Unit 4 The Executive Branch Chapter 13 & 15 The Presidency & the Bureaucracy Name Period
Textbook Readings #1 pp. 391-411 Reading Notes/Quiz Dates: #2 pp. 412-429 Reading Notes/Quiz Dates: #3 pp. 467-479 Reading Notes/Quiz Dates: #4 pp. 480-497 Reading Notes/Quiz Dates: UNIT ACTIVITIES Supplemental Readings Read and annotate The Modern American Presidency article by Lewis L. Gould AND respond to THINK TANK questions. DUE 1/26 Read and annotate No, Congress did not declare a pizza a vegetable article by Sarah Kliff AND be ready to discuss how the IRON TRIANGLE of policymaking was at work in this process. DUE 1/26 Quizzes & Exams ID Quiz : W/Th 1/27-28 MCQ for each Textbook Reading Unit 4 MCQ & FRQ Exam: Tues 2/3 OTHER Assignments POTUS Resume POTUS Cartoon Analysis POTUS Approval Data NYT Budget Puzzle INFORMATION YOU SHOULD KNOW POTUS 1. Define the president s constitutional authority and describe an example. 2. Define the president s statutory authority and describe an example. 3. Describe the difference between the president as head of government vs. head of state. 4. Define executive orders and describe an example. 5. Describe how Congress can restrain a president s executive order. 6. Describe the primary restraint on the president s power as commander in chief. 7. Describe the impact of the War Powers Resolution. 8. Describe the primary restraint on the president s ability to make treaties. 9. Define executive agreement. 10. Explain why divided government increases the likelihood of presidential vetoes. 11. Define executive privilege and describe what SCOTUS said about it in U.S. v. Nixon case. 12. Describe the president s ability to go public with the bully pulpit. 13. Identify the top three officers who are in the line of presidential succession. 14. Explain why a president s approval tends to rise during a national crisis. 15. Describe the difference in function between the President s Cabinet as contrasted w/the EOP. 16. Describe the top characteristic of a member of the EOP. 17. Describe the vice president s legislative role according to the Constitution. 18. Define Presidential signing statements and explain why these are controversial. 19. Describe the differing roles of the House and the Senate in the impeachment process. BUREAUCRACY 1. What is the difference between patronage and merit principle? 2. What is the purpose of the Hatch Act? 3. What are the four basic types of agencies in the federal executive branch? 4. Explain the relationship between interest groups and independent regulatory agencies. 5. What are the three minimum elements of implementation? 6. What are three advantages of using standard operating procedures? 7. What is meant by administrative discretion? Give an example. 8. List three elements common to all regulation. And, list three criticisms of regulation 9. List four methods the president can use to control the bureaucracy. And, four methods Congress can use to control the bureaucracy.
IDENTIFICATIONS (IDs) Directions: As you collect information and learn about the POTUS and the Bureaucracy, review the IDs below and note where the term appeared, was explained, or was discussed in the space provided below. PRESIDENCY Chapter 13 Annotations 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Cabinet The formal body of presidential advisors who head the fourteen (14) executive departments Executive Office of the President Executive organization that helps the President oversee the bureaucracy. These offices report directly to the President. Top positions require presidential nomination and Senate confirmation. Impeachment The bringing of charges against a public official requiring a simple majority vote in the House of Representatives. This does not include removal from office or hearings or trial on the charges brought. Line-Item Veto Presidential power to veto specific provisions of a bill without vetoing the bill in its entirety. Exercised in 1996 by President Clinton, it only allowed for the veto of certain spending provisions. Subsequently ruled unconstitutional. Presidential Mandate A command, indicated by the electorate s votes for elected officials to carry out their platforms. Pocket Veto A form of veto in which the President fails to sign a bill passed by both houses of Congress within ten days and Congress as adjourned during that time. With Congress out of session, no opportunity for an override exists. This type of veto can only be used when the term of Congress expires, not during a recess of Congress. Divided Government A government in which one party controls the White House and another party controls one or both houses of Congress. Executive Privilege - An assertion of presidential power that reasons that the president can withhold information requested by the courts/congress in matters relating to his office. Impoundment The refusal of the president to spend money appropriated by Congress for specific purposes. Inherent Powers Powers of the president that can be derived or inferred from specific powers in the Constitution. These are powers that came about through the Necessary and Proper clause. Office of Management & Budget (0MB) Office found in the Executive Office of the President whose job it is to assist the president in the preparation of the budget and formulation of fiscal policy. War Powers Act 1973 law that forced president to seek congressional approval before seeking war. 10,000 troops for 60 days to commit troops unless Congress grants extension or declares war White House Office Personal office of the president containing the staff and facilities that are the closest advisors to the chief of state. Twenty Fifth Amendment Adopted in 1967 to establish procedures for filling vacancies in the office of the president and vice-president as well as providing procedures for accounting for presidential disability. Executive agreements agreements with heads of countries and under U.S. law are as binding as treaties but do not require Senate approval. Bureaucracy-Ch 15 Annotations 1 Bureaucracy The system of departments and offices, run by appointees and merit employees, necessary to transform the public will into specific action.
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Independent Agency Governmental unit that closely resembles Cabinet level departments but has a narrower area of responsibility (such as the CIA) and is not part of any Cabinet department. Its heads serve a term of years rather than serving at the president s pleasure. Government Corporation A governmental body set up and run at taxpayer expense to serve and perform the functions that could be provided by the private sector (Postal Service). Regulation Rules that govern the operation of a particular government program and has the force of law. Deregulation The lifting of restrictions on business, industry, and other professional activities for which government rules were established by law or the bureaucracy. Congressional (legislative) Oversight The means by which the Congress monitors the activities of the executive branch and agencies to determine if laws are being faithfully executed. The most obvious form is hearings on agency budget requests. Discretionary Authority The extent to which appointed bureaucrats can choose courses of action and make policies not spelled out in law. Civil Service The system created by law which by which appointments or jobs to the government are made. Iron Triangle The policy-making network consisting of a government agency, a congressional committee, and an interest group. This is less common today and is more accurately referred to as a policy (issue) network. Department A major administrative unit with responsibility for a broad area of government operations. Department status usually indicates a permanent national interest in that particular government function. Regulatory Commission Administrative bodies headed by several commissioners, directors, or governors appointed by the President & confirmed by the Senate. They serve fixed terms and cannot be removed at the pleasure of the President. The ICC or TVA are examples. Practice MCQs 1. Which of the following was instituted to limit the power of the presidency? (A) line item veto (B) War Powers Resolution of 1973 (C) National Performance Review (D) Law authorizing the appointment of Independent counsel (E) National Security Advisor 2. Which of the following represents reasons why presidents have trouble getting things done? I. Other policy makers have their own agendas and interests II. Other policymakers have their own sources of power III. Congress is not to beholden to the President but to other interests IV. The influence of special interest groups and lobbyists play a significant role (A) I only (B) II only (C) I and II only (D) II and IV only (E) I, II, III, and IV
3. All of the following are powers and duties of the president as set forth in the Constitution EXCEPT (A) the power to appoint justices to the Supreme Court subject to the advice and consent of the Senate (B) receive foreign ministers with the advice and consent of the Senate (C) serve as commander in chief of the armed forces (D) acts as chief legislator (E) fill open positions in the executive branch when Congress is in recess 4. All of the following statements about the relationship between the president and Congress in regard to proposed legislation are true EXCEPT (A) the president may use a pocket veto to reject a piece of legislation if Congress is due to adjourn within ten days of the president s receipt of the bill (B) the Senate allows for more amendments to bills than the House (C) a two-thirds vote of each chamber overrides a presidential veto of a bill (D) the president may call Congress into special sessions after it recesses in order to consider legislation (E) presidents use the power and influence of the office to cajole recalcitrant members of Congress to vote for or against legislation. 5. Which of the following is responsible for the preparation of executive spending proposals submitted to Congress? (A) Treasury Department (D) Department of Commerce (B) Council of Economic Advisors (E) Office of Management and Budget (C) Federal Trade Commission 6. In general, all of the following are characteristics of the federal bureaucracy EXCEPT (A) division of labor (B) steadily increasing growth in the number of employees (C) nonpartisan workforce (D) standard operating procedures to ensure consistency and efficiency in decision making (E) merit-based hiring 7. The growth in the power and influence of the presidency by the end of the twentieth century can be attributed to all of the following EXCEPT (A) the Constitution (B) the ability of presidents to appeal to the public through the use of the media (C) decisions of the Supreme Court (D) actions of Congress (E) party realignment 8. Unlike a treaty, an executive agreement (A) is not binding (B) does not involve international relations (C) does not require the Senate s approval (D) can be enforced by the military (E) automatically expires after one year 9. The spoils system of awarding civil service jobs was replaced by the merit system as a result of the (A) Truman Doctrine (D) Civil Rights Act of 1964 (B) Fair Labor Standards Act of 1961 (E) Pendleton Act of 1883 (C) National Industrial Recovery Act 10. An iron triangle refers to interrelationship of the (A) president, Congress, and the Supreme Court (B) electorate, Congress, and PAC (C) local, state, and federal governments (D) State Department, the Pentagon, and the National Security Council (E) federal bureaucracy, congressional committees, and lobbyists
11. In 1998, the Supreme Court ruled in Clinton v City of New York that (A) the pocket veto was unconstitutional (B) that the Clinton impeachment vote was unconstitutional (C) that the president could not line-item veto grant monies to urban areas (D) that the president could not exercise his veto power during times of war (E) the 1996 law allowing the president the power to line-item veto appropriations was unconstitutional 12. The War Powers Resolution may be considered unconstitutional because (A) its use of the legislative veto may be considered a violation of the doctrine of separation of powers (B) it violates the president s power to declare war (C) it was struck down by the Supreme Court (D) it violates the president s power as Commander-in-Chief (E) it violates the congressional power to appropriate funds for the military 13. All of the following are powers and duties of the president as set forth in the Constitution EXCEPT (A) power to appoint justices to the Supreme Court subject to the advice and consent of the Senate (B) receive foreign ministers with the advice and consent of the Senate (C) serve as commander in chief of the armed forces (D) acts as chief legislator (E) fill open positions in the executive branch when Congress is in recess 14. Issuing executive orders is a useful presidential tool I. When the opposition party controls Congress II. To take care of nonessential business without tying up Congress s time III. When Congress is in recess (A) I only (D) I and II only (B) II only (E) I, II, and III (C) III only 15. The growth in the power and influence of the presidency by the end of the twentieth century can be attributed to all of the following EXCEPT (A) the Constitution (B) the ability of presidents to appeal to the public through the use of the media (C) decisions of the Supreme Court (D) actions of Congress (E) party realignment
What does the President do? What is he responsible for? Road to the White House (state the steps) What do I know about POTUS? Name the last 10 Presidents and state their years of service 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Organization Chart of the Executive Branch POTUS