Question 1

The voice of Franklin D. Roosevelt came into almost every living room in the country to discuss programs and policies and generally assure Americans that the president was aware of their difficulties and was working diligently toward solutions. These famous broadcasts were called his

Accepted Answer

Franklin D. Roosevelt's famous broadcasts were called "fireside chats." These chats were designed to make the president appear approachable, relatable, and in touch with the concerns and needs of ordinary Americans. The chats were so successful that they helped to bolster Roosevelt's popularity and support for his policies.

Question 2

How did Franklin D. Roosevelt circumvent the editors and publishers who were unsympathetic to his goals?

Accepted Answer

Franklin D. Roosevelt circumvented the editors and publishers who were unsympathetic to his goals by cultivating reporters through press conferences. By doing so, he had direct access to the public and could control the message that was disseminated to the press. This allowed him to bypass the traditional gatekeepers of media and report news directly to the public.

Question 3

Even though the Democrats had a good working majority in both chambers of Congress when Barack Obama was elected president, Senate Republicans pointed out that they could still block some of his appointments using a

Accepted Answer

Senate Republicans could use the filibuster to block some of Obama's appointments even though Democrats had a working majority in both chambers of Congress. The filibuster allows Senators to indefinitely delay or block a vote on a bill or nomination. It requires a supermajority of 60 votes to end a filibuster, which meant that even if all Democrats voted in favor of a nomination, they would still need the support of some Republicans to reach the necessary 60 votes.

Question 4

An announcement made by the president at the time of signing a congressional enactment into law is called

Accepted Answer

A signing statement is a written statement issued by the President of the United States upon signing a bill into law. It usually includes the president's interpretation of the law and how it should be enforced. It is not an authorization directive, a memorandum of executive interpretation, or an implementation endorsement.

Question 5

Presidential power is based on a combination of party strength, mobilization of popular opinion, and

Accepted Answer

Administrative strategies are crucial as they involve the use of executive orders, appointments, and other tools to implement policies and exert influence.

Question 6

When President Bill Clinton ordered the Food and Drug Administration to craft rules to restrict the marketing of tobacco products to children, he used the power of

Accepted Answer

Regulatory review refers to the authority of the executive branch to review and restrict regulations proposed by federal agencies, such as the FDA. In this case, President Clinton used this power to direct the FDA to create regulations to limit the marketing of tobacco to children. Executive privilege pertains to the president's ability to withhold information from Congress and the courts, commander in chief refers to the president's role as head of the military, and presidential purview is a general term referring to the president's duties and responsibilities.

Question 7

Why may a president with a large majority in the House and a good working majority in the Senate still struggle to get bills through Congress?

Accepted Answer

Even with a good working majority, some bills may face filibusters in the Senate, which means that a minority of senators can prevent the legislation from being voted on. To overcome this, the Senate needs a supermajority of 60 votes to invoke cloture and end debate, which requires bipartisan support. So, a president with a large majority in the House and a good working majority in the Senate may struggle to get bills through Congress if they don't have enough votes to break a filibuster.

Question 8

Which of the following is the best explanation why presidents usually become quite unpopular over the course of their terms?

Accepted Answer

Presidents often campaign on promises that are difficult to achieve or take longer than their term to accomplish. This leads to disappointment among voters and a decrease in popularity. Additionally, external events and crises can also impact a president's popularity.

Question 9

Which choice best describes the practice of going public?

Accepted Answer

Going public refers to the act of appealing to the citizenry to support a policy, rather than just negotiating and compromising with other politicians in private. It involves using public speeches, media appearances, and other tactics to gain public support and pressure opponents to make concessions.

Question 10

When Mitt Romney chose Paul Ryan as his running mate in the 2012 election, he made a decision consistent with the traditional rule that says that vice-presidential candidates

Accepted Answer

The traditional rule for choosing a vice-presidential candidate is based on electoral considerations, such as winning a battleground state or balancing the ideological appeal of the ticket. This was evident in Romney's choice of Paul Ryan, who was seen as a popular choice among conservatives and could help Romney win the key swing state of Wisconsin. Overall, the primary objective of selecting a running mate is to enhance the electoral prospects of the ticket, which is why factors such as campaign skills, policy expertise, and stance on specific issues are often secondary considerations.

Question 11

How was President Harry Truman able to desegregate the U.S. military even though Congress did not enact a law to do so?

Accepted Answer

President Truman issued Executive Order 9981 in 1948, which led to the desegregation of the U.S. military. This executive order allowed the federal government to take immediate action towards ending segregation in the military without needing to wait for legislation to pass through Congress.

Question 12

Presidents seek to control rule making by the agencies of the executive branch through a process known as

Accepted Answer

Presidents use regulatory review to control rule making by agencies within the executive branch, ensuring that regulations align with their policy goals and priorities. This process allows the executive to oversee and influence the development and implementation of regulations.

Question 13

Which of the following is an example of an administrative strategy for presidential influence?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is an example...

Question 14

President Franklin Roosevelt's speaking trips around the nation and radio broadcasts designed to promote his programs are an example of the presidential tactic often referred to as

Accepted Answer

"Going public" refers to a presidential tactic where they directly address the public through speeches, media, and other forms of communication. This strategy is used to influence public opinion and put pressure on Congress to pass certain legislation or policies. President Roosevelt was known for his use of this tactic, including his famous "fireside chats" on the radio.

Question 15

When President George W. Bush claimed the prerogative of not enforcing those portions of a bill that he deemed unconstitutional, he did so using a technique for extending executive power known as the

Accepted Answer

The technique used by President George W. Bush to claim the prerogative of not enforcing those portions of a bill that he deemed unconstitutional is known as a signing statement. A signing statement is a written message that the president issues upon signing a bill into law, which can include instructions to executive branch agencies about how to interpret or apply the law. This technique has been criticized as a way for the president to unilaterally expand executive power and circumvent the regular legislative process.

Question 16

When Barack Obama chose Joe Biden as his vice-presidential running mate to offset his meager background in foreign policy, he exemplified using the vice-presidential pick as a(n)

Accepted Answer

Obama chose Joe Biden primarily as an electoral asset to offset his own weakness in foreign policy. Biden's experience and credibility on foreign policy matters were seen as a way to attract voters who may have been skeptical of Obama's ability to deal with international issues. While a vice-president can also serve as a legislative workhorse or administrative taskmaster, and may occasionally be called upon to act as an attack dog, in this case, Biden's role was primarily focused on the electoral advantages he could bring to the ticket.

Question 17

Though Congress created the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Congress has delegated much of its rule-making power regarding the FDA's function to the executive branch. Occasionally, the president orders the FDA to create new rules to regulate a particular product, such as tobacco, over the objections of Congress. This scenario is an example of which principal-agent problem?

Accepted Answer

This scenario represents an agency loss, as Congress, the principal, has given away much of its power to regulate the FDA to the executive branch. When there is disagreement between the president and Congress, it creates a situation where the agency may not be fully representing the interests of the principal, resulting in an agency loss. The other options, instrumental behavior, asymmetric information, and transaction costs, do not accurately describe the scenario presented.

Question 18

How has social media changed presidential public appeals?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How has social media changed presidential public...

Question 19

When President George W. Bush's approval ratings dropped from over 70 percent down to the high 30s, they

Accepted Answer

The decline in President Bush's approval ratings follows the well-documented pattern of declining approval during a president's time in office. This is due to a variety of factors including opposition to policy decisions and increasing frustration with the political climate. The other choices are not relevant to this particular situation.

Question 20

__________ have replaced treaties as the primary form for deals between the United States and other countries.

Accepted Answer

Executive agreements have replaced treaties as the primary form for deals between the United States and other countries. The executive branch can often negotiate and enter into these agreements without the need for approval from the Senate, unlike with treaties. This allows for more flexibility in international agreements and can be particularly useful in situations where timely action is necessary.

Quiz 7: The Presidency As an Institution