DL

Exam Preparation Notes

Upcoming Exam Information

  • Exam on Monday

Differences between Executive Agreements and Treaties

  • Executive Agreement: An informal agreement between the president and another country, does not require congressional approval.

    • Can be undone by subsequent presidents.

    • Example: NAFTA, initiated as an executive agreement, eliminated tariffs with Canada (3%) and Mexico (7%).

  • Treaty: A formal agreement with another country that requires approval from the Senate through a process called "advise and consent".

    • Requires a two-thirds vote to pass in the Senate.

Powers of the President

  • Commander in Chief: Oversee the armed forces.

  • Pardons and Reprieves: Top law enforcement officer power.

  • Head of State/Diplomat:

    • Appoints ambassadors (Senate approval required).

  • Chief Executive: Oversees federal bureaucracy and enforces laws.

  • Party Leader: Controls the agenda and actions of the political party.

  • Crisis Manager: Takes charge in national disasters (e.g., Hurricane Katrina).

Important Amendments to Know

  • 22nd Amendment: Establishes term limits for the presidency (max of two elected terms).

    • Resulted from FDR serving four terms.

  • 20th Amendment: Defines the start dates for newly elected officials to reduce the lame duck period.

    • Congress meets on January 3rd.

    • Presidential inauguration on January 20th.

  • 25th Amendment: Lays out the line of presidential succession.

    • Clarifies succession if the president is incapacitated.

    • Provisions for removing a president who cannot fulfill duties.

  • 27th Amendment: Prevents Congress from giving themselves pay raises until after the next election.

  • 16th Amendment: Allows Congress to levy an income tax.

Powers of Congress

  • Enumerated Powers: Clearly defined powers written in the Constitution (e.g., declare war, tax).

  • Implied Powers: Not explicitly stated but necessary to carry out enumerated powers.

    • Example: Creating the Federal Reserve is implied from the power to regulate commerce.

Special Interest Groups

  • Defined as organizations that advocate for specific causes or policies.

  • Examples include the NRA (gun rights) and Greenpeace (environmental issues).

  • Roles:

    • Support candidates who champion their interests, provide funding, and lobby against opposing legislation.

  • Iron Triangle: Represents the relationship between special interest groups, Congress, and bureaucracies.

    • Criticism includes agency capture, where regulatory bodies become influenced by the interests they are supposed to regulate.

Committees in Congress

  • Standing Committees: Permanent committees that address ongoing issues (e.g., Armed Services).

  • Select Committees: Temporary committees formed for specific investigations or tasks (e.g., January 6 Committee).

  • Committee Chairs: Set the agenda, decide what bills are moved forward, seen as gatekeepers for legislation.

Legislative Requirements

  • House of Representatives: 435 members, must be 25 years old, citizen for at least 7 years.

  • Senate: 100 members, must be 30 years old, citizen for at least 9 years.

  • President: Must be at least 35 years old, a natural-born citizen.

Structure of US Government

  • Bicameral Legislature: Divided into two houses (House and Senate).

  • Article I establishes the Legislative Branch, Article II establishes the Executive Branch, Article III establishes the Judicial Branch.

Unified vs. Divided Government

  • Unified Government: One political party controls the House, Senate, and Presidency, facilitating easier legislative processes.

  • Divided Government: Control of the House and Senate is split between parties, making legislation more complex due to the need for bipartisan support.

Presidential Influence over Agencies

  • The President names heads of agencies, and their actions are directed by presidential priorities.

  • Senate provides advise and consent for appointments.

Role of the Speaker of the House

  • Second most powerful official in government.

Controls bill introductions and can stop legislation from reaching a vote in the House.

Notes from Video Lectures

  • Authorization for Use of Force

    • Statement surprising; breaks traditional norms.

    • Emphasizes limited powers of the presidency per the Constitution.

  • Historical Context

    • Franklin Roosevelt (1940): Ran for a third term; criticized as the "indispensable man."

    • Dwight Eisenhower: Expanded presidential power; used CIA for covert operations without Congressional approval.

    • Richard Nixon: Labeled as "imperial president" due to Vietnam War and Watergate; claimed executive privilege for immunity from Congressional questioning.

    • Ronald Reagan: Violated Congressional amendments by shipping arms to Nicaragua; advocated for the unitary executive theory, minimizing Congressional oversight.

  • George W. Bush's Presidency

    • Revived unitary executive doctrine; centralized war on terror within Executive Branch.

  • Current Situation

    • President Obama appears willing to give up power but has not relinquished authority; stated belief in capability to conduct military action without Congress' specific authorization.

  • Interest Groups

    • Define interest groups: Organizations that advocate for specific issues or causes to influence legislative and political outcomes.

    • Types of interest groups include: public interest groups, professional organizations, labor unions, and business associations.

    • Strategies include lobbying, electioneering, and grassroots movements to mobilize constituents and effect change.

  • Examples

    • American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU): Advocates for individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution, focusing on issues like free speech and civil rights.

    • National Rifle Association (NRA): Represents gun owners and advocates for the rights to bear arms, often lobbying against gun control measures.

    • Sierra Club: An environmental organization dedicated to promoting policies for sustainable development and conservation of natural resources.

    • American Medical Association (AMA): Represents physicians and medical students, advocating for policies that affect healthcare and medical practices.

    • National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB): Represents small businesses and advocates for legislation that supports entrepreneurial interests.

  • Lame Duck Politics

    • Refers to elected officials who remain in office after losing re-election or choosing not to run again until their successors are inaugurated.

    • Often characterized by decreased legislative influence, as newly elected officials may prioritize their agendas.

    • Can result in significant policy changes during the transition period if outgoing officials take bold actions.

  • Examples

    • President Barack Obama (2016): During his last months in office after the election of Donald Trump, Obama utilized executive orders to implement several policies, including changes in immigration enforcement despite knowing they might be reversed soon after.

    • Congress (2010): In the period following the 2010 midterm elections, outgoing lawmakers pushed through a series of bills related to tax cuts and budget agreements before the newly elected officials took office, reflecting a push to finalize agendas.

    • President Bill Clinton (2000): In the final days of his presidency, Clinton issued numerous pardons, including high-profile cases, which raised questions about the motivations and implications of such actions during the lame duck period.

    • State Governors: Often, governors implementing significant policy changes or issuing pardons in the final days of their term can heavily influence state legislation and governance even when they are no longer in office after the election of a successor.