Institutions and Policymaking Exam Study Guide PDF

Institutions and Policymaking exam: Study Guide Presidency Why were the writers of the Constitution ambivalent about executive power? ○ Many delegates saw absence of an executive as a flaw in the Articles. ○ Many remained reluctant to create a powerful, independent executi...

Institutions and Policymaking exam: Study Guide Presidency Why were the writers of the Constitution ambivalent about executive power? ○ Many delegates saw absence of an executive as a flaw in the Articles. ○ Many remained reluctant to create a powerful, independent executive. What are the principal sources of a president’s power? What are the principal limits on a president’s power? ○ Principal sources Executive authority and responsibility Chief administrator Commander-in-chief Chief negotiator Legislative authority and responsibility Sign or veto legislation Report on State of the Union Judicial authority and responsibility Nominate federal judges and justices Appoint Solicitor General Grant Pardons ○ Limits Checks and balances Congressional oversight Impeachment Judicial review Supreme court can rule an administration law violates the Constitution. How do the president’s roles as head of state and head of government conflict? ○ The president's dual roles as head of state and head of government are central to the office but can be in tension with one another. The need to embody national unity and transcend partisanship (head of state) can sometimes conflict with the necessity of advancing a partisan agenda and making politically charged decisions (head of government). Balancing these roles is a complex and often difficult task, as the president must navigate the expectations of both being a unifying symbol and an active political leader. Why is it important that power be transferred smoothly from one administration to the next? ○ Continuity of Governance: A seamless handoff ensures that government functions, including security, foreign policy, and domestic operations, continue without disruption.  ○ Trust in Democracy: A peaceful transition reinforces the legitimacy of elections and democratic processes, showing that power is passed through fair means, not force or manipulation. ○ National Security: The outgoing administration needs to transfer crucial intelligence and military information to the new team, ensuring national security is maintained. ○ International Credibility: A smooth transition signals to the world that the nation is stable, which helps maintain diplomatic and trade relations. ○ Political Cohesion: It provides an opportunity for national unity, even after a contentious election, reminding citizens that the country is governed by shared principles. ○ Legal and Constitutional Requirements: The Constitution mandates an orderly transition to keep the government functioning and ensure the rule of law. Congress How do the enumerated powers of the Congress and the Presidency differ? ○ President enumerated powers Executive authority and responsibility Chief administrator Commander-in-chief Chief negotiator Legislative authority and responsibility Sign or veto legislation Report on State of the Union Judicial authority and responsibility Nominate federal judges and justices Appoint Solicitor General Grant Pardons ○ Congress enumerated powers Spend money for common defense and general welfare Lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises Borrow Money on the credit of the United States; Regulate interstate and international commerce Declare war Make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution that foregoing Powers How and why do the rules and norms of the House and Senate differ? ○ Difference in rules House of Representatives  Majoritarian: Fuels favor majority control, with the Speaker of the House having significant power over the agenda. Senate has longer terms than representatives. This can be due to the fact that Reps are designed to be more in touch with the people they represent. Stricter procedures: The House operates with more structured rules to manage its large size and ensure decision-making. Senate Individual power: Senators have more freedom to speak, and filibusters (extended debate) are allowed unless 60 senators invoke cloture to end debate. Less majority control: Individual senators can block or delay legislation, and the chamber relies on unanimous consent agreements for procedural flexibility. Deliberative process: Debate is less controlled, encouraging more extended discussion and bipartisan cooperation. ○ Differences in Norms: House of Representatives Majority-driven: The majority party controls the legislative agenda, and party discipline is strong. Efficiency: The House emphasizes quick decision-making and less debate, with more formal rules and behavior expectations Senate Individualism: Senators have more individual power, including the ability to delay or block legislation through extended debate. Collegiality: The Senate values cooperation and consensus-building, even across party lines, through this norm has weakened over time. ○ Why they differ: Constitutional design: The House was designed for responsiveness to the people (majority rule), while the Senate represents states and is meant to be more deliberative and stable. Size and Efficiency: The House’s larger size requires stricter rules for efficiency, whereas the Senate’s smaller size allows more flexibility and individual influences. Tradition: Over time, the House became more hierarchical and controlled by leadership, while the Senate developed norms that emphasize debate and individual power. How and why is Congress fragmented? What institutions help Congress to pass legislation nonetheless?  ○ Bicameral Structure: The House and Senate have different rules, sizes, and functions, leading to challenges in reaching consensus across both chambers. ○ Diverse interests: Congress represents diverse, competing interests (regional, ideological, and party-based), making it hard to unify around policies. ○ Committees: Committees have specialized focus areas and may develop their own agendas, leading to fragmented policy ideas. ○ Partisan Polarization: Increasing political division between parties makes compromise harder, especially in closely divided Congresses. ○ Constitutional Design: The separation of powers and checks and balances systems creates fragmentation by design, slowing down the legislative process. ○ How congress passes legislation despite fragmentation Party leadership: Leaders in the House and Senate help organize votes, set agendas, and maintain party discipline to push legislation through. Committees: Committees, led by powerful chairs, work out the details of bills and broker compromises, helping overcome divisions. Bipartisanship: Negotiation and building bipartisan support are key to passing significant bills, often involving compromise across party lines. Presidential influence Lobbyists Organization Division of labor How has the House of Representatives changed in recent years? Why has it changed? Who changed it? ○ They have gotten more “radical”, and less bipartisan. ○ New members come with more radical positions. ○ A new generation of members has changed it. Bureaucracy How and why has public administration evolved since the nation’s founding? ○ Since the founding of the United States, public administration has evolved significantly, transitioning from a largely patronage-based system with limited bureaucracy to a complex, merit-based system with a much larger administrative workforce, driven by the increasing demands of a growing population and the need for more specialized services across various sectors like healthcare, infrastructure, and social welfare; this shift was largely spurred by the implementation of the civil service system, which aimed to reduce political influence and prioritize competence in government How do the spoils system and the merit-based system of civil service differ? ○ The spoils system involves awarding government jobs based on political loyalty and connections to the winning party. merit-based system selects government  employees based on their qualifications and abilities, regardless of political affiliation, prioritizing merit over patronage. Why do presidents find controlling the bureaucracy difficult? What strategies can presidents use to gain control? ○ Despite these strategies, achieving full control over the bureaucracy is difficult. Institutional resistance, career civil service protections, and political pressures from Congress and interest groups often slow down or block presidential initiatives. Nonetheless, presidents continue to adapt these tools and strategies to steer the bureaucracy toward their policy goals, even as they contend with the inherent challenges of managing such a complex system. ○ Politicization: focus on political considerations when nominating leaders of departments and agencies shared policy goals Loyalty to president ○ Centralizations: create a “counter-bureaucracy” in the White House. Explain the tension between the value of expertise and the value of responsiveness in the Executive Branch bureaucracy. ○ ○