US Government Study Guide PDF

US Government - Study Guide for Quiz on the Executive Branch Format: 35-40 MCQ Roles of President Textbook pages 242-244 Major roles of the president? Examples? ○ Chief of State: ceremonial duties Ex: Hosting a state dinner for foreign dignitaries ○ Chi...

US Government - Study Guide for Quiz on the Executive Branch Format: 35-40 MCQ Roles of President Textbook pages 242-244 Major roles of the president? Examples? ○ Chief of State: ceremonial duties Ex: Hosting a state dinner for foreign dignitaries ○ Chief Executive: head of the government; enforces laws and appoints officials Ex: President appoints a new Supreme Court justice ○ Chief Diplomat: foreign relations Ex: President signs a peace treaty ○ Commander in Chief: in charge of the military Ex: Deploying troops in an emergency ○ Chief Policymaker: proposes legislation, signs bills into law or vetoes Ex: Advocating for healthcare reform ○ Chief of the Party: leader of his political party Ex: Campaigning for party candidates ○ Chief Manager of the Economy: monitors the economy Ex: Responding to an economic crisis with stimulus proposals Powers of President (Chapter 13) Review slide show on formal/informal powers of President & executive orders Formal Powers: Commander in Chief: President has command over the US armed forces Veto Power: President can veto legislation passed by congress ○ 10 days to sign or veto the bill ○ ⅔ of Congress can override ○ Becomes law if not signed in 10 days- Congress must be in session Treaty Making: President can negotiate and sign treaties with foreign nations (sometimes need Senate approval) State of the Union Address: Required by the constitution to inform congress and recommend legislation Appointments: Appoints key officials, federal court justices, supreme court judges, ambassadors, and cabinet members ○ Senate approves appointments that require consent ○ Congress must approve appointments to Vice Presidency & any treaty that involves foreign trade Pardons and Reprieves: Can reduce or forgive sentences for federal crimes Calling Congress in for a special session: Pressing issues arise and need immediate attention Informal Powers:  Executive Order: Directs ordered to manage operations of the federal government, a formal declaration by the President of the United States that has the force of law (for speed and efficiency) ○ No legislation, no approval, cannot be overturned Ex: Obama’s “dreamer” executive order Executive Agreements: Treaties or agreements with other countries but do not require senate approval Crisis Management: Central to address economic crisis (financial crash 2008) Executive Privilege: President can withhold documents/communications from congress and the public to protect sensitive information (national security) Signing Statements: ○ Object to certain parts of the law ○ Say the law is unconstitutional or should not be enforced ○ Direct agencies on how to implement a law Executive Branch Bureaucracy Textbook pages 246-248; A Very Big Branch reading Understand general size & scope of executive branch ○ President is head of Executive Branch, but there are also 15 executive departments & each department has smaller agencies to do specific jobs ○ Bureaucracy: a large, complex organization composed of appointed officials All parts of our government other than Legislative & Judicial Branches Ex: state department, defense, agriculture, FBI, CIA, EPA, etc How do departments differ from independent agencies? ○ Departments: the main organizations in the executive branch, each one focuses on a specific type of activity (education, transportation, defense, energy) 15 executive departments - education, transportation, etc Departments have specific agencies FBI and DEA in the justice ○ Independent Agencies: government organizations that also focus on specific issues, but they aren’t directly controlled by the president or executive branch (created by congress) Are not directly controlled by the president or executive branch Created by Congress to address problems that cannot be solved by legislation Controlled by commission President’s “cabinet”? SECRETARIES = heads of executive branch departments & agencies ○ President’s Cabinet: a group of people that give advice to help the president make important decisions ○ Secretaries: appointed by president and lead each department (also president's cabinet)  Appoints secretary to each department Make up cabinet Help President make decisions Match major executive branch departments & agencies with their primary duties ○ Secretary of State (department of state): manages our relationship with foreign countries ○ Secretary of the Treasury (Department of the Treasury): collects taxes, prints money, deals with the nation’s finances ○ Secretary of Defense (Department of Defense): manages armed forces and conducts wars overseas ○ Secretary of Agriculture (Department of Agriculture): works with farmers and regulates farm products ○ Secretary of Interior (Department of the Inferior): manages and protects the nation’s public lands ○ Attorney General(department of Justice): enforces laws and represents the US in legal matters ○ Secretary of Commerce (Department of Commerce): supervises trade and promotes US business ○ Secretary of Labor (Department of Labor): helps workers get fair wages and working conditions ○ Secretary of Transportation (Department of Transportation): overseas highway safety and air, rail, and sea travel ○ Secretary of Energy (Department of Energy): researches sources of fuel and electricity for the nation ○ Secretary of Education (Department of Education): gives money for K-12 schools and student college loans ○ Secretary of Veterans Affairs (Department of Veterans Affairs): provides services for people who served in the military ○ Secretary of Health & Human Services (Department of Health & Human Services): gives services for Americans’ health and basic needs ○ Secretary of Homeland Security (Department of Homeland Security): protects against terrorists and other treaties ○ Secretary of Housing & Urban Development (Department of Housing & Urban Development): creates strong communities and affordable housing Difference between department/agency “enforcement” and “regulation?” ○ Regulations: rule Educate, monitor, take offenders to court Ex: Jane has to be home by 10 pm on weekdays. EX: Restaurants must give their workers 2 bathroom breaks during an 8 hour shift. ○ Enforce: enforcing that rule Making an activity illegal  Ex: Jane’s parents take her phone away because she came home at 10:30 pm on a weekday. Ex: Restaurant isn’t following the rule, so the U.S. Labor Department fines the restaurant. War-Making Powers of Congress and President Review your notes from the videos we watched in class. Links to the videos are on Canvas. Four ways U.S. can go to war: ○ Sudden attack on U.S. ○ Declaration of War (given by Congress) ○ Statued → treaty or law that triggers U.S. to go to war Ex: If NATO country gets attacked, we have to support them because of the treaty ○ Authorize the use of military force Which branch holds power to declare war? What’s changed in how that power has been used? ○ Branch → Legislative Branch - Congress has power to declare war ○ Change → Presidents have used AUMF (Authorization for Use of Military Force) instead of formal declarations of war → shifting more power to Executive Branch Force Authorizations? How’d they come about? ○ Force Authorizations: Resolutions passed by Congress that allow the President to use the military in a conflict ○ Came about → Starts with Gulf of Tonkin & starts because formal declarations of war are very complicated Therefore, President has to have the flexibility to respond to things Force Authorizations make it easier for Congress to say here is this authorization to President Ex: Declaring war on an organization ○ Congress doesn’t have to “check” President and, therefore, can allow him to go to war (more casually) OR ○ Congress can deter President from declaring war by not providing him with the necessary funds Main arguments for and against proposition that Congress has given up too much of its war-making authority to President? Given up too much: Given up right amount:  Leaves room for President to Could possibly limit financial aid abuse their power President can limit use of military Gives President too much power force We should make President really Beyond what the constitution think about their role as intended Commander-in-Chief Military troops are made up of citizens so they should get a say Legislative Branch Resources: Textbook Chapters 11 & 12. Slides and Notes. Structure Bi-Cameral. What does that mean? What are the practical, historical and theoretical reasons why we have a bicameral legislature? ○ Bi-Cameral: Refers to a system of government where there are two legislative bodies that must both agree on new laws Senate considered upper house Congress considered lower house House of Representatives and Senate: Number of members, length of terms, how are they elected? House of Representatives: ○ 2 year terms ○ 435 members ○ Elected by only those eligible voters residing in the congressional district that the candidate will represent ○ Apportioned among states based on population Senate: ○ 6 year terms ○ 100 members (2 per state) ○ Elected by statewide popular vote ○ Confirm appointments, try impeachment cases, ratify treaties Similarities and differences between the two bodies: rules of debate, number of committees, etc. Similarities Differences Legislative Function: Both pass laws, Rules of Debate: approve presidential appointments, and have impeachment roles. House: Limited, structured, controlled Committee System: Both chambers use by Speaker committees to review bills. Senate: Flexible, includes filibuster,  Constitutional Foundation: Both are less restricted established by the U.S. Constitution. Role in Impeachment: House impeaches; Committees: Senate conducts the trial. House: 20 standing committees, more specialized Senate: 16 standing committees, broader jurisdiction Leadership: House: Speaker of the House has significant control Senate: Vice President (mostly ceremonial), Majority Leader controls agenda Constituency: House: Represents smaller districts Senate: Represents entire states Impeachment: House: Initiates impeachment Senate: Conducts trial and votes on conviction Confirming Appointments: House: No role in confirming appointments Senate: Confirms presidential appointments and treaties Revenue Bills: House: Initiates revenue bills (taxes, spending) Senate: Can amend revenue bills but cannot initiate them What is the primary function of the Legislative Branch? To create laws What powers are granted exclusively to the House? Sentate? Exclusive to House:  ○ Initiates Revenue Bills: All tax and spending bills must originate in the House. ○ Impeachment Power: Has the authority to impeach (formally charge) a president or federal official. ○ Elects the President: If no candidate wins the Electoral College, the House elects the president, with each state delegation casting one vote. Exclusive to Senate: ○ Confirms Presidential Appointments: Approves appointments of federal judges, cabinet members, and other high-level officials. ○ Ratifies Treaties: Approves international treaties by a two-thirds vote. ○ Conducts Impeachment Trials: Holds trials for officials impeached by the House and votes on whether to convict or acquit. ○ Elects the Vice President: If no candidate wins the Electoral College, the Senate selects the vice president. How did the 17th amendment change how Senators are elected? Ratified in 1913 → 17th Amendment ○ Changed the election of Senators from being chosen by state legislatures to being directly elected by the people How does Impeachment work? (Slides) Initiation: ○ House of Representatives can initiate impeachment by drafting & approving articles of impeachment by a simple majority vote ○ Investigation: House Judiciary Committee typically conducts investigations to determine if grounds for impeachment exist ○ Trial: If impeached, Senate conducts a trial, with the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court presiding over presidential impeachment cases ○ Conviction: Senate votes on conviction; a two-thirds majority is required to remove official from office How Does A Bill Become A Law? Know the steps. How does the Congress override a Presidential veto? How role does the Filibuster play in the bill making process? Only 1-3% of bills become laws Committee Chairs selected by Speaker of the House & Senate Majority Leader Congress or Senate can amend bill to: ○ BENEFIT them ○ DISADVANTAGE them by “poisoning bill” → making an amendment that you’d have enough so that when its voted on by either the Senate or Congress, when it moves on to the other chamber, it gets KILLED 1. Desire for legislation is voiced a. Citizens contact congress requesting that a new law be created i. Commonly from special interest groups 2. Bill is introduced & referred to committee a. Member presents draft legislation which is forwarded to committee of jurisdiction 3. Committee Action a. Information on issue is gathered for study b. Witnesses are called to share information c. Citizens’ points of views are received & considered i. 4-6% chance of bill moving on ii. Possibly marked up 4. Committee reports to full chamber a. Explanation is presented of what a bill does with reasons for support or opposition 5. Floor action a. DEBATE → Members share opinions on bills in speeches b. AMENDMENTS → Members vote on changes to the bill 6. End of floor debate a. HOUSE → House sets rules for amendments & length of debate after which a final vote is ordered b. SENATE → ⅗ of senators agree to stop debating & vote i. Filibuster → only in senate ii. SCOTUS appointments not subjected to filibuster → simple majority vote is now required to confirm a nominee iii. 60 votes = cloture → ends debate & filibuster 7. Vote on bill a. Roll call is taken of yeas and nays 8. Process is repeated in other chamber a. Act is sent to other chamber for consideration 9. House & Senate bill versions are reconciled by: a. Conference Committee: Members from both chambers meet to negotiate the differences between bills & come to agreement b. Substitute Bill: One chamber substitutes the text of the other chamber’s bill so that both houses can vote on the exact same bill 10. Act sent to Executive a. Act is transmitted for the President’s signature 11. Executive → a. Signs Act → President approves act & it therefore becomes law b. Vetoes Act → President submits a message explaining his disapproval of an act 12. Congress votes to override veto a. ⅔ of members vote to make a bill into law without President’s signature Criticisms and Concerns: Gerrymandering (Who draws Congressional Districts) When is it legal and when is it unconstitutional? Gridlock and ineffectiveness Gerrymandering: Drawing districts to favor a particular party ○ Unconstitutional to do it based on race ○ State legislatures draw congressional districts & some states have independent commissions Media (Use Notes and “Attack of the Bots” Video Questions Be prepared to apply the different types of bias to different scenarios. Media used to: ○ Used to spread information and influence the general public ○ Releases information about candidates, advertise, endorse ○ Almost a check on the government Bias by/of: ○ Omission: leaving out one side ○ Selection of Sources: including sources that support one side over another ○ Story Selection: highlighting news stories that coincide with a view ○ Placement: where in the paper the story is printed ○ Labeling: giving people/groups extreme labels or leaving out label and calling “expert” ○ Spin: tone showing interpretation of story Impact of Bots and Social Media on Democracy Fake accounts made to look like people Create support Creates false stories