multiple choice

CHAPTER 14

The Presidency

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

Ans: BPage: 369Type: Factual

1. In a parliamentary system, the voters cannot choose

a. their members of parliament.b. their prime minister.c. between two or more parties.d. whether to vote. e. among competing candidates.

Ans: DPage: 369Type: Factual

2. An obvious and important difference between a president and a prime minister is that the latter always has

a. interest group support.b. support in the cabinet.c. support in the military.d. majority support in parliament. e. executive powers.

Ans: CPage: 369Type: Conceptual

3. If you are an ambitious member of the British Parliament, prudence will dictate that you

a. vigorously attack the policies of the other party.b. remain independent and objective in your voting decisions.c. avoid displeasing the leader of your party.d. campaign actively for the prime minister’s direct reelection. e. become a relentless critic of parliamentary procedure.

Ans: APage: 370Type: Factual

4. With substantial Democratic majorities in both houses of Congress, President Kennedy, during the last year of his presidency, was able to secure passage of ________ of his proposals.

a. only one-fourthb. approximately one-halfc. approximately three-fourthsd. almost alle. all

Ans: CPage: 370Type: Factual

5. Of the twenty-four congressional or presidential elections between 1952 and 1996, ________ produced a divided government.

a. fourb. sevenc. fifteend. nineteene. none

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

292 Chapter 14: The Presidency

Ans: EPage: 371Type: Conceptual

6. The text cites the 1946 Marshall Plan and the Tax Reform Act of 1986 to illustrate that

a. unified governments rarely accomplish anything of note.b. a divided government never could have produced them.c. both were produced by a unified government.d. one was produced by a unified government and one was

produced by a divided government. e. both were produced by divided governments.

Ans: APage: 371Type: Conceptual

7. The texts suggests “unified government” might be

a. something of a myth.b. impossible in the American system of government.c. possible only in a multi-party system. d. the only way to implement significant legislation.e. one way to ensure intelligent policy making.

Ans: EPage: 371Type: Factual

8. Which of the following statements is incorrect?

a. Lyndon Johnson could not get many Democrats to support his war policy.

b. Jimmy Carter had a hard time getting Democrats to ratify his strategic arms limitation treaty.

c. Bill Clinton had difficulty getting Democrats to support his policy on gays in the military.

d. Bill Clinton had difficulty getting Democrats to support his health proposals.

e. None of the above.


9. “Unified government” may have been present when

a. Roosevelt was president, in 1933.b. Johnson was president, in 1965.c. Reagan was president, in 1980.d. Reagan was president, in 1984.e. a and b.


10. The text observes that the delegates to the Constitutional Convention feared

a. monarchy more than anarchy.b. anarchy more than monarchy.c. neither monarchy nor anarchy.d. monarchy and anarchy about equally. e. monarchy and anarchy were actually no different.


11. An aspect of George Washington’s personality that encouraged the delegates to the Constitutional Convention to approve an elected presidency was his

a. bravery in battle.b. clairvoyance.c. loyalty to his subordinates.d. keen wit. e. self-restraint.


Chapter 14: The Presidency 293

Ans: DPage: 372Type: Conceptual

12. If the Framers had decided to have the president chosen by the Congress, we could reasonably expect Congress to dominate the president

a. and to control the military.b. and to pick the cabinet.c. or the president to ignore Congress.d. or the president to corrupt the legislature. e. or the president to capitulate to the judiciary.


13. One of the fears expressed by the Founders about aspects of the Presidency was the fear of a president’s

a. claiming certain inherent powers by virtue of his position.b. using the militia to overpower state governments.c. using his position to shape public opinion.d. powers to appoint select Supreme Court justices without

congressional approval. e. powers to pardon.


14. Alexander Hamilton stood at the Constitutional Convention and gave a five hour speech calling for

a. a plural executive.b. an elected president.c. an official declaration that George Washington would be the

first president.d. his own appointment as Chief Executive.e. an elective monarchy.


15. The cause of those who argued for a single, elected president at the convention was, no doubt, aided by the fact that

a. Alexander Hamilton had already declared himself a candidate.b. Massachusetts had experienced great success under such a

system. c. The Articles of Confederation fostered deep respect for the

office.d. everybody assumed that George Washington would be the first

president.e. no individual was likely to be chosen as president who was not

a member of the upper classes.


16. One concern expressed at the Convention focused on the possibility that shared powers would cause the president to be a mere “tool” of

a. the House of Representatives.b. the Senate.c. the Supreme Court.d. the Electoral College.e. special interest groups.




17. When no candidate receives a majority of votes in the electoral college, the House of Representatives decides who will win a presidential election. This circumstance

a. has never occurred.b. has occurred only twice.c. occurs once every 28 to 36 years.d. has occurred four times in this century.e. occurs frequently when the country is at war.


18. The first plan suggested at the Convention called for the president to be chosen by

a. state legislatures.b. the Supreme Court.c. popular election.d. the Electoral College.e. Congress.


19. The second plan that was suggested at the Convention for the selection of the president called for selection by

a. state legislatures.b. the Supreme Court.c. direct vote of the people.d. the Electoral College.e. Congress.


20. The Framers solved the problem of how to elect the president by

a. forming a quasi-parliamentary system of government.b. providing for constitutional amendments.c. forming the House Election Committee.d. creating the Committee on Detail. e. creating the Electoral College.


21. Under the original provisions of the U.S. Constitution, the states were to choose presidential electors

a. however they wished.b. by popular vote.c. by vote of the legislature.d. by appointment of the governor. e. by rules designated in the courts.




22. The Framers assumed that, under the electoral college system, most presidential elections would be decided in the House. Why did this not turn out to be the case?

a. Because most elections were not close enough to give state delegations the power to decide the outcome

b. Because the first Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional the electoral college system for selecting a president

c. Because political parties ended up playing a major role in producing nationwide support for a slate of national candidates

d. Because the Senate quickly usurped the delegate powers of the House

e. Because the Supreme Court narrowly interpreted the powers of the legislative branch.


23. Regarding terms of office, the pattern among most early presidents was to

a. serve one term and then leave office.b. serve two terms and then leave office.c. be defeated in seeking a second term of office.d. serve three or more terms of office. e. leave office after being elected to a third term.


24. Presidents are now limited to two terms by the

a. Fourteenth Amendment.b. Sixteenth Amendment.c. Nineteenth Amendment.d. Twenty-first Amendment.e. Twenty-second Amendment.

Ans: BPage: 375Type: Conceptual

25. The legitimacy of the office of president was aided during the years of the first presidents by which of the following?

a. The limit placed on the number of terms a president could serve

b. The minimal role played by the early governmentc. The rise in power of political caucusesd. The close relationship that developed between the president

and Congresse. Narrow interpretations of the Constitution by the United States

Supreme Court



a. In order to win an election, a candidate must receive at least half of the votes of the electoral college.

b. Each state receives an electoral vote for each member it has in the House and the Senate.

c. In some states, electoral votes can be split.d. State electors assemble in Washington to cast their ballots.e. Electoral ballots are opened before a joint session of Congress

during the first week in January.




27. Which of the following statements about elections thrown into the House of Representatives is incorrect?

a. The House chooses from among the top two candidates.b. Each state casts one vote.c. A state’s vote is given to the candidate preferred by the

majority of the state’s House delegation.d. If there is a tie within a state, that state’s vote is not counted.e. This process is only used when no candidate receives a

majority of the votes of the electoral college.


28. The personality of which president began to alter the relationship between the president and Congress and the nature of presidential leadership?

a. Andrew Jacksonb. Ulysses Grantc. Richard Nixond. Jimmy Cartere. William H. Harrison


29. Prior to the 1850s, the president who made the most vigorous use of the veto power was

a. George Washington.b. Alexander Hamilton.c. Andrew Jackson.d. Abraham Lincoln. e. John Adams.


30. Andrew Jackson established the precedent that a president’s veto can be used

a. only on constitutional grounds.b. without first having a law declared unconstitutional by the

Supreme Court.c. even when Congress is still in session.d. on policy grounds even when a bill may appear to be

constitutional. e. without the advice and consent of the Senate.

Ans: EPage: 377-378Type: Conceptual

31. The era from 1836 to 1932 is commonly viewed as one of

a. presidential dominance.b. a true balance of powers.c. Supreme Court dominance.d. presidential and Supreme Court dominance. e. congressional dominance.


32. President Lincoln justified his unprecedented use of the vague powers granted in Article II of the U.S. Constitution by citing

a. the debates of the Framers.b. the platform of the Republican party.c. the conditions created by civil war.d. Marbury v. Madison. e. the Declaration of Independence.




33. From the examples of Andrew Jackson and Abraham Lincoln, one learns that emergency conditions and ________ can offer presidents the opportunity for substantial increases in power.

a. a strong Congressb. a popular and strong-willed personalityc. an uninterested publicd. majority support in the cabinete. a compliant Supreme Court


34. When we say that a powerful presidency has been institutionalized, we mean that its power is no longer dependent on

a. Congress.b. personality.c. legitimacy.d. the U.S. Constitution. e. Executive Orders.


35. All of the following are powers that only the president is constitutionally entitled to exercise except

a. appointing ambassadors.b. serving as military commander-in-chief.c. convening Congress in special sessions.d. receiving ambassadors. e. commission officers of the armed forces.


36. The powers that the president shares with the Senate include

a. receiving ambassadors.b. making treaties.c. granting pardons for federal offenses.d. wielding legislative power. e. commission officers of the armed forces.


37. Woodrow Wilson’s 1884 work on American politics suggested the business of the president was generally

a. nerve-racking. b. high-impact.c. unguided. d. discretionary and critical. e. routine and administrative.


38. Grover Cleveland used federal troops to break a labor strike by invoking his power to

a. take care that the laws be faithfully executed.b. prevent riots and insurrections.c. serve as commander-in-chief.d. oversee the executive branch. e. facilitate First Amendment activity.




39. According to the text, the greatest source of presidential power lies in the realm of

a. the U.S. Constitution.b. interpretation of laws.c. the execution of laws.d. foreign-policy formulation. e. politics and public opinion.


40. Until the 1930s, the pattern of U.S. legislation was that

a. little initiative was taken by the president or Congress.b. initiative was taken by the president and Congress about

equally.c. initiative was taken by the president and responded to by

Congress.d. initiative was taken by Congress and responded to by the

president. e. initiative was taken by the president with the advice and

consent of Congress.


41. The rule of propinquity states that

a. power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.b. power tends to be shared most evenly when leadership is

weakest.c. power tends to be wielded by the people who are in the room

where a decision is made.d. power is greatest when legitimacy is strongest. e. power is rarely distinguishable from wealth and fame.


42. The principal function of the White House Office is to

a. oversee the political and policy interests of the president.b. administer federal departments as the president’s

representative.c. prepare the national budget for the president.d. supervise the national security agencies, such as the CIA and

FBI. e. supervise military intelligence agencies.


43. The Senate is required to confirm all of the following presidential nominations except

a. members of the White House Office.b. the heads of Executive Office agencies.c. the heads of cabinet departments.d. lower federal court judges. e. Supreme Court justices.




44. According to the text, the three methods by which a president can organize his personal staff are

a. intuitive, pyramid, and circular.b. pyramid, circular, and ad hoc.c. circular, ad hoc, and intuitive.d. ad hoc, intuitive, and pyramid. e. circular, tubular, and linear.


45. The method of staff organization that poses the risk of isolating or misinforming the president is called

a. intuitive.b. pyramid.c. circular.d. ad hoc. e. linear.


46. President Clinton’s use of task forces, committees, and informal groups of friends and advisers is characteristic of which method of staff organization?

a. Intuitiveb. Pyramidc. Circulard. Tubulare. Ad hoc


47. When President Reagan appointed a chief of staff in 1985, he was acting according to what model of organization?

a. Circularb. Pyramidalc. Ad hocd. Intuitivee. Linear


48. With respect to advice, most presidents discover that it is best to

a. adopt an ad hoc structure among staff. b. be a kind of wheel hub for numerous assistants (spokes).c. rely heavily on one or two key subordinates. d. allow high levels of access for all who are interested in having

the president’s ear. e. seek out the advice of most cabinet members.


49. Today, senior White House staff members are drawn from the ranks of

a. the president’s campaign staff. b. Ivy league colleges and universities. c. the nation’s top law schools. d. Congress.e. the Department of Justice.




50. The most important agency in the Executive Office of the President in terms of providing administrative assistance is the

a. Council of Economic Advisers (CEA).b. Office of Management and Budget (OMB).c. Office of Technology Assessment (OTA).d. Office of Environmental Quality (OEQ). e. Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (OUSTR).


51. Which of the following statements about the collegial nature of deliberations at cabinet meetings is true?

a. It has been consistent throughout most of its history.b. It is increasingly important, but only when discussions are

related to economic issues.c. It is more important now than it originally was.d. It was more important originally than it is now. e. It is largely a fiction.


52. The seating order at cabinet meetings most accurately reflects

a. the importance of each department represented.b. the political closeness of each secretary to the president.c. the age of the department.d. a spirit of openness and equality. e. the seniority of the individuals in each department.


53. The cabinet officers consist of the heads of

a. the major executive departments.b. the major governmental agencies and commissions.c. the major governmental agencies.d. independent agencies and commissions. e. the minor governmental agencies.


54. One reason a president has relatively little power over his cabinet departments is because he

a. cannot appoint their heads.b. requires Senate approval of his choices for heads of these

departments.c. must share power with the judicial branch of government.d. must share power with the legislative branch of government. e. cannot appoint more than a fraction of their employees.

Ans: CPage: 384-385Type: Factual

55. The main reason the cabinet is a weak entity is that

a. the secretaries are inherently jealous of one another.b. not all agencies are members of the cabinet.c. the secretaries defend, explain, and enlarge their own agencies.d. they are all personal friends of the president. e. tubular organizations schemes inevitably cloud the ability of

members to communicate effectively.




56. What distinguishes executive and independent agencies?

a. Where they are locatedb. Whether they report to Congressc. How they are fundedd. The number of their employeese. The distinction is not altogether clear


57. The prior work experience of presidential appointees to the executive branch is most likely to include

a. some federal agency.b. private corporations.c. foundations.d. labor unions. e. judicial experience.


58. Richard Neustadt used the label “in and outers” for

a. Congressmen who inconsistently supported the president. b. members of the cabinet who resigned before the end of the

term. c. presidential staff members without experience in government.d. persons who alternated between government and private sector

jobs. e. bureaucrats who changed party identification with some

frequency.


59. The “in and outer” problem is not so much of a problem in parliamentary systems because cabinet officers

a. come from the legislature. b. are career employees in the private sector.c. are party members. d. are typically full-time career politicians. e. a and d.

Ans: CPage: 386-387Type: Factual

60. A trend in recent cabinet appointments has been to

a. include those with independent followings.b. appoint both Democrats and Republicans.c. include those without political followings.d. appoint party leaders and workers. e. appoint former judges and lawyers.


61. Relationships between White House staff and department heads are typically characterized by

a. the revolving door.b. teamwork.c. mutual noninterference.d. tension and rivalry. e. reciprocity.




62. Personality plays a more important role in explaining the presidency than it does in explaining Congress because a president is

a. more likely to rely on hands-on politics and persuasiveness to enact policy.

b. less constrained by the rules and roles that operate within government.

c. more likely to be judged by his character in addition to his accomplishments.

d. relatively immune from public opinion and polls. e. less constrained by the judiciary or current notions of

constitutional principles.


63. The presidential character of Lyndon Johnson was characterized by

a. the use of talented amateurs.b. persuasion in face-to-face encounters.c. careful and complete staff work.d. deep suspicion of the media. e. bargaining and impersonal communications.


64. The presidential character of Richard Nixon was characterized by

a. the use of talented amateurs.b. persuasion in face-to-face encounters.c. careful and complete staff work.d. deep suspicion of the media. e. professional competence and experience.


65. The presidential character of Ronald Reagan was characterized by

a. the use of talented amateurs.b. give-and-take, discussion-oriented procedures.c. voracious reading on very detailed matters.d. giving wide latitude to subordinates. e. expertise and experience.


66. Presidents need to rely on their powers of persuasion because of their

a. limited staffs and sketchy constitutional powers.b. opponents within the party.c. lack of ensured legislative majorities and opponents within the

party.d. sketchy constitutional powers and lack of ensured legislative

majorities. e. limited staffs.


67. The presidential audiences listed by Neustadt include all of the following except

a. heads of state from around the world.b. fellow politicians in Washington.c. party activists and officeholders outside Washington.d. the public. e. leaders in Washington.




68. When President Franklin Roosevelt gave the impression of self-confidence and being on top of things, the audience that was most likely to perceive him as effective comprised

a. fellow politicians and leaders.b. partisan activists at the state levels.c. the general public.d. the media. e. partisan activists at the local levels.


69. When a president makes fire-and-brimstone speeches confirming a shared sense of purpose, he is appealing principally to

a. fellow politicians.b. the media.c. partisan activists at the state and local levels.d. the general public. e. fellow leaders.


70. When a presidential candidate talks on the campaign trail of the many good things that he would accomplish as president, he is appealing principally to

a. fellow leaders.b. the media.c. partisan activists at the state and local levels.d. the general public. e. fellow politicians.

Ans: CPage: 390-391Type: Conceptual

71. Although Republicans gained seats in the House in 1980 and 1984, political scientists are reluctant to conclude that the gains were due to presidential coattails because

a. so many Republican candidates opposed Reagan and his conservative ideology.

b. Reagan had sought to punish so many disloyal Republican candidates.

c. congressional elections are frequently insulated from presidential elections.

d. Reagan had rejected the Republican platform on which so many Republican candidates were running.

e. All of the above.


72. Which of the following statements concerning recent party gains and losses in the House and Senate is incorrect?

a. The Republicans lost seats in the House in 2000.b. The Republicans lost seats in the Senate in 2000.c. The Republicans gained seats in the House in 2004. d. The Republicans gained seats in the Senate in 2004. e. None of the above.





a. George Bush entered office with an approval rating similar to the initial rating of Bill Clinton.

b. Bush had the highest disapproval rating of any president since such polling began.

c. Bush’s approval ratings for the first six months were quite typical of post 1960 presidents.

d. Bush received the highest approval rating ever recorded in the aftermath of the attack of September 11.

e. None of the above.


74. From the time of winning office to the time of leaving it, the popularity of most recent presidents

a. decreased steadily.b. decreased except at election time.c. increased steadily.d. increased except at election time. e. reveals no systematic trends and is impervious to elections and

campaigns.


75. Members of Congress pay attention to the personal popularity of a president because

a. the president may be called on to campaign for them.b. the president may campaign against them in a primary.c. many members of Congress have aspirations to the presidency.d. politicians tend to rise and fall together. e. interest group contributions often depend on perceptions of

proximity with popular presidents.


76. How successful a president is with legislation in Congress is difficult to gauge because

a. he never reveals his position on non-controversial bills.b. he can keep his victory score high by not taking a position on

any controversial measure.c. he does not have the power to veto bills of Congress.d. he does not have the ability to show his approval or

disapproval, since he must not sign bills before they can become law.

e. he can never overcome the influence of interest group money on congressional votes.


77. The classic example of the honeymoon phenomenon was

a. Harry Truman.b. Franklin Roosevelt.c. Richard Nixon.d. Gerald Ford. e. Bill Clinton.




78. Veto power and executive privilege give a president both a way of blocking action and a

a. route of appeal to the people.b. means of affecting the party platform.c. trump card to play with the media.d. means of forcing Congress to bargain. e. means of overriding the influence of special interests.

Ans: APage: 394-395Type: Conceptual

79. If by December 30 the president does not sign a bill that was sent to him by Congress on December 24, he has probably

a. used his pocket veto.b. vetoed it.c. let it become law without his signature.d. tabled it. e. amended it.

Ans: CPage: 394-395Type: Conceptual

80. A bill is passed to the president for action while Congress is still in session. After ten days he has still not approved it. What happens to the bill?

a. It is returned to Congress.b. It is vetoed.c. It becomes law.d. Nothing. The president has thirty days to act on a bill. e. Nothing. The president has ninety days to act on a bill.


81. When President Reagan was governor of California, he could veto portions of a bill that were irrelevant to the subject of the bill. He was exercising what is called

a. constitutional discretion.b. a pocket veto.c. states’ rights.d. gubernatorial averaging. e. a line-item veto.


82. More than 2,500 presidential vetoes have been made since 1789. Congress has overridden about what percent of these?

a. 4 percentb. 25 percentc. 38 percentd. 45 percente. 86 percent


83. The presidential claims for executive privilege are based on the separation of powers and on

a. the U.S. Constitution.b. the need for cooperation with Congress.c. international law.d. Marbury v. Madison. e. the need for candid advice from aides.




84. United States v. Nixon held that there is

a. no executive privilege.b. absolute presidential immunity from judicial process.c. no unqualified presidential privilege of immunity from judicial

process.d. real but limited presidential immunity from judicial process. e. presidential immunity does not apply to matters which are civil

in nature.


85. The result of the Supreme Court’s ruling in United States v. Nixon was that

a. Nixon was allowed to retain the disputed tapes and papers.b. Nixon was forced to hand over the disputed tapes and papers.c. Congress was forced to impeach Nixon to gain access to the

disputed tapes and papers.d. Congress was allowed to take custody of the disputed tapes and

papers under judicial review. e. None of the above.


86. On the issue of a president’s right to impound funds, the U.S. Constitution says

a. that a president must spend the money that Congress appropriates.

b. that a president does not have to spend money that Congress appropriates.

c. that a president may spend money that Congress does not appropriate.

d. that a president may spend money that Congress does not appropriate if congressional leaders support such expenditures.

e. nothing.


87. The major test of presidential power with respect to impoundment of funds came in the administration of

a. Lyndon Johnson.b. John F. Kennedy.c. Richard Nixon.d. Gerald Ford. e. Harry Truman.


88. Presidential impoundment of funds has been severely limited in recent years because of

a. a string of unfavorable court decisions.b. the Budget Reform Act of 1974.c. public outrage.d. the opposition of the federal bureaucracy. e. restructuring of the Internal Revenue Service.




89. President Clinton’s approach to his program was to

a. have a policy on almost everything.b. rely heavily on his predecessor’s program.c. concentrate on only a few issues at a time.d. rely on his cabinet and other advisers. e. rely on congressional leaders.


90. President Reagan’s approach to his program was to

a. have a policy on almost everything.b. rely heavily on his predecessor’s program.c. concentrate on only a few issues at a time.d. rely on his cabinet. e. rely on congressional leaders.


91. A president who is uncertain whether a policy he is considering will be controversial would be most likely to

a. shift the decision to state leaders.b. leak parts of the policy to the media.c. commission a public-opinion poll.d. ask opposition leaders for advice. e. shift the decision to local leaders.


92. One major constraint on a president’s ability to plan and develop a program is the

a. lack of qualified academic support.b. Twenty-third Amendment.c. threat of a legislative veto.d. limit of his or her time and attention span. e. proliferation of special interests.


93. The typical workweek for a president numbers approximately

a. 40 hours.b. 55 hours.c. 70 hours.d. 75 hours.e. 90 hours.


94. One of the crises the Clinton administration faced was

a. civil war in Nicaragua.b. the dissolution of the Soviet Union.c. continuing war in Bosnia and other parts of Yugoslavia.d. student rebellion in China. e. the Iran-contra crisis.




95. The approach taken by most presidents in dealing with the constraints that are placed on their planning and developing a program is to

a. stick to a few key programs.b. delegate minor programs to states.c. delegate minor programs to communities.d. push for many programs simultaneously, expecting a few to

succeed. e. rely on rhetoric and personal friendships.


96. In recent decades, the two key issues that presidents have focused on in planning and developing new programs have been

a. military spending and social-welfare programs.b. inflation and the environment.c. military spending and the environment.d. taxes and the federal budget deficit. e. the economy and foreign affairs.


97. Almost every president since Hoover has tried to

a. increase the size of the federal government.b. decrease the size of the military.c. decrease the size of the federal government.d. reorganize the executive branch. e. increase the size of the press corps.


98. Which of the following statements about the legislative veto is correct?

a. It is an effective tool for preventing a president from reorganizing an agency or department.

b. It was used by Congress for the first time during the Nixon administration.

c. It was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 1983.d. It is sometimes used in place of a regular law to reorganize an

agency or department. e. It is usually employed when there is a sense that courts will

review a decision.


99. Every president since Harry Truman has commented that the power of the presidency

a. needs to be limited in the defense of freedom.b. is flexible, but always adequate to the task at hand.c. needs to be expanded in the interest of freedom.d. is greater than it appears to be from the outside. e. looks greater from the outside than from the inside.




100. Which of the following statements about a president’s serving more than two terms is correct?

a. It has been done by only one president.b. It is neither prohibited nor encouraged by the U.S.

Constitution.c. It is illegal under Article II of the U.S. Constitution.d. It has never been done by a president. e. It has been ruled unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court.


101. ________ U.S. presidents have been assassinated while in office.

a. Oneb. Twoc. Threed. Foure. Ten


102. Which of the following is true about presidential elections during times when the country is deeply divided?

a. A president has the best chance for reelection.b. Voter apathy is at its highest.c. Voters tend to ignore issues which are national in character.d. Voters tend to become preoccupied with local elections. e. A president seldom wins reelection.


103. Which of the following statements about the vice-presidential route to the presidency is correct?

a. It has hardly ever been a viable one.b. It works better through election than succession.c. It works better through succession than election.d. It has been a viable one for most vice presidents. e. It has always been contested by party leaders and outspoken

members of the judiciary.


104. The constitutional duty of the vice president is to

a. preside over the cabinet.b. coordinate foreign policy.c. preside over the Senate.d. supervise the White House staff. e. facilitate ratification of treaties.


105. Who succeeds to the presidency if both the president and vice president die?

a. The Speaker of the Houseb. The secretary of statec. The most senior cabinet officerd. The Senate majority leadere. The Senate minority leader




106. Who succeeds to the presidency if both the president, the vice president, and the Speaker of the House die?

a. The Senate president pro temporeb. The secretary of statec. The most senior cabinet officerd. The Senate majority leadere. The Senate minority leader


107. The position of “acting president” was created by

a. an act of Congress.b. executive reorganization.c. the Twenty-fifth Amendment.d. the original U.S. Constitution. e. an Executive Order.


108. When President Reagan was under anesthesia while being operated on in 1985, the relationship between him and Vice President Bush was governed by the

a. Succession Act of 1886.b. Succession Act of 1947.c. Twenty-second Amendment.d. Twenty-fifth Amendment. e. None of the above.


109. A president suffers a stroke but nevertheless wants to remain in office. The vice president and cabinet disagree. Who decides whether the president should continue to serve?

a. The presidentb. The vice president and cabinetc. Congressd. The Supreme Courte. A writ of mandamus


110. A president suffers a stroke but nevertheless wants to remain in office. The vice president and cabinet disagree. The president may be removed by

a. impeachment.b. a two-thirds vote of Congress.c. a Supreme Court ruling.d. the combined opinions of the vice president and cabinet. e. a writ of mandamus.


111. Upon the death or incapacitation of a president and the succession of the vice president, a new vice president is chosen by

a. the new president with congressional approval.b. Congress.c. popular election.d. the Speaker of the House. e. the Supreme Court.




112. The objects of impeachment have most frequently been

a. cabinet members.b. federal bureaucrats.c. presidents.d. state governors. e. federal judges.


113. An impeached president is always

a. removed from office by the Senate.b. indicted by the House.c. removed from office by the House.d. removed from office by House leaders.e. indicted by the Senate.


114. ________ decide(s) whether a president should be impeached.

a. The Houseb. The Senatec. Both houses of Congressd. The Supreme Courte. The Senate Judicial Committee


115. ________ decide(s) whether to remove the president from office following an impeachment trial.

a. The Joint Judiciary Committeeb. The Housec. The Senated. The Supreme Courte. The Senate Judicial Committee


116. When Gerald Ford pardoned Richard Nixon for his role in Watergate, it meant that Nixon

a. could not be impeached for any crime he may have committed while in office.

b. could not have committed any offenses that were actually punishable.

c. could be impeached but not convicted for any crime he may have committed while in office.

d. was innocent of any crime he may have committed while in office.

e. could not be prosecuted under federal law for any crime he may have committed while in office.

Ans: EPage: 403-404Type: Factual

117. Which of the following statements about President Clinton’s impeachment is incorrect?

a. The Senate did not convict Clinton.b. Clinton was charged with perjury, obstruction of justice, and

abuse of power.c. A majority of the Senate voted to convict.d. Clinton was accused of making false written statement to the

Judiciary Committee.e. None of the above.



Ans: DPage: 403-404Type: Conceptual

118. Bill Clinton survived his impeachment trial for all of the following reasons except:

a. The public disliked his private behavior but did not think it amounted to an impeachable offense.

b. The economy was strong.c. The nation was at peace.d. Clinton was a left-wing Democrat. e. b and c.


119. The fundamental concern in defining the presidential succession is to

a. find a qualified successor.b. curb judicial powers.c. prevent anarchy.d. curb legislative powers. e. ensure the legitimacy of the office.


120. Concerning the powers of the executive and legislative branches of government, the text concludes that

a. both have become more powerful.b. both have become more constrained.c. only the presidency has become more powerful.d. only Congress has become more powerful. e. there has been little significant change across the nation’s

history.


121. Which of the following would not be a good rule of thumb for a newly elected president?

a. Move to implement programs quickly.b. Avoid dealing with interest groups.c. Avoid getting involved in too many details.d. Rely on capable aides.e. Do not rely on the cabinet.

TRUE/FALSE QUESTIONS

Ans: TruePage: 369

122. T F Under a parliamentary system, voters can choose a member of parliament but not the chief executive.

Ans: TruePage: 369

123. T F In sharp contrast to presidents, prime ministers are usually political insiders.

Ans: FalsePage: 370

124. T F A major difference between the parliamentary and presidential systems is that the president can generally be assured of a majority in the legislature.

Ans: FalsePage: 370

125. T F Gridlock is a necessary consequence of a system of direct democracy.



Ans: TruePage: 371

126. T F True unified government is achieved only when the same ideological wing of the same party is in control of both branches of government.

Ans: TruePage: 370

127. T F Americans say they don’t like divided government.

Ans: TruePage: 370-371

128. T F Presidential candidates frequently bemoan divided government.

Ans: FalsePage: 371

129. T F Scholarly research suggests divided government reduces the likelihood that substantive legislation will be passed.

Ans: TruePage: 371

130. T F Unified government probably requires the dominance of both branches by the same ideological wing of a party.

Ans: FalsePage: 371

131. T F The Reagan administration featured unified government.

Ans: TruePage: 372

132. T F Gridlock is probably the necessary consequence of representative government.

Ans: TruePage: 372

133. T F At the time of the Constitutional Convention, many of the states had governors chosen by their legislatures.

Ans: TruePage: 372

134. T F Some of the Framers proposed a plural national executive.

Ans: FalsePage: 372

135. T F George Washington stood at the Convention and called for something like an elective monarchy.

Ans: TruePage: 372

136. T F The question of presidential reelection was a major issue at the Constitutional Convention.

Ans: TruePage: 372

137. T F The Framers thought that most presidential elections would be decided in the House.

Ans: FalsePage: 373

138. T F In the electoral college, voters decide how electors are chosen.

Ans: TruePage: 373

139. T F Probably the best strategy for capturing the vote of the electoral college is to win the ten largest states.

Ans: FalsePage: 373

140. T F George Washington established the practice of the president serving a four-year term rather than a two-year term.



Ans: TruePage: 373

141. T F The Twenty-second Amendment set a limit of two terms for the presidency.

Ans: TruePage: 374

142. T F Early presidencies were marked by minimal government activism and by the appointment of men of stature.

Ans: TruePage: 374

143. T F George Washington spoke out against political parties.

Ans: TruePage: 375

144. T F Washington traveled widely so people could see the new president.

Ans: FalsePage: 375

145. T F Washington’s relationship with Congress was close and positive.

Ans: FalsePage: 375

146. T F Presidential power was greatly expanded under George Washington.

Ans: TruePage: 375

147. T F Andrew Jackson sought to maximize the powers of the presidency.

Ans: TruePage: 375

148. T F Andrew Jackson's administration was marked by the vigorous use of the veto for policy reasons.

Ans: TruePage: 378

149. T F Abraham Lincoln received less than 40 percent of the popular vote in the election of 1860.

Ans: FalsePage: 378

150. T F Lincoln supported the Mexican War and praised Andrew Jackson’s use of executive power.

Ans: TruePage: 378

151. T F Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation without prior congressional approval.

Ans: TruePage: 378

152. T F Lincoln blockaded Southern ports and suspended habeas corpus without prior congressional approval.

Ans: FalsePage: 379

153. T F The president can grant pardons in cases involving impeachment.

Ans: TruePage: 379

154. T F The president can convene Congress in special sessions.

Ans: FalsePage: 379

155. T F The president shares the treaty-making power with the House of Representatives.

Ans: TruePage: 380

156. T F The greatest source of presidential power is found in politics and public opinion.

Ans: FalsePage: 380

157. T F The president has a salary of around $800,000 per year.



Ans: TruePage: 380

158. T F In order to qualify for the presidency, an individual must be a resident of the United States for at least fourteen years.

Ans: TruePage: 381

159. T F In general, power is wielded by people who are in the room where a decision is made.

Ans: TruePage: 381

160. T F The titles held by White House aides often fail to indicate the extent of their real powers.

Ans: TruePage: 382

161. T F The circular method of organizing the White House staff has the virtue of giving the president a great deal of information.

Ans: TruePage: 381

162. T F President Franklin Roosevelt alternated different methods of staff organization for different kinds of policy issues.

Ans: FalsePage: 382

163. T F The ad hoc method of staff organization helps keep the president in close contact with government officials who are ultimately responsible for administrative action.

Ans: FalsePage: 383

164. T F Most members of a president's White House staff are policy experts.

Ans: FalsePage: 383

165. T F The most important agency within the Executive Office is the cabinet.

Ans: TruePage: 384

166. T F Heads of agencies in the Executive Office are presidential appointees.

Ans: FalsePage: 383

167. T F Appointments to the heads of agencies in the Executive Office do not require Senate approval.

Ans: TruePage: 384

168. T F The presidential cabinet is usually relatively unimportant in formulating administration programs.

Ans: TruePage: 384

169. T F The president appoints more members of his cabinet departments than the British prime minister.

Ans: FalsePage: 384

170. T F The major responsibility of a cabinet department head is to advise the president on policy issues.



Ans: TruePage: 385

171. T F The abundance of political appointments gives the president lots of opportunities to reward friends and political supporters.

Ans: TruePage: 385

172. T F The president can appoint federal judges, subject to Senate approval.

Ans: TruePage: 386

173. T F Most presidential appointees have had prior experience in the federal government.

Ans: FalsePage: 386-387

174. T F The text suggests presidents, today, are more likely to desire a party leader than an “expert” in the cabinet.

Ans: TruePage: 387

175. T F A president needs to consider important interest groups when making government appointments.

Ans: TruePage: 390

176. T F The general public is not usually the most important audience that the president addresses.

Ans: TruePage: 390

177. T F Most recent presidents have preferred radio and television addresses to news conferences.

Ans: TruePage: 390

178. T F Presidents typically lack the power to threaten recalcitrant members of Congress with defeat at the polls.

Ans: TruePage: 391

179. T F A president can keep his victory score with Congress high by not taking a position on any controversial measure.

Ans: TruePage: 392

180. T F The popularity of a president immediately after being sworn in seems inevitably to decline by the midterm elections.

Ans: TruePage: 394

181. T F The pocket veto comes into play only when Congress has adjourned.

Ans: TruePage: 395

182. T F Few presidential vetoes are ever overridden by Congress.

Ans: TruePage: 396

183. T F In United States v. Nixon, the Supreme Court rejected Nixon’s claim of absolute executive privilege.



Ans: TruePage: 396

184. T F The ability of the president to speak in confidence has been greatly restricted as a result of recent federal court rulings limiting the number around him to claim executive privilege.

Ans: TruePage: 397

185. T F The Budget Reform Act of 1974 requiring the president to spend appropriated funds may actually be unconstitutional because it contains provisions for a legislative veto.

Ans: TruePage: 397

186. T F Recent presidents have been expected to have a policy for almost every group and every problem.

Ans: TruePage: 399

187. T F Few presidents are able to concentrate sufficiently on all the programs of their administration.

Ans: TruePage: 398

188. T F Most federal programs can be changed only marginally, even if a president wants changes.


189. T F Presidents rarely rely on opinion polls to determine what policies to emphasize while in office.

Ans: FalsePage: 399

190. T F When presidents act on the basis of what they believe their constituents want, they are taking the delegate approach.

Ans: TruePage: 399

191. T F George W. Bush ran as a candidate interested in domestic affairs and with little background in foreign affairs.

Ans: FalsePage: 399

192. T F Presidents rarely attempt to reorganize the executive branch of the federal government.


193. T F President Bush’s creation of the Department of Homeland Security represented the largest reorganization effort made by a sitting president.

Ans: FalsePage: 400

194. T F Changing an agency through reorganization is more difficult than through abolishing a program or passing a new law.

Ans: TruePage: 400

195. T F A president’s reorganization of the Executive Office can occur only in consultation with Congress.

Ans: FalsePage: 400

196. T F The legislative veto is an effective tool for forcing a president to deal with Congress on matters of agency reorganization.



Ans: TruePage: 400

197. T F The legislative veto was ruled unconstitutional in 1983.

Ans: TruePage: 401

198. T F Most vice presidents have fared poorly when subsequently running for the presidency.

Ans: TruePage: 401

199. T F John Tyler defined the powers of a vice president succeeding a president who dies in office.

Ans: TruePage: 401

200. T F The only official task of a vice president is to preside over the Senate and to vote in case of a tie.

Ans: FalsePage: 402

201. T F The secretary of state becomes president if both the president and vice president die in office.

Ans: TruePage: 402

202. T F Under the Twenty-fifth Amendment, a vice president becomes acting president if a president in office is disabled.

Ans: FalsePage: 402

203. T F The Supreme Court rules whether a disabled president should continue to serve in office.

Ans: TruePage: 403

204. T F Both elected and civil-service officials of the federal government can be removed from office via impeachment.

Ans: TruePage: 403

205. T F Impeachment does not necessarily mean guilt.

Ans: FalsePage: 403

206. T F Only one president in U.S. history, Andrew Johnson, was actually impeached.

Ans: TruePage: 403

207. T F While the impeachment case against Andrew Johnson was entirely political, the one against Bill Clinton was more serious.

Ans: TruePage: 404

208. T F One of the side effects of the Clinton impeachment episode was the death of the law creating the Office of the Independent Counsel.

Ans: TruePage: 403

209. T F A majority of the Senate voted to convict Clinton during his impeachment.

Ans: TruePage: 406

210. T F Many critics of the Constitution believed in 1787 that peaceful succession would not take place in the presidency.



Ans: TruePage: 406

211. T F A major reason Congress and the president seem less able to control events than they used to be able to do is the complexity of the issues that have evolved since the 1930s.

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS212. What are the differences between the U.S. president and prime ministers in terms of identity and powers of

the chief executive?

Answer

a. President often an outsider

b. President chooses cabinet members outside Congress

c. President has no guaranteed majority in the legislature

d. Even when one party controls the White House and Congress, the two branches often work at cross purposes

Pages: 368-370

213. Discuss the concerns that the Framers had about the presidency.

Answer

a. Avoidance of anarchy and monarchy: fear of presidential domination of Congress and of congressional domination of the president; presidential reelection; concern that large, populous states would dominate in a direct popular election

Pages: 372-374

214. Explain the three ways a president can organize his or her personal staff.

Answer

a. Pyramid: most aides report through a hierarchy to a chief of staff

b. Circular: cabinet secretaries and aides report directly to president

c. Ad hoc: task forces and committees deal directly with president

Page: 381

215. Why does the president have only limited power over cabinet secretaries, making the cabinet a weak entity?

Answer

a. President cannot appoint many departmental employees

b. Secretaries head vast organizations that they defend, explain, and enlarge

Pages: 384-385



216. List some of the aspects of the presidential character of any three presidents from Eisenhower to Clinton. Discuss how these personality traits affected each administration.

Answer

a. Eisenhower: orderly, careful staff work

b. Kennedy: improviser, talented amateurs

c. Johnson: wheeler-dealer, arm-twister

d. Nixon: mistrustful of media, hierarchical

e. Ford: genial, relaxed in personal dealings

f. Carter: Washington outsider, micromanager

g. Reagan: communicator rather than administrator

h. Bush: extensive experience, make decisions on basis of personal contacts

i. Clinton: attention to detail, ad hoc organization

Pages: 388-389

217. Summarize what we know about presidential popularity. What impact does it have on congressional races and the president’s program? What affects approval ratings and what general trends have been noticeable across previous terms?

Answer

a. Popular support for the president does not translate into support for a member of Congress

b. Popularity may have an impact on how much of his program passes

c. Popularity is difficult to predict and affected by things beyond the president’s control

d. Popularity tends to be high right after the election but declines throughout the term (translating into the need to accomplish important goals early)

Pages: 390-394

218. Explain the veto process and the various types of vetoes. Be careful to also explain what happens when legislation is not signed by the president.

Explain

a. Veto messages: statement sent to Congress within 10 days after bill has been passed, explains the president’s reasons

b. Pocket veto: president does not sign bill within 10 days and Congress has adjourned (a bill not signed within 10 days while Congress is in session becomes law without the president’s signature)

c. Vetoes can be passed over by a two-thirds vote of each house

d. Bills that have been pocket vetoed cannot be brought back to life or carried over to the next Congress

Pages: 394-396



219. On what two grounds have presidents based their power of executive privilege? Did the Supreme Court agree?

Answer

a. Separation of powers: one branch does not have the right to inquire into the internal workings of another

b. Principles of statecraft and prudent administration require presidents having the right to obtain confidential and candid advice

c. U.S. v. Nixon (1973): Supreme Court recognized a basis for this privilege in the area of sensitive or diplomatic matters but not an absolute privilege.

Page: 396

220. What are the provisions of the Twenty-fifth Amendment?

Answer

a. Disability: vice president serves as acting president whenever the president declares himself unable to discharge duties or whenever the vice president and a majority of the cabinet declare the president incapacitated.

b. If the president disagrees with the opinion of the vice president and cabinet, Congress decides. A two-thirds vote is needed to confirm the president unable to serve.

c. Vice presidential vacancy: president nominates new vice president if office is vacant, subject to confirmation by both houses.

Page: 402

ESSAY QUESTIONS221. Assume you have been elected president. Your goal is to enact a legislative program. Discuss the best way

to achieve this objective. Point out the strengths and weaknesses of presidential power, focusing on the factors a president can influence and manipulate.

Answer

a. Because the president does not control Congress as does a prime minister, he or she must use persuasion to succeed, especially when courting the opinions of Washington insiders.

b. The president is most successful when his or her popularity is high; popularity is highest at the beginning of a term, so key proposals must be pushed quickly.

c. A president should be selective in introducing proposals because of the constraints of time, unexpected crises, and a controlled budget.

d. The threat of a veto can be powerful because Congress rarely overrides a veto.

e. President does not rely much on the cabinet; uses capable White House staffers and gives them clearly defined responsibilities.

Page: Ch. 14



222. The power of the president is a hotly debated issue. Some scholars refer to an “imperial presidency” despite the Founders’ intention to make Congress the “first branch.” From the material in the text, argue that Congress is indeed a more powerful branch than the presidency.

Answer

a. President has no guaranteed support in Congress, and the government is frequently divided.

b. Presidential power relies heavily on persuasion and presidential popularity tends to decline as a term progresses.

c. Presidents have little control over cabinet departments.

d. None of the president’s powers to say “no” are final: veto can be overridden; executive privilege limited by Supreme Court; Congress restricted use of impoundments.

e. President cannot reorganize outside the White House without congressional approval.

f. Presidential coattails have weakened.

g. Presidents get less than one-half their programs through Congress.

Page: Ch. 14

223. The text takes a somewhat unconventional view of “gridlock” in government. What does scholarly research tell us about the impact of “gridlock” on legislation? What complicates the notion of “unified” government and how might it be a solution to “gridlock”? Would such a solution be good or acceptable to most Americans?

Answer

a. Scholarly research suggests divided government does about as well as unified ones in passing important laws.

b. Unified government might be a myth because the parties feature internal divisions and there is institutional rivalry between Congress and the President in the policy-making process.

c. Sweeping constitutional change might cure gridlock and would seem to run contrary to the desire of many voters who split tickets.

d. Gridlock might be a necessary consequence of representative government.

Pages: 370-372


multiple choice

Documents

president a0

elected president

presidents a0

onehalf c0

fourths d0

president kennedy

presidency e

american system of government