Government Actions

Pass or amend laws

Legislative

Issue executive orders

Executive

Judicial Review

Judicial

Protest

Linkage Institutions/Public

Pass state laws

States (Federalism)

Direct Bureaucracy

Executive

Lobby or petition

Linkage Institutions/Public

Control Funding (power of the purse)

Legislative

Judicial activism or restraint

Judicial

Donate or vote

Linkage Institutions/Public

Conduct oversight hearing

Legislative

Refuse federal funding

State (Federalism)

Use media (bully pulpit)

Executive (president!)

Propose constitutional amendments

Legislative

Media agenda setting

Linkage Institutions/Public

Refuse to hear cases

Judicial

Delay enforcement of federal policy

States (Federalism)

Override vetoes

Legislative

Refuse enforcement (rare)

Executive

File amicus briefs

Linkage Institutions/Public

Judicial Review

The court has the power to rule on the constitutionality of laws.

Came from Fed 78 and Marbury v. Madison

Judicial Activism

The idea that courts should act as an instrument of policy, making it much more like the other two branches of government

Tend to look beyond the text of the Constitution and choose to consider the broader social implications of their decisions.

Judicial Restraint

The idea that judges should pay close attention to the precedent when they make their decisions and that any changes that they make to the law should be gradual.

Media agenda setting

Media's bias on things such as politics, economy and culture

Amicus Briefs

A legal document that individuals or organizations submit to the court because they have an interest in the pending case

Oversight hearings

A Congressional committee that reviews the implementation of laws.

Direct Bureaucracy

Government employees interact directly with the public.