AP GOPO 2009-2010 REVIEW Tuesday. April 13:  -Unit 5 The Executive Branch-Unit 6 The Judicial Branch-Unit 7 Public Policy-Unit 8 Civil Rights & Civil Liberties Wednesday, April 14th:-Unit 3 Political Parties, Interest Groups, Elections & Media-Unit 4 The Legislative Branch Wednesday, April 21st:-Unit 1 Constitutional Underpinnings-Unit 2 Political Behaviors and Beliefs

IV. Institutions of National Government: The Congress, the Presidency, the Bureaucracy, and the Federal Courts 35–45%

A. The major formal and informal institutional arrangements of power

B. Relationships among these four institutions and varying balances of power

C. Linkages between institutions and the following:1.Public opinion and voters 2.Interest groups 3.Political parties 4.The media5.State and local governments

The Congress

A. The major formal and informal institutional arrangements of power

-Bi-cameral (two-house)-House of Reps 435 (2 years) & Senate 100 (1/3 2 years)

-Write laws, oversees the bureaucracy, consensus building, clarifying policy, legitimizing, and expressing diversity.

-Constitution requires House to rep in equal single-member districts (based on census). Proportional Rep. Political party in power does Congressional reapportionment. Gerrymandering?

-Delegated Powers-must work together: declare war, taxation, borrowing & coin money, regulating commerce, raising an army, creating & making rules for the federal courts, naturalization laws, establishing post offices, providing for militia.

The Congress

-Unique Powers-HOUSE: tax laws & spending bills. House Ways & Means Committee

-Unique Powers-Senate: confirmation of presidential nominations to federal courts & ambassadorships, ratifies treaties.

-Non-Legislative Tasks: Oversight, Public Education, Representing Constituents.

-Committees: Standing, Joint, Select & Conference.-Leadership House: Speaker, Majority Leader, Minority Leader-Leadership Senate: VP is Pres of Senate, president pro

tempore.

The Congress

B. Relationships among with other institutions and varying balances of power.

-Checks on Executive Branch-Checks on Judicial Branch*Notable*-Admit new states, Article V-Propose amendments-Necessary & Proper Clause or Elastic Clause-McCulloch v.

Maryland-Incumbency advantage-Impeachment-Legislative Process-How A Bill Becomes A Law1. Introduced 2. Committee 3. House Rules Committee 4.

House & Senate Floor 5. Conference Committee 6. President.

The Congress

Ready for Some Practice

1. What does the majority whip do?2. What is casework?3. Who has the bigger incumbency advantage Senate or

House members?4. What does the conference committee do?5. What does the House Rules Committee do?

The Presidency

A. The major formal and informal institutional arrangements of power -Formal Presidential Powers-Commander in Chief: enforcing laws, foreign

policy, ceremonial head of state, administrative head of government, brief Congress, veto legislation, grant reprieves and pardons, negotiate treaties, appoint federal judges, Supreme Court justices, ambassadors, department secretaries *all require Senate approval.

*Foreign Policy*Legislative*Appointive-Informal Presidential Powers: morale builders, legislative leader, coalition

builder, policy persuader, setting agenda, -Executive Office: Chief of Staff, National Security Council, Domestic Policy

Council, Office of Management & Budget, Council of Economic Advisors, U.S. Trade Representative.

-The Cabinet: What Secretaries?

The Presidency

B. Relationships with the other institutions and varying balances of power

-Checks on Congress-Checks on the Judiciary

*Notable*-Executive agreements-War Power Acts-Impeachment-executive privilege-

The Presidency

Ready for some Review1. What is the honeymoon period of the Presidency?2. Name at least 2 formal and 2 informal powers of the

president.3. What generally happens to the president’s party at mid-

term elections?4. What is executive privilege?5. Name at least three cabinet positions.6. What is the War Powers Act & why was it passed?7. What does the term presidential coattails refer to?8. What is a pocket veto?

The Bureaucracy

A. The major formal and informal institutional arrangements of power

-Ensures policies & programs enacted by Congress & executive departments are carried out.

-Execute laws, provide for defense, & administer social programs. *Part of the executive branch!

-4 million bureaucrats of federal government, 2.7 mil civilians and 1.4 mil military. 30% work for Defense Department & 15% social agencies including welfare & social security. *Not elected.

-15 cabinet secretaries, appointed by President with consent of Senate.

-Department of Defense is largest & headed by Secretary of Defense.

The Bureaucracy

-Bureaucratic HierarchyDepartment of StateDepartment of the TreasuryDepartment of DefenseDepartment of JusticeDepartment of the InteriorDepartment of AgricultureDepartment of CommerceDepartment of LaborDepartment of Health & Human ServicesDepartment of Housing & Urban DevelopmentDepartment of TransportationDepartment of EnergyDepartment of EducationDepartment of Veterans’ AffairsDepartment of Homeland Security

The Bureaucracy

*Notable*-Government Corporations: Amtrak, Post Office, etc.-Regulatory Agencies & Commissions: act as watchdogs over the federal

government. EX: The Federal Trade Commission, The Securities & Exchange Commission, The Nuclear Regulatory Commission, The Federal Communications Commission, The Food & Drug Administration, The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, The Occupational Safety & Health Administration.

-EPA-1970 Clean Air Act-Endangered Species Act-EEOC-Federal Reserve Board-Iron Triangles-Alliance Network-Hatch Act in 1939

The Bureaucracy

REVIEW Questions

1. Who is the head of the Senate?2. How are cabinet members selected?3. What is the NSC?4. What is “Senatorial courtesy”?5. Explain what an iron triangle is?6. What is the difference between an independent executive agency &

and independent regulatory agency?7. What are some criticisms of the federal bureaucracy?

The Federal CourtsA. The major formal and informal institutional

arrangements of power -FORMAL_-Article III vague outline of organization and responsibilities of

judicial branch.-Supreme Court but no details. Congress establishes federal

courts below Supreme Court. Outlines Jurisdiction: original & appellate.

-INFORMAL--Judicial Review, implied from Article III b/c right to hear cases

arising out of the “laws of the U.S.”. Established clearly with declaring parts of the Judiciary Act of 1789 unconstitutional in Marbury v. Madison

The Federal CourtsB. Relationships among these four institutions and varying balances of power -Checks on Executive Branch-Checks on Judicial Branch

*Notable*-Structure of Courts: Constitutional courts created by Congress, judges serve for life &

Legislative courts created by Congress under Article I, judges have fixed terms.-Who Serves: President appoints with Senate confirmation, serve for life which

insulates them from partisan politics but selection is highly political.-Writ of Certiorari-Rule of Four-Amicus Curiae-Stare Decisis-Precedents-Judicial Restraint vs. Judicial Activism-16th Amendment 1913-income tax unconstitutional-Texas vs. Johnson 1989-flag burning-Confirmation Process & getting Borked

The Federal CourtsReview Questions

1. What needs to be considered when a President appoints a judge, especially to the Supreme Court?

2. What is the rule of four?3. Who decides how many justices sit on the Supreme Court?4. What different types of opinions can be written by the Supreme Court?5. What cases usually are heard in the Supreme Court?6. What is the difference between judicial activism and judicial restraint?7. Why is the case Marbury vs. Madison significant?8. What is an amicus curiaw brief?

Public Policy 5–15%A. Policymaking in a federal system B. The formation of policy agendas C. The role of institutions in the enactment of policy D. The role of the bureaucracy and the courts in policy implementation

and interpretationE. Linkages between policy processes and the following:1.Political 

institutions and federalism 2.Political parties 3.Interest groups 4.Public opinion5. Elections 6.Policy networks

Public Policy 5–15%-Agenda Setting-Policy formulation done by Congress, president, interest

groups & lobbyists. (MADD)-Unfunded Mandates-Regulatory Policy: supervision of the actions of individuals,

business, and government institutions. (Meat Inspection Act, Federal Radio Commission, National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act, Environmental Protection Agency.

-Social Welfare Policy: Social Security Act of 1935, SSI, AFDC, means test, workfare

Economic Policy-Stagflation-Unemployment Rate-GDP-Recession-Entitlements-Keynesian economics-fiscal policy-Monetarism-discount rate-supply-side economics-OMB-CBO-discretionary spending vs. mandatory spending-Progressive tax vs. regressive tax vs. flat tax, VAT or value added tax & capital

gains tax

International Economic Policy-G8 or Group of *-GATT-NAFTA-WTO-National Economic Council

Foreign Policy-Neutrality Acts -containment policy-Truman Doctrine-Marshall Plan-NATO-domino theory-Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty-Détente-Camp David Accords-SDI-Dayton Accords-Kyoto Treaty-Carter Doctrine-War Powers Act-Joint Chiefs of Staff

VI. Civil Rights and Civil Liberties 5–15%

A. The development of civil liberties and civil rights by judicial interpretation

B. Knowledge of substantive rights and libertiesC. The impact of the Fourteenth Amendment

on the constitutional development of rights and liberties

VI. Civil Rights and Civil Liberties 5–15%

A. The development of civil liberties and civil rights by judicial interpretation

B. Knowledge of substantive rights and libertiesC. The impact of the Fourteenth Amendment

on the constitutional development of rights and liberties

VI. Civil Rights and Civil Liberties 5–15%

A. The development of civil liberties and civil rights by judicial interpretation

B. Knowledge of substantive rights and libertiesC. The impact of the Fourteenth Amendment

on the constitutional development of rights and liberties

III.Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Mass Media 10–20%

A. Political parties and elections1. Functions 2. Organization 3. Development 4. Effects on the political process 5. Electoral laws and systemsB. Interest groups, including political action committees (PACs) 1.The range of interests represented 2.The activities of interest groups 3.The effects of interest groups on the political process4.The unique characteristics and roles of PACs in the political process C. The mass media1.The functions and structures of the news media 2.The impacts of the news media on politics 3.The news media industry and its consequences

II. Political Beliefs and Behaviors 10–20%

A. Beliefs that citizens hold about their government and its leaders

B. Processes by which citizens learn about politics C. The nature, sources, and consequences of public

opinionD. The ways in which citizens vote and otherwise

participate in political lifeE. Factors that influence citizens to differ from one

another in terms of political beliefs and behaviors

I. Constitutional Underpinnings of United States Government 5–15%

A. Considerations that influenced the formulation and adoption of the Constitution

B.Separation of powers C.Checks and balances D.Federalism E.Theories of democratic government

Other Powerpoints

• http://www.foothilltech.org/ceulau/apgov/pptlectures.htm

• http://www.lanesoccer.org/apgov.html• http://carnahanapgov.blogspot.com/• http://www.studystack.com/flashcard-15792