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Chapter 12: The President

Multiple-Choice Quiz

Multiple-Choice Quiz
Choose the one alternative that best completes the statement or answers the question.

This activity contains 22 questions.

	Why does waging war increase presidential power relative to other actors?   The president is commander in chief and people look to him for leadership. War creates job opportunities in government industries. War distracts citizens from other issues. The uncertainty of war engenders patriotism. All are correct.

	In 1790, only 700 Americans were in uniform compared to _____ when George W. Bush took office.   1.4 million 2.4 million 200,000 500,000 1 million

	John F. Kennedy's contribution to the office of the president was   his recognition of the importance of television. his credible use of the veto power. his impressive legislative accomplishments. his willingness to take on segregations in fighting for civil rights. his reliance on his vice president to assist in congressional negotiations.

	Which of the following reasons BEST explains why the early presidency was weak and small in comparison with the contemporary presidency?   Early presidents were less ambitious than modern presidents at increasing the power of their office. The nation did not often require a very strong presidency prior to the twentieth century, particularly in the key area of foreign policy and military leadership. Early presidents were constrained by a Constitution that severely limited what presidents could do. Early presidents surrounded themselves with incompetent advisors and cabinet members. Early presidents were less vigorous than modern presidents.

	Which of the following was a result of the administration of George Washington, who set the stage for the presidency?   A tradition began in which the president played no part in military affairs. A precedent was set for the president to only react to congressional legislative programs. The primacy of the Congress in foreign affairs was affirmed. The prestige of the presidency was solidified at a time when executive leadership was mistrusted. The battle lines between the president and Congress were clearly drawn.

	Constitutional responsibility for the legislative agenda   has partly shifted to the executive branch over the years. rests firmly with the executive. rests firmly with Congress. has shifted to the judicial and executive branches over the years. is somewhat evenly divided between all three branches.

	Which of the following presidents is notable for his bold action in acquiring the Louisiana Purchase from France?   Thomas Jefferson Andrew Jackson James Polk Abraham Lincoln George Washington

	Which of the following presidents helped transform the presidency into a popular institution?   Thomas Jefferson James Polk Andrew Jackson Abraham Lincoln George Washington

	Which of the following presidents initiated a war with Mexico that resulted in the territorial expansion of the United States to include most of what is now the southwestern United States plus California?   Abraham Lincoln Thomas Jefferson James Polk George Washington Teddy Roosevelt

	Which of the following presidents presided over the most significant expansion of presidential functions and activities in American history?   Franklin Roosevelt Ronald Reagan Theodore Roosevelt James Polk Abraham Lincoln

	Which of the following is NOT a "hat" that the president wears?   Chief of State Legislator Manager of the Economy Major General of the Armed Services Commander in Chief

	The president's chief of staff   may have different levels of responsibility, depending on the president's wishes. is also Secretary of State. is head of a hierarchical staff system. is head of a collegial staff system. vies for power in a competitive staff system.

	The National Security Council includes officials from the   State Department. CIA. the military. the Defense Department. all are represented.

	The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) exercises legislative clearance. Legislative clearance requires:   approval from the OMB before a bill can be sent from Congress to the president. that the OMB examine the budget implications of any proposed legislation. that the Supreme Court rule on executive orders before they are promulgated. that the OMB approve nominations to Congressional budget committees. a majority of the president’s cabinet approve any legislative funding.

	This Amendment provides a way to appoint a vice president if the office becomes vacant.   Twentieth Twenty-second Twenty-fifth Twenty-seventh Twenty-third

	The president's cabinet is weak, being convened by most recent presidents infrequently and rarely relied upon for doing serious decision-making business. This is so because:   the president doesn't have the power to appoint cabinet officials, he can't really tell them what to do. most department heads are experts in their own areas with little to contribute on the broad range of government policies on which the president solicits advice. members of the cabinet are too competitive with one another to be any good as a body of consultation. cabinet members are usually unaware of the macro-level problems facing the United States. they owe their allegiance solely to the president and are unlikely to question his decisions.

	Why is direct command by the president over the executive branch seldom feasible?   There is so much going on that presidents can't keep personal track of each one of the millions of government officials and employees. Presidents don't have the power to hire and fire top executive officials. Presidents have difficulty communicating their desires to top executive officials. The president's directives are many times overshadowed by those of Congress. All members of the executive branch, other than the president himself, are protected by civil service laws.

	The president and Congress are often at odds. This is a(n) _______________ fact of American politics.   governmental political structural demographic historic

	Which of the following factors has the greatest impact on how successful a president is in getting his legislative program passed by Congress?   if the policy at hand has to do with domestic affairs if his party controls the Congress if the president is in his second term if the president is over 65 if the policy at hand had overwhelming public support

	Which of the following developments in the early 1800s made it easier for presidential candidates to win clear-cut victories in the electoral college and thereby take the House of Representatives out of the presidential selection process?   development of a two-party system admission of new states to the Union fewer presidential candidates in the race development of the congressional caucus presidents began to speak directly to the people

	Which American president made appeals to the public a central part of his presidency and created an entirely new constitutional theory based on close connections between the president and the public?   Franklin Roosevelt Andrew Jackson Woodrow Wilson Jimmy Carter Teddy Roosevelt

	Presidents tend to have more success with   foreign policy. drug policy. welfare policy. fiscal policy. environmental policy.

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