The American Political System: Key Terms and Concepts
Constituent
An individual residing within a specific geographical area represented by an elected official.
Logrolling
The practice of legislators exchanging votes to ensure the passage of bills that hold particular importance to each other.
Oversight
Congress’s constitutional duty to supervise the executive branch, ensuring the faithful execution of laws and proper allocation of funds.
Patronage
The act of granting favors, awarding contracts, or making appointments to government positions in exchange for political support.
Filibuster
A legislative tactic employed to delay or obstruct the passage of a bill by engaging in prolonged speeches.
Cloture
A procedural mechanism used in a deliberative body to limit or terminate debate on a particular issue.
Partisan
An individual who demonstrates strong adherence to and support for a specific person or political party, often exhibiting biased loyalty.
Enumerated Powers of Congress
Powers explicitly granted to Congress by the Constitution, also referred to as delegated powers. (17 in total)
Rule of Propinquity
The principle suggesting that physical proximity to the President directly correlates with the level of influence one holds over presidential decisions.
Implied Powers of Congress
Powers not explicitly stated in the Constitution but deemed necessary for Congress to effectively execute its enumerated powers, such as the establishment of a national bank. (10th Amendment)
Casework
Legislative assistance provided by members of Congress to their constituents, including answering inquiries and providing various services.
Franking Privilege
The right of members of Congress to send mail free of charge.
Reapportionment
The process of redistributing seats in the House of Representatives among states based on population changes reflected in the census.
Gerrymandering
The manipulation of legislative district boundaries to favor a particular political party, group, or incumbent.
President Pro Tempore
A high-ranking senator chosen by the majority party to preside over Senate sessions in the absence of the Vice President.
Party Whip
An individual appointed by each political party in the Senate to monitor party members’ votes, ensure party discipline, and persuade members to vote along party lines.
Cabinet
A group of 15 principal advisors to the President, each heading a major executive department. Cabinet members are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate.
Decision-Making
A collective and deliberative process undertaken to reach a decision. In the context of the U.S. Presidency, the President ultimately holds decision-making authority.
Executive Order
A directive issued by the President to the executive branch, carrying the force of law.
National Security Council (NSC)
An executive branch committee responsible for advising the President on matters of foreign policy, military affairs, and national security.
Presidential Staff Structures: Circles, Pyramids, and Clusters
Circles
A structure where a select group of key assistants report directly to the President. Con: Potential for information overload on the President.
Pyramids
A hierarchical structure where all staff members report to the Chief of Staff, who then reports to the President. Con: Risk of the President being isolated from critical information.
Clusters
Ad hoc task forces assembled to address specific issues as they arise. Con: Potential for information overload on the President.
Four Agencies Supporting Presidential Foreign Policy
- Executive Office of the President
- Intelligence Agencies
- Department of Defense
- National Security Council
25th Amendment and Presidential Succession Act of 1947
25th Amendment
Addresses presidential succession in cases of death or incapacitation. It also outlines the process for appointing a new Vice President if the office becomes vacant.
Presidential Succession Act of 1947
Establishes the order of presidential succession beyond the Vice President, ensuring a clear line of succession in times of crisis.
25th Amendment (Further Breakdown)
- Outlines the Vice President’s assumption of the presidency if the President dies or becomes incapacitated.
- Mandates that the President nominate a new Vice President, subject to Congressional confirmation, if the Vice Presidency becomes vacant.
Presidential Succession Act of 1947 (Order of Succession)
- Vice President
- Speaker of the House
- President Pro Tempore of the Senate
- Secretary of State
- Remaining Cabinet heads in order of their departments’ creation
Founding Fathers’ Vision of Government
The Founding Fathers envisioned Congress as the preeminent branch of the national government.
Legislative Mortality
A significant portion of proposed legislation fails to advance beyond the committee stage in both the House and Senate.
Key Party Organization for Senators
The group responsible for assigning senators to specific standing committees within the Senate holds significant influence over a senator’s legislative agenda.
Speaker of the House: Roles and Responsibilities
- Controls the flow of debate on the House floor, granting permission for members to speak.
- Determines the relevance of motions and proposed amendments.
- Assigns bills to appropriate committees.
- Wields influence over the legislative agenda and the selection of bills for a vote.
- Appoints members to special and select committees.
Congressional Staffers: Duties and Functions
- Assist in drafting legislation.
- Manage constituent relations.
- Contribute to policy development and political strategy.
President of the Senate: Dual Role
The Vice President of the United States also serves as the President of the Senate, providing advice and support to the President in this capacity.
Presidential Eligibility Requirements
- Natural-born citizen of the United States
- At least 35 years old
- Resident of the United States for at least 14 years
Early Presidents and Legitimacy
Early presidents fostered the legitimacy of the office by exercising restraint and avoiding abuses of power.
The Modern Presidency: Origins and Significance
The modern presidency emerged in the 1930s during the Great Depression, characterized by an expansion of presidential power and a more active role in domestic and international affairs.
War Powers Act: Key Provisions
- Requires the President to notify Congress within 48 hours of deploying troops into combat situations.
- Mandates that Congress declare war or pass authorizing legislation within 60 days of troop deployment.
- Grants Congress the authority to demand the withdrawal of troops, requiring presidential compliance.
Presidential Veto Powers
Regular Veto
The President returns a bill to Congress without signing it, accompanied by a veto message outlining objections. Congress can override a regular veto with a two-thirds majority vote in both houses.
Pocket Veto
Available to the President when Congress is adjourned. If the President does not sign a bill within ten days of receiving it, the bill automatically becomes law unless Congress is in session, in which case it is automatically vetoed.
Line-Item Veto
– Presidential power to strike, or remove, specific items from a spending bill without vetoing the entire package; declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.The growth of the federal bureaucracy was spurred by:Great Depression/WWII/VAST AMOUNT OF BUREAUCRATS 1960-PRESENT
Approximately how many people work in the federal bureaucracy consists of about:3 million
Who is in the bureaucracy: UNELECTED OFFICIALS/HIERARCHY/TOP- APPOINTED/MIDDLE & LOWER- CIVIL SERVANTS
Compare the Spoils System to the Merit System for staffing the bureaucracy: The Spoils System awards government jobs to political supporters and friends/The Merit System is the selection, retention, and promotion of government employees on the basis of competitive examinations
Capture: The act by which an industry being regulated by a government agency gains direct or indirect control over agency personnel and decision makers
Iron Triangle vs. Issue Network as two ways of explaining capture: Iron Triangle/Legislators, bureaucrats, and interest groups make and preserve policies to benefit their common interest/Issue Network:A group of individuals or organizations that support a particular policy position on a given issue.