Intro to American Politics #2

Symmetrical legislature

Two of the houses pass bills in the same way with the same rules. Makes it rather difficult to pass laws.

Bicameral legislature

The branch is divided into two houses, Senate and HoR

Congruent legislature

HoR reps and Senators are elected the same way, directly elected(17th amendment)

Transformative legislation

Basically, just means that when passing bills, it is an extremely complex and difficult process, proposed by committees/ interest groups, the brought to congress, debated in congress, approved in congress.

Comparative Legislature - Asymmetrical

One house has power over the other when deciding on bills, i.e., in Britian, the HoL can delay bills or ask for amendments on bills the HoC passes

Comparative Legislature - Unicameral

There is one singular legislature, i.e., Isreal

Comparative Legislature - Incongruent

Members of the houses are not voted on the same way, in Germany the lower house votes for the upper house

Comparative Legislature - Arena

associated with parliamentary systems, the government brings laws to legislate which are then debated, voted on in a relatively predictable way (majority vote)

Organization of the Legislative branch (HoR)

Speaker (Constitutionally mandated)

Majority Leader (Right-hand man of the speaker)

Minority Leader

The purpose of these position is to get the members of their party to vote for or against bills

Organization of the Legislative branch (Senate)

President of the Senate, VP of the US (constitutionally mandated)

Majority leader (Leader of the Senate)

Minority leader

Conferences

Members of the HoR and Senate met if there is a difference in interpretation of the bill, then it is debated and sent back to be voted on again

Pocket veto

The president doesn’t sign a bill into law, and if Congress is not in session by the end of the limit, 10 days, the president has to sign it into law then the bill is voided, but if congress stays in session, they are able to pass the law

Legislate (function)

making policies, to be sent and approved by the president

Oversight (legislative function)

Oversees the executive branch, ambition counteracts ambition, through budget, calling in heads of the Bureaucracy to check and make sure they’re doing their jobs

Advice and Consent

Senate, for appointing staff, and treaty making

Impeachment

Although it technically has not been proven to be a successful check in executive power.

Tri cameralism

The idea that the executive branch is claiming more and more power, which is weakening bicameralism and ambition v ambition

Trustee

trust to make decisions best for the district and the country

Delegate

Delegate someone to do what one would want according to our interest

Demographic

Having people in the same demographic in congress, i.e., having a woman of color as my representative

Substance (PR)

represented by people who are ideologically similar

Electoral connection

How members of congress stay “connected” to their voters, advertising, credit claiming, position taking

Homestyle

Creating this idea that people know and like their congress members, done through constituent services, stoking the base, office days = tuesday through friday, then kissing babies

Parliamentary system

Hierarchal voter - Choose the party, who choose the government

Legislature

Executive, The Government, Pres/Prime Minister

Presidential System

Transactional voters - enter a social contract where they grant power to be governed

Legislature + Executive (SoP)

Semi-Pres

Voters choose the Legislature and the Executive

Then the legislature and the executive choose the premier (like a prime minister)

The assembly = takes majority then makes the government

Legislature stays the legislature

The Head of State appoints the ministry

President appoints subordinates

The cabinet is a collective body (collective responsibility)

The US has a sole executive power

Ministers are often members of parliament

Members of congress cannot be members of the presidents cabinet

the government is responsible for the assembly. must maintain a confident vote

the executive is responsible to the constitution

The prime minister can dissolve the government and call for a vote at anytime

predetermined vote times

The assembly is ultimately superior to the government

the overtaking of the government of the executive

the government is only partially elected by the people

the US president is directly responsible to votes

Parliament is the focus of power in the government

Presidential system there is no sole focus of power, In US, Madison believed the definition of tyranny was the focus of power in one hand.

Tenure of Office Act

Violated by Andrew Johnson, which caused his impeachment

Myers v. US

Declared the ToOA unconstitutional, and allowed for presidents to fire certain executive officials without senate approval

Humphrey’s Executer v. US

had been fired after being elected to a fixed term which was declared unconstitutional

Trump v. Slaughter

overturned the decision in Humphrey, and claimed the president can fire anyone in the bureaucracy, unless protected by civil service