Khan Government sem. 2
Social media has changed the president's relationship with the national constituency by involving more citizens in policymaking decisions
"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? Choose 1 answer:
The bully pulpit
"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? Choose 1 answer:
The Supreme Court should judge whether a law is constitutional
"So if a law be in opposition to the constitution; if both the law and the constitution apply to a particular case, so that the court must either decide that case conformably to the law, disregarding the constitution; or conformably to the constitution, disregarding the law; the court must determine which of these conflicting rules governs the case. This is of the very essence of judicial duty. If, then, the courts are to regard the constitution, and the constitution is superior to any ordinary act of the legislature, the constitution, and not such ordinary act, must govern the case to which they both apply." -John Marshall, decision in Marbury v. Madison (1803) Which of the following statements best summarizes Marshall's argument?
Life terms, pending good behavior, for Supreme Court justices
"That inflexible and uniform adherence to the rights of the Constitution, and of individuals, which we perceive to be indispensable in the courts of justice, can certainly not be expected from judges who hold their offices by a temporary commission. Periodical appointments, however regulated, or by whomsoever made, would, in some way or other, be fatal to their necessary independence." -Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 78, "The Judiciary Department," 1788 Which of the following government policies would the author most likely support?
The judicial branch is responsible for interpreting the Constitution and judging whether the laws passed by Congress are constitutional
"The complete independence of the courts of justice is peculiarly essential in a limited Constitution. By a limited Constitution, I understand one which contains certain specified exceptions to the legislative authority . . . Limitations of this kind can be preserved in practice no other way than through the medium of courts of justice, whose duty it must be to declare all acts contrary to the manifest tenor of the Constitution void. Without this, all the reservations of particular rights or privileges would amount to nothing." -Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 78, "The Judiciary Department," 1788 Which of the following statements best summarizes Hamilton's argument?
Signing statements go beyond the president's expressed constitutional powers
"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?
Marbury v. Madison
"There is no position which depends on clearer principles, than that every act of a delegated authority, contrary to the tenor of the commission under which it is exercised, is void. No legislative act, therefore, contrary to the Constitution, can be valid." -Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 78, "The Judiciary Department," 1788 Supporters of Hamilton's view that acts contrary to the Constitution are invalid could point to which of the following cases?
The Supreme Court should have the power of judicial review
"There is no position which depends on clearer principles, than that every act of a delegated authority, contrary to the tenor of the commission under which it is exercised, is void. No legislative act, therefore, contrary to the Constitution, can be valid." -Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 78, "The Judiciary Department," 1788 Which of the following statements best summarizes Hamilton's argument?
The capacity to act quickly and decisively
-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 establishment of the president as Commander in Chief of the military
-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?
John F. Kennedy's secret negotiations ending the Cuban Missile Crisis
-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? Choose 1 answer:
One person should run the executive branch because they will be able to act swiftly, decisively, and discreetly, which is necessary for the presidency
-Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 70, "The Executive Department Further Considered," 1788 Which of the following statements best summarizes Hamilton's argument? Choose 1 answer: Choose 1 answer:
The executive branch has too much power in implementing foreign policy
-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
-Arthur Schlesinger, The Imperial Presidency, 1973 Based on the text, which of the following statements would the author most likely agree with? Choose 1 answer:
The War Powers Resolution of 1973, which aimed to give Congress more say in whether US troops were deployed abroad
-Arthur Schlesinger, The Imperial Presidency, 1973 Which of the following governmental policies would the author most likely support?
The rapid response necessary after a threat of nuclear war
-Arthur Schlesinger, The Imperial Presidency, 1973 Which of the following scenarios provides the best justification for an expansive interpretation of presidential power? Choose 1 answer:
Presidents have enhanced their constitutional powers beyond what is expressed in the Constitution in order to deal with major crises
-Arthur Schlesinger, The Imperial Presidency, 1973 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
-Kenneth T. Walsh, U.S. News & World Report, 2015 Which of the following statements best summarizes the author's argument?
Pass legislation changing the Court's jurisdiction
A Supreme Court precedent approving mandatory busing of students to ensure greater racial integration in public schools throughout the South could be viewed as interfering with state powers under the Constitution, and as creating law rather than interpreting it. Which of the following could Congress do to limit the Supreme Court's power in response?
Pass legislation changing the court's jurisdiction
A Supreme Court precedent banning prayer in schools could be viewed as interfering with state powers under the Constitution, and as creating law rather than interpreting it. Which of the following may Congress do to limit the Supreme Court's power? Choose 1 answer:
Refuse to implement the decision
A president believes the Court has overstepped its constitutional authority by requiring state legislatures to redraw congressional districts to address partisan gerrymandering.
Patronage
After a hard-fought election, President Greene appoints a major campaign donor as ambassador to Greece.
Presidential power should be restrained by term-of-office limits
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?
These appointments do not require Senate confirmation
Appointments to the White House staff are often uncontested for which of the following reasons?
Reversing the precedent that the right of privacy extends to a woman's decision to have an abortion
Based on his statement in the passage, which of the following policy goals does Trump want to promote through ideological appointments to the Supreme Court?
Federal employees are more likely than private sector employees to have master's degrees
Based on the data shown in the table, which of the following statements is true?
Ideological changes in the Supreme Court can lead to the Court rejecting existing precedents
Based on the infographic and your knowledge of the Supreme Court, which of the following statements could be considered an accurate conclusion?
It made slightly more conservative changes to precedent than liberal changes
Based on the information in the infographic, which of the following statements accurately describes the effect the Burger Court had on existing precedents?
The Constitution is above ordinary laws
Between these alternatives there is no middle ground. The constitution is either a superior, paramount law, unchangeable by ordinary means, or it is on a level with ordinary legislative acts, and, like other acts, is alterable when the legislature shall please to alter it." ->John Marshall, decision in Marbury v. Madison (1803) Which of the following statements is most consistent with Marshall's argument in this passage? Choose 1 answer:
The ability of executive departments and agencies to make choices about how to enforce public policy
Bureaucratic discretionary authority is best defined as which of the following?
The politico model
Congress member Amy Santiago votes her conscience on bills that her constituents care little about, but she votes according to the wishes of her constituents on bills they care about a lot.
The discretionary authority that individual bureaucrats and agencies have to make choices about how to implement existing laws
Congress passed the Clean Air Act, which gave the federal government the power to monitor and limit emissions of harmful chemicals into the atmosphere. In 2003, however, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that the Clean Air Act does not give it the authority to regulate carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. The EPA's decision to regulate some emissions but not others is an example of which of the following?
Write guidelines about how much violence can be depicted during times children are likely to be watching TV
Congress passes a law reducing the amount of violence that children can be exposed to on television. Which of the following actions can the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) take to implement this measure?
To divide a state into new political districts after changes in population
Every ten years congressional redistricting occurs for which of the following reasons?
A guideline issued by the federal bureaucracy, providing specific details about how a policy will be implemented
Every year, the Seafair Air Show performance takes place in Seattle, Washington. To protect guests attending the festival, Congress passed a law designating the area a safety zone. In response, the Department of Homeland Security created a regulation requiring the Coast Guard to enforce the boundaries of the safety zone from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The action taken by the Department of Homeland Security is an example of which of the following?
The increased speed of communication has led to more rapid changes in public perception of the president
Examine the graphs and answer the question below. Presidential approval ratings over time, based on sample responses to the question "Do you approve or disapprove of the way [the president] is handling his job as president?" Which of the following is an accurate conclusion based on a comparison of the trends in the line graphs?
Proposing a constitutional amendment
In 1895, the Supreme Court heard a case about the Income Tax Act of 1894. The Court held that the act was unconstitutional and the federal government did not have the power to tax personal income. Which of the following is an action Congress could have taken to check the Supreme Court's power?
A guideline issued by the federal bureaucracy, which provide specific details about how a policy will be implemented
In 1963, Congress passed the Clean Air Act to control air pollution on a national level. In response, the Environmental Protection Agency set standards to limit carbon dioxide emissions from new power plants in the United States. The action taken by the Environmental Protection Agency is an example of which of the following?
A guideline issued by the federal bureaucracy, which provide specific details about how a policy will be implemented
In 1975, Congress passed the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, which gave the Department of Transportation the power to regulate the transport of potentially hazardous materials, including radioactive materials. In response, the Department of Transportation set regulations on vehicles transporting hazardous materials, such as requiring additional labels on shipment trucks that warn other vehicles that there is hazardous material in the truck. The action taken by the Department of Transportation is an example of which of the following?
The power that individual bureaucrats and agencies have to make choices about how to implement existing laws
In 2010, Congress passed the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, which gave the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) more power to regulate and enforce securities laws. In response, the Securities and Exchange Commission created the Office of the Whistleblower, which is responsible for gathering information from people who know of a company committing securities fraud. The Securities and Exchange Commission's ability to decide how much money is awarded to whistleblowers is an example of which of the following?
Congress cannot reach a compromise
In which of the following scenarios is the president most likely to use an executive order to make important policy?
Holding a hearing and subpoenaing high-level officials of the Department of Transportation
Members of the United States House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure are concerned over increased accidents on national highways. Which of the following is an action the committee can take to address the problem? Choose 1 answer:
The House represents states according to the size of their population, while the Senate represents the states equally
Ohio has 16 representatives in the House of Representatives, but only two representatives in the Senate. Which of the following statements best explains the reason for this difference in representation? Choose 1 answer:
Neither sign nor veto the bill, allowing it to die
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?
Laws that include federally-funded local projects that benefit a specific district
Pork barrel legislation is best defined as which of the following?
A legal decision that establishes a rule for similar cases going forward
Precedents are best defined as which of the following?
politico
Senator Leslie Knope plans to vote in favor of two major bills. The first bill is about buying some land in Indiana and turning it into a national park. The second bill will ban any fast food restaurant from serving a 128-ounce soft drink. 21,000 constituents have called her asking her to vote against the second bill, but no constituents have called her about the national park bill. Senator Knope decides to vote in favor of the first bill, but listens to her constituents and votes against the second bill. Which model of representation do her actions embody? Choose 1 answer:
Judges rely on past decisions and their precedents when making decisions in new cases
Stare decisis is best defined as which of the following?
Enforcement
The Environmental Protection Agency issues a fine to a factory that is not complying with federal regulations on the maximum number of pollutants it can release into the atmosphere. This is an example of which of the federal bureaucracy's responsibilities?
Iron triangles
The House Committee on Veterans Affairs, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) work together to achieve policies that benefit veterans. This is an example of which of the following?
22nd Amendment
Which of the following Constitutional Amendments is most relevant to the topic of the cartoon?
Refuse to implement and enforce a ruling by the Court
Which of the following actions can the states take to limit the Supreme Court's power?
State of the Union addresses have become longer over time
Which of the following best describes a trend in the line graph above?
The patronage system leads to corruption
Which of the following best describes the message in the political cartoon?
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 best explains how a president would use a bully pulpit to achieve policy goals?
By choosing justices who change the ideological leanings of the court
Which of the following best explains how the president can limit the Court's power by appointing a new Supreme Court justice?
Necessary and proper clause in Article I
Which of the following constitutional provisions granted Congress the power to pass environmental protection laws like the Clean Water Act?
The Supreme Court must rely on the other branches of government to enforce its rulings
Which of the following describes a difficulty the judicial branch faces in the policy implementation process?
Schedules and manages the flow of legislation on the floor
Which of the following describes the role of the House Rules Committee?
To inform American citizens of his policy goals
Which of the following explains how President Obama is using social media to affect policy in the example above?
It has made it easier for the president to rapidly respond to political issues by appealing directly to the public
Which of the following explains how modern technology has changed the president's ability to respond to political issues?
Greater professionalism in the bureaucracy
Which of the following is a consequence of the merit system in the bureaucracy?
Pass legislation to modify the impact of the decision
Which of the following is a legitimate course of action for Congress to take to place a restriction on the Supreme Court?
Congress has the enumerated power, or explicit power, of establishing post offices. Congress therefore has the implied power to ban certain products from being mailed if they are dangerous or hazardous to postal workers, like dry ice.
Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the enumerated and implied powers of Congress?
Congress has the enumerated, or explicit, power of coining money (Article I, Section 8, Clause 5). It also has the implied power to maintain a national bank based on its enumerated power to regulate commerce (Article 1, Section 8, clause 3).
Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the enumerated and implied powers of Congress?
Negotiating treaties//ratifying treaties
Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the expressed powers of the president and the powers of Congress?
Interpreting the Constitution Establishing inferior courts
Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the powers of the judicial branch and the powers of the legislative branch?
nominating judges/ issuing executive orders
Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the president's formal and informal powers?
Baker v. Carr (1961) gave federal courts the power to intervene and decide redistricting cases, leading to the "one-person, one-vote" doctrine. In Shaw v. Reno (1993), the Court ruled that states can't make oddly-shaped majority-minority districts when trying to comply with the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the two court cases?
Marbury: Led to more power for the Supreme Court to check the other branches Baker:Led to the "one-person, one-vote" judicial doctrine
Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the two court cases?
Marbury: Decided that the Supreme Court can declare a law unconstitutional Shaw:Decided that redistricting plans based on race must be held to a high standard of scrutiny
Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the two court cases? Marbury v. Madison (1803) Shaw v. Reno (1993)
Presidents have increased the length of their State of the Union messages to make the most of the opportunity to influence the electorate directly
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?
Confirming ambassadors to foreign countries
Which of the following is an enumerated power Congress has in making foreign policy?
Government and private groups opposed to a proposal to run a pipeline through Native American land
Which of the following is the best example of an issue network?
Pass legislation to limit the Court's jurisdiction
Which of the following may Congress do to limit the Supreme Court's power?
Reject presidential nominees
Which of the following may the Senate do to limit the president's power?
Declare an executive order unconstitutional
Which of the following may the judicial branch do to limit the power of the president?
Appoint new justices to the Supreme Court
Which of the following may the president do to limit the Supreme Court's power?
Defense spending
Which of the following programs would fall under the discretionary spending portion of the pie chart?
The Environmental Protection Agency decides to enforce the Clean Air Act by imposing fines on companies that knowingly exceed certain pollution standards
Which of the following scenarios is an example of a bureaucratic agency using its discretionary authority?
The president appeals to the American public to contact their representatives and urge them to support increased military spending
Which of the following scenarios is an example of the president using the bully pulpit approach to achieve policy goals?
Congress calls several high-level officials of the Department of Homeland Security to testify on cross-agency communication after September 11th
Which of the following scenarios would be considered congressional oversight?
A sitting president runs for a third term in office after overwhelming support from the American public
Which of the following scenarios would most likely be considered a violation of the Twenty-second Amendment?
The Supreme Court refuses to hear a case because the justices believe the issue should be solved by the legislative branch
Which of the following scenarios would most likely be considered judicial restraint?
Judges should limit the exercise of their own power to interpreting the Constitution according to its original intent
Which of the following statements best describes judicial restraint?
In general, the Warren Court changed precedents to be more liberal and the Burger Court altered precedents to be more conservative
Which of the following statements best describes the information in the infographic above?
It can assign bills to committees
Which of the following statements best explains an advantage the majority party in the House of Representatives has in lawmaking?
Presidents nominate Supreme Court justices who are likely to be sympathetic to their views, changing the ideological leanings of the Court
Which of the following statements best explains how a president's ideology can influence presidential nominations to the judiciary?
Justices are influenced by the social effects the decision might have on the public
Which of the following statements best explains how judicial activism influences decisions made by individual justices when deciding cases heard by the Court?
It makes justices more likely to defer to previous Supreme Court decisions
Which of the following statements best explains how stare decisis influences Supreme Court justices?
It has broadened the power of Congress to enact legislation addressing a wide range of economic, environmental, and social issues
Which of the following statements best explains the impact the necessary and proper clause has had on congressional power?
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 best summarizes the author's argument?
By appointing new Supreme Court justices
Which of the following statements describes a way for the executive branch to limit the Supreme Court's power?
Judges ought to freely strike down laws that are inconsistent with their understanding of the Constitution
Which of the following statements describes judicial activism?
Bureaucrats are experts and are able to make the best choices on how to implement policy
Which of the following statements describes why the federal bureaucracy is given discretionary authority to implement public policy?
Congress can deny requests for funds to executive agencies during the budget process
Which of the following statements explains how Congress can use its power of the purse to restrict presidential power?
It gives the president a direct line of communication to the national constituency to influence national policy
Which of the following statements explains how social media has enhanced the power of the presidency?
He will nominate Supreme Court justices who share his policy preferences in order to achieve his policy goals
Which of the following statements is most consistent with President Trump's argument in this passage?
As entitlement costs grow, discretionary spending has to decrease unless tax revenues increase or Congress permits the budget deficit to increase
Which of the following statements is most consistent with the cartoon's message?
Technology such as broadcast media gives the president an avenue to rapidly respond to a majority of American citizens about political issues
Which of the following statements is reflected in the data in the table above?
McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)
Which prior Supreme Court case could be cited as a precedent for the majority decision in Gonzalez v. Raich (2005)?
Marbury v. Madison (1803)
Which prior Supreme Court case could be cited as a precedent for the majority decision in United States v. Nixon (1974)?
United States v. Lopez (1995)
Which prior Supreme Court case could be used as a precedent for the majority decision in United States v. Morrison (2000)?
It increased the power of the Supreme Court to rule on the constitutionality of acts of Congress, states, and the president
Which statement accurately summarizes the impact of the Marbury v. Madison (1803) decision?
It created a strict standard of scrutiny when creating new legislative districts, ruling that race cannot be the predominant factor
Which statement accurately summarizes the impact of the Shaw v. Reno (1993) decision?
