Unit 02 Ch 3-6 AP Gov
Which of the following is an accurate comparison of cabinet-level departments and regulatory agencies? Cabinet Level Departments Regulatory Agencies (A) Fifteen Cabinet departments, each with a secretary or head that serves on the president's Cabinet Created and empowered by Congress to monitor particular industries and enforce unique laws (B) Cabinet Secretaries can run their department in their own way and cannot be removed without Senate approval. Regulatory agencies are usually larger than departments in both employees and funding. (C) Include the Federal Election Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission Senior level agency directors get an automatic seat on the president's Cabinet. (D) Nine federal organizations that carry out the nation's business Are usually within a department and work under the direction of a White House staff member
A
Which of the following is true regarding the public's perception of Congress?
A House member's individual approval rating is usually higher than Congress's approval rating.
How do House congressional districts gain their shapes?
A census and the various state legislatures
Which of the following is the best example of legislative oversight? Which of the following is the best example of legislative oversight?
A hearing is held to investigate misuse of funds.
Which of the following statements about Congress is true?
A proposed constitutional amendment must be approved by two-thirds of the delegates in both houses of Congress.
The president's advantage over Congress when it comes to developing legislative initiatives on major policy issues includes all but which of the following?
Ability to veto legislation.
Which of the following best describes a trend in the line graph above?
Americans are usually displeased with the performance of Congress.
Which of the following arguments does the data in the graph support?
Americans who receive public assistance often become reliant on it.
How are Cabinet secretaries chosen? How are Cabinet secretaries chosen?
By the president and then confirmed by the Senate
Which of the following is an accurate comparison between a pardon and a reprieve? Pardon Reprieve A Lasts ten years Lasts one year B Postpones legal punishment Grants a release from legal punishment C Grants a release from legal punishment Postpones legal punishment D Can only be granted by presidents Can only be granted by governors
C
Which of the following is an accurate comparison of changes in the scope of the presidency? Early Presidents Later Presidents (A) Early presidents tended to execute the laws passed by the legislature and serve no more than two terms. Abraham Lincoln stayed within traditional bounds of the presidency to avoid fomenting regional tensions. (B) Teddy Roosevelt's stewardship theory greatly expanded the scope of the presidency. Modern presidents have scaled back since Teddy Roosevelt to a scope more like that of Washington. (C) Times of national stability led to a contraction in presidential scope under James Buchanan. Times of crisis such as the Great Depression led to the expansion of the president's powers under Franklin D. Roosevelt.
C
Which of the following is an accurate comparison of federal and state judiciaries? Federal Judiciaries State Judiciaries A May overturn state decisions on any grounds Higher than federal courts B Does not hear cases which originated in state courts Is entirely autonomous C May rule on constitutionality of state court decisions Are largely autonomous D Are appeals courts Are trial courts Hint: Federal courts are higher than state courts, but they may overturn state court decisions if a defendant's constitutional rights were violated. Federal courts are not solely appeals courts. State cases can be appealed to federal courts on constitutional grounds, or when there is a jurisdictional concern.
C
Which of the following is an accurate comparison of how the legislative branch and the executive branch can influence the federal courts? LEGISLATIVE BRANCH EXECUTIVE BRANCH A Withholding or decreasing judges' salaries Issuing executive orders to override Court decisions B Pressuring justices to resolve matters a certain way Giving advice and consent on judicial decisions C Impeachment and removal of poor or improper judges Implementation of decisions through administrative bureaucracy D Refusing to carry out judicial decisions Setting jurisdiction between federal and state courts
C
Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the US. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate? House Senate (A) Allows filibusters until a majority vote defeats the filibuster Is a 101-member body, as the vice-president can vote on all bills (B) Has committees chaired by members in the minority Is first in the lawmaking process when it comes to tax law (C) Has more rules of procedure toguide its lawmaking process Has authority over the ratification of treaties with other nations (D) Is solely in charge of declaring war Has the sole power of impeachment
C
A federal agency has been accused of not enforcing laws it is charged with enforcing. Which is the most likely action the relevant House committee will first take?
Call for an oversight hearing to understand the problem
Over the course of U.S. history, power over war has shifted from Congress to the president. The main reason for this is
Changes in the world and in technology have changed the nature of threats to national security in a way that has favored presidential action.
Which statement is not true of congressional parties?
Committee chair positions are rotated between the parties.
Some of those who have entered the United States through our immigration system have proven to be threats to our national security. Since 2001, hundreds of persons born abroad have been convicted of terrorism- related crimes in the United States. The unrestricted entry into the United States of nationals of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen would be detrimental to the interests of the United States. I therefore direct that the entry into the United States of nationals of those six countries be suspended for 90 days from the effective date of this order, subject to the limitations, waivers, and exceptions set forth. --President Donald Trump, Executive Order, March 6, 2017 Which type of power did President Trump exert in issuing this executive order?
Constitutional
Which of the following is an accurate comparison between laissez-faire economics and supply-side economics? Laissez-faire Economics Supply-Side Economics A Pursue individual profit The government should influence wages and prices B Fell out of favor during the Great Depression Influenced by beliefs of rugged individualists C Massive deficit spending Meant to bring inflation under control D No government interference Tax cuts to encourage economic growth
D
Which of the following is an accurate comparison of judicial activism and judicial restraint? JUDlClAL ACTlVlSM JUDlClAL RESTRAINT (A) Can result in shaping federal, but not state, policies Is practiced when an appeals court agrees to grant an appeal (B) Was established with the Judiciary Act of 1789 Was practiced in the Court's ruling in Roe v. Wade (C) Is a democratic way to assure popular polices In a representative government Is practiced when courts restrain the legislative or executive branches (D) ls practiced when courts overrule legislative acts or shape policy ls exercised when courts refrain from interfering with policies created by elected bodies
D
Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the House and Senate? HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SENATE A The Speaker of the House may only vote to break a tie in the House The president of the Senate may vote on any legislation before the Senate B Members can delay the vote on legislation by filibustering Members must send all legislation through the Rules Committee C Members represent the entire state Members represent districts within the state D The Speaker of the House is the most powerful position in the House The majority leader is the most powerful position in the Senate
D
Which of the following statements about congressional reapportionment and redistricting is true?
Districts must be drawn so that, within a state, every person's vote is roughly equal to every other person's vote.
We find that the licensees of the CBS Network Stations aired program material during the halftime show of Super Bowl XXXVIII, that violates the federal restrictions regarding the broadcast of indecent material. Based upon our review of the facts and circumstances of this case, Viacom Inc. is liable for a monetary forfeiture in the aggregate amount of $550,000.00, which represents the statutory maximum of $27,500 for each Viacom Station that broadcast the material. --Federal Communications Commission, Notice of Liability, 2004 Which bureaucratic authority is illustrated with this allegation?
Enforcement
Which of the following powers is shared by the House of Representatives and the Senate?
Establishing Federal courts
Which of the following is an example of the rally-round-the-flag effect?
George W. Bush's popularity was boosted following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Which of the following cases focused on the right to privacy for all American citizens?
Griswold v. Connecticut and Roe v. Wade
Which of the following is an accurate statement regarding congressional leaders?
In case of a tie vote in the Senate, the vice president breaks the tie.
Generally, when is a president more likely to get congressional approval of proposed policies?
In foreign affairs, rather than in domestic affairs
Which of the following has been a direct consequence of the trend illustrated in the line graph?
Increased political polarization in the general public and the decline in congressional job approval ratings continue to the present time.
Which of the following demonstrates why The House Rules Committee is considered one of the most powerful groups in the House of Representatives?
It determines the scheduling of votes and the conditions under which bills are debated and amended.
In what way did the Seventeenth Amendment broaden democracy?
It gave citizens greater impact on lawmaking in the us. Senate.
Which of the following is true about the officers of the House of Representatives?
It is the responsibility of the party whip to keep track of vote counts and pressure members to vote with the party
Why does a judge swear to discharge his duties agreeably to the Constitution of the United States, if that Constitution forms no rule for his government? If it is closed upon him, and cannot be inspected by him? If such be the real state of things, this is worse than solemn mockery. To prescribe, or take this oath, becomes equally a crime. It is also not entirely unworthy of observation that, in declaring what shall be the supreme law of the land, the Constitution itself is first mentioned; and not the laws of the United States generally, but those only which shall he made in in pursuance of the Constitution, have that rank. Thus, the particular phraseology of the Constitution of the United States confirms and strengthens the principle, supposed to be essential to all written constitutions, that a law repugnant to the Constitution is void; and that courts, as well as other departments, are bound by that instrument. -John Marshall, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (1801--1835) It can be inferred from this passage that Marshall was arguing for which legal doctrine?
Judicial review
Which of the following statements is true about U.S. budget deficits?
Large budget deficits make the U.S. government more financially dependent on foreign investors.
Which of the following is an accurate conclusion based on the data in the table above and your knowledge of voter behavior?
Latinos vote in presidential elections in larger numbers than in midterm elections in part because there is more media coverage in those years.
With which statement would a Seventeenth Amendment supporter agree?
Legislatures should be representative bodies.
Average age of Members, 112th to 115th Congress Congress Representatives Newly elected Representatives Senators Newly elected Senators 115th 57.8 years 50.8 years 61.8 years 54.8 years 114th 57.0 years 52.3 years 61.0 years 50.7 years 113th 57.0 years 49.2 years 62.0 years 53.0 years 112th 56.7 years 48.2 years 62.2 years 52.1 years Which of the following is an accurate conclusion based on the data in the table above?
Levels of reelection in both the House and Senate are high.
In which of the following cases did the Supreme Court first claim the right of judicial review?
Marbury v. Madison
Which of the following is a fair criticism of the federal bureaucracy?
Overlapping bureaucratic authority can cause wasteful spending and duplication.
Which of the following actions may Congress take to limit the president's power?
Override a presidential veto with a two-thirds vote
Some of those who have entered the United States through our immigration system have proven to be threats to our national security. Since 2001, hundreds of persons born abroad have been convicted of terrorism- related crimes in the United States. The unrestricted entry into the United States of nationals of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen would be detrimental to the interests of the United States. I therefore direct that the entry into the United States of nationals of those six countries be suspended for 90 days from the effective date of this order, subject to the limitations, waivers, and exceptions set forth. --President Donald Trump, Executive Order, March 6, 2017 Which of the following describes President Trump's perspective in the executive order?
People who have already immigrated from the named countries may be untrustworthy.
Legislation that allows representatives to bring money and jobs to their districts is referred to as
Pork barrel
Which of the following was a likely consequence of the trend illustrated in the graph?
President Bush's political party lost the 2008 presidential election.
Which of the following best defines the term judicial activism?
Rulings based on the assumption that judges can make policy as well as interpret it
The attorney general is the head of which of the following entities?
The Department of Justice
Which of the following amendments provides the basis for a challenge to the Constitutionality of sobriety checkpoints?
The Fourth Amendment protection against unreasonable search and seizure
Which of the following sequences accurately follows the impeachment and removal process as outlined in the Constitution?
The House accuses an official; the Senate judges and decides whether to remove the official
Which of the following is true regarding the impeachment process?
The House can impeach a president and the Senate can remove a president on conviction of bribery or other high crimes and misdemeanors.
We have before us one of the most important duties of Congress, and that is to decide whether or not we will be involved in war. I think it is inexcusable that the debate over whether we involve the country in another country's civil war, would be debated as part of a spending bill, and not as part of an independent, free-standing bill. It goes against the history of the country. -Senator Rand Paul Speech, September 18, 2014 Which of the following statements best summarizes this excerpt from Senator Paul's speech?
The US. Senate should decide on war-like action on its merits, not along with other legislation.
We have before us one of the most important duties of Congress, and that is to decide whether or not we will be involved in war. I think it is inexcusable that the debate over whether we involve the country in another country's civil war, would be debated as part of a spending bill, and not as part of an independent, free-standing bill. It goes against the history of the country. -Senator Rand Paul Speech, September 18, 2014 -Senator Rand Paul, Speech, September 18, 2014 Which foreign policy reality might limit what the Senate can do in this scenario?
The War Powers Act gives the president freedom to act with the military for a limited time
The powers of the Commander-in-Chief have been expanded by all of the following except
The War Powers Act.
What is the primary reason committees in the House are more influential than they are in the Senate?
The difference in size between the two chambers means that more work is done on the floor in the Senate and more work is done in committees in the House.
A police officer searched a person's car on a slight suspicion, and happened to find the person possessed an illegal gun. The person never consented to a search, nor did the officer obtain a warrant. Which of the following might prevent the gun from being introduced as evidence in a trial?
The exclusionary rule
We have before us one of the most important duties of Congress, and that is to decide whether or not we will be involved in war. I think it is inexcusable that the debate over whether we involve the country in another country's civil war, would be debated as part of a spending bill, and not as part of an independent, free-standing bill. It goes against the history of the country. -Senator Rand Paul Speech, September 18, 2014 Which power of Congress is Senator Paul probably most concerned about based on this passage?
The expressed power to declare warThe expressed power to declare war
First, is the question of whether Congress has directly spoken to the question at issue. If the intent of Congress is clear that is the end of the matter. The court, as well as the agency, must serve the unambiguously expressed intent of Congress. If, however, the court determines Congress has not directly addressed the question at issue, the Court does not simply impose its own construction on the statute. Rather if the statute is silent or ambiguous with respect to the specific issue, the question for the Court is whether the agency's answer is based on a permissible construction of the statute. -Justice John Paul Stevens, Majority Opinion, Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council (1984) Those who disagree with the above Supreme Court's opinion would point to which facts?
The lawmaking process becomes less democratic when bureaucratic agencies can regulate beyond their defined jurisdiction.
Which of the following is specifically mentioned in the US. Constitution?
The national census
International events, particularly crises, have which of the following impacts on support for the president?
The popularity of the president will temporarily increase
The Imperial Presidency refers to
The power of the President beyond that which the framers intended
Which of the following may the president do to limit the power of Congress?
The president can veto a congressional bill that has passed the House and Senate.
Some of those who have entered the United States through our immigration system have proven to be threats to our national security. Since 2001, hundreds of persons born abroad have been convicted of terrorism- related crimes in the United States. The unrestricted entry into the United States of nationals of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen would be detrimental to the interests of the United States. I therefore direct that the entry into the United States of nationals of those six countries be suspended for 90 days from the effective date of this order, subject to the limitations, waivers, and exceptions set forth. --President Donald Trump, Executive Order, March 6, 2017 With which statement would supporters of this executive order most likely agree?
The president should make protecting the nation from foreign terrorism a top priority.
A member of the president's cabinet disagrees strongly with the president on how executive branch policy should be carried out and has publicly expressed those views. Which of the following outcomes will likely happen?
The president will remove the official from his or her administration.
A Republican president has nominated a federal judge for an opening on a US. court. A number of senators have declared they are not supportive of the nominee, including many senators within the president's own party, which holds only a simple majority of the Senate seats. No Democrats support the candidate. Which of the following scenarios will likely occur?
The president will withdraw the nomination or the nominee will withdraw
Which of the following accounts for the fact that the power and prestige of the presidency have grown since 1932?
The president's increased visibility, due to the development of mass media
If there are such things as political axioms, the propriety of the judicial power of a government being coextensive with its legislative, may be ranked among the number. The mere necessity of uniformity in the interpretation of the national laws, decides the question. Thirteen independent courts of final jurisdiction over the same causes, arising upon the same laws, is a hydra in government, from which nothing but contradiction and confusion can proceed. -Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 80, 1788 Which of the following statements best summarizes Hamilton's argument?
The proposed federal courts and the Supreme Court will provide national consistency in law.
What conclusion can you draw from the patterns of change represented in the table? Executive Branch Employment By Department [Total Employees, Selected Department] Fiscal Year 2016 Department FY 2012 FY 2014 FY 2016 Education 3,899 3,815 3,973 State 9,761 10,068 10,500 Commerce 35,013 34,85 35,661 Homeland Security 169,166 167,422 169,547 Justice 113,358 110,427 112,900
The size of the federal bureaucracy is fairly stable.
Which of the following generally results when the Senate and House of Representatives pass different versions of the same bill?
The two legislative bodies form a conference committee
Which of the following statements about cabinet departments is true?
Their members sometimes do not share the president's goals.
Which statement about executive orders is not true?
They refer to orders that presidents give to members of the Cabinet.
The President will be elected to four years and is re-eligible as often as the people of the United States think him worthy of their confidence. We must conclude that the permanency of the President's four-year term is less dangerous than a three-year term for the top official in a single state. The president of the United States can be impeached, tried, and, on conviction of bribery, or other high crimes or misdemeanors, removed from office. Afterwards he would be liable to prosecution and punishment in the ordinary course of law. - Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 69, 1788 Which amendment to the Constitution has made some of the argument in the passage above moot?
Twenty-Second Amendment
Which of the following situations is an example of logrolling?
Two congressmen agreeing to vote on each other's bills
Who is the official head of the Senate?
Vice President
A Congress member and several other sponsors are ready to introduce a bill into the legislative process. The bill is designed to reduce tax rates on people with lower incomes. In which committee will these House members introduce their bill?
Ways and Means Committee
Which of the following statements is reflected in the data in the table?
Which of the following statements is reflected in the data in the table?
A pocket veto differs from a regular presidential veto in that the pocket veto
a conference committee for review and compromise
If legislation passes in the House and Senate but each version is different, the conflicting bills are sent to
a conference committee for review and compromise
In the House, a stalled bill can be extracted from a committee and brought to the floor by means of
a discharge petition. a discharge petition.
Which of the following would occur if Congress were to pass legislation and declare a recess, and the president took no action on the bill within ten days of its passage?
a pocket veto
The biggest category of federal expenditures is spending for
aid to the elderly and the poor.
The Constitution says Congress has the power to coin money. This is an example of
an enumerated power
Select committees in the House and Senate
are temporary committees which investigate for the purpose of furthering legislation.
Presidents' constitutional authority in the area of domestic policy includes:
authority to execute the laws
Iron triangles are made up of which of the following?
bureaucratic agencies, congressional committees, and interest groups
How are cabinet members chosen?
by the president and confirmed by the senate
The president wishes to influence the legislative process. Which of the following actions can he legally perform?
call special sessions of Congress
When the House and Senate pass different versions of a bill, the differences are resolved by a
conference committee.
In Mapp v. Ohio, the exclusionary rule was extended to include
criminal proceedings in the states.
All of the following are examples of entitlement programs EXCEPT
defense contracts.
A senator realizes a vote on an immigration bill is coming up. The senator examines public opinion polls on the issue and carefully reads his inbox for constituents' views on the issue. He votes accordingly. This senator is following which model of representation?
delegate
The House Rules Committee is an important part of the legislative process because it
determines the terms and conditions of debate when a bill goes to the House floor
Congress, not the president, has the constitutional power to control the judicial branch by
determining the size of the Supreme Court
Presidential executive privilege
does not apply in a criminal investigation.
Which of the following programs is categorized as discretionary spending under the Budget Enforcement Act of 1990?
education
The ability of a President to keep national security conversations that take place in the Oval Office confidential is
executive privilege
Congressional oversight refers to the power of Congress to
exercise some control over executive agencies
Recess appointments can be used by Presidents to
fill federal judicial vacancies without Senate consent.
The War Powers Act
has never been tested in court because the issue is not justiciable.
Which of the following is not a consequence of the higher level of party polarization in the U.S. Congress?
higher likelihood that members of Congress will support the president's policy initiatives
Since the passage of the War Powers Act, presidents have
ignored its requirements
Much of the increase in federal expenditures since 1960 has been caused by
increases in entitlement programs
The largest contribution to federal revenue comes from
individual income taxes.
A discharge petition is rarely used in the House of Representatives because
it is a challenge to majority leadership and informal rules of behavior
A Supreme Court judge expresses the desire to change public policy and alter judicial precedent. Which of the following terms describes this action?
judicial activism
Practice in Congress whereby Representative A promises to vote for Representative B's legislation, provided B supports A's legislation:
logrolling
Executive agreements
omit Congress as a player in foreign policy decisions
After a presidential veto of a bill, Congress may
override the president's veto with a two-thirds vote of both houses of Congress
Voting patterns of members of Congress correlate MOST strongly with
political party affiliation
A judicial decision that establishes a rule for settling subsequent cases of a similar nature sets a
precedent.
Most U.S. military conflicts since World War II have taken place through
presidential authorization
Impoundment was a technique used by presidents to
prevent the Congress from busting the budget by refusing to spend appropriated funds.
After a national census has been taken, changes in population distribution cause the changing of congressional seats among the states. This effect is called
reapportionment
An important tool Congress uses to influence the bureaucracy is
requiring agency heads to routinely appear before congressional committees.
In Schenck v. United States (1919), the Supreme Court ruled that
speech could be restricted when the nation's security is at stake.
An example of a discretionary item in the federal budget is
spending on national parks
The 2013 government shutdown that resulted from the inability of Congress to reach agreement on the federal budget was caused by:
starkly opposing views of Republicans and Democrats on issues of taxing and spending.
The institution which declares war in the United States is
the Congress
What was intended to give Congress a greater voice in the introduction of American troops into hostilities?
the War Powers Resolution
All of the following are formal powers of the president EXCEPT
the line item veto.
In initiating broad legislative proposals, the president enjoys all of the following advantages over Congress EXCEPT
the president is granted more authority by the Constitution in the area of lawmaking. the president is granted more authority by the Constitution in the area of lawmaking.
Bureaucracies are often criticized as being undemocratic because
they are not directly accountable to the people.
Which factor best explains a president's legislative success with Congress?
whether the president's party has a congressional majority
Which factor best explains the president's success with Congress?
whether the president's party has a congressional majority
