Question 1

Compared to other elected or appointed officials of the U.S. government, presidents are ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  less susceptible to changes in public opinion 
B)  held less accountable for economic downturns 
C)  more revered if they do not overuse executive orders 
D)  more restrained by public opinion 
E)  more popular 
A)  less susceptible to changes in public opinion 
B)  held less accountable for economic downturns 
C)  more revered if they do not overuse executive orders 
D)  more restrained by public opinion 
E)  more popular

Question 2

What is an example of an informal presidential power?

Accepted Answer

A)  declaring war 
B)  being commander in chief 
C)  vetoing legislation 
D)  signing executive treaties 
E)  leading a political party 
A)  declaring war 
B)  being commander in chief 
C)  vetoing legislation 
D)  signing executive treaties 
E)  leading a political party

Question 3

The president needs the approval of the ________ for appointments, and the ________ for declaring war.

Accepted Answer

A)  House; Senate 
B)  Senate; Senate 
C)  House and Senate; House 
D)  House and Senate; Senate 
E)  Senate; House and Senate 
A)  House; Senate 
B)  Senate; Senate 
C)  House and Senate; House 
D)  House and Senate; Senate 
E)  Senate; House and Senate

Question 4

A national party's presidential nominating convention helps resolve ________ among its state party leaders.

Accepted Answer

A)  free-rider problems 
B)  coordination problems 
C)  principal-agent problems 
D)  prisoner's dilemmas 
E)  unstable coalitions 
A)  free-rider problems 
B)  coordination problems 
C)  principal-agent problems 
D)  prisoner's dilemmas 
E)  unstable coalitions

Question 5

The number of electoral college votes per state equals the ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  number of House members per state 
B)  number of senators per state 
C)  size of the state legislature 
D)  age of the state 
E)  number of House members and senators per state 
A)  number of House members per state 
B)  number of senators per state 
C)  size of the state legislature 
D)  age of the state 
E)  number of House members and senators per state

Question 6

Why does the power of the president increase most dramatically in wartime?

Accepted Answer

A)  Congress is susceptible to free riding during difficult times. 
B)  Soldiers vote for the president in power during wars. 
C)  Congress has trouble raising money and relies on the president in wartime. 
D)  Presidential popularity increases during wartime. 
E)  The president has the power to make efficient decisions necessary for war. 
A)  Congress is susceptible to free riding during difficult times. 
B)  Soldiers vote for the president in power during wars. 
C)  Congress has trouble raising money and relies on the president in wartime. 
D)  Presidential popularity increases during wartime. 
E)  The president has the power to make efficient decisions necessary for war.

Question 7

In some cases, the president (and the executive branch that serves under him) can take actions that have the force of law. Identify, define, and discuss at least three different institutions that allow the president to take unilateral action that sets public policy in the United States. How, if at all, are these institutions consistent with the principles of the separation of powers system embedded in the U.S. Constitution?

Accepted Answer

A thorough answer may include the follow

Question 8

What best explains the increasing power of the vice president over time?

Accepted Answer

A)  Decreasing judicial activism requires the vice president to make more speeches. 
B)  Increasing staff and budgets have allowed vice presidents to take broader roles. 
C)  Delivering the State of the Union address has increased the office's power. 
D)  Shrinking staff of the EOP has caused the vice president to become stronger. 
E)  Changes to the Eleventh Amendment allow the vice president more trust from the president. 
A)  Decreasing judicial activism requires the vice president to make more speeches. 
B)  Increasing staff and budgets have allowed vice presidents to take broader roles. 
C)  Delivering the State of the Union address has increased the office's power. 
D)  Shrinking staff of the EOP has caused the vice president to become stronger. 
E)  Changes to the Eleventh Amendment allow the vice president more trust from the president.

Question 9

Why might members of a popular president's party do better electorally than members of an unpopular president's party?

Accepted Answer

A)  The president has more power, and therefore is more popular. 
B)  Congress has more collective action problems. 
C)  The president is the face of a political party. 
D)  Lack of confirmations under an unpopular president indicates lack of leadership. 
E)  War makes presidents popular. 
A)  The president has more power, and therefore is more popular. 
B)  Congress has more collective action problems. 
C)  The president is the face of a political party. 
D)  Lack of confirmations under an unpopular president indicates lack of leadership. 
E)  War makes presidents popular.

Question 10

Over time, presidential powers have grown due to which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  wars 
B)  depressions 
C)  civil unrest 
D)  wars and depressions, but not civil unrest 
E)  wars, depressions, and civil unrest 
A)  wars 
B)  depressions 
C)  civil unrest 
D)  wars and depressions, but not civil unrest 
E)  wars, depressions, and civil unrest

Compared to other elected or appointed officials of the U.S. government, presidents are ________.

What is an example of an informal presidential power?

The president needs the approval of the for appointments, and the for declaring war.

A national party's presidential nominating convention helps resolve ________ among its state party leaders.

The number of electoral college votes per state equals the ________.

Why does the power of the president increase most dramatically in wartime?

What best explains the increasing power of the vice president over time?

Why might members of a popular president's party do better electorally than members of an unpopular president's party?

Over time, presidential powers have grown due to which of the following?

Introduction

The Constitution

Federalism

Civil Rights and Liberties

Congress

The Bureaucracy

The Judiciary

Public Opinion

Political Participation

Interest Groups and Social Movements

Political Parties

Elections and Campaigns

Mass Media and the Press

Economic Policy

Social Policy

Foreign Policy

Filters

Exam 6: The Presidency

Compared to other elected or appointed officials of the U.S. government, presidents are ________.

What is an example of an informal presidential power?

The president needs the approval of the ________ for appointments, and the ________ for declaring war.

A national party's presidential nominating convention helps resolve ________ among its state party leaders.

The number of electoral college votes per state equals the ________.

Why does the power of the president increase most dramatically in wartime?

What best explains the increasing power of the vice president over time?

Why might members of a popular president's party do better electorally than members of an unpopular president's party?

Over time, presidential powers have grown due to which of the following?

Introduction

The Constitution

Federalism

Civil Rights and Liberties

Congress

The Bureaucracy

The Judiciary

Public Opinion

Political Participation

Interest Groups and Social Movements

Political Parties

Elections and Campaigns

Mass Media and the Press

Economic Policy

Social Policy

Foreign Policy

Filters

The president needs the approval of the for appointments, and the for declaring war.