IN PROGRESS AP Classroom Unit 2: Interactions Among Branches of Government

From 2.8: The Judicial Branch Which of the following sections of the United States Constitution is most related to the case Marbury v. Madison (1803) ? a. Article I b. Article III c. The First Amendment d. The Tenth Amendment

b. Article III

From 2.8: The Judicial Branch In The Federalist 78, Alexander Hamilton states, "A constitution is, in fact, and must be regarded by the judges, as a fundamental law. It therefore belongs to them to ascertain its meaning." Which of the following Supreme Court cases is most relevant to this statement? a. Baker v. Carr (1962) b. Marbury v. Madison (1803) c. Shaw v. Reno (1993) d. McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

b. Marbury v. Madison (1803)

From 2.5: Checks on the Presidency A newly elected president faces a Senate controlled by the opposition party. Which of the following presidential appointments is more likely to encounter difficulty with confirmation by the Senate? a. Secretary of Defense b. Supreme Court Justice c. Chair of the Council of Economic Advisors d. Ambassador to Germany

b. Supreme Court Justice

From 2.7: Presidential Communication Which of the following is an example of how the innovation of social media can influence presidential behavior? a. The president holds a press conference to discuss midterm election results b. The president outlines the administration's legislative agenda in the State of the Union Address c. The president hosts a White House dinner with a foreign head of state d. The president announces the nomination of a cabinet secretary on the Internet

d. The president announces the nomination of a cabinet secretary on the Internet

From 2.3: Congressional Behavior Which of the following statements accurately summarizes the reasoning for the decision in Baker v. Carr (1962)? a. Because rural districts had fewer people, representation was unevenly distributed; thus, Baker was denied equal protection under the law b. To ensure equal protection under the law, there should be an equal number of rural and urban districts in a state c. There should be redistricting every ten years at the federal level, but the state can choose not to redistrict at the state and local levels d. Congressional redistricting must involve traditionally excluded groups in the process or it violates the equal protection clause

a. Because rural districts had fewer people, representation was unevenly distributed; thus, Baker was denied equal protection under the law

From 2.13: Discretionary and Rule-Making Authority Which of the following scenarios best illustrates delegated discretionary authority? a. Congress giving the Environmental Protection Agency the power to establish national pollution standards b. The chair of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce appointing the chair of the Environment subcommittee c. The House of Representatives establishing the jurisdiction for the Committee on Energy and Commerce d. The president nominating the attorney general of Ohio to serve as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency

a. Congress giving the Environmental Protection Agency the power to establish national pollution standards

From 2.6: Expansion of Presidential Power "To be sure, the President's control over foreign affairs had been growing since the Theodore Roosevelt administration [1901-1909]... [President Roosevelt's] acquisition of the Panama Canal Zone preceded Woodrow Wilson's decision to enter World War I, which was a prelude to Franklin Delano Roosevelt's management of the run-up to the victorious American effort in World War II. In the 1950s, Harry S. Truman's response to the Soviet threat included the decision to fight in Korea without a Congressional declaration of war, and Dwight Eisenhower used the Central Intelligence Agency and brinkmanship to contain Communism. Nineteenth-century presidents had had to contend with Congressional influences in foreign affairs, and particularly with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. But by the early 1960s, the president had become the undisputed architect of U.S. foreign policy. One reason for this was the emergence of the United States as a great power with global obligations. Neither Wilson nor FDR could have imagined taking the country to war without a Congressional declaration, but the exigencies of the cold war in the 1950s heightened the country's reliance on the president to defend its interests. Truman could enter the Korean conflict without having to seek Congressional approval simply by describing the deployment of U.S. troops as a police action taken in conjunction with the United Nations." -Robert Dallek, "Power and the Presidency, From Kennedy to Obama," Smithsonian magazine, January 2011 Which of the following is a difference between the power of nineteenth-century presidents and that of the modern president according to the passage? a. Presidents in the nineteenth century had to contend with congressional committees, which had significant powers in foreign affairs b. Modern presidents have acquired the power of the purse, which allows them to spend freely on foreign affairs c. Modern presidents must win wars in order to keep members of Congress from criticizing their foreign policy d. Presidents in the nineteenth century were more likely to support intervention in foreign affairs

a. Presidents in the nineteenth century had to contend with congressional committees, which had significant powers in foreign affairs

From 2.11: Checks on the Judiciary Branch In Worcester v. Georgia (1832), the United States Supreme Court ruled that a Georgia law violated the U.S. Constitution. In response to Chief Justice John Marshall's majority opinion, President Andrew Jackson said, "John Marshall has made his decision, now let him enforce it." Which of the following ideas regarding government does President Jackson's statement exhibit? a. Since the Supreme Court has no enforcement mechanism, the executive and legislative branches can restrict its decisions b. When the Supreme Court takes an activist approach to decision making, it can influence policy c. Constitutional amendments have granted the Supreme Court greater power to enforce its decisions d. Unpopular Supreme Court Justices can be removed by a two-thirds vote in Congress and a presidential signature

a. Since the Supreme Court has no enforcement mechanism, the executive and legislative branches can restrict its decisions

From 2.12: The Bureaucracy Infographic: The cost of congestion The average American spends about 42 hours a year in traffic $160 Billion lost by congestion delays and lost fuel Middle- and low-income American households spend nearly 20% of income on transportation and 40% on housing Freight volume is expected to increase by more than 40% Which of the following explains how the bureaucracy can address a problem shown in the infographic? a. The Department of Transportation can write stronger regulations on freight volume b. The president can negotiate a treaty that would allow for increased imports of oil c. The House Committee on Energy and Commerce can hold a hearing on the cost of fuel d. The Supreme Court can overturn laws that regulate fuel economy

a. The Department of Transportation can write stronger regulations on freight volume

From 2.9: Legitimacy of the Judicial Branch Which of the following scenarios best illustrates the concept of a case being decided based on precedent? a. The Supreme Court bases its decision in a case involving the commerce clause on one of its earlier decisions involving the commerce clause b. The Supreme Court overturns a lower court decision in a case dealing with voter identification laws c. A state passes a law which contradicts federal law, causing the Supreme Court to rule in favor of the federal government d. The chief justice of the Supreme Court disagrees with the majority of the other justices and decides to declare a law passed by Congress as unconstitutional

a. The Supreme Court bases its decision in a case involving the commerce clause on one of its earlier decisions involving the commerce clause

From 2.4: Roles and Powers of the President Graph: Presidential Vetoes and Bills Passes in Congress Which of the following is true based on the data in the line graph? a. The number of bills passed by Congress decreased under G. H. W. Bush b. The number of bills passed by Congress gradually increased under Nixon c. The number of presidential vetoes under Johnson decreased over time d. The number of presidential vetoes under Eisenhower increased over time

a. The number of bills passed by Congress decreased under G. H. W. Bush

From 2.10: The Courts in Action In Baker v. Carr (1962), the Supreme Court ruled that a state legislature would have to redraw their representative districts in order to comply with the Constitution. Which of the following potential difficulties could have resulted from this decision? a. The state legislature could have refused to implement the decision, leading to a crisis in the legitimacy of the Supreme Court's authority b. The United States Congress could have requested that funding be cut off from the redistricting program c. The president could have created an executive agreement with the state that overrode the Supreme Court's decision d. A state appellate court could have issued a ruling that overturned the ruling of the United States Supreme Court

a. The state legislature could have refused to implement the decision, leading to a crisis in the legitimacy of the Supreme Court's authority

From 2.7: Presidential Communication Which of the following is an action a president can take to rally public support for the administration's legislative agenda? a. Use the State of the Union Address to pressure Congress to pass a bill lowering income taxes b. Hold private meetings with key members of Congress to promote a compromise on the budget c. Forge an executive agreement with another country regulating the safety of consumer products d. Sign a bill into law that would provide increased aid to college students

a. Use the State of the Union Address to pressure Congress to pass a bill lowering income taxes

From 2.7: Presidential Communication Which of the following scenarios illustrates how social media has changed the way presidents relate to the public? a. A president appearing on a late-night comedy talk show to make jokes about the news b. A president announcing a major policy initiative via the Internet rather than calling a press conference c. A president allowing film crews to cover a visit to a natural disaster area to highlight federal aid distribution d. A president hosting a rally in a swing state to increase support for policies helping the working class

b. A president announcing a major policy initiative via the Internet rather than calling a press conference

From 2.1: Congress- The Senate and the House of Representatives Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate? a. House- The majority and minorities control legislative scheduling and rules equally Senate- Minority party members can threaten to filibuster a bill the majority party wants to pass b. House- The Constitution's framers intended it to reflect the will of the people Senate- The Constitution's framers designed it to represent the interests of the states c. House- Most legislative work takes place in the standing committees Senate- Based on its size, it tends to have stricter rules affecting the legislative process d. House- Members serve two-year terms with a term limit of up to twelve years Senate- Members serve six-years terms with no term limits

b. House- 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

From 2.12: The Bureaucracy Infographic: Women in the Federal Workforce Which of the following statements best relates to the information shown in the infographic? a. Despite many attempts at reform, some members of the federal bureaucracy are still hired through political patronage b. Like most businesses, the federal government has to seek out well-qualified and diverse job candidates c. Specialized skills, such as a background in STEM, are less important than a degree in political science for most jobs in the bureaucracy d. Most members of the federal bureaucracy work near Washington, D.C., or in state capitals

b. Like most businesses, the federal government has to seek out well-qualified and diverse job candidates

From 2.6: Expansion of Presidential Power "To be sure, the President's control over foreign affairs had been growing since the Theodore Roosevelt administration [1901-1909]... [President Roosevelt's] acquisition of the Panama Canal Zone preceded Woodrow Wilson's decision to enter World War I, which was a prelude to Franklin Delano Roosevelt's management of the run-up to the victorious American effort in World War II. In the 1950s, Harry S. Truman's response to the Soviet threat included the decision to fight in Korea without a Congressional declaration of war, and Dwight Eisenhower used the Central Intelligence Agency and brinkmanship to contain Communism. Nineteenth-century presidents had had to contend with Congressional influences in foreign affairs, and particularly with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. But by the early 1960s, the president had become the undisputed architect of U.S. foreign policy. One reason for this was the emergence of the United States as a great power with global obligations. Neither Wilson nor FDR could have imagined taking the country to war without a Congressional declaration, but the exigencies of the cold war in the 1950s heightened the country's reliance on the president to defend its interests. Truman could enter the Korean conflict without having to seek Congressional approval simply by describing the deployment of U.S. troops as a police action taken in conjunction with the United Nations." -Robert Dallek, "Power and the Presidency, From Kennedy to Obama," Smithsonian magazine, January 2011 Which of the following statements describes the author's main argument in the passage? a. Congress must reassert its responsibility to declare war in order to ensure a balance of power b. Presidential power in foreign policy has expanded since the beginning of the twentieth century c. The Korean War was a turning point in presidential power d. The acquisition of the Panama Canal gave the president undisputed power over foreign policy.

b. Presidential power in foreign policy has expanded since the beginning of the twentieth century

From 2.9: Legitimacy of The Judicial Branch The Supreme Court upholds a law passed by Congress as constitutional. The chief justice states in the majority opinion that previous decisions supporting Congress' power to make laws based on the commerce clause of the Constitution were the basis for the decision. Which of the following legal concepts did the chief justice apply in writing the opinion? a. Compliance monitoring b. Stare decisis c. Overlapping jurisdiction d. Judicial activism

b. Stare decisis

From 2.13: Discretionary and Rule-Making Authority Which of the following scenarios best illustrates the process of bureaucratic rule making? a. The Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs considers the credentials of a person nominated to serve as Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Benefits b. The Department of Veterans Affairs rewrites its regulations regarding compensation and pensions into plain language that is easier for beneficiaries to understand c. The president signs Executive Order 13777 intended to "lower regulatory burdens on the American people by implementing and enforcing regulatory reform" d. The Supreme Court denies a writ of certiorari in Freddie H. Mathis v David J. Shulkin, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, which focused on veterans' disability claims

b. The Department of Veterans Affairs rewrites its regulations regarding compensation and pensions into plain language that is easier for beneficiaries to understand

From 2.4: Roles and Powers of the President Graph: Presidential Vetoes and Bills Passes in Congress Which of the following statements is best supported by the line graph? a. The number of vetoes has generally increased since 1945, even though the number of bills passed by Congress has decreased b. The number of vetoes has generally decreased since 1945, but so has the number of bills passed by Congress c. The number of vetoes has generally decreased since 1945, but the number of bills passed by Congress has increased d. The number of vetoes has generally increased since 1945, but so has the number of bills passed by Congress

b. The number of vetoes has generally decreased since 1945, but so has the number of bills passed by Congress

From 2.3: Congressional Behavior Which of the following best reflects the holding in the case Baker v. Carr (1962)? a. Declared that racial gerrymandering was a violation of the due process clause b. Stated that the Tenth Amendment exclusively reserves the power to review congressional districts to the states c. Created a one-person, one-vote standard for reviewing congressional districts d. Stated that the Seventeenth Amendment requires regular review of the constitutionality of congressional districts

c. Created a one-person, one-vote standard for reviewing congressional districts

From 2.13: Discretionary and Rule-Making Authority 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? a. Exclusive Powers b. Reserved Powers c. Delegated Discretionary Authority d. Enumerated Legislative Authority

c. Delegated Discretionary Authority

From 2.1: Congress- The Senate and the House of Representatives 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? a. House- Debate is unlimited Senate- Debate is unlimited b. House- Members can filibuster Senate- Members cannot filibuster c. House- Debate is limited Senate- Members can filibuster d. House- Members cannot filibuster Senate- Only the majority leader can filibuster

c. House- Debate is limited Senate- Members can filibuster

From 2.11: Checks on the Judicial Branch A United States Supreme Court justice has announced his retirement at the end of the current Supreme Court term. What is the most likely presidential action in response to this announcement? a. Confer with House leadership to discuss potential nominees b. Confer with the chief justice to discuss potential nominees c. Nominate a federal judge who shares the president's ideology d. Nominate a sitting senator of the majority party

c. Nominate a federal judge who shares the president's ideology

From 2.3: Congressional Behavior Which of the following describes the ruling in Shaw v. Reno (1993)? a. The Voting Rights Act was ruled unconstitutional b. The poll tax was eliminated c. Racial gerrymandering was ruled unconstitutional d. It was decided that congressional districts needed to be equal in size

c. Racial gerrymandering was ruled unconstitutional

From 2.6: Expansion of Presidential Power "To be sure, the President's control over foreign affairs had been growing since the Theodore Roosevelt administration [1901-1909]... [President Roosevelt's] acquisition of the Panama Canal Zone preceded Woodrow Wilson's decision to enter World War I, which was a prelude to Franklin Delano Roosevelt's management of the run-up to the victorious American effort in World War II. In the 1950s, Harry S. Truman's response to the Soviet threat included the decision to fight in Korea without a Congressional declaration of war, and Dwight Eisenhower used the Central Intelligence Agency and brinkmanship to contain Communism. Nineteenth-century presidents had had to contend with Congressional influences in foreign affairs, and particularly with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. But by the early 1960s, the president had become the undisputed architect of U.S. foreign policy. One reason for this was the emergence of the United States as a great power with global obligations. Neither Wilson nor FDR could have imagined taking the country to war without a Congressional declaration, but the exigencies of the cold war in the 1950s heightened the country's reliance on the president to defend its interests. Truman could enter the Korean conflict without having to seek Congressional approval simply by describing the deployment of U.S. troops as a police action taken in conjunction with the United Nations." -Robert Dallek, "Power and the Presidency, From Kennedy to Obama," Smithsonian magazine, January 2011 Which of the following explains why the author believes presidential power has expanded? a. Congress has passed legislation requesting that the president take on a stronger leadership role in foreign affairs b. The media has influenced public opinion to support the president's unrestrained control of foreign policy c. The United States has emerged as a global power, which has enhanced the power of the president in foreign affairs d. The chief executive's role as defender of freedom and democracy has promoted support for a more active presidency

c. The United States has emerged as a global power, which has enhanced the power of the president in foreign affairs

From 2.10: The Court in Action In the case Wickard v. Filburn (1942), Roscoe Filburn was penalized for producing 12 acres of wheat above his allotment under the Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938. The law, justified under Congress' power to regulate interstate commerce, limited the amount of wheat an individual could grow. This regulation would keep prices from dropping and prevent farmers from going bankrupt. Filburn claimed that the excess wheat was for his own use, and challenged that no interstate commerce was involved. The Supreme Court ruled that the commerce clause allowed the government to regulate Filburn's personal wheat production, even though it was only indirectly related to interstate commerce. Which of the following was a likely result of the decision in Wickard v. Filburn that contributed to the Court's later decision in United States v. Lopez (1995) ? a. The Supreme Court is not elected, so unpopular decisions such as in the Wickard case cannot be overturned unless Congress acts upon it b. Laws passed by Congress have since undergone judicial review by the Supreme Court to ensure that the commerce clause and other parts of the Constitution are interpreted correctly c. The expansive interpretation of the commerce clause by the Supreme Court which greatly extended the power of Congress drew criticism that eventually led to a more narrow interpretation d. Rather than be regulated by Congress, many citizens and corporations opt instead to find loopholes so that the law does not apply to them

c. 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

From 2.4: Roles and Powers of the President Graph: International Agreements Which of the following trends is best supported by the information in the table? a. The number of treaties has increased over time b. The number of treaties has decreased over time c. The number of executive agreements has increased over time d. The number of executive agreements has decreased over time

c. The number of executive agreements has increased over time

From 2.11: Checks on the Judicial Branch 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? a. Ledbetter could renew her appeal by seeking additional Supreme Court review b. The president could sign an executive order to alter the Civil Rights Act c. Ledbetter could pursue her case using the same arguments in state courts d. Congress could enact legislation to amend Title VII of the Civil Rights Act

d. Congress could enact legislation to amend Title VII of the Civil Rights Act

From 2.12: The Bureaucracy Infographic: The cost of congestion The average American spends about 42 hours a year in traffic $160 Billion lost by congestion delays and lost fuel Middle- and low-income American households spend nearly 20% of income on transportation and 40% on housing Freight volume is expected to increase by more than 40% Which of the following possible actions illustrates a way Congress interacts with the bureaucracy to address the problem shown in the infographic? a. Congress could raise money through gasoline taxes to address the issues shown in the infographic b. Congress could request that an iron triangle be formed to ensure that all bureaucratic solutions are heard prior to taking action c. Congress could remove the members of the cabinet who work on issues related to transportation d. Congress could have members of the Department of Transportation testify before a committee to discuss the issue and potential solutions

d. Congress could have members of the Department of Transportation testify before a committee to discuss the issue and potential solutions

From 2.1: Congress- The Senate and the House of Representatives Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate? a. House- Led by the president pro tempore Senate- Led by the vice president b. House- Initiates revenue bills Senate- Nominated cabinet members c. House- Must approve Supreme Court nominees Senate- Must approve treaties d. House- Debate on bills is limited Senate- Debate on bills can be unlimited

d. House- Debate on bills is limited Senate- Debate on bills can be unlimited

From 2.9: Legitimacy of The Judicial Branch 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? a. The Supreme Court oftentimes overrules lower court decisions b. Constitutional amendments can be used to overturn previous Supreme Court decisions c. The executive branch can sometimes evade Supreme Court decisions d. Ideological changes to the Supreme Court can lead to the overturning of precedent

d. Ideological changes to the Supreme Court can lead to the overturning of precedent

From 2.5: Checks on the Presidency Shortly after the 2008 election, President Obama appointed outspoken and controversial House member Rahm Emanuel to lead his White House as chief of staff. The selection drew criticism from Republican leaders, including House minority leader John Boehner, who remarked that the selection "is an ironic choice for a president-elect who has promised to change Washington, make politics more civil, and govern from the center." Which of the following explains how Congress could legitimately respond to the appointment? a. The Senate could refuse to confirm the appointment b. The House of Representatives could filibuster the nomination c. The Rules Committee could refuse to release the bill that made the appointment d. Members of Congress could issue statements opposing the appointment but have no formal power to block it

d. Members of Congress could issue statements opposing the appointment but have no formal power to block it.

From 2.5: Checks on the Presidency In November 2014, President Obama announced an expansion of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program through an executive order. The policy would protect over 700,000 more children of undocumented immigrants from deportation. Republican members of Congress denounced the order as an abuse of executive power. Previously, members of the House of Representatives had voted to defund the program. This scenario best illustrates which of the following? a. A reluctant bureaucracy can hinder a president's agenda b. Public opinion can influence how Congress responds to a president c. Iron triangles form between members of the president's party and opponents in Congress d. Presidents exert informal powers when their policy agenda conflicts with that of Congress

d. Presidents exert informal powers when their policy agenda conflicts with that of Congress.

From 2.8: The Judicial Branch The Supreme Court's decision in Marbury v. Madison (1803) relates to foundational documents in which of the following ways? a. The Tenth Amendment to the Constitution reserves powers to the states, and Marbury v. Madison deals with whether the Supreme Court has appellate jurisdiction over state courts b. The Declaration of Independence describes circumstances in which people may demand a redress of grievances, and Marbury v. Madison is about whether courts can resolve these crises c. The Federalist 10 describes how the expanded scope of the national government can alleviate the problems of factions, and Marbury v. Madison uses the national government to negotiate a compromise between two rival factions d. The Federalist 78 is about the power and role of the federal courts, and in Marbury v. Madison, Madison expands that role by giving the courts the power to determine whether laws or executive actions conflict with the Constitution

d. The 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.

From 2.10: The Court in Action In Worcester v. Georgia (1832), the Supreme Court used the power of judicial review established in Marbury v. Madison (1803) to strike down a Georgia state law that regulated the relationship between citizens of Georgia and members of the Cherokee Nation. President Andrew Jackson opposed the decision and famously challenged the Supreme Court to enforce it. As the Supreme Court was not able to enforce the decision, the other branches of government ignored it. This example illustrates which of the following? a. The president can approve or veto decisions made by the Supreme Court b. States have the power to nullify federal laws c. Congress can prevent Supreme Court decisions from being enforced by appropriating money to the Department of Justice d. Unpopular Supreme Court decisions can be avoided or ignored if other branches refuse to cooperate with the outcomes of those decisions

d. Unpopular Supreme Court decisions can be avoided or ignored if other branches refuse to cooperate with the outcomes of those decisions