Brock Unit 2 Test Study Guide
A policy that sets emission standards for automobiles is an example of A. regulatory policy B. judicial policy C. fiscal policy D. monetary policy
A
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
A
In Worcester v. Georgia (1832), the United States Supreme Court ruled that a Georgia law violated the U.S. Constitution. In response to Chief Justice John Marshall's majority opinion, President Andrew Jackson said, "John Marshall has made his decision, now let him enforce it." Which of the following ideas regarding government does President Jackson's statement exhibit? A.) Since the Supreme Court has no enforcement mechanism, the executive and legislative branches can restrict its decisions. B.) When the Supreme Court takes an activist approach to decision making, it can influence policy. C.) Constitutional amendments have granted the Supreme Court greater power to enforce its decisions. D. Unpopular Supreme Court Justices can be removed by a two-thirds vote in Congress and a presidential signature.
A
Refer to the Signing Statements chart. 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? 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.
A
Refer to the diagram on Congressional Leadership. Based on your knowledge and the diagram, which of the following is true regarding the leadership structure of Congress? A.) The role of the minority leader in both the House of Representatives and the Senate is to coordinate a strategy for the minority party B.) The vice president is responsible for creating and setting the legislative agenda for the Senate C.) The Speaker of the House has very little power to control members of the majority party in the House of Representatives D.) The majority leaders in both chambers work to ensure that a bipartisan agenda is passed in the Congress
A
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 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.
A
Which of the following is an example of the executive branch implementing a public policy passed by Congress? A.) The Department of Health and Human Services determines eligibility requirements for government assistance. B.) As chief diplomat, the president negotiates a treaty that is then ratified by the Senate. C.) A Federal Trade Commission official is asked to testify before Congress about the agency's activities. D.) Congress passes a law reorganizing the structure of the federal bureaucracy.
A
Which of the following scenarios best illustrates delegated discretionary authority? A.) Congress giving the Environmental Protection Agency the power to establish national pollution standards B.) The chair of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce appointing the chair of the Environment subcommittee C.) The House of Representatives establishing the jurisdiction for the Committee on Energy and Commerce D.) The president nominating the attorney general of Ohio to serve as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
A
A United States Supreme Court justice has announced his retirement at the end of the current Supreme Court term. What is the most likely presidential action in response to this announcement? A.) Confer with House leadership to discuss potential nominees B.) Confer with the chief justice to discuss potential nominees C.) Nominate a federal judge who shares the president's ideology D.) Nominate a sitting senator of the majority party
C
Which of the following describes the origin of the United States court system presented in the diagram? A.) Article II of the Constitution established the three-tiered court system and the jurisdiction of each court in each tier. B.) McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) allowed the Supreme Court to establish other federal courts. C.) Article III of the Constitution established a Supreme Court, while other federal courts were established by Congress. D.) Marbury v. Madison (1803) allowed Congress to create other federal courts.
C
Which of the following describes the ruling in Shaw v. Reno (1993)? A. The Voting Rights Act was ruled unconstitutional. B. The poll tax was eliminated. C. Racial gerrymandering was ruled unconstitutional. D. It was decided that congressional districts needed to be equal in size.
C
Which of the following explains how Congress would most likely respond if it were concerned about the slight increase in spending over time, as indicated by the bar chart? A.) Congress could vote to remove the secretary of Homeland Security. B.) Congress could hold a special joint session to discuss potential solutions. C.) Congress could vote to reduce spending on the Department of Homeland Security in the next year's budget. D.) Congress could pass a constitutional amendment limiting appropriations.
C
Which of the following is an example of Congress using its implied powers? A.) Congress changing the tax code so that individuals making more than $350,000 per year have to pay higher taxes B.) Congress requesting that the Supreme Court review the constitutionality of a state gun-control law C.) Congress passing occupational safety regulations for the private sector D.) Congress ratifying a new trade agreement with Mexico and Canada
C
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.
C
A person claiming that the House can pass legislation with a simple majority but the Senate is unlikely to pass legislation unless a bill has the support of a 60-vote supermajority is most likely to cite which of the following institutional differences as the cause of this trend? A.) The House has fewer legislative committees than the Senate does B.) Members of the House often represent a much narrower constituency than senators do C.) Party leadership in the House is highly formalized, while leadership in the Senate is much more informal. D.) The House has strict limits on debate, while the Senate allows unlimited debate
D
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
D
A member of Congress votes in favor of a bill as a result of receiving many letters of support for the bill from constituents. Which form of democratic representation best describes this voting decision? A. Trustee B. Delegate C. Elite D. Pluralist
B
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
B
Based on the passage by Arthur M. Schlesinger, 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
B
All of the following help to explain the President's difficulty in controlling cabinet-level agencies EXCEPT A.) Agencies often have political support from interest groups B.) Agency staff often have information and technical expertise that the President and presidential advisers lack C.) The President can only fire appointees before they have been confirmed by the Senate D.) Civil servants who remain in their jobs through changes of administration develop loyalties to their agencies E.) Congress is a competitor for influence over the bureaucracy
C
Congress passes a law requiring that all public accommodations provide access for people with disabilities. The United States Supreme Court rules that the law does not apply to the airline industry. Which of the following is the best way for Congress to provide people with disabilities access to the airline industry in light of the Court's ruling? A.) Appeal the ruling to the United States Court of Appeals B.) Override the court with a two-thirds majority in both chambers C.) Pass a new law that specifies that the airlines must provide access for people with disabilities D.) Remove members of the Supreme Court who ruled against the law and have the president appoint new justices
C
Refer to the International Agreements graph. 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.
C
In Baker v. Carr (1962), the Supreme Court ruled that a state legislature would have to redraw their representative districts in order to comply with the Constitution. Which of the following potential difficulties could have resulted from this decision? A.) The state legislature could have refused to implement the decision, leading to a crisis in the legitimacy of the Supreme Court's authority. B.) The United States Congress could have requested that funding be cut off from the redistricting program. C.) The president could have created an executive agreement with the state that overrode the Supreme Court's decision. D.) A state appellate court could have issued a ruling that overturned the ruling of the United States Supreme Court.
D
In The Federalist 78, Alexander Hamilton argued that the federal judiciary "is beyond comparison the weakest of the three departments of power." Which of the following statements represents a reason he gave for this argument? A.) It has the power of the sword and the power of judgment but lacks the power of the purse. B.) Each branch must be given the ability to defend its power and check the others. C.) The federal government is further from the people and thus less accountable. D.) It must depend on the executive for enforcement of its decisions.
D
Which of the following statements accurately summarizes the reasoning for the decision in Baker v. Carr (1962)? A. Because rural districts had fewer people, representation was unevenly distributed; thus, Baker was denied equal protection under the law. B. To ensure equal protection under the law, there should be an equal number of rural and urban districts in a state. C. There should be redistricting every ten years at the federal level, but the state can choose not to redistrict at the state and local levels. D. Congressional redistricting must involve traditionally excluded groups in the process or it violates the equal protection clause.
A
Rules and regulations created by an agency such as the Federal Communications Commission are called A. constitutional law B. statutory law C. common law D. administrative law
D
Which of the following factors most likely led to shifts in Supreme Court decision making over time? A.) The ideological composition of the justices on the Supreme Court shifted to become less liberal over time. B.) Rather than pass new legislation, Congress was inclined to refer civil rights legislation to the Supreme Court. C.) After 1960, the Supreme Court deferred to the wishes of state and local governments rather than voting to expand the authority of the federal government. D.) Constitutional amendments enabled the Supreme Court to issue more liberal decisions.
A
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.
A
Which of the following scenarios best illustrates the concept of a case being decided based on precedent? A.) The Supreme Court bases its decision in a case involving the commerce clause on one of its earlier decisions involving the commerce clause. B.) The Supreme Court overturns a lower court decision in a case dealing with voter identification laws. C.) A state passes a law which contradicts federal law, causing the Supreme Court to rule in favor of the federal government. D.) The chief justice of the Supreme Court disagrees with the majority of the other justices and decides to declare a law passed by Congress as unconstitutional.
A
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.
B
In The Federalist 78, Alexander Hamilton states, "A constitution is, in fact, and must be regarded by the judges, as a fundamental law. It therefore belongs to them to ascertain its meaning." Which of the following Supreme Court cases is most relevant to this statement? A. Baker v. Carr (1962) B. Marbury v. Madison (1803) C. Shaw v. Reno (1993) D. McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)
B
Refer to the Mentions of War Funding Policies chart. Which of the following is the best conclusion that can be drawn from the data in the table? A.) Support for the Vietnam War led Congress to hold more hearings to discuss increases in expenditures on the military effort. B.) Public concern over the Vietnam War led Congress to hold more hearings to consider using the power of the purse to influence the conduct of the war. C.) The public reaction to the September 11 terrorist attacks led to many hearings to limit federal expenditures to fight terrorism. D.) The number of hearings have increased in the House of Representatives because members have become more dependent on political action committees.
B
Refer to the Percentage of Liberal Decisions chart. Based on the data in the chart, which of the following is true? A.) The percentage of liberal decisions made by the federal district courts on civil rights and civil liberties cases increased between 1900 and 1928. B.) The percentage of liberal decisions made by the Supreme Court on civil rights and civil liberties cases decreased between 1964 and 1996. C.) The number of civil rights and civil liberties cases heard by the Supreme Court declined between 1944 and 1952. D.) The number of civil rights and civil liberties cases heard by the federal district courts decreased between 1972 and 1992.
B
Refer to the line graph. Which of the following correctly identifies an implication of the line graph? A.) Presidents are far more likely to make changes to the bureaucracy at the end of a second term than at the beginning of a first term. B.) 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. C.) The Supreme Court is more likely to rule on an important case at the beginning of a first term than at the end of a second term. D.) Presidents are more likely to send troops into conflict at the end of a second term than at the beginning of a first term.
B
The Supreme Court upholds a law passed by Congress as constitutional. The chief justice states in the majority opinion that previous decisions supporting Congress' power to make laws based on the commerce clause of the Constitution were the basis for the decision. Which of the following legal concepts did the chief justice apply in writing the opinion? A. Compliance monitoring B. Stare decisis C. Overlapping jurisdiction D. Judicial activism
B
Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate? A.) House of Representatives: The majority and minority parties control legislative scheduling and rules equally. Senate: Minority party members can threaten to filibuster a bill the majority party wants to pass. B.) House of Representatives: The Constitution's framers intended it to reflect the will of the people. Senate: The Constitution's framers designed it to represent the interests of the states. C.) House of Representatives: Most legislative work takes place in standing committees. Senate: Based on its size, it tends to have stricter rules affecting the legislative process. Senate: Based on its size, it tends to have stricter rules affecting he legislative process. D.) House of Representatives: Members serve two-year terms with a term limit of up to twelve years. Senate: Members serve six-years with no term limits.
B
Which of the following is an accurate conclusion based on the pattern shown in the bar chart? A.) Changing national priorities have caused a drop in spending for the Department of Homeland Security. B.) Special circumstances in 2005 and 2018 led Congress to approve supplemental appropriations. C.) Bureaucratic rule making has led to a gradual increase in supplemental appropriations over time. D.) Ideological divisions in Congress have led to gradual increases in annual appropriations.
B
Which of the following is an accurate description of the powers of the House of Representatives and the Senate? A.) House: Conducts impeachment trials. Senate: Passes articles of impeachment. B.) House: Initiates all revenue bills. Senate: Confirms presidential appointments. C.) House: Ratifies treaties submitted by the president. Senate: Ratifies executive orders submitted by the president. D.) House: Deploys troops to foreign combat. Senate: Negotiates treaties with foreign countries.
B
An advantage that bureaucrats in federal government have over the President in the policy making process is that bureaucrats A.) have an independence from the President that is guaranteed by the Constitution B.) find it easier to marshal public support than does the President C.) usually have a continuity of service in the executive branch that the President lacks D.) have better access to the media than does the President
C
Refer to the How Senators Voted on Tom Price chart. In 2013, a parliamentary procedure was implemented in the Senate that allowed a simple majority vote to end debate on Cabinet member confirmations. Which of the following best explains how the procedural change relates to the information in the graphic? A.) If the procedural change had not occurred, the nomination of Tom Price would have been approved without delay. B.) The procedural change resulted in Democratic senators adding pork barrel legislation to the appropriations bill that funds that Department of Health and Human Serves. C.) If the procedural change had not occurred, Republican senators would not have been able to immediately invoke cloture of a filibuster. D.) The procedural change required Republican senators to nominate a different person for secretary of Health and Human Services.
C
Refer to the Ideological Composition of the House of Representatives graph. Based on the data, which of the following is the most likely consequence for the legislative process in Congress? A. More competitive races for House seats in the general election B. A decrease in party-line voting on important legislation introduced in the House C. An increase in gridlock and failure to compromise on legislation D. Greater cooperation between Congress and the president on nominations
C
Refer to the Wickard v. Filburn passage. Which of the following was a likely result of the decision in Wickard v. Filburn that contributed to the Court's later decision in United States v. Lopez (1995)? A.) The Supreme Court is not elected, so unpopular decisions such as in the Wickard case cannot be overturned unless Congress acts upon it. B.) Laws passed by Congress have since undergone judicial review by the Supreme Court to ensure that the commerce clause and other parts of the Constitution are interpreted correctly. C.) The expansive interpretation of the commerce clause by the Supreme Court which greatly extended the power of Congress drew criticism that eventually led to a more narrow interpretation. D.) Rather than be regulated by Congress, many citizens and corporations opt instead to find loopholes so that the law does not apply to them.
C
Which of the following scenarios best illustrates a member of Congress supporting port-barrel legislation? A.) A senator from a coal-producing state voting against a job-training program for coal miners B.) A member of the House voting for urban renewal in exchange for increased funding for roads C.) A senator from an agricultural state amending legislation to establish a potato research institute in their state D.) A member of the House Armed Services Committee marking up a bill that will increase funding for military bases
C
Which of the following scenarios is an example of the trustee model of representation? A. The NAACP leadership sends representatives to Washington to lobby for changes to the Voting Rights Act. B. Congress passes a bill allocating money to clean up nuclear waste sites after a wave of large-scale peaceful protests. C. 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. D. A presidential candidate advocates using an executive order to increase the minimum wage for federal contractors.
C
In Worcester v. Georgia (1832), the Supreme Court used the power of judicial review established in Marbury v. Madison (1803) to strike down a Georgia state law that regulated the relationship between citizens of Georgia and members of the Cherokee Nation. President Andrew Jackson opposed the decision and famously challenged the Supreme Court to enforce it. As the Supreme Court was not able to enforce the decision, the other branches of government ignored it. This example illustrates which of the following? A.) The president can approve or veto decisions made by the Supreme Court. B.) States have the power to nullify federal laws. C.) Congress can prevent Supreme Court decisions from being enforced by appropriating money to the Department of Justice. D.) Unpopular Supreme Court decisions can be avoided or ignored if other branches refuse to cooperate with the outcomes of those decisions.
D
Refer to the Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. passage. Which of the following actions could be taken to reverse the impact of the decision? A.) Ledbetter could renew her appeal by seeking additional Supreme Court review. B.) The president could sign an executive order to alter the Civil Rights Act. C.) Ledbetter could pursue her case using the same arguments in state courts. D.) Congress could enact legislation to amend Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.
D
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 A. reducing the pay of the justices to pressure them to reverse their decision B. overruling the Supreme Court's decision by a two-thirds vote in Congress C. impeaching the justices in the majority D. refusing to actively enforce the decision
D
The Supreme Court's decision in Marbury v. Madison (1803) relates to foundational documents in which of the following ways? A.) The Tenth Amendment to the Constitution reserves powers to the states, and Marbury v. Madison deals with whether the Supreme Court has appellate jurisdiction over state courts. B.) The Declaration of Independence describes circumstances in which people may demand a redress of grievances, and Marbury v. Madison is about whether courts can resolve these crises. C.) The Federalist 10 describes how the expanded scope of the national government can alleviate the problems of factions, and Marbury v. Madison uses the national government to negotiate a compromise between two rival factions. D.) The Federalist 78 is about the power and role of the federal courts, and in Marbury v. Madison, Madison expands that role by giving the courts the power to determine whether laws or executive actions conflict with the Constitution.
D
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? A.) Replace the chief justice of the Supreme Court with someone with whom they agree with ideologically B.) Pass legislation that would limit the impact of the Supreme Court's recent rulings C.) Ratify a constitutional amendment limiting the Supreme Court's power D.) Enforce term limits for justices on the Supreme Court
B
Which of the following scenarios best illustrates a formal check on the power of the bureaucracy? A.) A lobbyist representing the National Rifle Association refusing to meet with employees from the Department of Homeland Security B.) The secretary of defense being called to testify before a congressional committee C.) The White House chief of staff being formally censured by the president for publicly speaking out against the president's policy goals D.) A federal judge being impeached for making legal decisions based on bribes
B
Which of the following scenarios best illustrates the process of bureaucratic rule making? A.) The Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs considers the credentials of a person nominated to serve as Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Benefits. B.) The Department of Veterans Affairs rewrites its regulations regarding compensation and pensions into plain language that is easier for beneficiaries to understand. C.) The president signs Executive Order 13777 intended to "lower regulatory burdens on the American people by implementing and enforcing regulatory reform." D.) The Supreme Court denies a writ of certiorari in Freddie H. Mathis v David J. Shulkin, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, which focused on veterans' disability claims.
B
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
B
Refer to the Court Hierarchy diagram. Which of the following statements best explains the diagram? A.) The United States District Court is the starting place for all cases going to the United States Supreme Court. B.) State supreme courts have the final say in all cases arising in the states. C.) Cases arising at both the state and federal level may be appealed to the United States Supreme Court. D.) The number of federal courts is greater than the number of state courts.
C
Which of the following accurately compares the formal and informal powers of the president? A.) Formal: Vetoing legislation to prevent a bill from becoming law. Informal: Using a pocket veto to prevent a bill from becoming law B.) Formal: Using the bully pulpit to influence public opinion. Informal: Appointing ambassadors and receiving diplomats from other nations C.) Formal: Acting as commander in chief of the military. Informal: Signing executive agreements with foreign nations D.) Formal: Using the power of the purse to support government programs. Informal: Using signing statements to shape legislation
C
Which of the following best reflects the holding in the case Baker v. Carr (1962)? A. Declared that racial gerrymandering was a violation of the due process clause. B. Stated that the Tenth Amendment exclusively reserves the power to review congressional districts to the states. C. Created a one-person, one-vote standard for reviewing congressional districts. D. Stated that the Seventeenth Amendment requires regular review of the constitutionality of congressional districts.
C
