ap gov

Aight bih I got you — clean, concise, ONLY the test-worthy facts for AP Gov Chapters 7 & 8 (O’Connor/Sabato/Yanus). No fluff.

CHAPTER 7 — THE PRESIDENCY (TEST ESSENTIALS)

1. Constitutional Requirements

  • 35+ years old

  • Natural-born citizen

  • Resident 14 years

  • 4-year terms, 22nd Amendment = 2-term limit

2. Powers of the President

Formal (Constitutional)

  • Commander in Chief

  • Appointment power (cabinet, judges) → needs Senate approval

  • Treaties → Senate 2/3 approval

  • Veto power

  • Convene Congress

  • Pardons/Reprieves

Informal Powers

  • Executive orders

  • Executive agreements

  • Signing statements

  • Going public / using media

  • Bargaining & persuasion

3. The Presidential Establishment

  • Vice President – roles vary

  • Cabinet – heads of 15 departments

  • EOP (Executive Office of the President) – most important:

    • NSC (national security)

    • OMB (budget)

  • White House Staff – closest advisers, no Senate approval

4. Roles of the President

  • Chief Executive

  • Chief Legislator (agenda setting)

  • Commander in Chief

  • Chief Diplomat

  • Chief of State

  • Party Leader

5. Presidential Leadership

  • Power depends on public approval, relationships with Congress, and ability to persuade.

  • Modern presidency = expanded power beyond what founders expected.

CHAPTER 8 — THE BUREAUCRACY (TEST ESSENTIALS)

1. What Is the Bureaucracy?

  • The system of agencies, departments, and commissions that implement and enforce laws.

  • Grows when government responsibilities increase.

2. Types of Bureaucratic Agencies

  • Cabinet Departments (Defense, State, Education, etc.)

  • Independent Executive Agencies (NASA, EPA)

  • Independent Regulatory Commissions (FCC, SEC)

  • Government Corporations (USPS, Amtrak)

3. How Bureaucrats Are Chosen

  • Merit System → based on qualifications

  • Pendleton Act ended patronage/spoils system

  • Hatch Act limits political activity of federal workers

4. What Bureaucracies Do

  • Implement laws from Congress

  • Rule-making → agencies write regulations with force of law

  • Administrative discretion → choose how to enforce

  • Conduct enforcement & investigations

5. How the Bureaucracy Is Controlled

President

  • Appoints heads

  • Issues executive orders

  • Can reorganize the bureaucracy (limited)

Congress

  • Creates agencies

  • Funding (power of the purse)

  • Oversight hearings

  • Can rewrite laws to limit agency power

Courts

  • Judicial review on agency decisions

6. Why the Bureaucracy Has Power

  • Expertise

  • Continuity (stays longer than presidents)

  • Rule-making authority

If you memorize everything above, you’re straight for any AP Gov test on Ch. 7–8.

Want me to turn this into a rapid-fire quiz so you can practice real quick, bih?