Deck 12: The Presidency

Question 1

As chief executive, the president of the United States has the power to:

A) make secret agreements with other countries.
B) grant reprieves, pardons, and amnesties.
C) call special sessions of Congress.
D) make pacts with other heads of state, without Senate approval.
E) veto a bill passed by Congress.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Which of the following claims did the conspiracy theorists called "birthers" make about President Barack Obama (2009-2017)?

A) He was not born to parents who were natural-born citizens of the United States.
B) He was a Roman Catholic.
C) He was a resident within the United States for less than 14 years.
D) He was not born in the United States.
E) He had not attained the required presidential age.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

According to Article II, Section 1, of the Constitution, to become the president of the United States, a person must:

A) have attained the age of forty-five years.
B) be a Protestant by birth.
C) have been a resident of the United States for a minimum of fourteen years.
D) have been born to parents who are natural born citizens of the United States.
E) be a Roman Catholic.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Which of the following duties is performed by the president of the United States as head of state?

A) Making secret agreements with other countries
B) Granting reprieves, pardons, and amnesties
C) Decorating war heroes
D) Making pacts with other heads of state
E) Deploying the armed forces

Question 5

The youngest person elected president was _____, who assumed the presidency at the age of forty-three.

A) Jimmy Carter
B) Abraham Lincoln
C) John F. Kennedy
D) William McKinley
E) Ronald Reagan

Question 6

In the context of presidential age, w hich of the following statements is true?

A) The Constitution states that anyone who is twenty-five years of age or older can become president.
B) The oldest person elected president was John F. Kennedy.
C) The youngest person to hold the office of president was William McKinley, who was forty-two when he became president.
D) The youngest person elected president was Ronald Reagan, who assumed the presidency at the age of forty-three.
E) The average age at the presidential inauguration has been fifty-five.

Question 7

Identify a perk associated with the presidency of the United States.

A) The president can start his or her own for-profit ventures.
B) The president need not pay for the tuition of his or her children.
C) The president is exempt from paying federal taxes.
D) The president need not pay for his or her personal expenses.
E) The president enjoys the use of the White House.

Question 8

Which of the following statements is true of the constitutional provisions of war powers in the United States?

A) The president, as commander in chief of the armed forces, has the power to declare war.
B) Congress has the sole power to deploy the armed forces.
C) Congress has the power to raise and maintain the country's armed forces.
D) The president is required to notify Congress within twenty-four hours of deploying troops.
E) Congress has the power to commit troops for up to fifty days in response to a military threat.

Question 9

The youngest person to hold the presidential office was _____, who became president in 1901 at the age of forty-two.

A) Jimmy Carter
B) William McKinley
C) John F. Kennedy
D) Theodore Roosevelt
E) Ronald Reagan

Question 10

The president of the United States is invited to the NBA (National Basketball Association) opening ceremony to shoot the first ball into the basket and declare the basketball season open. In this scenario, the president will be fulfilling the role of _____.

A) chief executive
B) commander in chief
C) chief legislator
D) head of state
E) chief diplomat

Question 11

Who among the following was one of the conspiracy theorists called "birthers" who claimed that President Barack Obama was not a natural-born U.S. citizen?

A) Mike Pence
B) Joe Biden
C) Valerie Jarrett
D) Donald Trump
E) Susan Rice

Question 12

In the context of presidential roles, as _____, the president tries to execute the party's platform.

A) head of state
B) commander in chief
C) party chairperson
D) political party leader
E) chief diplomat

Question 13

As chief diplomat of the United States, the president:

A) handles national emergencies during peacetime.
B) calls special sessions of Congress.
C) deploys the nation's armed forces.
D) negotiates and signs treaties with other nations, with Senate approval.
E) suggests a budget to Congress and submits the annual economic report.

Question 14

As _____, the president of the United States can veto a bill passed by Congress and can call special sessions of Congress.

A) chief diplomat
B) head of state
C) commander in chief
D) chief legislator
E) chief executive

Question 15

In appointing James Mattis as the Secretary of Defense of the United States, President Donald Trump exercised his role as the nation's _____.

A) chief diplomat
B) head of state
C) commander in chief
D) chief legislator
E) chief executive

Question 16

As _____, the president of the United States enforces laws and federal court decisions, along with treaties approved by the United States.

A) chief legislator
B) commander in chief
C) chief executive
D) head of state
E) chief diplomat

Question 17

Which of the following duties is performed by the president as the nation's chief diplomat?

A) Handling national emergencies during peacetime
B) Suggesting a budget to Congress and submitting the annual economic report
C) Leading the nation's armed forces
D) Serving as the ceremonial head of the government
E) Recognizing and interacting with foreign governments

Question 18

A deadly flood in the district of Estrye in Selvedia has caused massive destruction. Thousands of people have lost their lives. The president of Selvedia has declared a national emergency and ordered rescue operations to help survivors. If such a situation were to arise in the United States, the president would be performing the role of _____.

A) chief executive
B) commander in chief
C) chief legislator
D) head of state
E) chief diplomat

Question 19

Which of the following is a duty of the president of the United States as political party leader?

A) Electing a Senate member as the de facto leader of his or her party
B) Submitting the annual economic report to Congress
C) Appointing a fund-raiser in chief to assist in raising funds for his or her party
D) Choosing the vice president from his or her party
E) Appointing members only from his or her party to form the cabinet

Question 20

In the context of American political history, w hich of the following statements is true of the religion of presidential candidates?

A) For most of American history, presidential candidates were Greek Orthodox Christians.
B) Democratic presidential candidate Michael Dukakis was a member of the Latter-Day Saints, commonly called the Mormons.
C) In 1928, Democrat Al Smith became the first Protestant to run for president on a major-party ticket.
D) In 1960, Democrat John F. Kennedy was elected as the first Catholic president.
E) In 2012, two of the top three finishers in the Republican primaries were Protestants.

Question 21

A pocket veto results if:

A) the president does not send a bill back to Congress within ten congressional working days.
B) the president sends a bill back to Congress after rejecting just one item in the bill on the grounds of constitutionality.
C) Congress overrides a presidential veto with a two-thirds vote by the members present in each chamber within ten congressional working days.
D) the president refuses to sign a bill and Congress adjourns within ten working days after the bill has been submitted to the president.
E) Congress revises a bill after a presidential veto and the president approves the revised bill within ten congressional working days.

Question 22

The president's power to grant a pardon serves as a check on _____.

A) gubernatorial power
B) executive power
C) legislative power
D) bureaucratic power
E) judicial power

Question 23

Which of the following statements is true of a treaty?

A) The president has the sole power to negotiate and sign a treaty with another country.
B) A treaty is a formal agreement between the president and Congress.
C) If a treaty is approved by the House of Representatives, it becomes law.
D) A treaty is effective only with a hundred percent vote from the president's political party.
E) A treaty can only be approved by the chief justice of the United States.

Question 24

Which of the following statements is true of an executive order?

A) It is also called a pocket veto.
B) It is issued by Congress with the approval of the president.
C) It is not an inherent power of the president.
D) It is rarely issued by the president.
E) It has the force of law.

Question 25

Which of the following is a similarity between a treaty and an executive agreement?

A) Both have the same legal status.
B) Both require Senate approval.
C) Both deal solely with domestic affairs.
D) Both are initiated by the chief justice.
E) Both are initiated by Congress.

Question 26

President Cooper is a strong advocate of free higher education for all. In an attempt to gain favor from the masses for his legislative agenda, he has been appearing on several news channels to talk about the importance of higher education in the country. He even appeared on an episode of "Child Speak," an educational television show for children, to express his vision. From President Cooper's actions, it is evident that he is employing a strategy known as:

A) going public.
B) going out.
C) microtargeting.
D) filibustering.
E) a blanket primary.

Question 27

Identify a true statement about the ratification of a treaty.

A) A treaty can only be negotiated and signed by Congress.
B) A treaty can only be approved by the president of the United States.
C) A treaty is effective only with a hundred percent vote from the president's political party.
D) A treaty needs to be approved by a fifty percent vote of the Senate.
E) A treaty becomes law when it is approved by the Senate and signed by the president.

Question 28

Under _____, Congress agreed to vote the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) up or down without amendments.

A) clemency
B) fast-track authority
C) the doctrine of necessity
D) a line-item veto
E) the czar system

Question 29

A difference between a treaty and an executive agreement is that unlike a treaty, an executive agreement:

A) requires approval from the House of Representatives.
B) does not deal with foreign affairs.
C) is not initiated by the president.
D) requires a two-thirds vote of the Senate.
E) does not require Senate approval.

Question 30

The Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty aimed at prohibiting:

A) secret international agreements with other countries.
B) the testing of nuclear weapons.
C) genetic testing on humans.
D) research studies based on animal testing.
E) the misuse of presidential power.

Question 31

Identify a true statement about a pardon.

A) It partially restores a person's rights and privileges of citizenship.
B) It may be granted to a class of individuals as a general amnesty.
C) It is a monetary reward given to prisoners for good behavior in prison.
D) It serves as a check on the federal legislature.
E) It empowers Congress to regulate the powers of the president.

Question 32

The president of a country releases a former colleague from criminal punishment . The colleague had been charged with treason. Which of the following presidential powers is illustrated in this scenario?

A) The power to influence the Supreme Court
B) The power to persuade other parties
C) The power to veto bills
D) The power to grant pardons
E) The power to sign statements

Question 33

Martha Jenkins publicly endorsed James Farrell in his presidential campaign. After winning the presidential election, Farrell appointed Jenkins as the Secretary of Commerce to reward her for her support. In this scenario, Farrell indulged in the practice of _____.

A) whistleblowing
B) sponsorship
C) negotiation
D) patronage
E) diplomacy

Question 34

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

A) If the president does not send a bill back to Congress after ten congressional working days, the bill is killed for that session of Congress.
B) Congress can override a presidential veto with a two-thirds vote by the members present in each chamber.
C) The president can override a congressional veto by a two-thirds majority vote from his or her political party.
D) If the president signs a bill within ten congressional working days after the bill is submitted, the result is a pocket veto.
E) The result of a presidential veto override by Congress is that the bill is reintroduced in the next session of Congress.

Question 35

In addition to the powers explicitly granted by the U.S. Constitution, the president also has _____ that are necessary to carry out the specific responsibilities of the president as set forth in the Constitution.

A) legislative powers
B) executive powers
C) supremacy powers
D) inherent powers
E) hereditary powers

Question 36

Elected officials often indulge in the practice of patronage because they:

A) need money to pay national debts.
B) are beholden to the party members who put them in office.
C) are required to appoint Congress members from the members of the winning team.
D) prefer to be diplomatic in their approach.
E) are the de facto leaders of their political parties.

Question 37

Identify a true statement about the president's power to influence the country's economy.

A) The president's ability to control the level of economic activity is not subject to any limits.
B) The president must go public to influence the economy of the country.
C) Each year, the president sends Congress a suggested budget about the amounts of money the government will need for its programs.
D) The president sends the President's Finance Report , which recommends ways to improve the nation's economy, to Congress.
E) Every two years, the president sends a suggested budget report that presents the current state of the nation ' s economy to his political party.

Question 38

Which of the following statements is true of executive agreements?

A) They do not have the same legal status as treaties.
B) They deal solely with domestic affairs.
C) They are pacts between the federal government and the state governments.
D) They enhance presidential power in foreign affairs.
E) They are used far less than treaties in making foreign policy.

Question 39

The president of Preotho signs an agreement with the president of Qaplary. The agreement provides that Preotho will help Qaplary in building its infrastructure in exchange for a permit to conduct oil drilling operations off the coast of Qaplary. This agreement is an example of a(n) _____.

A) compatibility agreement
B) presidential agreement
C) executive agreement
D) legislative agreement
E) state agreement

Question 40

The refusal by an official, such as the president of the United States or a state governor, to sign a bill into law is known as a _____.

A) veto
B) writ
C) subpoena
D) pardon
E) reprieve

Question 41

Even when Congress puts all of its persuasive powers to work in achieving a legislative agenda, the president still retains the ultimate lawmaking authority.

Question 42

Only the president has the power to pass legislation and appropriate budgetary money.

Question 43

Traditionally, the cabinet has consisted of the heads of the executive departments and other officers whom the president may choose to appoint.

Question 44

Identify a true statement about the White House Office.

A) All of the White House staff members are also members of the president's official cabinet.
B) The White House Office consists of an informal group of unofficial advisers to the president.
C) The White House staff screens the questions, issues, and problems that people present to the president.
D) The White House Office excludes the staff of the president's spouse.
E) Of all the executive staff agencies, the White House Office has the least contact with the president.

Question 45

Which of the following statements is true of presidential succession in the United States?

A) The Twenty-second Amendment addresses the question of how the vice president should fill a vacant presidency.
B) If the president becomes incapable of carrying out necessary duties while in office, the Senate elects a new president from among its members.
C) In the event of the death or resignation of the president, the president's son or daughter is appointed the next president.
D) The vice president is in a position to become the nation's chief executive should the president die, be impeached and convicted, or resign the presidential office.
E) I f the vice president temporarily fills the office of president, a hundred percent vote of both chambers of Congress is required for the vice president to remain acting president.

Question 46

_____ is the personal office of the president of the United States.

A) The White House Office
B) The Presidential Townhouse
C) The Executive Residence
D) Camp David
E) The Office of Administration

Question 47

The ability to _____ gives Congress an advantage over the president.

A) grant reprieves and pardons
B) regulate foreign and interstate commerce
C) influence public opinions
D) deal with national crises
E) make decisions in foreign affairs

Question 48

In the context of the American system of government, which of the following statements is true of the president and members of Congress?

A) Both have a common national focus.
B) Both face different election cycles.
C) Both have similar constituencies.
D) Neither has the power to appropriate budgetary money.
E) Neither has the power to set foreign policies.

Question 49

Identify a true statement about the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) .

A) The OMB assists the president in preparing the proposed annual budget.
B) The director of the OMB is appointed by the vice president.
C) The OMB is an influential unit of the White House Office.
D) The duty of the director of the OMB is to support the Senate's views on the budget.
E) The OMB implements the annual budget.

Question 50

The U.S. president travels at all times with a briefcase called the "football." Which of the following best describes the contents of the "football"?

A) The presidential plans to deal with an emergency
B) The codes used to launch a nuclear attack
C) The details of America's most-wanted criminals
D) The passwords of highly confidential presidential accounts
E) The treaties signed with other nations

Question 51

If the president refuses to sign a bill and Congress adjourns within ten working days after the bill has been submitted to the president, the bill is killed for that session of Congress. This is called a line-item veto.

Question 52

Which of the following statements is true of executive privilege?

A) It is nontransferable to successors in a particular executive post.
B) It is described explicitly in the Constitution of the United States.
C) It protects the privacy of the Senate.
D) It gives the president the power to refuse to appear before the courts.
E) It is claimed by members of Congress.

Question 53

The president has the advantage over Congress in:

A) authorizing legislation.
B) regulating foreign and interstate commerce.
C) appropriating budgetary money.
D) formally declaring war.
E) influencing public opinion.

Question 54

President Sanders receives information about the operations of a global terrorist organization. He orders an investigation of the whereabouts of the terrorists and their plan of action. He decides to withhold this information from Congress to ensure that there is no interference or compromise in national security. By withholding information from Congress, President Sanders is exerting his _____.

A) veto power
B) executive privilege
C) enumerated power
D) fundamental right
E) judicial privilege

Question 55

The state of Zeslea in Athnerla is hit by an earthquake of magnitude 6.8. Houses are destroyed, lives are lost, and all communication links are disrupted. If such a national crisis were to occur in the United States, the _____ will have the power to make decisions and present the state's plight to other nations.

A) president
B) secretary of state
C) secretary of defense
D) House of Representatives
E) Senate

Question 56

During his first hundred days in office, President Trump:

A) released his income tax returns.
B) scheduled only one cabinet meeting.
C) issued more presidential memorandums than any president in history.
D) suspended the deportation of several million illegal immigrants.
E) allowed the admission of refugees from Syria.

Question 57

A presidential veto restores a person to the full rights and privileges of citizenship.

Question 58

The vice president serves as acting president if the president is unable to discharge the normal functions of the presidential office because of a disability. If a dispute arises over the return of the president's ability to discharge his or her functions, _____ is required if the vice president is to remain acting president.

A) a three-fourths vote of both chambers of Congress
B) a two-thirds vote of both chambers of Congress
C) a two-thirds vote of the members of the Senate
D) a one-third vote by the members present in each congressional chamber
E) a one-fourth vote by the members present in each congressional chamber

Question 59

The War Powers Resolution of 1973 requires the president to:

A) take the prior approval of the Senate before signing any executive agreement.
B) obtain a two-thirds vote of the Senate before declaring war.
C) notify Congress within forty-eight hours of deploying troops.
D) declare war without congressional approval if it is deemed necessary.
E) inform Congress within sixty days of making an executive agreement.

Question 60

Identify a true statement about the formal cabinet of the United States.

A) The use of the cabinet by the president is not discretionary.
B) At present, the cabinet consists of only four officials.
C) The president always relies heavily on the advice of the formal cabinet.
D) The U.S. Constitution requires the president to consult with the cabinet.
E) The president selects the members of the cabinet.

Question 61

Explain the roles of the president as commander in chief and head of state in the United States.

Question 62

In the context of the American system of government, describe the advantages Congress has over the president.

Question 63

Of all of the executive staff agencies, the _________ has the most direct contact with the president.

A) White House Office
B) National Security Council
C) Office of Management and Budget
D) Office of Administration

Question 64

In case both the president and the vice president die, resign, or are disabled, the _________ directs that the Speaker of the House of Representatives will act as president on her or his resignation as Speaker and as representative.

A) Civil Rights Act of 1964
B) Succession Act of 1947
C) Uniform Transfer of Litigation Act of 1991
D) Judiciary Act of 1925

Question 65

Discuss the responsibilities of the staff of the White House Office.

Question 66

Article II of the U.S. Constitution states that the executive power shall be vested in the _________.

A) chief justice of the United States
B) the Supreme Court of the United States
C) president of the United States
D) United States Congress

Question 67

In the context of presidential and vice-presidential vacancies in the United States, discuss the provisions of the Twenty-fifth Amendment to the Constitution.

Question 68

The War Powers Resolution of 1973 is intended to check the president's power to _________.

A) pass legislation and appropriate the military budget
B) raise and maintain the country's armed forces
C) sign peace treaties to end wars with other nations
D) involve the nation in a war without the consent of Congress

Question 69

In 1973, Gerald Ford became the first appointed _________ of the United States after Spiro Agnew was forced to resign.

A) vice president
B) speaker
C) chief justice
D) secretary of defense

Question 70

The press secretary of the White House Office _________.

A) handles the president's legal matters
B) directs the operations of the presidential staff
C) holds news conferences for reporters
D) supervises the staff of the president ' s spouse

Question 71

Discuss the U.S. president's veto power.

Question 72

The National Security Council is the president's link to his or her key foreign and military advisers.

Question 73

_________ was the first president to define the presidential power to appoint and remove officials of the federal government.

A) Jimmy Carter
B) Abraham Lincoln
C) George Washington
D) Thomas Jefferson

Question 74

The _________, signed by America and Russia in December 2010, reduced by half the number of nuclear missiles in both countries and provided for inspections.

A) Pactum Warmundi
B) Trans-Pacific Partnership
C) New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty
D) Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty

Question 75

The _________ to the U.S. Constitution states that when the president believes that he or she is incapable of performing the duties of the office, he or she must inform Congress in writing of this fact.

A) Fifth Amendment
B) Twenty-fifth Amendment
C) Nineteenth Amendment
D) Twenty-seventh Amendment