Question 1

Which of these offices was NOT a part of George Washington's cabinet?

Accepted Answer

The position of chief of staff did not exist during George Washington's presidency. It was created in 1939 under President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Question 2

In the analytical framework discussing George W. Bush's inability to pass Social Security reform legislation, which one of these statements would fall under the political linkage category?

Accepted Answer

Political linkage mechanisms involve the ways in which public opinion can influence policy decisions. The statement about the opinion among the elderly becoming particularly negative towards proposed changes in Social Security reform is an example of how public sentiment can impact political actions or inactions, fitting the category of political linkage.

Question 3

Which of these was NOT an example of the use of emergency powers by Abraham Lincoln?

Accepted Answer

The passage of the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendments were not examples of emergency powers used by Abraham Lincoln. Instead, they were constitutional amendments passed through the regular process of amendment.

Question 4

What changed the president's role by requiring him to submit an annual budget to Congress accompanied by rationales and justifications?

Accepted Answer

The Budget Act of 1921 changed the president's role by requiring him to submit an annual budget to Congress accompanied by rationales and justifications. This act established a comprehensive budgeting process for the federal government and gave the president more authority over the budget. Before this act, presidential budget proposals were not a regular occurrence, and Congress had more control over the budgeting process. The Budget Act of 1921 established the foundation for the modern budgetary system in the United States.

Question 5

The term describing how the public influences the president through its judgments on presidential performance is known as

Accepted Answer

Presidential popularity refers to the measure of the general public's approval or disapproval of the president's performance in office. This concept captures how public opinion can influence the president's actions and decisions, as maintaining high popularity is often crucial for political leverage and re-election efforts.

Question 6

Which statement supports the argument that the presidency has evolved into a highly democratic institution that is responsive to the American people?

Accepted Answer

The statement that the presidency is the only nationally elected office indicates that the president is directly accountable to the American people and is therefore more democratic in its nature.

Question 7

American presidents enjoy considerable freedom of action in waging war.

Accepted Answer

The President of the United States is the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces and has the authority to order military action. While there are some limits on this power, such as the need for congressional approval for a formal declaration of war, the President can still make a wide range of military decisions without direct input from Congress.

Question 8

Why is direct command by the president over the executive branch seldom feasible?

Accepted Answer

There are too many officials and employees for the president to personally keep track of and give direct commands to each one.

Question 9

When creating the role of chief executive, the framers never intended it to be a democratic office.

Accepted Answer

The role of chief executive was designed to be appointed or elected by a smaller, more elite group, such as the Electoral College or a board of directors. It was not intended to be filled through direct democracy, as with a popular vote.

Question 10

What powers gave the president the main responsibility for fashioning American foreign policy?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What powers gave the president the main...

Question 11

What was the reason for George W. Bush's success in Congress in 2003 and 2004?

Accepted Answer

George W. Bush's success in Congress in 2003 and 2004 was largely due to his party sticking together despite having a slim majority. Republicans were able to maintain party discipline and pass many key pieces of legislation, including the Bush tax cuts and the Medicare Modernization Act, with the help of Vice President Dick Cheney's tie-breaking vote in the Senate.

Question 12

Which of the following developments in the early 1800s made it easier for presidential candidates to win clear-cut victories in the electoral college and thereby take the House of Representatives out of the presidential selection process?

Accepted Answer

The development of a two-party system made it easier for presidential candidates to win clear-cut victories in the electoral college and thereby take the House of Representatives out of the presidential selection process. With a two-party system, there were only two major parties competing for the presidency, which increased the chances of a candidate winning a majority of the electoral votes.

Question 13

Over time, most presidents in office have tended to

Accepted Answer

Although there have been exceptions, most presidents in office tend to see a decline in their popularity over time. This can be due to a variety of factors such as controversial policies, scandals, and economic downturns.

Question 14

Over time, most presidents in office have tended to

Accepted Answer

It is common for presidents to experience a decline in popularity during their time in office, often due to factors such as controversial policy decisions, scandals, or economic downturns. There have been exceptions to this trend, but overall, the majority of presidents have seen their approval ratings drop over time.

Question 15

Which of the following presidents presided over the most significant expansion of presidential functions and activities in American history?

Accepted Answer

Franklin Roosevelt presided over the most significant expansion of presidential functions and activities in American history through his New Deal policy, which involved federal interventions in the economy and the establishment of social welfare programs. He also expanded the role of the president in foreign affairs during World War II.

Question 16

Military actions tend to

Accepted Answer

Military actions tend to increase the public's support for the president only if they are successful, a phenomenon often referred to as the "rally 'round the flag" effect. However, this support can quickly diminish if the military action is perceived as unsuccessful or becomes protracted without clear objectives or victories.

Question 17

Which of the following was a result of the administration of George Washington, who set the stage for the presidency?

Accepted Answer

George Washington's administration solidified the prestige of the presidency at a time when executive leadership was mistrusted. He set important precedents, such as establishing the Cabinet and the practice of delivering an annual address to Congress, that strengthened the role of the president and solidified the institution of the presidency.

Question 18

How did Woodrow Wilson change the constitutionally required "state of the union?"

Accepted Answer

Woodrow Wilson began the practice of delivering the "state of the union" as an address to a joint session of the House and Senate, which is now the customary practice. Prior to Wilson, the "state of the union" was typically provided to Congress in written form. While Wilson was not the first president to deliver the address in person, he popularized the practice and set the precedent for future presidents.

Question 19

Modern presidents typically use their annual State of the Union address to

Accepted Answer

The State of the Union address is a speech delivered by the President that outlines their legislative agenda for the coming year. It is an opportunity for the President to communicate their priorities to Congress and the American people.

Question 20

The organization in the executive office that is made up of a small group of economists who advise on economic policy is known as

Accepted Answer

The Council of Economic Advisors is the organization in the executive office that is made up of a small group of economists who advise on economic policy.

Quiz 12: The President

Which of these offices was NOT a part of George Washington's cabinet?

In the analytical framework discussing George W. Bush's inability to pass Social Security reform legislation, which one of these statements would fall under the political linkage category?

Which of these was NOT an example of the use of emergency powers by Abraham Lincoln?

What changed the president's role by requiring him to submit an annual budget to Congress accompanied by rationales and justifications?

The term describing how the public influences the president through its judgments on presidential performance is known as

Which statement supports the argument that the presidency has evolved into a highly democratic institution that is responsive to the American people?

American presidents enjoy considerable freedom of action in waging war.

Why is direct command by the president over the executive branch seldom feasible?

When creating the role of chief executive, the framers never intended it to be a democratic office.

What powers gave the president the main responsibility for fashioning American foreign policy?

What was the reason for George W. Bush's success in Congress in 2003 and 2004?

Which of the following developments in the early 1800s made it easier for presidential candidates to win clear-cut victories in the electoral college and thereby take the House of Representatives out of the presidential selection process?

Over time, most presidents in office have tended to

Over time, most presidents in office have tended to

Which of the following presidents presided over the most significant expansion of presidential functions and activities in American history?

Military actions tend to

Which of the following was a result of the administration of George Washington, who set the stage for the presidency?

How did Woodrow Wilson change the constitutionally required "state of the union?"

Modern presidents typically use their annual State of the Union address to

The organization in the executive office that is made up of a small group of economists who advise on economic policy is known as