poli sci exam 3

House of Representatives

2 year terms, closer to the people

Senate

6 year terms, more insulated

Permanent Campaign

Members (especially in the House) are always campaigning

Approval

Congress is overall unpopular, but individual members tend to be liked due to constituency service

Trustee Model

Representatives use their own judgement

Delegate Model

Representatives follow constituents wishes

Electoral Connection

Actions of Congress members are motivated by reelection

Incumbency Advantage

name recognition, fundraising, media coverage, casework and constituent services, gerrymandering “safe” districts

Apportionment

Distribution of House seats by population

Reapportionment

Adjusting seats after census

Redistricting

Redrawing district lines

Gerrymandering

Redrawing lines in favor of a group/party

Alabama Senators

Katie Britt, Tommy Tubberville

Alabama 1st District HoR member

Barry Moore

Alabama 2nd District HoR member

Shomari Figures

Alabama 3rd District HoR member

Mike Rogers

Alabama 4th District HoR member

Robert Aderholt

Alabama 5th District HoR member

Dale Strong

Alabama 6th District HoR member

Gary Palmer

Alabama 7th District HoR member

Terri Sewell

Number of Senators

100

Number of House of Representatives

435

Gridlock

Inability to act due to partisanship

Logrolling

Trading votes

Earmarks

Funding for local projects

Leadership

Speaker of the House, Majority/Minority Leaders

Committees

Handle specialized policy areas

Roll-Call votes

Publicly recorded votes

Senate Majority Leader

John Thune

Senate Minority Leader

Chuck Schumer

Speaker of the House

Mike Johnson

House Majority Leader

Steve Scalise

House Minority Leader

Hakeem Jeffries

Stages of Bill to Law

• bill introduction/sponsorship

• committee review and markup

• floor debate

• voting in house/senate

• presidential action (sing/veto)

• veto override

Senate Filibuster

Leads to unlimited debate

Cloture

60 votes to end a filibuster

Veto override

2/3 in both chambers

omnibus legislation

Large, bundled bills

Reconciliation

Budget process exempt from filibuster

Oversight

Congress monitors executive agencies

Presidential Power

Expanded due to crises, public expectations and broad interpretations of Article II. Increased use of executive orders, agreements, and unilateral action.

Constitutional Authority

Powers directly granted in the Constitution (commander in chief, veto, appointments)

Statutory Authority

Powers granted by Congress via legislation

Vesting Clause

“The executive power shall be vested in a President.” Used to justify broad authority and inform the unitary executive theory.

Oath of Office

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.” Solemn promise required by law to swear loyalty to the U.S. Constitution.

Head of State

Ceremonial, diplomatic representative

Head of Government

Political leader and policymaker

Key Presidential Powers: Appointments

Cabinet, agency heads, federal judges

Key Presidential Powers: Executive Orders

Directives with force of law

Key Presidential Powers: Commander in Chief

Military head, limited by War Powers Resolution

Key Presidential Powers: Executive Agreements

Do not require Senate approval

Key Presidential Powers: State of the Union

Annual policy speech

Key Presidential Powers: Veto Power

Regular veto and pocket veto

Key Presidential Powers: Pardons

Forgiveness of federal crimes

Key Presidential Powers: Executive Privilege

Withholding information (limited by courts.)

Unitary Executive Theory

Constitutional doctrine asserting that the President of the United States has sole and absolute authority over the entire executive branch, including the power to control, supervise, and remove all executive officials.

EOP (Executive Office of the President)

Includes key entities: OMB, NSC, CEA, and top advisors

Cabinet

Heads of the 15 major departments

22nd Amendment

Limits the President to only serving 2 terms, totaling no more than 8 years

25th Amendment

Establishes clear procedures for presidential succession and disability. Allows for the Vice President to become president if the President dies or resigns.

War Powers Resolution 1973

Federal law designed to check the President's power to commit the U.S. to armed conflict without congressional authorization.

Presidential Honeymoons

Period of time at the beginning of Presidency in which approval ratings are at an all time high

Inevitable Decline Theory

States that after Honeymoon approval ratings will inevitably decline significantly

Regulatory Agencies

independent, legislative-created government bodies that establish and enforce standards to protect public health, safety, and fairness across industries.

Independent Agencies

specialized bodies created by Congress to operate outside the direct control of the executive branch, typically to manage technical matters or regulate industries free from political pressure.

Government Corporations

agencies chartered by the U.S. government to perform public functions of a business, market-oriented nature.

Spoils system

Political practice where winning parties reward supporters with government jobs, strengthening party loyalty but often replacing qualified personnel with political loyalists.

Meritocracy

A system where power and rewards are assigned based on individual ability and achievement rather than social, cultural, or economic background.

Bureaucracy

Agencies implementing federal laws

Tasks of Bureaucracy

• implementation

• regulation

• enforcement

• rule making

Article 3

Establishes the judicial branch, vesting federal judicial power in one Supreme Court and inferior courts ordained by Congress.

District/Trial Courts

Lowest Level of Courts

Appeals/Appellate/Circuit Courts

Middle Level of the Court System

Supreme Court

Highest Level of Courts

Supreme Court

Lifetime appointment, appointed by President, confirmation by Senate

Marbury v. Madison 1803

Established the principle of judicial review, affirming the Supreme Court's power to declare acts of Congress and the executive branch unconstitutional.

Judicial Review

Power of courts to examine and invalidate legislative and executive actions that violate the constitution.

Chief Supreme Court Justice

John Roberts

Current balance of Supreme Court

6-3 Republican majority

Original Jurisdiction

Trial-level authority

Appellate Jurisdiction

Authority to review decisions

Original Intent

Interpreting the Constitution as intended

Regulatory Policy

The laws, rules, and government-imposed restrictions designed to guide, control, or manage business practices, economic activities, and societal behaviors

Fiscal Policy

Taxing/spending (Congress plus President)

Monetary Policy

Money supply/interest rates (Federal Reserve)

Budget Deficit

When spending is more than revenue

Federal Debt

Accumulate deficits

Balanced Budget

When spending is equal to the revenue

Mandatory spending

Required spending, such as Social Security and Medicare

Discretionary Spending

Congress decides yearly on things such as defense and education

Budget Reconciliation

Special process to expedite budget legislation

Individual Taxes

Taxes on wages, salaries, and investments.

Corporate Taxes

Taxes separate from their owners, calculated by total revenue

Payroll Taxes

Taxes on employee wages to fund social programs such as Social Security

Supply-side/Reaganomics Economics

Tax cuts increase investment and economic growth

New Deal

First major federal welfare program in response to the Great Depression

Great Society

Expanded social safety nets (Medicare, Medicaid)

Affordable Care Act

Modern healthcare reform

War on Poverty

Initiative to eliminate poverty through US reform, economic opportunity and education

Social Security

Retirement/disability benefits