Political Science 100 - Final Exam Study Guide Notes

Congress

• Major Functions:
  • Representation: Representing the interests of constituents.
  • Law Making: Creating new laws.
  • Executive Branch Oversight: Overseeing the executive branch.
• Operation:
  • Party role.
  • Committee system function.
  • Staffer roles and functions.
• Legislative Process:
  • How a bill becomes a law (steps).
• Oversight Responsibility: How Congress carries out its oversight responsibilities.

Presidency

• Evolution of Presidential Power: How the president has become increasingly more powerful.
• Powers of the President:
  • Statutory powers.
  • Constitutional powers.
  • How these powers are exercised.
• Executive Office of the President (EOP):
  • Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
  • USTR.
  • NEC.

Judiciary

• Judicial Review: The concept and its genesis.
• Court Systems:
  • Structure of the federal court system.
  • Structure of the California court system.
  • Similarities and differences between the two.
• Supreme Court:
  • How cases reach the Supreme Court.
  • Internal procedures of the court’s operation.
  • Factors influencing decisions.
    • Legal factors: Precedent, strict construction vs. living constitution.
    • Political factors: Justices’ political views.
    • Other considerations.

Economic Policy

• Economic Policies:
  • Fiscal policy.
  • Monetary policy.
  • Regulatory policies: Influence on the economy.
• Federal Reserve Board: Tools used to control the flow of money.

Public Policy

• Public Policy Process: Theoretical steps involved.

Social Policy

• National Government Involvement: Evolution in social policy.
• Federal Spending: Effect on mandatory and discretionary spending.

Foreign Policy

• Evolution of America’s Foreign Policy:
  • Theories.
  • Instruments.
  • Major approaches to understanding America’s role in the world.
• Branches and Actors:
  • President.
  • Congress.
  • The Courts.
  • Bureaucracy.
  • Media and interest groups.
  • IGOs and NGOs.
  • UN.
• Implementation:
  • Diplomacy.
  • Trade and economic policies.
  • Foreign aid.
  • Military force.

California vs. US Congress

• Similarities and Differences:
  • Term limits.
  • Item veto.
  • Apportionment and district size.
  • Media visibility.
  • Court appointments.
  • Filibuster.
  • Direct democracy (initiatives, referendum and recall).
  • Seniority.

California Governor vs. US President

• Similarities and Differences:
  • Appointments.
  • Independent executive actions.
  • Commander in chief.
  • Veto and line-item veto.
  • Plural executive structure of California government.

California Judicial System

• Structure:
  • Similarities and differences from the federal court system.
  • Judicial elections and retention election in California.

Budget

• Budget Basics:
  • What the budget is.
  • Its purpose.
  • Budgetary process at the state and federal level.
• Revenue and Expenditure:
  • Revenue sources of state and federal government.
  • Expenditure patterns of state and federal government.

Local Government in California

• Local Government Types: Different types and functions.
• Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO): Key function in incorporation of local governments.
• Powers of City/Municipal Governments:
  • Raise revenue and levy taxes.
  • License and service fees.
  • Law enforcement.
  • Eminent domain.
  • Reasons for incorporation.
• Revenue Sources and Expenditures: Of local governments in California.
• City Government Forms:
  • Council-manager.
  • Mayor-council.
  • Similarities and differences.

Government Types

• Differences:
  • Municipal government.
  • County.
  • Special districts.
  • Regional governments.
  • Services they provide.

Budget Formats

• Budget Formats:
  • Line-item.
  • Performance budget.
  • Planning, Programming Budgeting System (PPBS).
  • Zero base budgeting.
  • Advantages and disadvantages of each.

California Special Districts

• Special Districts: Advantages and disadvantages; are they necessary?