Question 1

Explain the difference between the Whig theory of the presidency and the stewardship theory.Which is the norm today?

Accepted Answer

The Whig theory holds that the presidency is a limited or constrained office whose occupant is confined to the exercise of expressly-granted constitutional authority.In this tradition,the president has no implicit powers for dealing with national problems,but is primarily an administrator,who is charged with carrying out the will of Congress.James Buchanan,William Howard Taft,and Herbert Hoover were all proponents of this theory.The stewardship theory maintains that the president should be a strong,assertive,and forceful leader.In this tradition the president can do anything that is not specifically forbidden by the Constitution.Proponents of this tradition are Theodore Roosevelt,Franklin Roosevelt,and Harry Truman.The stewardship theory is the norm today,as even weak presidents are expected to act assertively,regardless of their personal inclination.

Question 2

The presidency was created by Article ________ of the U.S.Constitution.

Accepted Answer

A) I 
B) II 
C) III 
D) IV 
E) VII 
A) I 
B) II 
C) III 
D) IV 
E) VII B

Question 3

The primary election as a means of choosing presidential nominees

Accepted Answer

A) was introduced during the Jacksonian era. 
B) is used in Europe as well as in the United States. 
C) has been used more extensively in recent decades,such that the candidate who dominates the primaries can usually expect to receive the nomination. 
D) is designed to strengthen the political parties. 
E) was introduced during the Cleveland era. 
A) was introduced during the Jacksonian era. 
B) is used in Europe as well as in the United States. 
C) has been used more extensively in recent decades,such that the candidate who dominates the primaries can usually expect to receive the nomination. 
D) is designed to strengthen the political parties. 
E) was introduced during the Cleveland era. C

Question 4

According to the U.S.Constitution,if no one candidate receives a majority vote of the Electoral College,who chooses the president?

Accepted Answer

A) the U.S.Senate 
B) the U.S.House of Representatives 
C) both the Senate and House in joint session 
D) the Supreme Court 
E) the people,in a runoff election 
A) the U.S.Senate 
B) the U.S.House of Representatives 
C) both the Senate and House in joint session 
D) the Supreme Court 
E) the people,in a runoff election

Question 5

Which of the following describes what political scientist Hugh Heclo calls "the illusion of presidential government"?

Accepted Answer

A) the inability of the president to influence the legislative priorities of Congress,even though the party in power pays lip-service to the president's agenda 
B) the presidential image-building through public relations that contributes to the idea that the president is in charge of the national government 
C) the belief by the public that Congress should follow the presidential agenda,regardless of whether or not the majority part is the same party of the president 
D) the image-building that the president's foreign policy strength lends to the rest of his agenda 
E) the image strength lent by the sheer size of the executive establishment,even though the president has little direct control over most of it 
A) the inability of the president to influence the legislative priorities of Congress,even though the party in power pays lip-service to the president's agenda 
B) the presidential image-building through public relations that contributes to the idea that the president is in charge of the national government 
C) the belief by the public that Congress should follow the presidential agenda,regardless of whether or not the majority part is the same party of the president 
D) the image-building that the president's foreign policy strength lends to the rest of his agenda 
E) the image strength lent by the sheer size of the executive establishment,even though the president has little direct control over most of it

Question 6

Candidate strategy in the early presidential nominating contests (such as New Hampshire's primary)is designed chiefly to gain

Accepted Answer

A) momentum. 
B) the support of the party's organizational leaders. 
C) the support of the party's congressional leaders. 
D) the endorsement of the mass media. 
E) the support of partisan rivals. 
A) momentum. 
B) the support of the party's organizational leaders. 
C) the support of the party's congressional leaders. 
D) the endorsement of the mass media. 
E) the support of partisan rivals.

Question 7

Identify the four systems of presidential selection that the United States has had during its history.What has been the overriding reason for the changes that have taken place?

Accepted Answer

The first system was used from 1788 unti

Question 8

President Obama's failure in his early months in office to enact policies to combat global warming,despite his determination to do so,is reflective primarily of

Accepted Answer

A) the two-presidency problem. 
B) fear of impeachment. 
C) blocking by Congress. 
D) lack of sufficient executive authority. 
E) poor circumstance related to the economy. 
A) the two-presidency problem. 
B) fear of impeachment. 
C) blocking by Congress. 
D) lack of sufficient executive authority. 
E) poor circumstance related to the economy.

Question 9

The president's constitutional roles,such as chief executive and commander in chief,

Accepted Answer

A) are based on very precise constitutional grants of power. 
B) are rooted in tradition only; they have no basis in the language of the Constitution. 
C) are not subject to check by Congress. 
D) have expanded in practice to be more powerful than the writers of the Constitution intended. 
E) are absolute powers under the Constitution. 
A) are based on very precise constitutional grants of power. 
B) are rooted in tradition only; they have no basis in the language of the Constitution. 
C) are not subject to check by Congress. 
D) have expanded in practice to be more powerful than the writers of the Constitution intended. 
E) are absolute powers under the Constitution.

Question 10

States that apply the unit rule

Accepted Answer

A) grant all their electoral votes as a unit to the candidate who wins the state's popular vote. 
B) hold a single primary for presidential candidates from each major party. 
C) use the caucus instead of the primary for presidential candidate selection. 
D) do not use the Electoral College system. 
E) are not considered to be states in which there is a competitive race between candidates. 
A) grant all their electoral votes as a unit to the candidate who wins the state's popular vote. 
B) hold a single primary for presidential candidates from each major party. 
C) use the caucus instead of the primary for presidential candidate selection. 
D) do not use the Electoral College system. 
E) are not considered to be states in which there is a competitive race between candidates.

Question 11

A president's policy initiatives are significantly more successful when the president

Accepted Answer

A) has the strong support of the American people. 
B) is a former member of Congress. 
C) is on good terms with other world leaders. 
D) is in office when the economy goes bad,which creates a demand for stronger leadership. 
E) None of these answers is correct. 
A) has the strong support of the American people. 
B) is a former member of Congress. 
C) is on good terms with other world leaders. 
D) is in office when the economy goes bad,which creates a demand for stronger leadership. 
E) None of these answers is correct.

Question 12

After which party convention did the Democrats force major changes in the presidential nominating process?

Accepted Answer

A) 1948 
B) 1960 
C) 1968 
D) 1984 
E) 1992 
A) 1948 
B) 1960 
C) 1968 
D) 1984 
E) 1992

Question 13

Which of the following is NOT true of the 2004 presidential election?

Accepted Answer

A) Howard Dean did not accept federal matching funds in the primaries. 
B) John Kerry accepted federal matching funds in the primaries. 
C) George W.Bush did not accept federal matching funds in the primaries. 
D) None of the three candidates (Dean,Kerry,and Bush)accepted federal matching funds in the primaries. 
E) None of these answers is correct. 
A) Howard Dean did not accept federal matching funds in the primaries. 
B) John Kerry accepted federal matching funds in the primaries. 
C) George W.Bush did not accept federal matching funds in the primaries. 
D) None of the three candidates (Dean,Kerry,and Bush)accepted federal matching funds in the primaries. 
E) None of these answers is correct.

Question 14

The U.S.House of Representatives last decided the outcome of a presidential election in ________.

Accepted Answer

A) 1928 
B) 1892 
C) 1856 
D) 1824 
E) 1800 
A) 1928 
B) 1892 
C) 1856 
D) 1824 
E) 1800

Question 15

________ was known as the "Great Communicator".

Accepted Answer

A) Ronald Reagan 
B) George H.W.Bush 
C) Jimmy Carter 
D) Lyndon Johnson 
E) George W.Bush 
A) Ronald Reagan 
B) George H.W.Bush 
C) Jimmy Carter 
D) Lyndon Johnson 
E) George W.Bush

Question 16

A president is likely to propose the most new programs

Accepted Answer

A) during his or her first year in office. 
B) after reelection to a second term. 
C) immediately after Congress enacts a major presidential initiative. 
D) when international conditions are stable. 
E) during his or her last year in office. 
A) during his or her first year in office. 
B) after reelection to a second term. 
C) immediately after Congress enacts a major presidential initiative. 
D) when international conditions are stable. 
E) during his or her last year in office.

Question 17

The Executive Office of the President (EOP)was created in ________.

Accepted Answer

A) 1789 
B) 1804 
C) 1865 
D) 1888 
E) 1939 
A) 1789 
B) 1804 
C) 1865 
D) 1888 
E) 1939

Question 18

What did the Supreme Court rule about executive agreements in 1937?

Accepted Answer

A) They are legally binding in the same way that treaties are. 
B) They can only be issued in matters of national security. 
C) They will only be binding if reviewed and approved by both houses of Congress. 
D) They can only be made with the approval of a president's entire cabinet. 
E) They were ruled unconstitutional and are no longer used by the executive. 
A) They are legally binding in the same way that treaties are. 
B) They can only be issued in matters of national security. 
C) They will only be binding if reviewed and approved by both houses of Congress. 
D) They can only be made with the approval of a president's entire cabinet. 
E) They were ruled unconstitutional and are no longer used by the executive.

Question 19

Under which president did the Electoral College selection process change to a popular vote?

Accepted Answer

A) George Washington 
B) Thomas Jefferson 
C) James Madison 
D) Andrew Jackson 
E) Martin Van Buren 
A) George Washington 
B) Thomas Jefferson 
C) James Madison 
D) Andrew Jackson 
E) Martin Van Buren

Question 20

Whereas today candidates rely on the media,previously they based their campaigns on the

Accepted Answer

A) work of grass-roots organizers. 
B) party organizations. 
C) mass mailing of campaign literature. 
D) staging of personal appearances. 
E) efforts of friendly civilian and corporate group efforts. 
A) work of grass-roots organizers. 
B) party organizations. 
C) mass mailing of campaign literature. 
D) staging of personal appearances. 
E) efforts of friendly civilian and corporate group efforts.

Explain the difference between the Whig theory of the presidency and the stewardship theory.Which is the norm today?

The presidency was created by Article ________ of the U.S.Constitution.

The primary election as a means of choosing presidential nominees

According to the U.S.Constitution,if no one candidate receives a majority vote of the Electoral College,who chooses the president?

Which of the following describes what political scientist Hugh Heclo calls "the illusion of presidential government"?

Candidate strategy in the early presidential nominating contests (such as New Hampshire's primary)is designed chiefly to gain

Identify the four systems of presidential selection that the United States has had during its history.What has been the overriding reason for the changes that have taken place?

President Obama's failure in his early months in office to enact policies to combat global warming,despite his determination to do so,is reflective primarily of

The president's constitutional roles,such as chief executive and commander in chief,

States that apply the unit rule

A president's policy initiatives are significantly more successful when the president

After which party convention did the Democrats force major changes in the presidential nominating process?

Which of the following is NOT true of the 2004 presidential election?

The U.S.House of Representatives last decided the outcome of a presidential election in ________.

________ was known as the "Great Communicator".

A president is likely to propose the most new programs

The Executive Office of the President (EOP)was created in ________.

What did the Supreme Court rule about executive agreements in 1937?

Under which president did the Electoral College selection process change to a popular vote?

Whereas today candidates rely on the media,previously they based their campaigns on the

Political Thinking and Political Culture: Becoming a Responsible Citizen

Constitutional Democracy: Promoting Liberty and Self-Government

Federalism: Forging a Nation

Civil Liberties: Protecting Individual Rights

Equal Rights: Struggling Toward Fairness

Public Opinion and Political Socialization: Shaping the Peoples Voice

Political Participation: Activating the Popular Will

Political Parties, Candidates, and Campaigns: Defining the Voters Choice

Interest Groups: Organizing for Influence

The News Media: Communicating Political Images

Congress: Balancing National Goals and Local Interests

The Federal Bureaucracy: Administering the Government

The Federal Judicial System: Applying the Law

Economic and Environmental Policy: Contributing to Prosperity

Welfare and Education Policy: Providing for Personal Security and Need

Foreign Policy: Protecting the American Way

State and Local Politics: Maintaining Our Differences

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Exam 12: The Presidency: Leading the Nation

Explain the difference between the Whig theory of the presidency and the stewardship theory.Which is the norm today?

The presidency was created by Article ________ of the U.S.Constitution.

The primary election as a means of choosing presidential nominees

According to the U.S.Constitution,if no one candidate receives a majority vote of the Electoral College,who chooses the president?

Which of the following describes what political scientist Hugh Heclo calls "the illusion of presidential government"?

Candidate strategy in the early presidential nominating contests (such as New Hampshire's primary)is designed chiefly to gain

Identify the four systems of presidential selection that the United States has had during its history.What has been the overriding reason for the changes that have taken place?

President Obama's failure in his early months in office to enact policies to combat global warming,despite his determination to do so,is reflective primarily of

The president's constitutional roles,such as chief executive and commander in chief,

States that apply the unit rule

A president's policy initiatives are significantly more successful when the president

After which party convention did the Democrats force major changes in the presidential nominating process?

Which of the following is NOT true of the 2004 presidential election?

The U.S.House of Representatives last decided the outcome of a presidential election in ________.

________ was known as the "Great Communicator".

A president is likely to propose the most new programs

The Executive Office of the President (EOP)was created in ________.

What did the Supreme Court rule about executive agreements in 1937?

Under which president did the Electoral College selection process change to a popular vote?

Whereas today candidates rely on the media,previously they based their campaigns on the

Political Thinking and Political Culture: Becoming a Responsible Citizen

Constitutional Democracy: Promoting Liberty and Self-Government

Federalism: Forging a Nation

Civil Liberties: Protecting Individual Rights

Equal Rights: Struggling Toward Fairness

Public Opinion and Political Socialization: Shaping the Peoples Voice

Political Participation: Activating the Popular Will

Political Parties, Candidates, and Campaigns: Defining the Voters Choice

Interest Groups: Organizing for Influence

The News Media: Communicating Political Images

Congress: Balancing National Goals and Local Interests

The Federal Bureaucracy: Administering the Government

The Federal Judicial System: Applying the Law

Economic and Environmental Policy: Contributing to Prosperity

Welfare and Education Policy: Providing for Personal Security and Need

Foreign Policy: Protecting the American Way

State and Local Politics: Maintaining Our Differences

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