NEED TO KNOW-Unit IV: Institutions of National Government

2017-18 AP Government March 22, 2018

Here is a fairly complete REVIEW guide for Unit IV--the largest unit in terms of content and weight!

CONGRESS/LEGISLATIVE (Chapter 11) PRESIDENT/EXECUTIVE (Chapter 12/13)

1. Original intentions and conflict within Congress
2. What are recent developments within Congress
-1970s
-Devolution
-Seniority System
3. Know Federalist Papers #10, #51, #62, #63, #53, #56, #57, #58
4. Basic overview of Congress: terms, sessions, house vs. Senate, compensation (amendment)
5. Scope and advantages for congressional incumbents
6. Define earmarks and pork-barrel. What are some differences between the two
7. Explain step-step, how a bill becomes a law. Both chambers of Congress. Conference committees, percentages, veto/pocket veto
8. Basic structure and powers of Congress: Expressed, Implied, Institutional, Powers denied to Congress. Know constitutional locations
9. Main leadership roles in both Chambers of Congress and their responsibilities
10. Influences that Congress has to deal with when it comes to legislating. There are a lot…Do not forget things like iron triangles or junkets
11. Know the committee system. Who controls committees, reforms, major committees in both chambers?
12. What case can be made that Congress complicates government?
13. Know the main committees that I discussed during notes: Rules, Appropriations, Ways and Means, Budget, Judiciary, etc.
14. Know the four types of committees: select, standing, joint, conference
15. Gerrymandering: cases, reapportionment, cracking, packing, contiguous, etc. / 1. Be able to provide some background and discuss the evolution of the position of President.
2. What are the qualifications, terms of office (amendment), compensation, and succession process (amendment) for the office of President
3. What are some of the perks to being President?
4. What are some non-constitutional sources of Presidential power that have evolved over the last few centuries?
5. What are the main non constitutional roles of the President?
6. Discuss the constitutional roles of the President. Include the powers/checks with each role.
7. What are the two main White House Office organization approaches? Explain some advantages/disadvantages for each.
8. What “new” checks are placed on the President when it comes to legislating? (Media, Interest groups, etc.)
9. Define and explain the main sources of conflict between the President and Congress.
10. What is the argument for the Imperial President (War Powers, etc.)
11. What are some measures Congress can take to reign in the Imperial President (War Powers Act, etc.)
12. Federalist #70 Main Points that Hamilton advocated for
13. Amendments: 12, 20, 22, 25
14. Budget Information:
-Setting the Budget
-Approving
-Determining
-Revenue Sources
-Expenditures (Entitlements vs. Discretionary Spending)
-Deficit vs. Debt

JUDICIARY BUREAUCRACY

1. Main points for the Federalist 78…appointment, life-term, etc.
2. What are the four types of laws in America? Provide an example for each type.
3. What are the four types of jurisdiction?
4. When may federal courts try a case…
5. Provide the basic structure of our federal courts- Article I and Article III courts
6. Know the following roles: Attorney General, Solicitor General, US Attorneys, Federal Judges.
7. What are the key powers of the Supreme Court?
8. Two types of jurisdiction that the Supreme Court has? More cases come from which jurisdiction?
9. Explain the difference(s) between the rule of four vs. quorum of six.
10. The four types of written opinions and why do justices write opinions? AND who decides who writes opinions.
11. How can people/government evade Court decisions?
12. Know the importance of the ideological makeup of the court
13. Everything you know about Judicial Activism: definition, examples!
14. Everything you know about Judicial Restraint: definition, examples!
15. Provide a list of restraints on Judicial Power:
16. What are some ways in which politics influence the judicial system / 1. Give a definition of bureaucracy.
2. Independent regulatory commissions: What are they? Why do they exist? Do they have any judicial power? Provide a few examples.
3. What are the 5 bureaucratic pathologies? Briefly define each. Give an example of each
4. How did we get the civil service system-Law?
5. Explain the power of the bureaucracy. (Beyond sheer numbers)
6. Why are there more bureaucrats at the state/local level vs. the federal level
7. What are 3-4 reasons for the growth of the bureaucracy?
8. What happens when you have the Good ol’ Boys network within the bureaucracy? Be specific. (Glass Ceiling)
9. What are the personal attributes of lower/middle level bureaucrats? Of upper level bureaucrats?
10. Provide 2 legal constraints on the bureaucracy.
11. Provide two organizational constraints on the bureaucracy.
12. What is the FOIA?
13. What is the general public opinion towards the bureaucracy?
14. What are some of the main criticism of the bureaucracy?
15. What can be done to control the bureaucracy? (President, Congress, Media)
16. What can be said in defense of the bureaucracy?
17. Know the difference between Hatch Act/Pendleton Civil Service Act

REVIEW

-YOU MUST UNDERSTAND THE POWER STRUGGLE/CHECKS/INTERACTION BETWEEN ALL FOUR PARTS OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT! SEE PRACTICE FREE RESPONSE EXAMPLES THAT ARE POSTED UNDER UNIT IV
1. Review ALL vocab
2. It is a strong recommendation that you look back over Units I-III
3. Unit IV is 35%-45% of the ENTIRE content in this class AND is 200 pts for the multiple choice AND 100 points for the free response