Gov. Sem 1

According to the Constitution, what qualifications should a presidential candidate have?

be at least 35 years of age,

a natural born citizen,

and must have lived in the United States for at least 14 years

What are the official roles of a U.S. president?

Foreign diplomat

Draft the national budget

Appoint government officials (cabinet and judges)

Define executive order. Provide an example.

An executive order is a regulation issued by the president that has the effect of a law. Example: Executive Order 9066 issued in 1942, which led to the mass incarceration of Japanese Americans in internment camps.

According to the constitution, what must be proven in order to remove a president from office?

They committed a high crime or misdemeanor

Which chamber of Congress can bring charges of impeachment against a president?

House of Reps

Which chamber can hold a trial in impeachment cases?

Senate

Describe another check on the presidency by Congress.

Congress has to approve the president's appointments/nominations

What are the national security powers of the president?

Commander in chief of armed forces (direct troops)

What are the chief diplomat powers of the president?

Make treaties with other nations

Nominates ambassadors and receives ambassadors

Each with Senate approval

What are the legislative powers of the president?

veto/pocket veto

What are the administrative powers of the president?

Execute federal law

Nominate officials

What are the judicial powers of the president?

Grants pardons

Nominates federal judges

If a President is unable to complete his/her term, who takes over?

The vice president

After the Vice-President, who is next in line for the Presidency?

Speaker of the house

What does the 20th Amendment state?

Sets the inauguration date for new presidential terms and the date for new sessions of Congress.

What does the 22nd Amendment state?

Limits to two the number of terms a president of the United States may serve.

What does the 25th Amendment state?

In case of the removal of the President from office or of his death or resignation, the Vice President shall become President.

Define executive privilege:

The president has the power to refuse to release information to congress or a court

Which departments make up the President's cabinet? What is the role of the heads of these departments? Provide an example.

15 heads of executive departments, such as the Attorney General, who is the head of the Department of Justice. Heads of these departments are called secretaries. Departments include the Interior, Commerce, USDA (agriculture), Homeland Security, Defense etc.

What is the difference between the Executive Office of the President and the White House Staff?

Executive Office of the President

Office of Management and Budget: oversee federal budget

National Security Council: advise President on national security and foreign policies

The Council of Economic Advisors: advise on economic policy

White House Staff

Close advisors to President

In Federalist No. 70, what is Hamilton's argument about the chief executive? Describe the four "ingredients" needed for an "energetic" executive.

unity

duration: term long enough to promote stability

an adequate provision for its support (salary)

competent powers

What is the State of the Union address and what is its purpose?

Communication from the President to Congress in which the chief executive reports on the current condition of the United States and provides policy proposals for the upcoming legislative year.

Define bully pulpit:

president addresses the people directly to express his views on a matter and how he/she wants to respond to the issue

Explain how technology has affected presidential communication.

social media?

enhance their power by appealing directly to the American public.

Provide an example of when a president interpreted/defended their use of presidential powers.

eisenhower and federalizing the national guard

What is meant by "bureaucracy"?

An unelected official making decisions for a population

What role does the bureaucracy play in the federal government?

The bureaucracy formulates and enforces public policy.

What are two "checks" on the bureaucracy?

Congress can eliminate funding.

Congress can invalidate actions of the bureaucracy (if they are viewed as unconstitutional).

Describe the structure of Congress.

Bicameral legislature- house of reps (435) and senate (100)

What is a filibuster? What is its purpose?

Senators talk to delay/prevent voting on a piece of legislation

Define cloture:

vote to end debate of a bill in the senate

What is the House Rules Committee? What does it do?

Controlled by the speaker of the house, reviews bills submitted, assigns bills a calendar date, allocates time for debate, sets guidelines for floor debates, decides whether a bill may be amended or not

What is a Conference Committee? What does it do?

Works out differences in a bill if passed in different versions by the house and senate. Members are drawn from both houses to reach an agreement. If agreed, the report is issued, they vote, and the bill goes to the president

What is meant by congressional oversight?

Broad congressional powers to review of the executive branch is obeying the law

List the leadership positions of the House of Representatives and their responsibilities:

speaker of the house: presides over HOR, oversees house business, stands second in line of succession to the presidency→ elected by HOR, comes from party with the most seats

floor leaders: representative of each party elected to help manage the actions and strategy of their party

majority leader: assistant to the speaker

minority leader: acts as chief spokesperson for the minority party in the house

List the leadership positions of the Senate and their responsibilities:

president of the senate: can break ties, delegates responsibilities to other members

president pro tempore: temp. president, most senior member of majority party

senate majority leader: chief legislator, sets the legislative calendar, guides party caucus on issues and party proposals

Define redistricting:

redrawing district lines

Define gerrymandering:

drawing of district boundaries for political advantage

What is the power of impeachment and what is the role of the House and the Senate in this process?

Impeachment charges can be brought on any elected official by the House of Representatives. To be removed from office, the senate must try or judge impeachment cases.

What are some advantages that the majority party in Congress possesses over the minority party?

The Speaker of the House comes from the majority party and is third in line to the presidency if both president and vice president leave office.

Describe the legislative process (how a bill becomes a law). What are three steps along the way that make this process difficult?

Congress member introduces bill

Bill goes to subcommittee (research, hearings, and revisions)

Bill goes to standing committee (formal report, revisions, decides whether to pass it on for debate or kill it)

Bill introduced on debate floor (committee members serve as authorities, rally support, amendments)

If passed by both houses, it's sent to the president to pass or veto

List three ways in which Congress can check the power of the executive branch and judicial branch.

The judicial branch can be checked by congress starting the amendment process of the constitution. Congress can check executive branch by voting to override a presidential veto, congressional oversight, and oversight of the budget prepared by the executive branch.

How does the judicial branch check the power of Congress?

Judicial review- judicial branch reviews the constitutionality of laws.

How does the executive branch check the power of Congress?

The executive branch can veto or pocket-veto a bill where he/she can refuse to sign the bill into law

Explain the trustee model of voting.

Rep votes in the best interests of the constituent

Explain the politico model of voting.

The balance between the delegate and trustee model

Explain the delegate model of voting.

Vote how a constituent would

Explain the Supreme Court's decision in Baker v. Carr (1962).

The supreme court making reapportionment policies ruled unconstitutional

Explain the Supreme Court's decision in Shaw v. Reno (1993).

Against reno- districts drawn only based on race were unconstitutional

What is a divided government and how does it affect governing?

When one party controls one branch and others are controlled by opposite parties. May become difficult to pass legislation because the parties don't agree.

Define logrolling:

lawmakers trading votes for bills

What is a pocket veto?

If the President does not sign a bill within 10 days and congress adjourns, it is vetoed and cannot be overridden.

List four enumerated powers of Congress.

Coinage, foreign affairs, bankruptcy, and government budget, interstate commerce, national defense

What are the special powers of the House of Representatives?

Can bring charges of impeachment against a president, VP, or other civil officers, initiates revenue bills, and choose president if the electoral college is deadlocked

What are the special powers of the Senate?

Can approve treaties negotiated by the president (2/3s vote), possesses sole power to try or judge impeachment cases, confirms executive appointments, confirms judicial appointments

What is fiscal federalism?

Federal money distributed to states.

What are categorical grants?

Grants that are given to states only for a specific purpose.

What are block grants?

Grants given to states with a very vague purpose- more freedom of choice for state spending.

What is a mandate and how does it affect state and local governments?

Regulations imposed on state governments. Either funded or unfunded- states have to pay or the federal government will pay.

What is the difference between enumerated powers and implied powers?

Enumerated powers are explicitly stated in the constitution. Implied powers are not stated directly, but can be implied.

Explain the confederal system?

Many small local governments- ex. Articles of confederation

Explain the federal system?

Federal and state governments- always a democracy.

Explain the unitary system?

One central government with absolute power.

What is dual federalism?

State and federal governments seen as equal authorities- do not overlap.

What is cooperative federalism?

National and state governments work together to address matters. State governments must follow federal rules/guidelines to receive funding.

Explain the Supreme Court's decision in McCulloch v. Maryland (1809).

Supremacy clause and necessary + proper clause. Federal government has the power to establish national banks.

Explain the Supreme Court's decision in United States v. Lopez (1995).

The federal government had overextended power with gun-free school zones act. Upheld state sovereignty + commerce clause.

Explain the Necessary and Proper Clause.

Gives Congress the power to pass laws deemed necessary and proper to facilitate the full exercise of the powers delegated to the federal government.

Explain the Commerce Clause.

The enumerated power of Congress to regulate commerce with foreign nations, among the states, and with Native tribes.

Explain the Supremacy Clause.

The Constitution and federal laws take priority over any conflicting rules of state law.

Explain the Extradition Clause.

Criminals must be returned to the state they committed the crime in.

Explain the Full Faith and Credit Clause.

State laws have to be open and accessible to everyone. States must respect each other's laws.

Explain the Privileges and Immunities Clause.

Assures all citizens are treated equally when they travel from state to state.