Question 1

Presidents have used the ____________________ clause in Article II to increase their power.

Accepted Answer

The "take care" clause in Article II of the U.S. Constitution is also known as the "faithful execution" clause. This clause gives the president the responsibility to faithfully execute the laws and functions of the federal government. Presidents have used this clause to justify their executive actions and to increase their power.

Question 2

Not voting due to long distances to travel to polling places and lack of interest,and depending on others to vote in a favored direction,is a form of ____________________.

Accepted Answer

Free riding refers to benefiting from resources or services without paying for the cost of the benefit, in this case, relying on others to vote in a favored direction without participating oneself.

Question 3

Why might members of a popular president's party do better electorally than members of an unpopular president's party?

Accepted Answer

The president is typically viewed as the face of their political party, and therefore their popularity (or lack thereof) can affect the electoral performance of members of their party. If a president is popular, voters may be more likely to vote for candidates within their party in order to maintain the president's policies and agenda. Conversely, if a president is unpopular, members of their party may distance themselves from the president in order to avoid being associated with their unpopular policies and decisions.

Question 4

The Constitutional Convention's decision to vest the national government's executive authority in a single person was principally intended to ____________________.

Accepted Answer

The decision to create a single executive was an attempt to solve collective action problems that had plagued the weak central government under the Articles of Confederation, in which there was no single individual or office responsible for enforcing national laws or coordinating national policy. The framers believed that creating a strong executive would provide the necessary leadership and authority to govern effectively.

Question 5

During the Civil War,the Union States' competing desires to defeat the Confederate states while avoiding the costs of providing troops and supplies for the war effort created intense ____________________ that were overcome,in part,by President Lincoln's executive actions.

Accepted Answer

The Union states faced free-rider problems as some states or individuals preferred to benefit from the Union's victory without contributing to the war effort, relying on others to bear the costs. Lincoln's actions helped address these issues.

Question 6

The tension between a president's desire to enforce policies in a particular way and a bureaucrat's preferences to enforce policies otherwise creates a ____________________ for the president.

Accepted Answer

The tension described in the question is an example of the principal-agent problem, which occurs when a principal (in this case, the president) delegates authority to an agent (the bureaucrat) to carry out a task, but the agent has different preferences or incentives than the principal. This often results in the agent pursuing their own interests rather than the principal's.

Question 7

President Barack Obama appointed Charles Rivkin to serve as ambassador to France.Mr.Rivkin had previously served as the California finance co-chair for President Obama's election campaign,raising more than $500,000 for the election effort.President Obama's appointment of Mr.Rivkin may be considered part of a/the ____________________.

Accepted Answer

The spoils system refers to the practice of awarding political supporters with government positions, regardless of their qualifications for the job. Charles Rivkin's appointment as ambassador to France may be considered as part of this practice, as he was a major donor to President Obama's election campaign.

Question 8

On April 13,2011,President Barack Obama gave a nationally televised speech opposing the congressional Republicans' deficit-reduction plans and offering an alternative set of fiscal proposals.This is an example of ____________________.

Accepted Answer

This is an example of "going public," which refers to a president using public speeches or media appearances to promote their policy agenda and build public support for their positions.

Question 9

Which of these is an example of a president "going public"?

Accepted Answer

"Going public" refers to a president's strategy of appealing directly to the public in order to garner support for their policies or initiatives. Holding a press conference is a clear example of this strategy in action.

Question 10

Which refers to a government in which the president is a member of one party and the majority in Congress is controlled by another?

Accepted Answer

Divided government occurs when the president is from a different party than the majority in Congress, resulting in a split in control of the government branches. This can lead to more difficult and contentious policymaking and compromises between parties.

Question 11

The "spoils system?" rewards political loyalists by giving them ____________________.

Accepted Answer

The "spoils system" rewarded political loyalists by giving them jobs in government positions, regardless of their qualifications or abilities.

Question 12

Which is the best example of an agent when the president is the principal?

Accepted Answer

An agency head is the best example of an agent when the president is the principal because the agency head is appointed by the president to carry out the policies and decisions of the executive branch. The agency head is directly accountable to the president and serves as the president's representative in overseeing the operations of the agency.

Question 13

Which of these presidents was most influential in developing mass political parties as a tool of presidential power and electoral support?

Accepted Answer

Martin Van Buren, also known as the "Little Magician," played a crucial role in developing the modern political party system during his presidency from 1837 to 1841. He created the Democratic Party as a powerful political force that could help him win elections and push his agenda through Congress. He also introduced the system of national conventions to nominate presidential candidates, which is still used today. Van Buren's legacy in developing the political party system as a tool of presidential power and electoral support is significant and enduring.

Question 14

The president needs the approval of the ____________________ for appointments,and the ____________________ for declaring war.

Accepted Answer

The president requires the approval of the Senate for appointments, such as those to the Cabinet and federal judges, and the approval of both the House and Senate, collectively known as Congress, to declare war.

Question 15

The presidency is less democratically accountable than Congress due to ____________________.

Accepted Answer

The presidency is less democratically accountable than Congress due to the fact that the President is not elected directly by the people, but rather by the electoral college. This system can result in a President being elected who did not receive the majority of the popular vote, leading to a potential lack of popular mandate and accountability.

Question 16

Why does the power of the president increase most dramatically in wartime?

Accepted Answer

During wartime, the president's power increases because they need to make quick and efficient decisions necessary for the conduct of war, often leading to expanded executive powers.

Question 17

What best explains why the president is better able to solve collective-action problems than Congress?

Accepted Answer

The president is a single actor, which allows for quicker and more decisive action than the collective decision-making process of Congress.

Question 18

The number of electoral college votes per state is determined by the ____________________.

Accepted Answer

The number of electoral college votes per state is determined by the total number of House members and Senators per state. Each state has two Senators, while the number of House members is determined by the state's population. Therefore, the total number of electoral college votes per state is equal to the number of House members plus two Senators.

Question 19

A national party's presidential nominating convention helps resolve ____________________ among its state party leaders.

Accepted Answer

A national party's presidential nominating convention helps resolve coordination problems among its state party leaders. The convention is where the leaders come together to coordinate and select a presidential nominee, align their party platforms, and unify their efforts for the upcoming election.

Question 20

The Supreme Court has granted wider latitude to the president in his role as ____________________ than as ____________________ due to powers stated in the Constitution.

Accepted Answer

The Constitution specifically grants the President the power to serve as the Commander in Chief of the military, which gives them more latitude in making decisions related to national security and military strategy. However, the President's role as the executor of the laws is more limited, as they are required to follow the Constitution and existing laws in their decision-making.

Quiz 6: the Presidency