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Unit 4 (The Executive) Online Test

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

1. 
When President Nixon visited China to discuss foreign policy and represent the United States at ceremonial gatherings with Chinese leaders, what two presidential roles was he fulfilling?
a.
chief of state and commander in chief
b.
chief legislator and chief diplomat
c.
chief administrator and chief legislator
d.
chief of state and chief diplomat
 

2. 
The election of 1800 exposed serious flaws in the election system, which had worked fine for the 1789 and 1792 elections. Which of the following is one of three new elements that were introduced into the presidential selection process after the election of 1800?
a.
the elimination of party nominations for the presidency and vice presidency
b.
the automatic casting of electoral votes in line with electors’ pledges
c.
the electors’ free agent system
d.
the 11th Amendment electoral college rule
 

3. 
What do voters do in a state presidential primary?
a.
elect a President and a Vice President
b.
express a preference for a presidential candidate
c.
establish each party’s platform
d.
meet in a caucus to decide which candidates to vote for
 

4. 
Why could presidential candidate “A” lose a presidential election despite receiving more votes than candidate “B”?
a.
Candidate “A” received more electoral votes than candidate “B,” but the votes were from smaller states.
b.
Candidate “B” received more electoral votes than Candidate “A.”
c.
Candidate “A” won the majority of electoral votes but lost the popular vote.
d.
Candidate “B” won the popular vote, even though Candidate “A” received more electoral votes.
 

5. 
The Constitution requires the President to execute all federal laws, but what can the President do if he or she has a fundamental disagreement with a particular federal law?
a.
declare the law unconstitutional and send it back to the courts
b.
ignore the law
c.
decide how and in what way to apply the law
d.
veto the law
 

6. 
What power is each President exercising in these three statements?
(1)
Roosevelt sent the Great White Fleet around the world.
(2)
Washington participated in the Whiskey Rebellion of 1794.
(3)
Truman used nuclear weapons.
a.
chief diplomat
c.
commander in chief
b.
leader of the free world
d.
representative signatory of treaties
 

7. 
President’s legislative power : veto ; ____ : clemency
a.
President’s judicial power
c.
President’s imperial power
b.
President’s executive power
d.
President’s wartime power
 

8. 
In any bureaucracy there is a precise division of labor within the organization. Into what three areas is the federal bureaucracy divided?
a.
postal authority, tax collections, and public works
b.
executive branch, legislative branch, and judicial branch
c.
the President, Cabinet, and the Independent Counsels
d.
Executive Office, Cabinet departments, and independent agencies
 

9. 
There are about 400 White House staff members working in the Executive Office of the president. Which of the following directly advises the President in all domestic, foreign, and military matters?
a.
Central Intelligence Agency
c.
Foreign Affairs Council
b.
National Security Council
d.
East Wing
 

10. 
How is the President’s Cabinet chosen?
a.
appointed by the President and confirmed by Congress
b.
appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate
c.
appointed by the President and confirmed by the Supreme Court
d.
appointed by Congress and confirmed by the President
 

11. 
Independent regulatory commissions differ from other independent agencies because
a.
they are protected from the influence of partisan politics.
b.
they administer programs similar to those of the Cabinet departments.
c.
they are largely beyond the reach of presidential direction and control.
d.
all members are from a single political party, usually the President’s.
 

12. 
What important reforms were made in the civil service system in the 1880s after President Garfield was fatally shot?
a.
The Washington, D.C., civil service initiative was expanded nationwide.
b.
The postal service was privatized.
c.
Civil service workers who broke the law were subject to being deported.
d.
Reforms made merit the basis for hiring, promotion, and other personnel actions.
 

13. 
Study the diagram of progressive income tax. How much would a taxpayer with a taxable income of $37,500 owe in income tax?
u4onlinetest_files/i0140000.jpg
a.
$7,500
c.
$2,500
b.
$10,000
d.
$5,000
 

14. 
According to this graph, what explains the change in the public debt between 1981 and 1985?
u4onlinetest_files/i0150000.jpg
a.
The debt more than doubled because of deficit financing.
b.
The debt tripled because of deficit spending.
c.
The deficit was cut in half because the public debt rose sharply.
d.
The public debt sharply rose because of surplus investing.
 

15. 
The Constitution specifies that spending measures must originate in the House of Representatives. According to tradition, how has this process begun?
a.
The White House Chief of Staff initiates the process by appointing the head of the Office of Management and Budget.
b.
The President initiates the process by submitting a budget at the beginning of each congressional session.
c.
Members of the Internal Revenue Service’s budget committee initiate the process by submitting an outline of the budget to the President.
d.
The Office of Management and Budget initiates the process by submitting its Annual Report to the Nation.
 

16. 
What limit did the Framers of the Constitution place specifically on the Department of Defense?
a.
The military is not exempt from income taxes.
b.
The military is subject to the control of the nation’s civilian authorities.
c.
The military cannot have more than one Cabinet representative.
d.
The military is dependent upon the Cabinet for any decisions it makes.
 

17. 
Which of the following is described as a foreign affairs and defense agency that coordinates the information-gathering of agencies involved in foreign affairs and national defense?
a.
Central Foreign Affairs Council
b.
Immigration and Naturalization Service
c.
Central Intelligence Agency
d.
National Security Council
 

18. 
What word BEST completes this sentence? World War II led to a historic shift in American foreign policy from a position of ____ to one of internationalism.
a.
nationalism
c.
conservatism
b.
regionalism
d.
isolationism
 
 
MAIN IDEAS
 

19. 
The largest source of federal revenue from taxes comes from
a.
income taxes.
c.
estate taxes.
b.
excise taxes.
d.
custom duties.
 

20. 
Taxes on the production, transportation, sale, or consumption of goods are ____ taxes.
a.
income
c.
excise
b.
corporation
d.
estate
 

21. 
The Federal Government can levy taxes on all of the following groups EXCEPT
a.
manufacturers.
c.
churches.
b.
workers.
d.
importers.
 

22. 
The Federal Government is able to borrow money at lower interest rates than private borrowers because
a.
its securities are considered the safest possible investment.
b.
interest rates are set by Congress.
c.
it borrows over long periods of time.
d.
it borrows mostly from State governments.
 

23. 
Public debt today is measured in ____ of dollars.
a.
thousands
c.
billions
b.
millions
d.
trillions
 

24. 
Two of the largest categories of federal spending are
a.
Social Security and interest on the public debt.
b.
costs for operating the legislative and the judicial branches of government.
c.
the Department of Energy and the Department of Defense.
d.
costs for operating the Executive Office of the President and funds appropriated to the President.
 

25. 
The process of preparing the federal budget begins with
a.
estimates from all agencies detailing yearly spending projections.
b.
plans for spending determined by the President.
c.
suggestions on spending from congressional committees.
d.
spending plans submitted by the Office of Management and Budget.
 

26. 
Unlike staff agencies, line agencies
a.
serve in a support capacity by offering advice.
b.
are directly responsible for administering programs.
c.
help advise private programs of public interest.
d.
primarily assist in the overall management of the executive branch.
 

27. 
In the executive branch, the title of department is reserved for
a.
agencies of Cabinet rank.
c.
agencies of the judicial branch.
b.
independent agencies.
d.
agencies of congressional rank.
 

28. 
Which one of the following is an example of an independent agency?
a.
Department of State
b.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
c.
National Security Council
d.
Office of Management and Budget
 

29. 
The civil service system was finally established because of
a.
President Washington's actions creating the tradition.
b.
President Jefferson's support of political acceptability.
c.
President Jackson's development of the spoils system.
d.
President Garfield's assassination by an angry office seeker.
 

30. 
The civil service was created partly to ensure that federal employees
a.
may run in partisan political elections.
b.
are promoted based on loyalty to a political party.
c.
are allowed full participation in party activities.
d.
are promoted based on merit.
 

31. 
Which of the following are functions of employees working in the White House Office?
a.
advise the President on foreign, domestic, and defense matters
b.
preside over certain congressional hearings and legislative matters
c.
report to the President on the purchase of supplies for the government
d.
prosecute those accused of spying and treason against the government
 

32. 
The members of the President's Cabinet, after being appointed by the President, are then subject to
a.
approval by public caucus.
c.
House approval.
b.
Senate approval.
d.
approval by the Vice President.
 

33. 
Which of the following are among the criteria for a President when choosing a Cabinet member?
a.
political party affiliation
b.
role in presidential election campaign
c.
qualifications and experience
d.
all of the above
 

34. 
President Jackson supported the spoils system with all of the following arguments EXCEPT
a.
only privileged people should be selected to fulfill public office.
b.
the people are entitled to have the party they have placed in power controlling government offices.
c.
any average intelligent person can fulfill the duties of public office.
d.
rotation in office is democratic.
 

35. 
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.
 

36. 
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.
 

37. 
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
 

38. 
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.
 

39. 
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."
 

40. 
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.
 

41. 
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.
 

42. 
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.
 

43. 
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.
 

44. 
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.
 

45. 
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.
 

46. 
What is the name of your government teacher?
a.
Solomon the Learned, Knower of All Things, Law-Giver Supreme
b.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
c.
Theodore Roosevelt
d.
George Blair
 

Matching
 
 
IDENTIFYING KEY TERMS
Match each item with the correct statement below.  You will not use all the terms.
a.
amnesty
b.
commutation
c.
executive agreement
d.
executive order
e.
clemency
f.
recognition
 

47. 
A directive, rule, or regulation made by the President that has the effect of law is called a(n) ____.
 

48. 
Without the consent of the Senate, the President can make a(n) ____ with heads of foreign states.
 

49. 
Under the power of ____, the President can accept another country as equal in the family of nations.
 

50. 
____ is the granting of a general pardon to a whole group of law violators.
 



 
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