Summary:
The lecture covers Unit 2 of AP Government, delving into the functions and operations of the three branches of government (Legislative, Executive, and Judicial) including the unofficial "fourth branch," the bureaucracy. The lecture provides a comprehensive understanding of how these branches interact, operate, and influence each other and includes some of the core principles and powers that define them.
The Legislative Branch (Congress)
- Structure: Congress is bicameral, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
- House of Representatives:
- Representatives are apportioned based on the population of each state.
- They serve two-year terms, promoting closer ties with constituents.
- Total of 435 representatives.
- Senate:
- Each state gets two Senators, totaling 100 Senators.
- Senators serve six-year terms, handle more constitutional responsibilities, and represent entire states.
- Powers:
- Enumerated Powers: Explicitly listed in Article I, Section 8 (e.g., taxation, currency, budget, foreign policy, military legislation).
- Implied Powers: Powers not explicitly stated but deemed necessary to execute enumerated powers (e.g., establishing a national bank).
- "Necessary and Proper" Clause: Allows Congress extensive leeway in legislation (elastic clause).
- Leadership:
- House: Speaker of the House, Majority and Minority Leaders, Whips.
- Senate: President of the Senate (Vice President of the U.S.), President Pro Tempore, Senate Majority Leader, Whips.
- Committees:
- Essential for detailed legislation discussion.
- Types: Standing, Joint, Select, and Conference Committees.
- Legislative Process:
- Bills must pass through committees, possibly changed via amendments or riders.
- Methods to manage debates: limited debates in the House, filibusters and cloture in the Senate.
- Budget Process:
- Divided into mandatory spending (entitlements and debt interest) and discretionary spending.
- Influenced by tax policies and deficit spending considerations.
The Executive Branch
- Powers:
- Formal Powers: Veto bills, command armed forces, negotiate treaties (requires Senate ratification), appoint federal officers and judges (requires Senate confirmation).
- Informal Powers: Negotiate executive agreements, issue executive orders, issue signing statements on how laws will be executed.
- Policy Influence:
- Presidents use both powers and public influence to shape policy.
- Interaction with Congress critical, especially in terms of passing legislation and appointments.
- Communication:
- Utilizes the âbully pulpitâ to directly connect with the public, historically evolving through different media (radio, TV, social media).
The Judicial Branch
- Structure:
- U.S. District Courts, Circuit Courts of Appeal, and the Supreme Court.
- Practices judicial review as established in Marbury v. Madison.
- Functions:
- Interprets laws, ensures they align with the Constitution.
- Uses precedents and principles like stare decisis to maintain consistency.
- Adjustments through judicial activism or restraint based on current justicesâ ideologies.
The Federal Bureaucracy
- Structure:
- Includes numerous federal agencies and commissions like the EPA and FCC.
- Organized under cabinet departments with specific responsibilities (e.g., Treasury oversees IRS).
- Functions and Accountability:
- Implements federal laws through regulation.
- Monitored and funded by Congress; influenced by presidential priorities.
- Involves interactions between agencies, committees, and interest groups (iron triangles).
Conclusion:
This unit extensively covers how power is segregated among various branches of the U.S. government, emphasizing their unique responsibilities, the systems that support their functions, and the constant balancing act involved in governance.