American Federal Government Exam #2 Review Sheet

American Federal Government Exam #2 Review Sheet

1. Expressed Powers and Qualifications of Governmental Offices

President

  • Express Powers:

  • Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces

  • Grants pardons

  • Makes treaties (requires Senate approval)

  • Appoints Supreme Court justices and ambassadors (requires Senate approval)

  • Signs or vetoes legislation

  • Delivers the State of the Union Address

  • Qualifications:

  • At least 35 years old

  • Natural-born citizen

  • Resident of the U.S. for 14 years

Senate

  • Express Powers:

  • Ratifies treaties (requires a 2/3 vote)

  • Confirms presidential appointments (requires a majority vote)

  • Holds impeachment trials

  • Qualifications:

  • At least 30 years old

  • 9 years a U.S. citizen

  • Resident of the state they represent

House of Representatives

  • Express Powers:

  • Initiates all revenue and tax bills

  • Impeaches federal officials

  • Elects the president in case no candidate wins a majority in the Electoral College

  • Qualifications:

  • At least 25 years old

  • 7 years a U.S. citizen

  • Resident of the state they represent

  • ### Supreme Court

    • Powers:

    • Hears cases arising under the Constitution, federal laws, and treaties

    • Deals with cases involving ambassadors and disputes between states

    • Established the power of Judicial Review (ruling laws unconstitutional) through Marbury v. Madison

    • Qualifications:

    • No specific age, residency, or citizenship requirements mentioned in the Constitution.

2. Checks and Balances among the Branches of Government

Legislative Branch (Congress)

  • Checks on Executive:

  • Can override presidential vetoes with a 2/3 vote

  • Can impeach and remove the president

  • Approves treaties

  • Controls funding

  • Checks on Judicial:

  • Confirms federal judges

  • Can impeach judges

  • Can amend the Constitution to change court decisions

Executive Branch (President)

  • Checks on Legislative:

  • Can veto bills passed by Congress

  • Checks on Judicial:

  • Nominates Supreme Court justices and federal judges

  • Can issue pardons

  • ### Judicial Branch (Supreme Court)

    • Checks on Legislative:

    • Can declare laws passed by Congress unconstitutional

    • Checks on Executive:

    • Can declare presidential actions or executive orders unconstitutional

3. Public Perception of Government Branches

  • Overall, Americans view the federal government with low trust and high frustration.

  • The judicial branch is often considered more trusted than the executive or legislative branches.

  • Local and state governments tend to have the highest trust and approval.

  • Congress is perceived as the least trusted and least approved branch, with approval often tied to party control.

4. Voting Requirements in Congress for Different Matters

  • Bills: Majority (51% or more) in both House and Senate

  • Appointments: Majority vote in the Senate

  • Treaties: 2/3 vote (66.6%) of Senators present

  • Veto Overrides: 2/3 vote in both House and Senate

  • Cloture: 3/5 vote in Senate

  • Impeachment: Majority vote in House of Representatives

  • Removal: 2/3 vote in Senate

  • Amendments to Constitution: 2/3 vote in both House and Senate

5. Process by which a Bill Becomes Law

  • Introduction: A representative or senator proposes a bill, introducing it in their chamber.

  • Committee Action: The bill goes to a committee/subcommittee for study, hearings, and revisions.

  • Floor Action (Vote): The bill is debated and voted on by the full chamber (either House or Senate).

  • Second Chamber: The process repeats in the opposite chamber.

  • Conference Committee: If both chambers pass different versions, a committee reconciles them into one.

  • Presidential Approval: The president signs the bill into law or can veto it. A veto requires a 2/3 majority to override.

  • Most Common Bill Failures:

    • Committee: Most bills die in the initial committee or subcommittee stage.

    • Failed Vote: If voted down in either chamber, the bill fails.

    • Pocket Veto: If Congress adjourns and the President does not act on the bill within 10 days, it dies.

6. Role and Structure of Congressional Committees

  • Members of Congress are divided into standing committees to specialize in various areas of legislation, facilitating detailed review and discussion.

  • Committees play a crucial role in studying proposed legislation, holding hearings, and making recommendations to the entire chamber.

7. Differences in Legislative Process between Chambers

  • The legislative process in the House of Representatives can be more formal with specific rules governing debate and amendments while the Senate allows for more open discussion.

8. Role of the Rules Committee in the House

  • The Rules Committee establishes the rules for debate on the House floor, determining how long a bill can be debated and whether amendments can be offered.

9. Filibuster Mechanics and Conclusion

  • A filibuster is a tactic used to delay or block legislative action, typically through extended debate.

  • It can be ended by a cloture vote, which requires a 3/5 majority in the Senate.

10. Purpose of a Conference Committee

  • A conference committee is formed to reconcile differences between House and Senate versions of a bill, ensuring a consistent piece of legislation is sent to the President for approval.

11. Leadership Positions in Congress

  • Leadership positions include:

    • House of Representatives: Speaker of the House (leader of the majority party).

    • Senate: Majority Leader (leader of the majority party).

  • Leaders are typically selected by their respective party caucus.

12. Preventing Legislation in Congress

  • Leaders or members can prevent a bill from becoming law through means like:

    • Vote against it

    • Using procedural delays

    • Strategic committee assignments

13. President's Role in Legislative Process

  • The president has the power to propose laws and to veto legislation passed by Congress.

  • Legislative influence is limited by the need for congressional approval, and the president must work to build support.

14. Implied Powers of the President

  • Implied powers are not explicitly listed in the Constitution but are necessary for the president to perform their duties effectively. Presidents often interpret their powers broadly to execute laws.

15. Informal Powers of the President

  • Informal powers include persuasion, public appeal, setting the legislative agenda, and using media to influence public opinion and gain support for legislation.

16. Evolution of the State of the Union Address

  • The State of the Union Address has evolved from a written report to a significant televised event where the president outlines their agenda and priorities, influencing both public opinion and legislative priorities.

17. Differentiation of Roles: Head of Government vs. Head of State

  • Head of Government: Responsible for running the government and making policy decisions (e.g., President).

  • Head of State: Serves as a symbolic leader and representative of the country (e.g., President performing ceremonial duties).

18. Role of the Vice President

  • The vice president serves as an advisor to the president, presides over the Senate, and steps in as Acting President when necessary.

19. Presidential Appointments and Limitations

  • The president can appoint individuals to federal positions, including judges, ambassadors, and cabinet members. This power is limited by the need for Senate confirmation.

20. Structure of the American Legal System

  • The American legal system is divided into federal and state court systems, with the majority of cases tried at the state level.

21. Supreme Court Jurisdiction and Case Selection

  • The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction in limited cases, including those involving ambassadors and state disputes. Other cases reach the Supreme Court through appeals, and the Court decides which cases to hear via a vote.

22. Composition of the Supreme Court

  • The number of seats on the Supreme Court is determined by Congress, and members are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate.

23. Importance of Marbury v. Madison

  • Marbury v. Madison established the principle of judicial review, allowing the Supreme Court to declare laws unconstitutional.

24. Limitations on Supreme Court Power

  • The Supreme Court's power is limited by the need for cases to be brought before it and by the potential influence of Congress and the president on its functioning.

25. Largest Employer in the U.S. Government

  • The executive branch employs the greatest number of people in the U.S. government.

26. Structure and Administration of the Executive Branch

  • The executive branch is structured with the president at its head, supported by cabinet departments, independent agencies, and various offices to handle different areas of governance.

27. Role of the Federal Bureaucracy

  • The federal bureaucracy implements and enforces federal laws, with Congress and the president relying on bureaucrats for expertise and administration of policies.

28. Division of the Executive Branch into Departments

  • The executive branch is divided into Cabinet departments for specialized management of specific areas like education, defense, and health.

29. Presidential Oversight of Executive Branch

  • The president has direct oversight over Cabinet departments, but less direct control over independent regulatory commissions and agencies due to their established autonomy.

30. Evolution of U.S. Bureaucracy

  • The U.S. bureaucracy has undergone reforms aimed at increasing efficiency, transparency, and accountability while balancing the need for expert administration.

31. Relationship between Interest Groups, Bureaucracies, and Congressional Committees

  • Interest groups often influence bureaucratic agencies and congressional committees through lobbying, seeking favorable policies or regulations.

32. Policymaking Process Dynamics

  • Problems, policies, and politics interact in the policymaking process, differing from the idealized linear model due to complexity and negotiation involved.

33. Types of Policies Passed

  • Types of policies include redistributive policies, regulatory policies, contributory programs, and promotional policies addressing various societal needs.

34. Welfare Programs in the U.S.

  • Welfare programs like SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) provide support to low-income individuals. They are funded through government allocations.

35. Most Expensive Program in the U.S.

  • The U.S. spends the most on healthcare programs, particularly Medicare and Medicaid.

36. Budget Deficits vs. U.S. Debt

  • Budget Deficit: The annual shortfall when expenditures exceed revenue.

  • U.S. Debt: The total amount owed by the federal government, primarily to foreign countries and individuals holding government bonds without repayment.

37. Areas of Federal Control

  • The U.S. federal government has the most control over monetary policy and national defense.

38. Structure of U.S. Military Leadership

  • The U.S. military is structured under civilian control, with the President as Commander-in-Chief and the Secretary of Defense overseeing military operations.

39. Comparison of the U.S. Military

  • The U.S. military is one of the most powerful and technologically advanced in the world, surpassing most others in size and capabilities.

40. War Authority and Military Command

  • Congress decides whether the U.S. goes to war, while the President leads military operations once conflict begins.

41. National Security Strategies

  • Strategies include deterrence, defense agreements, and maintaining active intelligence gathering to safeguard national interests.

42. Tools for Achieving Foreign Policy Goals

  • Tools include diplomacy, economic sanctions, military interventions, and treaties to achieve policy objectives abroad.

43. Treaty Approval Process

  • Treaties are passed through a 2/3 approval in the Senate; alternatives include executive agreements that require only presidential consent.

44. Changes in the International System Post-World War II

  • The international system shifted towards a focus on multilateralism, international organizations, and global cooperation in addressing conflicts and issues.

Terms to Review

  • Key Terms:

    • Pocket Veto

    • Executive Order

    • Executive Agreement

    • Iron Triangle

    • Logrolling

    • Filibuster

    • Cloture

    • Patronage

    • Plaintiff

    • Judicial Review

    • Original Jurisdiction

    • Contributory Program

    • Promotional Policy

    • Regulatory Policy

    • Redistributive Policy

    • Subsidies

    • Penalties

    • Civil Law

    • Criminal Law

    • Cabinet Department

    • SNAP

    • TANF

    • Social Security

    • Isolationism

    • Policy Window

    • Preventive War

    • Preemption

    • Appeasement

    • Deterrence

    • Non-state Actors

    • Treaties

    • Joint Chiefs of Staff

    • Independent Agency

    • Cold War

    • Independent Regulatory Commission

    • Executive Office of the President