Review+Session+4-Powers+of+the+Federal+Government+and+the+Media

=AP US Government and Politics Review = **Review Session #4 ** **Review POWERS of Federal Government & Media **

The AP course description says “ Students must become familiar with the organization and powers, both formal and informal, of the major political institutions in the United States—the Congress, the presidency, the bureaucracy, and the federal courts. The functions these institutions perform and do not perform, as well as the powers that they do and do not possess, are important. It is necessary for students to understand that power balances and relationships between these institutions may evolve gradually or change dramatically as a result of crises. Students are also expected to understand ties between the various branches of national government and political parties, interest groups, the media, and state and local governments. For example, a study of the conflicting interests and powers of the President and Congress may help explain recent and repeated struggles to adopt a national budget.”


 * Presidency: **

•Constitution, Article II: powers and duties of the President •Electoral process: The wonderful Congress of Electors and state control of electoral process; succession and disability (25th Amendment) •Presidential power (growth in general; competition with Congress); the cabinet and Executive Office of the President (1939 - ) and the White House staff •Presidential character (Active/Passive and Positive/Negative) •Cabinet departments •Executive Office of Pres. - NSC, CEA, OMB, Office of National Drug Control Policy, CIA, OPM, US Trade Representative •White House Staff - personal advisors to the person who is President (Chief of Staff, Press Secretary, Legislative liaison, National Security Advisor, Domestic Policy Advisor, et al) •President and media •President and public opinion


 * Bureaucracy: **

•Separation of political decision-making from administration/execution of policy (top down management, red tape, rigid procedures, rigidly enforced standards) •bureaucratic discretion •merit system vs. spoils system •Cabinet (State, Defense, Treasury, HHS, HUD, Labor, Commerce...) •Regulatory Agencies (ICC, FTC, FDA, FCC, SEC, EPA, OSHA, CPSC, FEC) •Government Corporations (USPS, TVA, FDIC... •Independent Agencies (GSA, NSF, NASA, FRB...)


 * Congress: **

•Constitution, Article I - powers of Congress and "necessary and proper" •Electoral process and reelection; districting and redistricting; gerrymandering; minority majority districts, demographics of Congress •Structure of Congress; officers and committees (standing, special, and joint), rules, Congressional parties and caucuses, •How a bill becomes a law •Lobbyists and Interest Groups •Constituency •Reform? gridlock? role of members as representatives or decision makers? perks of office? financing campaigns? exercising power or delegating?
 * Judiciary: **

•Constitution - Article III •Supreme Court, Appeals Courts, District Courts, State Courts •Common law and Statutory law; Civil law and Criminal law; administrative law? •Selection of justices; Senatorial courtesy •Supreme Court: certiorari (precedent, new issue, conflicting lower court decisions, conflicting state court decisions, and split decision in appeals court); politics of certiorari  •Effects on public policy Marshall Court Warren Court <span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 13.5pt; msobidifontfamily: times new roman; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt; msofareastfontfamily: times new roman;">Rehnquist Court •Judicial activism/Judicial restraint (false dichotomy?) •Strict constructionist/Liberal interpretations (false dichotomy?)
 * <span style="font-family: times new roman; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: times new roman; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: times new roman;">MEDIA: **