GOV CH-14 PRESIDENT IN ACTION

Name:

Matching

IDENTIFYING KEY TERMS
Match each item with the correct statement below. You will not use all the terms. Some terms may be used more than once.

a.	pardon
b.	persona non grata
c.	Executive Article
d.	executive agreement
e.	treaty
f.	commutation
g.	reprieve

A(n) ____ is an international agreement that requires senate approval.

Since a full pardon was not granted, the criminal asked for a(n) ____ to lessen her sentence.

A(n) ____ is a pact between the President and a foreign state that does not require Senate approval.

The ____ outlines the powers of the presidency.

A ____ postpones the execution of a sentence, but in itself does not change the sentence.

IDENTIFYING KEY TERMS
Match each item with the correct statement below. You will not use all the terms. Some terms may be used more than once.

a.	amnesty
b.	commutation
c.	executive agreement
d.	executive order
e.	clemency
f.	recognition

A directive, rule, or regulation made by the President that has the effect of law is called a(n) ____.

Without the consent of the Senate, the President can make a(n) ____ with heads of foreign states.

Under the power of ____, the President can accept another country as equal in the family of nations.

____ is the granting of a general pardon to a whole group of law violators.

Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.

MAIN IDEAS

10.

The power of the presidency has been cause for debate MAINLY because

a.	the presidency is the most powerful office in the world.
b.	the Constitution provided a loose definition of executive power.
c.	the presidency is an office that operates in full view of the public.
d.	leaders wanted to prevent the President from becoming a tyrant.

11.

Which of the following has NOT worked to strengthen the powers of the presidency?

a.	the influence of strong Presidents
b.	the demands of the American people for strong leadership
c.	the constitutional system of checks and balances
d.	the need for decisive action during national emergencies

12.

Which of the following statements about the President's power of removal is TRUE?

a.	For those offices for which Senate approval is required for appointment, Senate consent is also required for removal.
b.	Any person holding office by presidential appointment with Senate consent must remain in that office until the Senate confirms a successor.
c.	Any person holding office by presidential appointment with Senate consent may be removed only for incompetence.
d.	As a general rule, the President may remove any officeholders he or she has appointed.

13.

The President's military powers

a.	are strictly limited to times of war.
b.	are shared with Congress.
c.	only apply to the use of the United States Army and its weapons.
d.	may never be used to keep the domestic peace.

14.

The President CANNOT exercise judicial power by

a.	granting amnesty to a group of law violators.
b.	reducing the length of a sentence.
c.	granting pardons in cases of impeachment.
d.	postponing the carrying out of a sentence.

15.

Which of the following gives the President the power to issue executive orders?

a.	the Constitution and the judicial branch
b.	congressional acts and the Constitution
c.	congressional acts and the oath of office
d.	the oath of office and the Constitution

16.

The debate over the powers of the presidency is essentially a debate

a.	about Article III of the Constitution.
b.	between supporters of a strong presidency and supporters of a weak presidency.
c.	about the system of checks and balances.
d.	about the electoral college system.

17.

Presidents who have been considered stronger and more effective leaders have viewed the presidency as

a.	an imperial office not accountable to Congress.
b.	what Theodore Roosevelt called a "stewardship."
c.	strictly bound by the Constitution and the laws of Congress.
d.	what William H. Taft called "the loneliest place in the world."

18.

In essence, the ordinance power gives the President the right to

a.	organize the judicial branch.
b.	set up offices.
c.	administer laws.
d.	appoint federal employees.

19.

The difference between a treaty and an executive agreement is that

a.	a treaty is with a foreign state but an executive agreement is domestic.
b.	a treaty must begin in the Senate but an executive agreement is made wholly by the President.
c.	the President needs Senate approval for a treaty but not for an executive agreement.
d.	a treaty ends or prevents a war but an executive agreement does not.

20.

Upon receipt of a bill, the President can take all of the following actions EXCEPT

a.	call on a special session of congressional committees to revise the bill.
b.	veto the bill.
c.	decide to neither sign nor veto the bill, allowing it to become a law.
d.	sign the bill to make it a law.

21.

Which of the following is a typical sequence of events in the appointment process?

a.	nomination, Senate debate, Senate committee hearings, rejection
b.	Senate debate, nomination, Senate committee hearings, confirmation
c.	Senate committee hearings, Senate debate, nomination, confirmation
d.	nomination, Senate committee hearings, Senate debate, rejection

22.

The President's power to execute the law covers

a.	all federal laws, whether or not the President agrees with them.
b.	only those federal laws that the President supports.
c.	only those laws that are described or implied in the Constitution.
d.	all the laws of foreign countries to which the United States sends aid.

23.

The President has the power to make executive agreements

a.	that are based only on legislation already passed.
b.	with the consent of two-thirds of the Senate.
c.	only a dozen times each year.
d.	without any congressional action or approval.

24.

When President Andrew Johnson fired his secretary of war in 1867, he was following

a.	Congress's orders.
b.	a strict construction of the Constitution.
c.	senatorial courtesy.
d.	the unwritten rule that the President may remove whomever he appoints.

25.

The power to issue executive orders is the

a.	appointment power.
b.	ordinance power.
c.	removal power.
d.	issue power.

26.

Treaties can be

a.	declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
b.	made with the Senate's consent.
c.	repealed by Congress.
d.	all of the above.

27.

The _____ appoints Cabinet members _____

a.	President; with Senate approval.
b.	President; with House approval.
c.	Senate; with the President's approval.
d.	President; without Senate approval.

28.

Which of the following is NOT a reason for the growth of executive power?

a.	demands for limits on Federal Government roles
b.	the passage of thousands of laws by Congress
c.	mass media expansion
d.	the nation's complex economic life

29.

A President can use armed forces abroad

a.	once Congress has approved the decision.
b.	after a declaration of war has been issued by Congress.
c.	pending approval by Congress within 48 hours.
d.	at his or her own discretion.

30.

The President exercises legislative power over Congress by

a.	recommending legislation.
b.	preventing a bill from coming before the President.
c.	routinely telling Congress when it must adjourn.
d.	allowing all bills to die by pocket vetoes.

31.

The President's power to grant pardons

a.	may be overridden by the Senate.
b.	applies to cases involving federal and State offenses.
c.	may be used in cases of impeachment.
d.	can be used before a person is charged with a crime.

32.

Some Presidents, such as _____, have taken a narrow view of presidential powers.

a.	Franklin Delanor Roosevelt
b.	Theodore Roosevelt
c.	William Howard Taft
d.	James Madison

INTERPRETING POLITICAL CARTOONS
Use the cartoon to answer the following questions.

33.

The men portrayed in the cartoon probably lived

a.	in the 1920s.
b.	during the early years of the country.
c.	during the Civil War.
d.	in the 20th century.

34.

The main idea of the cartoon is that

a.	Washington was almost the only honorable statesman of his day.
b.	modern historians are fairly critical of Adams's and Jefferson's ability.
c.	presidential advisors have often received greater criticism than Presidents have.
d.	Presidents should pay little attention to the views of Cabinet members.

35.

Who, most likely, are the men in the cartoon?

a.	Washington’s advisors
b.	Thomas Jefferson and John Adams
c.	members of Washington’s family
d.	ordinary citizens.

36.

What clues can you find in the cartoon as to the historical period in which it is set?

a.	the hairstyles of the men
b.	the mention of Washington, Jefferson, and Adams
c.	the clothing worn by the men
d.	all of the above

37.

Some delegates believed the President should be “nothing more than an institution for carrying the will of the legislature into effect.” Had this group had their way, the only branch that would check the powers of the executive branch today would be

a.	the executive branch.
b.	the judicial branch.
c.	the legislative branch.
d.	the electoral college.

38.

The term “imperial presidency” is particularly offensive to most Americans because

a.	it conjures up images of George Washington.
b.	the Constitution severely limits the power of the presidency.
c.	the colonists struggled to free the nation from imperial rule.
d.	public opinion already favors a strong presidency.

39.

Much of the growth of presidential power has occurred due to

a.	the way the President interprets the law.
b.	Article II.
c.	the sheer number of laws that the President must execute.
d.	both a and c

40.

The President is likely to have the most influence over which federal employees?

a.	those who have taken the civil service exam.
b.	those whom he appoints.
c.	those whom the legislature appoints.
d.	those who have served the longest.

41.

Another factor that contributed to the growth of presidential power occurred when

a.	the Senate was given the power to approve presidential appointments, but not presidential removals.
b.	the President was required to execute all federal laws.
c.	the Supreme Court refused to rule on the removal power.
d.	both a and b

42.

Compared with the result when President Johnson fired Secretary of War Edwin Stanton, the result when President Wilson fired Postmaster Frank Myers was

a.	about the same.
b.	less in line with the route taken by the First Congress.
c.	much more far reaching.
d.	much less favorable for President Wilson.

43.

The reason the President’s removal power has been the focus of so much debate and judicial action is that

a.	the power has rarely, if ever, been used.
b.	the power could easily be abused.
c.	the power has been found to be unconstitutional.
d.	the power was never intended by the Framers.

44.

The Framers gave the Senate the power to approve or reject a treaty because

a.	it is the “upper house.”
b.	one of the qualifications for serving in the Senate is a wide knowledge of foreign affairs.
c.	they preferred not to give the House of Representatives too much power over the President.
d.	they felt the House was too large to maintain secrecy.

45.

Which of the following require the involvement of a greater number of people?

a.	treaties
b.	executive agreements
c.	executive orders
d.	granting recognition of another country.

46.

If the United States becomes embroiled in an ill-fated military conflict abroad, which of the following is MOST likely to be held accountable?

a.	the Congress
b.	the President
c.	diplomats
d.	the military generals

47.

The President’s power to make undeclared war has

a.	continued unchecked to the present day.
b.	never been used.
c.	been potentially limited by the War Powers Resolution of 1973.
d.	been declared constitutional by the Supreme Court.

48.

The Supreme Court’s ruling with regard to the Line Item Veto Act was based on the notion that

a.	the act granted the President too much authority over the lawmaking process.
b.	the Constitution does not give Congress the power to give the President the line-item veto.
c.	the act was likely to result in a reduction in wasteful and unnecessary federal spending.
d.	The Constitution does not give the President any budget-making powers.

49.

The federal system comes into play with reprieves and pardons because

a.	the Federal Government grants this power to the President.
b.	the President cannot exercise this power with regard to those who violate State law.
c.	this power is only exercised at the State level.
d.	acceptance of a pardon is seen as admission of guilt.

50.

Which of the following terms is MOST closely related to the power to grant reprieves?

a.	forgive
b.	reduce
c.	delay
d.	none of the above

51.

Allowing the President to recommend legislation is another facet of

a.	federalism.
b.	judicial review.
c.	the war powers.
d.	the system of checks and balances.

Short Answer

52.

Using the knowledge you have gained from this lesson, write a paragraph evaluating the administration of President Obama.