AP G&P (2) - Roles and powers of the president: advanced
A signing statement is best defined as which of the following?
A released letter explaining how the president's administration plans to interpret the law
Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the president's formal and informal powers? Formal powers - Informal powers A. Nominating federal judges - Issuing executive orders B. Negotiating executive agreements - Granting pardons C. Making treaties - Vetoing legislation D. Creating a budget - Issuing signing statements
Comparison A
Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the expressed powers of the president and the powers of Congress? Presidential powers - Congressional powers A. Appointing ambassadors - Interpreting the Constitution B. Negotiating treaties - Ratifying treaties C. Issuing signing statements - Levying taxes D. Pardoning impeached officials - Impeaching officials
Comparison B
Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the expressed powers of the president and the powers of Congress? Presidential powers - Congressional powers A. Nominating ambassadors - Issuing signing statements B. Presenting the State of the Union - Impeaching officials C. Issuing executive orders - Levying taxes D. Enforcing laws - Interpreting the Constitution
Comparison B
Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the expressed powers of the president and the powers of Congress? Presidential powers - Congressional powers A. Issuing executive orders - Reviewing lower-court decisions B. Confirming presidential appointments - Creating federal laws C. Nominating ambassadors - Declaring war D. Ratifying treaties - Negotiating treaties
Comparison C
Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the president's formal and informal powers? Formal powers - Informal powers A. Setting the agenda for Congress - Granting pardons B. Declaring war - Delivering the State of the Union address C. Vetoing legislation - Issuing executive orders D. Acting as Commander in Chief - Appointing Supreme Court justices
Comparison C
In which of the following scenarios is the president most likely to use an executive order to make important policy?
Congress cannot reach a compromise
Which of the following statements describes a consideration presidents face when deciding whether or not to issue a veto?
If the opposing party has a supermajority in Congress, they can vote to override the veto
President Bellingham's administration wants to limit the development of chemical weapons in key nations in the Middle East, but Congress is unlikely to back a formal treaty. Which of the following is an action the president may take to accomplish their policy agenda?
Negotiate an executive agreement with the heads of the Middle Eastern governments
On the last day of its session, Congress passes a law that the president strongly opposes. Which of the following may the president do to limit the power of Congress?
Neither sign nor veto the bill, allowing it to die
"The president may be convinced that a piece of legislation is unwise. But his judgment as to its un-wisdom is not a legal reason for his declining to execute it. (It may be a reason to veto it, and one of the objections to signing statements is that they are vetoes not subject to override.) And the president may have a definite view as to what the legislation means, and that view might include conclusions as to its constitutionality, but his is not the view that counts. He may be the commander in chief, but he is not the interpreter in chief." - Stanley Fish, "Who's Afraid of Presidential Signing Statements?" Which of the following statements best summarizes Fish's argument?
Signing statements go beyond the president's expressed constitutional powers
Which of the following scenarios would be considered a constitutional use of executive power?
The president confers diplomatic recognition on the new nation of South Sudan
In which of the following scenarios is the president most likely to use the veto to limit the power of Congress?
When the opposing party holds a majority in Congress