AP Government Chapter 5 Midterm Review
Suppose Congress has presented a law to the president that the president believes will infringe upon the due process rights of Americans. Which action can the president take to check Congress' apparent power-grab?
He may veto the bill so that it does not become official law.
How does the War Powers Resolution relate to the authority granted to the president and Congress in the Constitution?
It upholds the authority of Congress to declare war and limits the power of the president as commander in chief.
Which is an example of the president checking the power of the legislative branch?
President Barack Obama's veto of the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline.
Which United States president made widespread and frequent use of drones during the War on Terror?
President Obama
How do public approval trends impact a president's ability to take action during a time of crisis?
Public approval often increases during a time of crisis, which would allow the president to expand the power of the executive without much protest.
What was Anwar al-Awlaki accused of?
Recruiting followers for al-Qaeda over the Internet.
Why might some criticize the use of deadly force on American citizens who have committed or are suspected of terrorism?
Such actions violate a citizen's right to due process.
Which precedent was set by the Supreme Court's decision in Hamdi v. Rumsfeld?
That a president may not compromise the rights of American citizens during wartime.
Which characteristic of the executive branch allows the president to act quickly and decisively in an emergency?
That the president can act alone
Which group is part of the Executive Office of the President?
The Council of Economic Advisers
Suppose you are working for the president and are responsible for coordinating foreign policy initiatives. Which part of the Executive Office of the President do you work for?
The National Security Council
Which is a recent example of the Supreme Court checking the power of the executive branch?
The deadlock at the Supreme Court regarding President Obama's executive order that would have allowed millions of undocumented immigrants to apply for citizenship.
What is the formal role of the first spouse in the United States government?
The first spouse has no formal role in the United States government.
In times of military or economic crisis in America, as the president seeks to expand executive authority, which entity has the most effective check on the executive branch?
The judicial branch
Which process demonstrates the balance of power and the ability of the executive branch to check the legislative branch, and vice-versa?
The president acts as commander in chief of the army, while Congress may declare war.
Which is an example of Congress checking the power of the president?
The refusal of Congress to approve funding for a border wall proposed by President Trump.
Which event during President Obama's time in office would have resulted in an increase in overall public approval?
The successful assassination of Osama bin Laden
What is the purpose of the Twenty-Fifth Amendment?
To establish the line of succession should a president become incapacitated
What is the primary purpose of the War Powers Resolution?
To restrict the president's ability to maintain troops in combat
Term limits were placed on the president through the
Twenty-Second Amendment
What precedent would a president be able to cite if they were faced with Congressional demands to release recorded phone calls, transcripts, or records and did not want to hand them over to Congress?
United States v. Nixon
Suppose a presidential candidate is running for the first time on a platform that includes promises of sweeping health care reform and the public is generally in favor of the proposed ideas. If the candidate wins the election, when should they try to pass health care reform legislation?
Within the first six months of their election
Suppose you are president of the United States during wartime. How do you interpret your authority as commander in chief?
You expand your role as president to make swift, strong decisions.
Congress may override a veto with
a two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate.
In 1863, in the middle of the Civil War, President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation to free the slaves who were not living in the Union. Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation unilaterally due to the increased tension and division within the United States, making it
an executive order.
In 2018, President Donald Trump made a unilateral decision without congressional approval that banned a firearm accessory known as a bump stock via
an executive order.
A president may use the State of the Union Address as a tool for
bargaining and persuasion in Congress.
Suppose the president has decided to sign an executive order that would grant law enforcement officers authority to act swiftly and in their best judgment to deport immigrants who did not arrive legally. Such an action is an example of the president acting as
chief executive.
At the end of 2018, the United States government was embroiled in the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, and the House Democrats did not permit the president to issue a State of the Union Address until the government shutdown was ended. Denying the president his ability to give a State of the Union Address impaired his ability to act as
chief legislator.
When President Bush mobilized reserve troops to fight against the terrorist threat in Afghanistan in 2001, he was acting as
commander in chief.
The authority of the president to act as commander in chief of the United States army is an example of the president's
enumerated powers.
The president of the United States acts as the head of the
executive branch.
An American man who has been suspected of radicalizing young teens online and convincing them to join the terrorist group ISIS has been arrested and imprisoned. The president who ordered his capture and detainment did not notify the man of the charges brought against him and has not had a trial to be convicted of any crime. The man is well within his rights to
file a petition for a writ of habeas corpus.
President Donald Trump is well known for his frequent and sometimes tactless use of the social media platform, Twitter. President Trump's announcements of policy initiatives and plans on Twitter is an example of
going public.
Treason and bribery are considered valid reasons for Congress to
impeach the president or any other civil officer of the United States.
President Obama introduced several new pieces of legislation during his presidency, expanded the government by gaining more power as president from Congress and making unilateral decisions during wartime, received a lot of positive media attention, and worked with a large staff. Such characteristics would make President Obama a
modern president.
The Supreme Court's decision to uphold certain parts of President Trump's travel ban on immigrants from predominantly Muslim countries while striking down other parts of it as unconstitutional is an example of
the judicial branch checking the executive branch.
When the president is trying to get members of Congress on both sides of the aisle to support his or her policies and programs through direct appeals like phone calls, the president is
using bargaining and persuasion.
Suppose you are the first spouse to the newly-elected president and want to continue the work of First Lady Michelle Obama and champion healthy lifestyles for children and teens. Which initiative do you decide to champion as first spouse?
A campaign to lower barriers of entry into after-school sports programs
How many votes are necessary for the whole impeachment process in Congress?
A majority in the House and two-thirds vote in the Senate.
A political scientist who believes that the key to a good executive branch leader is energy and the ability to take strong, swift action would likely agree with
Alexander Hamilton.
The President of the United States has the authority to use military force against terrorists and their associates under the
Authorization for Use of Military Force Act.
Suppose the president of the United States suspects an American citizen of going to Syria to join a terrorist network and create propaganda to be used in the United States against more Americans. The president has precedent to take which action against the citizen?
Authorizing a drone strike to attack them.
Who was the first president to authorize a drone strike that killed an American citizen?
Barack Obama
How did the War on Terror expand the power of the executive branch?
By appealing to the looming threat of terrorism against Americans, the president implemented policies and measures without the approval of Congress to combat those threats.
How did President Bush violate the rights of Yaser Hamdi in 2001?
By imprisoning him without notifying him of his crimes or due process.
Despite not having the ability to formally introduce and write legislation, how is the president able to influence the legislative process?
By threatening to veto a bill before it even comes across his desk.
Despite the Supreme Court's ruling on Hamdi v. Rumsfeld, which stated that, even during times of war, a president may not violate the Constitutional rights of Americans, the National Security Agency continued to engage in surveillance programs on U.S. citizens, which some argue violated the
Fourth Amendment.
Suppose you are a policy advisor to the president who wants to get education reform legislation passed, a policy that is popular with most Americans. Since Congress is controlled by the opposing party, however, passing legislation is more difficult than usual. Which tactic do you suggest to the president that will have the best chance of enacting the desired policy without damaging public opinion?
Going public as a way to urge Americans to put pressure on their representatives in Congress.
Why was it important to Alexander Hamilton that there be only one executive leader?
Having two leaders would weaken the ability to protect the nation.
