POLS 1101 Midterm 2 Additional Information

incumbent advantage

-districts gerrymandered to protect the dominant party or incumbant

-name recognition

-franking privilege

-media coverage

-case work

-money; pre-established donors and investments (challengers struggle to raise money)

franking privilege

The right to send communications at taxpayer expense. Such communications, which include mass mailings, individual communications with constituents, emails, and messages on social networking sites, work to make constituents aware of their legislators' names, activities, and accomplishments.

structure and power of congress:

- 2 chambers

- Representation in the House is based on population

- Representation in the Senate is based on equality among states

House of Representatives

where revenue bills originate

Senate

approves major presidential appointments

Senate

maintains the sole power to affirm treaties

House of Representatives

initiates impeachment proceedings

Senate

holds impeachment trials

simple majority

this proportion of the House needs to approve an article of impeachment to go to the Senate for trial

2/3 Majority

this proportion of the Senate have to vote to remove the president at the conclusion of an impeachment trial

What explains a legislator's vote:

- Political Party (most important)

- Constituents (voters)

-The President

- Interest groups

Legislative Powers of the Executive

-Convene Congress

-Recommend necessary and expedient legislation

-Inform Congress of the the State of the Union

-Veto Legislation

Scope of the Presidential Veto

presidents can veto any bill EXCEPT constitutional amendments; can be used strategically; Congress may override a veto

Executive Powers of the Executive

-administrative head of the federal bureaucracy

-appoint top officials, though some are subject to the advice and consent of the Senate

Foreign Policy Powers of the Executive

-commander in chief

-make treaties

-recognized countries by the power to receive ambassadors

Trump v. United States (2024)

-Presidents are immune from prosecution for "core"

executive functions; Core functions are those explicitly found in the Constitution

-Presidents have "presumptive immunity" for noncore powers; Noncore functions are not specifically listed in the Constitution; The Court did NOT clarify what noncore functions include

-Presidents have no immunity from criminal prosecution for nonofficial, private conduct

(See additonal reading for further information)

Strategies for Presidential Power

-Bargaining

-Approval Rating

-Going Public

Unilateral Powers of the Executive

-appointments

-signing statements

-executive orders

senioritis

members in their legally mandated final term in office enjoy this - the apathy that can hit students in their last term of high school or college - in their legislatures because they don't have to face the voters again at the ballot box

(See additonal reading for further information)

What's lost with a weak Congress?

-district/local problems are less likely to be addressed

-local perspectives on national issues are not represented

-variations in economy, demographics, and geography are not properly accounted for when there is presidential control over the process

-weak Congress + Imperial Presidency can lead to an unnaccountable president; Congress can not efficiently or effectively check presidential power

(See additonal reading for further information)