Bell Ringers AP Gov Semester 1
Much of the steady increase in federal government expenditures since 1960 has been caused by... A) increases in entitlement programs B) higher interest rates caused by an increase in the discount rate C) the provisions of the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act D) increased purchases of United States government securities by foreign investors E) the growth of the United States trade imbalance
A
When a bill passes the House and the Senate in different versions, the bill is resolved by which of the following types of committee? A) Conference B) Select C) Standing D) Rules E) Reconciliation
A
A member of Congress votes in favor of a bill as a result of receiving many letters of support for the bill from constituents. Which form of democratic representation best describes this voting decision? A) Trustee B) Delegate C) Elite D) Pluralist
B
According to James Madison, which of the following best controls the effects of faction? A) Direct democracy B) The popular election of state judges C) A large republic D) Property requirements for eligibility to work E) The creation of a merit-based civil service
C
After a constitutional amendment has been proposed by both houses of Congress, its adoption requires... A) official filing with the secretary of state B) support by a majority vote of the people C) signature by the president D) ratification by three-fourths of the states E) ratification by the Supreme Court
D
The Supreme Court issued a ruling that was unpopular with a majority of Americans. The president might be able to lessen the impact of the decision by... A) reducing the pay of the justices to pressure them to reverse their decision B) overruling the Supreme Court's decision by a two-thirds vote in Congress C) impeaching the justices in the majority D) refusing to actively enforce the decision
D
Which of the following is true of the seniority system of Congress in relation to committee leadership and committee staffing? A) Members of Congress must be elected from safe seats to accrue committee seniority. B) Members of congressional committees are the most senior members of the body's majority party. C) The oldest members of Congress have the most seniority. D) The chairs of congressional committees tend to be senior members of the body's majority party.
D
Unlike the Articles of Confederation, the Constitution does which of the following? A) Restricts the ability of Congress to tax. B) Restricts the ability of Congress to establish an army or navy. C) Establishes a unitary form of government. D) Emphasizes state sovereignty over national sovereignty. E) Emphasizes both national sovereignty and federalism.
E
Which of the following situations is an example of the president using the bully pulpit as a tool for agenda setting? A) President Clinton invoking executive privilege in resisting a subpoena by the United States Senate during the Whitewater investigation B) President Bush issuing a signing statement in the Detainee Treatment Act of 2005 that considerably weakened its provisions C) President Obama issuing an executive order delaying the deportation of at least five million undocumented immigrants D) President Reagan delivering a televised address urging a reduction in federal taxes
D
Which of the following statements accurately summarizes the reasoning for the decision in Baker v. Carr (1962) ? A) Congressional redistricting must involve traditionally excluded groups in the process or it violates the equal protection clause. B) 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. C) To ensure equal protection under the law, there should be an equal number of rural and urban districts in a state.\ D) Because rural districts had fewer people, representation was unevenly distributed; thus, Baker was denied equal protection under the law.
D
Which of the following was a direct outcome of the Three-Fifths Compromise? A) The number of senators increased in slaveholding states. B) Slavery quickly declined, especially in larger cities in the South. C) Slaveholding states were able to count slaves to determine their number of senators. D) The number of representatives in the House of Representatives from slaveholding states increased.
D
Brutus was an example of an Anti-Federalist because he... A) believed a centralized government posed a major threat to individual rights B) argued that a national military force was needed to deal with insurrections C) argued that the laws passed by the national government were supreme over state laws D) believed that compromise between the branches of government would ensure a limited government
A
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
Which of the following is argued by James Madison in The Federalist paper number 10? A) A system of republican representation helps to limit the excesses of factionalism. B) Small republics are better able to ensure individual liberty than are large republics. C) The presence of a few large factions helps to protect the rights of minorities. D) Participatory democracy is the surest way to prevent tyranny. E) The elimination of the causes of factionalism is the best protection against tyranny.
A
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
In 2015, the United States Supreme Court decided the case Obergefell v. Hodges (2015), which ruled that states must recognize same sex couples' right to marry. Which of the following ideals of democracy would the attorneys for the same sex couple most likely put forth as their argument? A)Limited government would more likely defer to state laws on same sex marriage rather than a blanket directive from the Supreme Court. B) Natural rights of life and liberty include the right to marry whom you choose. C) Popular sovereignty requires that elected representatives in the state should decide right-to-marry issues. D) Social contract theory guarantees that the right to marry is enshrined in a constitutional framework.
B
In the early part of the twenty-first century, public opinion polls showed that a majority of Americans believed it should be illegal to burn the American flag. As a result, many members of Congress introduced amendments to make it illegal to burn or desecrate the American flag. However, these efforts have been unsuccessful. Which of the following statements best explains why these efforts have been unsuccessful? A) Congress and the states have agreed to add this amendment; however, recent presidents have refused to sign it. B) The framers made the amendment process difficult in order to protect individual rights. C) The Supreme Court has stated such an amendment is unconstitutional, thus blocking its ratification. D) The framers specifically wrote the amendment process to prevent using it to limit freedom of expression.
B
Which of the following is commonly identified as a failure of the Articles of Confederation? A) The executive branch was granted too much power over the legislature. B) The national government lacked an effective power to raise revenue. C) The federal government had too much control over interstate commerce. D) The judicial branch was elected and did not consistently adhere to rule of law.
B
Which of the following pair of Supreme Court cases best illustrates how views of federalism have shifted in the Untied States? A) Brown V. Board of Education & Baker V. Carr B) McCulloch V. Maryland & U.S. V. Lopez C) Citizens Untied V. FEC & McDonald V. Chicago D) Schenck V. U.S. & New York Times V. U.S.
B
Congressional districts are drawn every ten years by the... A) Congress B) Census Bureau C) State Legislatures D) The Federal Elections Commission
C
South Carolina passed a law to increase the state tax on gasoline to help fund repairs on highways and bridges. The state tax is in addition to the federal tax on every gallon of gasoline that is sold. Which of the following constitutional provisions does this scenario illustrate? A) Delegated powers B) Reserved Powers C) Concurrent Powers D) Expressed Powers
C
The theory that all interests are and should be free to compete for influence in government, resulting in healthy democratic compromise and balance, is called... A) elite power politics B) socialism C) pluralism D) rational choice E) institutionalism
C
"If, therefore, the legislature pass any laws, inconsistent with the sense the judges put upon the constitution, they will declare it void; and therefore in this respect their power is superior to that of the legislature."Brutus 15 Which of the of following cases is most related to the above quote? A) Marbury v. Madison (1803) B) McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) C) McDonald v. Chicago (2010) D) United States v. Lopez (1995)
A
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 passes a law which contradicts federal law, causing the Supreme Court to rule in favor of the federal government.
A
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
On July 9, 2018, after the retirement of Justice Anthony Kennedy, President Trump, a Republican, nominated Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. Many Democrats in the Senate feared that the appointment of Kavanaugh would swing the Court in a more ideologically conservative direction and attempted to block his nomination. After a heated Senate confirmation hearing, Kavanaugh was eventually confirmed by a 50-48 vote in the Senate. The scenario best highlights which of the following statements about court appointees? A) Life tenure for appointed justices alongside the power of judicial review increases the stakes in the confirmation process for nominees to the Supreme Court. B) Judicial appointees tend to make controversial statements on important policy issues during their confirmation hearings to get confirmed. C) The merit system for hiring members of the bureaucracy extends to the vetting process for nominations to the Supreme Court. D) Presidents usually request that the Senate be slow and deliberate with judicial appointments to check the power of the judicial branch.
A
The Declaration of Independence states "Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed." This was a revolutionary change from the system of British monarchy, which was based on the divine right of kings. For which of the ideals of democracy does this quote provide a foundation? A) Popular sovereignty B) Federalism C) Separation of power D) Limited government
A
The term "bicameralism" refers to the... A) establishment of two legislative chambers that have different structures and rules B) members of the House of Representatives having two-year terms C) president having veto power over both chambers of Congress D) members of the House and Senate having to appease their mutual constituencies
A
Which of the following factors most likely led to shifts in Supreme Court decision making over time? A) The ideological composition of the justices on the Supreme Court shifted to become less liberal over time. B) Rather than pass new legislation, Congress was inclined to refer civil rights legislation to the Supreme Court. C) After 1960, the Supreme Court deferred to the wishes of state and local governments rather than voting to expand the authority of the federal government. D) Constitutional amendments enabled the Supreme Court to issue more liberal decisions.
A
A newly elected president faces a Senate controlled by the opposition party. Which of the following presidential appointments is the most 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
Federal benefits that must be funded by Congress and must be paid to all citizens who meet eligibility criteria are called... A) discretionary appropriations B) individual entitlements C) tax expenditures D) distributive benefits E) continuing appropriations
B
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
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
The statesman who should attempt to direct private people in what manner they ought to [operate their business] would not only load himself with a most unnecessary attention, but assume authority which could safely be trusted, not to no single person, but to no council or senate whatever, and which would nowhere be so dangerous as in the hands of a man who [was so arrogant to think] himself fit to exercise it.To . . . direct private people in what manner they ought to employ their capitals . . . in almost all cases [is] a useless or hurtful regulation. If the produce of domestic [industry] can be brought there as cheap as that of foreign industry, the regulation is evidently useless. If it cannot, it must generally be hurtful. Adam Smith, The Wealth of Nations, 1776 A) Natural rights B) Limited Government C) Popular sovereignty D) Social Contract
B
Which of the following ideals of democracy is reflected in the procedure for apportionment in the House of Representatives? A) The federal government represents states equally. B) Government is based on the consent of the governed. C) Leaders in Congress are among the most well-informed in society. D) Political power is distributed between the national government and state governments.
B
Which of the following is a consequence of having concurrent powers within a federal system of government? A) States can pass laws that override the laws of the federal government. B) Citizens and interest groups seeking policy change can choose from multiple access points. C) The executive branch can expand its control of the policy agenda. D) Members of Congress can cultivate close relationships with power brokers in their regions.
B
Which of the following scenarios best demonstrates a president avoiding a check from the judicial branch? A) The president signs a bill that reduces the budget of the Department of Justice in response to the department's failure to prosecute white-collar criminals. B) The president claims that certain detainees are enemy combatants and thus do not possess the same constitutional protections that the Supreme Court has upheld for the interrogation of criminal suspects. C) The president vetoes legislation that would constrain the ability of the executive branch to conduct domestic surveillance as it relates to terrorism. D) The president issues an executive order declaring that all people who were brought to the United States illegally as children can apply for a deferment rather than face deportation.
B
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
Advocates of shifting the task of drawing United States House districts from state legislatures to independent commissions are likely to claim which of the following as an advantage of independent commissions? A) House districts drawn by independent commissions are immune from challenges by the United States Department of Justice. B) Independent commissions are more likely to create majority-minority districts where they are appropriate. C) Independent commissions significantly reduce the influence of partisan gerrymandering in the redistricting process. D) Independent commissions are more likely to create districts where minor parties can be victorious. E) Independent commissions are more able to draw legislative districts that comply with the one person, one vote standard.
C
Congress passes a law requiring that all public accommodations provide access for people with disabilities. The United States Supreme Court rules that the law does not apply to the airline industry. Which of the following is the best way for Congress to provide people with disabilities access to the airline industry in light of the Court's ruling? A) Appeal the ruling to the United States Court of Appeals B) Override the court with a two-thirds majority in both chambers C) Pass a new law that specifies that the airlines must provide access for people with disabilities D) Remove members of the Supreme Court who ruled against the law and have the president appoint new justices
C
In 1974, the House of Representatives approved a resolution granting the Judiciary Committee authority to investigate impeachment of President Nixon for obstruction of justice, abuse of power, and contempt of Congress. Which constitutional ideal of democracy is demonstrated in this scenario? A) Popular sovereignty B) Judicial review C) Limited government D) Federalism
C
In 2005, the Utah legislature passed a law that allowed school districts to ignore parts of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), a law passed by Congress in 2001 that supported standards-based education reform. Utah did this despite the fact that it endangered losing $76 million in federal aid to Utah public schools. Which of the following statements best explains why Utah took this action? A) Utah argued that because the majority of its citizens are Mormon, the No Child Left Behind Act infringed upon their free exercise rights. B) The Supreme Court ruled several parts of the No Child Left Behind Act unconstitutional, so Utah had to create policy to address those areas. C) Educational policy is not mentioned in the Constitution, which has created debate about the proper role for the national government in educational policy. D) Since education is a policy clearly delegated to the states, the No Child Left Behind Act was a clear violation of the Constitution.
C
The committee system is more important in the House than in the Senate because... A) the seniority system plays no role in the House and therefore committees must play a larger role B) the Constitution mandates the type of committee structure in the House C) the House is so large that more work can be accomplished in committees than on the floor D) the majority party in the House prefers to give priority to the work of the committees
C
The debates between Federalists and Anti-Federalists were primarily about which of the following issues? A) The right of the people to rebel B) The existence of slavery C) The scope of power of the central government D) The need to establish a standard currency E) The representation of large and small states
C
Throughout most of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, most African Americans were prevented from voting in many Southern states despite the Fifteenth Amendment, which extended the right to vote to African American males. Southern states were able to take this action because... A) the Fifteenth Amendment did not apply to all states B) Congress passed legislation that restricted the application of the Fifteenth Amendment to placate Southerners C) the framers allowed the individual states to create voting processes and voter qualifications D) the Supreme Court had declared the Fifteenth Amendment unconstitutional
C
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
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
Which of the following scenarios is an example of the trustee model of representation? A) The NAACP leadership sends representatives to Washington to lobby for changes to the Voting Rights Act. B) Congress passes a bill allocating money to clean up nuclear waste sites after a wave of large-scale peaceful protests. C) A member of Congress votes to close a popular tax loophole based on the belief that the money would be better spent paying down the national debt. D) A presidential candidate advocates using an executive order to increase the minimum wage for federal contractors.
C
Concurrent powers have which of the following effects on the United States political system? A) They reinforce the expansion of the power of the national government and the supremacy of the national law. B) They eliminate disputes between the states and the national government by creating completely separate spheres of influence. C) They foster cooperation between the states and the national government by requiring that the two levels of government work together. D) They make it possible for the states and the national government to simultaneously exercise influence in the same areas of public policy.
D
During his confirmation hearing, Chief Justice John Roberts stated that Roe v. Wade (1973) "is the settled law of the land." This statement suggests that in a future case that challenges the constitutionality of legislation restricting privacy and reproductive rights, which of the following should be a key factor in the court's ruling? A) Briefs submitted by interested parties B) Contemporary societal norms C) The consensus of the other justices D) Reliance on legal precedent
D
In The Federalist 78, Alexander Hamilton argued that the federal judiciary "is beyond comparison the weakest of the three departments of power." Which of the following statements represents a reason he gave for this argument? A) It has the power of the sword and the power of judgment but lacks the power of the purse. B) Each branch must be given the ability to defend its power and check the others. C) The federal government is further from the people and thus less accountable. D) It must depend on the executive for enforcement of its decisions.
D
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
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
"[A] pure democracy... can admit of no cure for the mischiefs of faction. . . . [S]uch democracies have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention; have ever been found incompatible with personal security or the rights of property; and have in general been as short in their lives as they have been violent in their deaths. . . .The two great points of difference between a democracy and a republic are: first, the delegation of the government, in the latter, to a small number of citizens elected by the rest; secondly, the greater number of citizens, and greater sphere of country, over which the latter may be extended.. . . [I]t may well happen that the public voice, pronounced by the representatives of the people, will be more consonant to the public good than if pronounced by the people themselves, convened for the purpose. On the other hand, the effect may be inverted. Men of factious tempers, of local prejudices, or of sinister designs, may, by intrigue, by corruption, or by other means, first obtain the suffrages, and then betray the interests, of the people."James Madison, The Federalist 10 A) People would be best served by having a strong leader to make the decisions. B) People will not truly have a voice in government until they can vote on laws directly. C) People are best represented by a few politicians chosen to voice their issues. D) People should elect political representatives who are wealthy enough to avoid corruption.
C
In 2012, after negotiations on a bill in Congress failed, President Obama issued an executive order that protected from deportation individuals illegally brought to the United States as children by their parents. The president took this action because... A) the executive order would require Congress to bring a bill regarding illegal immigration to the floor for a vote B) the president was reacting to a Supreme Court decision that required him to do something to protect these individuals C) disagreement between congressional leaders and the president on the issue meant that a compromise on a bill was not likely D) the Constitution clearly gives the president control over the legal status of immigrants in the United States
C
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
On February 9, 2016, President Barack Obama released his budget proposal for the 2017 fiscal year. Facing a Republican Congress, many declared the plan "dead on arrival." Among the cited issues was Obama's request for $582.7 billion in discretionary spending for defense, which many Republicans believed was not enough. Which of the following most accurately explains the interaction between the president and the Congress regarding the defense budget? A) The Congress has the enumerated power to raise revenue, but it is forced to work with the president because the president has the power to determine spending for each department in the upcoming fiscal year. B) The president can create a budget for defense spending, but Congress has the power to execute laws and operate the government, which can affect how much money is actually spent. C) Congress passes a budget for the entire federal government, including defense, but it must consider the president's proposal because the president may veto the bill. D) The president introduces a specific budget bill for defense spending, but Congress uses its power of legislative oversight to set up a negotiation process with the president.
C
Which of the following is an example of checks and balances? A) An unpopular Supreme Court ruling can be overturned by a majority vote of both houses of Congress. B) A filibuster in the Senate can be ended with a cloture motion that has the support of 60 senators. C) A rule issued by a bureaucratic agency may be declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. D) A treaty negotiated by the president with a foreign government must be approved by a majority vote of the House.
C
Which of the following scenarios best illustrates a member of Congress supporting pork-barrel legislation? A) A senator from a coal-producing state voting against a job-training program for coal miners B) A member of the House voting for urban renewal in exchange for increased funding for roads C) A senator from an agricultural state amending legislation to establish a potato research institute in his or her state D) A member of the House Armed Services Committee marking up a bill that will increase funding for military bases
C
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
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
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
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
