AP U.S. Government and Politics · Summary

Unit 2 summary

1. The House starts revenue bills and impeaches; the Senate confirms nominees, ratifies treaties by two-thirds and tries impeachments.
2. The necessary and proper clause gives Congress implied powers beyond the ones Article I lists.
3. A filibuster is a Senate tactic, and cloture to end it takes 60 senators for most bills. The House limits debate through its Rules Committee.
4. A veto can be overridden by two-thirds of each chamber; a pocket veto cannot, because Congress has adjourned.
5. Executive orders, executive agreements and signing statements are informal powers, and Congress, the courts and later presidents can undo them.
6. Judicial review comes from Marbury v. Madison (1803). A ruling on a statute can be undone by a new law; a ruling on the Constitution needs an amendment or a later Court.
7. Agencies write rules under authority from Congress and answer to Congress through oversight and funding, to the president through appointments, and to the courts.