Executive Branch - Ap Gov Exam

Formal powers of the President

• Veto - overridden with 2/3 vote from Congress

• Pardon power - able to pardon federal offenses (not impeachments)

• Appoint ambassadors - majority vote from Senate

• Commander in chief

• Convening Congress

• State of the union address

• Receive ambassadors

Informal powers of the President

• Signing statement - comments on the law the president can leave after signing

• Bully pulpit

• Executive orders (don’t require congressional approval)

• Executive agreements - agreements with another country that are weaker than treaties but don’t require senate ratification

Explain how presidents have interpreted informal and formal powers to expand the president’s influence

• Presidents veto bills that don’t align with their agenda

• Using bully pulpit they rally support and pressure Congress through grassroots mobilization

• executive orders allow presidents to bypass gridlock

• During national crises or conflicts, presidents assert greater authority by interpreting their powers more broadly to respond fast.

How has the 22nd amendment influenced presidential power?

• The limitation helps avoid concentration of power into one person

• With a limited time frame, presidents prioritize short term initiatives rather than long term policies and goals.

How has the President used bully pulpit to set policy agenda?

• Public speeches

• Utilizing social media and news

• Allows President to frame issues in a way that aligns with their agenda.

• Mobilize voter support

Explain how Bureaucracy carries out the federal government’s responsibilities

• Implement laws passed by Congress

• Manage programs like Social Security

• Enforce laws and regulations

• Shape public policy by conducting research (like NASA)

Pendleton Act

Established merit based system for federal employment which replaced the spoils/loyalty system.

Hatch act

Prohibits federal employees from actively participating in partisan political campaigns while on duty.

Cabinet Departments

Advises and helps the President with specific topics

EX: defense department

Independent Agencies

Helps with administrating the law and research

EX: NASA

Independent Regulatory Commissions

Protects public interests by enforcing corporation standards and rules

EX: Federal Reserve

Government Corporations

Provides services to citizens who might not otherwise have access to them

EX: Amtrak

Iron triangle

The relationship between congressional committees, special interest groups, and regulatory agencies

Issue networks

Informal alliances of individuals or interest groups.

How does bureaucracy use delegated discretionary authority for rule making and implementation

• When Congress passes laws, they often do not detail how to implement them. Bureaucracies use their discretionary authority to create rules and regulations.

• Discretionary authority allows agencies to adapt rules based on new information or unexpected events.

How does Congress exert authority over bureaucracy

• Power of the purse

• Oversight - hold hearings, conduct investigations, and require agency officials to testify

• Legislation

• Congress creates and abolishes agencies

• Congressional review act of 1996 - Congress can strike down newly made agency rules

How does the President exert authority over bureaucracy

• Appoints and removes agency heads

• Reorganizes bureaucracy

• Makes changes in budget

• Issues executive orders

How does the Judicial branch exert authority over bureaucracy

• Determines the constitutionality of regulations

• Determines if agencies act within scope of the law