unit 5: the executive branch practice test

In the last years presidential primacy, so indispensable to the political order, has turned into presidential supremacy. The constitutional Presidency—as events so apparently disparate as the Indochina War and the Watergate affair showed, has become the imperial Presidency and threatens to be the revolutionary Presidency. . . . The imperial Presidency was essentially the creation of foreign policy. A combination of doctrines and emotions—belief in the permanent and universal crisis, fear of communism, faith in the duty and right of the United States to intervene swiftly in every part of the world—had brought about the unprecedented centralization of decisions. Prolonged war in Vietnam strengthened the tendencies toward both centralization and exclusion. So the imperial Presidency grew at the expense of the constitutional order. Like the cowbird, it hatched its own eggs and pushed the others out of the nest. And, as it overwhelmed the traditional separation of powers in foreign affairs, it began to aspire toward an equivalent centralization of power in the domestic polity. Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., The Imperial Presidency, 1973 Based on the passage above, which of the following constitutional provisions would the author most likely identify as a solution to the problem of the imperial presidency? a. Congress insisting that it declare war prior to the use of international force b. The president making stronger use of bureaucratic discretion c. Congress exercising the power to regulate commerce d. Congress creating term limits for all members of government

a

In the last years presidential primacy, so indispensable to the political order, has turned into presidential supremacy. The constitutional Presidency—as events so apparently disparate as the Indochina War and the Watergate affair showed, has become the imperial Presidency and threatens to be the revolutionary Presidency. . . . The imperial Presidency was essentially the creation of foreign policy. A combination of doctrines and emotions—belief in the permanent and universal crisis, fear of communism, faith in the duty and right of the United States to intervene swiftly in every part of the world—had brought about the unprecedented centralization of decisions. Prolonged war in Vietnam strengthened the tendencies toward both centralization and exclusion. So the imperial Presidency grew at the expense of the constitutional order. Like the cowbird, it hatched its own eggs and pushed the others out of the nest. And, as it overwhelmed the traditional separation of powers in foreign affairs, it began to aspire toward an equivalent centralization of power in the domestic polity. Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., The Imperial Presidency, 1973 Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the text by Schlesinger and The Federalist 70 ? a. While Schlesinger views centralization of power in the presidency as dangerous, The Federalist 70 views it as vital to the presidency's effectiveness. b. While The Federalist 70 views centralization of power in the presidency as dangerous, Schlesinger views it as vital to the presidency's effectiveness. c. Both Schlesinger and The Federalist 70 view centralization of power in the presidency as vital to the presidency's effectiveness. d. Both Schlesinger and The Federalist 70 view centralization of power in the presidency as dangerous.

a

In the last years presidential primacy, so indispensable to the political order, has turned into presidential supremacy. The constitutional Presidency—as events so apparently disparate as the Indochina War and the Watergate affair showed, has become the imperial Presidency and threatens to be the revolutionary Presidency. . . . The imperial Presidency was essentially the creation of foreign policy. A combination of doctrines and emotions—belief in the permanent and universal crisis, fear of communism, faith in the duty and right of the United States to intervene swiftly in every part of the world—had brought about the unprecedented centralization of decisions. Prolonged war in Vietnam strengthened the tendencies toward both centralization and exclusion. So the imperial Presidency grew at the expense of the constitutional order. Like the cowbird, it hatched its own eggs and pushed the others out of the nest. And, as it overwhelmed the traditional separation of powers in foreign affairs, it began to aspire toward an equivalent centralization of power in the domestic polity. Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., The Imperial Presidency, 1973 Which of the following statements is a correct implication of the author's argument? a. The perception of multiple crises has led to the growth of an executive branch that is undermining the separation of powers in the government. b. Federal courts play a substantial role in the American political system, but they have been unable to check the executive. c. The Constitution has failed to protect the separation of powers by giving the executive branch and the president too much power. d. The modern president has abused the power of the executive branch through the use of the bully pulpit.

a

The president is most likely to use an executive order to make important policy when a. a compromise cannot be reached with Congress b. the Supreme Court is divided along ideological lines c. a negotiation with foreign heads of state reaches an impasse d. Congress is dominated by the president's party

a

Which of the following accurately describes the information presented in the pie chart? (where do bureaucrats work? picture) a. The United States Postal Service has the largest number of employees within the federal bureaucracy b. The number of federal employees working in Washington, D.C., outnumbers those working in the states. c. The legislative, judicial, and executive branches employ more bureaucrats than does the Department of Veterans Affairs. d. Congress has allocated more money to the Department of Homeland Security than to the Department of Defense.

a

Which of the following is an example of checks and balances in action in the United States government? a. The president vetoes a bill passed by Congress. b. The president issues an executive order that freezes federal government hiring. c. The House and Senate cannot agree on the same version of a bill to send to thepresident. d. The voters reject the status quo and elect all new members of Congress. e. The voters at the state level elect a governor from a party other than the president's.

a

Which of the following is true under the system of checks and balances? a. The Senate must ratify treaties negotiated by the President before they become law. b. The House of Representatives appoints justices to the Supreme Court and the Senate approves the appointments. c. A bill becomes law when the House and the Senate pass it, and the Supreme Court declares it constitutional. d. The Supreme Court can overrule the President's policy proposals e. The Supreme Court can remove members of Congress, and Congress can impeach the President.

a

Which of the following may the president do to limit the Supreme Court's power? a. Refuse to enforce a ruling by the Court b. Veto parts of the Court's decisions c. Adopt new constitutional amendments d. Fire and replace justices

a

Which of the following statements is most accurately supported by the data in the table? a. While President George W. Bush issued fewer signing statements than President Clinton, his included more objections than President Clinton's. b. President George W. Bush was forced to issue more signing statements as a direct result of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. c. President Clinton's brief access to the power of the line-item veto allowed him to issue fewer signing statements that raised concerns about legislation. d. President Clinton greatly reduced the use of presidential signing statements compared with his predecessors.

a

Bureaucratic agencies are originally created by which of the following groups? a. The Supreme Court b. Congress c. The federal courts d. The President e. The President's Cabinet

b

How has the appointment of federal officials changed over time? a. There is no set procedure for filling jobs in the bureaucracy; each agency has its own rules. b. It is a combination of merit and political appointment with most jobs in the bureaucracy based on an exam or specific job qualifications. c. Prospective employees take a civil service exam, and the person with the best score who is also a member of the president's political party is awarded the position. d. It is now based solely on merit; all federal government employees must take a civil service exam. e. It has become more political because more government jobs have been created and are filled through patronage.

b

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Social Security Administration (SSA) are examples of a. White House staff agencies b. independent agencies c. Executive Office bureaus d. cabinet departments e. congressional committees

b

The purpose of the Twenty-Second Amendment, passed in 1951, was to a. allow for presidential impeachments b. limit presidential terms of office c. provide more checks and balances on the executive office d. allow the president to choose a vice-presidential running mate e. allow voters in the District of Columbia to vote

b

Which of the following is NOT a presidential role authorized by the Constitution? a. To be chief executive b. To lead the political party of the President c. To be commander in chief of the armed forces d. To negotiate treaties with foreign nations e. To present the State of the Union address

b

Which of the following represents a reason that a president might use a signing statement to express displeasure with a bill as opposed to issuing a veto? a. The president wants to ensure executive agencies do not spend the money appropriated by Congress. b. The president may have objections to provisions of a bill but does not want to risk Congress overriding a veto. c. The Supreme Court is hesitant to acknowledge the president's power to veto legislation. d. Congress has severely curtailed the power of the president to withhold funds for bills that have been adopted.

b

Who exercises control over the bureaucracy? a. The executive branch controls the bureaucracy by appointing all federal employees. b. Both Congress and the executive branch have controls over the bureaucracy c. There is very little control over the bureaucracy because agencies make regulations that have the force of law. d. Congress controls the bureaucracy because it has the power to fire agency heads after oversight hearings and for cause. e. The judicial branch controls the bureaucracy by reviewing regulations to make sure they are constitutional before they go into effect.

b

A policy that sets emission standards for automobiles is an example of a. judicial policy b. distributive policy c. regulatory policy d. fiscal policy e. monetary policy

c

All of the following make it difficult for presidents to control the actions of federal agencies EXCEPT a. bureaucratic noncompliance b. bureaucratic inertia c. the appointment of cabinet heads d. issue networks (iron triangles) e. the civil service system

c

Congress tries to control the bureaucracy through a. the use of executive orders and appointments. b. the creation of iron triangles. c. rewriting laws and budgets and holding hearing. d. deregulation. e. regularly threatening to abolish it.

c

In general, what is the opinion of the American public regarding the bureaucracy? a. When people have personal dealings with bureaucrats, they generally have negative experiences, although they have a favorable attitude about the federal government as a whole. b. People have negative experiences with individual bureaucrats and feel negatively about the government as a whole. c. When people have personal dealings with bureaucrats, they generally have positive experiences, although they have a less favorable attitude about the federal government as a whole. d. People have positive experiences with individual bureaucrats and feel positively about the government as a whole.

c

The main job of federal bureaucrats is to: a. advise the president and cabinet on internal matters. b. compete with the private sector for monopoly power. c. implement and regulate government policies. d. act as competition to the private corporations, especially monopolies. e. protect the interests of their constituents.

c

To influence policy making by the federal courts, the president may do all of the following EXCEPT a. take partisanship into account in making judicial appointments b. make public statements about issues that might appear before the courts c. fire and replace federal judges d. encourage the Justice Department to get involved in cases that test certain issues e. take political ideology into account in making judicial appointments

c

What is NOT a characteristic of bureaucrats? a. Generally speaking, bureaucrats have job security to protect them for political reprisals b. Together, the Defense Department and the Postal Service account for the majority of jobs in the federal bureaucracy. c. Almost half of all bureaucrats get their jobs through presidential appointment. d. most bureaucrats are hired after competing for their jobs through a process administered by the Office of Personnel and Management. e. most bureaucrats live and work outside of Washington, DC.

c

Which of the following best explains the difference in the number of bureaucrats employed by the Department of Education and the Department of Homeland Security? (where do bureaucrats work? picture) a. The Department of Education receives its funding from Congress, while the Department of Homeland Security works directly for the president. b. The Department of Homeland Security was created before the Department of Education. c. The Department of Education primarily addresses state issues, whereas the Department of Homeland Security primarily addresses national issues. d. The Department of Homeland Security hires more employees at the state level than the Department of Education.

c

Which of the following is true about the line-item veto? a. It is basically the same as a pocket veto. b. It is specifically granted to the President by the Constitution. c. It is used by many state governors. d. Its use was upheld by the Supreme Court. e. It would, if instituted, strengthen the power of congressional leaders.

c

Which of the following situations is an example of the president using the bully pulpit as a tool for agenda setting? a. President Bush issuing a signing statement in the Detainee Treatment Act of 2005 that considerably weakened its provisions b. President Obama issuing an executive order delaying the deportation of at least five million undocumented immigrants c. President Reagan delivering a televised address urging a reduction in federal taxes d. President Clinton invoking executive privilege in resisting a subpoena by the United States Senate during the Whitewater investigation

c

Executive agreements have been cited as evidence that a. the courts have few means of limiting presidential power b. the executive branch has become too large and bureaucratic c. interest groups have too much power in the contemporary governmental system d. modern presidents often try to avoid legislative checks and balances on their authority e. presidents have less power in handling foreign policy than in handling domestic policy

d

How does the bureaucracy compare with the rest of the government in employing women and minorities? a. Women and minorities mirror the population as a whole at all levels of the bureaucracy. b. There are more women in the bureaucracy than in the rest of the government, but there are fewer minorities than in the population as a whole. c. The bureaucracy is overwhelmingly white and male. d. There are more women and minorities in the bureaucracy, but they are clustered in lower level jobs. e. There are more women and minorities in Congress (including congressional staffs) than in the bureaucracy.

d

If the president vetoes a bill a. the Speaker and Senate Majority Leader can override the veto. b. Congress can override the veto with a majority vote from either house. c. it is sent back to the Speaker of the House who re-submits it for committee review. d. Congress can override the veto with a 2/3rds vote from both houses. e. it still becomes law because both the House and the Senate passed It.

d

In general, independent regulatory commissions are created primarily for the purpose a. regulating activities of other bureaucratic agencies to ensure that they act in a fair and objective manner. b. increasing the President's patronage powers. c. supporting and helping cabinet-level departments. d. regulating certain industries to protect the public interest. e. proposing policy alternatives during periods of crisis.

d

Refer to the passage for the following question. In many places, classrooms are overcrowded and curricula are outdated. Most of our qualified teachers are underpaid, and many of our paid teachers are unqualified. So we must give every child a place to sit and a teacher to learn from. Poverty must not be a bar to learning, and learning must offer an escape from poverty. But more classrooms and more teachers are not enough. We must seek an educational system which grows in excellence as it grows in size. This means better training for our teachers. It means preparing youth to enjoy their hours of leisure as well as their hours of labor. It means exploring new techniques of teaching, to find new ways to stimulate the love of learning and the capacity for creation.... . . . While our Government has many programs directed at those issues, I do not pretend that we have the full answer to those problems. But I do promise this: We are going to assemble the best thought and the broadest knowledge from all over the world to find those answers for America. I intend to establish working groups to prepare a series of White House conferences and meetings... on the quality of education, and on other emerging challenges. And from these meetings and from this inspiration and from these studies we will begin to set our course toward the Great Society. The solution to these problems does not rest on a massive program in Washington, nor can it rely solely on the strained resources of local authority. They require us to create new concepts of cooperation, a creative federalism, between the National Capital and the leaders of local communities. President Lyndon B. Johnson, May 22, 1964 Which of the following explains President Johnson's motivation for the speech in relation to his role as the head of the executive branch? a. President Johnson believes that Congress will soon pass a bill on education reform, and he would like to be able to claim credit for it. b. President Johnson is issuing an executive order calling on local governments to increase training for teachers and address poverty among students. c. President Johnson is expecting the Supreme Court to soon rule on the constitutionality of a law passed by the previous administration. d. President Johnson is seeking to use the bully pulpit as a means of promoting his agenda on public education.

d

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service will set specific standards on how to maintain wildlife refuges. This action is an example of a. an unfunded mandate b. the power of the filibuster c. an independent expenditure d. bureaucratic rule-making e. congressional oversight of the bureaucracy

d

The primary responsibility for determining monetary policy in the United States rests with the a. Comptroller of the Currency b. World Bank c. Treasury Department d. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System e. International Monetary Fund

d

When a president tries to control a bureaucratic agency, all of the following methods are available to him EXCEPT: a. appointing the right people to head the agency. b. issuing executive orders to counteract agency policies. c. using his office to influence agency direction. d. disbanding the agency. e. recommending to the OMB a reduction of the agency's following year's budget.

d

When is the president more likely to receive support from Congress and the public? a. after his second mid term election b. at the end of his second term c. after his first mid term election d. the beginning of his first term e. following a scandal involving the administration

d

Which of the following is an example of the constitutional design of checks and balances? a. The federal government requires state governments to provide unemployment insurance. b. The Supreme Court overturns a lower court's ruling on the application of the Fourth Amendment. c. The Federal Communications Commission revokes the license of a radio station for hate speech. d. The Senate rejects a president's nomination for secretary of state. e. The Office of Management and Budget rejects a proposed regulation of air quality standards.

d

Which of the following presidents have been impeached? a. Richard Nixon, Bill Clinton b. Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon c. Richard Nixon, Andrew Johnson d. Bill Clinton, Andrew Johnson e. Andrew Johnson, Lyndon Johnson

d

An advantage that bureaucrats in the federal government have over the policy-making process is that bureaucrats a. control the budgetary process. b. have an independence from the president that is guaranteed by the Constitution. c. usually have better access to the media than does the president. d. find it easier to gather public support than does the president. e. usually have a continuity of service in the executive branch that the president lacks.

e

From the standpoint of a federal agency, what is the advantage of an iron triangle? a. It provides agency heads with access to the media, so they can publicize their programs. b. It allows federal agencies to receive funding directly from interest groups. c. It prevents Congress from using oversight hearings as a means of cutting agency budgets. d. It gives the federal agency a direct link to the White House staff. e. It gives the agency allies in Congress, as well as in the private sector.

e

Generally, when is a president more likely to get congressional approval of proposed policies? a. After midterm congressional elections b. In social policy areas rather than in economic policy areas c. In the second term rather than in the first d. When public opinion is sharply divided over policies e. In foreign affairs rather than in domestic affairs

e

In the case of a tie vote in the electoral college during the selection of the president, who is charged with electing the president? a. Senate and Supreme Court b. Supreme Court c. Supreme Court and the House of Representatives d. Senate e. House of Representatives

e

Stable relationship and pattern of interaction occur between an agency, interest group, and congressional committee are called a. Issue Networks. b. Independent Executive Agencies. c. Independent Regulatory Agencies. d. Office of Homeland Security. e. Iron Triangles.

e

The Pendleton Act established a. citizenship for Native Americans. b. direct primaries. c. the Federal Reserve System. d. the military draft. e. the civil service system for federal jobs.

e

The President can do which of the following without seeking the consent of either the House or the Senate? a. Ratify a treaty b. Declare war c. Appoint ambassadors d. Appoint district court judges e. Deploy troops

e

The president cannot veto which of the following? a. Laws overturning United States Supreme Court decisions b. Legislation affecting foreign policy c. Bills that originate in the Senate d. Legislation regulating congressional salaries e. Joint resolutions that propose constitutional amendments

e

The president's cabinet is designed to a. issue executive orders b. set the presidential agenda before the Congress c. run the executive branch of the government d. negotiate executive agreements e. both advise the president and administer a department of government

e

Which of the following best describes the president's responsibilities under the War Powers Resolution? a. The president must have approval of the Joint Chiefs of Staff before committing troops for over 30 days. b. The president must seek approval of Congress and the United Nations before committing troops for more than 10 days. c. The president must utilize National Guard units prior to asking Congress to reinstate a selective service system. d. The president must propose a financial plan for financing the war e. The president must bring troops home from hostilities within 60 to 90 days unless Congress extends the time.

e

Which of the following is an example of presidential use of informal powers? a. President Barack Obama delivering the State of the Union address to Congress b. President Ronald Reagan nominating Sandra Day O'Connor to the United States Supreme Court c. President George W. Bush deploying United States troops to Iraq d. President John F. Kennedy negotiating the Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty with the Soviet Union e. President Bill Clinton advocating for public policy reform on his Health Security Express bus

e

Which of the following is the primary reason for the tensions that exist between the legislative and executive branches of the federal government? a. The branches are responsible for the selection of Cabinet-level officials. b. The branches are staffed with many of the same people. c. Each branch has the constitutional power to levy taxes. d. Each branch sets and approves the other's budget. e. The branches have different constituencies with different interests.

e