Congress
This chamber has 435 voting members, apportioned to states by population, and its members serve two-year terms.
What is the House of Representatives?
The House is designed to be more responsive to changes in public opinion.
This formal presidential power rejects legislation passed by Congress, although both chambers can override it with two-thirds votes.
What is the veto?
The veto creates a direct executive check on congressional legislation.
Most federal cases begin in these trial courts, which hear evidence and exercise original jurisdiction.
What are U.S. district courts?
Courts of appeals typically review lower-court decisions, and the Supreme Court hears selected appeals.
This federal agency develops and enforces environmental regulations under laws enacted by Congress.
What is the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)?
Other examples in the AP framework include DHS, DOT, VA, Education, FEC, and SEC.
A House committee summons agency officials to explain why a federal program is not being administered as Congress intended. This is an exercise of…
What is congressional oversight?
Monitoring, hearings, investigations, and supervision help Congress check executive implementation.
These permanent congressional groups specialize in particular policy areas and conduct much of Congress’s work on bills and oversight.
What are standing committees?
Standing committees study legislation, hold hearings, and oversee agencies.
A president instructs executive agencies to change how they administer an existing law, within legal limits. This is a common presidential directive used to advance an agenda.
What is an executive order?
Executive orders guide executive action but cannot override federal statutes or the Constitution.
This 1803 Supreme Court case established the landmark precedent for the federal judiciary to declare laws unconstitutional.
What is Marbury v. Madison?
The principle is judicial review, a check on elected branches.
This system emphasizes qualifications and professional competence in federal hiring, unlike patronage based on partisan loyalty.
What is the merit system (civil service)?
The Pendleton Civil Service Act of 1883 laid the groundwork for merit-based federal employment.
Congress reduces an agency’s future funding to pressure it to follow legislative priorities. This constitutional budget leverage is known as…
What is the power of the purse (appropriations power)?
Congress funds agencies and can attach lawful conditions, subject to constitutional and statutory limits.
In the Senate, this procedure formally ends debate on most legislation, generally requiring three-fifths of all senators (normally 60 votes).
What is cloture?
Cloture limits extended debate or a filibuster. The Senate uses different rules for many nominations.
This Senate power can block presidential nominees for Cabinet positions, ambassadorships, and the federal judiciary.
What is advice and consent (Senate confirmation)?
Article II gives the president nomination authority, while the Senate confirms covered appointments.
This Hamilton essay defended life tenure for federal judges and described the judiciary as possessing neither the sword nor the purse.
What is Federalist No. 78?
Hamilton argued that judicial independence helps protect the Constitution and individual rights.
Congress gives a federal agency latitude to choose implementation details under a law. This type of agency flexibility is called…
What is discretionary authority?
Congress delegates authority, and agencies exercise discretion within constitutional and statutory limits.
A president appoints agency leaders and issues lawful directives to bring implementation into alignment with the administration’s priorities. This is an example of…
What is presidential control or supervision of the bureaucracy?
Political appointments and executive direction shape priorities but cannot erase federal law.
A member of Congress votes against the wishes of most constituents because the member believes the bill would harm the nation. This model of representation explains the behavior.
What is the trustee model?
Trustees prioritize their independent judgment; delegates place greater emphasis on constituents’ stated preferences.
In this required Federalist essay, Hamilton defended a single, energetic executive as essential to effective and accountable government.
What is Federalist No. 70?
Federalist 70 argues for unity and energy in the executive branch.
This Article III arrangement insulates justices from electoral pressure and can allow controversial decisions, but also generates debate about democratic accountability.
What is life tenure (service during good behavior)?
Judicial independence and democratic legitimacy can pull in different directions.
A federal agency proposes detailed rules, solicits public comments, and publishes enforceable standards under authority granted by Congress. This is its…
What is rulemaking authority?
Many substantive regulations use a notice-and-comment process under administrative law.
A regulated company challenges an agency rule as exceeding the powers Congress delegated. This branch can invalidate the rule after reviewing its legality.
What is the judicial branch (federal courts)?
Courts review agency actions against governing statutes and constitutional requirements.
Name BOTH required cases: one made legislative apportionment challenges justiciable under equal protection; the other allowed equal-protection challenges to racial gerrymandering.
What are Baker v. Carr (1962) and Shaw v. Reno (1993)?
Baker opened the federal courts to apportionment claims; Shaw addressed districts drawn predominantly on racial lines.
The president uses nationally televised State of the Union remarks and rapid social media messaging to bring attention to a proposed law and pressure Congress. Name the informal platform and its policy-setting function.
What are the bully pulpit and agenda setting?
Modern media can amplify presidential persuasion, but do not provide additional formal lawmaking power.
Name BOTH approaches: one is more willing to overturn laws or precedent; the other emphasizes precedent and deference to elected branches.
What are judicial activism and judicial restraint?
These are debated approaches, not simple synonyms for liberal and conservative judging.
The ongoing relationship among an agency, a congressional committee, and an interest group is called this; a broader, more fluid coalition is its contrasting concept.
What are an iron triangle and an issue network?
Iron triangles tend to be stable; issue networks often involve changing collections of stakeholders.
A labor group lobbies Congress, comments on proposed agency rules, and brings a valid court challenge. This illustrates these opportunities created by separated powers.
What are multiple access points for influencing public policy?
Distributed powers allow several paths to influence policy but can also produce delay and gridlock.