Presidential Powers
This formal presidential role makes the president the head of the armed forces.
What is Commander in Chief?
This congressional power allows lawmakers to influence executive agencies by controlling funding.
What is the power of the purse?
This branch of government is responsible for implementing and enforcing laws.
What is the bureaucracy (or executive branch)?
This process allows Congress to monitor executive agencies.
What is oversight?
This stable relationship involves Congress, a bureaucratic agency, and an interest group.
What is an iron triangle?
An informal presidential power used to shape public opinion and set the national agenda.
What is the bully pulpit?
The Senate checks presidential power by approving or rejecting these.
What are presidential appointments (or confirmations)?
The authority agencies have to decide how laws are carried out is called this.
What is bureaucratic discretion?
Calling cabinet secretaries to testify before Congress is an example of this.
What is congressional oversight?
This term describes the problem that occurs when people benefit from group efforts without joining.
What is the free-rider problem?
This presidential tool allows the president to direct how laws are enforced without congressional approval.
What is an executive order?
When Congress calls executive officials to testify, it is exercising this power.
What is congressional oversight?
The process by which agencies create detailed rules to carry out laws.
What is rulemaking?
This budgetary tool allows Congress to respond to emergencies or crises.
What are supplemental appropriations?
Compared to iron triangles, these policy networks are broader and less stable.
What are issue networks?
Unlike treaties, these foreign policy agreements do not require Senate approval.
What are executive agreements?
This Supreme Court power allows courts to declare executive actions unconstitutional.
What is judicial review?
Congress granting agencies the authority to interpret and enforce laws is known as this.
What is delegated discretionary authority?
A decrease in congressional hearings over time would most likely reduce this.
What is bureaucratic accountability?
This model of democracy emphasizes competition among interest groups.
What is pluralist democracy?
Explain why presidents are more likely to rely on executive agreements than treaties, and identify one constitutional check that still applies.
What are executive agreements because they avoid Senate ratification; they are still limited by congressional funding or judicial review?
A president may issue a signing statement instead of a veto primarily to avoid this.
What is a veto override by Congress?
This hiring system was created to reduce corruption caused by political patronage.
What is the merit system?
Explain how reduced congressional oversight can contribute to the growth of an imperial presidency.
What is that fewer checks allow the president greater discretion over agencies and policy, especially in foreign affairs?
Compare iron triangles and issue networks and explain which is more likely to resist policy change and why.
What are iron triangles, because their stable relationships and mutual benefits discourage reform?