According to the Constitution, how long are presidential terms in office?
4 years
100
When serving in this role, the president signs bills into laws.
Chief Executive
100
What is the "Presidential Cabinet" and how many Cabinet departments are there?
The Presidential Cabinet is made up of the President's top and most trusted advisers. There are 15 Cabinet departments.
100
How many votes are needed to be elected president in the Electoral College?
A simple majority: at least 270 of 538 electoral votes.
100
How do you determine how many electors each state has in the electoral college, and how many does Minnesota have?
Each state has electors in the Electoral College equal to its Senators and House members. Minnesota has 10 electors in the Electoral College.
200
Where are the OFFICIAL votes to elect the President and Vice President cast?
In the Electoral College
200
When serving in this role, the President directs the foreign policy of the United States.
Chief Diplomat and Commander in Chief
200
What is the newest Cabinet department, when and why was it added, and who is its leader?
Department of Homeland Security; it was added in 2001 as a result of the attacks on 9/11/2001; its leader is Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson
200
What "roles" of the president does the president use addressing the nation after a tragedy like losing the Space Shuttle?
Chief of State (Head of State)
200
When writing the Constitution, what were the two "obvious ways" suggested to select the President, and why did the Framers of the Constitution reject both these ways?
1. Congress could select the President. This was rejected because the Framers didn't want the President "under the thumb of Congress".
2. A popular vote could be used to select the President. The Framers rejected this because the country was too large, the people to dispersed, and having an informed electorate would have been impossible.
300
According to the Constitution, what are the only qualifications to become the President of the United States?
1. Must be at least 35 years of age
2. Must be a "natural born" citizen of the United States
3. Must have lived in the United States for 14 years
300
As Commander in Chief, the President CANNOT officially declare war. Who does have the power to declare war?
Congress.
300
What are three ways Congress can influence foreign policy?
Congress can officially declare war, prohibit certain military actions, spend or withhold money, approve or reject treaties, and approve or reject cabinet department heads and foreign ambassadors.
300
During the 2000 presidential election, who won the popular vote? Who won the electoral vote and became the president?
Al Gore won the popular vote, but George Bush won the electoral vote.
300
What are "swing voters" and what are "battleground states"?
"Swing voters" are voters who have not made up their minds about who they will vote for in a presidential election. "Battleground states" are states in which either political party could win the presidential election. Candidates spend a lot of time on swing voters and in battleground states.
400
How many terms may a president serve, What amendment set term limits, and how many consecutive years may a president serve in total?
2 term limit; the 22nd Amendment established term limits; a president may serve up to 10 years if they take over a term for a president that left office.
400
What are 5 of the 8 "roles of the president"?
Chief of State, Chief Executive, Chief Administrator, Chief Diplomat, Commander in Chief, Chief Legislator, Chief of Party, Chief Citizen.
400
What are the 4 goals of US foreign policy and which is the "basic" or most important goal of foreign policy?
Promoting national security, promoting international trade, Promoting world peace, promoting democracy;
The "basic" and most important goal of foreign policy is promoting national security.
400
What is the difference between "winner-takes-all" and "proportional representation" when casting electoral votes?
In a "winner-takes-all" format, the winner of the state election receives ALL the state's electoral votes. In a "proportional representation" format, each candidate gets electoral votes equal to the percentage of the vote they receive in the election.
400
1. According to some critics, what are three major problems with the Electoral College? 2. What are two possible ways to "fix" some or all of these problems?
Three problems of the Electoral College are: 1.) The winner of the popular vote is not guaranteed to win in the Electoral College vote. 2.) Electors are not required to vote in agreement with the popular vote in their state ("faithless electors"). 3.) Any election might have to be decided in the House of Representatives, an extremely partisan body today. (the Republican held House would likely give the presidency to the Republican candidate today).
Two possible "fixes" of the Electoral College include: 1). Amending the Constitution to abolish the Electoral College, replacing it with a direct popular vote. 2). Requiring all state electors to cast votes in the Electoral College using the "proportional" system rather than the "winner take all" system.
500
What are the top 5 positions in the order of presidential succession?
1. Vice President
2. Speaker of the House
3. President Pro Tempore of the Senate
4. Secretary of State
5. Secretary of the Treasury
500
Which role of the President is being described below:
#1. "President Obama was in Duluth, Minnesota, today, campaigning for Representative Rick Nolan (D) who is running for re-election to the United House of Representatives.
#2: "President Obama sent a stern warning to the President of Iran today, saying that any strike against the nation of Israel what be considered an attack against the United States."
#1: Party Chief: He is campaigning for members of his party.
#2: Chief Diplomat or Commander in Chief
500
Who is the current Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, Attorney General, and Secretary of Homeland Security?
Secretary of State John Kerry, Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, Attorney General Loretta Lynch, Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson.
500
During a typical presidential campaign, how many presidential debates are there, and what are their typical formats?
There are typically three presidential debates: one on foreign policy, one a "town hall" style debate, and one on domestic policy and the economy.
500
How was the need for change in the electoral college made clear in the elections of 1796 and 1800, both involving Thomas Jefferson?
In 1796, Jefferson became John Adams Vice President despite being "political rivals". In 1800, Jefferson and Aaron Burr tied in the electoral vote, and the House had a difficult time naming Jefferson the President.