ap gov 7-8

executive branch

What distinguishes the modern presidency from the institution originally envisioned by the Framers of the Constitution?

The modern presidency has become the central focus of American politics since the 1930s, supplanting Congress as the “first branch” of government.

\n In The Federalist 70, Alexander Hamilton states that “energy in the executive is a leading character in the definition of good government.” In this statement, Hamilton is arguing in favor of the need for

a single executive who can respond quickly to crises

\n Why was it significant that George Washington was the first person elected to the presidency?

His early actions served to establish important precedents that greatly increased the political legitimacy of the office.

\n Which of the following is an example of the executive branch implementing a public policy passed by Congress?

The Department of Health and Human Services determines eligibility requirements for government assistance.

\n Which of the following situations is an example of the president using the bully pulpit as a tool for agenda setting?

President Reagan delivering a televised address urging a reduction in federal taxes

\n Lobbyists from the Airlines for America, an advocacy group that represents commercial airlines, work with members of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and officials from the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to discuss a new policy that addresses issues of airline safety. This scenario best illustrates

an iron triangle

 

In 2012, after negotiations on a bill in Congress failed, President Obama issued an executive order that protected from deportation individuals illegally brought to the United States as children by their parents. The president took this action because

disagreement between congressional leaders and the president on the issue meant that a compromise on a bill was not likely

Which presidential power gives the president the ability to control what happens inside departments and agencies during their terms and to shape the federal judiciary (including the Supreme Court) far into the future?

appointment

Why was the Twenty-Fifth Amendment to the Constitution adopted?

to clear up ambiguities over the constitutional provisions surrounding the role of the vice president should the president die or become incapacitated

\n Shortly after the 2008 election, President Obama appointed outspoken and controversial House member Rahm Emanuel to lead his White House as chief of staff. The selection drew criticism from Republican leaders, including House minority leader John Boehner, who remarked that the selection “is an ironic choice for a president-elect who has promised to change Washington, make politics more civil, and govern from the center.”               Which of the following explains how Congress could legitimately respond to the appointment?

Members of Congress could issue statements opposing the appointment but have no formal power to block it.

\n The Web site healthcare.gov was launched on October 1, 2013, to help citizens purchase health insurance for themselves in accordance with the Affordable Care Act. Within two hours of launch the site crashed. Once it was restored, problems continued, leading to difficulty for users. The following year, Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius was called to testify before the House Energy and Commerce Committee to discuss the issue.                    

The committee held this hearing as part of which of the following functions?

oversight

\n Which of the following scenarios best illustrates a formal check on the power of the bureaucracy?

The secretary of defense being called to testify before a congressional committee

What was the turning point that gave rise to the modern institutional presidency?

the economic and social turmoil of the Great Depression

Which of the following are powers of the president?

I, II, and IV only

\n Which of the following leadership abilities is critical to presidential success?

the ability to persuade members of Congress and the American public

\n Which best describes the president’s constitutional duty to Congress?

The president must give Congress an occasional update on the state of the union.

Cabinet departments differ from independent regulatory agencies in which of the following ways?

The President can dismiss cabinet officers, but not commissioners of independent regulatory agencies.

\n A fundamental source of power for the federal bureaucracy lies in its

ability to set specific guidelines after receiving a general mandate from Congress

\n Which of the following explains how the bureaucracy can address a problem shown in the infographic?

The Department of Transportation can write stronger regulations on freight volume.

\n Which of the following scenarios best illustrates delegated discretionary authority?

Congress giving the Environmental Protection Agency the power to establish national pollution standards

\n Which of the following explains how Congress would most likely respond if it were concerned about the slight increase in spending over time, as indicated by the bar chart?

Congress could vote to reduce spending on the Department of Homeland Security in the next year’s budget.

Bureaucracy- Implementation

carry out laws of congress, executive orders of the president

bureaucracy- regulation

issue rules and regulations that impact the public

bureaucracy- rule making

an agency’s ability to make rules that affect how programs operate and to force states and corporations to obey these rules as if they were laws

Bureaucracy - Discretionary Authority

allows the federal bureaucracy to have some level of flexibility in decision-making

Bureaucracy - Independent Regulatory Commissions

largely beyond the reach of presidential direction and control

judicial and legislative like powers

regulate a specific economic activity or interest

Bureaucracy - Independent Executive Agencies

established by congress w/ separate status outside the executive branch

Given specific mandate and generally perform a service function

formal powers of the president

explicitly listed in article 2 of constitution

commander in chief, treaties, appointment