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THETHREEBRANCHESOFGOVERNMENT
CONGRESS
I.
II.

III.

IV.

Generalfact:
A. Numbers:
100Senatorsand435HouseofRepresentativemembers
B. MostCongressman
wouldvotewiththeirparty
VotingRightsCourtCase:
A. Buckleyv.Valeo:
givemoneytocampaignis1stamendment
B. U.STermLimitsv.Thornton:
statescannotlimittermsofaCongressmembers
C. Bushv.Gore:
Floridarecountinelectionof2000isunconstitutional
D. Smithv.Allwright:
violate15thAmendmentifpreventAfricanAmericansfrom
vote
E. Wesberryv.Sanders:
oneperson,onevotecongressionaldistrictredrawing
F. Shawv.Reno:
racecannotbethesolefactortodetermineredrawingdistrict
CongressionalPower:
A. HouseofRepresentatives:
initiatetaxlaws,overseetaxingandspending,hasthe
powertodeclarewar
B. Senate:
confirmationofpresidentialnominationsandambassadors,ratifytreaties,
amendrevenuebills(cannotinitiateone)
C. NonLegislativetask:
oversight(subpoena,corruption,settingguidelines,
conductinvestigations,evaluateaprogram),publiceducation,resolvefederal
complaints,representconstituents
D. Restrictions:
cannotpassbillsofattainder,expostfactolaw
E. Presidentcansendtroops
withoutCongressapproval,suchasinVietnamWar,
KoreanWar
F. WarPowersResolution(1973):
presidentmustnotifyCongressin
48hours
afterdeployingtroops,andmustbringtroopshomein
6090days
unlessCongress
extendtime
LegislativeProcess:
A. Process:
slowandcumbersome,intendedbytheFramers
1. Creatingabill:
anyonecandoit,oftenoriginateinexecutivebranchand
interestgroups
2. Introduceabill:
onlyCongressmemberscandoitbyputtingitina
hopper(aboxattheclerksdesk)
3. Assignnumberstobill
thensendtoeachcommittee,weremostofthem
arepigeonholedandburied
4. Pigeonholedbillisreconsidered
ifthemajorityoftheHousepetition
5. Billssenttosubcommittee
thensendtofullcommittee
6. Committee
canrejectthebillorsendittothefloor
7. RulesCommittee(HouseofRep):
determinehowlongabillwillbe
debated,amendmentrules,whentodebate.
8. RulesCommittee(Senate):
debateaslongastheyplease,norules,can
request
hold
(senatoraskedtobeinformedofthebill)
9. ConferenceCommittee:
setoutthedifferencesinbillversionspassedby
HouseCommitteeandSenate,thenreturn
compromisedversion
forvote

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V.

VI.

VII.

VIII.

10. Voting:
senatorsandHouseofRepsvoteonthebilltopassit
a) Trusteemodel:
legislatorsvotefortheinterestofthepeopleand
ofthenationsinthelongterm
b) Politicomodel:
legislatorsfollowtheirownjudgement,untilthe
constituentbecomevocalofamatteranddictatelegislators
11. President:
signthebillintolaw,ordonothingin10daysandbillbecome
law,vetothebill,orpocketveto
B. 5,000bills
areintroducedperyear.
Only2.5%madeittolaw.
C. C
losedrule
prohibitsanyamendmentstobillsupforavoteontheHousefloor
D. Dischargedpetition:
bringabilltothefloorwhenthechairrefusestoplacethe
billontheagenda.Usesin1910tostripSpeaker
JosephG.Cannon
frompower.
E. Othertricks:
killeramendment,filibuster(delay,nowbillrequire60peopleto
passinsteadof51),cloture(endfilibuster60),porkbarrel,earmark
CommitteeSystem:
Themajorityparty
ofeachhouseholdsallthecommitteechairs,holdmajorityofseats

Regulatoryagency:
committeesalsoactasthistoenforcelaw,heartestimonyabout
budget
TypesofCommittee:
A. StandingCommittees(20):
permanentcommitteesthatfocusonparticulararea
(agriculture,security).Allbillsgohere.Dividedintosubcommittees.
Ex:
HouseWaysandMeansCommittee,SenateJudiciary,SenateArmsServiced
B. SelectCommittees:
formforonlyspecificpurposestemporarily.
Ex:
HouseWatergateinNixonera
C. JointCommittees:
jointwoHouses,similartoselectcommittees
D. ConferenceCommittees:
createdtoresolvedifferencesbetweentwoHouses,
temporary
CongressionalLeadershipofHouseofRepresentatives
A. TheSpeaker:
leaderoftheHouseofRepresentatives,chosenbythemajority
party
B. TheSpeakercontrolRulesCommittee
:decidewhichbillsgotowhich
committees,setguidelinesforfloordebate,timelimits
C. Majorityleader:
keepspartymemberinlineanddeterminespartypolicy
D. Minorityleader:
keepstheminoritypartymembersinlineanddeterminesparty
policy
E. Whips:
keepsthepartyinlinebyforcingthemtovotefortheparty.Thereare
majoritywhip(Republicanrightnow)andminoritywhip(Democrats).
CongressionalLeadershipofTheSenate:
A. PresidentofSenate:
thevicepresident,
exofficio,
isthepresidentoftheSenate,
butwieldslittlepowercomparedwithSpeakeroftheHouse
B. PresidentProtempore:
whenthevicepresidentisabsent,someseniormembers
getthistitle.Thoughitdoesnothavemuchpower
C. Majorityleader:
hasthemostpowerinSenate,controlslegislativeagenda,
powerbrokerandinitiatepolicy
D. Minorityleader:
powerbroker,buthardlycontrolpolicyorlegislativeagenda
NotableLegislation:

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IX.

A. PendletonAct:
eliminatespoilssystem,meritbased
B. ShermanAntitrust:
allowCongresstobreakupmonopolies
C. HatchAct:
prohibitemployeesintheexecutivebranchtoparticipateinpartisan
politics
D. AirQualityAct:
regulateimpactsonenvironment
E. FederalElectionCampaignAct:
createtheFederalElectionCommissionto
regulatecampaignfinance
F. WarsPowerAct:
presidentmustnotifyCongressin
48hours
afterdeploying
troops,andmustbringtroopshomein
6090days
unlessCongressextendtime
G. BudgetandImpoundmentAct:
preventPresidentfromimpoundment(refuseto
spendfundsappropriatedbyCongress).Responseto
Nixon
refusedtospend
fundsforenvironmentalprojectheopposed.AlsocreatedCongressionalBudget
Office.
H. FreedomofInformationAct:
declassifiedgovernmentdocumentsforpublicuse
I. GrammRudmanHollingsBill:
aimforautomaticbudgetsequestrationif
Presidentfailedtocutbudget.Declaredunconstitutionalandhasbeenrevised,
stillfailtocutthebudget.
J. PersonalResponsibilityandWorkOpportunityReconciliationAct:
major
welfarereform
1. Requirerecipientstobeginworkingaftertwoyearsofreceivingbenefits
2. Lifetimelimitoffiveyearsonbenefitspaidbyfederalfund
3. Encouragetwoparentfamiliesanddiscouragingoutofwedlockbirths
4. Requiringstateprofessionalandoccupationallicensestobewithheldfrom
undocumentedimmigrants
5. Avoidpunishingchildreniftheirparentsviolatelaw
K. BipartisanCampaignReformAct:
bannedsoftmoneycontributiontopolitical
parties,raisedhardmoneylimitto$2,000.Severalportionsofthisactwasstruck
downby
CitizensUnited
RightsandFreedomAct
A. VotingRightsAct:
suspendliteracytests,empoweredfederalofficialstoregister
votes,prohibitstatesfromchangingvotingprocedures
B. AgeDiscriminationAct:
bannedagediscriminationinjobsunlessageisrelated
tojobperformance
C. TitleIXEducationAct:
prohibitgenderdiscriminationinfederallyfunded
programs
D. NationalVoterRegistrationBill:TheMotorVoterAct,allowedpeopletoregister
tovotewhenapplyingfordriverslicenses
E. PatriotAct:
Grantbroadpoliceauthoritytoprosecuteandsuspendterrorist.

EXECUTIVEBRANCH
I.

POWEROFTHEPRESIDENT(ArticleII,SectionII
A. Enforcefederallaws
thatspendover3trilliondollarsperyear,ceremonialhead
ofstate,handleforeignpolicy
B. ForceCongress
intosession,mustbriefCongressontheStateofthenation,
canvetolegislationandgrantpardons

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II.

III.

IV.

V.

C. Appointmentpower:
canappointfederaljudges,SupremeCourtjustices,cabinet
members,ambassadors,departmentsecretariesbutrequireSenateapproval
1. Senatorialcourtesy:
TheSenatewillnotapproveofanappointmentif
opposedbythemajoritypartysenatorfromtheStatethattheappointee
willserve
D. RemovalPower:
Presidentcandismissthoseheappointed,exceptfederaljudges
orcommissionersofindependentregulatoryagency
E. Negotiatetreaties
buttheymustberatifiedbyofSenates
F. Executiveagreement:
anagreementbetweenU.SPresidentandHeadofanother
Country,bindingastreatiesbutdonotrequireCongressionalapproval.Itcanbe
nullbythenextpresidentinoffice,unlessCongressreauthorizedit.
COMMANDERINCHIEF
A. Presidentcanwagewar,
Congresscandeclarewar.However,thepowerofwar
declarationisbecomingobsoleteinnuclearage
B. Moneytowagewar
mustbegrantedfromCongresstoPresident
C. OncePresident
iscommittedtroopsinconflict,Congressmemberwouldfund
theweaponsneeded,ortheywillcommitpoliticalsuicide
D. GulfofTonkinResolution(1964):
gavepresidentbroadpowerstocommit
unlimitednumbersoftroopsinunlimitedtimeintheVietnamconflict.
Wars
PowerAct
limitthis,butCongresshasneverusedit.
FORMALPOWERSOFPRESIDENT
A. Canvetoabill.
VetomustbeoverriddenbyofCongressineachchamber
B. Presidentcanwait10fulldays.
IfCongressisstillinsession,thenallbill
becomelaw
C. Pocketveto:
Presidentcanwait10fulldays.IfCongressadjournbeforethat,the
billisdead.
Cannotlineitemveto:
Presidentcannotvetoportionofabill,but
stateslegislaturecan.Presidentusedtodothattoreducespending,butitis
unconstitutional.
D. Congressofteninsert
favorableprovisionsintoabilltopreventitfrombeing
vetoed
INFORMALPOWERS
A. Informalpowers:
presidentialpowersthatarenotenumeratedintheConstitution
B. Moralebuilders:
Cartersfailuretoimprovethemoraleofthecountry,Reaganis
goodatmoralebuilding
C. GeorgeH.W.Bush
isaforeignpolicypresidentbecausehecannotgethis
domesticpolicyagendainaDemocratcontrolledCongress
D. Policypersuader:
PresidentmustpersuadethepublicandCongresstopass
politicalagenda
EXECUTIVEOFFICEOFTHEPRESIDENT
A. Threeareas:
domestic,foreignandmilitaryaffairs
B. ChiefofStaff:
topaidofthepresident,alongtimefriendofPresident,cancontrol
accesstopresident.
Ex:
CongressmanLeonPanettachiefofstaffofClinton,
whoreplacedineffectiveThomasMclarty
C. NationalSecurityCouncil:
headedbyNationalSecurityAdvisor:

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VI.

VII.

VIII.

1. Include:
vicepresident,secretaryofstate,secretaryoftreasury,secretary
ofdefense,nationalsecurityadvisor...etc.
2. Hasdirectaccess
topresidentinmilitaryandforeignpolicy
3. Involvedindecisionmakingprocess
duringnationalemergenciessuch
asCubanmissilecrisis,IranContraaffair,GulfWar
4. LackCongressionaloversight:
afavoredinstitutionformanypresidents
D. DomesticPolicyCouncil:
assistthepresidentinpoliciesrelatingtoenergy,
education,agriculture,naturalresources,economicaffairs,drugabuse,crime
E. OfficeofManagementandBudget:
preparebudgetfortheUnitedStates,can
allocatemoneytocabinetdepartments
F. CouncilofEconomicAdvisors:
helppresidentstomakenationaleconomic
policy,trytoincreaseprosperity
G. U.STradeRepresentative:
negotiatecomplextradeandtariffsuchasGATTand
NAFTA
THECABINET
A. NotmentionedinConstitution
butcabinetswereinstitutedbyanactof
Congress
B. Difficultiesincontrollingcabinet:
Interestgroupsinfluencecabinet,Congress
influence,andloyaltyofcivilservantstotheirowndepartment(cabinetmembers
canservedifferentpresidentsandmighthatesome)
C. Cabinetsecretary:
appointedbypresidentandconfirmedbySenate,run
departmentsandcarryoutpresidentspolicies
1. Secretarieswhodisagree
withpresidentialpolicyareexpectedtoresign
2. Secretariesrepresenttheirowndepartments
now,morethan
presidentspolicies,fightfordepartmentsinterestsagainstother
departments
3. Presidentrarelyholdafullcabinet
meetingbecausetherewillbe
bickerings
D. 15cabinetdepartments:
DepartmentofTreasury,Defense,Justice,Interior...etc.
E. DepartmentofHomelandSecurity:
largestandtoplevelgovernment
department,responsibletoprotecttheborder,supportpoliceandfiredepartments,
detectchemicalandnuclearweapons,andanalyzeintelligence
HOWPRESIDENTPERSUADECONGRESS
A. Liaisons:
AssignlegislativeliaisonsfromExecutiveOfficetolobbylegislators
B. Houseleader:
Workwithmajorityandminorityhouseleader
C. Media:
Usemediatofocuspublicattentionontheissue
D. Highapprovalrate
ofpresidentscanpersuadeCongressmembers
E. Porksandbarrels
projectaregiventohesitatinglegislator
IMPEACHMENT
A. Reasonsforimpeachment:
treason,bribery,highcrimesandmisdemeanors
B. Impeachment
canbethroughasimplemajorityvoteinHouseofRepresentatives
andSenateholdsatrialwiththeChiefJusticeoftheSupremeCourtpresiding
C. Federaljudges
canberemovedonlythroughimpeachment.

JUDICIARYBRANCH

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I.

II.

III.

IV.

PRINCIPLESOFAMERICANLEGALSYSTEM
A. Equaljustice:
Jurorscannotprivilegetestimonyofapoliceofficeroverthe
defendant
B. Dueprocess:
1. Substantivedueprocess:
whetherlawsarefair.Prohibitblueeyepeople
fromridingmotorcycleviolatesdueprocess
2. Proceduraldueprocess:
whetherlawsarefairlyapplied.Ifasuspectis
held10yearsbeforeatrial,itviolatesrighttospeedytrial.
C. Adversarialsystem1:
useintheUnitedStates,itreliesonadvocatesrepresenting
twopartiesandtheonewhoarguesbest,usingevidence,win
1. Pleabargain:

defendantagreestopleadguiltytoaparticularchargein
returnforsomeconcessionfromtheprosecutor(95%cases)
2. Toomuchconflict
inareassuchasfamilylawanddivorce
D. PresumptionofInnocence:
Blackstoneratiostatesrather10guiltypersons
escapethan1innocentpersonsuffered.Sotheaccusedareinnocentuntilproven
guilty.
CRIMINALLAW
A. Criminallaw:
dealwithcriminalsthatmightharmindividualsorsociety,include
physicalassault,fraud
1. Grandjury:
groupof2448jurorsdecidewhethertocommenceatrial
2. Defenseattorney
arenotallowedtoaddressgrandjuries
3. Pleabargains
arethenofferedto95%ofcases
B. Partyopposing
thekilleristhegovernment,notyouvs.killer
C. Burdenofproof
isonthegovernmentandcourttoproveguiltbeyonda
reasonabledoubt
D. Petitjuries:
composedof12people,opentothepublic,decidedwhetherornot
someone.
Splitjury
isknownashungjuryandresultsinamistrial
CIVILLAW
A. Civillaw:
resolvedisputesovercontracts,property,custody,issueofliability
B. Government
onlyinvolvesinthecaseifitisbeingsued
C. Noprosecution:
aplaintiffsquaresoffagainstadefendant
D. Thesettlement:
thepartiesnegotiateandseewhichpartyiswillingtogiveupto
endthelawsuit.Ifnosettlementisreached,thecasewenttotrial
E. Defendant
cannotbejailedorexecuted,sotheburdenofproofislighter
F. Preponderanceofevidence:
Plaintiffneedstoshowevidenceagreewithhim
G. Juries
areuseincivilcases,butusually56people
H. Equity:
thelosermaybeforcedtostopdoingsomethingthatannoyorharmthe
winneriflost,orpaymonetarydamages
STRUCTUREANDJURISDICTION
A. FederalDistrictcourt:
thereare91federaldistrictcourt

Inquisitorialsystem:
incontrastwithUS,thisisusedinsomeothercountries,itrelieson
heavilyinvestigatingthecasebythegovernmentandtheevidenceisusetoconvictedthe
wrongdoer
1

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V.

VI.

VII.

1. Originaljurisdictio
ncourtsinwhichacaseisfirstheard.Federalcourt
usethisoverbothcriminalandcivilcase
B. FederalCircuitCourtsofAppeal:
thereare13circuitcourts
1. Appellatejurisdiction:
ithearcasesfromFederalDistrictcourtorState
SupremeCourt.Thecasesmustinvolveconstitutionalrightviolation.
2. Law,notfact:
Circuitcourtmustdebateissuesoflaw,neverissuesoffact
3. Donotholdtrialortestimony:
itonlyreviewdistrictcourtdecision
4. Itcanruleon
decisionsoffederalregulatoryagencysuchastheFederal
TradeCommission
C. SupremeCourt:
doesnothaveajury.Itsdecisionsaremadeby9justices.
1. Appellatejurisdiction:
Whenactasappellatejurisdiction,Supreme
Courtcanonlydecideissuesoflaw,notthefacts
2. Originaljurisdiction:
SupremeCourthasthisjurisdictionregarding
foreignministersbecausestatescannotdecidesuchcases
3. Jurisdiction:
statev.state,stategovernmentv.US,U.Sv.aforeign
ambassador
4. Writsofcertiorari:
anorderoftheSupremeCourtaskinglowerCourtto
senduprecordofagivencasetoSupremeCourtforreview
5. Caseloadiscontrolled
throughwritsofcertiorari
6. RuleofFour:
SupremeCourtclerkscreened9,000petitionsforSupreme
Court.Justicesholdweekly

SELECTIONSOFAJUDGE
A. Lifetimetenure:
alljudgesareappointedforalifetime.
B. Lowercourtsnomination:
federaljudgesareappointedbythePresidentandget
amajorityvotefromtheSenate
C. SupremeCourtnomination:
1. Criteria:
musthavecompetence,supportthepresidentsideology(F.D.R
appointjudgessympathetictoNewDeal)andracial/minorityaretaken
intoaccount
2. Confirmation:
listofpossiblenomineesaresenttoF.B.Iforbackground
checkandAmericanBarAssociationforprofessionalrating
3. SenateJudiciaryCommittee
holdpublichearingsoneachnomineethen
makearecommendationtothefullSenate
D. Interestgroup
areinfluencingjudgeconfirmationbyprotest,media...etc.
PROCESSOFCOURTHEARING
A. Briefs&amicuscuriae:
summariesofthearguments&friendsofthecourtwho
trytoinfluencethejustices
B. Oralarguments:
lawyershad30minutestopresentbeforethe9justicestheir
arguments
C. Solicitorgeneral:
anofficialrepresentstheUnitedStatesgovernmentinlegal
courtcasesinvolvingU.S,arguingafterthelayersfinished
D. Conference:
thejudgesthenhaveameetingtocastvote
E. Opinions:
majorityopinion,unanimous,concurringanddissenting
POLITICSOFJUDICIARYBRANCH

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A. Conservativesopinion:
believeittobethemostundemocraticbranchofthe
government
B. Liberalsopinion:
seejudgesasconstitutionalinterpretersofcurrentsocial
values
C. Judicialrestraint:
judgeswhoarereluctanttooverturndecisionsoflegislative
branch
D. Judicialactivist:
judgeswhoareNOTreluctanttooverturndecisionsof
legislativebranch

BUDGETARYPROCESS
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.

PresidentSubmitaBudgetRequest:
thePresidentandtheOfficeofManagementand

Budgetmeet,anddiscussthePresidentsproposal
HouseandSenatePassBudgetResolutions:

the
HouseCommitteeontheBudget
and
the
SenateCommitteeontheBudget
eachwriteandvoteontheirownbudgetresolutions.
AppropriationCommittee
intheHouseandSenatedeterminethebudgetauthority
allowedspendingforprogramsbywritingappropriationbills.Thebilliswrittenby
subcommittees,thensendtoappropriationcommitteeforavote.
HouseandSenateVoteonAppropriationBills
andreconciletheirdifferences
President
thensigntheappropriationbillsifithadbeenapprovedbytheHouseandthe
Senate.

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