Two ways in which the Supreme Court is insulated from public opinion
#NAME?
Explain how two factors work to keep the Supreme Court from deviating too far from public opinion
#NAME?
Two reasons why Congress gives federal agencies policy-making discretion in executing federal laws
#NAME?
Choose one of the bureaucratic agencies listed below. Identify the policy area over which it exercises policy-making discretion AND give one specific example of how it exercises that discretion.
-EPA
-FCC
-Federal Reserve Board
#NAME?
Describe two ways in which Congress ensures that federal agencies follow legislative intent
#NAME?
Discuss two reasons why the framers created a bicameral legislature
#NAME?
Identify one power unique to the House of Representatives and explain why the framers gave the House that power
#NAME?
Identify power unique to the Senate and explain why the framers gave the Senate that power
#NAME?
Define congressional reapportionment and explain one reason why it is important to states
#NAME?
Define congressional redistricting
The drawing/redrawing of district lines for House districts
Explain two goals of politicians when they gerrymander during redistricting
#NAME?
Describe two limits that the Supreme Court has placed on congressional redistricting
#NAME?
Describe two advantages the majority party in the House of Representatives has in lawmaking, above and beyond the numerical advantage that the majority party enjoys in floor voting
#NAME?
Describe two differences between House and Senate rules that make it more likely that legislation may pass in one chamber and not the other
Senate: Filibuster, less formal hierarchy, holds, no germaneness agreements
House: No filibuster, more hierarchical, no holds, germaneness agreements, rules committee
Explain how the differences identified in (b) can lead to passage of a bill in one chamber and not the other
Senate can kill with filibusters, stop bills with holds, can add irrelevant information.
House may object to non-germane agreements, Rules Committee can hinder passing
Define judicial review
The ability of the Supreme Court to rule on the constitutionality of legislative or executive action
Explain how judicial review empowers the Supreme Court within the system of checks and balances
#NAME?
Describe the process through which the Court grants a writ of certiorari
Rule of four
Explain how each of the following influences decisions made by individual judges when deciding cases
-Stare decisis
-Judicial activism
#NAME?
Describe two of the following provisions of the Constitution and and explain how each has been used over time to expand federal power:
-The power to tax and spend
-Elastic clause
-Commerce clause
#NAME?
Explain how one of the following has increased the power of the federal government relative to the power of state governments:
-Americans with Disabilities Act
-Civil Rights Act of 1964
-Clean Air Act
#NAME?
For each of the presidential powers below, explain one way that congressional decision making is affected by that power
-Veto power
-Power to issue executive orders
-Power as commander in chief
#NAME?
For each of the congressional powers below, explain one way that presidential decision making is affected by that power:
-Legislative oversight power
-Senate advice and consent power
-Budgetary power
#NAME?
Describe the primary constitutional conflict between Congress and the President over the decision to go to war
Congress has power to declare war, President is commander in chief of armed forces
Describe two provisions of the War Powers Resolution that were designed to limit the President's power over war making
-President has power to deploy troops, must notify Congress within 48 hours.
-Conflicts are limited to 60 days unless Congress takes action (extend or withdraw, with notification of President)
The War Powers Resolution has received mixed reviews, but Congress has other powers over war making. Other than the constitutional power that you described in (a), identify and explain two other formal powers Congress has over war making
#NAME?
Describe one key characteristic of the merit system
#NAME?
For each of the following, describe one factor that contributes to bureaucratic independence:
-The structure of the federal bureaucracy
-The complexity of public policy problems
#NAME?
For each of the following, explain one constitutional provision that it can use to check the bureaucracy:
-Congress
-The courts
-Interest groups
#NAME?