Deck 12: The Presidency

Question 1

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

Answer 1

True

Question 2

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

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Presidents act unilaterally in both foreign and domestic policy.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

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

Question 5

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.

Question 6

James Madison issued a doctrine in 1823 which stated that America would remain neutral in wars involving European nations and that these nations must cease attempts to colonize or occupy areas in North and South America.

Question 7

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

Question 8

In order to be reelected to another term as president, an incumbent president would be advised to maintain an approval rating of 35 percent or higher.

Question 9

Presidential vetoes are more likely under divided party government.

Question 10

Presidents are not in a very good position to communicate with the American people.

Question 11

Vice presidents Al Gore, Dick Cheney, and Joe Biden were influential policy advisers to their respective presidents.

Question 12

The Constitution grants the president only limited powers.

Question 13

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.

Question 14

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

Question 15

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

Question 16

Executive privilege is an absolute power under the Constitution.

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 most influential Executive Office of the President staff occupy offices in the West Wing of the White House.

Question 19

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

Question 20

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

Question 21

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.

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.

Question 23

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.

Question 24

Historically, 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.

Question 25

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

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

Question 26

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

Question 27

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

Question 28

Which one 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) regulating trade and commerce with foreign nations

Question 29

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.

Question 30

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

Question 31

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) a signing statement.
C) a presidential pardon.
B) an executive agreement.
D) an executive order.

Question 32

What does the vesting clause in the Constitution 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 dissolve the Congress in the event of a crisis.

Question 33

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 send the nation to war without the formal approval of Congress.
C) His policies exacerbated the Great Depression, leading to decreased public trust and confidence in the presidency and federal government.
D) His victory led to the expansion of the federal government, which increased presidential power.

Question 34

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.

Question 35

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) determine which weapons systems will be funded or not funded.
D) close any military bases that the president no longer believes are necessary.

Question 36

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 president can take this action only once every four years.
C) the appointment lasts only for the rest of the legislative term.
D) the appointment lasts until a majority of the Senate can choose a replacement.

Question 37

Which one 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.

Question 38

When President Obama extended the deadlines for people to purchase new health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, he was exercising his authority ________.

A) to appoint
C) as head of state
B) as commander in chief
D) to implement the laws

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) chief executive officer; head of government

Question 40

In November 2014, President Obama granted quasi-legal status and work permits to nearly one million illegal immigrants who entered the country as children. This policy change

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.

Question 41

How did the Supreme Court's ruling in United States v. Nixon (1974) 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.

Question 42

Why would a president ask members of Congress to endorse a military action two months after it was launched, even though she or he is the constitutional commander in chief of the armed forces?

A) The Constitution requires that Congress approve any military troops being overseas within two months of deployment.
B) The Supreme Court justices have 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.

Question 43

Which one 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
C) an executive order
B) fast-track authority
D) an executive agreement

Question 44

Presidents can avoid ratification of a treaty by simply announcing that the United States will comply with its requirements. The disadvantage of this strategy is that

A) it limits the ability of the president to enforce the treaty.
B) it requires a congressional resolution to make the treaty politically viable.
C) it is illegal according to earlier rulings by the Supreme Court.
D) a future president may simply ignore it.

Question 45

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 House
D) a majority in both the House and Senate

Question 46

Executive agreements

A) are just like treaties.
B) are binding on future presidents.
C) are not binding on future presidents.
D) require the approval of Congress.

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.

Question 48

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.

Question 49

A president can 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.

Question 50

When President Bush commuted the 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 power to veto
B) the power to issue a signing statement
C) the executive agreement power
D) the power to pardon

Question 51

A declaration of war did not occur in ________.

A) 1846 (Mexican-American War)
C) 1917 (World War I)
B) 1898 (Spanish-American War)
D) 1950 (Korean War)

Question 52

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

A) a liberal versus a conservative interpretation of Article II of the Constitution
B) the framers' original intent versus the importance of allowing the executive branch to operate more freely to meet modern national security challenges
C) the right of the public to have a transparent government versus the individual rights and civil liberties of those serving in the executive branch
D) 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 53

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) announce the president's intention of seeking reelection to a second term

Question 54

The amount of time a president spends on foreign policy

A) is up to members of Congress.
B) is not entirely under the president's control.
C) depends on whether it is an election year or not.
D) depends on public opinion at the time.

Question 55

Which one 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) the Cabinet
D) Department of Homeland Security

Question 56

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

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

Question 57

Which one 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

Question 58

When a president claims that his or her 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) issuing herself or himself a pardon.

Question 59

Which one 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

Question 60

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) a stable measure that hovers around 50 percent for most presidents and changes only slightly during the president's time in office.

Question 61

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

A) in a pocket veto
C) in an executive agreement
B) in an executive order
D) in a signing statement

Question 62

Which president was impeached by the House of Representatives?

A) Abraham Lincoln
C) Richard Nixon
B) Warren G. Harding
D) Bill Clinton

Question 63

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
C) bully pulpit theory
B) unitary executive theory
D) the theory of sovereign power

Question 64

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

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.

Question 65

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

A) on cloture motions to 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

Question 66

No recent president has been reelected with less than a ________ percent approval rating.

A) 35
C) 50
B) 44
D) 65

Question 67

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 ________.

A) the two presidencies hypothesis
C) unilateral action theory
B) unitary executive theory
D) fast-track authority

Question 68

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

Question 69

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

Question 70

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

A) vice president
C) chief of staff
B) Speaker
D) aide-de-camp

Question 71

To remove the president or vice president from office through the impeachment process, there must be support from

A) a simple majority of members in the House and the Senate.
B) a two-thirds majority in the House and a simple majority in the Senate.
C) a simple majority in the House and a two-thirds majority in the Senate.
D) a simple majority in the House, Senate, and Supreme Court.

Question 72

How can Congress undo a president's unilateral action?

A) Congress can rule the action to be unconstitutional.
B) Congress can pass new legislation.
C) Congress can invoke the Twenty-fifth Amendment.
D) Congress can order the military to arrest and temporarily jail the president for high crimes and misdemeanors.

Question 73

Going public ________.

A) never works
B) always works
C) sometimes works
D) works better for the Republicans than the Democrats

Question 74

The debate in 2011 over U.S. military action in Syria provides a good example of how constitutional ambiguities create opportunities for ________.

A) executive privilege
C) unilateral action
B) nation building
D) making treaties

Question 75

Recent vice presidents, such as Dick Cheney and Joe Biden, 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.

Question 76

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

Question 77

Members of Congress often resist taking action to limit presidential power because

A) taking such action would be declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court justices.
B) it would create a constitutional crisis if the president ignored the limits.
C) they understand that taking such action would be harmful to the efficient functioning of the federal government.
D) colleagues from the president's party may want the president to have the authority because they hold similar policy objectives.

Question 78

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

Question 79

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.

Question 80

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

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