gov 11/7

let us fill the sky with the light of a brilliant, brilliant billion of stars.

the democratic principle that the will of the people is reflected in government debates and decisions by their representatives, is shown in the bicameral structure of Congress.

Republicanism

The ______ is designed to represent states equally

the _______ is designed to represent the people.

Senate

House

Debate in the _____, which has ____ members, is more formal than in the _____, with ___ members.

House; 435; Senate; 100

One-third of the Senate is elected every ____ years, creating a continuous legislative body. All House members are elected every ___ years.

two

The enumerated and implied powers in the Constitution allow Congress to participate in the public policy process by:

1. Passing a federal budget, raising revenue by laying and collecting taxes, borrowing money, and coining money

2. Declaring war and providing the funds necessary to maintain the armed forces

3. Determining the process for naturalization by which people can become citizens of the U.S.

4. Regulating interstate commerce.

5. Enacting legislation under the authority of the necessary and proper clause

6. Conducting oversight of the executive branch, including federal agencies in the bureaucracy

Both chambers refer bills to __________, which conduct hearings and debate and mark up bills with revisions and additions.

Leadership in committees is determined by the _______ party.

committees; majority

Chamber-specific rules and procedures (House)

• In the House, the Speaker is elected by a majority of members and presides over the legislative work

• All revenue bills must originate in the House.

• Rules for debate in the House on a bill are established by the Rules Committee.

• The House can form a Committee of the Whole in order to expedite debate on bills.

  • An individual representative in the House can file a discharge petition to have a bill brought to the floor for debate, but it is rarely done.

Chamber-specific rules and procedures (Senate)

• In the Senate, bills are typically brought to the floor by unanimous consent, but a Senator may request a hold on a bill to prevent it from getting to the floor for a vote.

• During debate, a Senator can use the filibuster (a tactic to prolong debate and delay or prevent a vote on a bill) or make a motion for cloture (a procedure to end a debate).

• When a bill passed by both chambers on the same topic has variation in its wording, a conference committee meets to reconcile those differences.

Required by law for entitlement programs such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.

Mandatory spending

Approved on an annual basis for defense spending, education, and infrastructure.

As entitlement costs grow, these types of spending opportunities will decrease unless tax revenues increase or the budget deficit increases.

Discretionary spending

funding for a local project in a larger appropriation bill

Pork-barrel legislation

combining several pieces of legislation into one bill to secure enough votes for passage

logrolling

A representative who conceives of their role as a ______ will vote on issues based on their own knowledge and judgement.

trustee

A representative acting as a ______ sees themselves as an agent of those who elected them and will vote on issues based on the interests of their constituents.

delegate

A ______ uses a combination of these role conceptions. (delegate + trustee)

politico

The powers of the president include both ______ and ______ powers.

formal; informal

formal powers

• Vetoes and Pocket Vetoes

  • enables the president to check Congress

  • vetoes can be overridden with a 2/3 vote while pocket vetoes cannot be overridden with a 2/3 vote.

• Foreign policy powers that influence relations with foreign nations

  • (commander-in-chief and treaties) and informal (executive agreements).

informal powers

• Bargaining and persuasion

  • enable the president to secure congressional action

• Executive Orders

  • allow the president to manage the federal government and are implied by the president’s vested executive power or by power delegated by Congress.

• Signing Statements

  • inform Congress and the public of the president’s interpretation of laws passed by Congress and signed by the president.

Federalist no. 70

offers justifications for a single executive by arguing that a strong executive is “essential to the protection of the country against foreign attacks, to the steady administration of the laws, to the protection of property, and to the security of liberty.”

22nd Amendment

established presidential term limits (demonstrates concern about the expansion of presidential power.)

The foundation for powers of the judicial branch and the argument for how its independence checks the power of other branches is set forth in the following documents,

• Article III

• Fed no. 78

the legal doctrine under which courts follow legal precedents when deciding cases with similar facts

Stare decisis

asserts that judicial review allows the courts to overturn current Constitutional and case precedent or invalidate legislative or executive acts.

Judicial activism

asserts that judicial review should be constrained to decisions that adhere to current Constitutional and case precedent.

Judicial restraint

Restrictions on the Supreme Court are represented by:

i. Congressional legislation to modify the impact of prior Supreme Court decisions

ii. Ratification of a Constitutional amendment

iii. Judicial appointments and confirmations which may shift the ideological balance of the court

iv. The president and states delaying implementation of a Supreme Court decision

v. Enacting Legislation to limit the cases the Supreme Court can hear on appeal by removing the court’s jurisdiction over a case

The federal bureaucracy is composed of departments, agencies, commissions, and government corporations that implement policy by:

i. Writing and enforcing regulations

ii. Issuing fines

iii. Testifying before Congress

iv. Forming iron triangles (alliances of congressional committees, bureaucratic agencies, and interest groups that are prominent in specific policy areas)

v. Creating issue networks (temporary coalitions that form to promote a common issue or agenda)

EXPLAIN HOW the federal bureaucracy uses delegated discretionary authority for rule making and implementation.

The federal bureaucracy uses discretionary power as delegated by Congress to interpret and implement policies.

Through their rule-making authority, federal bureaucratic agencies utilize their discretion to create and enforce regulations.

Congressional oversight of the bureaucracy to ensure that legislation is implemented as intended includes:

i. Review, monitoring, and supervision of bureaucratic agencies

ii. Investigation and committee hearings of bureaucratic activity

iii. Power of the purse (the ability of Congress to check the bureaucracy by appropriating or withholding funds)

ensures that funds are being used properly and regulations are being followed.

Compliance monitoring