🔥 HIGH-YIELD AP GOV FLASHCARDS (HARDER CONCEPTS ONLY)

Pocket Veto

President kills a bill by taking no action for 10 days when Congress is adjourned.

Signing Statement

President interprets or signals how they will enforce a law.

Executive Privilege

President claims confidentiality over communications to protect national interest.

Executive Agreements

Do not require Senate approval; used for international agreements.

Treaties

Require 2/3 Senate approval; formal international agreements.

Line Item Veto

Struck down because it violates separation of powers.

Administrative Discretion

Bureaucrats decide how to implement laws, granting them policymaking power.

Impact of Administrative Discretion

Creates flexibility but reduces democratic accountability.

Street-Level Bureaucrats

Frontline workers whose decisions directly shape policy outcomes.

Why Street-Level Bureaucrats Matter

They effectively 'make policy' through everyday decisions.

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

Routine rules that increase efficiency but limit flexibility.

Command-and-Control Policy

Government sets strict rules and penalties for compliance.

Incentive System

Uses rewards to encourage behavior instead of forcing it.

Key Difference (11 vs 12)

Command = force compliance, Incentive = encourage voluntary compliance.

Deregulation

Removal of rules that usually increases competition but poses risks.

Regulation

Government restriction of the private sector to protect public interest.

Independent Regulatory Agencies

More insulated from president, enforce rules in specific sectors.

Why They’re “Independent”

Leaders have fixed terms and cannot be easily removed.

Government Corporations

Operate like businesses but serve public goals.

Key Difference (Corporations vs Agencies)

Corporations charge for services, agencies regulate behavior.

Independent Executive Agencies

Not in cabinet but directly controlled by the president.

Pendleton Civil Service Act

Replaced patronage with merit-based hiring.

Why Pendleton Matters

Reduced corruption but limited presidential control over bureaucracy.

Hatch Act

Prevents federal employees from engaging in partisan politics.

Why Hatch Act Matters

Maintains neutrality of bureaucracy.

Senior Executive Service (SES)

Top-level managers blending political and career leadership.

Policy Implementation

Turning laws into action by bureaucracy.

Key Challenge of Implementation

Laws are often vague, leading agencies to fill in details.

Why Implementation = Power

Bureaucracy shapes policy outcomes even after law is passed.

Why Veto Power is Limited

Congress can override a veto with a 2/3 vote.

Why Executive Orders Are Limited

Courts can declare them unconstitutional.

Why Treaties Are Limited

Require Senate approval, serving as a check on the president.

22nd Amendment (10-year rule)

President can serve a maximum of 10 years if finishing another’s term.

25th Amendment Section 3

President voluntarily transfers power to VP temporarily.

25th Amendment Section 4

VP + Cabinet can remove president without consent.

Why 25th Amendment Matters

Clarifies unclear succession rules from the Constitution.

Treaty vs Executive Agreement

Treaty = stronger but harder to pass; Exec agreement = easier but less formal.

Appointment Power Check

President appoints, Senate confirms.

Impeachment Process

House impeaches (charges), Senate removes (trial).

Bureaucratic Power Problem

Unelected officials make policy decisions.

Tradeoff of Bureaucracy

Expertise vs democratic accountability.

Why Bureaucracy Is Hard to Control

Size, specialization, and political insulation make it difficult.

Oversight vs Implementation

Oversight = Congress checks agencies; Implementation = agencies carry out laws.

Discretion vs SOPs

Discretion = flexibility; SOPs = rigid rules.

Patronage vs Merit System

Patronage = loyalty-based hiring, Merit = qualification-based hiring.

How Bureaucracy Expands Power

Through rule-making and interpretation of laws.

Why Presidents Use Executive Agreements

To avoid Senate rejection.

Why Congress Uses Oversight

To ensure laws are implemented correctly.

Why Deregulation Is Controversial

Balances economic growth with public safety.

Casework (Hidden Power)

Helps members of Congress gain support and reelection.

Bargaining & Persuasion (‘Going Public’)

President uses public opinion to pressure Congress.