AP US Gov U2
Those who believe that the Supreme Court in its rulings should defer to the elective institutions of government are advocating
"judicial restraint"
In which year did Congress pass all stand-alone appropriations (spending) bills on time?
1977
All of the following statements pertaining to the presidential veto are true EXCEPT:
A President may veto part of a bill.
Which of the following statements about trends in presidential approval ratings is supported by information presented in the graph above?
A President's popularity tends to fall during his term in office.
Which of the following is most likely an effect of the trend in the line graph?
A decrease in congressional oversight as a mechanism to control the bureaucracy
Which of the following sections of the United States Constitution is most related to the case Marbury v. Madison (1803) ?
Article III
Which of the following describes the origin of the United States court system presented in the diagram?
Article III of the Constitution established a Supreme Court, while other federal courts were established by Congress.
Which of the following identifies the formal procedure for ending a filibuster?
Cloture
Which of the following accurately describes the composition of congressional committees?
Committees are organized by the majority party to maintain control of the policy-making process.
Which of the following is a primary function of the Senate Judiciary Committee?
Conducting hearings on judicial appointments made by the president
The mission of the Department of Transportation is to ensure the safety and efficiency of the transportation system. The Department of Transportation has accepted public comments regarding the safety of automated vehicles in the United States in order to establish standards and guidelines for this new technology. Which of the following concepts is most related to the scenario?
Delegated discretionary authority
The President can do which of the following without seeking the consent of either the House or the Senate?
Deploy troops.
Federal spending for which of the following is determined by laws that lie outside the regular budgetary process?
Entitlement programs such as Social Security
The largest portion of "uncontrollable spending" in the federal budget is designated for which of the following?
Entitlement spending
Generally, when is a president more likely to get congressional approval of proposed policies?
In foreign affairs rather than in domestic affairs
If Congress adjourns during the ten days the president has to consider a bill passed by both houses of Congress, but which the president has not yet signed, what is the result?
Pocket veto
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.
The data in the table illustrate which of the following about United States constitutional government?
Presidential foreign policy can be checked through the legislative power of Congress.
Which of the following statements describes the author's main argument in the passage?
Presidential power in foreign policy has expanded since the beginning of the twentieth century.
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?
Presidents exert informal powers when their policy agenda conflicts with that of Congress.
Which of the following is a difference between the power of nineteenth-century presidents and that of the modern president according to the passage?
Presidents in the nineteenth century had to contend with congressional committees, which had significant powers in foreign affairs.
A major reason why the majority of Supreme Court justices have had political experience prior to appointment to the Court is that
Presidents seek to place individuals on the Court whose policy views are similar to their own
Which of the following is an example of bureaucratic rule making?
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) writing a regulation to support a clean water bill
The Supreme Court's decision in Marbury v. Madison (1803) relates to foundational documents in which of the following ways?
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.
Which of the following statements about rules of procedure in the House and Senate is correct?
The House operates more by formal rules, while the Senate operates more on informal understandings.
Cabinet departments differ from independent regulatory agencies in which of the following ways?
The President can dismiss cabinet officers, but not commissioners of independent regulatory agencies.
All of the following help to explain the President's difficulty in controlling cabinet-level agencies EXCEPT.
The President can only fire appointees before they have been confirmed by the Senate
Which of the following is articulated in the War Powers Resolution?
The President must bring troops home from hostilities within 60 to 90 days unless Congress extends the time.
Which of the following scenarios best illustrates the concept of a case being decided based on precedent?
The Supreme Court bases its decision in a case involving the commerce clause on one of its earlier decisions involving the commerce clause.
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 statements accurately describes the selection of the caseload for the United States Supreme Court?
The Supreme Court is free to choose the cases it hears with only a few limitations.
When a lower court decision is appealed to the Supreme Court, which of the following is most likely to occur?
The Supreme Court will not hear the appeal.
Which of the following explains why the author believes presidential power has expanded?
The United States has emerged as a global power, which has enhanced the power of the president in foreign affairs.
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 describes the relationship between the Supreme Court and public opinion?
The existence of a public consensus on an issue limits the extent to which the Court will render decisions contrary to that consensus.
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) ?
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.
Which of the following factors most likely led to shifts in Supreme Court decision making over time?
The ideological composition of the justices on the Supreme Court shifted to become less liberal over time.
Which of the following has decreased in Congress over the past twenty years?
The influence of committee chairs
Which of the following statements is correct based on the bar chart?
The more consistently liberal a person is, the more that person is likely to believe that the Supreme Court should base its rulings on what the Constitution means in current times.
Which of the following is a member of the White House Staff?
The national security advisor
Which of the following is true based on the data in the line graph?
The number of bills passed by Congress decreased under G. H. W. Bush.
Which of the following trends is best supported by the information in the table?
The number of executive agreements has increased over time.
Which of the following statements is best supported by the line graph?
The number of vetoes has generally decreased since 1945, but so has the number of bills passed by Congress.
Which of the following is NOT a presidential role authorized by the Constitution?
To lead the political party of the President
Which of the following best reflects a function of the Supreme Court in Article III of the Constitution?
To serve as the highest court of appeals
Which of the following actions can Congress take if the Supreme Court finds a federal law unconstitutional?
Try to amend the Constitution.
In which of the following scenarios would a presidential veto most likely be upheld?
Two-thirds of the representatives and senators are members of the same party as the President.
All of the following serve as checks on the power of the federal courts EXCEPT:
The voters can oust federal judges in national elections.
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.
In recent presidential administrations, the principal staff for the President has been made up of members of the
White House Office
The Senate must confirm all of the following presidential appointments EXCEPT
White House staff
The United States Constitution says that Congress has the power to coin money.This is an example of
an enumerated power
Lobbyists from the Airlines for America, an advocacy group that represents commercial airlines, work with members of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and officials from the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to discuss a new policy that addresses issues of airline safety. This scenario best illustrates
an iron triangle
The War Powers Resolution (1973) was designed to
assure congressional involvement in decisions committing military forces in hostile situations overseas
One of the formal tools used by Congress for oversight of the bureaucracy is
authorization of spending
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
A President attempting to influence Congress to pass a legislative program might employ all of the following strategies EXCEPT
denying campaign reelection funds to legislators who oppose the President's policy stand
Congress has the constitutional power to control the judicial branch by
determining the size of the Supreme Court
Since the 1970's, Presidents have made use of executive orders at an increasing rate because executive orders
do not need to be passed by Congress
The role Congress plays in ensuring that executive branch agencies are carrying out their legislated responsibilities is known as
legislative oversight
A President may persuade recalcitrant members of Congress to vote for a particular bill by
making a direct appeal to the public through mass media
Which of the following categories accounted for the majority of spending in 2017, according to the chart?
mandatory
In the process and structure of public policymaking, "iron triangles" refer to the
networks of congressional committees, bureaucratic agencies, and interest groups that strongly influence the policy process
According to the United States Constitution, all revenue bills must
originate in the House of Representatives
The data illustrate that most conservatives believe that the United States Constitution
outlines a framework for government that the Supreme Court should apply strictly regardless of the political or personal preferences of judges
Congressional standing committees are best described as
permanent subject-matter committees
The power of the Rules Committee in the House of Representatives rests on its authority to
place a bill on the legislative calendar, limit time for debate and determine the type of amendments allowed
All of the following are formal or informal sources of presidential power EXCEPT
presidential authority to raise revenue
Cabinet members often do not have a dominant influence on presidential decision-making because
presidential goals often conflict with the institutional goals of individual cabinet-level agencies
The term "pork barrel" refers to legislation specifically designed to
provide funding for local projects that are intended to benefit constituents
The primary purpose of the North American Free Trade Agreement is to
reduce trade barriers between the United States, Mexico, and Canada
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
Enumerated powers of the federal government include all of the following EXCEPT the power to
regulate intrastate commerce
In general, independent regulatory commissions are created primarily for the purpose of
regulating certain industries to protect the public interest
A policy that sets emission standards for automobiles is an example of
regulatory policy
The difference between an appellate court and a district court is that an appellate court
reviews previous court decisions
A member of the House of Representatives who wishes to be influential in the House itself would most likely seek a place on which of the following committees?
rules
When independent regulatory agencies make rules, enforce those rules, and adjudicate disputes arising under those rules, they risk violating the constitutional concept of
separation of powers
An example of a discretionary item in the federal budget is
spending on national parks
Most of the work of legislating in Congress takes place in
standing committees
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
Fiscal policies refer to the government's power to
tax and spend
The Supreme Court's power of judicial review permits the Court to overrule all of the following EXCEPT
the Bill of Rights
The committee system is more important in the House than in the Senate because
the House is so large that more work can be accomplished in committees than on the floor
The Constitution states that all revenue bills must originate in
the United States House of Representatives
All of the following make it difficult for presidents to control the actions of federal agencies EXCEPT
the appointment of cabinet heads
Executive agreements have been cited as evidence that
the executive branch has become too large and bureaucratic
The usefulness to the President of having cabinet members as political advisers is undermined by the fact that
the loyalties of cabinet members are often divided between loyalty to the President and loyalty to their own executive departments
The doctrine of original intent holds that
the meaning of the Constitution depends on the intention of the framers
Even with large majorities of their own party in Congress, presidents experience difficulty in exercising legislative leadership because
the weak nature of political parties hampers the president's ability to control Congress
Presidents have had the most success in changing the direction of decisions of the federal judiciary by
using the appointment process to select judges with judicial philosophies similar to those of the President
In trying to influence legislation, the President is generally more successful than congressional leaders in
using the media to set the policy agenda
An advantage that bureaucrats in federal government have over the President in the policymaking process is that bureaucrats
usually have a continuity of service in the executive branch that the President lacks
Which of the following scenarios illustrates how social media has changed the way presidents relate to the public?
A president announcing a major policy initiative via the Internet rather than calling a press conference
All of the following are true about the relationship between regulatory agencies and the industries they regulate EXCEPT:
Agencies usually make decisions without consulting the regulated industry.
Which of the following stages comes first in the policy-making process?
Agenda setting
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 best explains why cabinet secretaries might not aggressively pursue the president's policy agenda?
Cabinet secretaries may develop strong loyalty to their departments.
Which of the following statements best explains the diagram?
Cases arising at both the state and federal level may be appealed to the United States Supreme Court.
Which statement best explains the information in the graphic?
Confirmation was blocked by one party.
The number of justices on the United States Supreme Court is set by
Congress
Which of the following is empowered to create new federal courts and specify the number of judges who will sit on them?
Congress
Which of the following explains an action Congress can take that would have the most influence on the data on the graphs?
Congress can pass legislation that changes the federal salary structure.
In 1998, Goodyear employee Lilly Ledbetter filed suit against her employer for pay discrimination based on her gender. Though Ledbetter was initially successful, Goodyear appealed the decision and the case went to the Supreme Court. In Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. (2007), the Supreme Court ruled that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 requires that sex discrimination complaints must be made within 180 days "after the alleged unlawful employment practice occurred," which Ledbetter had failed to do. Which of the following actions could be taken to reverse the impact of the decision?
Congress could enact legislation to amend Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.
Which of the following possible actions illustrates a way Congress interacts with the bureaucracy to address the problem shown in the infographic?
Congress could have members of the Department of Transportation testify before a committee to discuss the issue and potential solutions.
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?
Congress could vote to reduce spending on the Department of Homeland Security in the next year's budget.
Which of the following scenarios best illustrates delegated discretionary authority?
Congress giving the Environmental Protection Agency the power to establish national pollution standards
Which of the following accurately compares the powers of Congress and the president?
Congress has greater control: budgetary policy president has greater control: cabinet appointments
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.
Which of the following pairs accurately identifies the methods used by Congress and the president to hold the bureaucracy accountable to the other branches?
Congress: holding a committee hearing. President: Appointing a cabinet
Congress is most likely to exert oversight of the executive bureaucracy in which of the following ways?
Controlling an executive agency's annual budget
Which of the following actions by a congressional representative is an example of "pork barreling"?
Directing federal funds into the representative's district through legislation
Which of the following is a correct comparison of formal and informal powers of the president?
Formal Power: using the veto to block legislation informal power: issuing executive orders to bureaucratic agencies without having to gain approval from congress
Which of the following accurately compares the formal and informal powers of the president?
Formal power: acting as commander in chief of the military. Informal power: signing executive agreements with foreign nations
Which of the following is an example of congressional oversight?
Holding hearings for review of an executive agency's activities
The President's veto power is accurately described by which of the following statements?
I and III only
Senate confirmation is required for which of the following presidential appointments?
I, III, and IV only
In the case Twining v. New Jersey (1908), the Supreme Court held that the Fifth Amendment's protection against self-incrimination is not applicable to the states. In 1964 the Supreme Court overruled the decision in Malloy v. Hogan (1964) and held that the right was incorporated to the states. This scenario illustrates which of the following?
Ideological changes to the Supreme Court can lead to the overturning of precedent.
In which of the following ways could the president try to limit the impact of a Supreme Court decision?
Instructing the Department of Justice to not enforce a provision of the decision
Which of the following is a way Congress can influence the federal judiciary?
It can change appellate jurisdiction of federal courts.
Which of the following is true of an executive agreement made between a United States President and another head of state?
It does not require Senate approval, but may require congressional allocation of funds for implementation.
Which of the following best explains the principle of stare decisis?
It encourages judges to follow precedent when deciding cases.
Which of the following is true of a presidential veto of a piece of legislation?
It is rarely overridden by Congress.
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.
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?
It must depend on the executive for enforcement of its decisions.
Which of the following is true about the pocket veto?
It occurs when the President takes no action on a bill for ten days during which Congress is adjourned.
Which of the following describes the president's Cabinet?
Its members have varying levels of influence on presidential decisions.
Which of the following statements best relates to the information shown in the infographic?
Like most businesses, the federal government has to seek out well-qualified and diverse job candidates.
Which of the following United States Supreme Court cases established the principle of judicial review?
Marbury v. Madison
"If, therefore, the legislature pass any laws, inconsistent with the sense the judges put upon the constitution, they will declare it void; and therefore in this respect their power is superior to that of the legislature."
Marbury v. Madison (1803)
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?
Marbury v. Madison (1803)
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 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?
Nominate a federal judge who shares the president's ideology
Which of the following is responsible for the preparation of executive spending proposals submitted to Congress?
Office of Management and Budget
The Web site healthcare.gov was launched on October 1, 2013, to help citizens purchase health insurance for themselves in accordance with the Affordable Care Act. Within two hours of launch the site crashed. Once it was restored, problems continued, leading to difficulty for users. The following year, Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius was called to testify before the House Energy and Commerce Committee to discuss the issue. The committee held this hearing as part of which of the following functions?
Oversight
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?
Pass a new law that specifies that the airlines must provide access for people with disabilities
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 could be taken by the Senate to limit the Supreme Court's power?
Pass legislation already passed by the House that would limit the impact of the Supreme Court's recent rulings
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
Which of the following is the best conclusion that can be drawn from the data in the table?
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.
In vetoing a bill, the President does which of the following?
Rejects all sections of the bill.
Which of the following scenarios best illustrates the process of bureaucratic rule making?
The Department of Veterans Affairs rewrites its regulations regarding compensation and pensions into plain language that is easier for beneficiaries to understand.
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
Congress has exerted the greats influence on the operation of a federal agency by doing which of the following?
Reviewing the annual budget appropriations for the agency
Which of the following best defines the term "judicial activism"?
The tendency of judges to interpret the Constitution according to their own views
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?
Since the Supreme Court has no enforcement mechanism, the executive and legislative branches can restrict its decisions.
Which of the following is an accurate conclusion based on the pattern shown in the bar chart?
Special circumstances in 2005 and 2018 led Congress to approve supplemental appropriations.
Which of the following is an accurate statement about committees in Congress?
Standing committees oversee the bureaucracy's implementation of legislation.
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?
Stare decisis
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?
Supreme Court justice
Which of the following statements best describes the Supreme Court's actions with respect to disputes between Congress and the President?
The Court generally has tried to avoid deciding conflicts between Congress and the President.
Which of the following is an example of the executive branch implementing a public policy passed by Congress?
The Department of Health and Human Services determines eligibility requirements for government assistance.
Which of the following explains how the bureaucracy can address a problem shown in the infographic?
The Department of Transportation can write stronger regulations on freight volume.
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.
Based on the data in the chart, which of the following is true?
The percentage of liberal decisions made by the Supreme Court on civil rights and civil liberties cases decreased between 1964 and 1996.
Which of the following statements is supported by the chart above?
The percentage of nominees to the judiciary who were women was higher for Republican Presidents than for Democratic Presidents.
Which of the following is an example of how the innovation of social media can influence presidential behavior?
The president announces the nomination of a cabinet secretary on the Internet.
Which of the following scenarios best demonstrates a president avoiding a check from the judicial branch?
The president claims that certain detainees are enemy combatants and thus do not possess the same constitutional protections that the Supreme Court has upheld for the interrogation of criminal suspects.
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?
The president may have objections to provisions of a bill but does not want to risk Congress overriding a veto.
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.
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 is the best predictor of the Department of Education's annual budget?
The size of the previous year's budget
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?
The state legislature could have refused to implement the decision, leading to a crisis in the legitimacy of the Supreme Court's authority.
Rules and regulations created by an agency such as the Federal Communications Commission are called
administrative law
Which of the following is true of nominees for federal judgeships?
They are appointed for life by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate.
Which of the following is true of most federal judges appointed by the president?
They serve for life on good behavior unless impeached and convicted by Congress.
Which of the following is true of independent regulatory agencies?
They tend to be freer from presidential control than are cabinet departments.
Which of the following best describes how a president can influence the data in the graphs?
Through the role of chief executive officer of the executive branch, the president can determine salary grades of federal employees.
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?
Unpopular Supreme Court decisions can be avoided or ignored if other branches refuse to cooperate with the outcomes of those decisions.
Which of the following is an action a president can take to rally public support for the administration's legislative agenda?
Use the State of the Union Address to pressure Congress to pass a bill lowering income taxes.
Which of the following committees plays a major role in the House in shaping tax policy?
Ways and Means
The primary function of the White House staff is to
advise the president
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
A fundamental source of power for the federal bureaucracy lies in its
ability to set specific guidelines after receiving a general mandate from Congress
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
In Marburv v. Madison (1803), the Supreme Court assumed the power to
decide on the constitutionality of a law or an executive action
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
All of the following powers are granted to the President by the Constitution EXCEPT
forming new cabinet-level departments
The congressional system of standing committees is significant because it
fosters the development of expertise by members
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
The idea that judges ought to freely strike down laws that are inconsistent with their understanding of the Constitution is known as
judicial activism
Supreme Court justices were given tenure subject to good behavior by the framers of the Constitution in order to ensure that
justices are free from direct political pressures
All of the following have contributed to an increase in presidential power in the post-1945 era EXCEPT
legislation granting the President the power to impound funds appropriated by Congress
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
The details of legislation are usually worked out in which of the following settings?
A subcommittee
Which of the following is an accurate comparison of checks on the legislative branch and checks on the executive branch?
Check on legislative branch: the president may veto bills passed by congress. check on executive branch: the senate must confirm judicial nominees
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?
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.
Which of the following is an example of Congress using its implied powers?
Congress passing occupational safety regulations for the private sector
Which of the following powers is shared by the House of Representatives and the Senate?
Establishing federal courts
Which of the following statements about the Senate is true?
Individual senators can exercise substantial influence over the legislative process.
On July 9, 2018, after the retirement of Justice Anthony Kennedy, President Trump, a Republican, nominated Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. Many Democrats in the Senate feared that the appointment of Kavanaugh would swing the Court in a more ideologically conservative direction and attempted to block his nomination. After a heated Senate confirmation hearing, Kavanaugh was eventually confirmed by a 50-48 vote in the Senate. The scenario best highlights which of the following statements about court appointees?
Life tenure for appointed justices alongside the power of judicial review increases the stakes in the confirmation process for nominees to the Supreme Court.
Which of the following best illustrates the point being made in the cartoon above?
Presidents can have an influence on public policy far beyond their terms of office.
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?
The House has strict limits on debate, while the Senate allows unlimited debate.
Of the following, which is the most powerful figure in Congress?
The Speaker of the House
Which of the following conclusions can be drawn based on the table?
The bill was able to pass because some Republicans and Independents voted for it along with all Democrats.
Which of the following statements is a correct implication of the author's argument?
The modern president has abused the power of the executive branch through the use of the bully pulpit.
Which of the following clauses serves as the constitutional basis for the federal Real ID Act of 2005, a law that established uniform standards for state-issued identification cards and provided regulation of a state function?
The necessary and proper clause
Which of the following statements about motions for cloture is true?
They are used by senators to end a filibuster and bring a bill to a vote.
Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the text by Schlesinger and The Federalist 70 ?
While The Federalist 70 views centralization of power in the presidency as dangerous, Schlesinger views it as vital to the presidency's effectiveness.
A first term member of the House of Representatives from North Dakota who wished to maximize opportunities for constituent service would be most likely to seek placement on which of the following committees?
agriculture
Debate of a bill in the House of Representatives under a "closed rule" means that
amendments to the bill cannot be offered
In selecting members of the White House staff, Presidents primarily seek people who
are personally loyal to the President
When a bill passes the House and the Senate in different versions, the bill is resolved by which of the following types of committee?
conference
The committee that resolves differences between House and Senate versions of a bill is called a
conference committee
Which of the following is an example of a power exclusively granted to the Senate in Article II of the Constitution?
confirming ambassadors
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
A "cloture motion" passed in the Senate does which of the following?
Cuts off debate on a bill.
Which of the following statements is true based on the bar graph?
From 2011 to 2016, no stand-alone appropriations bills were passed on time.
If Congress wanted to effect a change in the Social Security payroll tax, to what congressional committee would the task initially be assigned?
House Ways and Means Committee
To which of the following congressional committees would a proposal to reform the national income-tax system initially be sent?
House Ways and Means Committee
Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the rules for debate used by the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate?
House of Representatives - Debate is limited. Senate - Members can filibuster.
Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate?
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.
Which of the following is an accurate description of the powers of the House of Representatives and the Senate?
House: Initiates all revenue bills. Senate: Confirms presidential appointments
Which of the following are differences between the legislative process in the House of Representatives and that in the Senate?
I, II, and IV only
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?
Members of Congress could issue statements opposing the appointment but have no formal power to block it.
Which of the following best describes pork barrel politics?
Members of Congress negotiate bills so that individual districts get money for projects that do not benefit the nation as a whole.
Which of the following is true of the seniority system of Congress in relation to committee leadership and committee staffing?
Members of Congress with the longest continuous service are assured the chairmanship of major congressional committees.
Which of the following situations is an example of the president using the bully pulpit as a tool for agenda setting?
President Reagan delivering a televised address urging a reduction in federal taxes
A new president has been elected after running on a campaign of lowering taxes and reducing spending on discretionary programs but now must work with Congress to ensure legislation passes which achieves those goals. Which of the leaders in the diagram plays the most crucial role in shaping the legislation that the president wants passed?
Speaker of the House
Which of the following is an accurate comparison of procedures in the House of Representatives and procedures in the Senate?
The House: The Rules Committee decides how long debate will be on most bills. The Senate: The minority can use the filibuster to defeat a bill.
If a bill reaches the floor for debate and a member of the minority party opposes the bill, which of the following provides greater leverage to a senator than to a member of the House to block passage of the bill?
The Senate allows for unlimited floor debate that can hold up a vote, while the House has strict limits on debate.
Which of the following enumerated powers would permit Congress to stimulate the economy by hiring unemployed citizens?
The power to pass a federal budget
Which of the following situations best reflects the author's concern about an "imperial" presidency?
The president appointing a new secretary of education
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?
The president making stronger use of bureaucratic discretion
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?
The procedural change resulted in Democratic senators adding pork barrel legislation to the appropriations bill that funds the Department of Health and Human Services.
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
disagreement between congressional leaders and the president on the issue meant that a compromise on a bill was not likely
"Pork barrel" legislation helps the reelection chances of a member of Congress because such legislation
helps earn the member of Congress a reputation for service to his or her district
In general, Congress is most likely to defer to the President
in the area of foreign policy
The largest source of federal revenue is the
income tax
Much of the steady increase in federal government expenditures since 1960 has been caused by
increases in entitlement programs
Federal benefits that must be funded by Congress and must be paid to all citizens who meet eligibility criteria are called
individual entitlements
A difference between the House of Representatives and the Senate is that in the House
legislative activity on the floor is more constrained by rules
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
Congressional legislative powers include all of the following EXCEPT
pardoning felons
To get an important bill passed in the House, a provision is added that allocates $500 million to study the impact of global climate change on manatees in Florida. This is an example of
pork barrel legislation
The role of a conference committee in Congress is to
reconcile differences in bills passed by the House and Senate
Most of the bills introduced in the House and the Senate are then
referred to committee but never sent to the full Congress
Which of the following committees of the House of Representatives sets the conditions for debate and amendment of most legislation?
rules
Nominations to the Supreme Court must be approved by a
simple majority vote in the Senate only
Which of the following types of committee deals with broad areas of public policy and can be found in both houses of Congress?
standing
A committee chair in the House of Representatives is always
the member with the longest service on the committee
The House Appropriations Committee disagrees with a proposal in the president's annual budget request to increase the number of people eligible for food stamps, consequently leading to the House of Representatives passing a budget that does not increase funding for the program. This ability to check presidential actions is best described as
the power of the purse
A major difference between the House of Representatives and the Senate is that
there is unlimited debate in the Senate but not in the House
Federal budget entitlements refer to spending
to provide individual benefits established by legislation
