AP GOV NOTES

2.1: Powers of Congress and Participation in Public Policy Process

  • 2.1.A.4: The enumerated and implied powers in the Constitution allow Congress to participate in the public policy process by:

2.2: Structures, Powers, and Functions of Congress

  • 2.2.A.3: Chamber-specific rules and procedures affect the legislative process.

2.3: Congressional Behavior

  • 2.3.A.1: Congressional behavior and governing effectiveness are influenced by ideological divisions between political parties.

    • Partisan voting: Members of Congress vote based on their political party affiliation.

    • Polarization: Political attitudes move toward ideological extremes.

    • Gridlock: Situation in which no congressional action on legislation can be taken due to a lack of consensus.

2.4: Roles and Powers of the President

2.5: Checks on the Presidency

2.1: Congress: The Senate and the House of Representatives

  • 2.1.A: Describe the different structures, powers, and functions of each house of Congress.

    • 2.1.A.3: Interactions in Congress are affected by the two-party system and term-length differences.

    • Term lengths: One-third of the Senate is elected every two years, creating a continuous legislative body; all House members are elected every two years.

    • Powers of Congress include:

    • Passing a federal budget.

    • Raising revenue by laying and collecting taxes, borrowing money, and coining money.

    • Declaring war and providing the funds necessary to maintain the armed forces.

    • Determining the process for naturalization to become citizens of the U.S.

    • Regulating interstate commerce.

    • Creating federal courts and their jurisdictions.

    • Enacting legislation under the authority of the Necessary and Proper Clause.

    • Conducting oversight of the executive branch, including federal agencies in the bureaucracy.

2.2.A: Legislative Process in Congress

  • 2.2.A.1: The structures and powers of the Senate and House are different by design, directly affecting the legislative process.

    • House of Representatives:

    • The Speaker is elected by a majority and presides over legislative work.

    • All revenue bills must originate in the House.

    • Debate rules are established by the Rules Committee.

    • A Committee of the Whole can expedite debate on bills.

    • An individual representative can file a discharge petition to bring a bill to the floor for debate, but this is rare.

    • Senate:

    • Bills are brought to the floor by unanimous consent.

    • Senators can request a hold on a bill to prevent a floor vote.

    • Senators can use the filibuster to prolong debate and delay or prevent a vote.

    • The cloture motion is utilized to end a debate.

    • A conference committee reconciles differences in wording of bills passed by both chambers on the same topic.

2.3: Congressional Behavior Influences

  • 2.3.A: Explain how congressional behavior is influenced by election processes, partisanship, and divided government.

    • 2.3.A.2: Gerrymandering, redistricting, and unequal representation of constituencies affect representation.

    • Supreme Court cases have partially addressed these issues by allowing equal protection challenges to redistricting.

2.4.A: Presidential Powers

  • 2.4.A.2: The powers of the president include both formal and informal powers:

    • Formal powers:

    • Vetoes: President can veto legislation; override requires a two-thirds vote.

    • Pocket vetoes: Cannot be overridden with a two-thirds vote.

    • Foreign policy powers: Commander-in-chief role, treaties, and other foreign relations powers.

    • Informal powers:

    • Bargaining: Persuasion tactics to secure congressional action.

    • Executive orders: Manage federal government actions based on vested executive power or delegation by Congress.

    • Signing statements: Convey the president's interpretation of laws passed by Congress.

2.5.A: Presidential Challenges with Congress

  • 2.5.A.2: Senate confirmation is an important check on the president's appointment powers.

  • 2.5.A.3: Policy conflicts with the congressional agenda can lead the president to utilize executive orders and directives to address the president's agenda items.

2.6: Expansion of Presidential Power

  • 2.6.A.3: Different perspectives exist on the presidential role, ranging from a limited interpretation to a more expansive use of power.

2.7: Presidential Communication

  • 2.7.A: Changing Dynamics of Presidential Communication

    • 2.7.A.1: Advances in communication technology have affected the president's relationship with the national constituency and other branches of government.

    • Use of modern technology (e.g., social media) allows rapid responses to political issues.

    • State of the Union addresses and the president's bully pulpit are tools for agenda setting that influence public views on policy importance.

2.8: The Judicial Branch

  • 2.9.A: Explain the principle of judicial review and its role in checking other branches.

    • 2.8.A.1: The judicial branch powers are founded in:

    • Article III of the Constitution.

    • Federalist No. 78 argues for judicial independence.

2.9.A: Legal Precedents in Judicial Decision Making

  • 2.9.A.2: Changes in Supreme Court composition due to presidential appointments can lead to establishing new precedents or rejecting existing ones.

2.10: Supreme Court Dynamics

  • 2.10.A: Life tenure can lead to debates on the Supreme Court's power.

    • 2.10.A.1: Life tenure enables the Court to function independent of political climates, allowing delivery of controversial decisions.

2.11: Checks on the Judicial Branch

  • 2.11.B: Limits on the Supreme Court's power include:

    • Congressional legislation to modify impacts of prior decisions.

    • Ratification of constitutional amendments.

    • Judicial appointments can shift ideological balance.

    • Delays in implementation by the president or states.

    • Legislation can limit the Supreme Court's jurisdiction.

2.12: Role of the Bureaucracy

  • 2.12.A: The federal bureaucracy comprises various agencies implementing policy through:

    • Writing and enforcing regulations.

    • Issuing fines.

    • Testifying before Congress.

    • Forming iron triangles: Alliances of committees, agencies, and interest groups in specific policy sectors.

    • Creating issue networks: Temporary coalitions promoting common issues or agendas.

2.13: Bureaucratic Authority

  • 2.13.A: Explaining the use of delegated discretionary authority for rulemaking and implementation.

    • 2.13.A.1: Bureaucracy interprets and implements policies using discretionary powers delegated by Congress, creating and enforcing regulations as needed.

    • Key bureaucratic agencies include:

    • Department of Homeland Security

    • Department of Transportation

    • Department of Veterans Affairs

    • Department of Education

    • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

    • Federal Elections Commission (FEC)

    • Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

2.14: Accountability of the Bureaucracy

  • 2.14.A: Congressional Oversight of the Executive Branch

    • 2.14.A.1: Congress employs oversight to ensure legislation is implemented properly, which includes:

    • Monitoring and supervision of agencies.

    • Investigation and hearings on bureaucratic activity.

    • Exercising the power of the purse to check the bureaucracy by controlling funding.

    • 2.14.A.2: Congressional oversight is also a check on executive authorization.

2.15: Governmental Branches and Bureaucracy Accountability

  • 2.15.A: Government branches can hold the bureaucracy accountable through various formal and informal powers.

    • The competing interests of Congress, the president, and federal courts influence bureaucratic accountability.