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238 Cards in this Set

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Ad hoc committee
A congressional committee appointed for a limited time to design and report a specific piece of legislation
Casework
The activity undertaken by members of Congress and their staffs to solve constituents’ problems with government agencies
Closed rule
An order from the House Rules Committee limiting flor debate on a particular bill and disallowing or limiting amendment
Cloture
A parliamentary procedure used to close debate. Cloture is used in the Senate to cut off filibusters. Under the current senate rules, three-fifths of senators, or sixty, must vote for cloture to halt a filibuster
Conditional party government
The degree of authority delegated to and exercise by congressional leaders; varies with and is conditioned by the extent of election-driven ideological consensus among members
Conference committee
A temporary joint committee of the House and Senate appointed to reconcile the differences between the two chambers on a particular piece of legislation
Discharge petition
A petition that removes a measure from a committee to which it has been referred in order to make it available for floor consideration. In the House a discharge petition must be signed by a majority of House members
Entitlement
A benefit that every eligible person has a legal right to receive and that cannot be taken away without a change in legislation or due process in court
Filibuster
A tactic used in the Senate to halt action on a bill. It involves making long speeches until the majority retreats. Senators, once holding the floor, have unlimited time to speak unless a cloture vote is passed by three-fifths (sixty) of the members
Gerrymandering
Drawing legislative districts in such a way as to give one political party a disproportionately large share of seats for the share of votes its candidates win
Joint committee
Permanent congressional committees made up of members of both the House and the Senate. Joint committees do not have any legislative authority; they monitor specific activities and compile reports
Majority leader
The formal leader of the party controlling a majority of the seats in the House or the Senate. In the Senate the majority leader is the head of the majority party. In the house the majority leader ranks second in the party hierarchy behind the Speaker
Minority leader
The formal leader of the party controlling a minority of the seats in the House or the Senate
Multiple referral
The act of sending a proposed piece of legislation to more than one committee in the same chamber
Necessary and proper clause
The last clause of Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution. This clause grants Congress the authority to make all laws that are “necessary and proper” and to execute those laws
Open rule
A provision governing debate of a pending bill and permitting any germane amendment to be offered on the floor of the House
Pocket veto
A method by which the president vetoes a bill passed by both houses of Congress by failing to act on it within ten days of Congress’s adjournment
Political action committee
(PAC) A federally registered fund-raising group that pools money from individuals to give to political candidates and parties
Pork barrel legislation
Legislation that provides members of Congress with federal projects and programs for their individual districts
President pro tempore
In the absence of the vice president, the formal presiding officer of the Senate. The honor s usually conferred on the senior member of the majority party, but the post is sometimes rotated among senators of the majority party
Presidential coattails
Common metaphor for the capacity of a successful presidential candidate to generate vote for other candidate further down the ticket and pull fellow partisan into office
Proportional representation
An electoral system in which legislative seats are awarded to candidates or parties in proportion to the percentage of votes received
Quorum
The minim number of congressional members who must be present for the transaction of business. Under the Constitution, a quorum in each house is a majority of its members: 218 in the House and 51 in the Senate when there are no vacancies
Restricted rule
A provision that governs consideration of a bill and that specifies and limits the kinds of amendments that may be made on the floor of the House of Representatives
Rider
An amendment to a bill that is not germane to the legislation
Roll-call vote
Vote taken by a call of the roll to determine whether a quorum is present, to establish a quorum, or to vote on a question. Usually the House uses its electronic voting system for a roll call, but when the system is malfunctioning the Speaker directs the clerk to read the names. The Senate does not have an electronic voting system; its roll in always called by the clerk
Rule
A provision that governs consideration of a bill by the House of Representative by specifying how the bill is to be debated and amended
Select committee
A temporary legislative committee created for a specific purpose and dissolved after its tasks are completed
Seniority rule
The congressional practice of appointing as committee of subcommittee chairs the members of the majority with the most years of committee service
Speaker of the House
The presiding officer of the House of Representatives. The Speaker is elected at the beginning of each congressional session on a party-line vote. As head of the majority party the Speaker has substantial control over the legislative agenda of the House
Special committee
A temporary legislative committee, usually lacking legislative authority
Standing committee
A permanent legislative committee specializing in a particular legislative area. Standing committees have stable memberships and stable jurisdictions
Ticket-splitting
The act of voting for candidates from different political parties for different offices- for example, voting for a Republican for president and a Democrat for senator
Unanimous consent agreement
A unanimous resolution is the Senate restricting debate and limiting amendments to bills on the floor
Whip
A member of a legislative party who acts as the communicator between the party leadership and the rank and file. The whip polls members on their voting intentions, prepares bill summaries, and assists the leadership in various other tasks
Central clearance
A presidential directive requiring that all executive agency proposals, reports, and recommendations to Congress- mostly in the form of annual reports and testimony at authorization and appropriations hearings- be certified by the Office of Management and Budget as consistent with the president’s policy
Commander in Chief
The titles that is given to the president by the Constitution and that denotes the president’s authority as the head of the national military
Divided government
A term used to describe government when one political party controls the executive branch and the other political party controls one or both houses of the legislature
Enrolled bill
A bill that has been passed by both the Senate and the House and has been sent to the president for approval
Executive agreement
An agreement between the president and one or more other countries. An executive agreements similar to a treaty but unlike a treaty, it does not require the approval of the Senate
Executive Office of the President
(EOP) A collection of agencies that help the president oversee department and agency activities, formulate budgets and monitor spending, craft legislation, and lobby Congress. The major components of the EOP, established in 1939 by President Franklin Roosevelt, include the White House Office, Office of Management and Budget, National Security Council, and Council of Economic Advisers, among other agencies
Executive order
A presidential directive to an executive agency establishing new policies or indicating how an existing policy is to be carried out
Executive privilege
Gag rule
An executive order prohibiting federal employees from communicating directly with Congress
Going public
Presidents “go public” when they engage in intensive public relations to promote their policies to the voters and thereby induce cooperation from other elected officeholders in Washington
Gridlock
A legislative “traffic jam” often precipitated by divided government. Gridlock occurs when presidents confront opposition-controlled Congresses with policy preferences and political stakes that are in direct competition with their own and those of their party. Neither side is willing to compromise, the government accomplishes little, and federal operations may even come to a halt
Imperial presidency
Refers to a presidency in which the president and the executive staff try to extend executive power and influence through unilateral actions
Line-item veto
A procedure, available in 1997 for the first time, permitting a president to cancel amounts of new discretionary appropriations (budget authority), as well as new items of direct spending (entitlements) and certain limited tax benefits, unless congress disapproves by law within a specified period of time. It was declared unconstitutional in 1998
National Security Council
(NSC) The highest advisory body to the president on military and diplomatic issues. Established in 1947, this agency in the Executive Office of the President helps the president coordinate the actions of government agencies, including the State and Defense Departments and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, into a single cohesive policy for dealing with other nations
Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) Previously known as the Bureau of the Budget, OMB is the most important agency in the Executive Office of the President. The budget bureau, created in 1921 to act as the central clearinghouse of all budget requests, was renamed and given increased responsibilities in 1970. OMB advises the president of fiscal and economic policies, creates the annual federal budget, and monitors agency performance, among other duties
Signing statements
A statement issued by the president that is intended to modify implementation or ignore altogether provisions of a new law
State of the Union address
A presidential message to Congress under the constitutional directive that he shall “from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Considerations such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient”
“Take care” clause
The provision in Article II, Section 3, of the Constitution instructing the president to “take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed”
Unitary executive
When a president claims prerogative to attach signing statements to bills and asserts his/her right to modify implantations or ignore altogether provisions of a new law that encroaches on his/her constitutional prerogatives as the “the chief executive” of as commander in chief
War Powers Act
Law that requires the president to inform Congress within forty-eight hours of committing troops abroad in a military action
White House Office
Agency in the Executive Office of the President (EOP) that serves as the president’s personal staff system. Although the entire EOP does the president’s business, the White House staff consists of the presidents personal advisers, who oversee the political and policy interests of the administration
Bureaucracy
A complex structure of offices, tasks, and rules in which employees have specific responsibilities and work within a hierarchy of authority. Government bureaucracies are charged with implementing policies
Bureaucratic culture
The norms and regular patterns of behavior found within a bureaucratic organization. Different agencies often develop their own norms, which shape the behavior of those who work in the agency
Clientele
The category of people, or groups, served by a bureaucratic agency
Committee and conference reports
Documents submitted by committees that often instruct agencies how Congress expects them to use their “discretion”. Though not legally binging, bureaucrats ignore such instructions at their peril
Federal Register
A government publication listing all proposed federal regulations
Government Accountability Office
Office with a staff of more than five thousand that audits programs and agencies and reports to Congress on their performances
Hearings and investigations
Meetings in which bureaucrats are calling before subcommittees to explain and defend their decisions, and outsiders are sometimes invited to criticize them. Most agencies must testify annually about their activities before the House Appropriations subcommittee that has jurisdiction over their budgets
Inspectors general
Positions with independent offices (outside the normal bureaucratic chain of command) in virtually every government agency, who audit agency books and investigate activities on Congress’s behalf
Iron triangle
A stable, mutually beneficial political relationship among a congressional committee (or subcommittee), administrative agency, and organized interests concerned with a particular policy domain
Issue network
A loose, informal, and highly variable web of relationships among representative of various interests who are involved in a particular area of public policy
Legislative veto
A procedure that allows one or both houses of Congress to reject an action taken by the president or an executive agency. In 1983 the Supreme Court declared legislative vetoes unconstitutional, but Congress continues to enact legislation incorporating the veto
Mandatory reports
Method by which Congress keeps its bureaucratic agents in line, in this case requiring executive agencies- even the president- to report on programs
Red tape
Excessive paperwork leading to bureaucratic delay. The term originated in the seventeenth centure, when English legal and governmental documents were bound with red-colored tape
Rotation in office
The practice of citizens serving in public office for a limited term and then returning to private life
Spoils system
A system in which newly elected office-holders award government jobs to political supporters and members of the same political party. The term originated in the saying “to the victor go the spoils”
Standing
The right to bring legal action
Activism
When judges deliberately shape judicial doctrine to conform with their personal view of the constitution
Amicus curiae
“Friend of the court”. A brief filed in a lawsuit by an individual or group that is not party to the lawsuit but that has an interest in the outcome
Attorney general
The head of the Justice Department. As the nation’s chief legal officer, the attorney general of the United States represents the federal government’s interests in law courts throughout the nation. The attorney general is also the chief law enforcement officer
Concurring opinion
A written opinion by a Supreme Court justice who agrees with the decision on the Court but disagrees with the rationale for reaching that decision
Constitutional courts
Category of federal courts vested with the general judicial authority outlined in Article III of the Constitution. The most important are the Supreme Courts, the courts of appeals, and the ninety-four district courts. Their authority derives from that of the Supreme Court, and they are supposed to conform to its decisions
Court of Appeals
The second tier of courts in the federal judiciary system (between the Supreme Court and the district courts). One court of appeals serves each of eleven regions, or circuits, plus one for the District of Columbia
Court-packing plan
An attempt by President Franklin Roosevelt, in 1937, to remodel the feral judiciary. Its purpose ostensibly was to alleviate the overcrowding of federal court dockets by allowing the president to appoint an additional Supreme Court justice for every sitting justice over the age of seventy. The legislation passed the House of Representative but failed in the Senate by a single vote. If it has passed, Roosevelt could have added six new justices to the high bench, thereby installing a new Court majority sympathetic to his New Deal programs
Dissenting opinion
The written opinion of one or more Supreme Court justices who disagree with the ruling of the Court’s majority. The opinion outlines the rationale for their disagreement
District courts
The trial courts of original jurisdiction in the federal judicial system. The ninety-four district courts are the third tier of the federal judicial system, below the Supreme Court and the courts of appeals
Judicial doctrine
The practice of prescribing in a decision a set of rules that are to guide future decisions on similar cases. Used by the Supreme Court to guide the lower courts in making decisions
Judicial review
The authority of a court to declare legislative and executive acts unconstitutional and therefore invalid
Procedural doctrine
Principle of law that governs how the lower courts do their work
Restraint
The judicial action of deferring to the policies emanating from the elected branches in the absence of a clear violation of the Constitution or established doctrine
Rule of four
A rule employed by the Supreme Court’s stating that when four justices support hearing a case the certiorari petition is granted
Senatorial courtesy
An informal practice in which senators are given veto power over federal judicial appointments in their home states
Solicitor general
The official responsible for representing the U.S government before the Supreme Court. The solicitor general s a ranking member of the U.S. Department of Justice
Standing
The right to bring legal action
Stare decisis
“Let the decision stand.” In court rulings, a reliance on precedents, or previous rulings, in formulating decisions in new cases
Substantive doctrine
Principle that guides judges on which party in a case should prevail- akin to policymaking
Writ of certiorari
An order that is given by a superior court to an appellate court and that directs the lower court to send up a case the superior court has chosen to review. This is the central means by which the Supreme Court determines which cases it will hear
Writ of mandamus
“We command.” A court-order writ commanding a public official to carry out a specific act or duty
Duverger’s law explains why
the U.S. has only two major political parties.
A PAC is
*c. the fund-raising and spending arm of an interest group.
“Structural” bias in the mass media results from
the fact that media outlets are businesses.
The argument that interest groups, taken as a whole, are representative of the opinions and interests of the whole population is usually made by
5. Which of the following expresses a political “value” in the sense Prof. Walcott used in discussing “values, attitudes, and beliefs”?
“Even a terrorist is entitled to a fair trial.”
Gerrymandering is the practice of
designing legislative districts to benefit a particular party or candidate.
“The influence on public opinion caused by the way a story is presented or covered” is the definition of
framing
The problem with “horse race” media coverage is that
it tends to focus more on competition than on issues.
When a party realignment occurs,
the parties can better address the key issues of the day.
According to Prof. Walcott, polarization has occurred among
mainly the parties and their activist bases.
11. When citizens are exposed to the process of “deliberative democracy,” they
*b. tend to moderate their views.
least
*d. more votes than any other candidate.
13. The most important part of the job of a legislative lobbyist is
to advise legislators what interest groups think about proposed laws.
14. If a candidate asks voters to support her reelection because of her good record in office, she is asking voters to
make a retrospective evaluation.
A candidate’s political advertisement is considered an “attack ad” if it
stresses criticism of the candidate’s opponent.
In most American elections, the presidential candidates’ coattails are
weak to nonexistent for both presidential candidates.
The major goal of economic interest groups is
*c. to seek policies that benefit their members economically.
According to the “logic of collective action,” associated with economist Mancur Olson, people become “free riders” because
*c. they are being rational in accepting free benefits.
19. Interest group lobbying that is designed to look like a spontaneous uprising of independent people, but really isn’t, is called
astroturf lobbying.
For most people, identifying with a political party results from
socialization, mostly by their families.
Most delegates to national party conventions are now selected by
voters in primaries.
22. Which of the following is a “public interest” or “citizen” organization?
*d. The Family Research Council.
23. Our guest lecturer, Mr. Key, explained about
the Democratic party.
24. The most accurate public opinion polls are based on
random samples.
25. Public opinion surveys show that most Americans consider themselves to be
moderates.
Overall, the authors of your textbook argue, public opinion is
influential is setting the direction of public policy.
When a politician gives information to the news media “off the record,” this means
the information can be used, but the source can’t be identified.
The “hostile media phenomenon” discussed in your textbook refers to
how supporters of candidates or issues see most media coverage as unfair.
The term “party in government” refers to
officeholders who belong to a party.
An example of overt political socialization is
school rituals like the flag salute.
According to your textbook, the sixth party system has been the result of political issues and
campaign technology.
When the mainstream media report that a member of Congress has been illegally taking money from an interest group, they are playing the role Prof. Walcott called
watchdog.
The claim that there has been a regional realignment since the late 1960s refers to the fact that
Southerners have become more Republican.
A party platform is
a set of positions on issues.
35. The Electoral College casts votes in
presidential elections only.
A candidate who is an incumbent is one who
already holds the office.
According to your text, when people participate in party politics or in an interest group seeking “solidary” incentives, they are looking for
social support.
Contemporary political scientists would call them interest groups. James Madison called them
*b. factions.
39. The principal policy-making body in each of our major political parties is
*d. the National Committee.
40. When we say that interest groups sometimes try to “lobby the judiciary,” we mean that they
take cases to court.
According to your text, voters’ reliance on voting cues produces
*b. reasonable votes.
42. Bianco and Canon state that the top consideration for average voters in the 2008 election was
the economy.
43. The purpose of 527 organizations is to
spend money on behalf of parties in campaigns.
44. From examining public opinion data on the Iraq War, Bianco and Canon argue that a representative wanting to faithfully reflect the views of a divided constituency
*a. would get little clear guidance from the data.
45. The normalization hypothesis predicts that
*c. political information on the internet will come to resemble that found elsewhere.
When committees of Congress engage in “oversight,” they are
a. watching the bureaucracy to be sure it follows Congress’s intent
The “least dangerous branch” is
the judiciary.
The BCRA was “incremental” policy in that
*b. it resembled the laws that preceded it.
Under BCRA, “soft money” given to parties for “party building” is
*a. prohibited for all federal election campaigns.
A “Blue Dog” is a
*b. conservative Democrat.
The Chair of a House or Senate committee is usually the member of the majority party with
*c. the most seniority.
A representative who always tries to vote the way her constituency wants her to is called
*d. a delegate
8. Members of Congress use patronage to
*b. reward people who have supported them in elections.
9. The fact that it typically takes 60 votes in the Senate to pass major legislation is a result of
*b. the likelihood that controversial bills will be subject to filibuster.
The “hostile media phenomenon” discussed in your textbook refers to
how supporters of candidates or issues see most media coverage as unfair.
The term “party in government” refers to
officeholders who belong to a party.
An example of overt political socialization is
school rituals like the flag salute.
According to your textbook, the sixth party system has been the result of political issues and
campaign technology.
When the mainstream media report that a member of Congress has been illegally taking money from an interest group, they are playing the role Prof. Walcott called
watchdog.
The claim that there has been a regional realignment since the late 1960s refers to the fact that
Southerners have become more Republican.
A party platform is
a set of positions on issues.
35. The Electoral College casts votes in
presidential elections only.
A candidate who is an incumbent is one who
already holds the office.
According to your text, when people participate in party politics or in an interest group seeking “solidary” incentives, they are looking for
social support.
Contemporary political scientists would call them interest groups. James Madison called them
*b. factions.
39. The principal policy-making body in each of our major political parties is
*d. the National Committee.
40. When we say that interest groups sometimes try to “lobby the judiciary,” we mean that they
take cases to court.
According to your text, voters’ reliance on voting cues produces
*b. reasonable votes.
42. Bianco and Canon state that the top consideration for average voters in the 2008 election was
the economy.
43. The purpose of 527 organizations is to
spend money on behalf of parties in campaigns.
44. From examining public opinion data on the Iraq War, Bianco and Canon argue that a representative wanting to faithfully reflect the views of a divided constituency
*a. would get little clear guidance from the data.
45. The normalization hypothesis predicts that
*c. political information on the internet will come to resemble that found elsewhere.
When committees of Congress engage in “oversight,” they are
a. watching the bureaucracy to be sure it follows Congress’s intent
The “least dangerous branch” is
the judiciary.
The BCRA was “incremental” policy in that
*b. it resembled the laws that preceded it.
Under BCRA, “soft money” given to parties for “party building” is
*a. prohibited for all federal election campaigns.
A “Blue Dog” is a
*b. conservative Democrat.
The Chair of a House or Senate committee is usually the member of the majority party with
*c. the most seniority.
A representative who always tries to vote the way her constituency wants her to is called
*d. a delegate
8. Members of Congress use patronage to
*b. reward people who have supported them in elections.
9. The fact that it typically takes 60 votes in the Senate to pass major legislation is a result of
*b. the likelihood that controversial bills will be subject to filibuster.
10. According to Prof. Walcott, President Woodrow Wilson’s contribution to the growth of presidential power and practice was
*d. the claim to lead the country on the basis of a “mandate” from the people
11. The president’s cabinet consists of
*a. the heads of the major executive branch departments
12. According to Prof. Walcott, the basic job of the White House Chief of Staff is
*c. integrating considerations of both polity and politics.
13. Public approval of the president’s performance tends to
*a. decline because campaign promises can’t all be kept.
4. The goal of the civil service is to provide the government with
*b. neutral competence
15. Outer Cabinet agencies are also called “clientele agencies” because
*d. serve or represent a particular interest
16. The tenure of a federal judge is
*d. life.
17. Prof. Walcott used the term “political executive” to refer to
*c. executives who are appointed by the president.
18. Since about 1970, the number of people employed by the federal government has
b. decreased steadily.
If a court finds that a law passed by Congress is inconsistent with the Constitution, and therefore cannot be enforced, the court is employing the power of
*c. judicial review.
20. The primary goal of the form of organization we call “bureaucracy” is
*b. to promote administrative efficiency.
A push poll is used to
influence voters’ decisions in a upcoming election.
The fact that most U.S. elected officials are chosen from single-member districts in winner- take-all elections helps explain:
*b. the fact that the U.S. has only two major political parties.
The term “gender gap” refers to the fact that
women are more likely to vote for Democrats than are men.
People who “favor government efforts to ensure that everyone has a job, to spend more money on medical and educational programs, and to increase taxation for well-to-do persons” would be described by Wilson & DiIulio as
*b. liberals.
A primary motivation behind the creation of the Electoral College as a mechanism for selecting the president was
distrust of ordinary voters.
The now-unconstitutional practice of requiring voters to pay a poll tax in order to vote was intended to
*c. keep poor people, especially black people, from voting.
One would expect the lowest voter turnout among people aged
*d. 18 to 24.
When Congress banned “soft money,” the main effect was
*b. to force interest groups to find another way to fund campaigns.
13. Which of the following is a “public interest” organization?
*d. The League of Women Voters.
14. The probability that an incumbent member of the House of Representatives will win reelection if he or she runs for it is roughly
*a. 90%.
Your text asks the questions, are national convention delegates representative of their party’s voters. In the case of Democrats, they find that
delegates’ views are more liberal than voters’.
The “free rider” problem arises because
it is not rational for individuals to contribute to public interest groups.
An important part of the job of a “lobbyist” is
*c. to advise legislators what interest groups think about proposed laws.
Most delegates to national party conventions are now selected by
*d. voters in primaries.
21. Which of the following is a position on a “valence” issue?
*c. opposition to terrorism.
22. If a candidate asks for votes on the basis of her successful record in public office, she is appealing to voters who are inclined to vote
*a. retrospectively.
The argument that interest groups, taken as a whole, are representative of the opinions and interests of the whole population is usually made by
pluralists.
Some interest groups pursue goals that, if attained, will principally benefit people who are not members of the groups. These groups are called
public interest groups.
Which of the following areas of society has the most, and most powerful, interest groups representing them?
*a. Business
27. The proportion of the voting age population who actually vote in U.S. presidential elections is
*c. a little under 50%.
When the media carry a story telling of allegations that a member of Congress has been taking illegal bribes from a lobbyist, the media are functioning as
*b. watchdogs.
more liberal.
30. The psychological process called selective attention suggests that
*c. people will remember or believe only what they agree with.
Since the 1970s, public opinion on the issue of abortion has been
*a. moderate and stable.
The reelection campaign of Rep. Dick Hayes, described in Wasserman, described a congressional district that was
safe for the incumbent Democrat.
According to Wasserman, while the Democrats have had the advantage in registering new voters, Republicans have had the advantage in
*d. targeting.
34. The “Harry and Louise” advertisements criticized
*b. President Clinton’s health care plan.
35. Which kind of “bias” is most evident in media coverage of the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal?
anti-establishment bias.
36. The single most reliable predictor of an individual’s voting choice is
*b. the person’s party identification.
37. The most important early events for choosing the nominees for president are the New Hampshire primary and the
*b. Iowa caucuses.
38. For a public opinion poll to be valid, it should be based on a
*a. random sample.
39. The social base of the Democratic party has for decades been rooted in the lower socio-economic classes. This is a result of
*c. the realignment of the early 1930s, when the New Deal appealed to those hurting most in the depression.
40. “Motor voter” refers to an effort to
*d. increase voter turnout.
What are the 6 Formal Constitutional powers Congress has?
1. Tax and spend 2. Regulate commerce 3. Foreign affairs 4. Senate confirms executive and judicial appointments 5. Elect and impeach presidents, vice-presidents, judges 6. Initiate constitutional amendments
What are the 3 informal powers Congress has?
1. Oversight of the executive branch 2. Conduct hearings to investigate need for new laws 3. Investigations to gauge and influence public opinion
Congress has a ______ legislature
Bicameral legislature
The Senate has how many members?
100
The House has how many members?
435
Does the Senate operate more/less formally than the House? Why?
Senate is more informal because it is smaller and terms are longer
What are 6 characteristics of a bureaucracy?
1. Hierarchy 2. Specialization 3. Rules 4. Merit-base 5. Impersonality 6. Continuity
Fundamental purpose of courts is to
Fundamental purpose of courts is to resolve disputes with reference to the laws and the Constitution
President as “Savior”
FDR thru JFK - powerful and good able to solve any problems
President as “Satan”
LBJ, Nixon - still seen as powerful, but the power can be used for ill.
President as “Samson”
Ford, Carter – questionable the president is really all that powerful.
Most important bills start where
Subcommittees
Government Accountability Office
Check how government is running and report to Congress if there are problems
Congressional Budget Office
Budgeting based on productions
Congressional Research Service
Operate out of library of Congress; Anytime Congress needs information
Unilateral powers of the office (3)
Veto, Executive Orders, Signing statements
5 cabinet departments
War, state, treasury, navy, justice
Inner cabinet
State, treasury, justice (most important)
Courts are “passive institutions”
Can only decide cases brought to them
The Outer Cabinet is responsive to
Clientele organizations and particular interests