ap gov exam

increase chances of having nomination confirmed

Consulting with the Senate/using senatorial courtesy Choosing a moderate Properly vetting candidates/selecting qualified candidates

effect of bureucratic structure of bureucratic independence

Large Specialized units/expertise Tenure protections/hard to fire Based on merit Independent agencies/independent regulatory commissions bureucratic discretion not structure

diff between civil rights and civil liberties

-civil rights protect groups from discrimination, civil liberties protect individuals from government actions

how presidential candiates cater to swing states

-concentration of money -bigger campaign organizations -more travel/appearances in those states -focus on the issues that they care about -selection of a running mate from one of the key states

how does the Supreme Court reduce the influence of the president in policy making

-declares presidential actions unconstitutional

how mandates expand the power of the federal government

-directs the state to implement policies, reduces state discretion and increases federal discretion

how Commerce clause has been used to expand the power of the federal government over the states.

-interstate commerce is an exclusive federal authority -federal gov/supreme court increases the power of the federal government through decisions, and the states cannot ?

how congress can consitutitionally check the bureucracy

Appropriations — can reward or punish agency Legislation — can pass legislation affecting the bureaucracy Rejection of presidential appointments to the bureaucracy Impeachment of executive officials

republican government

Authority is delegated to elected representatives to make decisions on behalf of citizens

citizenship clause and selective incorporation effet on state power

Citizenship Clause — provides a national definition of citizenship that states cannot violate; requires states to provide citizenship guarantees to all who meet the definition of citizen. Selective incorporation — prohibits states from denying Bill of Rights provisions regarding freedom of expression, rights of the accused or privacy.

effect of executive order power on congressional decision making

Congress acts in response to or anticipates executive orders (e.g., take action in order to prevent from happening, revokes, compromises). Congress avoids taking action on controversial issues.

Which of the following most accurately explains the interaction between the president and the Congress regarding the defense budget?

Congress passes a budget for the entire federal government, including defense, but it must consider the president's proposal because the president may veto the bill. not: the president can create a budget for defense spending, but Congress has the power to execute laws and operate the government, which can affect how much money is actually spent

how courts can constitutionally check the bureucracy

Court rulings that limit bureaucratic practices Judicial review — can declare bureaucratic actions unconstitutional Injunctions against federal agencies injunction: restrains a person from beginning or continuing an action threatening or invading the legal right of another, or that compels a person to carry out a certain act

elections and policy formation

Election winners control agenda. Initiative process. Issues raised during campaigns.

establishment clause and guarantee of a public trial effect on fed gov power

Establishment Clause — prevents the national government from establishing a national religion or taking any action that would show preferential treatment for one religion over another. Guarantee of a public trial — requiring trials to be open to the public limits the government's ability to violate the rights of citizens.

why did the framers chose a republican government

Fear of mob rule/tyranny of the majority Size of the country Elitism-inadequate education/uninformed Did not trust the people Counter the influence of factions Preexistence of states Reinforcement of federalism

Which of the following constitutional principles best explains why there is variation among states on the use of capital punishment?

Federalism

why act as a trustee

Information access Reliance on expertise Divided constituency Salience of issue Vote his or her conscience Difficulty determining what voters want

relationship between number of nominees from a party and president's power

Judicial appointees will likely support the same policies as the president. The more nominees that are appointed, the more likely it is that policies supported by the president will be upheld. · Presidents seek to appoint as many nominees as they can from their own party as a way to ensure a lasting legacy. Judicial appointees to the federal courts have lifetime tenureand have the ability to continue handing down decisions in line with the president's party long after the president has served in office.

influence of judicial activism on deciding which cases to hear

Justices are more likely to strike down laws and policies as unconstitutional. Justices are influenced by the future/societal ramifications/needs of the nation.

stare decisis

Let the decision stand; Justices defer to prior Supreme Court decisions. Justices apply precedent to current cases and rule based on past decision

effect of budgetary power on presidential actions

Presidents consider budget items or programs that are important to members of Congress. Presidents consult with members of Congress during the budget process. Presidents sign budgets that include provisions they oppose rather than veto the budget. Presidents postpone agenda items because of difficulty in getting congressional budgetary approval.

legislative oversight power effect on presidential actions

Presidents minimize the number or extent of actions that might draw congressional scrutiny

senate advice and consent power effect on presidential actions

Presidents weigh the implications of making controversial or ideological nominations or appointments. Presidents use recess appointments, avoiding controversial confirmation battles. Presidents use executive agreements to avoid the need to have treaties ratified.

effect of veto power on congressional decision making

Results in congressional interaction with the president/executive branch during the legislative process (e.g., bargaining, negotiation, compromising, consulting). Prevents or discourages congressional action if the president makes a statement of clear opposition or threatens a veto.

effect of winner take all primaries

Shortens the timeframe for candidates wrapping up the nomination. Affects strategic decisions (e.g., allocation of funds, time). Advantages those with more prominence or better name recognition early in the process.

effect of policy problems on bureucratic independence

Specialized units/expertise Delegated authority — because Congress and the president cannot handle everything, they delegate authority to the bureaucracy Discretionary authority — because legislation lacks details, the bureaucracy can fill in the gaps

caucus

a meeting or gathering of members of a political party where members deliberate and choose from the list of those seeking the presidential nomination.

open primary

a primary election in which any voter can cast a ballot in any party's primary

clauses that have given national government power over state governments in da 14th amendment

a. Due Process Clause -individual protections in the Bill of Rights are applied to the states. states are compelled to follow national requirements. b. Equal Protection Clause -the clause protects members of groups from discrimination by states. states are compelled to follow national requirements.

effect of party polarization

a. confirmation processes become more difficult, filibuster, greater number of vacancies in courts and agencies, gridlock

president as chief bureaucrat

appointments, executive orders, manage the bureaucracy, use White House Staff to control bureaucrats (OMB), prioritize agency activites

pork barrel legislation

appropriation of government spending for localized projects secured solely or primarily to bring money to a representative's district ex: A senator from an agricultural state amending legislation to establish a potato research institute in his or her state

how do civil service employee reduce the influence of the president in policy making

bureaucratic discretion, bureaucratic culture, civil service protection, interest group capture of agencies, expertise

reasons for electoral college

elitism, comrpomise btwn big and small states, reinforced federalism-gave states a say in presidential selection

expressed powers of the pres w foreign powers

enumerated powers, directly stated in constitution a. Receiving ambassadors b. Appointing ambassadors c. Commander-in-Chief d. Making treaties e. Appointing cabinet officers and administrative agency heads relevant to foreign policy

primary clause in the Fourteenth Amendment used to extend civil rights

equal protection clause

why do voting records decrease the influence of public opinion

o To avoid being perceived as indecisive by voters/supporters

how do superdelegates give party leaders more power

party leaders=superdelegates Party leaders are now assured a role in the nomination process, regardless of which candidate they support. Party leaders can cast the deciding vote in close nomination contests. Superdelegates are unpledged and therefore can change their minds on candidates as the process unfolds.

president as legislator in the constitution

veto, agenda setting, State of the Union, going public/bully pulpit

differences between democratic and republicans for civil liberties

• Democratic appointees tend to support civil liberties in areas regarding privacy issues, suspect rights, and free speech cases. Republicans appointees tend to support civil liberties on Second Amendment cases and religious freedom cases. At the district level, this could lead to sharp divisions between judges in such cases.

how would the democratic party help workers/reduce inequality

•The Democratic Party adheres to a more liberal ideology than Republicans. It would likely support policies such as increasing the minimum wageand supporting union membership in its platform to help workers and sustain equitable prosperity.

effect of commander in chief power on congressional decision making

Congress engages in oversight activities. Congress clarifies its role associated with the power to declare war (i.e., War Powers Act). Congress controls military spending and thus can approve, modify or reject funding.

trustee model

(attitudinal view)-Decisions made by elected official using their own personal views or decisions made by the elected official based on the public good and not on the basis of constituents' views

delegate model

(representational view)-decisions made by the elected official mirror the constituents' views, represent constituents' views, or do what the voters tell them to do

bureaucracy and policy

bureaucrats have the ability to shape implementation of public policy. • Bureaucracy can shape policy implementation to benefit interest group(s).

actions of the court and policy

can create, block, or guide public policy judicial review, overturn, precedent

congressonal committees and policy

committee actions related to the enactment of public policy (gatekeeper/mark-up legislation/hold hearings)

divided government

control of Congress by one party and control of the presidency by the other, control of the two chambers of congress by opposing political parties

most important agent of political socialization

family

national crisis and policy

focuses the attention of policy makers, unifies and mobilizes the public, leads to policy change

party polarization

increased ideological consistency, increased divisions along party lines

concurrent powers

powers enjoyed by both the state and federal government. ex: federal and state taxes.

legislation that extended the rights of persons with disabilities

public accommodations, educational accommodations-specific legislative action

media and policy

set the policy agenda, choose when issues to cover and how to frame them, inform the public on policy issues

Which of the following best explains a reason that a president might use a signing statement to express displeasure with a bill as opposed to issuing a veto?

The president may have objections to provisions of a bill but does not want to risk Congress overriding a veto. not: The president wants to ensure executive agencies do not spend the money appropriated by Congress.

merit system

a. Hiring or promotion based on merit/experience/qualifications b. Hiring based on testing

moter voter laws

a. Motor voter laws add more registered voters to the rolls, potentially changing voter turnout. b. Motor voter laws: designed to reverse declining voter registration by allowing voters to register at motor vehicle departments

constitutional clauses that have led to a growth in the national government

a. Necessary and Proper clause/Elastic clause b. General Welfare clause c. Taxing power d. Unitary Executive

ratings/elections effect on president's foreign policy power

a. Presidents must seek re-election; they can be voted out of office after first term; elections can shift agenda or focus. b. Midterm elections lead to shifts in partisan makeup of Congress, often to the detriment of the president's party. c. Lower ratings can lead to perceptions of lesser authority or influence, constraining the president's freedom to implement foreign policy.

direct democracy

a. Rule by the people + individual participation on legislation or policy b. Making decisions without delegating authority to elected representatives

constitution and how it protects individuals trying to influence policy

a. Speech — allows citizens to say almost anything they want b. Press — allows citizens access to information, each other and policymakers; printed advocacy c. Assembly — allows citizens to come together d. Petition — allows citizens to address government e. Various due process/criminal justice provisions (e.g., grand jury indictment, jury of peers, search and seizure) — protects citizens from retribution/harassment from government

federalists and antifederalists

a. The Federalists wanted a balanced relationship between federal and state governments, while the Anti-federalists wanted a weaker national government and stronger state government.