Unit 2 Interactions Among Branches of Gov
Which of the following would be a case of original jurisdiction before the United States Supreme Court?
A lawsuit between the United States and one of the states
Which of the following scenarios is an example of the trustee model of representation?
A member of Congress votes to close a popular tax loophole based on the belief that the money would be better spent paying down the national debt.
Which of the following best describes an "iron triangle" ?
A relationship between bureaucrats, legislators, and lobbyists, all of whom seek policies in their particular interest
Which of the following scenarios best illustrates a member of Congress supporting pork-barrel legislation?
A senator from an agricultural state amending legislation to establish a potato research institute in his or her state
Which of the following stages comes first in the policy-making process?
Agenda setting
In which of the following circumstances would the rule of four be applied?
At least four justices on the Supreme Court agree that a case should be put on the Court's docket
Which of the following statements describes a difficulty presidents face in the policy implementation process
Because of civil service laws, it is not easy for the president to remove professional bureaucrats when they disagree with the president's agenda
Which of the following statements describes a difficulty presidents face in the policy implementation process?
Because of civil service laws, it is not easy for the president to remove professional bureaucrats when they disagree with the president's agenda
Which of the following is true of the relationship between Congress and executive agencies?
Because the agencies have bureaucratic expertise, Congress delegates "rule-making authority" to them
Which of the following is true according to the diagram?
Both chambers make use of a system of majority and minority whips
Which of the following accurately compares the formal and informal powers of the president?
C
Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the House of Representatives and the Senate?
C
Which of the following best explains why cabinet secretaries might not aggressively pursue the president's policy agenda?
Cabinet secretaries may develop strong loyalty to their departments
Based on the information in the line graph, which of the following is the most likely implication of entitlement and defense spending as a portion of the federal budget? (line graph)
Changes in entitlement spending put pressure on discretionary spending
Which of the following identifies the formal procedure for ending a filibuster?
Cloture
The number of justices on the United States Supreme Court is set by
Congress
Which of the following correctly identifies an implication of the line graph?
Congress is more likely to act on a president's policy proposal at the beginning of a first term than at the end of a second term
Congress is most likely to exert oversight of the executive bureaucracy in which of the following ways?
Controlling an executive agency's annual budget
Why is federal case law more frequently established by the United States courts of appeal than by the United States Supreme Court?
Courts of appeal must decide cases appealed to it from the lower courts, while the Supreme Court can choose its cases and hears relatively few each year
____________________refers to the authority of administrators in the federal bureaucracy to make choices concerning the best way to implement policies.
Discretion
The government depicted above is best described by which of the following terms?
Divided government
Which of the following policies involves more state spending than federal spending?
Education
Which of the following is an accurate statement about the information in the line graph?
Entitlement spending has steadily become a larger portion of the federal budget.
The primary responsibility for determining monetary policy in the United States rests with the
Federal Reserve Board
A member of the House of Representatives has introduced a bill to raise the minimum wage, but it has been in committee for 36 days and is unlikely to make it to the floor. Which of the following is the best course of action for the representative to take to get a vote on the bill?
Filing for a discharge petition
Policy that describes the impact of the federal budget (including taxes, spending, and borrowing) on the economy is referred to as which of the following?
Fiscal policy
Members of the United States House of Representatives Committee on Veterans Affairs are concerned about the quality of services at hospitals run by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Which of the following is an action the committee can take to address the problem?
Holding a hearing and subpoenaing high-level officials in the Department of Veterans Affairs to testify
Which of the following scenarios illustrates Washington's concerns? (speech)
Ideological divisions within Congress can lead to partisan gridlock.
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 is a way Congress can influence the federal judiciary?
It can change appellate jurisdiction of federal courts
The map shows the outline of a congressional district. Which of the following statements best explains the motivation behind the way in which it is drawn?
It has likely been drawn to pack together voters who are registered with the same party.
The doctrine of stare decisis is significant for which of the following reasons?
It is the principle that affirms that courts are bound by prior decisions
The map shows the outline of a congressional district. Which of the following is a consequence of the way the district is drawn on the map? (picture)
It will likely lead to a less competitive general election, which could lead to increased partisanship.
Which of the following describes the president's Cabinet?
Its members have varying levels of influence on presidential decisions.
Appointments to the federal judiciary are often contentious for which of the following reasons?
Life terms for federal judges mean that presidential appointments will continue to have influence long after the president's term is over
Which of the following statements reflects a pattern in the line graph?
Most presidents exit office with lower approval ratings than when they entered office
A new president has been elected and has a number of positions to fill within the federal bureaucracy. Which of the following is an example of filling a position based on political patronage?
Nominating a high-level campaign fund-raiser to serve as an ambassador to New Zealand
The majority party in the Senate is concerned that the Supreme Court has made a number of ideologically dangerous and controversial rulings. Which of the following actions would the Senate take in their attempt to limit the Supreme Court's power?
Pass legislation that would limit the impact of the Supreme Court's recent rulings
All of the following statements about presidential vetoes are correct EXCEPT
Pocket vetoes can be overridden by Congress
Which of the following is an example of presidential use of informal powers?
President Bill Clinton advocating for public policy reform on his Health Security Express bus
Which of the following explains President Johnson's motivation for the speech in relation to his role as the head of the executive branch?
President Johnson is seeking to use the bully pulpit as a means of promoting his agenda on public education
Which of the following may the president do to limit the Supreme Court's power?
Refuse to enforce a ruling by the Court
During his confirmation hearing, Chief Justice John Roberts stated that Roe v. Wade (1973) "is the settled law of the land." This statement suggests that in a case that challenges the constitutionality of legislation restricting privacy and reproductive rights, which of the following should be a key factor in the court's ruling?
Reliance on legal precedent
The War Powers Resolution does which of the following?
Requires that the president notify Congress within 48 hours of deploying troops
The trend shown in the chart contributed to which the following in the 1980's? (graph)
Rising federal deficits
Which of the following is true about senatorial courtesy?
Senators of the state from which the nominee comes are consulted by the President prior to the candidate's appointment as a federal judge.
Which of the following types of committee deals with broad areas of public policy and can be found in both houses of Congress?
Standing
Which of the following best describes the pattern in the chart?
Tax rates for wealthy people were lowest in 1991-1992 and highest in 1981
Which of the following best describes the relationship between the Supreme Court and the cases it hears?
The Court hears only a small percentage of cases submitted for certiorari.
Which of the following best explains the difference in the number of bureaucrats employed by the Department of Education and the Department of Homeland Security?
The Department of Education primarily addresses state issues, whereas the Department of Homeland Security primarily addresses national issues
Which of the following is likely to occur as a result of new legislation regarding automobile safety?
The Department of Transportation will be given discretionary authority to create auto regulations
Which of the following did the Supreme Court establish in Marbury v. Madison?
The Supreme Court can declare federal legislation invalid if the legislation violates the Constitution
Which of the following accurately describes the information presented in the pie chart?
The United States Postal Service has the largest number of employees within the federal bureaucracy
Which of the following is a unique power held by members of the Senate?
The ability to filibuster
Which of the following is the primary reason for the tensions that exist between the legislative and executive branches of the federal government
The branches have different constituencies with different interests
The framers of the Constitution designed which of the following to be LEAST responsive to public opinion?
The courts
Which of the following best illustrates the concept of iron triangles?
The long-term relationships between agencies, congressional committees, and interest groups in specific policy areas
Which of the following situations best illustrates the meaning of divided government in the United States political system?
The majority of senators and the majority of representatives are from one party, but the president is from another
Which of the following constitutional provisions broadened the power of Congress?
The necessary and proper clause
Which of the following is supported by information in the table?
The number of women elected to Congress more than doubled between the 100th and 105th Congresses
Which of the following factors is most important in influencing presidential nominations for the federal judiciary?
The political ideology of the nominee
Senator Smith votes her conscience on bills that her constituents care little about, but she votes according to the wishes of the majority of her constituents on other bills. Which model of representation do her actions embody?
The politico model
Which of the following enumerated powers would permit Congress to stimulate the economy by hiring unemployed citizens?
The power to pass a federal budget
Members of Congress who have adopted the delegate role of representation normally cast their votes based on which of the following?
The preferences of the majority of their constituents
Which of the following statements best describes the president's influence over agency budgets?
The president influences the initial budget proposal, but depends on Congress for appropriations of federal money
Which of the following represents a reason that a president might use a signing statement to express displeasure with a bill as opposed to issuing a veto?
The president may have objections to provisions of a bill but does not want to risk Congress overriding a veto
Which of the following is an example of how separation of powers creates friction between the executive and legislative branches in the policy-making process?
The president threatens to issue an executive order for stricter gun control if Congress continues to refuse to take action
Which of the following is an example of checks and balances in action in the United States government?
The president vetoes a bill passed by Congress
Based on your knowledge and the diagram, which of the following is true regarding the leadership structure of Congress?
The role of the minority leader in both the House of Representatives and the Senate is to coordinate a strategy for the minority party.
Which of the following scenarios best illustrates a formal check on the power of the bureaucracy?
The secretary of defense being called to testify before a congressional committee
Which of the following committees plays a major role in the House in shaping tax policy?
Ways and Means
Which of the following statements is most accurately supported by the data in the table?
While President George W. Bush issued fewer signing statements than President Clinton, his included more objections than President Clinton's
The Senate must confirm all of the following presidential appointments EXCEPT
White House staff
The president is most likely to use an executive order to make important policy when
a compromise cannot be reached with Congress
If legislation passes in both the House of Representatives and the Senate but each version is slightly different, the conflicting bills are sent to
a conference committee for review and compromise
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 single executive who can respond quickly to crises
The Supreme Court is subject to all of the following types of political pressure which may affect its decisions EXCEPT
ability of Congress to overturn a decision by a 60% vote
The primary function of the White House staff is to
advise the president
The three points of an iron triangle include
an administrative agency, an interest group, and a congressional committee
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service will spend money appropriated by Congress to maintain wildlife refuges. This action is an example of
bureaucratic implementation of law
Under the Constitution prior to the Seventeenth Amendment, United States Senators were
chosen by members of state legislatures
Congress enacted the presidential line-item veto primarily in order to
control local pork-barrel projects
Judicial review refers to the power of the Supreme Court to
declare actions taken by the executive and legislative branches unconstitutional
The constitutional powers of the president include all of the following EXCEPT
declaring war
The president's role as chief diplomat is derived from
delegated powers
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 has the constitutional power to control the judicial branch by
determining the size of the Supreme Court
The ability of the federal courts to make public policy derives from all of the following EXCEPT their power to
enact new laws.
The term "bicameralism" refers to the
establishment of two legislative chambers that have different structures and rules
Congressional oversight refers to the power of Congress to
exercise some control over executive agencies
To influence policy making by the federal courts, the president may do all of the following EXCEPT
fire and replace federal judges
Bureaucratic rule-making is best defined as
guidelines issued by government agencies, which provide specific details about how a policy will be implemented
Which of the following is a function of departments and agencies within the federal bureaucracy?
implementing public policies
Much of the steady increase in federal government expenditures since 1960 has been caused by
increases in entitlement programs
The expansion of the executive branch since 1939 has affected the separation of powers by
increasing presidential control over the legislative process
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are examples of
independent agencies
A Supreme Court that demonstrates a willingness to change public policy and alter judicial precedent is said to be engaging in
judicial activism
The idea that judges ought to freely strike down laws that are inconsistent with their understanding of the original intent of the Constitution is known as
judicial restraint.
Congress adopted the War Powers Resolution to
limit the president's authority to commit troops overseas
The practice in Congress whereby Representative A promises to vote for Representative B's legislation, provided that Representative B will support Representative A's legislation, is referred to as
logrolling
Executive agreements have been cited as evidence that
modern presidents often try to avoid legislative checks and balances on their authority
The primary purpose of the North American Free Trade Agreement is to
reduce trade barriers between the United States, Mexico, and Canada
What is a goal common to both the Pendleton Act and the Hatch Act?
reducing the influence of partisan politics on the federal bureaucracy
The Supreme Court issued a ruling that was unpopular with a majority of Americans. The president and Congress might be able to lessen the impact of the decision by
refusing to actively enforce the decision
A policy that sets emission standards for automobiles is an example of
regulatory policy
The legislative process at the national level of government reflects the intent of the framers of the Constitution to create a legislature that would be
slow and deliberate in the law-making process
In the United States judicial system, when a judge decides a case based on decisions rendered in similar cases in the past, the judge is following the principle of
stare decisis
A writ of certiorari from the Supreme Court indicates that the Court
will review a lower court decision
