Name: ____________________________
Date: ____________
Executive Branch Unit Test
Section I – Multiple Choice/Fill-in-the-blank: Choose the best answer for each question.
(2 points each)
1. Order the following positions in line of succession for the Presidency from 1 – 4.
_______ Speaker of the House
_______ Secretary of State
_______ Vice President
_______ President pro tempore of Senate
2. The Vice President is chosen during the presidential nomination process to:
a. Appeal to more ideologies
b. Balance-the-ticket
c. Gain more popular vote
d. All of the above
3. Who is the current Vice President?
a. Joe Biden
b. Hillary Clinton
c. Sarah Palin
d. Condalezza Rice
4. Many Presidential candidates focus their energy and resources on the “battleground states”
because…
a. Those states contain the most of the other party’s support
b. Those states contain their largest support group
c. Those states are “too close to call” and could vote either way
d. Those states contain their hometown
5. Where are the powers of the Executive branch in the U.S. Consititution?
a. Article I
b. Article II
c. Article III
d. Article IV
6. The President’s ability to issue directives, rule, and regulations come from what formal
power?
a. Recess power
b. Appointment power
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c. Legislative power
d. Ordinance power
7. Rather than making formal treaties, recent Presidents are more likely to issue __________ .
a. War
b. Executive Agreements
c. Conflict Resolution plans
d. Informal treaties
8. The postponement of the execution of a court sentencing is ______________ .
a. a Presidential pardon
b. a free pass
c. reprieve
d. illegal
9. Which of the following are features of a bureaucracy? Check all that apply.
_____ hierarchal authority
_____ privately funded
_____ formalized rules
_____ job specialization
_____ not departmentalized
10. The Federal Budget is determined by which office?
a. Office of Management and Budget
b. Office of Commerce
c. National Security Council
d. Department of the Treasury
Section II – True or False
(1 point each)
1. ______ To run for President, the Constitution says you must be a natural born citizen, at
least 35 years of age, and have 14 years of U.S. residency.
2. ______ The Presidential candidate who wins the popular vote is guaranteed to win the
Presidency.
3. ______ Presidential powers have expanded in recent years.
4. ______ The President’s top-ranking appointments must be approved by the Senate.
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5. ______ The President has very limited military powers.
Section III - Short Answer Questions:
1. Name 2 roles of the Presidency and provide a brief description of the corresponding
responsibilities. (4 points)
2. Outline the Presidential nomination process in four steps like the simulation we did in
class. Write a short description of each step. (You may use bullet points)
(12 points)
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3. Explain what Executive Privilege means and give an example of a President who has
claimed Executive Privilege. (2 points)
4. How does the President (Executive branch) “check” the legislative branch, in other
words, what power does he have that limits the legislators? (2 points)
Bonus Question: Explain where and how the term “red tape” originated. (2 points)
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