Ap Gov- Presidency

Question 1

In trying to influence legislation, the President is generally more successful than congressional leaders in

A)using the legislative schedule to political advantage
B)enforcing party discipline
C)satisfying interest group demands for access to the policy process
D)effectively using formal parliamentary powers rather than persuasion
E)using the media to set the policy agenda

Answer 1

E)using the media to set the policy agenda

Question 2

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 no 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 no access to the President

Answer 2

D)the loyalties of cabinet members are often divided between loyalty to the President and loyalty to their own executive departments

Question 3

Senate confirmation is required for which of the following presidential appointments?
I. Secretary of state
II. White House chief of staff
III. Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
IV. Attorney general
A)I only
B)II and III only
C)II and IV only
D)I, III, and IV only
E)I, II, III, and IV

Answer 3

D)I, III, and IV only

Question 4

TABLE Presidential judicial nominations women- Which of the following statements is supported by the chart above?
A)Both Republican Presidents nominated a greater proportion of Latinos to the judiciary than did either Democratic President.
B)President Carter made more judicial nominations than President Reagan.
C)The percentage of nominees to the judiciary who were minorities was higher for Republican Presidents than for Democratic Presidents.
D)The percentage of nominees to the judiciary who were women was higher for Republican Presidents than for Democratic Presidents.
E)President Reagan nominated the smallest percentage of women to the judiciary.

Answer 4

E)President Reagan nominated the smallest percentage of women to the judiciary.

Question 5

Senate Vote Check on President- The data in the table illustrate which of the following about the United States constitutional government?
A)Presidential foreign policy can be checked through the legislative power of Congress.
B)The president can declare war, but Congress can vote to block funding for wars.
C)Cloture procedures make it increasingly difficult to filibuster bills in the Senate.
D)Gerrymandering has intensified partisan divisions in Congress.

Answer 5

A)Presidential foreign policy can be checked through the legislative power of Congress.

Question 6

Which of the following is the primary reason for the tensions that exist between the legislative and executive branches of the federal government?
A)Each branch sets and approves the other’s budget.
B)The branches are staffed with many of the same people.
C)The branches have different constituencies with different interests.
D)The branches are responsible for the selection of Cabinet-level officials.
E)Each branch has the constitutional power to levy taxes.

Answer 6

C)The branches have different constituencies with different interests.

Question 7

The president cannot veto which of the following?
A)Joint resolutions that propose constitutional amendments
B)Laws overturning United States Supreme Court decisions
C)Legislation regulating congressional salaries
D)Legislation affecting foreign policy
E)Bills that originate in the Senate

Answer 7

A)Joint resolutions that propose constitutional amendments

Question 8

In selecting members of the White House staff, Presidents primarily seek people who
A)give the White House ideological balance
B)are personally loyal to the President
C)have extensive governmental experience
D)will help the President develop a good working relationship with Congress
E)can bring a nonpartisan perspective to policy deliberations

Answer 8

B)are personally loyal to the President

Question 9

Which of the following is an example of how the innovation of social media can influence presidential behavior?
A)The president holds a press conference to discuss midterm election results.
B)The president outlines the administration’s legislative agenda in the State of the Union Address.
C)The president hosts a White House dinner with a foreign head of state.
D)The president announces the nomination of a cabinet secretary on the Internet.

Answer 9

D)The president announces the nomination of a cabinet secretary on the Internet.

Question 10

Shortly after the 2008 election, President Obama appointed outspoken and controversial House member Rahm Emanuel to lead his White House as chief of staff, the head of the Executive Office of the President. The selection drew criticism from Republican leaders, including House minority leader John Boehner, who remarked that the selection “is an ironic choice for a president-elect who has promised to change Washington, make politics more civil, and govern from the center.” Which of the following explains how Congress could legitimately respond to the appointment?
A)The Senate could refuse to confirm the appointment.
B)The House of Representatives could filibuster the nomination.
C)The Rules Committee could refuse to release the bill that made the appointment.
D)Members of Congress could issue statements opposing the appointment but have no formal power to block it.

Answer 10

D)Members of Congress could issue statements opposing the appointment but have no formal power to block it.

Question 11

Which of the following describes the president’s Cabinet?
A)It consists of career civil servants with decades of experience in government service.
B)Its members have varying levels of influence on presidential decisions.
C)Its members hold office for fixed terms that coincide with the president’s.
D)Its members must be selected from among current or former members of Congress.
E)Its members are required to approve presidential policy decisions.

Answer 11

B)Its members have varying levels of influence on presidential decisions.

Question 12

A President attempting to influence Congress to pass a legislative program might employ all of the following strategies EXCEPT
A)using the media to draw attention to the legislative program
B)assigning legislative liaisons in the Executive Office of the President to lobby legislators
C)denying campaign reelection funds to legislators who oppose the President’s policy stand
D)exploiting a partisan majority for the President’s party in both the House and Senate
E)reminding legislators of high popularity ratings for the President in public opinion polls

Answer 12

C)denying campaign reelection funds to legislators who oppose the President’s policy stand

Question 13

Checks on Power - Legislative and Executive: Which of the following is an accurate comparison of checks on the legislative branch and checks on the executive branch?
A) The president may veto bills passed by Congress, The Senate must confirm judicial decisions.
B) The president has the power to fund wars, The House of Representatives can pass articles of impeachment.
C)The Supreme Court has the power of judicial power, Congress can remove members of the president’s cabinet.
D)States may nullify federal laws that violate state constitutions, The Supreme Court can declare presidential actions unconstitutional if a case arises.

Answer 13

A) The president may veto bills passed by Congress, The Senate must confirm judicial decisions.

Question 14

The expansion of the executive branch since 1939 has affected the separation of powers by
A)increasing presidential control over the legislative process
B)increasing the power of the media as a result of more frequent presidential press conferences
C)reducing the power of the Supreme Court through the use of executive orders
D)giving more power to interest groups than to parties
E)making senatorial approval of presidential appointees ceremonial

Answer 14

A)increasing presidential control over the legislative process

Question 15

The Senate must confirm all of the following presidential appointments EXCEPT
A)United States attorneys
B)United States Supreme Court justices
C)White House staff
D)heads of executive agencies
E)federal judges

Answer 15

C)White House staff

Question 16

On September 29, 2020, after the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, President Donald Trump, a Republican, nominated Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. Many Democrats in the Senate feared that the appointment of Barrett would swing the Court in a more ideologically conservative direction and attempted to block her nomination. After a heated Senate confirmation hearing, Barrett was eventually confirmed by a 52 to 48 vote in the Senate. The scenario best highlights which of the following statements about court appointees?
A)Life tenure for appointed justices alongside the power of judicial review increases the stakes in the confirmation process for nominees to the Supreme Court.
B)Judicial appointees tend to make controversial statements on important policy issues during their confirmation hearings to get confirmed.
C)The merit system for hiring members of the bureaucracy extends to the vetting process for nominations to the Supreme Court.
D)Presidents usually request that the Senate be slow and deliberate with judicial appointments to check the power of the judicial branch.

Answer 16

A)Life tenure for appointed justices alongside the power of judicial review increases the stakes in the confirmation process for nominees to the Supreme Court.

Question 17

Robert Dallek, “Power and the Presidency, From Kennedy to Obama,” Smithsonian magazine, January 2011:Which of the following explains why the author believes presidential power has expanded?
A)Congress has passed legislation requesting that the president take on a stronger leadership role in foreign affairs.
B)The media has influenced public opinion to support the president’s unrestrained control of foreign policy.
C)The United States has emerged as a global power, which has enhanced the power of the president in foreign affairs.
D)The chief executive’s role as defender of freedom and democracy has promoted support for a more active presidency.

Answer 17

C)The United States has emerged as a global power, which has enhanced the power of the president in foreign affairs.

Question 18

Robert Dallek, “Power and the Presidency, From Kennedy to Obama,” Smithsonian magazine, January 2011: Which of the following is a difference between the power of nineteenth-century presidents and that of the modern president according to the passage?
A)Presidents in the nineteenth century had to contend with congressional committees, which had significant powers in foreign affairs.
B)Modern presidents have acquired the power of the purse, which allows them to spend freely on foreign affairs.
C)Modern presidents must win wars in order to keep members of Congress from criticizing their foreign policy.
D)Presidents in the nineteenth century were more likely to support intervention in foreign affairs.

Answer 18

A)Presidents in the nineteenth century had to contend with congressional committees, which had significant powers in foreign affairs.

Question 19

Robert Dallek, “Power and the Presidency, From Kennedy to Obama,” Smithsonian magazine, January 2011: Which of the following statements describes the author’s main argument in the passage?
A)Congress must reassert its responsibility to declare war in order to ensure a balance of power.
B)Presidential power in foreign policy has expanded since the beginning of the twentieth century.
C)The Korean War was a turning point in presidential power.
D)The acquisition of the Panama Canal gave the president undisputed power over foreign policy.

Answer 19

B)Presidential power in foreign policy has expanded since the beginning of the twentieth century.

Question 20

SOURCE LBJ Great Society motivation: Which of the following explains President Johnson’s motivation for the speech in relation to his role as the head of the executive branch?
A)President Johnson believes that Congress will soon pass a bill on education reform, and he would like to be able to claim credit for it.
B)President Johnson is seeking to use the bully pulpit as a means of promoting his agenda on public education.
C)President Johnson is expecting the Supreme Court to soon rule on the constitutionality of a law passed by the previous administration.
D)President Johnson is issuing an executive order calling on local governments to increase training for teachers and address poverty among students.

Answer 20

B)President Johnson is seeking to use the bully pulpit as a means of promoting his agenda on public education.

Question 21

Trend in International Agreements: Which of the following trends is best supported by the information in the table?
A)The number of treaties has increased over time.
B)The number of treaties has decreased over time.
C)The number of executive agreements has increased over time.
D)The number of executive agreements has decreased over time.

Answer 21

C)The number of executive agreements has increased over time.

Question 22

In The Federalist 70, Alexander Hamilton states that “energy in the executive is a leading character in the definition of good government.” In this statement, Hamilton is arguing in favor of the need for
A)a single executive who can respond quickly to crises
B)a president who has a good understanding of public policy
C)an electoral college in the selection of the president
D)a president who is youthful and assertive

Answer 22

A)a single executive who can respond quickly to crises

Question 23

CARTOON presidential influence on SUPREME COURT- Which of the following best illustrates the point being made in the cartoon above?
A)The influence of presidents on the Supreme Court is limited because the Senate often rejects their nominees.
B)The terms of Supreme Court justices should be reduced from their current forty years.
C)Presidents can have an influence on public policy far beyond their terms of office.
D)The opinions of Supreme Court justices remain very similar over long periods of time.
E)Supreme Court justices seldom issue dissenting opinions.

Answer 23

C)Presidents can have an influence on public policy far beyond their terms of office.

Question 24

All of the following have contributed to an increase in presidential power in the post-1945 era EXCEPT
A)tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War period
B)an increase in public expectations for services from the federal government
C)economic and domestic problems such as inflation, unemployment, and civil rights issues
D)increasing United States involvement in international affairs
E)legislation granting the President the power to impound funds appropriated by Congress

Answer 24

E)legislation granting the President the power to impound funds appropriated by Congress

Question 25

A President may persuade recalcitrant members of Congress to vote for a particular bill by
A)having members who oppose the bill transferred to unpopular committees
B)denying campaign funds to members who oppose the bill
C)threatening to deny renomination to members who oppose the bill
D)threatening to item veto part of a different bill that enjoys bipartisan support in Congress
E)making a direct appeal to the public through mass media

Answer 25

E)making a direct appeal to the public through mass media

Question 26

TABLE Comparing the use of signing statements: Which of the following statements is most accurately supported by the data in the table?
A)President Clinton greatly reduced the use of presidential signing statements compared with his predecessors.
B)While President George W. Bush issued fewer signing statements than President Clinton, his included more objections than President Clinton’s.
C)President Clinton’s brief access to the power of the line-item veto allowed him to issue fewer signing statements that raised concerns about legislation.
D)President George W. Bush was forced to issue more signing statements as a direct result of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

Answer 26

B)While President George W. Bush issued fewer signing statements than President Clinton, his included more objections than President Clinton’s.

Question 27

TABLE Comparing the use of signing statements:Which of the following best explains a reason that a president might use a signing statement to express displeasure with a bill as opposed to issuing a veto?
A)The president may have objections to provisions of a bill but does not want to risk Congress overriding a veto.
B)Congress has severely curtailed the power of the president to withhold funds for bills that have been adopted.
C)The Supreme Court is hesitant to acknowledge the president’s power to veto legislation.
D)The president wants to ensure executive agencies do not spend the money appropriated by Congress.

Answer 27

A)The president may have objections to provisions of a bill but does not want to risk Congress overriding a veto.

Question 28

Which of the following is an action a president can take to rally public support for the administration’s legislative agenda?
A)Use the State of the Union Address to pressure Congress to pass a bill lowering income taxes.
B)Hold private meetings with key members of Congress to promote a compromise on the budget.
C)Forge an executive agreement with another country regulating the safety of consumer products.
D)Sign a bill into law that would provide increased aid to college students.

Answer 28

A)Use the State of the Union Address to pressure Congress to pass a bill lowering income taxes.

Question 29

In November 2014, President Obama announced an expansion of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program through an executive order. The policy would protect over 700,000 more children of undocumented immigrants from deportation. Republican members of Congress denounced the order as an abuse of executive power. Previously, members of the House of Representatives had voted to defund the program. This scenario best illustrates which of the following?
A)A reluctant bureaucracy can hinder a president’s agenda.
B)Public opinion can influence how Congress responds to a president.
C)Iron triangles form between members of the president’s party and opponents in Congress.
D)Presidents exert informal powers when their policy agenda conflicts with that of Congress.

Answer 29

D)Presidents exert informal powers when their policy agenda conflicts with that of Congress.

Question 30

A newly elected president faces a Senate controlled by the opposition party. Which of the following presidential appointments is the most likely to encounter difficulty with confirmation by the Senate?
A)Secretary of defense
B)Supreme Court justice
C)Chair of the Council of Economic Advisors
D)Ambassador to Germany

Answer 30

B)Supreme Court justice

Question 31

Number of Vetoes and Bills Passed: Which of the following statements is best supported by the line graph?
A)The number of vetoes has generally increased since 1945, even though the number of bills passed by Congress has decreased.
B)The number of vetoes has generally decreased since 1945, but so has the number of bills passed by Congress.
C)The number of vetoes has generally decreased since 1945, but the number of bills passed by Congress has increased.
D)The number of vetoes has generally increased since 1945, but so has the number of bills passed by Congress.

Answer 31

B)The number of vetoes has generally decreased since 1945, but so has the number of bills passed by Congress.

Question 32

Trends Vetoes and Bills: Which of the following is true based on the data in the line graph?
A)The number of bills passed by Congress decreased under G. H. W. Bush.
B)The number of bills passed by Congress gradually increased under Nixon.
C)The number of presidential vetoes under Johnson decreased over time.
D)The number of presidential vetoes under Eisenhower increased over time.

Answer 32

A)The number of bills passed by Congress decreased under G. H. W. Bush.

Question 33

Which of the following scenarios illustrates how social media has changed the way presidents relate to the public?
A)A president appearing on a late-night comedy talk show to make jokes about the news
B)A president announcing a major policy initiative via the Internet rather than calling a press conference
C)A president allowing film crews to cover a visit to a natural disaster area to highlight federal aid distribution
D)A president hosting a rally in a swing state to increase support for policies helping the working class

Answer 33

B)A president announcing a major policy initiative via the Internet rather than calling a press conference

Question 34

Which of the following situations is an example of the president using the bully pulpit as a tool for agenda setting?
A)President Clinton invoking executive privilege in resisting a subpoena by the United States Senate during the Whitewater investigation
B)President Bush issuing a signing statement in the Detainee Treatment Act of 2005 that considerably weakened its provisions
C)President Obama issuing an executive order delaying the deportation of at least five million undocumented immigrants
D)President Reagan delivering a televised address urging a reduction in federal taxes

Answer 34

D)President Reagan delivering a televised address urging a reduction in federal taxes

Question 35

Executive agreements have been cited as evidence that
A)modern presidents often try to avoid legislative checks and balances on their authority
B)the executive branch has become too large and bureaucratic
C)presidents have less power in handling foreign policy than in handling domestic policy
D)interest groups have too much power in the contemporary governmental system
E)the courts have few means of limiting presidential power

Answer 35

A)modern presidents often try to avoid legislative checks and balances on their authority

Question 36

Imperial Presidency Passage Argument Implication: Which of the following statements is a correct implication of the author’s argument?
A)The modern president has abused the power of the executive branch through the use of the bully pulpit.
B)Federal courts play a substantial role in the American political system, but they have been unable to check the executive.
C)The perception of multiple crises has led to the growth of an executive branch that is undermining the separation of powers in the government.
D)The Constitution has failed to protect the separation of powers by giving the executive branch and the president too much power.

Answer 36

C)The perception of multiple crises has led to the growth of an executive branch that is undermining the separation of powers in the government.

Question 37

Imperial Presidency Passage Constitutional Fix: Based on the passage above, which of the following constitutional provisions would the author most likely identify as a solution to the problem of the imperial presidency?
A)Congress exercising the power to regulate commerce
B)Congress insisting that it declare war prior to the use of international force
C)The president making stronger use of bureaucratic discretion
D)Congress creating term limits for all members of government

Answer 37

B)Congress insisting that it declare war prior to the use of international force

Question 38

Imperial Presidency Passage Federalist 70: Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the text by Schlesinger and The Federalist 70 ?
A)While Schlesinger views centralization of power in the presidency as dangerous, The Federalist 70 views it as vital to the presidency’s effectiveness.
B)While The Federalist 70 views centralization of power in the presidency as dangerous, Schlesinger views it as vital to the presidency’s effectiveness.
C)Both Schlesinger and The Federalist 70 view centralization of power in the presidency as dangerous.
D)Both Schlesinger and The Federalist 70 view centralization of power in the presidency as vital to the presidency’s effectiveness.

Answer 38

A)While Schlesinger views centralization of power in the presidency as dangerous, The Federalist 70 views it as vital to the presidency’s effectiveness.

Question 39

Imperial Presidency Passage Relate to Scenario: Which of the following situations best reflects the author’s concern about an “imperial” presidency?
A)The Senate ratifying treaties without executive approval
B)The president issuing an increasing number of executive agreements
C)Congress declaring war independent of the president
D)The president appointing a new secretary of education

Answer 39

B)The president issuing an increasing number of executive agreements

Question 40

Explain Graphic: Which statement best explains the information in the graphic?
A)The secretary was confirmed by a partisan vote.
B)Confirmation was blocked by one party.
C)Independents swayed the vote for the majority.
D)Attempts at compromise were unsuccessful.

Answer 40

A)The secretary was confirmed by a partisan vote.

Question 41

In 2012, after negotiations on a bill in Congress failed, President Obama issued an executive order that protected from deportation individuals illegally brought to the United States as children by their parents. The president took this action because
A)the executive order would require Congress to bring a bill regarding illegal immigration to the floor for a vote
B)disagreement between congressional leaders and the president on the issue meant that a compromise on a bill was not likely
C)the president was reacting to a Supreme Court decision that required him to do something to protect these individuals
D)the Constitution clearly gives the president control over the legal status of immigrants in the United States

Answer 41

B)disagreement between congressional leaders and the president on the issue meant that a compromise on a bill was not likely

Question 42

Which of the following stages comes first in the policy-making process?
A)Agenda setting
B)Legitimation
C)Program evaluation
D)Policy formulation
E)Implementation

Answer 42

A)Agenda setting

Question 43

On February 9, 2016, President Barack Obama released his budget proposal for the 2017 fiscal year. Facing a Republican Congress, many declared the plan “dead on arrival.” Among the cited issues was Obama’s request for $582.7 billion in discretionary spending for defense, which many Republicans believed was not enough. Which of the following most accurately explains the interaction between the president and the Congress regarding the defense budget?
A)The Congress has the enumerated power to raise revenue, but it is forced to work with the president because the president has the power to determine spending for each department in the upcoming fiscal year.
B)The president can create a budget for defense spending, but Congress has the power to execute laws and operate the government, which can affect how much money is actually spent.
C)Congress passes a budget for the entire federal government, including defense, but it must consider the president’s proposal because the president may veto the bill.
D)The president introduces a specific budget bill for defense spending, but Congress uses its power of legislative oversight to set up a negotiation process with the president.

Answer 43

C)Congress passes a budget for the entire federal government, including defense, but it must consider the president’s proposal because the president may veto the bill.

Question 44

Congress adopted the War Powers Resolution to
A)give the president additional powers in case of military emergencies
B)delineate a clear chain of command in the event of nuclear war
C)criticize the president for declaring war without authorization from Congress
D)enable the president to commit troops to United Nations peacekeeping forces
E)limit the president’s authority to commit troops overseas

Answer 44

E)limit the president’s authority to commit troops overseas

Question 45

Even with large majorities of their own party in Congress, presidents experience difficulty in exercising legislative leadership because
A)the president must compete against state governors for influence
B)the weak nature of political parties hampers the president’s ability to control Congress
C)the president’s use of the veto is ineffective with Congress
D)individual members of Congress attract greater publicity when challenging the president
E)the president seldom addresses the same issues as members of Congress

Answer 45

B)the weak nature of political parties hampers the president’s ability to control Congress