Government Legislative Leadership Quiz

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Even with large majorities of their own party in Congress, presidents experience difficulty in exercising legislative leadership because

individual members of Congress attract greater publicity when challenging the president

the nature of political parties leads to a disconnect between the executive & legislative branches (correct)

the president must compete against state governors for influence

the president seldom addresses the same issues in the same way as members of Congress

Generally, when is a president more likely to get congressional approval of proposed policies?

In the second term rather than in the first

After midterm congressional elections (correct)

In social policy areas rather than in economic policy areas

In foreign affairs rather than in domestic affairs

Which statement is best supported by the above graph?

most 2 term presidents have lass political capital to utilize during their 2nd term than the 1st term (correct)

all 2 term presidents had higher approval when they left office than when they entered

George W. Bush maintained a high approval rating throughout his presidency

Ronald Reagan's approval rating was never higher than 50 percent

Executive agreements have been cited as evidence that

modern presidents often try to avoid legislative checks and balances on their authority Signup and view all the answers

Which is true of the War Powers Resolution (1973) as written?

It runs counter to the intentions of the Framers by diminishing the separation of powers between the two branches of government in favor of Congress Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an accurate comparison?

Increases Congressional role in execution of president's Commander in Chief role Signup and view all the answers

One example of constitutional checks & balances is

the president nominates cabinet members, but the House holds confirmation hearings Signup and view all the answers

In Federalist 70, Hamilton argues in favor of a single executive based on what argument?

the strength of the government depends on the ability of the executive to effectively make decisions Signup and view all the answers

When no presidential candidates receives a majority of the votes in the electoral college, the winner is chosen by the

House of Representatives only Signup and view all the answers

When selecting a vice-presidential candidate, a presidential nominee is usually concerned primarily with choosing a running mate who

adds balance & appeal to the national ticket Signup and view all the answers

Presidents have had the most success in changed the direction of decisions of the federal judiciary by

using the appointment process to select judges with judicial philosophies similar to those of the president Signup and view all the answers

The above quote relates best to which of the following statements about the Vice-President?

the main purpose of VPs is to put their own political ambitions aside & do whatever the president requires, when the president asks them to do it Signup and view all the answers

All of the following powers are granted to the President by the Constitution EXCEPT

forming new cabinet-level departments Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is the most important influence on the choice made by voters in presidential elections?

Partisan identification Signup and view all the answers

The largest amount of political coverage in newspapers during presidential campaigns is devoted to

day-to-day campaign activities Signup and view all the answers

If the state is similar to most other states, how will the electoral votes most likely be allocated?

The Democratic candidate will receive all 11 electoral votes Signup and view all the answers

The request of recent Presidents for the line-item veto is a challenge to which of the following principles?

Separation of powers Signup and view all the answers

All of the following statements pertaining to the presidential veto are true EXCEPT:

A President may veto part of a bill Signup and view all the answers

The right to keep executive communications confidential, especially if they relate to national security, is known as

executive privilege Signup and view all the answers

In trying to influence legislation, the President is generally more successful than congressional leaders in

using the media to set the policy agenda Signup and view all the answers

Supporters of granting the President a line-item veto would most likely argue that this power would increase a President's ability to

control federal spending Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is true of an executive agreement made between a United States President and another head of state?

it does not require senate approval, but may require congressional allocation of funds for implementation Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is true of the electoral college system?

It encourages candidates to concentrate their campaigns in competitive, populous states Signup and view all the answers

A decision by the president NOT to spend money appropriated by Congress is called

impoundment Signup and view all the answers

The ______ is a presidential staff agency that serves as a clearinghouse for budgetary requests and management improvements for government agencies.

Office of Management and Budget Signup and view all the answers

A rise in public approval of the president that follows a crisis is called

a popularity bump Signup and view all the answers

The ______ Amendment, ratified in 1804, allowed electors to cast separate votes for the president and vice president.

Twelfth Signup and view all the answers

The president's authority over the day-to-day operation of the federal government points to his role as

administrator in chief Signup and view all the answers

A presidential appointment made without Senate confirmation when the Senate is on a formal break is known as a(n)

recess appointment Signup and view all the answers

The requirement that presidents faithfully execute laws comes from the clause.

Signup and view all the answers

The constitutional requirement that presidents faithfully execute laws comes from the ______ clause.

take care Signup and view all the answers

Under the Twenty-Fifth Amendment, presidents can be removed temporarily from office if

the vice president and a majority of either Congress or the president's own cabinet secretaries declare him unable to discharge the powers and duties of the office Signup and view all the answers

In 2003, the Bush administration negotiated with Mexico to create a “smart border” that would limit the movement of illegal aliens into the United States, while improving the flow of goods between the two nations. This arrangement, which never went to Congress for formal approval, is an example of

an executive agreement Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following did Alexander Hamilton advocate for in Federalist No. 70?

a single executive with greater powers as well as the ability to exercise those powers Signup and view all the answers

One of the responsibilities given to the vice president in the Constitution is

to break tie votes in the Senate Signup and view all the answers

The Twenty-fifth Amendment was enacted in order to clear up uncertainties over the constitutional provisions surrounding ______.

presidential and vice-presidential succession and disability Signup and view all the answers

According to the following situation, which candidate would become president of the United States if the election were held today?

the House of Reps decides Signup and view all the answers

What would be a plausible explanation as to Obama's statistical results concerning the data represented in the bar graph?

Divided Government Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the ability of the legislative and executive branches to check each other?

The House may reject Supreme Court nominations / The president may veto bills presented Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a rally point?

George W. Bush's popularity was boosted following the 9/11 terrorist attacks Signup and view all the answers

The president who takes office after winning an election with a large electoral margin can influence Congress through evidence of popular support, otherwise known as ______.

a mandate Signup and view all the answers

Presidents with a sufficient amount of ______ have an easier time influencing Congress, while those with low levels find influencing Congress more difficult.

political capital Signup and view all the answers

Why does Lyndon Johnson's presidential ranking tend to be lower than the rankings of Abraham Lincoln, Woodrow Wilson, and Franklin Delano Roosevelt?

personal scandal & policy failures cause him to be ranked low in historical approval Signup and view all the answers

Why does the perception of a mandate matter in presidential politics?

Because modern presidents are more dependent on the people for election and more involved in policy making than early presidents, they are prone to claim the mandate of the people when governing Signup and view all the answers

What is the most likely explanation for the decline in executive orders issued by presidents?

public & Congressional reaction to mid-20th century presidents' use of executive orders was seen as attempts to avoid the duly elected representatives of the people, making it politically dangerous to issue as many as their predecessors Signup and view all the answers

In crafting the executive branch, what was the motive behind the decisions of the Constitution’s Framers?

to create a leader with enough authority to protect the nation from domestic and foreign threats but not so strong that he/she would jeopardize liberty Signup and view all the answers