AP Gov - The President and Federal Bureaucracy

How does Congress Check the President?

Senate approves appointments

Congress controls the budget

Override vetoes

Impeach & remove president

Congress declares war

Courts may rule actions unconstitutional

How does the President check Congress?

Vetoes & veto threats
Executive orders
Uses bully pulpit to pressure
Controls agenda through messaging

What is the NSC and what is its responsibility?

National Security Council

Responsibility: foreign policy and security

What is the OMB and what is its responsibility?

Office of Management and Budget

Responsibility: federal budget

What is the CEA and what does is its responsiblity?

Council of Economic Advisers

Responsibility: economic advice to the president

Who is the White House Staff and how long are their terms?

Closest advisors to the president; usually have a close relationship with the president; senate does not confirm these

How many cabinet departments are there?

15

How are cabinet departments appointed and confirmed?

Appointed by president; confirmed by senate

Who can fire the cabinet members at any time?

President

What do Regulatory Agencies do?

Write and enforce regulations

What are some examples of Regulatory Agencies?

SEC, FCC, CDC, Federal Reserve, etc.

Can the President fire commissioners?

Yes, depending on the cause, they need to have a cause.

What do Bureaucracies do?

Implementation - carrying out congressional laws

Regulation - create rules that have force of law

Administration - manage programs and services

What is discretionary authority?

bureaucracies deciding HOW to carry out the laws

What is rule making authority?

how they make rules and/or legislative details

What is expertise?

a lot of knowledge based on a specific bureaucracy

What is discretionary authority, rule making authority, and expertise to Bureaucracies?

They are all sources of power for Bureaucracies

How does congress control Bureaucracies?

Power of the purse (budgeting), oversight hearings, passing laws (limit power), and Senate confirmation of leaders

How does the President Control Bureaucracies?

appointing agency heads, executive orders, reorganizing agencies, and using OMB to influence the budgets

What is an iron triangle?

A stable relationship between congressional committees, interest groups, and bureaucratic agencies

What is an issue network?

a temporary, informal group of interest groups, government officials, and policy experts that form around a specific issue

What is the Pendleton Act (1883)?

created merit-based civil service and ended the spoiled system

What is a merit-based civil service system?

hires and promotes government employees based on their qualifications, skill, and performance, than political connections or family ties

What is the War Powers Resolution (1973)?

re-establish a balance between presidential and congressional power in conflicts; if president sends armed troops to a place they need to notify congress within 48 hours and the military engagement is only allowed for 60 days without congress approval

What is mandatory spending?

required spending

What is discretionary spending?

fun spending; chooses what they get to spend on

What is the difference between independent agencies and cabinet departments?

Cabinet: leader is a secretary who is part of the president’s cabinet and is accountable to the president

Independent Agencies: leaders are not part of cabinet and work further away form president control

What does the attorney general do?

advises the president on legal matters

Commissioner

refers to an elected official on a local or state body

Commission: a independent agency created to research an agency, provide recommendations, or oversee a specific area