Amendments and Acts
What does the 25th amendment do?
Sets the modern rules of succession and establishes a process for replacing a VP who leaves office during their term.
What is a Lame Duck period?
The period at the end of a presidential term when congress may block presidential initiatives and nominees.
Who is the 45th and 47th U.S. President?
Donald J Trump
What is the role of the federal Judiciary?
To interpret and apply the laws of the nation.
Define Federal Bureaucracy
The departments and agencies within the executive branch that carry out laws of the nation.
Why was the Judiciary Act of 1789 passed?
To flush out the nature and the organization of the court system, created initial structure of the lower courts, and set the number of justices of SCOTUS.
Define Logrolling
Trading of votes on legislation by members of congress to get their earmarks passed into legislation.
What are enumerated powers?
Powers expressly granted in the constitution.
It showed the first peaceful transfer of power between political parties through elections.
What branch of government does most of the federal bureaucracy land?
Executive Branch
What is the Pendleton Act?
An act of Congress that created the first United States Civil Service Commission to draw up and enforce rules on hiring, promotions, and tenure of office within the Civil Service.
What are the 3 main powers of Congress?
-Legislative Authority
-The budgeting process
-Oversight
What is executive agreement?
An agreement between a president and another nation that does not have the same durability as a treaty but does not require senate ratification.
Why did the founding fathers want the federal Judiciary to be the most independent branch of government?
So the judges could make fair, unbiased decisions based on the constitution.
Define Political Patronage
Filling of administrative positions as a reward for support, rather than merit.
How did the Employees Political Activities Act of 1993 relax restrictions about Federal employees participating in political campaigns?
It allowed Federal employees to vote, donate money, and take part in campaigns on their own time.
Define Malapportionment?
The uneven distribution of the population among legislative districts.
What is a Bully Pulpit?
Presidential appeals to the public to pressure other branches of government to support their policies.
What is Judicial Activism?
When laws clearly violate the constitution or deny basic rights.
Define Iron Triangle
Coordinated and mutually beneficial activities of bureaucracy, congress, and interest groups to achieve shared policy goals.
A program that provides benefits for those who qualify under the law, regardless of their income.
What are the Committee Chairs?
leader of a congressional committee who has authority over the committee's agenda.
How does the creation of the Executive Office of the President a reaction to the increasing demands on the presidency?
It was created to handle increasing responsibility and to give the president more staff and power to influence policy.
It allows them to create one clear national interpretation of the law.
Explain how the breakdown of the federal bureaucracy makes it difficult for the president to enact policy.
Policy must go through many layers of agencies and officials which can cause decisions to be slowed, delayed, or changed.