Deck 13: Presidential Leadership and Elite Democracy

Question 1

Which of the following statements best describes the idea of the "personalized presidency"?

A)People prefer a president who appears to be more "down to earth" and less abstract in his or her speeches.
B)Successful presidents tend to be very well liked by both the people and other political figures.
C)Character traits are the most important variables in developing an understanding of the presidency.
D)Since the eighteenth century, presidents have become increasingly detached from the people they represent.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Barack Obama is a new choice for the American people as president.Explain how he is different and the implications for the United States.

Answer 2

Students' answers may vary.

Question 3

Assume that you had the power to grant the next president three wishes regarding his or her relationship with Congress.What do you suppose he or she might ask for? Are there certain factors that are particularly important in determining the president's legislative success? How can he or she use the resources at his or her disposal?

Answer 3

Students' answers may vary.

Question 4

Explain the need for the presidential power of secrecy.

Question 5

Explain the role of the Executive Office of the President (EOP).

Question 6

What is the importance of the White House staff?

Question 7

What is an executive order?

Question 8

Explain how the War Powers Resolution of 1973 affected the relationship between Congress and the Presidency.

Question 9

The institution of the presidency has expanded greatly over time leading to more isolation for the president.Explain how the president interacts with the various actors surrounding him.How does he or she manage the large institution designed to help him/her.

Question 10

What is the purpose of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)?

Question 11

In what circumstances does a president veto?

Question 12

Generally presidents have more control over foreign policy, war making policy, and national security policy than Congress.In what ways is this good for the United States and how is it problematic?

Question 13

In the twentieth century, the presidency has usually been seen as

A)an instrument of popular democratic leadership.
B)weaker than Congress.
C)a supporter of economic elites.
D)an outdated institution.

Question 14

Who makes up the President's cabinet?

Question 15

What is the importance of the Employment Act of 1946?

Question 16

Explain the use of a signing statement.

Question 17

What is the importance of the National Security Council (NSC)?

Question 18

What role does the Council of Economic Advisers (CEA)play?

Question 19

Who was the original advocate for an "energetic executive"?

A)Thomas Jefferson
B)George Mason
C)Alexander Hamilton
D)Patrick Henry

Question 20

The media and the president have a love-hate relationship.On the one hand, presidents need the media to make their case to the American people and increase their power.On the other hand, the media is not always complimentary to presidents.Explain the implications for Obama.

Question 21

Concerning their power as commander-in-chief, American presidents have often

A)waited to act until Congress has declared war.
B)committed American forces without congressional approval.
C)declared war without congressional ratification.
D)stood by while Congress initiated foreign conflicts.

Question 22

The framers of the Constitution believed that

A)the presidency would be the branch of the national government closest to the people.
B)the president would be able to depend upon his party's support in Congress.
C)the dignity of the president's office, and the long duration of the term would provide insulation from mass passion or popular demand for economic change.
D)the president should derive his power from the other branches of government.

Question 23

The main source of conflict between the White House and Capitol Hill is _____.

A)electoral
B)over tax issues
C)ideological
D)economic

Question 24

One resource that presidents utilize in abundance when they try to influence Congress is

A)federal judgeship nominations.
B)cabinet appointments.
C)control over federal grants.
D)the mystique of the presidency.

Question 25

The actions of which president appeared to confirm the worst fears of both the founders and the Anti-federalists about presidential power?

A)George H.W.Bush
B)Jimmy Carter
C)Richard Nixon
D)Ronald Reagan

Question 26

Which of the following is true concerning the White House's relations with the corporate sector?

A)The corporate sector tends to support Democrats.
B)The corporate sector is no longer influential.
C)The corporate sector is a major influence-regardless of the president's party.
D)None of the above is correct.

Question 27

With regard to the relationship between Congress and the president,

A)presidents usually have an easy time winning congressional support.
B)it is inaccurate to say that one branch always speaks for the public good.
C)it is rare to see significant or sustained conflict between the branches.
D)the president, not Congress, has consistently been the one who favors broad national interests.

Question 28

The Executive Office of the President

A)was established in the1960s by the Johnson Administration.
B)provides the chief executive with neutral, expert policy advice.
C)in reality plays a very small role in presidential policy making.
D)has been used to extend the personal power of the chief executive.

Question 29

The principal instrument for presidential secrecy has been the _____.

A)Pentagon
B)CIA
C)White House staff
D)Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

Question 30

The president derives most of his power in foreign affairs from

A)delegations of authority from Congress.
B)his own initiative.
C)the large military established during World War I.
D)the Constitution.

Question 31

The first vice president to play a significant role as policy adviser to the president was _____.

A)Al Gore
B)Richard Cheney
C)Walter Mondale
D)Theodore Roosevelt

Question 32

A major problem faced by each new president is that

A)the staff is too small to formulate effective policy.
B)the public doesn't want presidents to propose legislation.
C)the separation of powers means Congress will often go its own way.
D)Congress is controlled by the opposition party.

Question 33

The War Powers Resolution of 1973

A)has been successful in limiting the president's war-making role.
B)has had little effect on the president's war-making abilities.
C)has been enforced by Congress imposing its many restrictions on the president on many occasions.
D)was overturned by the Supreme Court in 1983.

Question 34

It is evident that the growth in White House staff

A)has significantly reduced the influence of elite interest groups on presidential decision making.
B)has exposed the president to a wider array of political interests and policy choices.
C)at times has shielded presidents from political reality outside the White House.
D)has been a complete blessing for modern presidents.

Question 35

Which of the following is an important reason why recent presidents have turned to White House staff members for assistance?

A)Staffers have more independent authority and resources.
B)Staff members answer only to the president and reflect his political base.
C)Staff members generally have closer relationships with members of Congress.
D)Staffers tend to reflect more diverse political viewpoints and constituencies.

Question 36

In the modern presidency, the Cabinet

A)has lost influence to the White House staff.
B)has been the central decision-making body for the chief executive.
C)has gradually assumed more power relative to Congress and the bureaucracy.
D)no longer needs Senate confirmation or has to testify before Congress.

Question 37

Which of the following is NOT a factor that limits a president's control over the bureaucracy?

A)The vast size of the administrative state
B)The historical shift from patronage to civil service
C)Congressional influence over executive agencies
D)Inability of presidents to properly screen their appointees

Question 38

The Council of Economic Advisers can be found in the _____.

A)Treasury Department
B)White House staff
C)Congressional Budget Office
D)Executive Office of the President

Question 39

The public approval ratings of recent presidents have tended to

A)rise and fall unpredictably for each president.
B)reach their peak after the "honeymoon" phase.
C)decline the longer a president is in office.
D)increase the longer a president is in office.

Question 40

In regard to the president's role as economic manager, it is important to realize that

A)presidents no longer need the support of the corporate sector to make economic policy.
B)to be effective, presidents require the cooperation of other political institutions and forces.
C)the president has the most direct control over monetary policy.
D)the president has the power to unilaterally enact changes in economic policy.

Question 41

Who was the first president to have a background in mass-movement politics?

A)Franklin D.Roosevelt
B)John Kennedy
C)Lyndon Johnson
D)Barack Obama

Question 42

According to Stephen Skowronek, what one trait makes a president an effective agent of political change?

A)Ability to move public opinion
B)Insider knowledge
C)Strong majorities in Congress
D)None of the above

Question 43

One lesson to be learned from the study of the modern presidency is that

A)although often considered the best representative of the people's will, presidents do not consistently fulfill the role of popular democratic leader.
B)the chief executive is the only one who has the resources and incentives to challenge elite democratic interests.
C)popular democrats must look to the president to provide popular democratic leadership.
D)the Anti-federalists' fears about the threat of tyranny from the chief executive were groundless.