Question 1

Which one of the following did NOT serve as a state governor prior to being president?

Accepted Answer

John Kennedy did not serve as a state governor prior to being president.

Question 2

Which of the following is part of the Executive Office of the President?

Accepted Answer

All of the listed options are part of the Executive Office of the President. The Office of Management and Budget assists the president in preparing the federal budget, the National Economic Council advises the president on economic policy, the National Security Council advises the president on national security and foreign policy, and the Office of Legislative Affairs serves as a liaison between the White House and Congress.

Question 3

According to the U.S.Constitution,if no one candidate receives a majority vote of the Electoral College,who chooses the president?

Accepted Answer

If no candidate receives a majority vote of the Electoral College, the U.S. House of Representatives chooses the president from among the top three candidates with the most electoral votes. Each state delegation in the House gets one vote, and a candidate must receive a majority of state delegations (at least 26 votes) to win the presidency.

Question 4

Which of the following states gives one Electoral College vote to the winner of each congressional district and two Electoral College votes to the statewide winner?

Accepted Answer

Maine is the only state that uses the congressional district method, which means the statewide winner gets two Electoral College votes and the winner of each congressional district gets one Electoral College vote.

Question 5

The Whig theory holds that the presidency

Accepted Answer

The Whig theory asserts that the presidency is a limited office and the president's power is confined to exercising powers that are expressly granted by the Constitution. This theory opposes the idea of a strong, centralized presidency with unchecked powers. It is based on the belief that the president should act as a mere executive or administrator of laws passed by Congress rather than acting as an independent policymaker.

Question 6

Congress has formally declared war ________ times in U.S.history.

Accepted Answer

The five times that Congress has formally declared war in U.S. history are: War of 1812, Mexican-American War, Spanish-American War, World War I, and World War II.

Question 7

Which of the following is true of the vice presidency?

Accepted Answer

The Constitution assigns no executive authority to the vice president. While the vice president does hold some constitutional duties, such as presiding over the Senate and casting tie-breaking votes, the role of the vice presidency largely depends on the individual president's willingness to delegate authority to them.

Question 8

The Executive Office of the President (EOP)was created in ________.

Accepted Answer

The Executive Office of the President (EOP) was created in 1939 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt through an executive order. It was created to provide support and advice to the president in carrying out the duties of the executive branch of the federal government.

Question 9

The presidential advisory unit that,as a whole,has declined significantly as an advisory resource for the president in the twentieth century is the

Accepted Answer

The Cabinet, as a whole, has seen a decline in its role as an advisory resource for the president in the twentieth century. This is due to the rise of specialized executive offices and agencies that provide more focused and expert advice on specific issues, leading to a decrease in the relative importance of the Cabinet's collective counsel.

Question 10

Which of the following did the framers want from a president?

Accepted Answer

All of these qualities were desired by the framers in a president. They wanted someone who could provide national leadership, administer the laws, demonstrate statesmanship in foreign affairs, and have command of the military. These are all key aspects of the president's role in the United States government.

Question 11

Under which president did the Electoral College selection process change to a popular vote?

Accepted Answer

The Electoral College selection process changed to a popular vote under President Andrew Jackson in 1824. This change was not formalized until the 12th Amendment was added to the Constitution in 1804.

Question 12

President Obama's failure in his early months in office to enact policies to combat global warming,despite his determination to do so,is reflective primarily of

Accepted Answer

The answer of President Obama's failure in his early months...

Question 13

After which party convention did the Democrats force major changes in the presidential nominating process?

Accepted Answer

The Democratic Party Convention of 1968 was marked by riots and protests against the Vietnam War, resulting in significant changes to the presidential nominating process. The party established rules for the inclusion of more women, minorities, and young people in the delegate selection process, as well as a system of proportional representation to ensure that the nominee reflected the diverse views of the party.

Question 14

The president's constitutional roles,such as chief executive and commander in chief,

Accepted Answer

The roles of the president, such as chief executive and commander in chief, have indeed expanded in practice beyond what the framers of the Constitution originally envisioned. This expansion is due to various factors, including historical precedents, legislative delegation of powers, and the inherent nature of executive power in a modern nation-state.

Question 15

Which of the following presidents failed to win an electoral majority,but still won the presidency by decision of the House of Representatives?

Accepted Answer

John Quincy Adams is the only president in U.S. history to win the presidency through decision of the House of Representatives despite failing to win an electoral majority. The elections of 1824 were closely contested and Adams ultimately defeated Andrew Jackson in the House of Representatives vote. Rutherford B. Hayes, Benjamin Harrison, and George W. Bush all won the presidency through the electoral college despite not winning the popular vote, but none of them needed to rely on the House of Representatives to secure their victory.

Question 16

The president's role in foreign policy increased largely because

Accepted Answer

As America became more involved in world affairs and expanded its role as a global superpower, the president's role in foreign policy naturally increased. With greater influence on the international stage, the president became the main driver of American foreign policy initiatives and negotiations with other countries.

Question 17

The presidency was created by Article ________ of the U.S.Constitution.

Accepted Answer

The presidency was created by Article II of the U.S. Constitution, which outlines the powers and duties of the executive branch and establishes the role of the president as commander-in-chief, chief diplomat, and chief executive.

Question 18

The selection of the vice presidential nominee at the national convention is based on the

Accepted Answer

The selection of the vice presidential nominee is ultimately up to the presidential nominee, who will choose the running mate that they feel would complement their own strengths, balance the ticket and appeal to a broad base of voters. While party leaders and delegates may have their own preferences, they typically defer to the presidential nominee's decision.

Question 19

The primary election as a means of choosing presidential nominees

Accepted Answer

The primary election system has indeed become more central in the process of selecting presidential nominees in recent decades. The candidate who performs well in the primaries is typically expected to secure their party's nomination, reflecting a shift towards a more direct form of democracy in the nomination process.

Question 20

Candidate strategy in the early presidential nominating contests (such as New Hampshire's primary)is designed chiefly to gain

Accepted Answer

The strategy in the early presidential nominating contests is primarily focused on gaining momentum. These early contests, such as New Hampshire's primary, can have a significant impact on the candidates' perceived viability and can set the tone for the rest of the campaign. Winning or placing strongly in these contests can give a candidate a boost in fundraising, media coverage, and voter support, which can help them build momentum heading into subsequent contests. Therefore, most candidates prioritize winning or placing strongly in these early contests to gain momentum and establish themselves as credible contenders for the nomination.

Quiz 12: The Presidency: Leading the Nation