Question 1

During major historical events such as the attacks on Pearl Harbor in 1941 and on the World Trade Center and Pentagon in 2001, why does the role and position of president become so important?

Accepted Answer

During major historical events such as attacks on Pearl Harbor or the World Trade Center, the president becomes a strong voice to command the nation's attention, calm fears, provide direction, and employ resources. The president's role as a leader becomes crucial for addressing national security and the welfare of the entire country.

Question 2

Which of the following is not an example of a president committing American troops into combat without Congressional approval?

Accepted Answer

Roosevelt entered World War II with the approval of Congress following the declaration of war on Japan after the attack on Pearl Harbor. While he did exercise considerable military authority during the war, it was not an example of him committing troops without Congressional approval.

Question 3

Since the end of World War II, presidents have acted much more independently in committing American troops to combat situations. In 1973, Congress attempted to severely limit the power of the president to deploy troops without Congressional approval. Then-president Nixon vetoed the legislation, but his veto was overridden. What was this legislation called?

Accepted Answer

The legislation described is the War Powers Resolution, which was passed by Congress in 1973 to limit the president's ability to commit U.S. troops to combat without Congressional approval. Nixon vetoed the legislation, but Congress overrode his veto. The other choices listed are unrelated to this specific legislation.

Question 4

A presidential action that removes the punishment, as well as the finding of guilt, from a person convicted of a federal crime is called ___________________.

Accepted Answer

A full pardon is the presidential action that fully removes the punishment and the finding of guilt from a person convicted of a federal crime. A reprieve is the temporary postponement of a sentence, while a commutation reduces the severity of a sentence but does not remove the finding of guilt. Presidential prerogative is a term that refers to the broad powers that presidents have to take executive action. Certiorari is a legal term that refers to the process of seeking review by a higher court.

Question 5

Historically, what percentage of presidential vetoes has been overridden?

Accepted Answer

Historically, about 4 percent of presidential vetoes have been overridden by Congress. This is a relatively low percentage, indicating the difficulty of achieving the two-thirds majority in both the House and the Senate required to override a veto.

Question 6

As commander-in-chief, the president ____________________.

Accepted Answer

As commander-in-chief, the president is the nation's principal military leader, but does not have unlimited power to declare war on other nations nor does the president need to have military experience or be an active member of the military.

Question 7

In Myers v. United States (1926) the U.S. Supreme Court addressed the issue of a president's power to remove an appointed official from office. In the case of Cabinet members such as secretary of state, what power does the president have in removing him or her from office?

Accepted Answer

The U.S. Senate must confirm the original appointment, but the president has the power to remove such an appointee without Congressional approval. This was established in Myers v. United States (1926) where the Supreme Court ruled that the president has sole power of removal for executive branch official appointments.

Question 8

As chief legislator of the United States, the president has the power to ____________.

Accepted Answer

As chief legislator, the president does not have the power to negotiate and execute treaties (which is within the scope of the executive branch) or appoint federal judges (which is within the scope of the judicial branch). While the president may meet directly with foreign heads of state, this is not a power granted specifically to the chief legislator. The power to grant reprieves and pardons is also separate from the role of chief legislator. Therefore, the best answer is D, as the chief legislator helps set the lawmaking agenda for Congress through their ability to propose legislation and use their influence to prioritize certain issues.

Question 9

A "signing statement" may be used for which of the following purposes?

Accepted Answer

A signing statement can be used by the president to express intent to ignore a law, undermine it short of a veto, or indicate how the executive branch will interpret it according to the president's views.

Question 10

As chief diplomat of the United States, the president has the power to ______________.

Accepted Answer

The president has the power to negotiate and execute treaties with foreign nations.

Question 11

The U.S. Constitution extends certain powers to the president in regard to people who are convicted of violating federal laws. An executive action that reduces the severity of a punishment without removing the guilt is called ________.

Accepted Answer

A reprieve is an executive action that temporarily postpones or reduces the severity of a punishment without removing the guilt. A pardon, on the other hand, completely releases an individual from the punishment and removes the guilt. Power of appointment refers to the president's authority to appoint individuals to certain government positions. A writ of habeas corpus is a legal order requiring that a prisoner be brought before a court or judge. Presidential oversight refers to the president's general responsibility to oversee the executive branch of government.

Question 12

Presidents frequently issue rules and regulations that carry the force of law, ranging from orders to the armed forces to designation of public lands. Such actions, once thought to be unconstitutional, are called

Accepted Answer

Executive orders are directives issued by the president of the United States that carry the force of law. Even though they are not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution, the Supreme Court has upheld their constitutionality. These orders can cover a wide range of topics, from foreign policy to domestic issues, and can be seen as a way for the president to take action quickly on important matters without relying on Congress to pass legislation.

Question 13

Article II of the U.S. Constitution requires that the president will each year advise the Congress about the condition of the nation. This constitutional requirement is now a formal speech before Congress and is called ______________.

Accepted Answer

The formal speech given by the president before Congress, required by Article II of the U.S. Constitution, is called the State of the Union address. The other options listed are not accurate names for this speech.

Question 14

In his landmark book Presidential Power: The Politics of Leadership, Neustadt argued that the president's most fundamental power is the ​_______________.

Accepted Answer

Neustadt argued that the president's power to persuade is the most fundamental power because the president must rely on his ability to persuade others to support his goals and agenda. This power is essential for the president to be an effective leader and to achieve his policy objectives. The other powers listed - to declare war, pass legislation, veto bills, and appoint officials - are also important, but they are secondary to the power to persuade.

Question 15

The president's responsibility to see "that the laws be faithfully executed" includes the power to __________.

Accepted Answer

The phrase "see that the laws be faithfully executed" refers to the president's responsibility to implement and enforce measures passed by Congress. This means that the president has the power to execute laws and ensure their proper enforcement. Therefore, the correct answer is D) implement and enforce measures passed by Congress. The other options presented are incorrect because the president has no power to change the wording of laws to his particular advantage. He cannot determine which laws to implement or which laws are considered by Congress. Additionally, while the president has the authority to issue pardons and reprieves, he cannot carry out capital punishment.

Question 16

John Locke, Baron de Montesquieu, and other political theorists of the 1700s argued that the need for an executive power was fundamental and obvious. Which of the following is not one of the primary reasons that Locke and Montesquieu used to justify their arguments?

Accepted Answer

Locke and Montesquieu did not specifically argue that legislatures are inherently corrupt and incapable of ethical behavior. In fact, they believed that a system of checks and balances could prevent any one branch of government from becoming too powerful and corrupt.

Question 17

The president has a very important power to appoint judges, justices, and cabinet-level officials. However, the constitution requires that this power be checked through ____________________.

Accepted Answer

According to the constitution, the president's power to appoint officials must be checked by the U.S. Senate, which has the power of advice and consent to confirm or reject all political appointments, including judges, justices, and cabinet-level officials. Therefore, option D is the best choice. The other options are not accurate because the Supreme Court does not have approval power over appointments, the FBI conducts background checks but does not have the power to approve or reject appointments, a three-fourths approval of state legislatures is not required, and while the CIA conducts security clearances, they do not have a role in confirming appointments.

Question 18

What is the primary purpose for the president's designation as commander-in-chief?

Accepted Answer

The primary purpose for the president's designation as commander-in-chief is to allow the military to ultimately remain under civilian control. This ensures that civilian leaders have final decision-making authority over military actions and prevents a military coup or uprising.

Question 19

The president has constitutional power to veto legislation passed by Congress. However, the Congress also has constitutional powers to override the veto. How is the veto overridden?

Accepted Answer

According to Article 1, Section 7 of the US Constitution, a veto may be overridden by a two-thirds majority in each house of Congress. This means that 67 senators and 290 representatives (out of 435) must vote to override the veto.

Question 20

The recent president with the highest percentage of veto overrides was ____________.

Accepted Answer

Gerald Ford had the highest percentage of veto overrides among recent presidents, with Congress overriding 12 of his 66 vetoes, which is approximately 18%.

Quiz 7: The Presidency

During major historical events such as the attacks on Pearl Harbor in 1941 and on the World Trade Center and Pentagon in 2001, why does the role and position of president become so important?

Which of the following is not an example of a president committing American troops into combat without Congressional approval?

A presidential action that removes the punishment, as well as the finding of guilt, from a person convicted of a federal crime is called ___________________.

Historically, what percentage of presidential vetoes has been overridden?

As commander-in-chief, the president ____________________.

In Myers v. United States (1926) the U.S. Supreme Court addressed the issue of a president's power to remove an appointed official from office. In the case of Cabinet members such as secretary of state, what power does the president have in removing him or her from office?

As chief legislator of the United States, the president has the power to ____________.

A "signing statement" may be used for which of the following purposes?

As chief diplomat of the United States, the president has the power to ______________.

The U.S. Constitution extends certain powers to the president in regard to people who are convicted of violating federal laws. An executive action that reduces the severity of a punishment without removing the guilt is called ________.

Presidents frequently issue rules and regulations that carry the force of law, ranging from orders to the armed forces to designation of public lands. Such actions, once thought to be unconstitutional, are called

Article II of the U.S. Constitution requires that the president will each year advise the Congress about the condition of the nation. This constitutional requirement is now a formal speech before Congress and is called ______________.

In his landmark book Presidential Power: The Politics of Leadership, Neustadt argued that the president's most fundamental power is the _______________.

The president's responsibility to see "that the laws be faithfully executed" includes the power to __________.

John Locke, Baron de Montesquieu, and other political theorists of the 1700s argued that the need for an executive power was fundamental and obvious. Which of the following is not one of the primary reasons that Locke and Montesquieu used to justify their arguments?

The president has a very important power to appoint judges, justices, and cabinet-level officials. However, the constitution requires that this power be checked through ____________________.

What is the primary purpose for the president's designation as commander-in-chief?

The president has constitutional power to veto legislation passed by Congress. However, the Congress also has constitutional powers to override the veto. How is the veto overridden?

The recent president with the highest percentage of veto overrides was ____________.

Quiz 7: The Presidency

During major historical events such as the attacks on Pearl Harbor in 1941 and on the World Trade Center and Pentagon in 2001, why does the role and position of president become so important?

Which of the following is not an example of a president committing American troops into combat without Congressional approval?

A presidential action that removes the punishment, as well as the finding of guilt, from a person convicted of a federal crime is called ___________________.

Historically, what percentage of presidential vetoes has been overridden?

As commander-in-chief, the president ____________________.

In Myers v. United States (1926) the U.S. Supreme Court addressed the issue of a president's power to remove an appointed official from office. In the case of Cabinet members such as secretary of state, what power does the president have in removing him or her from office?

As chief legislator of the United States, the president has the power to ____________.

A "signing statement" may be used for which of the following purposes?

As chief diplomat of the United States, the president has the power to ______________.

The U.S. Constitution extends certain powers to the president in regard to people who are convicted of violating federal laws. An executive action that reduces the severity of a punishment without removing the guilt is called ________.

Presidents frequently issue rules and regulations that carry the force of law, ranging from orders to the armed forces to designation of public lands. Such actions, once thought to be unconstitutional, are called

Article II of the U.S. Constitution requires that the president will each year advise the Congress about the condition of the nation. This constitutional requirement is now a formal speech before Congress and is called ______________.

In his landmark book Presidential Power: The Politics of Leadership, Neustadt argued that the president's most fundamental power is the ​_______________.

The president's responsibility to see "that the laws be faithfully executed" includes the power to __________.

John Locke, Baron de Montesquieu, and other political theorists of the 1700s argued that the need for an executive power was fundamental and obvious. Which of the following is not one of the primary reasons that Locke and Montesquieu used to justify their arguments?

The president has a very important power to appoint judges, justices, and cabinet-level officials. However, the constitution requires that this power be checked through ____________________.

What is the primary purpose for the president's designation as commander-in-chief?

The president has constitutional power to veto legislation passed by Congress. However, the Congress also has constitutional powers to override the veto. How is the veto overridden?

The recent president with the highest percentage of veto overrides was ____________.

In his landmark book Presidential Power: The Politics of Leadership, Neustadt argued that the president's most fundamental power is the _______________.