TEST DATES: A day (Feb. 22nd) / B day (Feb. 23rd)
Name:
Date:
Block:
Executive Branch Study Guide/Answer Key
Directions: complete this study guide to help you prepare for the Unit III Test. Additionally, you should also
review your notes, vocabulary lists, and read Chapter 7, Chapter 12 sections 3.
On a separate sheet of paper, answer the following questions.
1. Where does the Executive branch get its powers from? Article
2.
3.
2 of the Constitution
List the powers granted to the Executive branch. Enforce the laws, make treaties with
foreign nations, appoint top officials, commander and chief of the military
Identify the head of the Executive branch at all three levels. National-President, StateGovernor, Local-County Administrator
4. What are the qualifications to become President?
35 years of age, Natural born citizen, lived in the U.S. for at least 14 years
5. Under the president’s executive power, identify and describe 3 things that help him carry out those
powers.
1. Executing the Law: make sure all laws are enforced
2. Ordinance Power: power to issue executive orders
3. Appointing Power: power to appoint people to jobs (top officials in govt.)
6. Under the president’s diplomatic power, identify and describe 3 things that help him carry out those
powers.
1. Power to make treaties
2. Power of Executive Agreement: like a treaty but does not require the
approval of Senate
3. Power of Recognition: acknowledges the legal existence of a country and
its govt.
7. Under the president’s military powers, he has the power to have an undeclared war. What does this
mean and cite an example of an undeclared war.
Power to send troops into combat without approval by Congress. Example
would be Vietnam
8. Under the president’s legislative power, identify 3 things that he may do.
1. Give yearly State of the Union Address
2. Power to veto legislation
3. Call special sessions of Congress
9. Under the president’s judicial power, identify and describe the 4 things he may issue.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Pardon: legal forgiveness of a crime
Amnesty: pardon for a large group of people
Reprieve: postponing of a sentence
Commutation: reduction of a sentence
10. Identify and describe the 8 roles of the president.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Chief Executive: allows him to ensure the laws are carried out fairly
Chief Diplomat: allows him to establish foreign policy with other nations
Chief Legislator: allows him to submit new ideas for laws
Chief Citizen: moral leader and figure head of the U.S. (role model for the
community)
Chief of State: heads the national government
Economic Leader: responsible for planning the federal government’s
budget
Commander- in- Chief: commands all U.S. military troops
Chief of Party: informal leader of his political party
11. Identify and describe the function of the president’s executive offices.
1. National Security Council: advise and assist the president on national
security and foreign policy
2. Office of Management and Budget: (BMO) assists president in preparing
the federal budget and supervise its administration
3. Office of National Drug Control Policy: established policies, priorities, and
objectives for the nation’s drug control program
4. Council of Economic Advisors: provide president with economic analysis
and advice on the development and implementation of economic policy
5. The Cabinet: advise the president on any subject he may require relating
to duties of their offices
6. Other Offices: Office of Policy Development, National Space Council,
Council of U.S. Trade Representatives, Council of Environmental Quality,
Office of Science and Technology
12. What are the official roles of the vice president and 1st lady? no
official duties
13. After the president, identify the next 5 positions in line for the presidential succession.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Vice President – Joe Biden
Speaker of the House – John Boehner
President Pro Tempore- Daniel Inouye
Secretary of State- Hillary Clinton
Secretary of Treasury- Timothy Geithner
Bonus: identify the actual people’s names that currently hold those positions.
14. List the checks the executive branch has on the legislative and judicial branches.
Executive on Legislative: vetoes legislation passed by Congress, convenes a
special session of Congress
Executive on Judicial: nominates judges/justices