Question 1

What is required for Congress to override a presidential veto?

Accepted Answer

A)  a majority of both houses of Congress 
B)  two-thirds of both houses of Congress 
C)  three-fourths of both houses of Congress 
D)  a unanimous vote of both houses of Congress 
E)  A president's veto cannot be overridden unless it concerns the budget, in which case it requires a three-fourths of both houses. 
A)  a majority of both houses of Congress 
B)  two-thirds of both houses of Congress 
C)  three-fourths of both houses of Congress 
D)  a unanimous vote of both houses of Congress 
E)  A president's veto cannot be overridden unless it concerns the budget, in which case it requires a three-fourths of both houses. B

Question 2

Which statement concerning the White House Communications Office is incorrect?

Accepted Answer

A)  It was an innovation by Bill Clinton. 
B)  It has become an important institution within the Executive Office of the President. 
C)  It allows the president to avoid giving information to the public. 
D)  It is designed to deflect criticism of the president. 
E)  It develops and implements a coordinated communications strategy. 
A)  It was an innovation by Bill Clinton. 
B)  It has become an important institution within the Executive Office of the President. 
C)  It allows the president to avoid giving information to the public. 
D)  It is designed to deflect criticism of the president. 
E)  It develops and implements a coordinated communications strategy. C

Question 3

The president must share foreign policy powers with the

Accepted Answer

A)  Joint Chiefs of Staff. 
B)  Congress. 
C)  states. 
D)  vice president. 
E)  Department of Defense. 
A)  Joint Chiefs of Staff. 
B)  Congress. 
C)  states. 
D)  vice president. 
E)  Department of Defense. B

Question 4

Which of the following statements about signing statements is most accurate?

Accepted Answer

A)  The Constitution requires that the president explain his interpretation of every law he signs by issuing a signing statement. 
B)  Although signing statements were commonly used prior to 1900, no modern president has issued them when signing a piece of legislation into law. 
C)  Signing statements never instruct executive agencies whether to implement sections of a new law and never interpret ambiguous provisions of the law. 
D)  While presidents have made signing statements throughout American history, they have only recently been recorded and made part of the official legislative record. 
E)  Signing statements were invented during the Reagan administration as a way for the president to circumvent the federal court system. 
A)  The Constitution requires that the president explain his interpretation of every law he signs by issuing a signing statement. 
B)  Although signing statements were commonly used prior to 1900, no modern president has issued them when signing a piece of legislation into law. 
C)  Signing statements never instruct executive agencies whether to implement sections of a new law and never interpret ambiguous provisions of the law. 
D)  While presidents have made signing statements throughout American history, they have only recently been recorded and made part of the official legislative record. 
E)  Signing statements were invented during the Reagan administration as a way for the president to circumvent the federal court system.

Question 5

The power to declare war is given to ______ under the Constitution.

Accepted Answer

A)  the president 
B)  the Senate 
C)  both houses of Congress 
D)  the Senate, with the approval of the president 
E)  the Department of Defense 
A)  the president 
B)  the Senate 
C)  both houses of Congress 
D)  the Senate, with the approval of the president 
E)  the Department of Defense

Question 6

Which of the following statements about the military sources of domestic power is most accurate?

Accepted Answer

A)  The president is obligated to deploy national troops every time the state legislature or governor requests them. 
B)  The president may not deploy troops in a state or city without a specific request from the state legislature or the governor. 
C)  The president is not allowed to deploy military forces within the United States under any circumstance. 
D)  Military emergencies, such as World War I, World War II, and September 11, have typically led to an expansion of the domestic powers of the executive branch. 
E)  Military emergencies, such as World War I, World War II, and September 11, have typically led to a decrease in the domestic powers of the executive branch. 
A)  The president is obligated to deploy national troops every time the state legislature or governor requests them. 
B)  The president may not deploy troops in a state or city without a specific request from the state legislature or the governor. 
C)  The president is not allowed to deploy military forces within the United States under any circumstance. 
D)  Military emergencies, such as World War I, World War II, and September 11, have typically led to an expansion of the domestic powers of the executive branch. 
E)  Military emergencies, such as World War I, World War II, and September 11, have typically led to a decrease in the domestic powers of the executive branch.

Question 7

Recent presidents have taken increased advantage of administrative strategies to achieve their goals.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Which of the following statements best describes the number of significant executive orders between 1960 and 1995?

Accepted Answer

A)  The number of significant executive orders has decreased dramatically between 1960 and 1995. 
B)  The number of significant executive orders has increased dramatically between 1960 and 1995. 
C)  The number of significant executive orders increased from 1960 to 1980 but then decreased from 1980 to 1995. 
D)  The number of significant executive orders decreased from 1960 to 1980 but then increased from 1980 to 1995. 
E)  The number of significant executive orders remained the same between 1960 and 1995. 
A)  The number of significant executive orders has decreased dramatically between 1960 and 1995. 
B)  The number of significant executive orders has increased dramatically between 1960 and 1995. 
C)  The number of significant executive orders increased from 1960 to 1980 but then decreased from 1980 to 1995. 
D)  The number of significant executive orders decreased from 1960 to 1980 but then increased from 1980 to 1995. 
E)  The number of significant executive orders remained the same between 1960 and 1995.

Question 9

What happened when Harry Truman seized control of the nation's steel mills during the Korean War?

Accepted Answer

A)  His action was upheld by the Supreme Court as a constitutional exercise of war powers. 
B)  Congress passed a bill shortly afterward that retroactively approved the steel mill seizures. 
C)  The Supreme Court declared his actions without basis in law or the Constitution. 
D)  The steel mills quickly capitulated to Truman's wartime demands, and the issue passed without further resolution. 
E)  Congress immediately passed a bill that legally prohibited the president from seizing the mills, and Truman quickly rescinded his executive order. 
A)  His action was upheld by the Supreme Court as a constitutional exercise of war powers. 
B)  Congress passed a bill shortly afterward that retroactively approved the steel mill seizures. 
C)  The Supreme Court declared his actions without basis in law or the Constitution. 
D)  The steel mills quickly capitulated to Truman's wartime demands, and the issue passed without further resolution. 
E)  Congress immediately passed a bill that legally prohibited the president from seizing the mills, and Truman quickly rescinded his executive order.

Question 10

The ______ asserted that the president could send American troops into action abroad only in the event of a declaration of war or other statutory authorization by Congress, or if American troops were attacked or directly endangered.

Accepted Answer

A)  War Powers Resolution of 1973 
B)  National Security Act of 1947 
C)  Neutrality Act of 1937 
D)  Boland Amendment of 1982 
E)  Arms Control Export Act of 1976 
A)  War Powers Resolution of 1973 
B)  National Security Act of 1947 
C)  Neutrality Act of 1937 
D)  Boland Amendment of 1982 
E)  Arms Control Export Act of 1976

Question 11

Which of the following tactics did Franklin Roosevelt not use to forge a link between the executive office and the public?

Accepted Answer

A)  going on speaking trips around the nation 
B)  delivering radio-broadcast fireside chats 
C)  holding biweekly press conferences with reporters 
D)  designating the first White House press secretary 
E)  running extensive national television advertising campaigns 
A)  going on speaking trips around the nation 
B)  delivering radio-broadcast fireside chats 
C)  holding biweekly press conferences with reporters 
D)  designating the first White House press secretary 
E)  running extensive national television advertising campaigns

Question 12

The expansion of the Executive Office of the President, the development of regulatory review, and the use of executive orders have been important because they

Accepted Answer

A)  are deeply unpopular with the public and have led to the declining trust in American government. 
B)  make it very difficult for challengers to defeat incumbent presidents in elections. 
C)  have given presidents substantial capacity to achieve significant policy results despite congressional opposition to their legislative agendas. 
D)  have dramatically limited the power of the president and made it easier for Congress to dominate the American political system. 
E)  have rendered the judiciary essentially irrelevant in the American political system. 
A)  are deeply unpopular with the public and have led to the declining trust in American government. 
B)  make it very difficult for challengers to defeat incumbent presidents in elections. 
C)  have given presidents substantial capacity to achieve significant policy results despite congressional opposition to their legislative agendas. 
D)  have dramatically limited the power of the president and made it easier for Congress to dominate the American political system. 
E)  have rendered the judiciary essentially irrelevant in the American political system.

Question 13

The president has the power to appoint which of the following positions?

Accepted Answer

A)  state governors who resign before their term has expired 
B)  all state Supreme Court justices 
C)  cabinet secretaries 
D)  members of the House of Representatives who resign before their term has expired 
E)  the Speaker of the House 
A)  state governors who resign before their term has expired 
B)  all state Supreme Court justices 
C)  cabinet secretaries 
D)  members of the House of Representatives who resign before their term has expired 
E)  the Speaker of the House

Question 14

What is the primary constitutional task of the vice president, besides succeeding the president in case of death, resignation, or incapacitation?

Accepted Answer

A)  to serve as Speaker of the House of Representatives 
B)  to cast tie-breaking votes in the Senate 
C)  to act as a chief admiral of the U.S. Navy 
D)  to represent the president overseas 
E)  to run the day-to-day operations of the Executive Office of the President 
A)  to serve as Speaker of the House of Representatives 
B)  to cast tie-breaking votes in the Senate 
C)  to act as a chief admiral of the U.S. Navy 
D)  to represent the president overseas 
E)  to run the day-to-day operations of the Executive Office of the President

Question 15

Which first lady was the first to seek and win public office on her own?

Accepted Answer

A)  Dolley Madison 
B)  Eleanor Roosevelt 
C)  Betty Ford 
D)  Hillary Clinton 
E)  Laura Bush 
A)  Dolley Madison 
B)  Eleanor Roosevelt 
C)  Betty Ford 
D)  Hillary Clinton 
E)  Laura Bush

Question 16

Which statement concerning executive agreements between the president and foreign nations is incorrect?

Accepted Answer

A)  During the 1960s, Congress discovered that several presidents had made agreements with foreign nations without informing Congress. 
B)  The courts have held that executive agreements have the force of law. 
C)  Congress passed a law requiring the White House to provide a list of every executive agreement signed by the president. 
D)  Presidents have always fully complied with Congress's reporting requirement. 
E)  One way for presidents to avoid complying with Congress's reporting requirement is to call executive agreements alternative names, such as "national security memorandum." 
A)  During the 1960s, Congress discovered that several presidents had made agreements with foreign nations without informing Congress. 
B)  The courts have held that executive agreements have the force of law. 
C)  Congress passed a law requiring the White House to provide a list of every executive agreement signed by the president. 
D)  Presidents have always fully complied with Congress's reporting requirement. 
E)  One way for presidents to avoid complying with Congress's reporting requirement is to call executive agreements alternative names, such as "national security memorandum."

Question 17

The Office of Management and Budget is important because

Accepted Answer

A)  it has the power to veto any legislation passed by Congress that negatively impacts the federal budget. 
B)  the Constitution requires that the president receive its approval for every administrative rule change he proposes and for every tax increase he suggests. 
C)  it is granted the authority under the Constitution to pass the federal budget. 
D)  its personnel are an integral part of virtually every conceivable presidential responsibility, such as overseeing regulatory proposals, reporting on agency activities, and preparing the national budget. 
E)  its staff constantly analyzes the economy and economic trends in order to give the president the ability to anticipate events rather than reacting to them. 
A)  it has the power to veto any legislation passed by Congress that negatively impacts the federal budget. 
B)  the Constitution requires that the president receive its approval for every administrative rule change he proposes and for every tax increase he suggests. 
C)  it is granted the authority under the Constitution to pass the federal budget. 
D)  its personnel are an integral part of virtually every conceivable presidential responsibility, such as overseeing regulatory proposals, reporting on agency activities, and preparing the national budget. 
E)  its staff constantly analyzes the economy and economic trends in order to give the president the ability to anticipate events rather than reacting to them.

Question 18

Why was George Washington's reception of Edmond Genet as ambassador of France during the French Revolution so significant?

Accepted Answer

A)  It demonstrated that the United States could use diplomacy to stay out of European conflicts. 
B)  It reflected the authority of the president to officially recognize specific regimes as the sovereign power of a nation when there is doubt as to who rules. 
C)  It was the first time any nation had recognized the United States as independent. 
D)  It prevented the economic embargo of American goods by the king of France. 
E)  It ensured that France would be America's ally in any foreign conflict. 
A)  It demonstrated that the United States could use diplomacy to stay out of European conflicts. 
B)  It reflected the authority of the president to officially recognize specific regimes as the sovereign power of a nation when there is doubt as to who rules. 
C)  It was the first time any nation had recognized the United States as independent. 
D)  It prevented the economic embargo of American goods by the king of France. 
E)  It ensured that France would be America's ally in any foreign conflict.

Question 19

All executive agreements require the approval of the Senate.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

An informal group of advisers to the president is often called the

Accepted Answer

A)  Kitchen Cabinet. 
B)  plumbers. 
C)  round table. 
D)  colloquium. 
E)  good ole boys (despite the fact that many women have entered these ranks). 
A)  Kitchen Cabinet. 
B)  plumbers. 
C)  round table. 
D)  colloquium. 
E)  good ole boys (despite the fact that many women have entered these ranks).

Exam 13: The Presidency

What is required for Congress to override a presidential veto?

Which statement concerning the White House Communications Office is incorrect?

The president must share foreign policy powers with the

Which of the following statements about signing statements is most accurate?

The power to declare war is given to ______ under the Constitution.

Which of the following statements about the military sources of domestic power is most accurate?

Recent presidents have taken increased advantage of administrative strategies to achieve their goals.

Which of the following statements best describes the number of significant executive orders between 1960 and 1995?

What happened when Harry Truman seized control of the nation's steel mills during the Korean War?

The ______ asserted that the president could send American troops into action abroad only in the event of a declaration of war or other statutory authorization by Congress, or if American troops were attacked or directly endangered.

Which of the following tactics did Franklin Roosevelt not use to forge a link between the executive office and the public?

The expansion of the Executive Office of the President, the development of regulatory review, and the use of executive orders have been important because they

The president has the power to appoint which of the following positions?

What is the primary constitutional task of the vice president, besides succeeding the president in case of death, resignation, or incapacitation?

Which first lady was the first to seek and win public office on her own?

Which statement concerning executive agreements between the president and foreign nations is incorrect?

The Office of Management and Budget is important because

Why was George Washington's reception of Edmond Genet as ambassador of France during the French Revolution so significant?

All executive agreements require the approval of the Senate.

An informal group of advisers to the president is often called the

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