Question 1

Executive privilege is an absolute power under the Constitution.

Accepted Answer

Executive privilege is not an absolute power; it is a principle that allows the president and other high-level officials to withhold information from Congress, the courts, and ultimately the public. However, this privilege is subject to limitations and can be overridden under certain circumstances, particularly when there is a demonstrated need for the information in the context of judicial proceedings or legislative inquiries.

Question 2

John Quincy Adams issued a doctrine in 1823 stating 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.

Accepted Answer

The Monroe Doctrine was issued by President James Monroe in 1823, not John Quincy Adams, although Adams, as Monroe's Secretary of State, played a key role in its formulation.

Question 3

President George H. W. Bush was the first president to have balanced budgets since the 1960s.

Accepted Answer

President Bill Clinton was the president who achieved balanced budgets during his tenure in the late 1990s, not George H. W. Bush.

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

Historically, presidents with approval ratings well above 35 percent have sometimes struggled to get reelected, and there is no specific threshold that guarantees reelection. Higher approval ratings generally improve chances, but many factors influence election outcomes.

Question 5

Because of powers assigned to the president under Article II of the Constitution, a president is usually able to achieve most of her or his political and policy-making goals.

Accepted Answer

While Article II of the Constitution grants the president significant powers, achieving political and policy-making goals often requires cooperation from Congress and the judiciary, and can be limited by checks and balances, opposition, and other political realities.

Question 6

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

Accepted Answer

Executive orders are directives issued by the President of the United States that manage operations of the federal government. They are a means by which the president can issue unilateral decisions and policy changes without needing the prior approval of Congress.

Question 7

Going public is not usually successful.

Accepted Answer

Going public is usually successful because it allows companies to raise capital and increase their visibility.

Question 8

The Executive Office of the President oversees the entire federal bureaucracy.

Accepted Answer

The Executive Office of the President primarily supports the President's administration and policy-making, while the entire federal bureaucracy, which includes various departments and agencies, is managed more directly by the Cabinet-level departments.

Question 9

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

Accepted Answer

The vesting clause in Article II of the U.S. Constitution grants executive power to the president, making them the head of the executive branch and thus the head of government.

Question 10

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

Accepted Answer

Since the 1920s, the power and influence of U.S. Presidents in politics and policy have significantly increased due to factors such as the expansion of the executive branch, the rise of the United States as a global power, and the increasing complexity of national and international issues requiring executive action.

Question 11

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.

Accepted Answer

A signing statement is a written pronouncement issued by the President of the United States upon the signing of a bill into law, which may clarify the president's interpretation of the law, articulate objections to the bill, or comment on provisions considered unconstitutional. This can serve as a precaution in case the law is later challenged in courts, providing a record of the president's understanding and intentions regarding the law's implementation.

Question 12

Richard Nixon was the first president to claim executive privilege.

Accepted Answer

The concept of executive privilege was not first claimed by Richard Nixon; it dates back to the presidency of George Washington, who invoked it in 1796 during the St. Clair affair.

Question 13

The last time that Congress issued a declaration of war was during the Vietnam conflict in the mid-1960s.

Accepted Answer

The last time Congress issued a declaration of war was during World War II, with declarations against Japan, Germany, Italy, and other Axis nations between 1941 and 1942. The Vietnam conflict was authorized by the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, not a formal declaration of war.

Question 14

Presidential vetoes are more likely under divided party government.

Accepted Answer

Presidential vetoes are more likely under divided government because the president and at least one chamber of Congress are controlled by different parties, leading to more disagreements on legislation.

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

Accepted Answer

Theodore Roosevelt's conservation efforts and regulation of businesses, along with Abraham Lincoln's issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation, are examples of how the role and power of the presidency have expanded over time, demonstrating the capacity of presidents to enact significant policy changes and influence the direction of the nation.

Question 16

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

Accepted Answer

The Constitution establishes lawmaking as a shared power between the president and Congress. The president has the power to veto bills passed by Congress, and Congress can override a presidential veto with a two-thirds vote of both houses.

Question 17

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

Accepted Answer

Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren played key roles in the formation of the Democratic Party, with Jackson's presidency marking the era of its emergence and Van Buren being instrumental in organizing and defining the party.

Question 18

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

Accepted Answer

The West Wing of the White House contains the Oval Office, the Cabinet Room, the Situation Room, and the offices of the President's most senior staff, making it the location for the most influential Executive Office of the President staff.

Question 19

The Constitution grants the president only limited powers.

Accepted Answer

The U.S. Constitution outlines specific powers for the president, such as being the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, having the power to sign or veto legislation, and the ability to negotiate treaties (with Senate approval), among others. However, these powers are balanced by checks and balances from the other branches of government (Congress and the Judiciary), making the president's powers limited and not absolute.

Question 20

Presidents act unilaterally in both foreign and domestic policy.

Accepted Answer

Presidents often act unilaterally in both foreign and domestic policy areas through executive orders, presidential memoranda, and other executive actions, especially when legislative action is slow or unlikely.

Quiz 11: The Presidency