Deck 11: The Presidency

Question 1

The U.S. Constitution's "vesting clause" makes the president the head of government.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

When a president chooses cabinet members, the Constitution requires that the president select nominees on the basis of their policy expertise, while also stipulating that a president cannot discriminate against a possible nominee because of the nominee's party affiliation or perceived loyalty to the president.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

A signing statement clarifies the president's interpretation of the law as a precaution in the event that the law is challenged in the courts.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

Why was the election of Franklin Roosevelt in 1932 significant?

A) Roosevelt became the first president to be elected with all adult Americans eligible to vote.
B) Roosevelt became the first president to suspend habeus corpus in a time of war.
C) Roosevelt became the first president to send the nation to war without the formal approval of Congress.
D) His policies exacerbated the Great Depression, leading to decreased public trust and confidence in the presidency and federal government.
E) His victory led to the expansion of the federal government, which increased presidential power.

Question 5

Woodrow Wilson's attempt to get the United States to participate in the League of Nations illustrated:

A) the limits of presidential power.
B) the increase and expansion of presidential power.
C) how the three branches of government check and balance one another.
D) how public opinion can influence a president's actions.
E) the importance of competent staff in the executive branch.

Question 6

An example of a president who exercised his power without success was:

A) President John Kennedy and his support for a Peace Corps program.
B) President Lyndon Johnson and his proposal for expanded health care for seniors.
C) President Richard Nixon and his efforts to force the North Vietnamese to end their plans to unify North and South Vietnam.
D) President Bill Clinton and his efforts to balance the federal budget.
E) President Barack Obama and his efforts at national health care reform.

Question 7

An example of a president who exercised his power with success was:

A) Lyndon Johnson and his push for civil rights for African Americans.
B) Gerald Ford and his efforts to fight high unemployment.
C) Jimmy Carter and his efforts to curb inflation.
D) Bill Clinton and his attempt to make health care more affordable.
E) President Richard Nixon and his efforts to force the North Vietnamese to end their
Plans to unify North and South Vietnam.

Question 8

Executive orders are unilateral changes in policy that presidents can issue without consulting Congress.

Question 9

Just because a president has been impeached does not mean he or she will be removed from office.

Question 10

Unitary executive theory proposes that the Constitution would allow President Obama to order American forces to stay in a place of war, such as Afghanistan, unless Congress refused to appropriate funds for the conflict.

Question 11

Presidents have more power in influencing foreign policy than they do domestic policy.

Question 12

As the most powerful politician in the American political system, a president is usually able to achieve most of his political and policy-making goals.

Question 13

Presidents are limited to two full terms in office.

Question 14

A president's approval rating is based on a poll of members of Congress.

Question 15

Theodore Roosevelt's actions on conservation and regulation of business and Abraham Lincoln's issuing of the Emancipation Proclamation are a few examples of:

A) the limits of presidential power.
B) the increase and expansion of presidential power.
C) how the three branches of government check and balance one another.
D) how public opinion can influence a president's actions.
E) the importance of competent staff in the executive branch.

Question 16

The Constitution establishes lawmaking as a shared power between the president and Congress.

Question 17

Presidents have a significant advantage over the Senate in the treaty negotiation process, because they have the right to act last.

Question 18

The term "executive privilege" refers to the president's authority to pardon people convicted of federal crimes or to commute their sentences.

Question 19

During relatively calm times, a president's level of support among the public is most strongly influenced by economic conditions and national security.

Question 20

Presidents have gained more influence in politics and policy since the 1920s.

Question 21

What is an executive order?

A) a temporary appointment that does not require Senate approval
B) an agreement with a foreign nation that does not require congressional approval
C) a statement telling Congress what it must do on a particular bill
D) a proclamation made by the president that changes government policy without congressional approval
E) a presidential order that forgives a crime and describes the penalty for that crime

Question 22

As head of the executive branch, the president controls about:

A) 1,000 positions, with about 200 requiring Senate confirmation.
B) 8,000 positions, with about 1,200 requiring Senate confirmation.
C) 20,000 positions, with about 2,000 requiring Senate confirmation.
D) 50,000 positions, with about 15,000 requiring Senate confirmation.
E) 120,000 positions, with about 20,000 requiring Senate confirmation.

Question 23

What does the vesting clause stipulate?

A) The most powerful branch of government is vested in the executive branch.
B) The president is the head of government and head of state.
C) The president's actions are limited to what is explicitly outlined in the Constitution.
D) The president can declare war in the event of a crisis.
E) The president can dissolve the Congress in the event of a crisis.

Question 24

The president's ________ is derived from the provisions of the Constitution, whereas the president's ________ comes from laws that give the president additional authority.

A) legislative power; executive power
B) emergency authority; legislative power
C) constitutional authority; executive power
D) constitutional authority; statutory authority
E) statutory authority; discretionary authority

Question 25

Although presidents can negotiate treaties, they require approval of ________ in order to take effect.

A) two-thirds of the Senate
B) two-thirds of the House
C) a majority of the Senate
D) a majority of the House
E) a majority in both the House and Senate

Question 26

Which two presidents were crucial in the formation of the Democratic Party?

A) Thomas Jefferson and James Madison
B) George Washington and John Adams
C) Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses Grant
D) Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren
E) Teddy Roosevelt and Franklin Roosevelt

Question 27

A president can temporarily dodge the Senate confirmation process through a recess appointment. However, a recess appointment comes with the limitation that:

A) the Senate can undo the appointment at any time.
B) the appointment is likely to be overturned by the Supreme Court.
C) the president can take this action only once every four years.
D) the appointment lasts only for the rest of the legislative term.
E) the appointment lasts until a majority of the Senate can choose a replacement.

Question 28

Which of the following describes a situation in which a president negotiates a deal directly between the executive branch and a foreign government?

A) a first-mover advantage
B) fast-track authority
C) an executive agreement
D) an executive order
E) a special order

Question 29

The president is considered to have a "first mover" advantage when involved in treaty making because:

A) the United States is the most powerful nation in the world, giving the president an advantage when negotiating with foreign leaders.
B) leaders in Congress have a more difficult time agreeing on treaties with foreign leaders than the president does.
C) while congressional leaders can initiate treaties, only the president has the power to ratify treaties.
D) Congress cannot initiate treaties and can only consider them once they have been negotiated by the president.
E) the president has constitutional authority to initiate and negotiate treaties whereas the Congress only has statutory authority.

Question 30

In April 2014, President Obama signed an order barring federal contractors from retaliating against employees who disclose their salaries as part of a lawsuit claiming that women are underpaid. This order:

A) can be overturned by Congress.
B) cannot be overturned by Congress.
C) never went into effect because it was not first approved by Congress.
D) was later ruled an unconstitutional action by the Supreme Court.
E) only lasts for one year and must be renewed again each year to remain in effect.

Question 31

The purpose of the War Powers Resolution is to:

A) encourage the president to seek congressional approval for large military action.
B) increase the president's powers as the commander in chief of the military during times
Of crisis.
C) provide legal guidelines for the treatment of enemy combatants.
D) increase transparency in the military for the media.
E) give greater authority and independence to the military.

Question 32

Which of the following is part of the president's job as head of the executive branch?

A) deciding when to declare war
B) implementing the law
C) using the power to lay and collect taxes
D) using legislative powers to provide for the general welfare of the United States
E) regulating trade and commerce with foreign nations

Question 33

Which of the following is a limit on a president's ability to issue executive orders?

A) Congress can pass a law changing policy.
B) Congress can hold a special session to review the order and delay it from taking effect.
C) Executive orders expire at the end of the year and must be reissued continuously to remain in effect.
D) Executive orders are always subject to review by the Supreme Court before taking effect.
E) There are no limits on a president's ability to issue executive orders.

Question 34

As commander in chief of the military, the president has the undisputed ability to:

A) declare war.
B) oversee the day-to-day operations of the military.
C) set the salaries and wages of all military personnel.
D) determine which weapons systems will be funded or not funded.
E) close any military bases that the president no longer believes are necessary.

Question 35

What is true of most nominees for presidential appointments that require Senate approval?

A) They are not approved by the Senate.
B) They are approved without much debate or controversy.
C) They are approved but most often with considerable debate and controversy.
D) They must have a nonpolitical background to be approved by the Senate.
E) They must have worked in government previously to be approved by the Senate.

Question 36

The vesting clause is important to understand because:

A) it prevents the president from abusing power.
B) it gives the president the right to challenge the Supreme Court's interpretation of events.
C) it is a major reason that presidential power is vague and often subject to interpretation.
D) it is a major reason that the parameters of presidential power are widely agreed upon and accepted.
E) without it, there would be no separation of powers between the different branches of government.

Question 37

After the Sandy Hook shooting, President Obama signed a document that directed the Consumer Product Safety Commission to develop new requirements for gun locks. This is an example of a(n):

A) signing statement.
B) executive agreement.
C) pardon.
D) executive actions.
E) executive order.

Question 38

President Hoovervelt sends U.S. armed forces into Atlantis on an issue of national security. Forty-three days later he asks Congress for its approval even though he is not convinced Congress supports the military action. The reason he asked Congress for its permission to continue the military action is:

A) the Constitution requires that Congress approve any military troops being overseas within two months of deployment.
B) the Supreme Court has previously ruled that Congress must have a say in all military actions in order for them to be constitutional.
C) the War Powers Act requires a president to gain congressional approval for the use of force within 90 days.
D) executive agreements such as sending troops into another country require two-thirds of the Senate to approve.
E) the president can only control military funding for up to two years before he requires Congress to reauthorize funding.

Question 39

As ________, the president has authority over the executive branch; as ________, the president acts as the symbolic and political representative of the nation.

A) head of government; head of state
B) head of state; head of government
C) chief executive officer; head of state
D) head of government; chief executive officer
E) chief executive officer; head of government

Question 40

When President Obama extended the deadlines for people to purchase new health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, this was an example of him acting in what role?

A) administering the executive branch
B) commander in chief
C) nominations and appointments
D) head of state
E) implementation of laws

Question 41

Which of the following conditions make vetoes more likely?

A) when there is divided government
B) when the economy is failing
C) when the president is popular
D) when the president is running for reelection
E) when the president is considered a "lame duck"

Question 42

The Twenty-Fifth Amendment allows:

A) the president to fire the vice president before the end of the vice president's term in office.
B) the president to nominate a new vice president if the sitting vice president can no longer perform the duties of office.
C) the Speaker of the House to become the vice president automatically if the president or vice president can no longer perform the duties of office.
D) the Senate the exclusive right to confirm any vice presidential nominees selected by the president.
E) for a special presidential election in the event that the president dies before the end of the term.

Question 43

When President Bush commuted a 30-month jail term of Lewis ''Scooter'' Libby, a former aide of Vice President Cheney's, which of his presidential powers was he using?

A) the veto
B) the signing statement
C) the executive order
D) the executive agreement
E) the pardon

Question 44

Which of the following organizations is a part of the Executive Office of the President?

A) Department of Justice
B) Office of Management and Budget
C) Department of Defense
D) the Cabinet
E) Department of Homeland Security

Question 45

Public approval of the president is:

A) a difficult measure to understand because it fluctuates so frequently.
B) an inconsistent indicator of whether a president will be reelected.
C) a generally reliable indicator of whether a president will be reelected.
D) an irrelevant measure because it is based mostly on the president's charisma rather than on the president's record of accomplishments while in office.
E) a stable measure that hovers around 50 percent for most presidents and changes only slightly during the president's time in office.

Question 46

When a president takes his or her case directly to the public, it carries all of the following risks EXCEPT:

A) it may energize not only supporters but also opponents of the president.
B) it can deepen existing conflicts.
C) it is unlikely to attract significant attention from most major media outlets.
D) it can alienate members of Congress.
E) it is likely to have little effect on the opinions of most Americans.

Question 47

The power to veto legislation:

A) forces legislators to do what the president wants.
B) encourages legislators to negotiate with the president.
C) often creates tension between the president and congressional leaders in the president's own party.
D) is most helpful to weak presidents because it makes them look strong.
E) is most likely to antagonize those in the minority party.

Question 48

What is at the center of the debate around executive privilege?

A) the Constitution's unclear language about the right to privacy
B) a liberal versus a conservative interpretation of Article II of the Constitution
C) the framers' original intent versus the importance of allowing the executive branch to operate more freely to meet modern national security challenges
D) the right of the public to have a transparent government versus the individual rights and civil liberties of those serving in the executive branch
E) the importance of holding the president and his or her staff accountable versus the need for the president and his or her staff to be able to communicate freely

Question 49

Which of the following describes a situation in which a president uses the media attention given to the president's office to build support for policy proposals?

A) media bias toward the president
B) presidential approval
C) the president acting as party leader
D) going public
E) the celebrity power of the president

Question 50

A vice president who becomes president before the midterm elections can, if reelected, serve:

A) one more full term.
B) two more full terms.
C) three more full terms.
D) an overall total of four full terms, with no more than two in succession.
E) There is no limit.

Question 51

When a president claims that the president's discussions, decisions, and documents can be shielded from other branches of government, the president is:

A) exercising a right of privacy.
B) exercising an executive order.
C) claiming executive privilege.
D) engaged in executive action.
E) issuing himself or herself a pardon.

Question 52

How did the Supreme Court's ruling in United States v. Nixon affect presidential power?

A) It determined that there is no constitutional basis for executive privilege.
B) It confirmed that executive privilege exists, but it is not absolute.
C) It confirmed that a president could be prosecuted for criminal activity.
D) It upheld President Ford's controversial pardon of President Nixon.
E) It confirmed that Congress could pursue the impeachment of President Nixon.

Question 53

Which executive branch organization is most directly responsible for helping the president achieve policy initiatives?

A) Executive Office of the President
B) National Security Council
C) Office of Management and Budget
D) the Cabinet
E) Council of Economic Advisers

Question 54

President Baggins refuses to turn over e-mails he exchanged with a staffer relating to the theft of certain valuables. Which presidential power is he using?

A) executive privilege
B) the pardon
C) the veto
D) executive agreement
E) signing statement

Question 55

Who can a president pardon?

A) only a person convicted of a nonviolent offense
B) only a person convicted of a state crime
C) any person except someone convicted of treason
D) any person except someone impeached or convicted by Congress
E) any person no matter the circumstances

Question 56

The president often uses the State of the Union address to:

A) recommend policies to Congress.
B) introduce legislation in Congress.
C) reconcile differences with congressional leaders in the opposition party.
D) propose an amendment to the Constitution.
E) announce the president's intention of seeking reelection to a second term.

Question 57

Which of the following is part of the president's legislative powers?

A) coining money
B) serving as party leader
C) starting the legislative process by proposing bills
D) vetoing legislation
E) regulating interstate and foreign commerce

Question 58

According to the Constitution, how many times can a person be elected president of the United States?

A) one time
B) two times
C) three times
D) an overall total of four but with no more than two in succession
E) There is no limit.

Question 59

What is the proper order of succession if a president dies in office or becomes incapacitated?

A) vice president, secretary of state, Speaker of the House
B) vice president, Speaker of the House, president pro tempore of the Senate
C) vice president, Speaker of the House, secretary of state
D) vice president, secretary of state, president pro tempore of the Senate
E) vice president, president pro tempore of the Senate, Speaker of the House

Question 60

The president in his or her role as party leader usually has a large say over:

A) who the opposition nominates to run against the president in the next election.
B) who will serve as Speaker of the House.
C) who will serve as party chairperson in his or her party.
D) who will serve as majority leader in the Senate.
E) who will run under the party's label for governor in the 50 states.

Question 61

When presidents offer interpretations of new laws before those laws are implemented, they typically do so:

A) in a pocket veto.
B) in an executive order.
C) in an executive agreement.
D) in a signing statement.
E) when appearing and speaking before a joint session of Congress.

Question 62

What is "unilateral action"?

A) a president changing policy without consulting Congress
B) a president appointing new Supreme Court justices
C) firing the chairman of a national party organization
D) engaging in military action abroad without a declaration of war
E) a declaration of war by the president

Question 63

The president has an important influence on the legislative process because he or she:

A) has the most constitutional authority to affect legislation.
B) can threaten to withhold funding to a legislator's congressional district.
C) is almost always more popular than any member of Congress.
D) is often able to persuade legislators to accept the president's point of view.
E) tends to be more knowledgeable about public policy than members of Congress.

Question 64

Recent vice presidents like Dick Cheney have been different from earlier vice presidents in that they:

A) have been less popular with the public than ever before.
B) have been more popular with the public than ever before.
C) have become more influential in the president's policy-making decisions.
D) have become less influential in the president's policy-making decisions.
E) have become more confrontational with Congress than ever before.

Question 65

The principal qualification for a president's appointees in the Executive Office of the President is:

A) loyalty to the president.
B) a strong academic background.
C) length of time knowing the president.
D) previous work experience in an executive position.
E) previous work experience in the area that the office handles.

Question 66

There are currently ________ cabinet-level executive departments in the federal government.

A) 10
B) 15
C) 20
D) 25
E) 31

Question 67

Which term defines the belief that the Constitution's vesting clause allows the president to issue orders that cannot be undone by Congress?

A) unilateral action theory
B) unitary executive theory
C) war powers theory
D) bully pulpit theory
E) the theory of sovereign power

Question 68

Which condition would likely increase presidential approval?

A) when a president exercises the veto
B) when national conditions are calm
C) the end of a president's administration
D) times of national crisis
E) the second year of the term when the public is getting comfortable and familiar with the new president

Question 69

The president's personal aide, who coordinates White House staff is known as the:

A) vice president.
B) Speaker.
C) chief of staff.
D) executive assistant.
E) aide-de-camp

Question 70

Presidential approval is mostly about ________, not a president's ________.

A) charisma and charm; accomplishments
B) the president's vision for the future; policies
C) policies; accomplishments
D) outcomes; policies
E) policies; economic record

Question 71

According to the Constitution, what is the vice president's job?

A) to vote on legislation in the Senate throughout the legislative session
B) to ensure the president's policy vision is being implemented
C) to preside over the Senate
D) to attend state functions
E) to serve as the nation's chief diplomat

Question 72

President Obama sent American aircraft and ships to support a NATO action in Libya in 2011. He did this without approval from Congress. What is this an example of?

A) a signing statement
B) an executive agreement
C) a veto
D) using executive privilege
E) a unilateral action

Question 73

President Bush argued that Congress could not defund the war in Iraq because the vesting clause gave him authority as commander in chief to order American troops to continue fighting. This is an example of what theory?

A) two presidencies
B) unitary executive
C) imperial presidency
D) unilateral action
E) fast-track

Question 74

Which attribute do Americans place the most value on when selecting a presidential candidate?

A) Washington experience
B) marital status
C) military experience
D) sex
E) race

Question 75

The last scandal that had a significant lasting impact on a president's popularity was:

A) Richard Nixon's Watergate.
B) Ronald Reagan's Iran-Contra affair.
C) Bill Clinton's Monica Lewinsky scandal.
D) George W. Bush's Valerie Plame scandal.
E) Barack Obama's Reverend Wright controversy.

Question 76

When is a signing statement issued?

A) when a president vetoes a bill
B) when a president signs a pardon
C) when a president signs a bill
D) when a president signs an affidavit for a legal case
E) when a president appoints a member of the bureaucracy

Question 77

When can the vice president cast a vote in the Senate?

A) on cloture motions, which stop filibusters
B) only when there is a tie vote on a piece of legislation
C) whenever the vice president feels like it
D) when directed by the president to do so
E) in times of national crisis

Question 78

The Clinton presidency revealed that public approval of the president:

A) varied considerably when there was no national crisis.
B) tended to be more sensitive to scandal than it was to the state of the economy.
C) tended to be more sensitive to the state of the economy than it was to scandal.
D) was not a matter of luck but rather was within the control of the president.
E) was influenced more by a president's ability to sell the president's policies than by actual outcomes and scandal.

Question 79

George W. Bush's approval ratings changed significantly after the September 11 attacks. This phenomenon is an example of what some scholars call:

A) the power to persuade.
B) first-mover advantage.
C) the "rally 'round the flag" effect.
D) executive privilege.
E) unitary executive theory.

Question 80

Two events that will often increase a president's popularity are:

A) national crises and a new Supreme Court justice being appointed.
B) a strong economy and major domestic legislation passing.
C) national crises and a strong economy.
D) major domestic legislation passing and national crises.
E) a strong economy and a new Supreme Court justice being appointed.