, identify and explain the three different types of policy.

Distributive Benefits to indv groups, communities or corporations Ie. student loans, water projects Most common, less controversial Regulatory Limit choices in order to restrict unacceptable behavior More controversial bc of concentrated costs Redistributive Transferring resources from one group to help another Ie. Obama health care reform

Identify 2 factors that increase presidential approval ratings and EXPLAIN why that factor has that effect.

Election or Reelection Highest level of approval at the beginning of their term, right after winning the election The new president hasn't had time to mess up things that they promised or act in a way that is frowned upon Rallying Event An event where the country needs to come together after a great success for the country as a whole, regardless of political affiliation. Ie. when Osama bin Laden was killed

Explain how both of the following can limit the president's ability to implement foreign policy. Elections Presidential Approval Ratings

Elections Midterm elections lead to shifts in the partisan makeup of Congress which can make it harder for a president to pass foreign policy bills or treaties through Congress Elections matter, because the President has to be publicly perceived to be positive in order to get reelected. So, the president might have to implement foreign policy in a way that will get them reelected. Thus, showing elections can shift policy goals, based on what the people want at the time. Presidential approval ratings Lower presidential approval ratings leads to the perception that the president has less authority or influence and thus it limits the president's ability to implement foreign policy. If the people don't support the president, it will be hard to get things passed.

Identify and explain the four theories of "who governs"

Elite Theory Society divided into elites and masses. Elites have the power to make policy, masses respond to elite desire. Upper class/wealthy control gov through funding/economic influence Bureaucratic Theory All gov and non gov institutions are under control of a growing bureaucracy that carries out policy with standardized procedures Marxist Theory whoever controls the means of production, controls the government Pluralist Theory Many groups competing for power for its preferred policies, so no one person becomes too powerful

Agenda Setting

Gov recognizes a problem Public recognizes a problem, policy makers identify that the problem can be solved by gov, politicians buy into it

Identify two INFORMAL powers of the President that contributes to the President's advantage over Congress in conducting FOREIGN policy. For each informal power identified, explain how the informal power contributes to the President's advantage over Congress in conducting foreign policy.

Executive Agreements These expand presidential power because it allows the president to enter into an international agreement outside of the treaty ratification process. So the president can enter into a treaty like agreement without Senate approval. Access to Media The President has the ability to appeal to the people by creating a "bully pulpit" to create public support for his foreign policy goals. This can go over the head of Congress and with enough public support, persuade Congress to follow his foreign policy.

Identify two INFORMAL DOMESTIC powers that Presidents have used, even though they are not explicitly granted in the Constitution. For each informal power identified, explain how it contributes to the expansion of the power of the presidency.

Executive Orders These expand presidential power because the president can issue an executive order, which are acts that carry the same legal weight as laws but don't have to be passed by Congress. So the president can issue "bills" without congressional approval. Executive Privilege allows the executive branch to resist interventions by the legislative and judicial branches allow executive branch to operate in times of war with secrecy allows pres to carry out secret actions that would have otherwise been blocked by congress

Explain two reasons why the Federal Reserve Board is given independence in establishing monetary policy.

Have more expertise, make it more efficient bc Congress is so large and Fed is smaller Prevent politics in monetary policy Can't blame officials—blame Fed if something goes wrong

Chief Economist

Help economy run smoothly by combating unemployment and inflation The President makes plans to make sure the federal government's budget is as sound as possible. These plans can include policy proposals for creating jobs or asking Congress to raise or lower federal taxes (fiscal policy!).

Describe one key characteristic of the merit system

Hiring based on testing Hiring based on the experience or qualifications of applicants

Define the iron triangle. (The definition should include, but not be limited to, identifying each element)

Interactions that occur among a bureaucratic agency, interest groups, and congressional committees or subcommittees through which policy is made. Each part gets something from each other in helping create policy.

Describe one way that the Supreme Court can exercise a check over the bureaucracy and the discretion it is given in the adjudication process.

Judicial Review Declare acts of other branches (bureaucratic actions) unconstitutional

Policy Adoption

Legislature, executive and judicial branches formally select a policy How a bill becomes a law

For one of the agencies listed below, explain why a President may have difficulty in achieving his policy goals. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

Much of the agency is without direct oversight from the President and not subject to his appointment, meaning that big changes will be slow and laborious, and a large portion of employees could be against enacting the president's policy. Additionally, there is already a lot of regulation in place that would be very difficult to remove without knowing the consequences. Finally, there might also be lobbies that are against the president's changes (such as oil lobbies who may want less regulation) who would be able to sway the opinion of the agency or the public.

Policy Implementation

Policy is funded and administered to their targets

Identify two FORMAL constitutional powers of the President in making FOREIGN policy. For each formal power identified, explain how it contributes to the expansion of the power of the presidency.

Power to preside over military as Commander in Chief It is the executive's duty to "take care that the laws be faithfully executed" to wage war which broadens the president's power The president can deploy troops without declaring war and thus without Congressional approval President can receive ambassadors and other public ministers President represents the nation when visiting other countries/hosting Ambassadors. Thus ambassadors

Identify two FORMAL DOMESTIC powers explicitly granted to the President in the Constitution. For each formal power identified, explain how it contributes to the expansion of the power of the presidency.

Power to veto President can veto bills passed by both houses of Congress. This expands the president's power because it can override what Congress votes, and it also incentivises Congress to fashion legislation in a way the president will support. Power to Appoint The president can appoint many people to domestic offices, like he can appoint the Supreme Court Justices. This expands presidential power because it allows the president to chose a Supreme Court justice who supports their views/policies and thus influences the power of the president.

Describe two ways in which the President ensures that federal agencies follow executive direction.

President can appoint department heads President can change budget proposals

Describe 2 provisions of the War Powers Resolution that were designed to limit a President's power over war making.

President must notify Congress within 48 hours of sending troops into Combat Conflicts are limited to 60 days unless Congress takes action Congress can extend the initial 60 day time period OR withdraw troops after 60 days, with adequate notification to the president.

Identify and define the five "pathologies" of bureaucratic agencies and explain the legitimate purpose each serves (using illustrative examples)

Red Tape Complex rules and procedures that must be followed to get something done Waste Agencies spending too much money Conflict between agencies Agencies working at cross-purposes Ie. Commerce and EPA Duplication Multiple agencies doing same thing Ie. DEA, Customs and FBI Unnecessary Complexity Growth with regard to program costs and benefits

Identify 2 factors that decrease presidential approval ratings and EXPLAIN why that factor has that effect.

Scandals—If there is a scandal during a president's term then people generally lose trust or respect for him and thus presidential approval ratings decrease Poor Economy—If at the time the economy is not doing well, then people often blame the president for the poor health of the economy and thus presidential approval ratings decrease

For each of the following, describe one factor that contributes to bureaucratic independence. The structure of the federal bureaucracy The complexity of public policy problems Rulemaking Bureaucratic discretion

The structure of the federal bureaucracy Specialization Defined duties to increase productivity Allows for expertise to be built Impersonality Employees treated fairly by merit The complexity of public policy problems Delegated Authority Since Congress and the president can not handle all public policy problems they delegate authority to the bureaucracy Rulemaking The bureaucracy has the ability to make rules and regulations that have the force of law without Congressional approval (even though they can be overturned Bureaucratic discretion If Congress passes a law that doesn't specify what regulations, rules or steps should be made to implement policy, it is left up to the bureaucracy to decided. Individual bureaucrats make day to day decisions or implementation

Policy Formulation

Ways to address the problem are identified

Discuss how the iron triangle operates. (The discussion should include stating what each element give to and receives from the other elements)

Works with compromise Bureaucracy Gets budget money from Congress Gets information from interest groups Interest Groups Gets laws/rules or policies that are favorable to them Gives info to bureaucracy and congress Congressional Committees Gets political and electoral support from Interest groups Gets Info from IG and bureaucracy Appropriates funds to Bureaucracy Gives laws favorable to IG

Other factors can also limit the president's influence in policy making. Explain how each of the following can affect the success of the President in fulfilling their policy goals: Civil Service Employees Supreme Court

civil service employees employed by bureaucratic agencies. SO bureaucracy is given discretion and shape the implementation of public policy (maybe in way the president doesn't like) Allows for bureaucratic discretion. If a law passed by Congress isn't specific for how the bureaucracy should implement the law, it it up to those working on it directly to interpret how they see fit. This could go against what the president intended. the Supreme Court The Supreme Court can declare acts of the president unconstitutional by their power of Judicial review. This limits what a president can do to fulfill their policy goals.

Define each term and explain how each limits the president's ability to influence domestic policymaking in Congress. Mandatory Spending Party polarization/divided gov lame-duck period

mandatory spending Spending not controlled by annual budget decisions This limits the president's ability to influence domestic policy making, because budgetary cuts can make it difficult to accomplish policy goals. party polarization/divided government Increased inter party differences. Increasing divide between people of different parties This limits the president's ability to influence domestic policy making because the opposing party may block party goals. lame-duck period Period of time in which an officeholder's term is coming to an end This limits the president's ability to influence domestic policy making because the president's power is perceived as diminishing and Congress may not be as responsive to a president about to leave office.