Description: Students will study four of the major political institutions in the United States: the Congress, the Presidency, the Bureaucracy, and the Judiciary. Focus will be on the powers of each institution, their separations and interrelationships and what effect does crisis have on this relationship. Students will also study the influence that political parties, interest groups, the media, public opinion, and state and local governments have on the four major institutions.
Topics:
Congress
- Legislative Powers
- Organization of Congress
- Committee systems
- Legislative Process
- Executive Powers
- Different Roles of the Presidency
- Cabinet and Vice Presidency
- Spoils to Merit
- Cabinet, agencies and commissions
- Judiciary Act of 1789
- Organization of Federal Courts
- Supreme Court and Judicial Review
- Doctrine of Incorporation
- Landmark Cases
- Checks and Balances
- Separation of Powers
Essential Questions:
Congress
• What are the roles of committees in the legislative process?
• Why is there a discrepancy between the number of laws introduced and those passed in Congress?
• How does the organization of Congress impact its legislative duties?
• How has Congress’ power changed over the years?
The Presidency
• How have Presidential Powers changed since September 11th?
• What are the factors that affect a President’s power?
• What are the formal and informal powers of the Presidency?
• What influence does public opinion have on the Presidency?
The Federal Bureaucracy
• How has the growth of the Federal Bureaucracy affected our country?
• Who controls our Bureaucracy? Congress? The President? The People?
• Does the large Federal Bureaucracy serve our Democracy?
The Judiciary
• How are the decisions of the Supreme Court reflective of the times?
• What are “Activist Judges” and what is the controversy surrounding them?
• Who are our current Supreme Court Justices and how do their different philosophies affect decisions?
• What impact has the Supreme Court had on our Civil Liberties?
POWERPOINTS:
Executive
Congress
Judicial
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
Running Scared - Anthony King
Write Your Own Bill
VOCABULARY:
Bicameral legislature Bill casework cloture conference committee congressional review delegate discharge petition divided government filibuster hold | Impeachment Incumbency factor Legislative veto Line-item veto Majority party Majority leader Minority Party Minority leader Oversight Party Caucus Pocket veto | Politico Pork barrel Redistricting Senatorial courtesy Speaker of the House Standing committee Term limits Trustee War Power Acts Whip |
Articles of impeachment Cabinet Congressionalist Executive agreement Executive Office of the President Executive order | Executive privilege Inherent power Louisiana Purchase New Deal Pardon patronage | Presidentialist Stewardship theory Taftian Theory Veto power |
Administrative adjudication Administrative discretion Bureaucracy Civil service system Clientele agency Department Executive order | Federal Employees Political Activities Act Government corporation Hatch Act Implementation Independent executive agency Independent regulatory commission Iron triangle | Issue network Merit system Patronage Pendleton Act (Civil Service Reform Act of 1883) Regulation Rule marking Spoils system |
Amicus curiae Appellate court Appellate jurisdiction Brief Constitutional court Criminal law Civil law In forma pauperis | Judicial activism Judicial implementation Judicial restraint Judicial review Judiciary Act of 1789 Jurisdiction Legislative court Marbury v. | Original jurisdiction Precedent Rule of Four Solicitor general Stare decisis Strict constructionist Trial court Writ of certiorari |
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