AP gov review

1. Duties and Checks and Balances of Each Branch

Executive Branch (President and Bureaucracy)

Formal Powers of the President:

  • Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces

  • Veto power

  • Appoints federal judges, ambassadors, and cabinet members (with Senate approval)

  • Makes treaties (with Senate approval)

  • Issues pardons

  • Executes federal laws

  • Delivers the State of the Union address

Informal Powers of the President:

  • Executive orders

  • Executive agreements (similar to treaties, but don’t need Senate approval)

  • Bully pulpit (influencing the public and media)

  • Signing statements

  • Setting the legislative agenda

Formal Powers of the Bureaucracy:

  • Implement and enforce federal laws and regulations

  • Write rules/regulations through administrative discretion

  • Collect and analyze data for policy development

Informal Powers of the Bureaucracy:

  • Issue guidance documents

  • Use discretion in law enforcement (like immigration or environmental law)

  • Expertise-based influence on policymaking

Legislative Branch (Congress)

Formal Powers:

  • Make laws

  • Declare war

  • Raise and collect taxes

  • Regulate interstate commerce

  • Approve treaties (Senate)

  • Approve appointments (Senate)

  • Impeach (House) and remove (Senate) federal officials

Informal Powers:

  • Oversight of the executive branch via hearings/investigations

  • Constituent services (casework)

  • Use of media to influence public opinion

Judicial Branch

Formal Powers:

  • Interpret the Constitution and federal laws

  • Judicial review (Marbury v. Madison)

  • Set legal precedents

Informal Powers:

  • Influence public policy through interpretations

  • Judicial activism (broad interpretation)

  • Judicial restraint (narrow interpretation)

Checks and Balances

Branch

Checks on Legislative

Checks on Executive

Checks on Judicial

Executive

Veto legislation; call special sessions

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Appoint judges; pardon power

Legislative

Override vetoes; impeach/remove president; deny funding

Approve appointments/treaties; impeach

Confirm judges; impeach judges; amend laws

Judicial

Declare laws unconstitutional

Declare executive actions unconstitutional

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2. Trustee vs. Delegate Approach

  • Trustee: A Congressperson makes decisions based on their own judgment, even if it goes against constituents’ opinions.

  • Delegate: A Congressperson acts strictly according to their constituents’ wishes, even if they personally disagree.

Some also act as politicos, balancing both roles.

3. How Minorities Tend to Vote

  • Black Americans: Overwhelmingly vote Democratic

  • Latino Americans: Tend to lean Democratic, but with some variation by national origin (e.g., Cuban Americans lean more Republican)

  • Asian Americans: Tend to vote Democratic

  • Native Americans: Largely Democratic, especially in areas with progressive platforms

4. Logrolling and Pork Barrel Legislation

  • Logrolling: When lawmakers agree to support each other’s bills — “You vote for mine, I’ll vote for yours.”

  • Pork Barrel Legislation: Funding for specific local projects added to bills to win votes. Often criticized for wasteful spending.

5. Bureaucrat and Iron Triangle

  • Bureaucrat: A government worker who implements policy.
    Examples: IRS agent, EPA scientist, Social Security administrator

  • Iron Triangle: The policy-making relationship between:

    1. Congressional committees

    2. Bureaucratic agencies

    3. Interest groups

  • Why it's bad: Can lead to favoritism, lack of transparency, and policies serving special interests over public good.

6. Special Powers of Senate & House

Senate Special Powers:

  1. Ratify treaties (2/3 vote)

  2. Confirm presidential appointments

  3. Hold impeachment trials

House Special Powers:

  1. Initiate revenue (tax) bills

  2. Impeach federal officials

  3. Elect president if Electoral College is tied

Most powerful House member (majority party):
Speaker of the House

7. Concurrent Powers

These are powers shared by both the federal and state governments.

Examples:

  • Taxation

  • Borrowing money

  • Establishing courts

  • Enforcing laws

  • Building infrastructure

    2. What are iron triangles? What are some examples of real-life iron triangles?

Iron triangles are a concept in political science describing the relationships between three key players in public policy: government agencies, interest groups, and congressional committees. These groups often work together to shape policies in ways that benefit their mutual interests.
Examples:

  • Defense Industry: The U.S. Department of Defense (government agency), defense contractors (interest group), and the Senate Armed Services Committee (congressional committee) have a mutually beneficial relationship that influences defense spending.

  • Agricultural Policy: The U.S. Department of Agriculture, agricultural lobby groups, and relevant congressional committees often work together to shape farm policy.

3. What are some real-life examples of the core values of individualism, free-enterprise, equality of opportunity, and rule of law?

  • Individualism: The American Dream, which encourages people to pursue their own success and personal goals, is a reflection of individualism.

  • Free-enterprise: Tech companies like Apple and Google thriving in a competitive marketplace are examples of free-enterprise.

  • Equality of Opportunity: The Civil Rights Movement, which fought for equal educational and employment opportunities, is an example of striving for equality of opportunity.

  • Rule of Law: The U.S. judicial system is built on the principle of rule of law, where everyone, regardless of status, is subject to the law, as shown in cases like Brown v. Board of Education.

4. Explain Keynesian Economics

Keynesian economics, developed by economist John Maynard Keynes, argues that economic recessions are caused by insufficient demand, and government intervention (like public spending and fiscal policies) can help stimulate demand. This theory supports government spending to boost economic activity during downturns.

5. Explain supply-side Economics

Supply-side economics focuses on increasing the supply of goods and services by lowering taxes and reducing government regulations. The belief is that lower taxes on businesses and individuals encourage investment and production, leading to economic growth.

6. Explain why the Federal Reserve would alter interest rates using monetary policy

The Federal Reserve alters interest rates to manage inflation, employment, and overall economic growth.

  • Lowering interest rates encourages borrowing and investment, helping stimulate the economy in times of recession.

  • Raising interest rates helps control inflation by making borrowing more expensive, reducing spending, and cooling down an overheated economy.

7. What was the overall meaning of Fed 10?

Federalist Paper No. 10, written by James Madison, discusses the dangers of factionalism (interest groups) and argues that a large, representative republic is the best way to control them. The diversity of factions in such a republic prevents any one group from dominating.

8. Explain the amendment process

The U.S. Constitution provides two main ways to amend it:

  • Proposal: An amendment can be proposed either by a two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress or by a constitutional convention called by two-thirds of state legislatures.

  • Ratification: The amendment is ratified either by three-fourths of state legislatures or by conventions in three-fourths of the states.

9. Review the differences between the Constitution and the Articles of Confederation

  • Central Government: The Articles of Confederation created a weak central government, giving most powers to the states. The Constitution created a stronger federal government with separate branches.

  • Executive Branch: Under the Articles, there was no executive branch. The Constitution established a President and executive branch.

  • Taxation and Commerce: The Articles gave Congress no power to tax or regulate commerce between states, while the Constitution gave the federal government these powers.

10. Review the powers left to the states under federalism

Under federalism, powers not specifically granted to the federal government by the Constitution are reserved for the states (the 10th Amendment). These powers include regulating education, conducting elections, and establishing local governments.

11. Which powers are given only to the Senate?

  • The Senate has the exclusive power to ratify treaties (with a two-thirds vote) and to confirm presidential appointments (like Cabinet members and federal judges).

  • The Senate also has the exclusive authority to try impeachment cases, with a two-thirds vote required for conviction.

12. Which powers are given only to the House?

  • The House of Representatives has the exclusive power to initiate revenue bills (tax and budget legislation).

  • The House also has the power to impeach officials (though the Senate tries the case).

13. What is in the incorporation doctrine?

The incorporation doctrine refers to the legal process by which the U.S. Supreme Court has applied the protections of the Bill of Rights to the states through the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection and Due Process Clauses. This means that many rights originally intended to protect individuals from federal government actions also apply to state and local governments.

*The federal government does not fund redistricting.