Final Review: Gov

1. Policy

Definition and Purpose:

• Public policy reflects government actions and societal values, focusing on "who gets what, when, and how much" (Harold Lasswell).

• Types include domestic/foreign and regulatory, distributive, and redistributive policies.

• Policy-Making Steps:

  • Identify problems (reactive to triggers like crises).

    • Triggers: Problems often arise from specific events or crises, prompting government action (reactive rather than proactive).

    • Example: Social Security's future insolvency is a known issue, but lack of immediate triggers delays action.

  • Define and frame problems politically.

    • Political framing of issues into specific categories, e.g., gun violence framed as bullying or gun rights.

  • Formulate, legitimize, and budget policies.

    • Allocating resources for policy implementation, influenced by economic and political considerations.

  • Implement, evaluate, and revise policies.

• Economic Policy – Two Approaches to Fiscal Policy:

  • Expansionary fiscal policy includes either increasing government spending or decreasing taxes.

  • Classical Liberalism (Adam Smith): less federal power

    • Minimal government involvement; focus on protecting property and enforcing contracts.

    • Belief in individual freedom to reap rewards of labor.

  • Key Developments:

    • The Great Depression/New Deal: Government took an active role in income security (e.g., SSA).

    • LBJ’s Great Society: Expanded government’s role in addressing poverty and inequality.

    • Education Policy: Federalism debate between Democrats (federal oversight) and Republicans (state/local control).

• Social Policy – Role for Government?:

  • Debate over collective vs. individual responsibilities.

  • Education:

    • K-12 is a right (funded by taxes), but post-secondary education is seen as a privilege.

    • Bush-era reforms like No Child Left Behind introduced accountability through standardized testing.

    • Rep think education should be at state and local levels --> lower levels of education. tend to be more efficient  

2. Congress

• Congressional Elections – Incumbent Advantages:

  • Advertising

    • Incumbents have ongoing media coverage and opportunities to highlight their achievements, ensuring they remain in voters' minds.

  • credit-claiming

    • Incumbents take credit for projects, policies, or legislation that benefit their constituents, showcasing their effectiveness in office.

    • Examples include securing federal funds for local projects or sponsoring bills.

  • position-taking help members secure reelection.

    • don’t take risky positions, they have risk-averse behavior and focus on the “permanent campaign.”

    • Incumbents can take stances on key issues that resonate with their constituents, shaping perceptions of their values and alignment with voter priorities.

• Congressional Leadership: ?

  • Importance of party leadership and committee chairs in guiding legislative priorities and outcomes.

  • Party Leadership

    1. Setting Legislative Agendas:

       • Party leaders, such as the Speaker of the House, Majority and Minority Leaders, and Whips, determine which bills are prioritized for debate and vote.

       • They shape the broader policy direction for their party, focusing on issues that align with their platform and resonate with their constituents.

    2. Building Consensus:

       • Leaders work to unify their party members, ensuring enough votes to pass legislation or block bills from the opposing party.

       • They negotiate with various factions within the party to maintain cohesion.

    3. Managing Floor Debates:

       • Leaders organize and oversee floor debates, deciding how much time is allotted and who gets to speak.

       • They influence the framing of key issues during debates to rally public and political support.

    4. Negotiating Across the Aisle:

       • Effective party leaders engage with the opposing party to find compromises, especially when dealing with closely divided chambers or contentious issues.

    5. Electoral Strategy:

       • Leadership positions allow parties to support members in vulnerable districts through fundraising, campaign strategy, and policy achievements to bolster reelection chances.

  • Committee Chairs

    1. Gatekeepers of Legislation:

       • Committee chairs control the flow of bills within their committees, deciding which bills get hearings, discussions, and votes.

       • They can effectively block legislation by refusing to schedule it, a process known as "pigeonholing."

    2. Shaping Policy Details:

       • Chairs oversee the drafting and amendment of legislation in committees, where the substantive work occurs.

       • They ensure that bills align with their party's priorities and ideological goals.

    3. Conducting Oversight:

       • Chairs lead investigations and oversight of executive branch activities, ensuring accountability and compliance with the law.

       • They can use this power to highlight issues or scandals that support their party’s narrative.

    4. Influence Through Expertise:

       • Committee chairs are typically senior members with deep knowledge of the issues under their committee’s jurisdiction, giving them significant influence over policy direction.

    5. Partisan Representation:

       • Committee chairs often reflect the partisan makeup of the chamber and the priorities of the majority party.

       • They are key players in advancing the party's legislative goals while sidelining opposition efforts.

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• David Mayhew on Congress:

  • Congress members are “single-minded seekers of reelection,” prioritizing visibility and constituent services.

• Committee Structure – How a Bill Becomes a Law:

  • Process:

    • House: Bill introduction → Committee → Subcommittee → Rules Committee → Floor debate/vote.

    • Senate: Bill introduction → Committee → Floor debate (with amendments/riders).

  • Pigeonholing: Committees can “kill” a bill by not acting on it.

  • Amendments:

    • Germane (relevant) in the House; both germane and non-germane in the Senate.

    • Logrolling: Vote trading to ensure passage of bills.

  • Filibuster:

    • Senate tactic to delay/block legislation; requires a 60-vote cloture to end debate.

    • Recent changes: "Nuclear option" removed filibusters for certain presidential appointments.

• Congress’s Role in Making Foreign Policy:

  • Declares war, funds initiatives, and approves treaties.

  • War Powers Act (1973):

    • Requires the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of military action.

    • Congress must approve within 60 days or troops must be withdrawn.

3. The Presidency

• The Five Stages of the Presidential Election:

  • Primary frontloading, open/closed primaries, caucuses, and the Electoral College.

• Three Ways to Study:

  • Individual: Personality-driven actions and leadership style.

  • Office: Institutional constraints and powers.

  • Power: Neustadt’s emphasis on persuasion as the true power of the presidency.

• Chief Roles of the President:

  • Chief Legislator: Influences lawmaking and budgeting, but limited by Congress’s authority.

  • Chief Diplomat: Negotiates treaties, appoints ambassadors, and uses executive agreements (e.g., Paris Climate Accord).

  • Chief Executive:

    • Issues executive orders (temporary directives bypassing Congress).

    • Uses executive privilege to protect sensitive information (e.g., U.S. v. Nixon set limits).

4. The Bureaucracy

• Role of Regulatory Agencies:

  • Implement policy, operate quasi-legislatively and quasi-judicially.

  • Bureaucratic discretion allows flexibility but raises concerns about accountability.

• Democratic Dilemma:

  • Bureaucracy’s complexity can hinder transparency and public trust.

  • Iron Triangle: Close relationships between Congress, agencies, and interest groups.

• Legislative Veto:

  • Declared unconstitutional in INS v. Chadha (1983) but highlights the tension between legislative and executive control.

5. The Courts

• Marbury vs. Madison:

  • Established judicial review, allowing courts to nullify unconstitutional laws.

• Dual Court System:

  • Federal and state courts handle different types of cases.

• Five Factors in Judicial Decision Making:

  • Legal precedent, personal ideology, public opinion, institutional constraints, and case specifics. b

• Ideological Makeup of the Current Court:

  • Conservative majority shapes rulings on key issues like abortion, gun rights, and administrative authority.