POLS 2311 Exam 3 Ch 11 Notes – Flashcards

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question
Which one of the powers listed below is a constitutional power that the president shares with the Senate?
answer
making treaties
question
Which institutional resource is closest to the president?
answer
White House staff
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In which institutional resource are leaders both appointed by the president and approved by the Senate?
answer
Supreme Court
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The position of __________ is a well-recognized stepping-stone to the presidency.
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vice president
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Why are executive orders less enduring than formal laws?
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They can be reversed by future presidents.
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Who has the role of breaking a tie in the Senate?
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vice president
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FDR's "fireside" chats are an example of what presidential role?
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morale builder
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What does the Twenty Second Amendment do?
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requires that presidents serve no more than two terms
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Based on the constitution's Take Care Clause, ______ direct specific actions by government as a whole or individual departments or agencies, but do not have the force of law.
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executive memoranda
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Which president was the first to veto something?
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George Washington
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Congress can remove a president through ______.
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impeachment
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Who did the Framers expect to be the first president of the US?
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George Washington
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What has to happen in Congress before the President can be impeached?
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House can impeach by simple majority, and the senate can impeach by 2/3 majority.
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Which president served four consecutive terms, prompting 22nd amendment?
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Franklin Delano Roosevelt
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Throughout most of its history, the office of ____ was considered insignificant.
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vice president
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What problem did the 1796 presidential election reveal?
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The president and vice president could be elected from different parties.
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Which approach did both FDR and LBJ use for managing the White House Staff?
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competitive
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According to the Constitution, how is the president selected?
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election through the electoral college
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Which of the following is an example of a rally point?
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George W. Bush's popularity was boosted following 9/11
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The use of ______ in foreign matters is an example of the president acting as diplomat in chief.
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executive agreements
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The Executive office of the President was created in 1939 to serve which purpose?
answer
to supervise the growing federal government
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Presidents often use the _________ clause to argue that they control everything that happens in the executive branch after a bill becomes a law.
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vesting
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Which is one of the reasons that power and responsibility of the presidency has grown?
answer
The United States has increased prominence on the world stage.
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In making the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, Thomas Jefferson drew on the claim of ________.
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inherent powers
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The president's role as ______ has weakened in recent years.
answer
agenda-settler-in-chief
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The __________ counsels the president on how much money should be distributed to each government agency and reports on each agency's effectiveness.
answer
Office of Management and Budget
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What is true about Obama's cabinet?
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Obama's cabinet is the first one to consist of a majority of women and minorities.
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What did the Framers do to avoid tyranny or monarchy in the executive branch?
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separation of powers
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Which presidential power gives the president the ability to control what happens inside departments and agencies during their terms and to shape the federal judiciary (including the Supreme Court) far into the future?
answer
appointment
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How is the presidential support score calculated?
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by counting the times the president wins key votes in Congress
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Presidents with high levels of ______ have an easier time influencing Congress.
answer
public approval
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Appointing which group is the first major job for the president-elect?
answer
the cabinet
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What approach did John F. Kennedy, Jimmy Carter, and Bill Clinton use in managing the White House Staff?
answer
collegial
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Which of the following is a policy office within the White House?
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the National Economic Council
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The notion of inherent powers is derived from the __________ clause.
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take care
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Why does Lyndon Johnson's presidential ranking tend to be lower than the rankings of Abraham Lincoln, Woodrow Wilson, and Franklin Delano Roosevelt?
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He escalated US involvement in Vietnam.
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In which way do modern presidents differ from the original intentions of the Framers of the constitution?
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Modern presidents are much more influential in the legislative process
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Using press conferences to build public support is a primary example of the president's role as _________.
answer
persuader-in-chief
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In the legislative process, the mere threat of a _______ can strengthen a president's hand.
answer
veto
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In which capacity is a modern vice president particularly influential in American politics>
answer
as an adviser in the policy-making process
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Which of the following statements best characterizes the nature of the conflict between presidents and Congress?
answer
The conflict is integral to the design of the Constitution, deliberately intended by its authors.
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Which of the following statements best describes contemporary relationships between presidents and Congress?
answer
They are generally antagonistic.
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How has the office of vice president changed over the years?
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The vice president has been more involved in the policy-making process
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Despite their formal powers, presidents need to exercise which of the following leadership abilities to be successful?
answer
the ability to persuade members of Congress and the American public
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How might domestic or international crises affect presidential politics?
answer
Crises tend to temporarily increase presidential approval ratings, providing windows of opportunity to press for action on their agendas.
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You are an adviser to the president, who recently revealed to you and other members of the White House staff that he is considering compiling "kill lists" of suspected terrorists. The president is concerned, however, that this action might be overstepping the bounds of presidential power. What constitutional provision could you advise the president to draw upon in justifying this action?
answer
the war power
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Which factor helps explain the growing resistance that presidents of recent years have faced in all their respective roles?
answer
the fact that Americans have a persistent sense that politicians can do nothing right, which constrains the ability of presidents to lead
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What was George Washington's most important precedent?
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His retirement after two terms.
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In crafting the executive branch, what was the motive behind the decisions of the Constitution's Framers?
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to create a leader with enough authority to protect the nation from domestic and foreign threats but not so strong that he or she would jeopardize liberty
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One factor that has affected presidents' use of signing statements in recent decades is ________.
answer
the decline in the number of bills passed by Congress
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How does the United States differ from most other world powers?
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It is neither a parliamentary democracy, nor an executive-dominated government.
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What was the turning point that gave rise to the modern institutional presidency?
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the economic and social turmoil of the Great Depression
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What was particularly significant about George Washington's presidency?
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His early actions served to establish important precedents that greatly increased the political legitimacy of the office.
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What distinguishes modern presidents from early presidents?
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Modern presidents are much more active in the formulation of policy
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How does the White House Staff differ from the president's cabinet?
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The White House staff has greater access to and more influence on the president than does the cabinet.
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Which of the following statements best characterizes the members of the White House staff?
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The White House Staff is composed of individuals personally and politically close to the president chosen specifically to serve the president's needs.
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The 25th amendment was adopted to clear up ambiguities over the constitutional provisions surrounding ________.
answer
the role of the vice president should the president die or become incapacitated
question
You are an adviser to a president who was just elected to her first term in office. She has asked your advice about when to introduce major legislative proposals. Based on what you know about historical patterns of public approval for presidents, what would you suggest?
answer
Begin working to persuade Congress right after taking office.
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Why was the War Powers Resolution (1973) adopted by Congress?
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to reinvigorate the role of Congress in the conduct of war
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What is a possible problem of the War Powers Resolution (1973) as written?
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It gives the president the power to wage short-term wars without congressional approval.
question
The _______ is in charge of the day-to-day operations of the federal departments and agencies.
answer
president
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