American Government Exam 3 Cheat Sheet (DRAFT) by db329

David Hume

argues for instit­utions and laws and regula­tions to prevent abuse of power

agency

capacity of indivi­duals to act indepe­ndently and make their own free choice

instit­utions according to....

Rom Harre (1979)

"an interl­ocking double­-st­ructure of person­s-a­s-r­ole­-ho­lders or office­-be­arers and the like, and of social practices incolcing both expressive and practical aims and outcom­es"

informal

some rules, interp­ret­able, different ways to do it, unwritten (ex parties), no law establ­ishing them or dictating their existence

channeling prefer­ences

incentives and disinc­entives

rigidity

same processes all the time, which becomes an issue if there is something system­ati­cally wrong with the instit­ution, good to predict the process

plan

join instit­ution, acquire power to make change

formal respre­sen­tation

to be duly elected or appointed to act on another's behalf

symbolic repres­ent­ation

the extent to which legisl­ative behavior is acceptable to your consti­tuents

delegate

vote as your consti­tuents dictate

politico

do what is necessary to win elections and increase influence

Work of the Chamber

voting on legisl­ation, serviving on committees and sub-co­mmi­ttees, crafting legisl­ati­on/­bills, partic­ipating in party caucuses

select or special committee

establ­ished generally by a separate resolution of the chamber (e.g. conduct invest­iga­tions and studies, consider measures)

Consti­tuency servic­e/c­asework

immigr­ation, military person­nel­/se­rvice academies, social security issues, tours/­flags, intern­ships, grants­/do­mestic assist­ance, "­super casewo­rk"

Fenno argues that Congre­ssmen view their consti­tue­ncies in four shrinking concentric circles

2. Reelection (electoral suppor­ters)

"who is likely to vote for me?"

4. Personal (candi­date's intimates)

family, close friends, and trusted advisors

The Early Days

- a revolt against Speaker Joe Cannon (R-IL) occurred on March 17, 1910. After two failed attempts to curb Cannon's absolute power in the House George Norris (R-NE) led a coalition of 42 progre­ssive republ­icans and the entire delegation of 149 Democrats in a revolt. With many of Cannon's most powerful allies absent from the Chamber, but enough Members on hand for a quorum, Norris introduced a resolution that would remove the Speaker from the Rules Committee and strip him of his power to assign committees

The Reforms

- In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Congress became more "­pro­fes­sio­nal­ize­d"

increased pay and staff plus the franking privilege

- Party and the majority party leader become more important in legisl­ation

- The seeming paradox between the low regard with which people hold Congress and the high rate of re-ele­ction of incumbents points o a simple reality: People hate Congress but (gener­ally) like their Member of Congress

- Every 10 years states have to re-draw their district (re-di­str­icting) to make sure that an equal number of people are in each district (so you have to re-draw the lines even if your overall number of repres­ent­atives doesn't change)

- drawing the district lines can be done in a way to maximize (or minimize) the seats that a party gets per vote (gerry­man­dering)

black

2% in the Senate versus 13% in the US

attorneys

51% in the Senate versus <1% in the US

military service

20% in the Senate versus 13% in the US

*Profe­ssi­onalism of State Legisl­ation

Where does TX rank?

about #15 and we've been getting more profes­sio­nalized over time, CA has been #1 for a long time

Filibuster in TX Legisl­ature

only allowed in the Senate, no eating or drinking in the Senate Chamber, member of the Senate required to stand at their desk to address the Senate (no sitting, leaning, use of desk or chair in any way and bathroom breaks are not allowed), other Senators can raise objections if a speaker does not confine their remarks to the issue under consid­eration or if their voice is inaudible, the speaker is given two strikes by the presiding officer about violating rules for decorum or debate (after third violation, Senate votes on point of order, id it is sustained Senator speaking must yield the floor)

2003 Regulat Session

redo congre­ssional districts, Democrats protested; protesting failed so they left the state (so state troopers couldn't return them to the Chamber) to prevent quorum from being met, the Democrats came back when it was decided not to vote on this during this session

2003 Second Special Session

Governor Perry called another special session, the Democrats left the state again, which angered the public so enough Democrats came back to meet quorum, they voted and the Republ­icans got more influence and repres­ent­ative

- racial Gerrym­and­ering is illegal

The Imperial Presidency (Schle­singer)

1. unrest­ricted Presid­ential War-Making Power 2. Too many Emergency Powers 3. Too Much Diplomacy Through Executive Agreements 4. Assertion of Executive Privilege 5. Right to Impound Approp­riated Funds

2. The president needs a good sense of timing

4. The president should consult with party leaders prior to undert­aking major policy initia­tives

6. The president needs a first-rate congre­ssional liaison staff

8. The president should specif­ically seek bi-par­tisan support for his programs

10. The president needs a sound program

agenda setter

Congress and the media pay attention to what the president says, causing that to get on the agenda

Pocket Veto

once a bill passes through Congress, POTUS has 10 days to sign/veto; if Congress is in session and the POTUS doesn't sign the bill it becomes a law; if Congress is not in session and the POTUS doesn't sign then no law

Instit­uti­ona­lized Pluralism

structure of politics where only elites matter

- in providing stable bargaining enviro­nment informal rules are instit­uti­ona­lized ("honor one's commit­men­ts" and "­don't use force")

Public opinion and elections are seen as disrup­tions to stability

using public opinion is akin to using force

A system of indepe­ndent members who have fewer and weaker groups or instit­utional loyalties

less interest in short-term sacrifices for long-term benefits; politics has intruded on relati­onships in Washington

Public Opinion and Indivi­dualism

going public has its risks ("read my lips" and Clinton and the Health Care reform), president must calculate risks

House of Repres­ent­atives

majori­tarian instit­ution (435 members, need 218 votes in order for a bill to pass, the 218th House member or median voter is the pivotal voter in the House

Additional Consid­era­tions

status quo and POTUS' political capital

Lobbying strategies

vote centered (when new policy is close to status quo), agenda centered (when new policy is far from status quo)

Unders­tanding presid­ential action requires unders­tanding which job he is perfor­ming...

Commander in Chief

G.W. Bush sends U.S. troops to Iraq

Director of Foreign Policy

Nixon visits China

Economic Guardian

Clinton balances federal budget

Presidents end up preferring to conduct foreign policy because they are less constr­ained by partisan politics and Congress

Crisis Management

Cuban Missile Crisis (foreign affairs), Depression in 1929 and Economic melt down in 2008 (Aggregate Econom­ics), Watts riots in 1965 and LA riots in 1992 (domestic policy)

Priority Settin­g/P­rogram Design

Nixon to China (foreign affairs), FDR's New Deal (aggregate econom­ics), Obama's Health Care Initiative (Domestic Policy)

2. The American system is one of shared not separate power

4. The president often is more constr­ained in the executive branch than when he goes to Congress, where he gets to propose things

Presid­ential behavior is hugely affected by the psycho­logical tendencies of the president

world view (positive v. negative) and style (active v. passive)

Active Negative

Richard Nixon and Lyndon Johnson

Passive Negative

Warren Harding and Calvin Coolidge

Pendleton Act

1883 Legisl­ation passed to create Civil Service Commis­sion, Employees are chose according to educat­ional qualif­ica­tions, perfor­mance on exams, and work experi­ence, patronage lives on (ex. POTUS' cabinet)

principal

gives directive

problem

in government there are too many principals

Bureau­cratic Drift

changes in prefer­ences of elected officials present diffic­ulties for bureau­crats

many do not wish to conform to the expect­ations of new officials, they may prefer the old way of doing things or prefer to honor the original statute and not the newly elected officials, Civil service employment protection makes drift less costly to bureau­crats

fire alarm

go where emergency is, not preven­tative nor costly

hard because people benefit from current instit­ution so they don't want to change

Robert A. Dahl

To Consider the Supreme Court of the United States strictly as a legal instit­ution is to undere­stimate its signif­icance in the American political system. For it is also a political instit­ution, an instit­ution, that is to say, for arriving at decisions on contro­versial questions of national policy

The Courts can influence the policy process because of the perceived legitimacy of their decisions

the courts have no power to enforce their decisions, reliant on perceived legitimacy to have Congress and the President enforce their decisions

Marbury versus Madison

Problem for the Supreme Court

Jefferson saw the court as antago­nistic to him because they were appointed by Adams ("A hospital of decayed politi­cia­ns"); A ruling in favor of Marbury would be ignored by Jefferson admini­str­ation; A ruling in favor of Madison would confirm the Court is subord­inate to POTUS

Ramifi­cation of Decision

establ­ished the ability of the Court to strike down a law as violating the Consti­tution ("It is emphat­ically the province and duty of the judicial department to say what the law is"); allowed the Court to sidestep political contro­versy and establish itself as an indepe­ndent instit­ution

Rational Applic­ation

the Court is concerned that Congress may attempt to circumvent their decision, creating a worse policy outcome; In response to striking down law A, Congress passes law B, which is a worse law in the Court's eyes

Types of attacks on the Court's instit­utional mainte­nance

using Senate confir­mation power to select certain types of judges, enacting consti­tut­ional amendments decisions, impeac­hment, withdr­awing Court jurisd­iction over certain subject, slashing the budget, altering the size of the court

Instit­utional mainte­nance concerns do impact the Court's decision

When the Court feels Congress or the President will attempt to act against the Court, the Court is less likely to strike down a law

Government and the Economy (1865-­1937)

The main issue is the extent to which the economy could be regulated by national or state govern­ment; Generally the Court has viewed the 14th Amendment as protecting private property and corpor­ations from state activity; Pro-bu­siness decisions: Court prevented labor strikes, struck down federal income tax, restricted powers of the ICC to regulate railroad rates, prevented maximum laws hours on employers; Anti-b­usiness decisions: Court upheld laws affecting public works, allowed regulation of business through government agency (ICC), approved safety rules on railroads, approved of states' anti-l­iquor laws, approved safety mine laws

U.S. Court of Appeals

13 total; One in each of 12 circuits or regions (including DC), and one for the federal circuit; they only hear cases on appeal, no original jurisd­iction: Cases on appeal from Federal District Courts, US Regulatory Commis­sioners (e.g., cases on appeal from the Federal Commun­ica­tions Commission on cable licens­ing), Cases on appeal from other federal courts

12 regional circuit courts

TX is in the 5th circuit

people go to courts that will most likely give them the outcome they want

Texas Court of Criminal Appeals

may sit in panels of 3 judges, except in capital murder cases

October 22, 2013 Bexar County Court-­as-Law No. 11 Judge Carlo Key switched partis­anship from Republican to Democrat

Elected in 2010 along with a wave of Republican judges throughout Texas, felt out of sync with the GOP, lost to Republican in 2014 election

James L. Gibson

Judicial elections may actually boost the instit­utional legitimacy of the court; however, the negative effects of campaigns may detract from it

Jurisd­iction

Original Jurisd­iction (cases involving 2+ states, US v. a state, state v. citizen of a different state if begun by the states, diplom­ats); Appellate jurisd­iction (from federal court of appeals if federal and state law conflict, from federal district court if state law is found uncons­tit­uti­onal, if federal law was held to be uncons­tit­utional and the US was party to the suit); Granting a "writ of certio­rar­i" (if the case involves a substa­ntive federal question, if the case comes from the highest state court or the Federal Court of Appeals, Must have four votes from justic­e—"rule of four")

Limita­tions for the Court

The US Consti­tution, Precedent, Doctrine of "­pol­itical questi­ons­", inability to enforce its own decisions, necessity for public accept­ance, "­Ult­imate Limita­tio­ns" (impea­chment, court packing, Consti­tut­ional amendment)

The "­Swing Vote" (nominated by Republican President)

Roberts (Chief Justice ~0.15C)

- the decisions, actions, and commit­ments of govern­ments

- protection of Americans from enemies at home and abroad

- providing assistance to a wide range of Americans (subsidies for farmers, help for low-in­comes families, policy money for stats and local govern­ments)

Regulatory Policy

involve use of police powers by the federal government to supervise the conduct of indivi­duals, busine­sses, and other government agencies (ex enviro­nmental protec­tion, consumer safety, public health, civil rights

Entitl­ement Policy

benefits and cash payments to those who meet specific requir­ements (ex Social Security and Medicare)

Federal Revenues, 2023

45% Income Taxes, 34% payroll taxes, 11% Corporate Income taxes, 6% other, 4% excise (sin) taxes

economic policy

policy aimed at producing a vibrant, healthy, and growing economy

Fiscal Policy

government budgetary choices concerning how much (and when) to tax, spend, subsidize, and borrow)

Regulatory Policy

regulation of businesses and/or the workplace

Keynianism

belief that government policies must address aggregate demand through fiscal policy (taxes and spending)

The Federal Reserve System (goes with Moneta­rism)

establ­ished in 1913 to affect monetary policy, consists of 12 banks run by an appointed board of governors and directed by a Chair (appointed by POTUS). The Board members have staggered, 14 year terms and the Chair is appointed for 4 years (Jerome Powell is the current Chair). The Federal Reserve Board controls the money supply by buying and selling federal securities (treasury notes and bonds), regulating the money that member banks have on deposit (the "­reserve requir­eme­nt"), Manipu­lating interest rates (changes in rates that member banks must pay when borrowing from reserve banks—the "­dis­count rate")

Strong power and Negative behavior

Contenders (Rich, Unions, Minori­ties)

Weak power and Negative behavior

Deviants (Crimi­nals, drug users, gangs)

Strong power and Positive behavior

Advant­aged: high control of benefits which are oversu­bsc­ribed; High control of burdens which are unders­ubs­cribed

Weak power and Positive behavior

Depend­ents: Low control of benefits which are unders­ubs­cribed; no control of burdens which are oversu­bsc­ribed

Importance of Social Constr­uction

By unders­tanding the social constr­uction of target popula­tions we can better understand what problems get on the agenda, the solutions offered, solution chosen, policy tools used and how it is evaluated

- The actual means or devices which govern­ments have at thier disposal for implem­enting policies, and from which they must select

- Government and particular political officials are in a good position to persuade people because they can speak in the name of political interest (healthy eating campaigns, recycling)

regula­tions are rules and standards that control economic, social, and political activities (natural monopoly, extern­ali­ties, protecting the uninfo­rmed)

sin taxes

a tax intended to discourage unwanted behavior (cigar­ettes and alcohol, snack tax, health insurance mandate

- "­Pol­icies of the submerged state obscure the role of the government and exaggerate that of the market, leaving citizens unaware of how power operates, unable to form meaningful opinions, and incapable, therefore, of voicing their views accord­ing­ly"

- Home Mortgage Interest Rate Deduction ($230,000; 6.25%; rate 30 years) Family Income and First year savings

$16,75­1-$­68,00 -> $3,619; $68,00­1-$­137,300 -> $5,146; $373,650+ -> $6,673

- the varying incomes of different socioe­conomic groups in an economy (sometimes referred to as the income gap and it highlights the gap between these with the highest and lowest incomes in a country, region, or the whole world

- it usually compares socioe­conomic groups but it may also compare the incomes of men versus women, or white people versus African Americans

Global­ization

increasing imports of manufa­cture goods from low-sk­illed developing countries reduces manufa­cturing opport­unities for low-sk­illed workers

- politi­cians are more likely to engage in redist­rib­utive policies the closer they are to an elections

- the decisions, actions, and commit­ments of govern­ments

- protection of Americans from enemies at home and abroad

- providing assistance to a wide range of Americans (subsidies for farmers, help for low-in­comes families, policy money for stats and local govern­ments)

Regulatory Policy

involve use of police powers by the federal government to supervise the conduct of indivi­duals, busine­sses, and other government agencies (ex enviro­nmental protec­tion, consumer safety, public health, civil rights

Entitl­ement Policy

benefits and cash payments to those who meet specific requir­ements (ex Social Security and Medicare)

Federal Revenues, 2023

45% Income Taxes, 34% payroll taxes, 11% Corporate Income taxes, 6% other, 4% excise (sin) taxes

economic policy

policy aimed at producing a vibrant, healthy, and growing economy

Fiscal Policy

government budgetary choices concerning how much (and when) to tax, spend, subsidize, and borrow)

Regulatory Policy

regulation of businesses and/or the workplace

Keynianism

belief that government policies must address aggregate demand through fiscal policy (taxes and spending)

The Federal Reserve System (goes with Moneta­rism)

establ­ished in 1913 to affect monetary policy, consists of 12 banks run by an appointed board of governors and directed by a Chair (appointed by POTUS). The Board members have staggered, 14 year terms and the Chair is appointed for 4 years (Jerome Powell is the current Chair). The Federal Reserve Board controls the money supply by buying and selling federal securities (treasury notes and bonds), regulating the money that member banks have on deposit (the "­reserve requir­eme­nt"), Manipu­lating interest rates (changes in rates that member banks must pay when borrowing from reserve banks—the "­dis­count rate")

Strong power and Negative behavior

Contenders (Rich, Unions, Minori­ties)

Weak power and Negative behavior

Deviants (Crimi­nals, drug users, gangs)

Strong power and Positive behavior

Advant­aged: high control of benefits which are oversu­bsc­ribed; High control of burdens which are unders­ubs­cribed

Weak power and Positive behavior

Depend­ents: Low control of benefits which are unders­ubs­cribed; no control of burdens which are oversu­bsc­ribed

Importance of Social Constr­uction

By unders­tanding the social constr­uction of target popula­tions we can better understand what problems get on the agenda, the solutions offered, solution chosen, policy tools used and how it is evaluated

- The actual means or devices which govern­ments have at thier disposal for implem­enting policies, and from which they must select

- Government and particular political officials are in a good position to persuade people because they can speak in the name of political interest (healthy eating campaigns, recycling)

regula­tions are rules and standards that control economic, social, and political activities (natural monopoly, extern­ali­ties, protecting the uninfo­rmed)

sin taxes

a tax intended to discourage unwanted behavior (cigar­ettes and alcohol, snack tax, health insurance mandate

- "­Pol­icies of the submerged state obscure the role of the government and exaggerate that of the market, leaving citizens unaware of how power operates, unable to form meaningful opinions, and incapable, therefore, of voicing their views accord­ing­ly"

- Home Mortgage Interest Rate Deduction ($230,000; 6.25%; rate 30 years) Family Income and First year savings

$16,75­1-$­68,00 -> $3,619; $68,00­1-$­137,300 -> $5,146; $373,650+ -> $6,673

- the varying incomes of different socioe­conomic groups in an economy (sometimes referred to as the income gap and it highlights the gap between these with the highest and lowest incomes in a country, region, or the whole world

"­Spheres of Influe­nce­"

notion that the world is divided into regions in which a specific country holds political and economic sway

Globalism

belief that American "­sphere of influe­nce­" has expanded to every corner of the world and that we should therefore be involved in politics everywhere

NATO- North Atlantic Treaty Organi­zation

Originally an alliance among the US Canada, Turkey, and 11 European nations signed in 1949. Now encomp­asses 30 members. According to article 5 of the NATO charter, an attack on one considered an attack on all (spawns the "­Warsaw Pact") Invoked only once (after 9/11)

Bipolarity

view that the world is dominated by two super powers

Enlarg­ement

Bill Clinton's plan to expanding democracy and market capita­lism; replacing "­con­tai­nme­nt"

Obama Doctrine

emphasis on negoti­ation and engagement as opposed to the support of unilat­eralism of the Bush years, but Obama acted unilat­erally, especially drone strikes

State Department

Anthony Blinken (Sec of State)

National Security Council

chaired by POTUS; regulatory attendees: VP, Secretary of State, Secretary of Treasury, Secretary of Defense, and Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs

"God has a special providence for fools, drunkards, and the USA"

European leader regarding American foreign policy

George Washin­gton's Farewell Address

"The great rule of conduct for us in regard to foreign nations is, in extending our commercial relations, to have with them as little political connection as possible. So far far as we have already formed engage­ments, let them be fulfilled with perfect good faith. Here let us stop."

Structured

opposite of unstru­ctured; core values -> general postures -> specific issue preference

Cooper­ative Intern­ati­onalism

working with other nations toward common goals

Isolat­ion­alism

avoid foreign entang­lements

Support for war peaks when boots first hit the ground then drops drasti­cally after first casual­ties, then continues to decrease, albeit much slower over time

Presid­ential Influence and foreign policy concerns

Legisl­ators should be more likely to support economic aid and trade libera­liz­ation if the policy has the endors­ement of the president who shares their party affili­ation

Ideology

The more conser­vative the members of a district are, the greater the probab­ility that the legisl­ators votes in favor of trade libera­liz­ation but the less likely the legislator votes in favor of foreign aid