ap gov branches business

Legislative Branch (Congress)

• Makes laws (Article I of the Constitution)

• Power of the purse: controls federal spending and budgeting

• Declares war

• Confirms presidential appointments (Senate)

• Ratifies treaties (Senate)

• Impeachment power: House impeaches, Senate holds trial

• Oversight of the bureaucracy: through hearings, investigations, and budget control

Executive Branch (President + Executive Departments)

• Enforces laws (Article II of the Constitution)

• Commander-in-chief of the armed forces

• Vetoes bills (can be overridden by 2/3 of Congress)

• Issues executive orders (interprets how to enforce laws)

• Appoints federal officials, including judges and department heads

• Negotiates treaties

• Conducts foreign policy

• Executive privilege (limited ability to withhold information from other branches)

Judicial Branch (Federal Courts, especially Supreme Court)

• Interprets laws and the Constitution (Article III of the Constitution)

• Judicial review (power to declare laws or executive actions unconstitutional – Marbury v. Madison)

• Resolves disputes under federal law

• Decides cases involving constitutional issues, federal statutes, and treaties

Bureaucracy (Agencies, Departments, Commissions)

• Implements and enforces federal laws and regulations

• Makes rules (regulations) that carry the force of law (administrative discretion)

• Issues fines and monitors compliance

• Interprets laws passed by Congress within their areas of expertise

• Conducts investigations and collects data

Key concept: The bureaucracy operates under executive control but is influenced by Congress (funding, oversight) and courts (judicial review).

B

Cabinet Departments

• The 15 major executive departments, each headed by a secretary (except Justice, led by the Attorney General).

• Each focuses on a specific area of policy.

• Examples:
  

  • Department of State (foreign policy)

  • Department of Defense (military)

  • Department of Education (schools and federal aid)

  • Department of Justice (enforces federal laws)

Heads are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate.

B

Independent Executive Agencies

• Agencies that are not part of a cabinet department, but report directly to the president.

• Focus on narrower policy areas than departments.

• Examples:
  

  • NASA (space)

  • EPA (environmental protection)

  • CIA (intelligence)

These agencies have more autonomy but still fall under presidential control.

B

Independent Regulatory Commissions

• Designed to regulate parts of the economy or society.

• Run by boards or commissions, whose members serve fixed terms and cannot be easily removed by the president, making them insulated from politics.

• Examples:
  

  • Federal Reserve (monetary policy)

  • SEC – Securities and Exchange Commission (stock market)

  • FCC – Federal Communications Commission (media)

They make rules (quasi-legislative), enforce them (quasi-executive), and punish violations (quasi-judicial).

B

Government Corporations

• Government-run businesses that provide services that could be done by the private sector but are often not profitable.

• Examples:
  

  • USPS – United States Postal Service

  • Amtrak – passenger rail

  • FDIC – insures bank deposits

They charge fees but are owned and operated by the government.

• Discretionary Authority

• : agencies can choose how to implement laws, giving them power.

• Rulemaking Authority

: agencies can create regulations that act like law.

Iron Triangles

(Not how it actually is) relationships among congressional committees, bureaucratic agencies, and interest groups.

Issue Networks

More accurate to how it actually is

• more complex, less stable webs of influence around a policy area.

House of Representatives

• 435 members, based on population

• 2-year terms

• Closer to the people (more responsive due to short terms and smaller districts)

Unique Powers

:

• Initiates all revenue (tax) bills

• Initiates impeachment

• Chooses the president if no majority in the Electoral College

Structure/Rules

:

• More formal and rule-bound

• Debate is limited (e.g., time limits per speaker)

• Rules Committee controls the legislative flow and debate

• Leadership includes:
  

  • Speaker of the House (very powerful)

  • Majority/minority leaders and whips

Senate

• 100 members (2 per state)

• 6-year terms, staggered

• Meant to be more deliberative and stable

Unique Powers

:

• Confirms presidential appointments (judges, cabinet, ambassadors)

• Ratifies treaties (2/3 vote)

• Holds impeachment trials (Chief Justice presides for presidential trials)

Structure/Rules

:

• More informal and individualized

• Unlimited debate (unless cloture invoked)

• Filibuster: tactic to delay/block legislation

• Cloture: 3/5 vote (60 senators) to end debate

• Leadership includes:
  

  • Vice President (President of the Senate, breaks ties)

  • President pro tempore (mostly ceremonial)

  • Majority/minority leaders