Question 1

What event spurred the establishment of the most recent cabinet-level department?

Accepted Answer

The establishment of the most recent cabinet-level department, the Department of Homeland Security, was spurred by the terrorist attacks on 9-11, which exposed the need for a coordinated effort to address national security threats.

Question 2

When did the last major reorganization of the federal bureaucracy occur?

Accepted Answer

D

Question 3

Which presidential institution was established by the Executive Reorganization Act of 1939?

Accepted Answer

The Executive Reorganization Act of 1939 established the Executive Office of the President, which is responsible for managing and coordinating the various agencies and departments within the executive branch of the US government. This includes overseeing the Office of Management and Budget, the National Security Council, and other key presidential institutions. The Bureau of the Budget, which was also created by the Act, later became the Office of Management and Budget. However, the establishment of the Executive Office of the President was the primary aim of the legislation.

Question 4

The unitary executive theory is also known as the ___ .

Accepted Answer

The unitary executive theory posits that the President of the United States has complete control over the executive branch of government and therefore has substantial power to make and enforce laws. This idea is also known as the strong presidency theory. A, C, and D are not correct because they do not accurately describe the unitary executive theory.

Question 5

As the emergency of 9/11 receded in the public mind, opposition built in __________to the expanding presidential authority claimed by the Bush administration.

Accepted Answer

Opposition to expanding presidential authority during the Bush administration post-9/11 came from all three sources - the courts, public opinion, and Congress. Court cases such as Hamdi v. Rumsfeld and Hamdan v. Rumsfeld challenged the rights of detainees and the use of military commissions. Public opinion shifted as more information was revealed about the use of torture and other controversial policies. Congress also pushed back against some of the Bush administration's actions, including passing the Detainee Treatment Act and the Military Commissions Act.

Question 6

In the case of Hamdan v. Rumsfeld (2006), the Supreme Court held that the Bush administration's claim of unitary executive power with regard to 9/11 __________constitutional limits.

Accepted Answer

The word "exceeded" means to go beyond, exceed or surpass a certain limit. Therefore, the best choice is B because it indicates that the Bush administration had gone beyond constitutional limits with their claim of unitary executive power in regards to 9/11.

Question 7

When presidents claim unitary executive power, Congress and the courts respond with the doctrine of ___ .

Accepted Answer

When presidents claim unitary executive power, Congress and the courts respond with the doctrine of separation of powers, which maintains a system of checks and balances among the three branches of government to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful. This doctrine serves as a critical safeguard against executive overreach and abuse of power. Federalism, due process, and equal protection of the laws are also important constitutional principles, but they do not directly address the issue of executive power and its proper limits.

Question 8

Which one of the following statements is true regarding the presidency?

Accepted Answer

The U.S. Constitution establishes a system of checks and balances among the three branches of government: the executive (president), the legislative (Congress), and the judicial (courts). This system ensures that constitutional authority and political resources are shared, preventing any one branch from gaining too much power.

Question 9

The "take care" clause of Art. II, section 3, of the Constitution requires that the president ___ .

Accepted Answer

The "take care" clause requires that the president faithfully execute or administer the laws that Congress has passed. It does not involve auditing or coordinating proposed laws, or assessing Supreme Court decisions.

Question 10

The treaty-making power of the federal government refers to ___ .

Accepted Answer

The treaty-making power of the federal government refers to the power of the president, with the advice and consent of the Senate, to make treaties with foreign nations. This is laid out in Article II, Section 2 of the US Constitution. Treaties negotiated by the president must be approved by two-thirds of the Senate in order to take effect.

Question 11

The executive agreements of the presidency refer to ___ .

Accepted Answer

Executive agreements are informal agreements made between the president and the leader of another country. They do not require Senate approval as treaties do, but they do have the binding power of a treaty. The president negotiates the agreement and decides whether or not it requires Senate approval. This power allows the president to act quickly and efficiently in matters of foreign policy.

Question 12

Which one of the following statements is true regarding the founders' decision regarding peace and war?

Accepted Answer

The Constitution grants the power to declare war to Congress in Article I, Section 8, while the president has the power to "raise and support" armies and navies. This division of power was intentional, as the Founders wanted to ensure that the decision to go to war was not left solely in the hands of one person.

Question 13

For which one of the following branches only does the Constitution provide an oath of office?

Accepted Answer

The Constitution specifically provides an oath of office for the Presidency in Article II, Section 1, Clause 8, but does not do so for Congress, the courts, or military officers in the same direct manner.

Question 14

The formal or constitutional powers of the presidency have been supplemented by __________powers.

Accepted Answer

The formal or constitutional powers of the presidency are explicitly listed in the Constitution, such as the power to veto legislation or serve as commander-in-chief of the military. However, over time, presidents have also relied on informal or implied powers, which are not explicitly stated in the Constitution but have been assumed or claimed by presidents based on their interpretation of the role or the needs of the moment. Examples of informal powers include executive orders, executive privilege, and the power of the president's staff and advisors to influence policy.

Question 15

According to Article II, section 2, of the Constitution, the president has the power to grant __________for offenses against the United States except in cases of impeachment.

Accepted Answer

Article II, section 2 of the Constitution clearly states that the President has the power to grant both reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States, except in cases of impeachment.

Question 16

Which one of the following statements is true regarding the president's veto power?

Accepted Answer

The U.S. Constitution requires the president to return a vetoed bill to Congress with his objections, allowing Congress the opportunity to reconsider the legislation.

Question 17

Which one of the following statements is true regarding the impeachment process of federal government officials?

Accepted Answer

The act of impeachment refers only to charges brought against an official, it does not refer to the official's conviction at trial. The impeachment process is the first step in the removal of a federal government official from office. The House of Representatives is responsible for bringing charges (impeachment) against the official, and the Senate holds a trial to determine whether or not to convict the official and remove them from office. Therefore, the act of impeachment simply refers to the charges brought against the official, not the final outcome of the trial.

Question 18

After a federal government official has been impeached, a __________vote of senators is required to convict.

Accepted Answer

According to the United States Constitution, Article I, Section 3, Clause 6, "The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no Person shall be convicted without the Concurrence of two thirds of the Members present." Therefore, a two-thirds vote of senators is required to convict a federal government official who has been impeached.

Question 19

Presidents Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton, and Donald Trump were ___ .

Accepted Answer

Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton, and Donald Trump were all impeached by the House of Representatives but were not convicted by the Senate, therefore they remained in office.

Question 20

The decision to impeach the president, let alone to convict, is ___ .

Accepted Answer

The decision to impeach the president involves both political and legal considerations. It is political in the sense that it involves a judgment about the president's conduct and whether it merits removal from office. It is also legal in the sense that it is based on a constitutional provision and involves a legal process, including an investigation, hearings, and an ultimate vote on impeachment by the House of Representatives and a trial and verdict by the Senate. Therefore, choice C is the most accurate answer.

Quiz 9: The Executive Branch: The President, the Bureaucracy, and Executive Power