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CHAPTER 14
The Presidency
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The Framers of the Constitution generally expected that the __________ would ultimately decide the
winner of presidential elections.
a.
electoral college
b.
congressional delegations
c.
Senate
d.
House
e.
Supreme Court
2. This Framer of the Constitution wanted the president to be elected by the people.
a.
James Wilson
b.
Roger Sherman
c.
James Madison
d.
Samuel Adams
e.
John Hancock
3. The popularly elected president is
a.
an American invention, and our nation is one of a few democracies that have elected
presidents.
b.
common in European democracies.
c.
a key feature of a parliamentarian system.
d.
a powerful figure in the Japanese government.
e.
the same as a prime minister.
4. 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.
5. Barack Obama is
a.
the only president to be elected directly from the U.S. House of Representatives.
b.
the fifth president to be elected directly from the U.S. Senate.
c.
like many modern presidents a former governor.
d.
the only modern president to be elected directly from a state legislative body.
e.
the third president to be elected directly from the U.S. Senate.
6. Customarily, the members of the president’s cabinet are
a.
close friends.
b.
campaign aides.
c.
representatives of important constituencies.
d.
experts on various policy issues.
e.
All of the above are true.
7. Divided government is
a.
dangerous to American democracy.
b.
more common in modern times than unified government.
c.
more productive than unified government.
d.
a myth.
e.
always going to produce gridlock.
8. The text cites the 1948 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.
9. Which individual described the business of the president as “usually not much above routine” and
mostly “mere administration”?
a.
Ronald Reagan
b.
Woodrow Wilson
c.
Dwight Eisenhower
d.
Jimmy Carter
e.
Gerald Ford
10. The Constitution requires that the president be at least __________ years old.
a.
18
b.
21
c.
25
d.
30
e.
35
11. Which elastic phrase has become a significant source of presidential power?
a.
“With the advice and consent of the Senate”
b.
“With all deliberate speed”
c.
The “full faith and credit” clause
d.
The “necessary and proper” clause
e.
“Take care that the laws be faithfully executed”
12. 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.
13. At the Constitutional Convention, the most frequent concern regarding the presidency focused on
a.
re-election.
b.
the veto power.
c.
the pardon power.
d.
appointment powers.
e.
nominations.
14. The first plan suggested at the Constitutional 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.
15. The House of Representatives has selected the president
a.
in 2000 and 1888.
b.
in 1800 and 1824.
c.
in 1860 and 1888.
d.
in 1800 and 1860.
e.
in 2000 and 1824.
16. George Washington limited himself to two terms, and no president served more until
a.
Ulysses S. Grant.
b.
Woodrow Wilson.
c.
Franklin Roosevelt.
d.
Harry Truman.
e.
Herbert Hoover.
17. 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.
18. During the early years of the Republic, this department, under the direction of Alexander Hamilton,
was “the principal federal office.”
a.
War Department
b.
State Department
c.
Treasury Department
d.
Interior Department
e.
Navy Department
19. When George Washington went to the Senate for advice on a treaty, he was told that
a.
the Senate would discuss it with him after lunch.
b.
the Senate would consider the matter in private.
c.
the Senate would provide advice, but not consent on treaties.
d.
the Senate would provide consent, but not advice, on treaties.
e.
the Constitution did not allow him to communicate directly with the Senate.
20. The personality of which president began to alter the relationship between the president and Congress
and the nature of presidential leadership?
a.
Andrew Jackson
b.
Ulysses S. Grant
c.
Richard Nixon
d.
Jimmy Carter
e.
William Henry Harrison
21. 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.
22. Abraham Lincoln _________without prior congressional approval.
a.
raised an army
b.
spent money
c.
blockaded southern ports
d.
suspended the right of habeas corpus
e.
did all of the above
23. In order to win the presidency today, a candidate must win _________ electoral votes.
a.
538
b.
438
c.
300
d.
270
e.
100
24. In only _________ instances, candidates have won the electoral vote without winning a majority of the
popular vote.
a.
two
b.
three
c.
five
d.
ten
e.
twelve
25. The last time a candidate won a majority of the electoral college without winning the popular vote was
a.
2000.
b.
1888.
c.
1876.
d.
1865.
e.
1801.
26. The text suggests that the abolition of the electoral college might lead to
a.
less partisanship.
b.
an increase in political action committee (PAC) spending.
c.
the formation of third parties.
d.
a more ideological electorate.
e.
a decrease in political participation.
27. During a period of assertive Congresses, this president cast 414 vetoes.
a.
Chester Arthur
b.
Grover Cleveland
c.
Rutherford B. Hayes
d.
James Polk
e.
James Buchanan
28. Which president was one of the first to argue for a presidential legislative program?
a.
Harry Truman
b.
Richard Nixon
c.
Herbert Hoover
d.
Franklin Roosevelt
e.
Woodrow Wilson
29. The most important power of presidents is the power of persuasion because of their
a.
limited staffs.
b.
opponents within the party.
c.
lack of ensured legislative majorities and opponents within the party.
d.
vague constitutional powers and lack of ensured legislative majorities.
e.
limited staffs.
30. According to presidential scholar Richard Neustadt, the president’s most important audience is
a.
heads of state from around the world.
b.
fellow politicians in Washington, D.C.
c.
party activists.
d.
the public.
e.
officeholders outside of D.C.
31. When the president uses the prestige and visibility of the office to guide or mobilize the American
people, we say that he/she is using the
a.
executive prerogative.
b.
inside-outside strategy.
c.
regal approach.
d.
grassroots podium.
e.
bully pulpit.
32. According to public opinion research, the president’s use of the “bully pulpit” tends
a.
to change opinion throughout the public.
b.
to bolster existing public views.
c.
to influence foreign opinion about America.
d.
to help the president “go public.”
e.
None of the above is true.
33. How successful presidents are with legislation in Congress is difficult to gauge because they
a.
never reveal their position on noncontroversial bills.
b.
can keep their victory score high by not taking a position on any controversial measure.
c.
do not have the power to veto bills passed by Congress.
d.
do not have the ability to show their approval or disapproval, since they must not sign bills
before they can become law.
e.
can never overcome the influence of interest-group money on congressional votes.
34. 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.
revealed no systematic trends and was impervious to elections and campaigns.
35. This president was very successful at getting legislation through Congress during the first hundred
days of his presidency or his “honeymoon.”
a.
Harry Truman
b.
Franklin Roosevelt
c.
Richard Nixon
d.
Gerald Ford
e.
Bill Clinton
36. Lyndon Johnson enjoyed considerable success in Congress until
a.
the Vietnam War sapped his strength.
b.
he decided to run for reelection.
c.
numerous scandals erupted in the tax department.
d.
reporters were banned from White House gatherings.
e.
his appointment of Abe Fortas to the Supreme Court.
37. Since 1934, in every off-year election but two, the president’s party
a.
has lost seats in one or both houses of Congress.
b.
has changed its policy position significantly.
c.
has won seats in one or both houses of Congress.
d.
has decreased its support for the president’s agenda.
e.
has increased its support for the president’s agenda.
38. A bill is passed to the president for action while Congress is still in session. After ten days he or she
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.
39. More than twenty-five hundred presidential vetoes have been made since 1789. Congress has
overridden approximately what percentage of these?
a.
4 percent
b.
25 percent
c.
38 percent
d.
45 percent
e.
86 percent
40. In his first term in office, Barack Obama vetoed
a.
only two bills.
b.
numerous pieces of legislation.
c.
two major bills and a large number of minor ones.
d.
zero bills.
e.
only five bills.
41. 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.
no presidential immunity for matters that are civil in nature.
42. If a president has a particular attitude about how a piece of legislation might be implemented, he/she
might issue a(n)
a.
signing statement.
b.
veto.
c.
legislative veto.
d.
line-item veto.
e.
amending motion.
43. Which president considered himself an “outsider” and boasted of it?
a.
John F. Kennedy
b.
Lyndon Johnson
c.
Richard Nixon
d.
Gerald Ford
e.
Jimmy Carter
44. 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.
45. In this method of White House staff organization, used by Carter, cabinet secretaries and assistants
reported directly to the president.
a.
Ad hoc structure
b.
Pyramid structure
c.
Circular structure
d.
Tubular structure
e.
Intuitive structure
46. This method of staff organization poses the risk of isolating or misinforming the president.
a.
Intuitive
b.
Pyramidal
c.
Circular
d.
Ad hoc
e.
Linear
47. This method of staff organization causes confusion and conflict among cabinet secretaries and
assistants.
a.
Intuitive
b.
Pyramidal
c.
Circular
d.
Ad hoc
e.
Linear
48. 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.
49. This important agency in the Executive Office of the President studies the organization and operations
of the executive branch, devises plans for reorganizing various departments and agencies, develops
ways of getting better information about government programs, and reviews proposals that cabinet
departments want included in the president’s legislative program.
a.
Council of Economic Advisers (CEA)
b.
Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
c.
Office of Technology Assessment (OTA)
d.
Government Accountability Office (GAO)
e.
Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (OUSTR)
50. The cabinet officers are 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.
51. 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.
52. Before 1824, this cabinet position was regarded as a stepping stone to the presidency.
a.
Vice Presidency
b.
Secretary of State
c.
Secretary of War
d.
Secretary of the Treasury
e.
Governor
53. 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.
54. 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.
55. This president faced the Bay of Pigs crisis.
a.
Lyndon Johnson
b.
Dwight Eisenhower
c.
Harry Truman
d.
John Kennedy
e.
Richard Nixon
56. 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.
57. 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.
58. 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.
59. 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.
60. If the president should die in office, the vice president is next in line. When there is no vice president,
the next successor in line is the
a.
Secretary of State
b.
Secretary of the Interior
c.
Speaker of the House
d.
Secretary of Defense
e.
Senate president
Chapter 14: The Presidency 231
TRUE/FALSE
1. At the Constitutional Convention, Roger Sherman of Connecticut wanted the president elected by
the people.
2. Most of the Framers thought that the Senate would probably decide the outcome of most
presidential elections.
3. In most parliamentary systems, voters can choose a member of parliament but not the chief executive.
4. Americans say they don’t like divided government.
5. True unified government is achieved only when the same ideological wing of the same party is in
control of both the presidency and Congress.
6. When Bill Clinton was sworn in as president, many commentators spoke approvingly of the “end
of gridlock.”
7. Scholarly research suggests that divided government reduces the likelihood that important legislation
will be passed.
8. The Constitution states that only the secretary of state can receive ambassadors.
9. To qualify for the presidency, an individual must be a natural born citizen and 40 years old.
10. The greatest source of presidential power is found in politics and public opinion.
11. The delegates at the Constitutional Convention knew it was very likely that George Washington would
be the nation’s first president.
12. Alexander Hamilton spoke at the convention and called for something like an elective monarchy.
13. Abraham Lincoln received less than 40 percent of the popular vote in the election of 1860.
14. The District of Columbia receives three electoral votes even though it has no representatives in
Congress.
15. A president’s popularity has no effect on how much of his program is passed by Congress.
16. Like most governors, the president has the line-item veto.
17. In United States v. Nixon, the Supreme Court rejected Nixon’s claim of absolute executive privilege.
18. The Supreme Court has not ruled on the constitutional significance of signing statements.
19. The circular method of organizing the White House staff has the virtue of giving the president a great
deal of information.
20. The only official task of the vice president is to preside over the Senate and to vote in cases of a tie.
ESSAY
1. Discuss some of the differences between the president and prime ministers.
2. Discuss the opinions of James Wilson, Roger Sherman, and Alexander Hamilton about how the
president should be selected.
3. The text asks: “Does gridlock matter?” Summarize the discussion on this topic.
4. Discuss the history of the presidential veto. In your discussion, acknowledge the role that Andrew
Jackson played in shaping how presidents use the veto. What percentage of vetoes have been
overridden by Congress?
5. Describe the electoral college and explain what it does and how it does it.
6. Identify the “three audiences” that Richard Neustadt describes in his book Presidential Power.
7. Explain what signing statements have been used to do and what the trends have been with respect to
their use throughout history.
8. Identify three ways in which presidents have organized personal staff and comment on the
advantages/disadvantages of each.
9. Identify the five principle agencies in the Executive Office.
10. Explain the constitutional roles of the vice president.
