Congress
What are the two chambers of Congress?
What is The House of Representatives and the Senate
Who is the head of the executive branch?
Who is the President of the United States?
What is the highest court in the United States?
What is the Supreme Court?
What check does the president have over Congress?
The power to veto legislation
What is the bureaucracy?
The departments, agencies, and offices that help implement and enforce federal laws
How long is a U.S. Representative's term?
What is 2 years?
What is the president's role as Commander in Chief?
What does the president command the U.S. armed forces?
What is judicial review?
What is the power to declare laws or executive actions unconstitutional?
What check does Congress have over the president’s veto?
Congress can override a veto with a two-thirds majority in both houses
What are cabinet departments?
Major administrative units in the executive branch headed by secretaries (e.g., Department of State)
What is the purpose of a conference committee?
What is to reconcile differences between House and Senate versions of a bill?
What is an executive order?
What is a directive issued by the president that has the force of law without Congressional approval?
What is the difference between original and appellate jurisdiction?
What is Original jurisdiction is the authority to hear a case first; appellate jurisdiction is the authority to review lower court decisions
What check does the judiciary have over laws passed by Congress?
Judicial review—the ability to declare laws unconstitutional
What is discretionary authority?
The ability of bureaucrats to make decisions and take actions not explicitly spelled out in laws
What is pork barrel legislation?
What is government spending that benefits a legislator’s district, often to gain political favor?
How does the War Powers Resolution limit the president?
What does it require the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of deploying troops and limit deployments to 60 days without Congressional approval?
How does the Supreme Court check Congress?
By ruling laws unconstitutional
What role does the Senate play in judicial appointments?
The Senate confirms or rejects the president’s judicial nominees
How does Congress exercise oversight over the bureaucracy?
Through hearings, budget control, and investigations
What is the process and significance of a filibuster in the Senate?
A filibuster is when a senator speaks for an extended time to delay or block legislation; it can only be ended with a cloture vote requiring 60 senators.
Compare and contrast the formal and informal powers of the president.
The Constitution grants Formal powers (e.g., veto, treaty-making); informal powers include executive orders, signing statements, and media influence.
Explain how life tenure affects judicial independence.
Judges are not influenced by political pressure or public opinion since they do not face reelection or reappointment.
Give an example of how each branch can check the others using a real or hypothetical situation.
President vetoes a bill (executive > legislative); Congress overrides veto (legislative > executive); Court declares the law unconstitutional (judicial > legislative and executive)
Explain how iron triangles work and give an example.
An iron triangle is a relationship among a bureaucratic agency, a congressional committee, and an interest group that influences policy (e.g., Department of Defense, Armed Services Committee, and defense contractors)