AP U.S. Government and Politics Flashcards: Policy and the Branches of Government
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Review key ideas with interactive flashcards. This set includes 10 cards to help you master important concepts.
Why is national policymaking described as being 'constrained'?
National policymaking is constrained because the sharing of powers between the three branches requires compromise and can prevent any one branch from acting unilaterally.
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Why is national policymaking described as being 'constrained'?
National policymaking is constrained because the sharing of powers between the three branches requires compromise and can prevent any one branch from acting unilaterally.
What tools do the branches of government use to ensure the bureaucracy is accountable?
The formal and informal powers of Congress, the president, and the courts are used to maintain the accountability of the bureaucracy.
An interest group wants to stop a new agency rule. How does the U.S. government structure help them?
The allocation of powers creates multiple access points, allowing the group to lobby Congress, appeal to the president, or challenge the rule in federal courts to influence the policy.
Explain the impact of 'competing interests' on bureaucratic oversight.
The competing interests among Congress, the president, and the courts can lead to conflicting signals and priorities, thus limiting the extent of effective oversight of the bureaucracy.
How does the allocation of powers create opportunities for stakeholders?
The allocation of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches creates multiple access points for stakeholders to influence different stages of the policy process.
What are 'multiple access points' for influencing public policy?
Multiple access points are the opportunities for stakeholders and institutions to influence public policy, created by the allocation of powers among the three branches of government.
If the President issues an executive order and Congress passes a law to counteract it, what principle of policymaking does this illustrate?
This illustrates that national policymaking is constrained by the sharing of powers and that competing interests exist between the branches of government.
What complicates the ability of the branches to hold the bureaucracy accountable?
The extent to which governmental branches can hold the bureaucracy accountable is limited by the competing interests of Congress, the president, and the federal courts.
How does the distribution of power among the three branches affect the policymaking process?
The distribution of powers among the three branches impacts and constrains national policymaking, as the sharing of these powers requires cooperation and can slow the process.
Define bureaucratic accountability in the context of the three branches.
Bureaucratic accountability is the principle that the bureaucracy is answerable for its actions to the three branches of government, which use formal and informal powers for oversight.