A number of factors enable presidents to exert influence over Congress in the area of domestic policy. However, presidents are also limited in their influence over domestic policymaking in Congress.
(a) The Constitution grants the president certain enumerated powers. Describe two of these formal powers that enable the president to exert influence over domestic policy.
(b) Choose two of the following. Define each term and explain how each limits the president’s ability to influence domestic policymaking in Congress.
* mandatory spending
* party polarization
* lame-duck period
Friday, February 17, 2012
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Chapter 8.3 Pages 294 to 301
1) President ________ used the pardoning power to give unconditional amnesty to 10,000 men
who had avoided the draft during the Vietnam War.
A) Richard Nixon
B) Jimmy Carter
C) Ronald Reagan
D) Bill Clinton
E) George W. Bush
2) Which of the following best describes Abraham Lincolnʹs approach during the Civil War?
A) He ignored technical requirements of the Constitution in order to ensure the continued
survival of the United States.
B) He got approval from Congress at every conceivable juncture, as a presidentʹs authority
depends on support from Congress and the people.
C) He believed that the Constitution was ʺan albatross around the neck of democracy. The
quicker the union abandons its stipulations, the quicker we shall win this godforsaken
war.ʺ
D) Abraham Lincoln followed the letter and the spirit of the Constitution.
E) Abraham Lincoln followed the letter of the Constitution, but not the spirit of the
Constitution.
3) For several decades, the trend has been for the president to play a more important
decision-making role. This trend began in earnest with
A) Herbert Hoover.
B) Franklin Roosevelt.
C) Dwight Eisenhower.
D) Ronald Reagan.
E) Bill Clinton.
4) All of the following have demonstrated support for the principle of presidential prerogative
EXCEPT
A) Abraham Lincoln
B) Franklin Roosevelt
C) John Locke
D) George W. Bush
E) Bill Clinton
5) Franklin Rooseveltʹs legacy includes all of the following EXCEPT
A) a rapidly expanding federal bureaucracy.
B) a leading role for the president in domestic policy.
C) an anemic military and diminished national morale.
D) a nationalized executive office.
E) a new relationship between the people and the president that is heavily dependent on
new technologies.
6) How did Dick Cheney balance out George W. Bushʹs ticket in 2000?
A) Bush is from the South; Cheney is from the Northeast.
B) Bush is a secular Christian; Cheney is a born-again Christian.
C) Bush lacked national government experience; Cheney had an impressive re´sume´.
D) Bush is a moderate Republican; Cheney is a conservative Republican.
E) Bush had a rough-and-tumble demeanor; Cheney had a smooth and polished
demeanor.
7) Who was the most powerful vice president?
A) Walter Mondale
B) Al Gore
C) Nelson Rockefeller
D) Spiro Agnew
E) Dick Cheney
8) The membership of the Cabinet is determined by
A) the Constitution.
B) the Secretary of State.
C) seniority within each executive department.
D) the president.
E) the Congress.
9) As first lady, which of the following issues did Laura Bush advocate for?
A) literacy
B) highway beautification
C) health care
D) elimination of poverty
E) keeping children off drugs
10) The Executive Office of the President was established in 1939 to
A) formalize the informal structure of the Cabinet.
B) act as a liaison with the legislative branch.
C) aid in the war effort.
D) help the president manage the bureaucracy.
E) respond to increasing amounts of mail addressed to the White House.
who had avoided the draft during the Vietnam War.
A) Richard Nixon
B) Jimmy Carter
C) Ronald Reagan
D) Bill Clinton
E) George W. Bush
2) Which of the following best describes Abraham Lincolnʹs approach during the Civil War?
A) He ignored technical requirements of the Constitution in order to ensure the continued
survival of the United States.
B) He got approval from Congress at every conceivable juncture, as a presidentʹs authority
depends on support from Congress and the people.
C) He believed that the Constitution was ʺan albatross around the neck of democracy. The
quicker the union abandons its stipulations, the quicker we shall win this godforsaken
war.ʺ
D) Abraham Lincoln followed the letter and the spirit of the Constitution.
E) Abraham Lincoln followed the letter of the Constitution, but not the spirit of the
Constitution.
3) For several decades, the trend has been for the president to play a more important
decision-making role. This trend began in earnest with
A) Herbert Hoover.
B) Franklin Roosevelt.
C) Dwight Eisenhower.
D) Ronald Reagan.
E) Bill Clinton.
4) All of the following have demonstrated support for the principle of presidential prerogative
EXCEPT
A) Abraham Lincoln
B) Franklin Roosevelt
C) John Locke
D) George W. Bush
E) Bill Clinton
5) Franklin Rooseveltʹs legacy includes all of the following EXCEPT
A) a rapidly expanding federal bureaucracy.
B) a leading role for the president in domestic policy.
C) an anemic military and diminished national morale.
D) a nationalized executive office.
E) a new relationship between the people and the president that is heavily dependent on
new technologies.
6) How did Dick Cheney balance out George W. Bushʹs ticket in 2000?
A) Bush is from the South; Cheney is from the Northeast.
B) Bush is a secular Christian; Cheney is a born-again Christian.
C) Bush lacked national government experience; Cheney had an impressive re´sume´.
D) Bush is a moderate Republican; Cheney is a conservative Republican.
E) Bush had a rough-and-tumble demeanor; Cheney had a smooth and polished
demeanor.
7) Who was the most powerful vice president?
A) Walter Mondale
B) Al Gore
C) Nelson Rockefeller
D) Spiro Agnew
E) Dick Cheney
8) The membership of the Cabinet is determined by
A) the Constitution.
B) the Secretary of State.
C) seniority within each executive department.
D) the president.
E) the Congress.
9) As first lady, which of the following issues did Laura Bush advocate for?
A) literacy
B) highway beautification
C) health care
D) elimination of poverty
E) keeping children off drugs
10) The Executive Office of the President was established in 1939 to
A) formalize the informal structure of the Cabinet.
B) act as a liaison with the legislative branch.
C) aid in the war effort.
D) help the president manage the bureaucracy.
E) respond to increasing amounts of mail addressed to the White House.
Friday, February 10, 2012
Chapter 8.2 Pages 287 to 292
1) In order to make a treaty, the president must
A) have the approval of the House Foreign Relations Committee.
B) have the advice and consent of the Senate.
C) have the approval of the State Department.
D) include stipulations that no American soldiers will be placed in jeopardy, nor abandoned on the battlefield.
E) certify to the U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court that the treaty is in the best
interest of the country.
2) Presidents have the power to
A) convene congress.
B) introduce revenue bills in the House.
C) introduce revenue bills in the Senate.
D) ratify treaties.
E) confirm high-level executive branch appointments.
3) Agreements that the president enters into with foreign nations that do not require the advice and consent of the Senate are called
A) executive agreements.
B) executive orders.
C) memos of understanding.
D) memos of commitment.
E) covenants.
4) How are presidential vetoes overridden?
A) with a simple majority in the Senate
B) with a simple majority in the House
C) with a simple majority in the House and in the Senate
D) with a two-thirds majority in each chamber
E) with a two-thirds majority of a joint session of Congress
5) Through 2006, how many vetoes did George W. Bush issue?
A) one B) 12 C) 28 D) 189 E) 434
6) What is the line-item veto?
A) the refusal to spend money allocated by Congress
B) when the president does not sign a bill within the last ten days of a congressional session, causing the bill not to become law
C) when the president allows the bill to become law without his signature
D) the authority to invalidate specific spending items without vetoing the entire bill
E) a vote in Congress where a majority of Democrats vote for a bill and a majority of
Republicans vote against it
7) Who currently has a line-item veto power?
A) the president
B) the vice president
C) the Speaker of the House
D) several state governors
E) None of those listed above has the line-item veto power.
8) Why did Congress pass the War Powers Act?
A) because President Johnson misled Americans about progress of the Vietnam War
B) because the president needs to have considerable discretion when waging war
C) to prevent future congresses from cutting off funding for military activities
D) to justify the use of military force against Iraq
E) to boost the morale of Vietnam veterans
9) Who is the most famous person to ever receive a presidential pardon?
A) Johnny Cash
B) Al Capone
C) Samuel A. Mudd
D) Richard Nixon
E) Martha Stewart
10) Which of the following is a presidential check on judicial power?
A) euthanasia
B) the line-item veto
C) the pardon
D) impeachment
E) all of the above
A) have the approval of the House Foreign Relations Committee.
B) have the advice and consent of the Senate.
C) have the approval of the State Department.
D) include stipulations that no American soldiers will be placed in jeopardy, nor abandoned on the battlefield.
E) certify to the U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court that the treaty is in the best
interest of the country.
2) Presidents have the power to
A) convene congress.
B) introduce revenue bills in the House.
C) introduce revenue bills in the Senate.
D) ratify treaties.
E) confirm high-level executive branch appointments.
3) Agreements that the president enters into with foreign nations that do not require the advice and consent of the Senate are called
A) executive agreements.
B) executive orders.
C) memos of understanding.
D) memos of commitment.
E) covenants.
4) How are presidential vetoes overridden?
A) with a simple majority in the Senate
B) with a simple majority in the House
C) with a simple majority in the House and in the Senate
D) with a two-thirds majority in each chamber
E) with a two-thirds majority of a joint session of Congress
5) Through 2006, how many vetoes did George W. Bush issue?
A) one B) 12 C) 28 D) 189 E) 434
6) What is the line-item veto?
A) the refusal to spend money allocated by Congress
B) when the president does not sign a bill within the last ten days of a congressional session, causing the bill not to become law
C) when the president allows the bill to become law without his signature
D) the authority to invalidate specific spending items without vetoing the entire bill
E) a vote in Congress where a majority of Democrats vote for a bill and a majority of
Republicans vote against it
7) Who currently has a line-item veto power?
A) the president
B) the vice president
C) the Speaker of the House
D) several state governors
E) None of those listed above has the line-item veto power.
8) Why did Congress pass the War Powers Act?
A) because President Johnson misled Americans about progress of the Vietnam War
B) because the president needs to have considerable discretion when waging war
C) to prevent future congresses from cutting off funding for military activities
D) to justify the use of military force against Iraq
E) to boost the morale of Vietnam veterans
9) Who is the most famous person to ever receive a presidential pardon?
A) Johnny Cash
B) Al Capone
C) Samuel A. Mudd
D) Richard Nixon
E) Martha Stewart
10) Which of the following is a presidential check on judicial power?
A) euthanasia
B) the line-item veto
C) the pardon
D) impeachment
E) all of the above
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
2008 FRQ on Reapportionment
A1. Congressional reapportionment is defined as: counting and reallocating the number of representatives each state has in the House of Representatives.
A2. One reason why congressional reapportionment is important to states is that is can add or subject the number of congressmen/women in the United States House of Representatives within their respective district.
B1. Congressional redistricting is defined as changing or modifying states’ political boundaries.
C1. One goal that politicians have when then gerrymander during redistricting is: to create “safe seats” in Congress which are considered uncontestable since the incumbent wins year after year based upon the districts’ majority voters.
C2. Another goal that politicians have when then gerrymander during redistricting
is to protect friends (such as through pork barrel favors and earmarks) as well
as to punish foes. Foes are punished by not receiving attention from the
congressman/woman.
D1. One limit the United States Supreme Court has placed on congressional
redistricting concerns race. In Baker v. Carr the US Supreme Court
(USSC) determined that Congressional redistricting could not factor in race as
a way of excluding minority populations as was done in the South during the
era of Jim Crow. The USSC since its historic decision sends monitors to ensure
the illegal redistricting based on race is not undertaken.
D2. Another limit the United States Supreme Court has placed on congressional
redistricting concerns a districts’ representation. Every district according to
the law must be equally populated. Regardless how strangely shaped districts
become through “packing” and “cracking” every member of the district must
be counted.
A2. One reason why congressional reapportionment is important to states is that is can add or subject the number of congressmen/women in the United States House of Representatives within their respective district.
B1. Congressional redistricting is defined as changing or modifying states’ political boundaries.
C1. One goal that politicians have when then gerrymander during redistricting is: to create “safe seats” in Congress which are considered uncontestable since the incumbent wins year after year based upon the districts’ majority voters.
C2. Another goal that politicians have when then gerrymander during redistricting
is to protect friends (such as through pork barrel favors and earmarks) as well
as to punish foes. Foes are punished by not receiving attention from the
congressman/woman.
D1. One limit the United States Supreme Court has placed on congressional
redistricting concerns race. In Baker v. Carr the US Supreme Court
(USSC) determined that Congressional redistricting could not factor in race as
a way of excluding minority populations as was done in the South during the
era of Jim Crow. The USSC since its historic decision sends monitors to ensure
the illegal redistricting based on race is not undertaken.
D2. Another limit the United States Supreme Court has placed on congressional
redistricting concerns a districts’ representation. Every district according to
the law must be equally populated. Regardless how strangely shaped districts
become through “packing” and “cracking” every member of the district must
be counted.
Chapter 8.1 Pages 281 to 287
1) Describe the executive branch under the Articles of Confederation.
A) a strong plural executive
B) a weak plural executive
C) a strong single executive
D) a strong bicameral executive
E) There was no executive branch under the Articles of Confederation.
2) What is the major function of the vice president?
A) to preside over the presidentʹs cabinet
B) to make executive branch appointments
C) to succeed the president if she dies or becomes disabled
D) to serve as commander in chief of the military
E) to govern all U.S. territories and protectorates
3) Which of the following is a constitutional requirement to become president?
A) to be at least 35 years old and a natural born citizen
B) to be a male citizen for at least 14 years
C) to be ʺexperienced in government and well versed in the lawʺ
D) to win a majority of the popular vote
E) to be married
4) Presidents are elected for
A) two-year terms.
B) four-year terms.
C) six-year terms.
D) eight-year terms.
E) life and serve during times of good behavior.
5) What was the decision in U.S. v. Nixon?
A) Presidents have extensive executive privilege.
B) President Nixon must comply with court orders relating to Watergate.
C) The president can accept gifts from lobbyists and foreign dignitaries, but he must pay
taxes according to the value of the gift.
D) Nixon was a crook and, therefore, had failed to uphold his presidential oath of office.
E) ʺWhen the president does it, that means itʹs not illegal.ʺ
6) What was Watergate?
A) A series of illegal searches of the foreign embassies of communist countries.
B) The break-in of the Democratic Partyʹs national headquarters and the proceeding
coverup.
C) Warrantless wiretaps of the international phone calls of American citizens.
D) A scandal involving Nixonʹs use of the White House for illegal campaign purposes that
ultimately led to his resignation.
E) Secret negotiations with the Soviet Union in which Nixon agreed not to challenge the
Berlin Wall if the Soviets released several Americans spies who were being held hostage.
7) If the president dies in office and the vice presidency is vacant, the next in the line of
succession is the
A) President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
B) Secretary of Defense.
C) Speaker of the House.
D) Secretary of State.
E) Secretary of the Army.
8) The Twenty-Fifth Amendment
A) limits the president to two consecutive terms.
B) authorizes the creation of an Air Force.
C) clarifies impeachment procedures.
D) provide a means for filling vacancies in the vice presidency.
E) established the office of First Lady of the United States.
9) Which president appointed the highest proportion of women to senior administrative
positions requiring Senate confirmation?
A) Jimmy Carter
B) Ronald Reagan
C) George Bush
D) Bill Clinton
E) George W. Bush
10) Which best describes the confirmation of the presidentʹs Cabinet nominees?
A) About half of his nominees are confirmed.
B) About three-quarters of his nominees are confirmed.
C) Nearly all of his nominees are confirmed.
D) Confirmations typically occur only if the Senate is controlled by the presidentʹs party.
E) The presidentʹs first choices are seldom confirmed, but his second choices are usually
confirmed.
A) a strong plural executive
B) a weak plural executive
C) a strong single executive
D) a strong bicameral executive
E) There was no executive branch under the Articles of Confederation.
2) What is the major function of the vice president?
A) to preside over the presidentʹs cabinet
B) to make executive branch appointments
C) to succeed the president if she dies or becomes disabled
D) to serve as commander in chief of the military
E) to govern all U.S. territories and protectorates
3) Which of the following is a constitutional requirement to become president?
A) to be at least 35 years old and a natural born citizen
B) to be a male citizen for at least 14 years
C) to be ʺexperienced in government and well versed in the lawʺ
D) to win a majority of the popular vote
E) to be married
4) Presidents are elected for
A) two-year terms.
B) four-year terms.
C) six-year terms.
D) eight-year terms.
E) life and serve during times of good behavior.
5) What was the decision in U.S. v. Nixon?
A) Presidents have extensive executive privilege.
B) President Nixon must comply with court orders relating to Watergate.
C) The president can accept gifts from lobbyists and foreign dignitaries, but he must pay
taxes according to the value of the gift.
D) Nixon was a crook and, therefore, had failed to uphold his presidential oath of office.
E) ʺWhen the president does it, that means itʹs not illegal.ʺ
6) What was Watergate?
A) A series of illegal searches of the foreign embassies of communist countries.
B) The break-in of the Democratic Partyʹs national headquarters and the proceeding
coverup.
C) Warrantless wiretaps of the international phone calls of American citizens.
D) A scandal involving Nixonʹs use of the White House for illegal campaign purposes that
ultimately led to his resignation.
E) Secret negotiations with the Soviet Union in which Nixon agreed not to challenge the
Berlin Wall if the Soviets released several Americans spies who were being held hostage.
7) If the president dies in office and the vice presidency is vacant, the next in the line of
succession is the
A) President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
B) Secretary of Defense.
C) Speaker of the House.
D) Secretary of State.
E) Secretary of the Army.
8) The Twenty-Fifth Amendment
A) limits the president to two consecutive terms.
B) authorizes the creation of an Air Force.
C) clarifies impeachment procedures.
D) provide a means for filling vacancies in the vice presidency.
E) established the office of First Lady of the United States.
9) Which president appointed the highest proportion of women to senior administrative
positions requiring Senate confirmation?
A) Jimmy Carter
B) Ronald Reagan
C) George Bush
D) Bill Clinton
E) George W. Bush
10) Which best describes the confirmation of the presidentʹs Cabinet nominees?
A) About half of his nominees are confirmed.
B) About three-quarters of his nominees are confirmed.
C) Nearly all of his nominees are confirmed.
D) Confirmations typically occur only if the Senate is controlled by the presidentʹs party.
E) The presidentʹs first choices are seldom confirmed, but his second choices are usually
confirmed.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
2003 FRQ Congressional Committee System
A1. Party representation on committees is an important element of the congressional committee system. It is defined as party control over committees when a new party majority (Democratic or Republican) is elected to the Congress.
A2. Party representation on committees influences the legislative process by taking over the legislative agenda. What was formerly important to the party out-of-power is now moot. The new party-in-power now controls what is important to them, thus making their bills most likely to be considered on the floor.
A3. Reciprocity/logrolling is an important element of the congressional committee system. It is defined as providing votes for a current bill with the expectation of votes on their favored bills in the future.
A4. Reciprocity/logrolling influences the legislative process by speeding up the voting process. It takes far less time to create a quid pro quo voting bargain than debating a bill based on its merits or faults.
B1. One way party leadership in Congress can influence the legislative process is through party discipline, or having one political party voting in favor or against a bill in a unified bloc.
B2. Party discipline can influence the legislative process by preventing certain legislation from reaching the president’s desk. For example the recent Republican’s “no tax pledge” has effectively caused major revisions in bills, stalled legislation, as well created an air of “no compromise” on the matter of the national debt.
B3. Another way party leadership in Congress can influence the legislative process is through their skillful use of the media.
B4. The legislative branch can use the media to their advantage and influence the legislative process by having the media focus special attention on an issue of national concern. With current budget negotiations and the issue of raising the debt ceiling, both parties used the media to amplify attention on their respective positions. With the threat of a government shutdown, the media compared the 2011 budget fight with that of 1996 when the budget actually did shut down. The public got more involved and as a result, this placed pressure on Congress to resolve their differences. Ultimately, a government compromise was reached, averting a shutdown.
A2. Party representation on committees influences the legislative process by taking over the legislative agenda. What was formerly important to the party out-of-power is now moot. The new party-in-power now controls what is important to them, thus making their bills most likely to be considered on the floor.
A3. Reciprocity/logrolling is an important element of the congressional committee system. It is defined as providing votes for a current bill with the expectation of votes on their favored bills in the future.
A4. Reciprocity/logrolling influences the legislative process by speeding up the voting process. It takes far less time to create a quid pro quo voting bargain than debating a bill based on its merits or faults.
B1. One way party leadership in Congress can influence the legislative process is through party discipline, or having one political party voting in favor or against a bill in a unified bloc.
B2. Party discipline can influence the legislative process by preventing certain legislation from reaching the president’s desk. For example the recent Republican’s “no tax pledge” has effectively caused major revisions in bills, stalled legislation, as well created an air of “no compromise” on the matter of the national debt.
B3. Another way party leadership in Congress can influence the legislative process is through their skillful use of the media.
B4. The legislative branch can use the media to their advantage and influence the legislative process by having the media focus special attention on an issue of national concern. With current budget negotiations and the issue of raising the debt ceiling, both parties used the media to amplify attention on their respective positions. With the threat of a government shutdown, the media compared the 2011 budget fight with that of 1996 when the budget actually did shut down. The public got more involved and as a result, this placed pressure on Congress to resolve their differences. Ultimately, a government compromise was reached, averting a shutdown.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
War Powers Article
Hi Class. Hope you are having a nice weekend. I have added some questions to the reading that is due on Monday. Your written completion of additional questions (6-10) will be due on Tuesday, but may be incorporated orally on Monday when I quiz you out loud. You might as well complete them for Monday as I may call on you to answer 6-10. Also note, that page numbers correspond to where you will find the answers to the reading. Go Niners!
Study Questions for “War Powers, International Alliances, the President, and Congress
1. Describe the constitutional ambiguity regarding war. (p. 14).
2. Explain how the size of the American military in the 19th and early 20th centuries limited presidential war making power. (p. 16)
3. Explain how the decision in INS v. Chadha could conceivably affect the War Powers Resolution. (p. 16)
4. Explain how the scale of military conflicts affects the degree to which presidents have obtained permission from Congress when committing troops to overseas conflicts. (p. 17)
5. How does American Exceptionalism factor in America’s relations with its international partners? (p. 20)
6. Describe the role of Congress in the decision to go to use military force against Iraq in both 1991 and 2002. (p. 17)
7. Explain how the existence of international organizations such as the UN has affected the use of unilateralism by the US. (p. 18)
8. Describe how Bush 41 used a multilateral strategy in dealing with Iraq in 1990-91, and how Bush 43 used more of a unilateral strategy in dealing with Iraq in 2002. (p. 19)
9. What are two major provisions of the War Powers Act? (p. 16.)
10. After reading the article, where do you think war powers should reside?
Should the power of war reside more with the president or with congress?
Should the current system (as defined in the Constitution) change or stay the
same and why?
Study Questions for “War Powers, International Alliances, the President, and Congress
1. Describe the constitutional ambiguity regarding war. (p. 14).
2. Explain how the size of the American military in the 19th and early 20th centuries limited presidential war making power. (p. 16)
3. Explain how the decision in INS v. Chadha could conceivably affect the War Powers Resolution. (p. 16)
4. Explain how the scale of military conflicts affects the degree to which presidents have obtained permission from Congress when committing troops to overseas conflicts. (p. 17)
5. How does American Exceptionalism factor in America’s relations with its international partners? (p. 20)
6. Describe the role of Congress in the decision to go to use military force against Iraq in both 1991 and 2002. (p. 17)
7. Explain how the existence of international organizations such as the UN has affected the use of unilateralism by the US. (p. 18)
8. Describe how Bush 41 used a multilateral strategy in dealing with Iraq in 1990-91, and how Bush 43 used more of a unilateral strategy in dealing with Iraq in 2002. (p. 19)
9. What are two major provisions of the War Powers Act? (p. 16.)
10. After reading the article, where do you think war powers should reside?
Should the power of war reside more with the president or with congress?
Should the current system (as defined in the Constitution) change or stay the
same and why?
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