Executive Branch
1. Which of the following is an example of the president acting as Chief Legislator?
A. Granting a pardon to an individual convicted of a federal crime
B. Commanding U.S. military operations abroad
C. Delivering the State of the Union to recommend policy goals
D. Negotiating a treaty with a foreign nation
C. Delivering the State of the Union to recommend policy goals
2. Why do incumbents in Congress generally have an advantage during elections?
A. They cannot face primary challengers
B. They benefit from name recognition and easier fundraising
C. They are guaranteed federal matching funds
D. They automatically receive endorsements from national parties
B. They benefit from name recognition and easier fundraising
1. What is the primary purpose of judicial review?
A. Requires courts to rewrite unconstitutional laws
B. Allows courts to strike down laws that violate the Constitution
C. Forces Congress to override Supreme Court decisions
D. Allows the president to remove judges
B. Allows courts to strike down laws that violate the Constitution
1. What is a primary function of federal bureaucratic agencies?
A. Ratifying treaties
B. Hearing constitutional appeals
C. Commanding military forces
D. Implementing and administering laws
D. Implementing and administering laws
1. Marbury v. Madison (1803) is significant for interactions between branches because it:
A. Allowed Congress to overrule Supreme Court decisions by simple majority
B. Established the principle of judicial review, enabling the Court to declare acts of Congress or the president unconstitutional
C. Required the president to seek approval from the Senate before issuing executive orders
D. Gave the president power to veto Supreme Court decisions
B. Established the principle of judicial review, enabling the Court to declare acts of Congress or the president unconstitutional
2. How does the 22nd Amendment affect presidential power?
A. It requires Congress to approve all executive agreements
B. It limits presidents to two elected terms
C. It allows presidents to remove cabinet officers without Senate approval
D. It prevents presidents from issuing executive orders
B. It limits presidents to two elected terms
1. What is a primary function of the House Rules Committee?
A. Confirms presidential nominees
B. Conducts judicial review of legislation
C. Oversees foreign policy decision-making
D. Determines how debate on a bill will proceed in the House
D. Determines how debate on a bill will proceed in the House
2. What does the principle of stare decisis encourage?
A. Presidents to issue fewer executive orders
B. Agencies to rewrite regulations every decade
C. Congress to approve federal judges by a supermajority
D. Courts to follow precedent from previous decisions
D. Courts to follow precedent from previous decisions
2. Why do iron triangles make policymaking difficult to change?
A. They require unanimous congressional approval
B. They create strong, mutually beneficial relationships
C. They allow the president to directly control agency actions
D. They prevent interest groups from accessing agencies
B. They create strong, mutually beneficial relationships
2. Which document first outlined grievances against a centralized government and influenced the structure of the U.S. Constitution?
A. Federalist No. 10
B. Declaration of Independence
C. Federalist No. 51
D. Federalist No. 78
B. Declaration of Independence
3. What is a key factor that increases the president’s ability to use the “bully pulpit”?
A. Constitutional authority to declare war
B. The Senate’s power to confirm ambassadors
C. The requirement that the president meet with Congress weekly
D. The high visibility and media access of the modern presidency
D. The high visibility and media access of the modern presidency
3. What is the main effect of partisan polarization on Congress?
A. It makes it harder to pass bipartisan legislation
B. It prevents the president from vetoing bills
C. It forces Congress to meet year-round
D. It eliminates the need for conference committees
A. It makes it harder to pass bipartisan legislation
3. How does the Supreme Court limit the other branches?
A. By directing the military
B. By controlling congressional subpoena power
C. By declaring unconstitutional actions invalid
D. By setting federal budgets
C. By declaring unconstitutional actions invalid
3. Which of the following is a key way Congress holds the federal bureaucracy accountable?
A. Issuing executive agreements to limit agency decision-making
B. Conducting oversight hearings to review agency actions
C. Appointing cabinet secretaries directly
D. Using judicial review to overturn agency rules
B. Conducting oversight hearings to review agency actions
3. How did Baker v. Carr (1962) and Shaw v. Reno (1993) together expand judicial influence over state legislative actions?
A. By ruling that states could not create legislative districts
B. By allowing federal courts to review redistricting plans for Equal Protection violations, including racial gerrymandering
C. By giving the president authority to redraw district maps
D. By eliminating the need for congressional oversight of state elections
B. By allowing federal courts to review redistricting plans for Equal Protection violations, including racial gerrymandering
4. Why might a president issue a signing statement?
A. To express how the administration interprets or intends to enforce a law
B. To force Congress to immediately amend the law
C. To formally veto only certain sections of the bill
D. To avoid notifying Congress of executive actions
A. To express how the administration interprets or intends to enforce a law
4. What is one reason the Senate has more influence over foreign policy than the House?
A. The Senate ratifies treaties and confirms ambassadors
B. The Senate controls all spending related to foreign aid
C. The Senate can send troops into conflict zones
D. The Senate appoints members of the National Security Council
A. The Senate ratifies treaties and confirms ambassadors
4. Why might the Supreme Court choose to grant certiorari?
A. The case presents a significant constitutional issue
B. The Court wants to revise federal regulations
C. The case involves minor administrative disputes
D. The president requests the Court hear the case
A. The case presents a significant constitutional issue
4. Discretionary authority allows federal agencies to:
A. Ratify treaties when Congress is not in session
B. Decide how to implement laws when statutes are vague
C. Approve federal judges when vacancies occur
D. Rewrite legislation passed by Congress
B. Decide how to implement laws when statutes are vague
4. Which of the following statements best explains how Federalist No. 70 and Federalist No. 78 together address interactions between the executive and judicial branches?
A. They advocate for a strong president and an independent judiciary to balance power
B. They argue that Congress should dominate the president and Supreme Court
C. They promote the elimination of checks and balances to streamline government
D. They call for state legislatures to oversee judicial appointments
A. They advocate for a strong president and an independent judiciary to balance power
5. What limits the president’s ability to rely on executive orders for major policy?
A. The Senate must approve all executive orders
B. Executive orders expire automatically after one year
C. Only Congress may direct the bureaucracy
D. Executive orders can be struck down by courts as unconstitutional
D. Executive orders can be struck down by courts as unconstitutional
5. How do committee chairs (the leaders of the majority party in congressional committees) gain significant power in Congress?
A. They are the only members allowed to propose amendments
B. They control which bills receive hearings and shape the agenda
C. They can remove members from the committee at will
D. They choose the Speaker of the House
B. They control which bills receive hearings and shape the agenda
5. Which factor most influences how the Supreme Court shapes public policy?
A. Its authority to appoint cabinet officials
B. Its power to write legislation
C. Its control over federal election procedures
D. Its ability to interpret broad constitutional principles
D. Its ability to interpret broad constitutional principles
5. What is the primary role of rulemaking within the federal bureaucracy?
A. Creating new federal laws without congressional approval
B. Issuing detailed regulations that define how a law will be carried out
C. Enforcing constitutional limits on presidential power
D. Selecting members of congressional committees
B. Issuing detailed regulations that define how a law will be carried out
5. Which combination of cases illustrates how the judicial branch can influence the legislative and executive branches regarding individual rights?
A. Tinker v. Des Moines (1969), Engel v. Vitale (1962), Brown v. Board of Education (1954)
B. United States v. Lopez (1995), Marbury v. Madison (1803), Federalist No. 70
C. Baker v. Carr (1962), Shaw v. Reno (1993), McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)
A. Tinker v. Des Moines (1969), Engel v. Vitale (1962), Brown v. Board of Education (1954)