Presidential Leadership Dynamics

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Questions and Answers

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 president must compete against state governors for influence

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

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

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

After midterm congressional elections

In foreign affairs rather than in domestic affairs (correct)

In social policy areas rather than in economic policy areas

In the second term rather than in the first

Which statement is best supported by the above graph?

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

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

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 gives the president the power to wage short-term wars without congressional approval Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an accurate comparison?

Limits Congressional abilities to control presidential role of Commander in Chief = Expands Congress' powers over budget process Allows president to use military for domestic peace keeping = Allows president to control use of appropriated money Increases Congressional role in execution of president's Commander in Chief role = Essentially removes president from the budget process after his proposal is sent to Congress Gives president power to declare war in extreme circumstances = Requires the president sign all budget bills 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

rally point 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 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 legislative branch may conduct oversight hearings of executive branch agencies = The president may for any reason refuse to spend money that has been authorized and appropriated The Senate may declare an executive order unconstitutional = The president may call Congress into session The legislative branch may ignore a federal government budget proposed by the president = The bureaucracy may implement a statute in a manner inconsistent with congressional intent provided it does not excessively alter the law 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?

his domestic policy victories are overshadowed by the failure he experienced as Commander in Chief Signup and view all the answers

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

Because Congress sees the president as holding a mandate of the people, the legislators do not block the president's agenda as vehemently as legislators in the past did 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

Study Notes

Question 1

Presidents face difficulty in exercising legislative leadership, even with large party majorities in Congress.
Presidents often address issues differently than members of Congress.
Presidents must compete with state governors for influence.
Political party structure creates a gap between the executive and legislative branches.
Individual members of Congress gain publicity by challenging the president.

Question 2

Presidents are more likely to receive congressional approval of proposed policies following midterm congressional elections.

Question 3

Presidential approval ratings fluctuate over time.
The graph displays the percentage of Americans approving of different presidents from 1953 to 2016.

Question 4

Executive agreements serve as evidence of interest groups' substantial power in contemporary governance.
Presidents hold less power in foreign policy compared to domestic policy.
The executive branch has grown significantly larger and more complex.
Modern presidents try to avoid legislative checks on their authority.

Question 5

The War Powers Resolution (1973) challenges the separation of powers between the executive and legislative branches in favor of Congress.
It does not grant presidents the power to wage short-term wars without congressional approval.

Question 6

Detailed comparison is not provided.

Question 7

Congress can override Supreme Court decisions about laws' constitutionality.
The president appoints cabinet members, but the House confirms their appointments.
The president declares war, but Congress allocates military funds.
The House can impeach federal judges and the president, with the Senate presiding over impeachment trials.

Question 8

Hamilton argued in Federalist 70 for a single executive because of the strength of the government, particularly in effective decision-making.
A single executive is more insulated from public opinion.
A single executive will maintain internal checks and balances.

Question 9

If no presidential candidate receives a majority of electoral votes, the House of Representatives decides the winner.

Question 10

Information is not provided.

Question 11

Presidents have experienced most success in changing the direction of judicial decisions, using the appointment process and selecting judges with similar judicial philosophies.

Question 12

Vice presidents often face political weakness, limiting their ability to help presidents with policy goals.
The primary purpose of a Vice President is to carry out tasks when directed by the President.
While VPs can be tools for presidential election campaigns, their ability to aid in policy goals is limited.

Question 13

Forming new cabinet-level departments is a power of Congress, not the President.

Question 14

Partisan identification is the most significant factor influencing voters' choices in presidential elections.

Question 15

Day-to-day campaign activities receive the largest amount of newspaper coverage during presidential campaigns.

Question 16

Information is not provided.

Question 17

Electoral votes are usually allocated based on the popular vote in each state.
The Democratic candidate will likely receive 5 electoral votes, while the Republican will receive 4. The independent candidate will receive 2.
This allocation assumes a simple apportionment matching the percentage of votes each candidate received in the popular vote.

Question 18

Presidents' requests for a line-item veto challenge the principle of the separation of powers.
A bill vetoed in part can be revised and reintroduced.
Presidents' use of veto threats can enhance their leverage with Congress.
Congress overrides fewer than ten percent of presidential vetoes.

Question 19

Executive privilege refers to the right of the executive branch to keep communications secret when national security is at stake.

Question 20

Presidents usually use formal parliamentary powers, rather than persuasion, to effectively influence legislation.

Question 21

Supporters of the line-item veto argue that it enhances presidential ability in negotiating with foreign leaders, controlling federal spending, and avoiding disputes with the judiciary.

Question 22

Information is not provided.

Question 23

The electoral college system encourages candidates to concentrate their campaigns in competitive, populous states.

Question 24

Impoundment is used when a president refuses to spend money appropriated by Congress.

Question 25

The Office of Management and Budget serves as a clearinghouse for budget requests and management improvements for government agencies.

Question 26

A rise in public approval after a crisis is called an approval spike.

Question 27

The 12th Amendment allows electors to vote separately for president and vice president.

Question 28

The president's authority over daily federal operations stems from the role of administrator in chief.

Question 29

Information is not provided.

Question 30

The constitutional requirement for presidents to faithfully execute laws is derived from the Vesting Clause.

Question 31

The Twenty-Fifth Amendment permits the removal of a president from office temporarily if the vice president and a majority of the presidential cabinet or an executive department deem the president incapable of performing official duties.

Question 32

The Bush administration's "smart border agreement" with Mexico demonstrates executive agreements made with foreign leaders, potentially bypassing formal legislative approval.

Question 33

Hamilton, in Federalist No. 70, advocates for a "vigorous Executive" that is consistent with effective republican government with independence from Congress.

Question 34

The vice president's constitutional duty is to break ties in the Senate.

Question 35

The Twenty-Fifth Amendment addresses uncertainties relating to presidential and vice-presidential succession, incapacitation, disability, and transition of power.

Question 36

Information is not provided.

Question 37

Information is not provided.

Question 38

An example of legislative checks on the executive branch is the House rejecting Supreme Court nominations.

Question 39

George W. Bush's popularity increase after the 9/11 terrorist attacks is an example of a rally point.

Question 40

A mandate is a presidential claim of public support for policy decisions, indicating broad public approval for policies.

Question 41

Presidents with higher political capital tend to have better success in influencing Congress. It pertains to the level of public support and influence.

Question 42

Information is not provided

Question 43

Congress's perception of a presidential mandate is influenced by the president's dependence on popular support for election and policy-making, which influences the level of cooperation from legislators.

Question 44

Information is not provided.

Question 45

Framers intended to prevent a weak executive which could be easily manipulated by Congress while also creating an effective national leader accountable to the people.

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Description

This quiz explores the complexities of presidential leadership within the legislative framework. It covers the challenges presidents face in exerting influence over Congress, the impact of approval ratings, and the roles of state governors and interest groups. Test your knowledge on the intricacies of executive and legislative relations in American government.