Khan Academy Chapter 5
"The defeat of Robert Bork's 1987 Supreme Court nomination was a watershed event that unleashed what Stephen Carter has called 'the confirmation mess.' There was no question that Bork was a highly qualified nominee. He was rejected not because of any lack of qualification, or any impropriety, but because of his stated judicial philosophy: how he would vote as a judge." -John Maltese, "Anatomy of a Confirmation Mess: Recent Trends in the Federal Judicial Selection Process," 2004 Based on the text, which of the following statements would the author most likely agree with?
Judicial nominations can be contentious because of the lasting influence the people in those positions have after a president's term
Which of the following statements is reflected in the data in the chart?
Presidents have become less successful at getting federal judges confirmed over the past 50 years
"Energy in the Executive is a leading character in the definition of good government. It is essential to the protection of the community against foreign attacks; it is not less essential to the steady administration of the laws; to the protection of property against those irregular and high-handed combinations which sometimes interrupt the ordinary course of justice; to the security of liberty against the enterprises and assaults of ambition, of faction, and of anarchy . . ." -Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 70, "The Executive Department Further Considered," 1788 "Energy," as used by Hamilton in Federalist No. 70, is best defined as which of the following?
The capacity to act quickly and decisively
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
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 scenarios would most likely be considered a violation of the Twenty-second Amendment?
A sitting president runs for a third term in office after overwhelming support from the American public
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 explains how modern technology has changed the president's ability to respond to political issues?
It has made it easier for the president to rapidly respond to political issues by appealing directly to the public
"Anti-Third Term Principle," by Clifford K. Berryman, 1912. The cartoon depicts Theodore Roosevelt, left, and George Washington, right. Source: National Archives Which of the following best describes the message in the political cartoon?
Presidential power should be restrained by term-of-office limits
"The defeat of Robert Bork's 1987 Supreme Court nomination was a watershed event that unleashed what Stephen Carter has called 'the confirmation mess.' There was no question that Bork was a highly qualified nominee. He was rejected not because of any lack of qualification, or any impropriety, but because of his stated judicial philosophy: how he would vote as a judge." -John Maltese, "Anatomy of a Confirmation Mess: Recent Trends in the Federal Judicial Selection Process," 2004 Which of the following statements best summarizes the author's argument?
Robert Bork failed confirmation as a Supreme Court justice because some Senators were concerned about the impact he would have on the Court
Which of the following statements explains how an executive order can cause conflict between the president and Congress?
An executive order enhances the power of the president because it create laws without congressional approval
Which of the following best explains how a president would use a bully pulpit to achieve policy goals?
By appealing directly to the public, the president hopes members of the public will influence their representatives to support those policy goals
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
"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?" Source: New York Times Which of the following statements best summarizes Fish's argument?
Signing statements go beyond the president's expressed constitutional powers
Which of the following best describes a trend in the line graph above?
State of the Union addresses have become longer over time
"Anti-Third Term Principle," by Clifford K. Berryman, 1912. The cartoon depicts Theodore Roosevelt, left, and George Washington, right. Source: National Archives Which of the following Constitutional Amendments is most relevant to the topic of the cartoon?
The Twenty-second Amendment
"The mystique of inside information—"if you only knew what we know"—was a most effective way to defend the national-security monopoly and prevent democratic control of foreign policy . . . The power to leak meant the power to tell the people what it served the government's purpose that they should know . . . The power to withhold and the power to leak led on inexorably to the power to lie. The secrecy system instilled in the executive branch the idea that foreign policy was no one's business save its own, and the uncontrolled secrecy made it easy for lying to become routine." -Arthur Schlesinger, The Imperial Presidency, 1973 Which of the following governmental policies would the author most likely support?
The War Powers Resolution of 1973, which aimed to give Congress more say in whether US troops were deployed abroad
Which of the following is an accurate conclusion based on a comparison of the trends in the line graphs?
The increased speed of communication has led to more rapid changes in public perception of the president
Appointments to the White House staff are often uncontested for which of the following reasons?
These appointments do not require Senate confirmation
Which of the following statements is the most likely motivation for a president to issue an executive order?
To achieve policy goals when a compromise cannot be reached with Congress
Appointments to the president's cabinet are sometimes contentious for which of the following reasons?
Cabinet-level officials are responsible for implementing the laws created by Congress, while still advocating for the president's agenda
"Even as they welcome the opportunities opened up by having an ally in the White House, some worry that the continued emphasis on executive actions is just another step in the dilution of legislative power. "'We need to go back to being the legislative branch,' said Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, a Florida Republican opposed to a potential executive order by Mr. Trump that would end a special program allowing younger illegal immigrants to remain in the United States. 'We didn't like this when Obama was doing it, so why should we accept it now?'" -Carl Hulse, "Trump Follows Obama's Lead in Flexing Executive Muscle," The New York Times, January 26, 2017 Based on the text, which of the following statements would Representative Ros-Lehtinen most likely agree with?
Executive orders can create conflict with Congress as they do not require congressional input or approval
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
Which of the following statements explains how social media has enhanced the power of the presidency?
It gives the president a direct line of communication to the national constituency to influence national policy
Which of the following may the Senate do to limit the president's power?
Reject presidential nominees
Which of the following statements is reflected in the data in the table above?
Technology such as broadcast media gives the president an avenue to rapidly respond to a majority of American citizens about political issues
"Lifetime appointments and the new, highly ideological stakes provided senators ample incentives to use holds and silent filibusters to prevent a majority of their colleagues from acting on judicial nominations, both to block those with different ideologies and to keep slots vacant until the presidency moves into their party's hands. Along the way, judicial confirmations have become increasingly politicized, and delays in confirming appellate judges have led to increased vacancy rates that have produced longer case-processing times and growing caseloads per judge on federal dockets." -Mann, Thomas E. and Norman J. Ornstein, It's Even Worse than it Looks, 2012 Which of the following statements best summarizes the authors' argument?
The Senate is more likely to place holds on life-tenured judicial appointments because of the lasting influence of those appointments
"The mystique of inside information—"if you only knew what we know"—was a most effective way to defend the national-security monopoly and prevent democratic control of foreign policy . . . "The power to leak meant the power to tell the people what it served the government's purpose that they should know . . . "The power to withhold and the power to leak led on inexorably to the power to lie. The secrecy system instilled in the executive branch the idea that foreign policy was no one's business save its own, and the uncontrolled secrecy made it easy for lying to become routine." -Arthur Schlesinger, The Imperial Presidency, 1973 Based on the text, which of the following statements would the author most likely agree with?
The executive branch has too much power in implementing foreign policy
Which of the following explains how President Obama is using social media to affect policy in the example above?
To inform American citizens of his policy goals
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
"That unity is conducive to energy will not be disputed. Decision, activity, secrecy, and despatch will generally characterize the proceedings of one man in a much more eminent degree than the proceedings of any greater number; and in proportion as the number is increased, these qualities will be diminished . . ." -Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 70, "The Executive Department Further Considered," 1788 Which of the following scenarios would be considered an example of how unity is conducive to energy in the executive branch, as defined by the author of the passage?
John F. Kennedy's secret negotiations ending the Cuban Missile Crisis
"That unity is conducive to energy will not be disputed. Decision, activity, secrecy, and despatch will generally characterize the proceedings of one man in a much more eminent degree than the proceedings of any greater number; and in proportion as the number is increased, these qualities will be diminished . . ." -Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 70, "The Executive Department Further Considered," 1788 Which of the following statements best summarizes Hamilton's argument?
One person should run the executive branch because they will be able to act swiftly, decisively, and discreetly, which is necessary for the presidency
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
"Both Lincoln and Roosevelt undertook acts they knew to be beyond the Constitution. Both did so in times of transcendent crisis when the life of the nation seemed truly at stake. Both acted, knowingly or not, on Locke's doctrine of emergency prerogative, trusting that Congress would eventually approve their actions." -Arthur Schlesinger, The Imperial Presidency, 1973 Based on the text, which of the following statements would the author most likely agree with?
Presidential power has increased in the face of growing federal challenges
"Both Lincoln and Roosevelt undertook acts they knew to be beyond the Constitution. Both did so in times of transcendent crisis when the life of the nation seemed truly at stake. Both acted, knowingly or not, on Locke's doctrine of emergency prerogative, trusting that Congress would eventually approve their actions." -Arthur Schlesinger, The Imperial Presidency, 1973 Which of the following statements best summarizes the author's argument?
Presidents have enhanced their constitutional powers beyond what is expressed in the Constitution in order to deal with major crises
Which of the following is an accurate conclusion based on a comparison of the trends in the line graph and your knowledge of presidential communication strategies?
Presidents have increased the length of their State of the Union messages to make the most of the opportunity to influence the electorate directly
"Lifetime appointments and the new, highly ideological stakes provided senators ample incentives to use holds and silent filibusters to prevent a majority of their colleagues from acting on judicial nominations, both to block those with different ideologies and to keep slots vacant until the presidency moves into their party's hands. Along the way, judicial confirmations have become increasingly politicized, and delays in confirming appellate judges have led to increased vacancy rates that have produced longer case-processing times and growing caseloads per judge on federal dockets." -Mann, Thomas E. and Norman J. Ornstein, It's Even Worse than it Looks, 2012 Based on the text, which of the following statements would the authors most likely agree with?
Senate confirmation serves as a check on appointment powers
"Amid this much-changed communication landscape, the lingering question of whether the untapped wisdom of the public should be harnessed in governmental decisions suddenly commanded a fresh look, as social media increased the capability of governments worldwide to more fully involve ordinary citizens in policymaking." -M. Barris, A. Jain, and J. Katz, The Social Media President: Barack Obama and the Politics of Political Engagement, 2013 Based on the text, which of the following statements would the authors most likely agree with?
Social media has changed the president's relationship with the national constituency by involving more citizens in policymaking decisions
"In addition to educating the country, [President Barack Obama's] goal is to frame the political debate and set an agenda that the next Democratic presidential nominee can run on next year—an agenda that Obama hopes will put opposition Republicans at a big disadvantage. Obama has been getting lots of attention for bypassing the Republican-controlled Congress and using his unilateral powers, such as executive orders, to get his way. But his power to persuade is another vital weapon in the president's arsenal, since he can command media and public attention almost whenever he wants." -Kenneth T. Walsh, U.S. News & World Report, 2015 The strategy described in the passage above is an example of which of the following?
The bully pulpit
Which of the following is an accurate conclusion based on a comparison of the trends in the chart above and your knowledge of presidential appointments?
The potential for conflict with the Senate depends upon the type of executive branch appointment
"Energy in the Executive is a leading character in the definition of good government. It is essential to the protection of the community against foreign attacks; it is not less essential to the steady administration of the laws; to the protection of property against those irregular and high-handed combinations which sometimes interrupt the ordinary course of justice; to the security of liberty against the enterprises and assaults of ambition, of faction, and of anarchy . . ." -Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 70, "The Executive Department Further Considered," 1788 Which of the following is a consequence of the ideas set forth by the author of this passage?
The establishment of the president as Commander in Chief of the military
Which of the following scenarios is an example of the president using the bully pulpit approach to achieve policy goals?
The president appeals to the American public to contact their representatives and urge them to support increased military spending
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 addition to educating the country, [President Barack Obama's] goal is to frame the political debate and set an agenda that the next Democratic presidential nominee can run on next year—an agenda that Obama hopes will put opposition Republicans at a big disadvantage. Obama has been getting lots of attention for bypassing the Republican-controlled Congress and using his unilateral powers, such as executive orders, to get his way. But his power to persuade is another vital weapon in the president's arsenal, since he can command media and public attention almost whenever he wants." -Kenneth T. Walsh, U.S. News & World Report, 2015 Which of the following statements best summarizes the author's argument?
The president's ability to command media attention gives him an advantage in shaping the national policy agenda
"The mystique of inside information—"if you only knew what we know"—was a most effective way to defend the national-security monopoly and prevent democratic control of foreign policy . . . The power to leak meant the power to tell the people what it served the government's purpose that they should know . . . The power to withhold and the power to leak led on inexorably to the power to lie. The secrecy system instilled in the executive branch the idea that foreign policy was no one's business save its own, and the uncontrolled secrecy made it easy for lying to become routine." -Arthur Schlesinger, The Imperial Presidency, 1973 Which of the following scenarios provides the best justification for an expansive interpretation of presidential power?
The rapid response necessary after a threat of nuclear war
