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Executive Branch Test Already Passed
In which of the following scenarios is the president most likely to use the veto to limit the power of Congress? - ANSWER ✓✓When the opposing party holds a small majority in Congress --Overriding a presidential veto requires a two-thirds majority of Congress, so if the president vetoes legislation it is unlikely that the opposing party will garner enough votes to override the veto. President Bellingham's administration wants to limit the development of chemical weapons in key nations in the Middle East, but Congress is unlikely to back a formal treaty. Which of the following is an action the president may take to accomplish their policy agenda? - ANSWER ✓✓Negotiate an executive agreement with the heads of the Middle Eastern governments --The president has the informal power to negotiate executive agreements with the heads of other governments. Executive agreements do not require Senate ratification. "The president may be convinced that a piece of legislation is unwise. But his judgment as to its un-wisdom is not a legal reason for his declining to execute it. (It may be a reason to veto it, and one of the objections to signing statements is that they are vetoes not subject to override.) And the president may have a definite view as to what the legislation means, and that view might include conclusions as to its constitutionality, but
his is not the view that counts. He may be the commander in chief, but he is not the interpreter in chief."
- Stanley Fish, "Who's Afraid of Presidential Signing Statements?" Source: New York Times What best summarizes Fish's argument? - ANSWER ✓✓Signing statements go beyond the president's expressed constitutional powers --Fish writes that the president does not have the power to interpret laws but rather to execute them. Which of the following scenarios would be considered a constitutional use of executive power? - ANSWER ✓✓The president confers diplomatic recognition on the new nation of South Sudan The president receives ambassadors and confers diplomatic recognition on new nations. Formal Presidential Powers - ANSWER ✓✓-chief executive
- commander in chief
- convene congress
- veto legislation
- make appointments
- make treaties
- grant pardons
- receive foreign ambassadors & other public ministers
- Recognition of foreign states/countries
- appoint people to executive agencies/offices Executive Orders - ANSWER ✓✓Not specifically granted by the constitution, but implied. An order issued by the president without the support of congress. Allows president to act quickly. Rarely overturned by congress or the court. Inherent powers - ANSWER ✓✓Presidential power grows when presidents extend the power of the office and/or successfully challenge congress. Future presidents will also receive this power. Presidential Power 2/5 - ANSWER ✓✓Diplomatic:
- recognize and receive foreign government
- formal treaties (2/3 senate approval)
- Executive agreements (used in foreign policy and does not need senate approval) Presidential Power 3/5 - ANSWER ✓✓Military:
- commander-in-chief
- congress declares war
- ability to wage war vs. declaration of war
- congress passed a joint resolution in 2002 in which the president can use the military "When he feels necessary and appropriate" Presidential Power 4/5 - ANSWER ✓✓Legislative Powers:
- designated survivor
- first address is not technically considered state of the union, it is sometimes called "administration goals" speech
- proposes budget with help of office managers
- continuing resolution: president and congress have not passed a budget for many years Presidential Power 5/5 - ANSWER ✓✓Judicial Powers:
- grant pardons except for those who are impeached (federal law only)(full pardons)(Commutation, a form of clemency: may shorten sentence, but doesn't restore rights) Senate Judiciary Committee - ANSWER ✓✓Holds confirmation hearings for the nominations for federal judges by the president. Simple majority with no filibuster. Amendment 12 - ANSWER ✓✓distinct ballots for Pres and VP Amendment 22 - ANSWER ✓✓President can only serve two terms, 10 years. Amendment 23 - ANSWER ✓✓3 electoral votes for DC Amendment 25 - ANSWER ✓✓Presidential disability and succession. Role of VP in the executive branch - ANSWER ✓✓-balance the ticket
- duties are determined and assigned by the president
- constitutional duties: --presides over the senate, breaks a tie --succeed the president White House Staff - ANSWER ✓✓president appoints them without congress approval What describes a consideration presidents face when deciding whether or not to issue a veto? - ANSWER ✓✓If the opposing party has a supermajority in Congress, they can vote to override the veto
The president may use an executive order to effect change in situations when Congress cannot act. - ANSWER ✓✓D. Congress cannot reach a compromise The president may use an executive order to effect change in situations when Congress cannot act. Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the president's formal and informal powers? 1st Formal powers 2nd Informal powers A. Setting the agenda for Congress --> Granting pardons B. Declaring war --> Delivering the State of the Union address C. Vetoing legislation --> Issuing executive orders D. Acting as Commander in Chief --> Appointing Supreme Court justices - ANSWER ✓✓C. Vetoing legislation --> Issuing executive orders On the last day of its session, Congress passes a law that the president strongly opposes. Which of the following may the president do to limit the power of Congress? A. Declare the law unconstitutional, thereby killing it B. Persuade members of Congress to vote against the law C. Refuse to allocate tax money to fund the law D. Neither sign nor veto the bill, allowing it to die - ANSWER ✓✓D. Neither sign nor veto the bill, allowing it to die Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the expressed powers of the president and the powers of Congress?
Presidential powers --> Congressional powers A. Issuing executive orders -->Reviewing lower-court decisions B. Confirming presidential appointments -->Creating federal laws C. Nominating ambassadors --> Declaring war D. Ratifying treaties --> Negotiating treaties - ANSWER ✓✓C. Nominating ambassadors --> Declaring war A signing statement is best defined as which of the following? A. A released letter explaining how the president's administration plans to interpret the law B. A presidential order to the executive branch that carries the force of law C. A president's power to reject a law passed by Congress D. An international agreement between the president and another country that does not require the consent of the Senate - ANSWER ✓✓A. A released letter explaining how the president's administration plans to interpret the law Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the president's formal and informal powers? Formal power --> Informal powers A. Nominating federal judges -->Issuing executive orders B. Negotiating executive agreements --> Granting pardons C. Making treaties -->Vetoing legislation D. Creating a budget -->Issuing signing statements - ANSWER ✓✓A. Nominating federal judges -->Issuing executive orders
his power to persuade is another vital weapon in the president's arsenal, since he can command media and public attention almost whenever he wants."
- Kenneth T. Walsh, U.S. News & World Report, 2015 Which of the following statements best summarizes the author's argument? A. The president's ability to command media attention gives him an advantage in shaping the national policy agenda B. The president's popularity depends upon his ability to craft a charismatic persona in national me - ANSWER ✓✓A. The president's ability to command media attention gives him an advantage in shaping the national policy agenda "In addition to educating the country, [President Barack Obama's] goal is to frame the political debate and set an agenda that the next Democratic presidential nominee can run on next year—an agenda that Obama hopes will put opposition Republicans at a big disadvantage. Obama has been getting lots of attention for bypassing the Republican-controlled Congress and using his unilateral powers, such as executive orders, to get his way. But his power to persuade is another vital weapon in the president's arsenal, since he can command media and public attention almost whenever he wants."
- Kenneth T. Walsh, U.S. News & World Report, 2015 The strategy described in the passage above is an example of which of the following? A. The bully pulpit B. Checks and balances
C. Formal powers D. Cloture - ANSWER ✓✓A. The bully pulpit "Amid this much-changed communication landscape, the lingering question of whether the untapped wisdom of the public should be harnessed in governmental decisions suddenly commanded a fresh look, as social media increased the capability of governments worldwide to more fully involve ordinary citizens in policymaking."
- M. Barris, A. Jain, and J. Katz, The Social Media President: Barack Obama and the Politics of Political Engagement, 2013 Based on the text, which of the following statements would the authors most likely agree with? A. Social media has changed the president's relationship to Congress by involving more members of Congress in policy making decisions B. Social media has changed the president's relationship to the national constituency by involving fewer citizens in policy making decisions C. Social media has changed the president's relationship with the national constituency by involving more citizens in - ANSWER ✓✓C. Social media has changed the president's relationship with the national constituency by involving more citizens in policy making decisions "Energy in the Executive is a leading character in the definition of good government. It is essential to the protection of the community against foreign attacks; it is not less essential to the steady administration of the laws; to the protection of property against those irregular and high-handed combinations which sometimes interrupt the ordinary
Source: ABC/Washington Post poll, September 20, 2001 Which of the following statements is reflected in the data in the table above? A. People aged 60 or over are less likely than those under 60 to use broadcast media to watch or listen to a president's response to a political issue B. Presidents today are less likely to use modern technology such as broadcast media to respond to political issues because few American citizens watch or listen C. Technology such as broadcast media gives the president an avenue to rapidly respond to a majority of American citizens about political issues D. People under the age of 35 are more likely than those 35 or over to use broadcast media to watch or listen to a president's response to a political issue - ANSWER ✓✓C. Technology such as broadcast media gives the president an avenue to rapidly respond to a majority of American citizens about political issues Use the passage below to answer the following question. "That unity is conducive to energy will not be disputed. Decision, activity, secrecy, and despatch will generally characterize the proceedings of one man in a much more eminent degree than the proceedings of any greater number; and in proportion as the number is increased, these qualities will be diminished.. ."
- Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 70, "The Executive Department Further Considered," 1788 Which of the following statements best summarizes Hamilton's argument?
A.One person should run the executive branch because they will be able to act swiftly, decisively, and discreetly, which is necessary for the presidency B. One person should run the executive branch because it will be too complicated for Congress if they have to negotiate with multiple people C. Three people should run the executive branch because it is too much power for one person to hold - ANSWER ✓✓A.One person should run the executive branch because they will be able to act swiftly, decisively, and discreetly, which is necessary for the presidency Which of the following scenarios is an example of the president using the bully pulpit approach to achieve policy goals? A. The president publishes a memoir after leaving office, detailing her decisions on major events that happened while she was in office B. The president meets with senators from the opposing party to encourage them to support a piece of legislation that would increase funding of the arts. C. The president appeals to the American public to contact their representatives and urge them to support increased military spending D. The president appears on television to debate a presidential nominee on his record of policy accomplishments while in office - ANSWER ✓✓C. The president appeals to the American public to contact their representatives and urge them to support increased military spending
The tweet publicizes the president's policy goal "to make diapers more accessible and affordable for everyone," and explains that his administration is working with the private sector to achieve this. B. To persuade the American public to buy more diapers The tweet does not encourage anyone to buy more diapers; it publicizes a policy goal of reducing the cost of diapers for low-income families. C. To appeal to the public for reelection The tweet does not reference reelection or supporting any campaign. It is dated March 11, 2016, close to the end of President Obama's second term, so he was not ru - ANSWER ✓✓A. To inform American citizens of his policy goals The tweet publicizes the president's policy goal "to make diapers more accessible and affordable for everyone," and explains that his administration is working with the private sector to achieve this. Use the excerpt to answer the question below. "The defeat of Robert Bork's 1987 Supreme Court nomination was a watershed event that unleashed what Stephen Carter has called 'the confirmation mess.' There was no question that Bork was a highly qualified nominee. He was rejected not because of any lack of qualification, or any impropriety, but because of his stated judicial philosophy: how he would vote as a judge."
- John Maltese, "Anatomy of a Confirmation Mess: Recent Trends in the Federal Judicial Selection Process," 2004 Based on the text, which of the following statements would the author most likely agree with?
A. Judicial nominations are rarely challenged because the positions are usually filled with people who do not have any political leanings B. Judicial nominations can be contentious because of the lasting influence the people in those positions have after a president's term C. Judicial nominations are cont - ANSWER ✓✓B. Judicial nominations can be contentious because of the lasting influence the people in those positions have after a president's term Referendum - ANSWER ✓✓a general vote by the electorate on a single political question that has been referred to them for a direct decision Presidents Cabinet - ANSWER ✓✓department heads, advisors to the president What president has the most power? - ANSWER ✓✓The most recent because of inherent powers What happens when the opposite party controls both houses of congress? - ANSWER ✓✓Presidential vetoes increase
