PLSC1 Midterm Stack

What is a Federal Bureaucracy?

A structured system of offices, tasks, and rules used by institutions to coordinate federal tasks, including all unelected US government employees.

What are Cabinet Departments?

Specialized agencies with high-level responsibility that work closely with the president.

What are Independent Agencies?

Agencies that are less tied to the president or Congress, regulating businesses and providing public services.

What is a Government Corporation?

An autonomous agency that operates like a private business, such as the United States Postal Service.

What characterizes Regulatory Agencies?

Agencies that make rules governing the economy and are involved in administrative legislation.

What is Bureaucratic Drift?

A phenomenon where bureaucrats ignore their principals' guidance.

What is the purpose of the IRS?

The IRS serves as a revenue agency responsible for tax collection.

What is a Collective Action Problem?

when individuals do not possess an incentive to participate in pursuit of a group goal, resulting in free riding

How does the Bureaucracy solve Coordination Problems?

By synchronizing responses to crises.

What is the Pendleton Act of 1883?

Legislation that abolished the spoils system and standardized civil servant appointments.

What is the difference between Fire-Alarm Oversight and Police-Patrol Oversight?

Fire-Alarm Oversight is indirect monitoring via interest groups, while Police-Patrol Oversight involves active monitoring.

What was the effect of the Progressive Era on federal bureaucracy?

It expanded national government power and created independent agencies.

How did the Department of Homeland Security come into existence?

It was created in response to the events of 9/11 as part of federal bureaucracy expansion.

What role do bureaucrats play in the implementation of policies?

They coordinate organizational objectives and enforce rules.

What does Devolution refer to in the context of bureaucracy reform?

Delegating programs to state or local governments.

What was a major impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic on the U.S. Postal Service?

Increased demand due to online shopping coupled with decreased supply due to virus-infected postal workers.

What is Notice and Comment Rulemaking?

Procedures for agencies to create regulations, involving public notice and comment.

What are Regulations?

Rules and standards that control private activity by the bureaucracy.

What is the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)?

An agency responsible for environmental protection standards and regulations.

What is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)?

An agency overseeing workplace safety and health standards.

What is Bureaucracy Reform?

Efforts to reduce the size and cost of government by eliminating agencies and programs.

What is Federalism in Bureaucracy?

The transfer of responsibility for government programs from the federal level to state and local levels.

What are Government Agencies?

Entities created by Congress to perform specialized tasks outside of cabinet departments.

What is Agency Capture?

The process where regulatory agencies are captured by the industries they are meant to regulate.

What is Congressional Oversight?

A Congressional committee's review of the policies and programs of the executive branch.

What is Appointment Power?

The power of Congress to control the federal bureaucracy by approving or rejecting presidential appointments.

What is the Merit System?

A system where government jobs are given based on merit and qualifications.

What is the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)?

Federal law that promotes public access to government information.

What is Privatization?

The practice where agencies contract out government services to private companies.

What is the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)?

An executive branch unit responsible for budget preparation and economic analysis.

What are the two levels of government in federalism?

National and State.

What power does the Tenth Amendment give to the states?

Powers not expressed in the Constitution as a power of the federal government are reserved to the states

What are the three branches of government created by the separation of powers?

Legislative, Executive, and Judicial branches.

What is the elastic clause?

Allows Congress to make all laws necessary and proper to fulfill its stated requirements.

What does the supremacy clause establish?

The Constitution and federal laws take precedence over state laws.

What is the commerce clause?

Grants Congress the ability to regulate commerce between states and with foreign nations.

What is cooperative federalism?

An intergovernmental system of supportive relations between national, state, and local governments.

What significant ruling did McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) make?

Congress can exercise powers unless explicitly prohibited by the Constitution.

What did the Voting Rights Act of 1965 aim to achieve?

To outlaw discrimination in voting, including poll taxes and literacy tests.

What is direct democracy in states?

Forms of direct participation in the political process, such as referendums and ballot initiatives.

What are categorical grants-in-aid?

Funds given to states for specific policy categories.

What is a recall election?

The ability to remove an elected official from office before their term ends.

What role does the Supreme Court play in the federal system?

Decides which rule applies in particular cases and can invalidate laws.

What is the primary purpose of checks and balances?

To ensure that no branch of government becomes too powerful.

What is the significance of the Seventeenth Amendment?

Changed the method of electing Senators from state legislatures to direct elections.

What does the full faith and credit clause entail?

States must honor the public acts, records, and proceedings of other states.

What is an unfunded mandate?

A national standard imposed on state and local governments without providing funding.

What does the reserved powers amendment establish?

Powers not specifically granted to the federal government are reserved for the states.

What is legislative supremacy?

The principle that makes Congress the preeminent branch of government.

What did the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) establish?

Limits the federal government's ability to impose mandates on states without reimbursement.

What are the key shifts in federal-state relations across different eras of U.S. history?

Dual Federalism (layer-cake federalism) with distinct spheres of authority; Cooperative Federalism (marble-cake federalism) with shared responsibilities; New Federalism aimed at decentralization.

What are examples of areas of Federal and Institutional Jurisdictions?

Federal jurisdiction includes matters involving federal laws, treaties, and constitutional interpretations; Institutional jurisdiction pertains to the scope and authority of governmental bodies.

How does the separation of powers function in the U.S. government?

Executive enforces laws, Legislative makes laws, and Judicial interprets laws; each branch has specific powers that check the others.

What is New Federalism?

Programs aimed at increasing state authority.

What three colonial forces preceded the American Revolution?

Capitalism, representative government, and violence/racism.

How did capitalism begin in America?

Colonization of America began with the establishment of trade networks and the pursuit of economic opportunities via “joint stock companies”

What southern agricultural institution was vital to early economic development in the United States?

Slavery

What events led to civil unrest between the colonies and Great Britain?

Increased taxes from the King, particularly from the Stamp Act and Sugar Act.

What was the Boston Tea Party a response to?

The Tea Act of 1773.

What did the First Continental Congress call for?

A total boycott of British goods and consideration of independence from British rule.

What did the Declaration of Independence aim to articulate?

A history and a set of principles for national unity.

What were the Articles of Confederation?

America's first written constitution, establishing a limited central government.

What event highlighted the insufficiency of the Articles of Confederation?

Shay's Rebellion.

What was the outcome regarding representation from The Great Compromise?

The House of Representatives based on state population, and the Senate with equal representatives for each state.

What did the Three-Fifths Compromise determine?

Only 3/5ths of slaves would be counted towards population.

What were the four primary goals of the Constitution's framers?

1. Create a government strong enough to promote commerce and protect property.

2. Prevent “excessive democracy”

3. secure public support

4. protect the citizens’ liberties and property rights

What does Article I of the Constitution establish?

The Legislative Branch, consisting of Congress, which has a House of Representatives and a Senate.

What is the necessary and proper clause?

It grants Congress the authority to make laws needed to exercise its powers.

What power does Article III of the Constitution grant the Supreme Court?

The power to resolve conflicts between federal and state laws.

What principle is established by Article IV regarding states?

States are prohibited from discriminating against citizens of other states.

What is required for a constitutional amendment according to Article V?

Two-thirds of Congress must propose and three-fourths of state legislatures or conventions must ratify.

What is separation of powers?

The division of power among several institutions that must cooperate in decision making.

What was the main concern of Federalists regarding government?

To prevent tyranny by a popular majority and support a strong national government.

What did Anti-Federalists prefer?

A decentralized federal government that limited the national government's power.

What did the First Continental Congress call for?

A total boycott of British goods and consideration of independence from British rule.

What did the Declaration of Independence aim to articulate?

A history and a set of principles for national unity.

What were the Articles of Confederation?

America's first written constitution, establishing a limited central government.

What was the outcome regarding representation from The Great Compromise?

The House of Representatives based on state population, and the Senate with equal representatives for each state.

What did the Three-Fifths Compromise determine?

Only 3/5ths of slaves would be counted towards population.

What is the necessary and proper clause?

It grants Congress the authority to make laws needed to exercise its powers.

What power does Article III of the Constitution grant the Supreme Court?

The power to resolve conflicts between federal and state laws.

What principle is established by Article IV regarding states?

States are prohibited from discriminating against citizens of other states.

What is required for a constitutional amendment according to Article V?

Two-thirds of Congress must propose and three-fourths of state legislatures or conventions must ratify.

What is separation of powers?

The division of power among several institutions that must cooperate in decision making.

What did Anti-Federalists prefer?

A decentralized federal government that limited the national government's power.

What is the timeline of key events leading to the formation of the US government?

1765: Stamp Act; 1773: Boston Tea Party; 1775: Battles of Lexington and Concord; 1776: Declaration of Independence; 1781: Articles of Confederation ratified; 1787: Constitutional Convention.

What are the main topics covered in the first five articles of the Constitution?

Article I: Establishes the Legislative Branch; Article II: Establishes the Executive Branch; Article III: Establishes the Judicial Branch; Article IV: Discusses the relationship between the states and the federal government; Article V: Describes the process for amending the Constitution.

What were the key differences between the Federalists and Anti-Federalists?

Federalists advocated for a strong central government and the ratification of the Constitution, while Anti-Federalists opposed the Constitution, preferring a smaller, decentralized government that preserved more state autonomy.

What section of the U.S. Constitution establishes Congress as the key policy-making figure?

Article I, Section 8.

What are Enumerated Powers?

Powers explicitly given by the Constitution.

What promoted popular sovereignty and eliminated collective dilemmas under the Articles of Confederation?

The establishment of a representative republican government.

What is the necessary and proper clause also known as?

The elastic clause; the necessary and proper clause; the implied powers clause.

What powers are not explicitly stated in the Constitution but deemed necessary?

Implied powers.

What is the principal-agent relationship established between the public and Congress members?

The public acts as principals, while Congress members act as agents.

What age must a senator be to serve in the U.S. Senate?

At least 30 years old.

How long do members of the House of Representatives serve before seeking reelection?

Two years.

What is the primary focus of the House of Representatives compared to the Senate?

The House focuses on people, while the Senate focuses on property.

What advantage do incumbents have in congressional elections?

Franking privilege and increased name recognition.

What are campaign strategies in Congress aimed at reelection called in the context of David Mayhew's work?

Credit-claiming, position-taking, and advertising.

What is the process of redrawing district lines to favor one political party called?

Gerrymandering.