Question 1

Which presidential power is balanced by required approval of the Senate?

Accepted Answer

The power to negotiate treaties with other nations is balanced by the requirement that the Senate approves the treaty by a two-thirds vote before it can take effect. This serves as a check on the president's power in foreign policy.

Question 2

Which president was impeached by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives in the last thirty years?

Accepted Answer

Bill Clinton was impeached by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives in 1998, making him the only president to be impeached in the last thirty years.

Question 3

What is an executive order?

Accepted Answer

An executive order is a formal directive that is issued by the president to executive branch departments and agencies. Executive orders have the force of law, but do not require the approval of Congress. They are used to implement policies or initiatives, or to direct the actions of the executive branch.

Question 4

Which early president, who was initially hostile to the idea of a vigorous central government, concluded the Louisiana Purchase with France, which doubled the size of the United States and opened the continent for American settlement?

Accepted Answer

The president who was initially hostile to the idea of a vigorous central government and concluded the Louisiana Purchase with France, which doubled the size of the United States and opened the continent for American settlement, was Thomas Jefferson.

Question 5

The Founders created a system of __________ to prevent tyranny?

Accepted Answer

The Founders created a system of separation of powers to prevent any one branch of government from becoming too powerful and potentially becoming tyrannical. This system separates the powers of the government into three branches (legislative, executive, judicial) and provides a system of checks and balances to ensure that no one branch gains too much power. This helps prevent the concentration of power and the potential for tyranny.

Question 6

The use of __________ in foreign matters is an example of the president acting as a foreign policy leader.

Accepted Answer

Executive agreements are used by the president in foreign matters, demonstrating the president's role as a foreign policy leader. These agreements are made directly between the president and foreign leaders or governments, bypassing the need for Senate approval, unlike formal treaties.

Question 7

Congress can remove a president through __________.

Accepted Answer

Congress can remove a president through the process of impeachment, which involves charging the president with high crimes or misdemeanors, holding a trial in the Senate, and requiring a two-thirds vote for removal. None of the other options listed are methods for removing a president.

Question 8

What changed the problem in the original Constitution in which the runner-up in the presidential election became vice president?

Accepted Answer

The Twelfth Amendment, ratified in 1804, replaced the original method of electing the president and vice president with a system where electors cast separate ballots for each office. This prevented the runner-up in the presidential election from automatically becoming vice president, which had been a flaw in the original Constitution.

Question 9

Which vice president was more central to the White House policy-making process than any other vice president in American history?

Accepted Answer

Dick Cheney is widely considered to be the most influential vice president in terms of policy-making. He played a central role in the George W. Bush administration's decision-making on issues such as national security and foreign policy.

Question 10

Which institutional resource is closest to the president?

Accepted Answer

The White House staff is closest to the president as they work directly with him on a daily basis, providing support and advice.

Question 11

Who solidified the prestige of the presidency in a time when citizens did not trust executive leadership?

Accepted Answer

George Washington solidified the prestige of the presidency during his time in office. As the first president of the United States, he set important precedents and established the foundations for the role of the president as a respected and essential leader of the nation, at a time when many citizens were skeptical of executive power. His leadership and character helped to build trust among the American people and lay the groundwork for the enduring importance of the presidency in American politics.

Question 12

Which of these presidents is arguably the first modern president?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of these presidents is arguably the...

Question 13

Which one of the powers listed below is a constitutional power that the president shares with the Senate?

Accepted Answer

The president shares the power of making treaties with the Senate, as treaties made by the president require the advice and consent of the Senate.

Question 14

What is one of the reasons that power and responsibility of the presidency has grown since the early presidency?

Accepted Answer

The United States' rise to becoming a world power has led to the growth of power and responsibility of the presidency. As the country's influence and role in global affairs increased, so did the importance of the president in directing foreign policy and national security matters.

Question 15

What did George W. Bush's administration use to support the suggestion that the office of the president is free to exercise command and authority over the executive branch in all respects?

Accepted Answer

Bush's administration relied on the theory of unitary executive to support the suggestion that the office of the president is free to exercise command and authority over the executive branch in all respects. This theory emphasizes the constitutional authority of the president as the sole unitary executive, claiming that the president has full control over all the executive branch agencies and officers. This doctrine has been criticized for expanding the powers of the presidency beyond the scope intended by the Constitution.

Question 16

According to the Constitution, how is the president supposed to be elected?

Accepted Answer

According to the Constitution, the president is supposed to be elected through the Electoral College, wherein each state's number of electors is equal to its number of representatives and senators in Congress. The popular vote in each state determines which candidate receives the state's electoral votes, and the candidate who receives a majority of electoral votes (at least 270 out of 538) is elected as president.

Question 17

Which vice president is considered to have been the most powerful?

Accepted Answer

Dick Cheney is considered to have been the most powerful vice president due to his extensive experience in government and being a part of the inner circle during the George W. Bush administration. He was known for his involvement in national security and foreign policy decisions.

Question 18

In which institutional resource are leaders both appointed by the president and approved by the Senate?

Accepted Answer

The Cabinet is composed of the heads of the executive departments, who are appointed by the president and must be approved by the Senate. Therefore, this is the only institutional resource in which leaders are both appointed by the president and approved by the Senate. The other options may include leaders appointed solely by the president, such as the White House staff and the Executive Office of the President, or leaders who are appointed by the president with limited or no Senate approval, such as the Council of Economic Advisors and the Federal Reserve Board.

Question 19

Which presidential oversight includes the State of the Union address?

Accepted Answer

The State of the Union address is a constitutional requirement for the president to inform and convene Congress, specifically the House of Representatives and the Senate. In this address, the president informs Congress and the American public about the state of the country and outlines their agenda for the upcoming year.

Question 20

Throughout most of its history, which was considered an insignificant office?

Accepted Answer

Throughout most of its history, the vice presidency was considered an insignificant office, with many presidents leaving the position vacant or assigning the vice president only minor responsibilities.

Quiz 12: The Presidency