AP Gov't 12 and 13 Study Guide

How can congress oversee and control the bureaucracy?

Establishing agencies, formulation budgets, appropriating funds, confirming personnel, authorizing new shifts in a direction.

What is the relationship between the bureaucracy and the Legislative branch?

-The legislative branch has to do with the confirmations of what the executive branch does and overrides over certain decisions.

In what ways is the bureaucracy being privatized?

-USPS:

Effect of Hatch Act:

-caused people to not be as involved in the politics **keeps people from participating too heavily in partisan politics

What are 2 provisions of the War Powers Resolution that were designed to limit the president's power over war making?

-has to bring troops back after 60 days -only has so much money, and after the money runs out that has been allotted, you must go back

What are 2 other formal powers Congress has over war making?

-paying/providing money for the military -treaties with other nations-- must clear them

Compare and Contrast Informal and Formal Organization of the Bureaucracy:

...

List the first 5 in the Presidential Line of Succession:

1. Vice President 2. Speaker of House 3. President Pro Tempore 4. Secretary of State 5. Secretary of Treasury

Hiring Practices of Bureaucracy:

-Merit System -Spoils System

5 Principles of Bureaucratic Management:

-Specialization -Centralization -Formal Rules -Standardization -Expertise -Accountability

What is the relationship between the bureaucracy and the Executive Branch?

-The executive branch is the one that is in charge of the different departments. They also are in charge of electing some of the people of the bureaucracy

Organization of Bureaucracy:

Four Parts: -Departments -Independent Agencies -Independent Regulatory Commissions -Government Corporations

Does the White House Staff have to much power?

I do think the White House Staff has too much power. I believe there are certain things that the president should have to do on his own so we are truly getting to know the president. Such as writing his own speeches. In other ways I think the White House Staff has enough power but should not be given anymore. Another way to think about it is that proximity is power in Washington, and the White House Staff are always close by.

What is the role of the Executive Office of the President? Who is in this? What does the Constitution say about them?

Most of these agencies and departments are attempting to improve the planning, management and statistical work of the agencies. They also make sure that each department is conforming to the presidents current policies and plans. -Senior Advisor, Chief of Staff, Speech Writers, Office of the First Lady -Not mentioned in Constitution.

Must the President have a Cabinet?

No, it is not required for the President to have a Cabinet. Yet, since the days of Washington, there has been a Cabinet. This shows that it is merely tradition, as it is not listed anywhere in the Constitution.

What is the role of OMB? Who is in this? What does the Constitution say about them?

OMB is the central presidential staff agency, that advises the president in detail about hundreds of government agencies. The main job is to help the president prepare the budget. -Directors over the agency -Not mentioned in the Constitution.

How big is the Federal Bureaucracy?

The Federal Bureaucracy has grown very large. Now most things that people deal with instead of being in the private sector, the are controlled by the federal government. About 2.7 Million people work for the Federal Bureaucracy.

Presidential Honeymoon

The Presidential "honeymoon" is 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.

Does the White House Staff get elected by the people or confirmed by the Senate?

The White House Staff are chosen by the president, and then confirmed by the Senate.

What are the functions of the White House Staff?

The White House staff is a group of extremely loyal, and responsive to the president, and the president alone. Included in the White House Staff are: -Chief of Staff -Press Secretary -Counselor -Advisor The functions of the White House Staff are to help the president carry out the role of Chief Executive Officer. The staff includes the president's most trusted aides, the counselor to the president, a number of senior advisors, and top officials who work with the president in the areas of foreign policy, the economy, national health care, the media, and defense. It also includes the president's press secretary, the president's physician, and the staff of the first lady.

Describe the executive office of the president and its organization.

The executive office of the president was created to give the president more help running the federal departments and agencies. This also includes the White House Staff. Some examples of departments and agencies that could be found in the Executive Office of the President would be -Office of Management and Budget -Homeland Security Council -Office of the First Lady -Council of Economic Advisors Most of these agencies and departments are attempting to improve the planning, management and statistical work of the agencies. They also make sure that each department is conforming to the presidents current policies and plans.

What was the intent of the framers when constructing the presidency?

The framers meant to make the central government weak.

What is the role of the White House Staff? Who is in this? What does the Constitution say about them?

The functions of the White House Staff are to help the president carry out the role of Chief Executive Officer. -Chief of Staff: Jack Lew -Not mentioned in the Constitution.

What is the primary constitutional conflict between Congress and the President over the decision to go to war?

The main issue is who gets to declare what, and who can send the troops.

What is the role of the Vice President? Who is this? What does the Constitution say about him?

The main role of the president is to always be able to step in to take the oath of office if the President is no longer able to carry out his duties. -Joe Biden -The main job is to take the oath to be in office if needed, and to be the tie breaker in Senate.

Explain which of the many jobs of the president is most important.

The most important job of the president is commander in chief. This is the power to protect the country from enemies foreign and domestic. Without this job the country would be vulnerable to attack and or a collapse.

What is the role of the First Lady? Who is this? What does the Constitution say about her?

The role of the First Lady is to always be by the presidents side. Other than that the First Lady usually chooses a topic, and goes after that achievement during her time in office. -Michelle Obama -The Constitution doesn't mention the First Lady.

What is the role of the Cabinet? Who is in this? What does the Constitution say about them?

The role of the cabinet is to put in input on key issues. The different leaders of the departments are often strongly tied to their departments, making them big advocates for their issues in the departments. -Hilary Clinton, other important leaders -The Constitution doesn't mention the Cabinet.

What is the maximum number of terms a President can serve?

Two

What is the main duty of the OPM?

administer civil service laws, rules and regulations

What is a sequester?

an automatic spending cut * dont know where these cuts will take place

The view of the bureaucracy is what to the american people?

bureaucracy has a negative connotation to it because of the way it has harmed so many different things in our government

Effect of the Civil Service Reform Act:

governs federal employer and employee labor relations. It specifically declares labor organizations and collective bargaining in the civil service to be "in the public interest." Accordingly, the act provides federal employees with legal rights similar to private-sector workers' Section 7 rights under the NLRA. The act states that employees of the federal government have "the right to form, join, or assist any labor organization, or to refrain from any such activity, freely and without fear of penalty or reprisal, and each employee shall be protected in the exercise of such right."

As a whole, the permanent bureaucracy is?

more broadly representative of the American people than legislators, judges, or presidential appointees.

What is discretionary spending?

spending that doesn't have to happen- or not required

Why is the bureaucracy called the undefined branch?

the framers spent little time worrying about the administrative structure of government and left most of the details to congress and the president.

Evolution of the Bureaucracy:

went from being mainly controlled by independent businesses to the federal government controlling everything

How can the president oversee and control the bureaucracy?

when the nation elects a conservative president who favors cut backs in federal programs and less governmental intervention in the economy for example, his policies must be carried out by the bureaucracy. The voter's wishes can only be converted into action if the bureaucrats support presidential policies.