Essay 14

a) The president has the enumerated power to enforce policy within the US. This allows him to employ federal agents to make sure that laws are followed. The president also has the enumerated power to veto legislation coming out of congress. This allows the president to control US policy. For example, the president may veto a bill on gun control to maintain the status quo.
b) Party polarization limits the president’s ability to influence domestic policy making in Congress by stopping bills from even getting to the president. As party lines stiffen, there are less moderates to pass legislation and actually get it to the desk of the president. The lame-duck session limits the president’s ability to influence domestic policy making in Congress by diminishing the presidents power. During the lame duck session, the president has already been voted out of office and so he is often seen as less powerful. Therefore, his lobbying and pull in congress is diminished and the presidents power to pouch his own agenda is limited. 

2008-2)A number of factors enable presidents to exert influence over Congress in the area of domestic policy. However, presidents are also limited in their influence over domestic policymaking in Congress.

a) The Constitution grants the president certain enumerated powers. Describe two of these formal powers that enable the president to exert influence over domestic policy.

b) Choose two of the following. Define each term and explain how each limits the president’s ability to influence domestic policy making in Congress.

*Mandatory spending

*Party polarization

*Lame-duck period

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Essay 13

a) Congressional reapportionment is when a states number of representatives changes because the states population changes. This is important because it may decrease or increase a states' pull in congress. For example, if Texas lost a representative, there would be less people in congress advocating for beef farmers.
b) Congressional redistricting is when the district lines within a state are redrawn.
c) One goal of politicians when gerrymandering during redistricting is to pack certain districts to help incumbents. This is when a district is purposely changed to include more of the already predominant party and therefore add more of the opposite party voters to nearby districts. Another goal of politicians when gerrymandering during redistricting is increase or decrease minority representation within each district. This can occur by packing one minority into one district.
d) One limit that the United State Supreme Court has placed on congressional redistricting is that population must be consistent within districts. Another limit that the United State Supreme Court has placed on congressional redistricting is that it may not pack certain races purposefully into the same district. 

2008-1) Congressional reapportionment and redistricting are conducted every ten years. When redistricting is conducted, politicians often engage in gerrymandering.
(a) Define congressional reapportionment and explain one reason why it is important to states.
(b) Define congressional redistricting.
(c) Explain two goals of politicians when they gerrymander during redistricting.
(d) Describe two limits that the United State Supreme Court has placed on congressional redistricting.

http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/repository/ap08_gopo_us_sgs.pdf