Review Part 7

The PresidencyThe Presidency

1) The Constitution stated that the requirements for being president are all the following EXCEPT

a. Obtaining a majority of the electoral votes

b. Having resided in the United States for at least 14 years

c. Being a natural-born citizen

d. Being at least 35 years old

e. Being a member of a political party

1) The Constitution stated that the requirements for being president are all the following EXCEPT

a. Obtaining a majority of the electoral votes

b. Having resided in the United States for at least 14 years

c. Being a natural-born citizen

d. Being at least 35 years old

e. Being a member of a political party

2) Which of the following represents reasons why presidents have trouble getting things done?

I. Other policymakers have their own agendas and interests

II. Other policymakers have their own source of power

III. Congress is not beholden to the president but to other interests

IV. The influence of special interest groups and lobbyists play a significant role

a. I only d. II and IV only

b. II only e. I, II, III and IV

c. I and III only

2) Which of the following represents reasons why presidents have trouble getting things done?

I. Other policymakers have their own agendas and interests

II. Other policymakers have their own source of power

III. Congress is not beholden to the president but to other interests

IV. The influence of special interest groups and lobbyists play a significant role

a. I only d. II and IV only

b. II only e. I, II, III and IV

c. I and III only

3) Examples of people on the White House staff include all the following EXCEPT

a. The Chief of Staff

b. The White House cook

c. The National Security Advisor

d. The Vice President

e. The Press Secretary

3) Examples of people on the White House staff include all the following EXCEPT

a. The Chief of Staff

b. The White House cook

c. The National Security Advisor

d. The Vice President

e. The Press Secretary

Explanation

The vice president of the United States, although a member of the president’s team, is still an elected official. The Chief of Staff, the White House cook, the National Security Advisor, and the President’s press secretary are all members of the White House staff.

4) After Congress passes an appropriations bill, the president may do all the following EXCEPT

a. Sign it into law

b. Send it directly to the Supreme Court for judicial review

c. Veto it, sending it back to Congress with the reasons for rejecting it

d. Let it become law after ten working days by not doing anything to it

e. Not sign it after Congress adjourns, exercising a pocket veto

4) After Congress passes an appropriations bill, the president may do all the following EXCEPT

a. Sign it into law

b. Send it directly to the Supreme Court for judicial review

c. Veto it, sending it back to Congress with the reasons for rejecting it

d. Let it become law after ten working days by not doing anything to it

e. Not sign it after Congress adjourns, exercising a pocket veto

5) When the president needs support, which of the following does he look to?

I. The federal bureaucracy

II. The cabinet

III. The president’s party leadership in Congress

IV. Public support

a. I only d. III and IV only

b. II only e. I, II, III and IV

c. II and III only

5) When the president needs support, which of the following does he look to?

I. The federal bureaucracy

II. The cabinet

III. The president’s party leadership in Congress

IV. Public support

a. I only d. III and IV only

b. II only e. I, II, III and IV

c. II and III only

6) Using the bully pulpit refers to a president

a. Using the power and influence of his office to exert pressure

b. Calling upon members of his cabinet to influence legislation

c. Using his veto power to reject legislation

d. Signing a piece of legislation into law

e. Taking a trip to a foreign country to sign a treaty

6) Using the bully pulpit refers to a president

a. Using the power and influence of his office to exert pressure

b. Calling upon members of his cabinet to influence legislation

c. Using his veto power to reject legislation

d. Signing a piece of legislation into law

e. Taking a trip to a foreign country to sign a treaty

7) When an international event that is interpreted as an imminent threat to the United States takes place, the immediate effect in the president’s approval rating is usually

a. A sharp increase

b. A sharp decline

c. A slight increase

d. A slight decline

e. No change at all

7) When an international event that is interpreted as an imminent threat to the United States takes place, the immediate effect in the president’s approval rating is usually

a. A sharp increase

b. A sharp decline

c. A slight increase

d. A slight decline

e. No change at all

Explanation

The student who reads too much into this type of question will usually come up with the wrong answer. The clue to the answer is “imminent threat.” The public looks to the president for leadership. If an international event takes place and the public believes that it threatens national security, they will look to the president. Thus, his approval ratings will immediately jump.

8) Which of the following describes a presidency that has become too powerful?

a. An imperial presidency

b. A presidency that refuses to react to the threat of foreign policy problems

c. A presidency facing a recession

d. A president that refuses to compromise with Congress

e. A president who vetoes the majority of legislation sent to him

8) Which of the following describes a presidency that has become too powerful?

a. An imperial presidency

b. A presidency that refuses to react to the threat of foreign policy problems

c. A presidency facing a recession

d. A president that refuses to compromise with Congress

e. A president who vetoes the majority of legislation sent to him

9) All of the following help to explain the president’s difficulty in controlling the media EXCEPT

a. There are too many media experts

b. The media is protected by the First Amendment

c. The public opposes censorship of the media

d. The president’s press secretary encourages media scrutiny

e. The media acts as a linkage group

9) All of the following help to explain the president’s difficulty in controlling the media EXCEPT

a. There are too many media experts

b. The media is protected by the First Amendment

c. The public opposes censorship of the media

d. The president’s press secretary encourages media scrutiny

e. The media acts as a linkage group

Explanation

The reality between the president and the media has undergone significant changes. In its coverage of FDR, the media did not make reference to his disability. Though the media knew about JFK’s indiscretions, they did not publicize them. Choice D is the correct answer because the president’s press secretary does not encourage media scrutiny.

10) Which of the following is responsible for the preparation of executive spending proposals submitted to Congress?

a. Treasury Department

b. Council of Economic Advisors

c. Federal Trade Commission

d. Department of Commerce

e. Office of Management and Budget

10) Which of the following is responsible for the preparation of executive spending proposals submitted to Congress?

a. Treasury Department

b. Council of Economic Advisors

c. Federal Trade Commission

d. Department of Commerce

e. Office of Management and Budget

11) All of the following are formal or informal sources of presidential power EXCEPT

a. Presidential authority to raise revenue

b. Presidential access to the media

c. Precedents set during previous administration

d. Public support

e. The Constitution

11) All of the following are formal or informal sources of presidential power EXCEPT

a. Presidential authority to raise revenue

b. Presidential access to the media

c. Precedents set during previous administration

d. Public support

e. The Constitution

12) Which of the following methods is used by a president who wants to persuade reluctant members of Congress to vote for a particular bill? The President...

a. Transfers members who oppose the bill to unpopular committees

b. Denies campaign funds to members who oppose the bill

c. Threatens to deny renomination to members who oppose the bill

d. Threatens to veto a different bill that enjoys bipartisan support in Congress

e. Makes a direct appeal to the public

12) Which of the following methods is used by a president who wants to persuade reluctant members of Congress to vote for a particular bill? The President...

a. Transfers members who oppose the bill to unpopular committees

b. Denies campaign funds to members who oppose the bill

c. Threatens to deny renomination to members who oppose the bill

d. Threatens to veto a different bill that enjoys bipartisan support in Congress

e. Makes a direct appeal to the public

ExplanationThe president has limited actual powers in taking

action against members of Congress who don’t agree with him. He may have some influence regarding committee appointments. He has more influence with the chairman of the national committee, but it does not extend to denying campaign funds or renomination. And threatening to veto a popular bill would not accomplish any positive results. Sometimes a direct appeal to the public or using his bully pulpit can succeed.

13) Invocation of the War Powers Act of 1973 would be most important in determining

a. The nature of the commitment of United States Marines to a peacekeeping role in Bosnia

b. The amount of financial aid to the Contras of Nicaragua

c. The timing of naval maneuvers off the coast of Libya

d. The appointment of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

e. The legality of extraditing foreign agents responsible for acts of terrorism

13) Invocation of the War Powers Act of 1973 would be most important in determining

a. The nature of the commitment of United States Marines to a peacekeeping role in Bosnia

b. The amount of financial aid to the Contras of Nicaragua

c. The timing of naval maneuvers off the coast of Libya

d. The appointment of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

e. The legality of extraditing foreign agents responsible for acts of terrorism

14) The usefulness to the president of having cabinet members as political advisers is undermined by the fact that

a. The president has little latitude in choosing cabinet members

b. Cabinet members have little political support independent of the president

c. Cabinet members are usually drawn from Congress and retain loyalties to Congress

d. The loyalties of cabinet members are often divided between loyalty to the president and loyalty to their own executive departments

e. The cabinet operates as a collective unit and individual members have limited access to the president

14) The usefulness to the president of having cabinet members as political advisers is undermined by the fact that

a. The president has little latitude in choosing cabinet members

b. Cabinet members have little political support independent of the president

c. Cabinet members are usually drawn from Congress and retain loyalties to Congress

d. The loyalties of cabinet members are often divided between loyalty to the president and loyalty to their own executive departments

e. The cabinet operates as a collective unit and individual members have limited access to the president

The EndThe End