AP Gov Unit 2 Test
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.
A Republican member of the House of Representatives who is responsible for the opposition strategy and coordinating party activity in a Democrat-controlled House would be known as the
House minority leader.
How does the process of a bill becoming a law differ if it is introduced in the House compared to if it is introduced in the Senate?
If a bill is introduced in the House, it must be presented to the Rules committee before it can move to the floor for consideration.
What is the primary function of the federal bureaucracy?
Implementing laws passed by Congress
How is the Government Accountability Office different from other government agencies?
It is a bureaucracy established by Congress, for Congress, instead of for the executive branch.
How does the system of checks and balances actually hamper the functioning of the bureaucracy?
It requires that bureaucracies respond to all three branches of government, leading to mixed signals and inefficient oversight.
Why is agency capture a problem within the federal bureaucracy?
It undermines the goals of the bureaucracy and can lead to corruption within the government.
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.
After a bill has been introduced in either the House or the Senate, what is the next step for the bill?
It will be referred to a committee.
Why would Thomas Jefferson have wanted to reject the federal judicial appointments made by John Adams?
Jefferson's political views clashed with Adams', and he likely wanted to appoint judges who he believed would uphold the Constitution instead of working to expand the government.
Which argument would you make to assert the idea that the federal judiciary is not an efficient system for achieving justice?
Many cases end in settlements, and the long appeals process does not guarantee justice will be served.
The principle of judicial review was formally established in
Marbury v. Madison.
The federal bureaucracy is often limited in its actions by its sheer size, providing additional checks on its own power. Was this check an intentional one by the framers of the Constitution?
No, the Constitution does not require that the federal bureaucracy be so large that it cannot operate effectively.
The belief that it is not the job of the court to overturn legislation is a view held by which type of judge?
One who practices judicial restraint
A president that believes the Constitution is a living, breathing document would likely appoint which type of federal judge?
One who will interpret the Constitution in a way that is consistent with life for Americans today
Which case is an example of the Supreme Court exercising judicial restraint?
Plessy v. Ferguson
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
During Hurricane Katrina, there was a delay in FEMA resources dispatched by the Department of Homeland Security to the victims in New Orleans. Based on the structure and functions of the federal bureaucracy, who likely received most of the blame for FEMA's failure to respond in a timely manner?
President George W. Bush
Which United States president made widespread and frequent use of drones during the War on Terror?
President Obama
Select the pair of examples that matches the presidential role with the correct enumerated constitutional power.
Presidential role: Chief legislator; Enumerated constitutional power: Gives the State of the Union Address
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 would result if the Department of Homeland Security worked with private organizations to coordinate efforts to respond to natural disasters all over the United States?
Public trust in the federal bureaucracy would likely increase and the response to disasters would likely be greater.
What was Anwar al-Awlaki accused of?
Recruiting followers for al-Qaeda over the Internet
Which measure has been proposed as a way to alleviate the shortfall in paying out Social Security benefits?
Reducing the benefits paid to current recipients
How could the bureaucracy be changed in a way that would reduce overhead and increase efficiency?
Reducing the size and scope of the bureaucracy by cutting regulations and devolving responsibility to the states and private organizations
Why might the regulation process delay the enforcement of a new law passed by Congress?
Rules that are added to legislation must be reviewed by interested parties, the president, and Congress before being implemented.
A citizen of California might be frustrated that the citizens of Nebraska have an equal number of representatives in the
Senate.
Which is a responsibility of Congress?
Setting the federal budget
President George Washington had only three cabinet departments, including the Department of State, which handled foreign policy and diplomatic relations with other countries. Why were the functions of the Department of State so important to George Washington that he dedicated an entire department to them?
Since the United States was a relatively new country, the interactions with other countries had to be strong and upstanding so as to assert America as a powerful nation despite its newfound independence.
The only leadership position in the House of Representatives is the
Speaker of the House.
The Agriculture Committee in the House is a permanent committee that develops legislation regarding agriculture, food, and rural development. The Agriculture Committee is an example of which type of committee?
Standing committee
How does the process of selecting federal judges compare to the process of selecting state judges?
State judges are elected by the citizens of that state, while federal judges are appointed by the president.
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.
Suppose that Congress has recently passed a net neutrality bill. Under the new legislation, internet service providers are classified as common carrier services, like telephone companies, and thus are subject to regulation by the Federal Communication Commission (FCC). If internet service providers believe the law's regulations are being unreasonably interpreted by the FCC, how would they most effectively challenge the law?
Suing the FCC in federal court
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
Assume you have just been appointed by the president to serve in a cabinet department that will fund and oversee research into the return on investment for solar panels and wind turbines. Which department have you been appointed to?
The Department of Energy
The dispatch of FEMA resources during Hurricane Harvey in 2017 is an example of which bureaucracy in action?
The Department of Homeland Security
Which department fell under considerable scrutiny following Hurricane Katrina?
The Department of Homeland Security
Suppose it is 2024 and none of the candidates for president have received the majority of votes in the Electoral College. Which body of government will determine the outcome of the election?
The House of Representatives
Which body of government has the authority to introduce bills?
The House of Representatives
A case that has to be appealed from a special court at the state level will usually go to which court next?
The Lower State Court
Suppose you are part of the president's cabinet and advise him on setting the priorities for national spending. Which group are you a part of?
The Office of Management and Budget
How does Congress check the power of the president when it comes to the federal bureaucracy?
The Senate must approve the cabinet secretaries nominated by the president.
How does the position of the Speaker of the House compare to the Senate majority leader?
The Speaker of the House has more power than the Senate majority leader.
Which measure originated out of the election of 1800?
The Twelfth Amendment
How does the idea of an independent judicial system, as proposed by Alexander Hamilton in Federalist No. 78, compare to the actual judicial system in America, as seen in the case of Caperton v. Massey Coal Co.?
The actual judicial process as observed in Caperton v. Massey Coal Co. is far more politically charged than the ideal judicial system proposed by Alexander Hamilton.
How was judicial independence threatened in the case of Caperton v. Massey Coal Co.?
The campaign of elected judge Brent Benjamin was funded by one of the parties in the lawsuit.
Why might the citizens of a certain state choose to elect a new senator in an upcoming election?
The constituents may feel that the senator no longer represents their values or interests.
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
Suppose the state of Idaho has just elected a senator who has, so far, demonstrated that she is willing to go above and beyond to advocate for her constituents by proposing legislation that benefits their interests. Which type of role is this senator playing?
The delegate role
Which statement accurately assesses the effectiveness of the electoral college prior to the ratification of the Twelfth Amendment?
The electoral college was effective but had its flaws in the process of choosing a vice president.
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
Use the information in this passage to answer this question.On November 20, 2014, President Obama issued a statement removing the threat of deportation for approximately five million undocumented parents and permanent residents who lived in the country for at least five years.Which of the following powers did President Obama use in in the scenario?
The informal power to issue an executive order
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
Why do cabinet secretaries often have to consult with the lower-level members of the federal bureaucracy?
The lower-level members are usually more experienced and have greater knowledge than the appointed cabinet secretary.
How does the merit system established by the Pendleton Act differ from the political patronage system used by Andrew Jackson?
The merit system ensures that only those who are qualified for a position are hired or promoted, whereas the political patronage system allows for hiring and promotion based on political support.
Suppose state legislatures and the federal courts reviewed a policy that restricted the sale and use of firearms. Which result would likely occur if they found that the policy was failing to lower violent crime rates as Congress stated it would?
The policy would be terminated.
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.
President Smith begins slurring her words and speaking incoherently about dropping nuclear bombs on Russia. What is the most expeditious way under the Constitution to avert disaster?
The president can be removed when the vice president and a majority of the cabinet advise the Congress that the president is unfit.
How does the power of the president over the bureaucracy compare to the power of Congress over the bureaucracy?
The president has considerably less power over the bureaucracy than Congress has over the bureaucracy.
Why is it important for a president to choose a nominee for a federal judge position who is aligned with the president's own values with regards to upholding the Constitution?
The president's appointment is usually for a life term and gives the president a chance to have a lasting impact on the American judicial system.
Which process acts as a check by the legislative branch on the executive branch?
The process of impeachment
Which aspect of Marbury v. Madison motivated Chief Justice John Marshall to strike down the Judiciary Act and establish the principle of judicial review?
The question of whether the nominees were entitled to the remedy they sought
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
How does the style of representation in the House of Representatives differ from representation in the Senate?
The representation in the Senate is the same for each state regardless of population, while the number of representatives in the House of Representatives depends on a state's population.
Which statement would you cite to defend the argument that the federal bureaucracy is a threat to the American system of federalism?
The size and reach of the bureaucracy make it impossible for average Americans to fully know who is making choices for them in unelected and unrepresentative positions.
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 national debt?
The total amount of money owed by the federal government
Most of the bills that are introduced in Congress fail. Why did the framers of the Constitution make the legislative process considerably complicated?
They did not want laws to be passed based on the populace's fleeting desires.
What was the primary function of the Pendleton Act of 1883?
To enforce rules on hiring and promoting members of the civil service based on merit
What is the main function of the Government Accountability Office (GAO)?
To ensure that executive agencies are using their funds and exercising their authority properly
What is the main purpose of Article III of the United States Constitution?
To establish the judicial branch
What is the purpose of the Twenty-Fifth Amendment?
To establish the line of succession should a president become incapacitated
What is the purpose of the Sixth Amendment?
To guarantee the right to a jury trial in all federal criminal cases
What is the purpose of federal bureaucrats?
To implement regulations and standards that Americans must follow to comply with the law
What is the main function of a select committee?
To investigate specifics related to a scandal or to handle a crisis within the federal government
What was the primary purpose of the 1842 Apportionment Act?
To mandate single-member districts in the House of Representatives
What is the main function of a political action committee?
To raise money for candidates running for the House of Representatives
Why might the Supreme Court invoke stare decisis?
To reinforce a previous decision that can be applied as precedent in future cases
What was the main purpose of the Judiciary Act of 1801?
To reorganize the lower federal courts
What is the primary purpose of the War Powers Resolution?
To restrict the president's ability to maintain troops in combat
According to Alexander Hamilton, why was it necessary to have an independent judicial branch of the government?
To uphold the checks and balances of the Constitution
What is the primary function of the Supreme Court of the United States?
To uphold the laws of the Constitution
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 an interest group that advocates for accessible and affordable health care is lobbying members of Congress on behalf of the Department of Health and Human Services to secure additional funding to develop a public health campaign to increase awareness about changes to the Affordable Care Act. These groups are engaged in which activity?
Using the iron triangle
An incumbent candidate running for Senate, who has a generally positive track record with her constituents and loyal donors contributing to her campaign, has a challenger who is new to politics altogether. How would this incumbent candidate likely fare in the election?
Well, since the senator has the advantage of name recognition and experience
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.
Suppose in the year 2018, the United States generated $21.5 trillion and spent $19.5 trillion. In that year, the United States would have
a budget surplus.
In 2013, Texas Senator Ted Cruz gave a 21-hour speech that interfered with a planned vote on healthcare reforms, which would be considered
a filibuster.
Partisan polarization manifests itself during the end of a president's term in the form of
a lame duck period.
An issue network can be best described as
a temporary web of influence between policymakers, policy advocates, and interest groups to address a specific need.
Congress may override a veto with
a two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate.
Suppose a state's legislature has enlisted a commission to redraw its congressional district boundaries, but upon review notices that the districts each have significantly uneven numbers of constituents. Such redistricting would be
a violation of the Fourteenth Amendment.
Suppose a member of the Securities and Exchange Commission is a former employee of a large investment firm on Wall Street and has been easing the enforcement of regulations on his old firm. This is an example of
agency capture.
A political scientist who believes that judges should be appointed and subject to a confirmation process at the state level instead of being elected would likely
agree with Alexander Hamilton in Federalist No. 78.
Given the decisions made by Chief Justice John Marshall during his time on the Supreme Court, he would be characterized as
an activist justice.
In the case Brown v. Board of Education, the Supreme Court ruled that separate educational facilities were unconstitutional. However, after the Court's decision, the president refused to enforce it. This is an example of
an executive check on the judicial branch.
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.
Beginning in early 2016, Native American tribes, environmental groups, and human rights advocates began a protest movement against the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline, gaining the support of numerous members of Congress. The opposition to the pipeline's construction could be characterized as an example of
an issue network.
Suppose a member of Congress is part of a committee in which she reviews the actions of the president's cabinet departments to make sure the funds that were granted the year before are being used properly and the goals of each policy are on track to being achieved. This member of Congress is part of
an oversight committee.
A case has been heard at the state level, where the defendant was convicted and sentenced for a crime he maintains he did not commit. The defendant and his legal team have decided to continue fighting for justice and will attempt to
appeal the case to an appellate court.
The process of deciding on the number of representatives each state gets based on most recent census data is known as
apportionment.
A president may use the State of the Union Address as a tool for
bargaining and persuasion in Congress.
Alexander Hamilton believed that judges could remain independent and uphold liberty and the laws of the Constitution by
being appointed to serve for life terms.
Suppose Congress has just passed a new law that would impose additional standards on public schools for receiving state funding. The Department of Education needs time to determine how the new standards will be applied to public schools, which is an example of
bureaucratic discretion.
In the 2018 case Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, the Supreme Court ruled that the owners of Masterpiece Cakeshop were within their rights to refuse to bake a cake for a gay couple on the basis of free exercise of religion. Doing so sparked a national debate about discrimination against same-sex couples, but also demonstrated that the Supreme Court
can make controversial decisions without the fear of public opinion backlash.
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.
Cases involving contract violations would fall under the classification of
civil law.
When President Bush mobilized reserve troops to fight against the terrorist threat in Afghanistan in 2001, he was acting as
commander in chief.
Laws that cover actions determined to harm the community are known as
criminal laws.
A push by activist groups to encourage ethnic minorities, women, and the less-wealthy to run for political office would likely be an effort in favor of
descriptive representation.
In authorizing the president to establish executive departments and seek the advice of the heads of those departments, the founding fathers
did not expect the president to be an expert in all areas of social, economic, or military matters.
Suppose Congress presents a bill to the president that would limit the rights of Americans to speak freely. The president vetoes the bill and upon reconsideration, the bill fails in a vote to override the veto. In this case, the bill
dies and does not become law.
A motion that is filed by a member of Congress for a bill to be moved out of a committee and onto the floor for consideration is called a
discharge petition.
Defense spending is considered
discretionary spending.
Associate Justice Clarence Thomas disagreed with the Supreme Court's ruling on Gonzales v. Raich and discussed his belief that the decision extended the reach of Congress too far in his
dissenting opinion.
Suppose a senator has proposed a budget measure that would direct money to his district for the purpose of improving parks. This would be an example of
earmarks.
Following Hurricane Katrina, groups like Habitat for Humanity and Minnesota Helpers stepped up to help the victims of the natural disaster, demonstrating the
effectiveness of private organizations to take quicker and more effective action than federal agencies.
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.
The decision in Brown v. Board of Education that declared the notion of "separate but equal" unconstitutional is an example of the Supreme Court
exercising judicial review.
Suppose that a Midwestern state has recently redrawn its districts in a way that benefits the interests of agricultural farmers. Such redistricting is known as
gerrymandering.
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.
A political scientist who is studying the effects of increased partisan polarization might focus on
gridlock.
In order for someone to be considered a candidate for the United States Senate, he or she must
have at least nine years of citizenship.
Treason and bribery are considered valid reasons for Congress to
impeach the president or any other civil officer of the United States.
Suppose you are a justice on the Supreme Court and must decide on a case in which the constitutionality of a law recently passed by Congress has been called into question. You prefer to exercise judicial restraint, and as such you
issue an opinion that defers the judgment of the law to the legislative branch for consideration.
Those in favor of judicial activism believe that
justices should overturn legislation when necessary.
Suppose a member of the House of Representatives has spent the past week discussing upcoming legislation with other members of the House and has been working hard to convince members to vote in favor of the legislation. This person would be considered the
majority whip.
Attempts to increase descriptive representation in Congress might include trying to increase the
membership of women or minorities.
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.
Suppose a criminal case is brought to a court to be decided upon for the first time. This court will have
original jurisdiction over the case.
A court that has the authority to hear a case first has
original jurisdiction.
In 1838, a dispute over the boundary between Rhode Island and Massachusetts resulted in a lawsuit that was brought immediately to and decided upon by the Supreme Court. This is an example of the Supreme Court exercising
original jurisdiction.
Suppose a member of Congress is part of a committee that ensures funds are being spent efficiently and elected officials are acting in accordance with the law. This member of Congress is participating in
oversight.
Someone that is appointed to the Department of Education based on their extensive experience as an educator and their unique success with implementing new methods of teaching would be
part of the federal civil service.
Suppose a president who has just been elected to office is deciding who to appoint to a cabinet position and decides to nominate several of the people who had worked on his campaign. This is an example of
political patronage.
Suppose a group of Congress members have successfully passed a new bill that would improve the interstate highway system to make it safer and more efficient for drivers. Once the president has signed the bill into law, the next hurdle for the policy would be
receiving the proper funding to implement the policy.
The Supreme Court's decision in Baker v. Carr
required congressional districts to have roughly the same number of constituents.
The function of an appellate court is to
review and potentially revise or overturn the decision made by a lower court.
Federal district courts were established by
the U.S. Congress.
Suppose a member of Congress received campaign contributions from a group committed to fighting climate change by exploring clean energy options. Once elected, that member of Congress joins a committee that authorizes additional funding to the Department of Energy for the purpose of researching and implementing clean and renewable energy sources. This is an example of
the iron triangle.
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.
Suppose evidence has come to light that the president has provided financial assistance to violent non-state actors in foreign countries to assist in a plot to harm the American people. The House of Representatives may issue articles of impeachment on the grounds that the president has committed
treason.
Suppose the state of California has elected an incumbent representative to the House of Representatives who has suggested that he knows what is best for the citizens of California in his district and will use his experience and knowledge to achieve his goals. This representative is playing the
trustee role.
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.
In 2018, Brett Kavanaugh was selected to serve as a justice on the United States Supreme Court through which process?
A Senate confirmation process
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
Suppose a new bill has been introduced that would make changes to existing education policies and roll back the federal government's involvement in public education. Which type of committee should be established to work out the different versions of the bill from the House and Senate?
A conference committee
In 2018, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that banned the sale and possession of a firearm accessory known as a bump stock. Which type of Supreme Court would likely declare President Trump's executive order unconstitutional?
A conservative Court acting as judicial activists
Which of the following best describes the function of the iron triangle?
A coordinated and mutually beneficial effort between the bureaucracy, Congress, and interest groups to achieve shared policy goals
How does the function of a court with appellate jurisdiction compare to that of a court with original jurisdiction?
A court with appellate jurisdiction relies on the arguments and decisions made by lower courts, whereas a court with original jurisdiction acts as a fact-finder.
How many votes are necessary for the whole impeachment process in Congress?
A majority in the House and two-thirds vote in the Senate
Which position would be considered part of the federal bureaucracy?
A member of the Department of Homeland Security
Suppose the state of Kansas has decided to change the way it selects judges to serve at the state level and adopts a method that is truer to Alexander Hamilton's ideal of an independent judiciary. Which system would Kansas likely adopt?
A process of appointment and confirmation by the Kansas government
What happens after articles of impeachment have been successfully passed in the House of Representatives?
A trial is held in the Senate to convict or acquit the accused official.
In 2016, a federal state of emergency was declared in Flint, Michigan when it was discovered that the water in the city was heavily contaminated. Many felt that the lack of previous knowledge of the contamination was due to the downtrodden socioeconomic climate of the city and argued that the water disproportionately affected African Americans. How might the Environmental Protection Agency avoid future incidents like the one in Flint, Michigan?
Actively strive for a representative bureaucracy that includes low-income or African American members
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.
Given the decision made in Marbury v. Madison and the precedent of behavior set by judges on federal courts and the justices on the Supreme Court, how would you modify Article III of the Constitution?
Amend the article to include the principle of judicial review
Why are entitlement programs classified as mandatory spending and are locked into the federal budget year after year?
Americans depend upon the receipt of such benefits, and as such, the programs cannot be cut.
Which statement reflects the difference between an incumbent congressional campaign and the campaign of a new congressional candidate?
An incumbent campaign will generally focus on connecting more with individual constituents, whereas a new candidate would spend more time generating name recognition and fundraising.
What is a bureaucrat?
An official who is employed within an executive department or agency
Why were Antifederalists opposed to a federal judiciary?
Antifederalists feared that a federal judiciary would impose the personal views of justices to decide what was constitutional.
A federal court of appeals has listened to the arguments and reviewed the facts of a case and has affirmed the previous district court decision. What would the next step be for the legal team on the losing side of the case if they want to get the decision overturned?
Appeal to the Supreme Court
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
Which president prioritized diversity in their cabinet appointments?
Barack Obama
Why would President Obama's appointment of Justice Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court in 2009 raise concerns for those who believe in a strictly independent judicial system?
Because of her past remarks on the importance of identity in judicial decisions
Suppose it is the 1780s. You have been reading all about the newly-proposed Constitution and are skeptical about the establishment of a federal judiciary, which you think would diminish the rights of states and individuals. To this end, you mostly agree with the writings of
Brutus.
Suppose that a pipeline bursts and causes a massive oil spill contaminating the water supply in a nearby national park. In response, the president issues an executive order calling for new policies regarding the safety and location of pipelines, but the order leads to a dispute between the Departments of Energy, Transportation, and the Interior about how exactly it should be implemented. The process of resolving this dispute corresponds with which role of the federal bureaucracy?
Bureaucratic adjudication
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 is the president able to influence the federal bureaucracy?
By appointing members of the bureaucracy
How would an average American citizen get a bill introduced in Congress that would require public schools to provide before- and after-school daycare?
By contacting their representatives and pressuring them to introduce such legislation
Why would efforts to improve substantive representation be more beneficial than efforts to improve descriptive representation?
By focusing on substantive representation, Congress would better reflect the interests of American citizens as a whole.
According to some political scientists, how might a focus on substantive representation help alleviate the negative effects of partisan polarization?
By focusing on the interests and policy preferences of Americans, members of Congress are better able to represent their constituents instead of political parties as a whole.
How did President Bush violate the rights of Yaser Hamdi in 2001?
By imprisoning him without notifying him of his crimes or due process
How does Congress check the power of the Supreme Court?
By setting the size of the Supreme Court
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
How does the position of a top-level cabinet secretary differ from that of General Service employee?
Cabinet secretaries often change with administrations, whereas General Service employees tend to be career civil servants.
Which statement might a congressperson make to argue that Social Security benefits should remain classified as mandatory spending?
Changing benefits or the taxes to pay for them would produce a political backlash against lawmakers.
Which type of cases are handled in state-level special courts?
Child custody
Suppose that the slow government response following an earthquake in California creates a harsh public outcry. In response, the president promises to allocate more resources to FEMA so that such a situation does not occur again. Who would the president have to persuade in order to see this promise fulfilled?
Congress
Who has control over how much money each bureaucratic department, bureau, and agency can have?
Congress
Assume you are part of the Congressional Budget Office and are responsible for finding areas of the federal budget to cut back on to reduce federal spending. Which area of the budget can you reasonably suggest?
Defense spending
Which cabinet department established by George Washington is still in place today?
Department of State
Which argument would you make to defend the reinstatement of earmarks in Congress?
Earmarks allow Congress to better advocate for their constituency.
Which of the following describes the purpose of the Hatch Act?
Ensuring that federal workers cannot become overly-partisan by engaging in politics
What is the main function of the president in relation to the executive branch bureaucracy?
Ensuring the departments are properly executing laws and policies
Suppose a law has been passed that censors certain political viewpoints on social media sites. A judge who is exercising judicial review might rule that such a law is unconstitutional as it violates the
First Amendment.
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 member of the federal bureaucracy. You earned the position based on your educational qualifications and performance on a competitive examination, and it has led to a long career in the civil service. Which classification of federal employee do you likely fall under?
General Service
Who was the first president to authorize a drone strike that killed an American citizen?
George W. Bush
Which step is crucial for anyone who wants to influence the policymaking process?
Getting on the policy agenda
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.
