A12 Chapter 12

In what ways have first ladies expanded the role of their office over the twentieth century?

Eleanor Roosevelt (1930's/1940's) took an active role in championing early civil rights issues and wrote a newspaper column and had a weekly radio show. Lady Bird Johnson (1960's) endorsed efforts to beautify public spaces/highways and established the foundation of the Office of the First Lady with her own press secretary. Betty Ford (1974) came out as pro-choice and lobbied for the Equal Rights amendment. Rosalynn Carter attended many cabinet meetings and pushed for the Equal Rights amendment and legislation addressing mental health. Nancy Reagan had an antidrug campaign and Babara Bush made efforts to increase national literacy. Hillary Clinton (the last first-lady of the 20th century) was put in charge of health care reform policies.

What problems exist with the Electoral College?

There are many problems with the Electoral College. First, small states are over-represented in the Electoral College. Second, the state by state set-up of the college, in the modern era, leads to states that are safe wins for one party, leaving a handful of states that get all the attention. Finally, its outcomes can differ from the outcome of actual citizen voting (also known as the national popular vote.)

3. How did presidents who served in the decades directly after Washington expand the powers of the presidency?

John Adams expanded the war powers by waging undeclared war, Thomas Jefferson negotiated the purchase of Louisiana from France, and James Monroe took direct control of foreign policymaking when he issued the Monroe Doctrine.

What strategies can presidents employ to win people over to their way of thinking?

Presidents can use road trips across the country, major speeches, and rewards to people in their camp. Historically, however, these techniques have only rarely been successful. What works best is for a president find a popular position to get out in front of.

How were presidents in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries likely to reach the public? Were these methods effective?

Presidents of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries might make speeches or publish letters in newspapers across the country. These methods may have been effective in their day, but not in comparison to the ability of modern presidents with television, radio, and the Internet at their disposal.

What factors contributed to the growth of presidential power in the twentieth century?

Agencies like the Secret Service and the FBI were started using presidential powers. Presidents further developed the concept of executive privilege which is the right to withhold information from congress, the judiciary or the public. They also made more use of their unilateral powers including executive orders and executive agreements. Expanded war powers and been more involved in framing and negotiating budgets.

Which of the following is an unintended consequence of the rise of the primary and caucus system? a. Sometimes candidates unpopular with the party leadership reach the top. b. Campaigns have become shorter and more expensive. c. The conventions have become more powerful than the voters. d. Often incumbent presidents will fail to be renominated by the party.

a. Sometimes candidates unpopular with the party leadership reach the top.

The people who make up the modern president's cabinet are the heads of the major federal departments and ________. a. must be confirmed by the Senate b. once in office are subject to dismissal by the Senate c. serve two-year terms d. are selected base on the rules of patronage

a. must be confirmed by the Senate

The passage of the Tenure of Office Act of 1867 was just one instance in a long line of ________. a. struggles for power between the president and the Congress b. unconstitutional presidential power grabbing c. impeachment trials d. arguments over presidential policy

a. struggles for power between the president and the Congress

Which of the following is a way George Washington expanded the power of the presidency? a. He refused to run again after serving two terms. b. He appointed the heads of various federal departments as his own advisors. c. He worked with the Senate to draft treaties with foreign countries. d. He submitted his neutrality proclamation to the Senate for approval.

b. He appointed the heads of various federal departments as his own advisors.

Many at the Continental Congress were skeptical of allowing presidents to be directly elected by the legislature because ________. a. they were worried about giving the legislature too much power b. they feared the opportunities created for corruption c. they knew the weaknesses of an electoral college d. they worried about subjecting the commander-in-chief to public scrutiny

b. they feared the opportunities created for corruption

Which of the following is an example of an executive agreement? a. The president negotiates an agreement with China and submits it to the Senate for ratification. b. The president changes a regulation on undocumented immigrant status without congressional approval. c. The president signs legally binding nuclear arms terms with Iran without seeking congressional approval. d. The president issues recommendations to the Department of Justice on what the meaning of a new criminal statute is

c. The president signs legally binding nuclear arms terms with Iran without seeking congressional approval.

A very challenging job for new presidents is to ______. a. move into the White House b. prepare and deliver their first State of the Union address c. nominate and gain confirmation for their cabinet and hundreds of other officials d. prepare their first executive budget

c. nominate and gain confirmation for their cabinet and hundreds of other officials

President Theodore Roosevelt's concept of the bully pulpit was the office's ________. a. authority to use force, especially military force b. constitutional power to veto legislation c. premier position to pressure through public appeal d. ability to use technology to enhance the voice of the president

c. premier position to pressure through public appeal

How did the election of 1824 change the way presidents were selected? a. Following this election, presidents were directly elected. b. Jackson's supporters decided to create a device for challenging the Electoral College. c. The election convinced many that the parties must adopt the king caucus as the primary method for selecting presidents. d. The selection of the candidate with fewer electoral votes triggered the rise of party control over nominations.

d. The selection of the candidate with fewer electoral votes triggered the rise of party control over nominations.