Question 1

Which presidential action requires Congress's expressed approval?

Accepted Answer

A)  filling judicial vacancies 
B)  issuing a pardon 
C)  declaring war 
D)  using executive orders 
A)  filling judicial vacancies 
B)  issuing a pardon 
C)  declaring war 
D)  using executive orders A

Question 2

The power of the president to veto parts of a bill without vetoing it in its entirety is known as a __________ veto.

Accepted Answer

A)  partial-item 
B)  unitary-item 
C)  line-item 
D)  digit-item 
A)  partial-item 
B)  unitary-item 
C)  line-item 
D)  digit-item C

Question 3

As a candidate for president, Barack Obama promised to __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  limit habeas corpus 
B)  use drone strikes against terror suspects 
C)  close Guantánamo Bay detention centers 
D)  veto any bill that would limit presidential powers 
A)  limit habeas corpus 
B)  use drone strikes against terror suspects 
C)  close Guantánamo Bay detention centers 
D)  veto any bill that would limit presidential powers C

Question 4

Which statement about presidential pardons is most accurate?

Accepted Answer

A)  The use of presidential pardons has increased the leverage of the president over Congress. 
B)  The number of presidential pardons issued has declined. 
C)  Presidential pardons rarely have policy consequences. 
D)  Elected officials who have been impeached are eligible for presidential policy. 
A)  The use of presidential pardons has increased the leverage of the president over Congress. 
B)  The number of presidential pardons issued has declined. 
C)  Presidential pardons rarely have policy consequences. 
D)  Elected officials who have been impeached are eligible for presidential policy.

Question 5

Which of the following is a negative consequence of a politically expedient presidency?

Accepted Answer

A)  It can slow down the policy process. 
B)  It can reduce the influence of the president in a time of crisis. 
C)  It can lead to an increase in the power of Congress. 
D)  It can distort and degrade the national interest. 
A)  It can slow down the policy process. 
B)  It can reduce the influence of the president in a time of crisis. 
C)  It can lead to an increase in the power of Congress. 
D)  It can distort and degrade the national interest.

Question 6

In what way were presidents of the Confederation Congress similar to the contemporary Speaker of the House?

Accepted Answer

A)  They voted only as a tiebreaker. 
B)  They assigned delegates to committees. 
C)  They asserted control over the political agenda. 
D)  They influenced the direction of members' votes. 
A)  They voted only as a tiebreaker. 
B)  They assigned delegates to committees. 
C)  They asserted control over the political agenda. 
D)  They influenced the direction of members' votes.

Question 7

What would have been a consequence to executive authority had the Bricker Amendment (1954) passed in Congress?

Accepted Answer

A)  Presidential power to use the line-item veto would have ended. 
B)  The power of the president to use emergency powers in a time of economic crisis would have been eliminated. 
C)  The president's power to negotiate executive agreements with other nations independently would have been curtailed. 
D)  Presidential authority to deploy American troops in combat scenarios would have been modified to require immediate congressional approval. 
A)  Presidential power to use the line-item veto would have ended. 
B)  The power of the president to use emergency powers in a time of economic crisis would have been eliminated. 
C)  The president's power to negotiate executive agreements with other nations independently would have been curtailed. 
D)  Presidential authority to deploy American troops in combat scenarios would have been modified to require immediate congressional approval.

Question 8

Which event most clearly illustrates a legislative constraint on presidential power?

Accepted Answer

A)  President Bush's failed attempt at privatizing Social Security 
B)  President Lincoln's failure to reorganize his cabinet 
C)  President Carter's failed attempt to rescue the American hostages in Iran 
D)  President Obama's failed attempt to negotiate a Middle East peace accord 
A)  President Bush's failed attempt at privatizing Social Security 
B)  President Lincoln's failure to reorganize his cabinet 
C)  President Carter's failed attempt to rescue the American hostages in Iran 
D)  President Obama's failed attempt to negotiate a Middle East peace accord

Question 9

In what way was the presidency of Barack Obama similar to that of George W. Bush?

Accepted Answer

A)  Like Bush, Obama refused to use signing statements in the exercise of his executive powers. 
B)  Like Bush, Obama worked to regain institutional powers transferred by previous presidents to Congress. 
C)  Like Bush, Obama exercised minimal executive powers specifically to provide space for Congress to govern. 
D)  Like Bush, Obama relied heavily on secrecy and a lack of transparency in the exercise of his foreign policy powers to protect executive power. 
A)  Like Bush, Obama refused to use signing statements in the exercise of his executive powers. 
B)  Like Bush, Obama worked to regain institutional powers transferred by previous presidents to Congress. 
C)  Like Bush, Obama exercised minimal executive powers specifically to provide space for Congress to govern. 
D)  Like Bush, Obama relied heavily on secrecy and a lack of transparency in the exercise of his foreign policy powers to protect executive power.

Question 10

The legal argument that presidents retain unrivaled control over the federal bureaucracy is known as the __________ theory of the executive.

Accepted Answer

A)  unitary 
B)  unified 
C)  unipolar 
D)  united 
A)  unitary 
B)  unified 
C)  unipolar 
D)  united

Question 11

Which statement best describes attempts by presidents to increase their power?

Accepted Answer

A)  Presidential power grabs are lavishly orchestrated public events. 
B)  Presidential power grabs attempt to make broad and sweeping policy changes. 
C)  Presidential power grabs are often couched in conciliatory and incremental terms. 
D)  Presidential power grabs are always the result of changes to the institutional nature of the presidency through constitutional amendments and public pressure. 
A)  Presidential power grabs are lavishly orchestrated public events. 
B)  Presidential power grabs attempt to make broad and sweeping policy changes. 
C)  Presidential power grabs are often couched in conciliatory and incremental terms. 
D)  Presidential power grabs are always the result of changes to the institutional nature of the presidency through constitutional amendments and public pressure.

Question 12

You are the president in the midst of a national economic meltdown. Explain why you would want your actions to be politically expedient, and what qualities you should exhibit as president. Then present a clear plan of action for the course you would take, drawing on the lessons of Herbert Hoover as you construct your answer.

Accepted Answer

A) Identify that a president's interest

Question 13

What does the persistent congressional obstruction faced by President Obama demonstrate?

Accepted Answer

A)  Unitary leadership in the executive branch can overcome legislative opposition on policy matters. 
B)  Partisanship can increase the power of the president by increasing public support for the institutional presidency. 
C)  Unified government increases the possibility of the legislature closing the policy process to the president. 
D)  Divided government contributes to the ability of the legislature to constrain presidential power. 
A)  Unitary leadership in the executive branch can overcome legislative opposition on policy matters. 
B)  Partisanship can increase the power of the president by increasing public support for the institutional presidency. 
C)  Unified government increases the possibility of the legislature closing the policy process to the president. 
D)  Divided government contributes to the ability of the legislature to constrain presidential power.

Question 14

Citizens expect a great deal out of modern presidents because __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  the number of issues confronting the nation has greatly expanded 
B)  recent constitutional amendments have expanded the expressed powers of the institution 
C)  parties in Congress have grown weaker 
D)  Americans no longer care about the principles of limited government and constitutionalism 
A)  the number of issues confronting the nation has greatly expanded 
B)  recent constitutional amendments have expanded the expressed powers of the institution 
C)  parties in Congress have grown weaker 
D)  Americans no longer care about the principles of limited government and constitutionalism

Question 15

What powers does the US Constitution give to American presidents and in what ways can presidents seek to expand on those powers? In constructing an answer, make sure to consider not only the intentions of the Framers, but also the distribution of powers among the branches of government.

Accepted Answer

A) Discuss how the Constitution gives de

Question 16

If a president were to use an executive order to increase the minimum wage for federal contractors, he or she might look for the power to do so in __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  the language of the interstate commerce clause 
B)  a vague articulation of the public good extending from his or her oath of office 
C)  the privilege and immunities clause of the Fourteenth Amendment 
D)  the constitutional language surrounding the commander-in-chief clause 
A)  the language of the interstate commerce clause 
B)  a vague articulation of the public good extending from his or her oath of office 
C)  the privilege and immunities clause of the Fourteenth Amendment 
D)  the constitutional language surrounding the commander-in-chief clause

Question 17

Define the unitary theory of the executive and describe how it fits with the exercise of executive power. Using relevant examples, compare and contrast the relative success that Congress has had in constraining executive power with the relative success that presidents have had in gaining concessions (even if briefly) from Congress. Which branch has been more successful?

Accepted Answer

A) Define the unitary theory of the exec

Question 18

Why did the Framers give legislative veto power to the executive branch?

Accepted Answer

A)  to overcome minority tyranny in the US Senate and empower democratic majorities 
B)  to moderate the influence of demagogic majorities and to constrain the legislative branch 
C)  to empower the minority in Congress and ensure executive voice in the legislative process 
D)  to force a supermajority consensus prior to passing legislation and protect against the excesses of democracy 
A)  to overcome minority tyranny in the US Senate and empower democratic majorities 
B)  to moderate the influence of demagogic majorities and to constrain the legislative branch 
C)  to empower the minority in Congress and ensure executive voice in the legislative process 
D)  to force a supermajority consensus prior to passing legislation and protect against the excesses of democracy

Question 19

The ratification of the Constitution in 1788 made the presidency a(n) __________ branch of government.

Accepted Answer

A)  subordinate 
B)  democratic 
C)  independent 
D)  supplemental 
A)  subordinate 
B)  democratic 
C)  independent 
D)  supplemental

Question 20

Which of the following is an informal means of expanding presidential power?

Accepted Answer

A)  issuing public appeals 
B)  issuing executive orders 
C)  creating new federal offices 
D)  appointing cabinet positions 
A)  issuing public appeals 
B)  issuing executive orders 
C)  creating new federal offices 
D)  appointing cabinet positions

Which presidential action requires Congress's expressed approval?

The power of the president to veto parts of a bill without vetoing it in its entirety is known as a __________ veto.

As a candidate for president, Barack Obama promised to __________.

Which statement about presidential pardons is most accurate?

Which of the following is a negative consequence of a politically expedient presidency?

In what way were presidents of the Confederation Congress similar to the contemporary Speaker of the House?

What would have been a consequence to executive authority had the Bricker Amendment (1954) passed in Congress?

Which event most clearly illustrates a legislative constraint on presidential power?

In what way was the presidency of Barack Obama similar to that of George W. Bush?

The legal argument that presidents retain unrivaled control over the federal bureaucracy is known as the __________ theory of the executive.

Which statement best describes attempts by presidents to increase their power?

What does the persistent congressional obstruction faced by President Obama demonstrate?

Citizens expect a great deal out of modern presidents because __________.

What powers does the US Constitution give to American presidents and in what ways can presidents seek to expand on those powers? In constructing an answer, make sure to consider not only the intentions of the Framers, but also the distribution of powers among the branches of government.

If a president were to use an executive order to increase the minimum wage for federal contractors, he or she might look for the power to do so in __________.

Why did the Framers give legislative veto power to the executive branch?

The ratification of the Constitution in 1788 made the presidency a(n) __________ branch of government.

Which of the following is an informal means of expanding presidential power?

Constitutional Origins

An Institutional Presidency

The Nomination of Presidents

General Elections

Transitions of Governance

Negotiating With Congress

Unilateral Powers

Political Control of the Bureaucracy

Presidential Relations With the Federal Judiciary

Public Opinion and the Media

Domestic Policy

Foreign Policy

Economic Policy

Wartime Policymaking at Home

Appedix: Introduction Thinking Institutionally about an American Presidency

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Exam 3: Power and the Institutional Presidency

Which presidential action requires Congress's expressed approval?

The power of the president to veto parts of a bill without vetoing it in its entirety is known as a __________ veto.

As a candidate for president, Barack Obama promised to __________.

Which statement about presidential pardons is most accurate?

Which of the following is a negative consequence of a politically expedient presidency?

In what way were presidents of the Confederation Congress similar to the contemporary Speaker of the House?

What would have been a consequence to executive authority had the Bricker Amendment (1954) passed in Congress?

Which event most clearly illustrates a legislative constraint on presidential power?

In what way was the presidency of Barack Obama similar to that of George W. Bush?

The legal argument that presidents retain unrivaled control over the federal bureaucracy is known as the __________ theory of the executive.

Which statement best describes attempts by presidents to increase their power?

What does the persistent congressional obstruction faced by President Obama demonstrate?

Citizens expect a great deal out of modern presidents because __________.

What powers does the US Constitution give to American presidents and in what ways can presidents seek to expand on those powers? In constructing an answer, make sure to consider not only the intentions of the Framers, but also the distribution of powers among the branches of government.

If a president were to use an executive order to increase the minimum wage for federal contractors, he or she might look for the power to do so in __________.

Why did the Framers give legislative veto power to the executive branch?

The ratification of the Constitution in 1788 made the presidency a(n) __________ branch of government.

Which of the following is an informal means of expanding presidential power?

Constitutional Origins

An Institutional Presidency

The Nomination of Presidents

General Elections

Transitions of Governance

Negotiating With Congress

Unilateral Powers

Political Control of the Bureaucracy

Presidential Relations With the Federal Judiciary

Public Opinion and the Media

Domestic Policy

Foreign Policy

Economic Policy

Wartime Policymaking at Home

Appedix: Introduction Thinking Institutionally about an American Presidency

Filters