AP Gov Unit 2 Exam Review

Unit Two: Interaction Among Branches of Government

Congress

  • House of Representatives

    • 435 members based on population.

    • Each representative serves a specific district within their state.

    • Serves two-year terms.

    • More formal and rules-based than the Senate.

  • Senate

    • 100 members, two from each state, providing equal representation.

    • Senators serve six-year terms.

    • Less formal and fewer rules compared to the House.

Powers and Functions

  • House of Representatives

    • Initiates all tax and revenue bills.

    • Has the power of impeachment.

    • Features a Rules Committee to set debate rules for bills, which does not exist in the Senate.

    • Can form a Committee of the Whole to expedite voting with all members.

  • Senate

    • Confirmation power: validates presidential nominations.

    • Can ratify treaties.

    • Filibusters: allows extended debate with no time limit, enabling senators to speak indefinitely to delay a vote.

    • Cloture: requires a three-fifths vote (60 out of 100) to end a filibuster.

    • Senators can issue holds to delay action on bills.

    • Unanimous consent agreements can expedite processes.

Leadership in Congress

  • Committees

    • Most important: Standing Committees, which are permanent and review bills.

    • Committee chairs are from the majority party.

    • The Speaker of the House leads the House, setting the agenda and promoting party policies.

    • The Vice President is the President of the Senate, mainly voting in ties.

    • The Senate Majority Leader is the most powerful in the Senate, akin to the Speaker.

The Power of the Purse

  • Federal Spending Types

    • Discretionary Spending: requires annual approval and can be altered year to year through budget.

    • Mandatory Spending: occurs automatically without congressional action, commonly on entitlement programs.

    • Over two-thirds of federal spending is mandatory, including Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.

    • Pork Barrel Legislation: provides benefits to specific districts.

    • Logrolling: trading votes on different bills among legislators.

Congressional Behavior

  • Models of Representation

    • Delegate: vote with constituents' preferences.

    • Trustee: votes based on personal judgment even if constituents disagree.

    • Politico: a mix of delegate and trustee roles depending on context.

Redistricting and Gerrymandering

  • Reapportionment: adjusts House seats based on the census every ten years.

  • Congressional Redistricting: states redraw district maps.

  • Gerrymandering: drawing district shapes for political advantage, legally permitted.

  • Malapportionment: illegal; results in districts of unequal size (Baker v. Carr).

  • Racial Gerrymandering: illegal; districts cannot be drawn solely based on race (Shaw v. Reno).

Divided Government

  • Occurs when the president, Senate, and House are controlled by different parties, leading to policy gridlock reducing effectiveness in passing legislation and confirmations.

Presidential Powers

  • Formal Powers

    • Power to veto and execute pocket vetoes.

    • Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces.

  • Informal Powers

    • Executive Agreements: bypass Senate ratification.

    • Executive Orders: manage bureaucracy and set regulations without congressional approval.

    • Signing Statements: express the president's interpretation of legislation.

    • Bargaining and Persuasion: influence legislation and public opinion.

Tension Between Congress and the President

  • Confirmation Power: Senate confirms presidential appointments, creating potential tension.

  • Presidential judicial appointments are influential, as judges serve for life.

  • Some presidential staff positions do not require Senate confirmation.

Presidential Communication

  • Use of the bully pulpit: leveraging public visibility to influence Congress and public opinion.

  • State of the Union Address: communicates agenda and solicits public support to encourage congressional action.

  • Modern communication through social media allows direct engagement with the public.

Judicial Branch

  • Article III: outlines judicial powers but lacks detail.

  • Judicial Independence: Hamilton's argument in Federalist No. 78 for life tenure to avoid influence from other branches.

  • Judicial Review: established in Marbury v. Madison; courts can declare laws unconstitutional.

  • Precedent and Stare Decisis: courts generally follow past decisions unless overruling is deemed necessary.

Judicial Philosophies

  • Judicial Activism: courts assert power to protect rights and the Constitution actively.

  • Judicial Restraint: courts should defer to elected branches and limit their own power.

Federal Bureaucracies

  • Enforce and implement laws passed by Congress.

  • Merit System: ensures appointments based on qualifications to eliminate patronage.

  • Types of bureaucratic agencies:

    • Cabinet Departments: largest with broad responsibilities.

    • Executive Agencies: provide specific public services (e.g., EPA).

    • Independent Regulatory Commissions: regulate specific industries.

    • Government Corporations: provide services that could be offered by the private sector.

Tasks of Federal Agencies

  • Write and enforce regulations (administrative law).

  • Punish violations (e.g., fines).

  • Testify before Congress.

  • Engage in Iron Triangles: collaboration among interest groups, congressional committees, and bureaucracies to influence policies.

  • Issue Networks: looser relationships among various stakeholders affecting policy outcomes.

Congressional Oversight

  • Committees conduct hearings to investigate executive branch activities.

  • They ensure laws are enforced as intended and adjust agency budgets based on performance.