Home MA-Grade.8 Civics - Q2
Explain the difference between the 20th and 25th Amendments.
While both amendments are designed to equip the government with procedures to handle extraordinary circumstances, their respective purposes are much different. The 20th Amendment states that the vice president-elect is to replace the president-elect in the event that he or she is incapable of assuming the office. The 25th Amendment, on the other hand, explicitly outlines what is to occur in the event the presidency or vice presidency is vacant. The difference, clearly, is that the 20th Amendment is narrowly tailored to replace a president-elect prior to assuming office.
How did the Obama administration change US policy regarding Cuba?
A. It eased restrictions on communication, travel, and exports.
Which of the following is the best overall description of the part of the government the President of the United States oversees?
A. the executive branch.
The role of the president has evolved over time because
A. the needs of the nation have changed.
Which statement summarizes President Obama's actions in Iraq and Afghanistan during his first term?
B. The Obama administration withdrew most troops from Iraq and prepared for troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.
One of president's powers is the ability to
B. approve pardons.
The Constitution limits the executive branch from declaring war by giving that power to
B. the legislative branch.
When the president delivers the State of the Union address, he/she has two primary audiences. They are the __________ and the __________.
C. United States government . . . citizens
What is the meaning of the underlined word in the sentence below?
C. freedom from a criminal or civil charge
Which issue helped determine the outcome of the 2008 presidential race?
C. opposition to the war in Iraq
One of the vice president's key jobs is to
C. presides over the Senate.
A responsibility of the vice president is to
D. become president if necessary.
The Constitution lists four qualifications to be eligible for the presidency. What are these qualifications?
The first qualification is that any serving president must be at least 35 years old. The second qualification is that the president must be a natural born citizen. The third qualification is that the president must be a resident of the United States for at least 14 years. The fourth qualification is that the individual must be able to recite the oath of office.
Describe circumstances under which the 25th Amendment was twice enacted during the Nixon Administration.
The first use of the 25th Amendment was to replace Vice President Agnew following his resignation. Section 2 of the Amendment explicitly outlines the procedure to follow in the case of a vacancy in the office of the vice president: President Nixon had to appoint a new vice president who would be confirmed by a majority vote in both houses of Congress. The second, more infamous application of the 25th Amendment was to replace President Nixon following his resignation amid the Watergate Scandal. Section 1 of the Amendment states that the vice president assumes the office of the president in the case of resignation, thus Vice President Ford assumed the presidency. President Ford then had to appoint a vice president (Rockefeller) to fill the vacancy left by him.
Explain why the roles and responsibilities of the vice president may change from administration to administration.
The vice president is as important as the president chooses. The vice president has almost no political power unless the president asks for advice about party policy and political appointments. Even the vice president's role as a cabinet member depends on the wishes of the president. But with the active support of the president, the vice president can exert a tremendous amount of influence. It is important to note, therefore, that because the president decides the level of responsibility held by the vice president, it may very well change from administration to administration, as different presidents may have different preferences.
