Civics 3rd Quarter Exam Review
What officials does the president appoint?
2,200 top level federal officials who run executive branch, officials who share same political beliefs, all federal judges (Justices of the Supreme Court).
What is the minimum number of members of the Senate that must approve a treaty for it to go into effect?
67
Why would a person being punished for a federal crime prefer a pardon to a reprieve?
A pardon releases a person from legal punishment while a reprieve postpones legal punishment.
The president works closely with the House of Representatives for months to create a budget.
False
Which of these presidents used executive orders to reduce the rights of certain citizens during wartime?
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Which of these presidents used inherent powers to significantly expand the executive branch by enacting many new economic programs?
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
How did Franklin D. Roosevelt avoid the usual checks and balances necessary when working with foreign governments?
He negotiated an executive agreement to aid Great Britain in fighting Nazi Germany.
Performs ceremonial duties overseas
Head of state
During which circumstance is the inherent powers of the president most likely to expand?
Struggling economy
A bill passes in the House by 350 votes and in the Senate by 92 votes. The president supports the bill, but many of his supporters are strongly against it. What would be the best political course of action for the president to take that would also allow the bill to quickly become law?
Take no action on the bill
Around 32% of legislation supported by the president passes in the House within one year. During the same year, 64% of president-supported legislation passes in the Senate. What can you infer about the political makeup of Congress and the executive branch?
The Senate majority and House minority are from the same party as the president.
The House of Representatives can vote to impeach a president if they suspect that the president is guilty of misconduct.
True
When Thomas Jefferson made a deal with France to purchase the Louisiana Territory, he was using inherent powers of the presidency.
True
When the president attends the funeral if a foreign leader, he or she is fulfilling the role of head of state.
True
Allows broad gathering of information
USA Patriot Act
If Congress adjourns during the ___ day period in which the president decides to sign or veto a bill, the president can exercise a __________________ ________________ by not signing the bill.
~10 ~Pocket veto
The problems caused by the ___________________ ____ _____________________ showed the Founders the need for a strong executive to respond to problems, enforce laws, and carry out the acts of Congress.
~Articles of Confederation
The ____________________ __________________ of 1935 gave the president authority to appoint the seven members of the ______________________ ___________________ __________________ and the group's chairman.
~Banking Act ~Federal Reserve System
A president works to influence Congress by drafting and negotiating about legislation and submitting a suggested annual _____________________ and economic reports.
~Budget
The president supervises work on the annual _____________________, spending months with officials deciding where to support and where to reduce government programs.
~Budget
The White House ___________________________________ oversees the work and operations of the White House and the EOP, while the ____________________________ handles press relations.
~Chief of Staff ~Press secretary
Although the president is a __________________________, in the role of commander in chief, the president is responsible for key military decisions that define military policy and strategy.
~Civilian
In the role of _________________________ _____ _____________________ of the United States armed forces, a president may use federal troops to control rioting in American cities.
~Commander in chief
The loyalties of cabinet secretaries are divided among the president who appointed them, the long-term officials in their own department, members of _________________________ and ____________________________ groups.
~Congress ~Special interest
The president can suggest legislation, but _________________ may adopt or reject those proposals, and the federal courts can limit the president's influence by ruling laws _____________________________.
~Congress ~Unconstitutional
The role of commander in chief is limited because _____________________ retains the power to declare __________ and to provide the funds to pay for the military.
~Congress ~War
Appointments are not automatic because the ____________________________ gives the _________________________ the power to confirm or reject a president's choice fro cabinet secretary.
~Constitution ~Senate
The __________________________________________________ assesses the nation's economic health and tries to predict future economic conditions.
~Council of Economic Advisers
The Employment Act of 1946 created a __________________ _____ __________________________ __________________ to study the economy and advise the president on domestic and international economic policies, and requires the president to give an annual economic report to ________________________.
~Council of Economic Advisers ~Congress
The seven main roles of the president are head of state, chief ___________________, commander in chief, chief diplomat, ____________________ leader, economic planner, and party leader.
~Executive ~Legislative
The Founders did not want people to take a direct role in decision making and wanted a strong ____________________ to hold the ______________________ in check.
~Executive ~Legislature
The Reorganization Act of 1939 created the ___________________________________________________ to assist the president following the dramatic growth of the government.
~Executive Office of the President
The president has the authority to make ____________________ __________________ with other countries, which are pacts that have the same legal status as treaties but do not require ____________ approval.
~Executive agreements ~Senate
Presidents also claim the power of __________________ ___________________, or the right to withhold from Congress or the courts information about communications between the president and his advisers.
~Executive privilege
Presidents sometimes claim the right of _______________________________ and refuse to provide documents or other records to the legislative and judicial branches.
~Executive privilege
The president-elect considers a candidate's __________________________ in the particular policy area along with general ___________________________________ and supervisory experience.
~Experience ~Administrative
In 1926 the Supreme Court clarified the right of a president to _______________ a cabinet member or any other executive employee without congressional _____________________.
~Fire ~Approval
A significant safeguard against presidential abuse of power is the power of the House and Senate to ________________ the president.
~Impeach
Congress and the courts may accept or limit a president's use of ____________ ______________, and at times the Supreme Court has ruled those presidential actions _________________________.
~Inherent power ~Unconstitutional
Over the years, presidents have enlarged their authority through claims of _________________ _______________ not clearly expressed in the Constitution.
~Inherent powers
The president reserves some cabinet positions for loyal supporters and satisfies powerful ___________________________ while assembling a cabinet with demographic __________________________.
~Interest groups ~Diversity
Unlike most state governors, the president does not have a ________________ _____________, which is the power to veto selected items in a bill.
~Line-item veto
Presidents like to claim that, because they won the election, they have a ___________________ from the people to pursue their ideas and policies.
~Mandate
The Supreme Court has limited some presidential power to fight terrorism, such as in the 2006 decision that rejected the use of _______________________ __________________ to put suspected terrorists on trial.
~Military tribunals
The ___________________________________(NSC), directed by the National Security __________________, advises the president and coordinates American military and foreign policy.
~National Security Council ~Advisor
The USA Patriot Act, passed by Congress after 9/11, gave the president and executive branch increased powers to fight terrorism and protect __________________ _______________________.
~National security
The _____________________________________________________(OMB) prepares the national budget for the president to present to Congress.
~Office of Management and Budget
Presidents use ______________________ _____________________, or appointment to political office, to reward the people who have helped get him or her elected.
~Political patronage
During a war, presidents often claim increased _______________ to protect the nation.
~Power
The _________________ actively supports party members running for office and also selects the party's _______________ __________________.
~President ~National Chair
A cabinet meets when called by the _________________________, and its role in decision making depends entirely on the wishes of the ________________________.
~President ~President
Although the _________________ can make treaties with foreign nations and appoint ambassadors and federal judges, these activities must be approved by the ________________.
~President ~Senate
Article II of the Constitution says that the executive power is given to a _______________________, who has the power to execute laws, ________ legislation, command the military, and engage with foreign leaders.
~President ~Veto
As chief diplomat, the president decides whether the United States will ______________________, or acknowledge as legal, the governments of other countries.
~Recognize
Because many "___________________ ____________________" activities are classified, it may be difficult to hold public officials accountable.
~Shadow War
The president usually describes legislative priorities in the annual _______________ ____ _______ ______________ address to Congress.
~State of the Union
Check on presidential power to wage war
War Powers Act
What does it mean to "faithfully execute" the laws?
When Congress passes a law, it is the presidents responsibility to put that law into action. Congress cannot provide enough details in every law to explain exactly how it should be implemented. He is to make practical decisions on how the laws are to be implemented.
*How did Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt each increase the power and role of the president?
~Thomas Jefferson used inherent powers to purchase the Louisiana Territory from France. ~Abraham Lincoln claimed inherent powers to do what was necessary to preserve the union including suspending some rights guaranteed by the Constitution. ~Theodore Roosevelt used inherent powers in order to break up trusts and intervene in labor disputes.
While the president, in the role of chief diplomat, has sole power to negotiate and sign _____________________, two-thirds of the ___________________ must approve them before they can go into effect.
~Treaties ~Senate
The president's power to _________________ legislation is an important tool in lawmaking.
~Veto
The cabinet is made up of the ____________________ president, the ______________________ of the executive departments, and other top government officials.
~Vice ~Secretaries
In times of _____________ or other crisis, presidents may use these powers to deal with the difficulties.
~War
In 1973 Congress passed the _____________________ ________________ ______ to limit the president's ability to make war without a declaration by Congress.
~War Powers Act
The _______________________________________________, a unit of the EOP, is a set of key advisers and assistants for the president who do not require Senate confirmation to their posts.
~White House Office
The Articles of Confederation gave a president the power to execute laws and veto legislation.
False
How did President Nixon's use of the power to impound funds lead to limits on that power?
After President Nixon impounded huge sums for programs he opposed, groups that would have benefited from the programs took Nixon to court. The court then ordered the president to spend the appropriated money. Congress later passed legislation to prevent such large-scale impounding without congressional approval and strengthened the budget authority of Congress.
Protects a particular group from prosecution
Amnesty
A president could continue to assert power twenty years after leaving the presidency through which of these methods?
Appointing a Supreme Court justice
What is the overall task of the president as head of state?
As head of state, the president represents the nation and performs many ceremonial roles.
If Congress is controlled by the party other than the president's, his or her budget is likely to be...
Changed dramatically
Power to negotiate with other countries
Chief diplomat
Presides over agencies such as Social Security
Chief executive
Power to use the military for defense
Commander in chief
*How has Congress, over time, limited presidential use of the power of commander in chief?
Congress retains the power to declare war as well as the power to provide funding for the military. Congress can order the president to disengage troops involved in undeclared war. Congress is likely to give the president more power during the wartime. The U.S. Patriot Act gave the president more power, but Congress said the president cannot indefinitely detain suspects. Although the president is a civilian, in the role of commander in chief, the president is responsible for key military decisions that define military policy and strategy. The USA Patriot Act gave the president and executive branch increased powers to fight terrorism and protect national security. The Supreme Court has limited some presidential power to fight terrorism, such as in the 2006 decision that rejected the use of military tribunals to put suspected terrorists on trial.
*How has Congress added to the president's role as chief economic planner over the years?
Congress was persuaded to create many new social programs, regulate banks, and set up the federal agencies to run these programs. The Banking Act of 1935 gave the president authority to appoint the seven members of the Federal Reserve System and the group's chairman.The Employment Act of 1946 created a Council of Economic Advisers to study the economy and advise the president on domestic and international economic policies, and requires the president to give an annual economic report to Congress. In addition, the president supervises work on the annual budget, spending months with officials deciding where to support and where to reduce government programs.
Which of these presidential activities is not protected by the power of executive privilege?
Conversations with advisers about unlawful party activities.
Which of these illustrates an expansion of the president's power as commander in chief?
Drones have secretly been used to kill suspected terrorists in Yemen.
Directs action without congressional approval
Executive order
What are executive orders and what limits a president's use of them?
Executive orders do not need congressional approval. It is a rule issued by the president that has the force of law. President is given broad limits by courts when it comes to orders relating to foreign policy and the military. Executive order has to be related to some power given to him by Constitution or Congress.
Which of these powers of the presidency is specifically described in the Constitution?
Faithfully execute laws
A pocket veto happens after 10 days when the president takes o action on a bill when Congress is in session.
False
Because the directors of the Federal Reserve are appointed by the president, "the Fed" is considered part of the executive branch.
False
When determining whether or not a country is aiding an enemy of the United States, the president has an advantage over Congress because of access to which of the following?
Intelligence gathered by various agencies in the executive branch
How does the Senate limit the president's power to appoint?
It must be approved by Senate and must confirm many top-level appointments.
Acting as chief diplomat, the president puts together a treaty with Japan. What must happen next for the treaty to go into effect?
It must be approved by Senate.
Presidential impoundment of funds that were appropriated for new military aircraft is a check on the power of which of these?
Legislative branch
The political patronage system focuses on which attributes in filling government positions?
Loyalty within a party
Which of the duties of the U.S. president would most likely be fulfilled by the prime minister in the United Kingdom, not the queen?
Meet with department heads to enact policy
Releases those convicted of crimes
Pardon
When a president travels around the country to support candidates running for office, he or she is fulfilling which of these roles?
Party leader
*How does the president's power as chief executive provide the opportunity to shape implementation of laws passed by Congress and to affect court decisions for years to come?
President appoints a lot of officials that run executive branch with Senate approval. These individuals are going to share in his political beliefs. Therefore, they are likely going to implement programs that the president wants implemented. He also appoints judges (including justices from the Supreme Court which will be there for a long time). This can affect court decisions by their beliefs.
As commander in chief, the president is allowed to do which of the following?
Send troops to assist after a hurricane
What is the overall task of the president as chief executive?
The president leads the executive branch of government that carries out the laws that Congress passes and runs the programs Congress creates.
What are three specific tasks the president must perform as head of state?
The president must receive Ambassadors and other public ministers. To fulfill that duty, the president hosts such dignitaries as kings, queens, and heads of foreign governments. President plays an important role in natural disasters. He represents the nation by bringing comfort to victims of tragedy, he throws the first pitch at baseball games, meets Olympic athletes, etc.
Which of these statements best represents one purpose of the State of the Union address?
To present Congress with the president's legislative priorites
Allows interactions between two countries
Treaty
As party leader, part of the duties of the president is to select the national chair of the party.
True
Executive privilege allows the president to speak freely with advisers about strategy without the fear that Congress will question what was said in private to arrive at that strategy.
True
Ideas proposed by the president are more likely to be incorporated into legislation if the president is popular with the public.
True
