Untitled Flashcards Set

Partisanship

Loyalty to a political party, often leading members to vote with their party over bipartisan cooperation.

Polarization in Congress

The increasing ideological distance between political parties, leading to legislative gridlock.

Powers of Congress

Lawmaking, taxation, regulating commerce, declaring war, approving treaties (Senate), and oversight of the executive.

Redistricting

Redrawing congressional district boundaries after each census to reflect population shifts.

Gerrymandering

Manipulating district boundaries to favor one party or group.

Main party leaders in Congress

Speaker of the House, Majority/Minority Leaders, and Whips.

Role of committees in Congress

Committees draft and revise legislation, oversee the executive, and handle specialized topics.

Textbook legislative process

Bill introduction → Committee review → Floor debate → Vote → Other chamber → Conference committee → President.

Unorthodox lawmaking

Legislative strategies that bypass the textbook process, e.g., omnibus bills, fast-tracking, or using budget reconciliation.

Difference between House and Senate

House: 435 members, rules committee, shorter terms. Senate: 100 members, filibuster, more individual power.

Electoral connection

The theory that legislators’ actions are motivated by reelection, policy goals, and influence in Congress.

Incumbent advantage

Incumbents have higher reelection rates due to name recognition, fundraising, and constituent services.

Collective action problems in Congress

Individual members may not want to contribute to public goods like oversight, leading to free-rider issues.

Solutions to collective action problems

Through party discipline, incentives, leadership control of committees, and agenda setting.

Rules and norms in Congress

Institutional rules (e.g., filibuster, germaneness) and informal norms (e.g., seniority, reciprocity).

Influences on legislative decision-making

Constituents, party leaders, interest groups, personal beliefs, and staff.

Congressional oversight

Congress monitoring the executive branch through hearings, investigations, and funding control.

Constitutional powers of the president

Commander-in-chief, veto, pardon, appointments, treaties (with Senate), convene Congress.

Traditional presidency

A limited role focused on executing laws and national defense.

Modern presidency

Expanded role including legislative leadership, economic management, and mass communication.

Presidential style

A president’s way of presenting themselves and governing, e.g., Reagan’s optimism, Obama’s calm intellectualism.

Executive Office of the President (EOP)

Agencies like the NSC and OMB that help the president manage the executive branch.

Cabinet

Heads of federal departments who advise the president but may have divided loyalties.

Vice President's role

Historically ceremonial, now more active in advising and policy (e.g., foreign policy, Congress).

Impeachment

A process to remove presidents for “high crimes and misdemeanors,” requiring House accusation and Senate trial.

Unified government

Same party controls presidency and Congress.

Divided government

Different parties control presidency and Congress.

Presidential advantages over Congress

Speed, unified leadership, media access, national constituency.

Evolution of presidential powers

From a limited constitutional role to a powerful central figure in policymaking.

Strategic presidents

Presidents who choose battles wisely and use political capital effectively (e.g., agenda timing, bargaining).

Bureaucracy

A system of organized, hierarchical agencies that implement laws and public policy.

Spoils system

The practice of giving government jobs to political supporters, replaced by civil service reform.

Departments vs Independent agencies

Departments: major administrative units (e.g., Defense). Agencies: narrower focus, more independence (e.g., EPA).

Roles of the federal bureaucracy

Implementation, regulation, and administration of federal laws.

Bureaucratic discretion

The ability of bureaucrats to interpret and apply laws as they see fit within limits.

Civil service system

A merit-based system that promotes political neutrality and job security for bureaucrats.

Whistleblowers

Employees who report misconduct or inefficiency within the bureaucracy.

Role of inspectors general

Internal watchdogs who investigate waste, fraud, and abuse in agencies.

Problems of bureaucracy

Inefficiency, red tape, lack of accountability, resistance to change.

External bureaucratic politics

Influence from Congress, interest groups, and the president on bureaucratic behavior.

Congress control of bureaucracy

Funding, oversight hearings, confirming appointments, and rewriting laws.

Police patrol oversight

Active, regular monitoring of bureaucracy by Congress.

Fire alarm oversight

Reactive oversight triggered by complaints, scandals, or media attention.