Chapter 14: The Presidency

1. Why is it more difficult for an American president to get his program enacted in comparison with a prime minister in a parliamentary system?

Because of divided government, when one or both houses of Congress differ from the president's political party

Because the president has fewer constitutional powers than a prime minister

Because the president has less control over the cabinet than a prime minister

Because prime ministers can enact their programs without the approval of parliament

Because the Supreme Court in the United States frequently uses judicial review to overturn presidential programs

Divided government occurs when at least one house of congress differs from teh political party of the president. This makes it difficult for a president to get his programs passed. In parliamentary systems, the prime minister is a member ofthe biggest party in parliament, and divided government does not occur.

Explanation

Divided government occurs when at least one house of congress differs from teh political party of the president. This makes it difficult for a president to get his programs passed. In parliamentary systems, the prime minister is a member ofthe biggest party in parliament, and divided government does not occur.

2. How are cabinet secretaries and the attorney general selected?

The president appoints cabient secretaries and the attorney general, subject to Senate confirmation, and they serve at his will

THe president usually retains his predecessor's cabient secretaries and attorney general

THe president appoints cabient secretaries and the attorney general for fixed fourteen-year terms of office

Cabinet secretaries and the attorney general are appointed by the presidnet and can be removed by Congress at will.

The president appoints cabient secretaries and the attorney general, and they must resign at end of the presidential term.

Cabinet officers are the heads of the fifteen major executive departments. The attorney general runs the Jusitce Department. Upon taking office, presidnets can apoint all new cabinet heads and a new attorney general. Sometimes they retain some ofteh existing cabient secretaries. They serve at the will of the president.

Explanation

Cabinet officers are the heads of the fifteen major executive departments. The attorney general runs the Jusitce Department. Upon taking office, presidnets can apoint all new cabinet heads and a new attorney general. Sometimes they retain some ofteh existing cabient secretaries. They serve at the will of the president.

3. Which of the following statements most accurately describes the president's power to get his programs enacted?

Presidents often rule by decree and executive order; as a result, much of their program becomes law

Presidents oftne have a majority of both houses of Congress; as a result, many of their proposals are adopted

The president must rely heavily on persuasion to get things done

Because the president can always call a press conference, he often uses the media to his advantage to get his program passed

The president has more power to get things done in the second half ofh is term because by then he has established himself in office

Because the constitutional powers of the president are sketchy, he must rely predominatnly on persuasion, rather than power, to get things done.

Explanation

Because the constitutional powers of the president are sketchy, he must rely predominatnly on persuasion, rather than power, to get things done.

4. One of the criticisms of President Carter was that he was so involved with the minor details of policies that he couldn't see the forest for the trees. How did the President Carter structure his White House staff?

Ad hoc

Circular

Bureaucratic

Pyramid

Business model

Carter used a circular, or wheel-and-spokes, model. Whiel this model guarantees openness to many sources of advice, it makes it difficult to manage the complexities of the government.

Explanation

Carter used a circular, or wheel-and-spokes, model. Whiel this model guarantees openness to many sources of advice, it makes it difficult to manage the complexities of the government.

5. Happens to a bill that is not signed or vetoed within ten days while Congress is still in session?

It becomes law automatically, without hte president's approval

It is "pocket vetoed" and does not become law

It becomes law as soon as Congress adjourns; until then, the president may veto it

It is held over until the next session of Congress

It becomes law if 60 percent of both houses of Congress approve it.

A bill that is not signed by the president within ten days while Congress is in session automatically becomes law. If Congress adjourns within ten days, the bill is "pocket vetoed".

Explanation

A bill that is not signed by the president within ten days while Congress is in session automatically becomes law. If Congress adjourns within ten days, the bill is "pocket vetoed".

6. Which of the following had a negative impact on presidential approval ratings?

I. the poor economy during George H. W. Bush's administartion
II. the impeachment proceedings against Clinton
III. the Vietnam War during the Johnson administation
IV. the Watergate investigation during the Nixon administration

I and II

I, II, and III

II, III, and IV

I, III, and IV

I and IV

The poor economy, the Vietnam War, and Watergate caused presidential approvals ratings to drop. On the other hand, Clinton's approval ratings actually went up during his impeachment.

Explanation

The poor economy, the Vietnam War, and Watergate caused presidential approvals ratings to drop. On the other hand, Clinton's approval ratings actually went up during his impeachment.

7. All of the following are features of the electoral college system EXCEPT

There is a winner-take-all system in 48 states

If no one wins a majority of electoral college votes, the election is decided by the House of Representatives

When the House of Representatives decides an election, each member only has one vote

State electoral ballots are opened and counted before a joint session of Congress

Occasionally an elector will vote for a presidential candidate other than the one who carried his or her state

Each state's vote is allotted to the candidate preferred by a majority of the state's House delegbation. Each state has one vote in the event the House of Representatives decides a presidential election.

Explanation

Each state's vote is allotted to the candidate preferred by a majority of the state's House delegbation. Each state has one vote in the event the House of Representatives decides a presidential election.

8. President Cleveland used federal troops to break up a labor strike, and President Eisenhower sent federal troops to desegregate Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. Which clause fothe Constitution gave them this power?

Serve as commander in chief of the armed forces

Convene Congress ins special sessions

Commission officers in the armed forces

Take care that the laws be faithfully executed

Wield the "executive power"

The president's duty to "take care that the laws be faithfully executed" has become one of the most elastic phrases in the Constitution. Both Cleveland and Eisenhowe interpreted this broadly in deploying federal troops.

Explanation

The president's duty to "take care that the laws be faithfully executed" has become one of the most elastic phrases in the Constitution. Both Cleveland and Eisenhowe interpreted this broadly in deploying federal troops.