Name: Class: Date: Ver: 1
The Presidency
Indicate the answer choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
1. Which of the duties of the U.S. president would most likely be fulfilled by the prime minister in United Kingdom,
not the queen?​
a. ​visit flood victims in the hospital
b. ​present medals to distinguished veterans
c. ​meet with department heads to enact policy
d. ​greet foreign heads of state
2. Who must be involved to implement a treaty with Indonesia?​
a. ​president only
b. ​president, House of Representatives, and Senate
c. ​president and Senate
d. ​president and House of Representatives
3. ​A bill passes in the House by 350 votes and in the Senate by 92 votes. The president supports the bill, but many
of his supporters are strongly against it. What would be the best political course of action for the president to take
that would also allow the bill to quickly become law?
a. ​take no action on the bill
b. ​sign the bill
c. ​exercise the pocket veto
d. ​veto the bill
4. The political patronage system focuses on which attributes in filling government positions?​
a. ​loyalty within a party
b. ​the amount of time available for work
c. ​an ability to see different viewpoints
d. ​competence to do a job
Indicate whether the statement is true or false.
5. Because the directors of the Federal Reserve are appointed by the president, “the Fed” is considered part of the
executive branch.​
a. True
b. False
Indicate the answer choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
6. When determining whether or not a country is aiding an enemy of the United States, the president has an
advantage over Congress because of access to which of the following?​
a. ​intelligence gathered by various agencies in the executive branch
b. ​executive agreements that outline the relationship with the country
c. ​treaties that have already established trade with the country
d. ​powers that allow the president to use limited military force
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Name: Class: Date: Ver: 1
The Presidency
7. Which of these presidential activities is not protected by the power of executive privilege?​
a. ​conversations with advisers about unlawful party activities
b. ​strategic planning sessions with advisers about foreign diplomacy
c. ​discussions with advisers about ways to increase party power
d. ​meetings with advisers about the actions of specific legislators
Indicate whether the statement is true or false.
8. The Articles of Confederation gave a president the power to execute laws and veto legislation.​
a. True
b. False
“This administration today, here and now, declares unconditional war on poverty in America. I urge this Congress
and all Americans to join with me in that effort. . . . The richest Nation on earth can afford to win it. We cannot
afford to lose it . . .
—President Lyndon B. Johnson, State of the
Union Address, January 8, 1964
9. According to this excerpt from President Johnson's 1964 State of the Union address, how did Johnson expect
Congress to join him in fighting the war on poverty? How was this speech an effective tool for advancing
Johnson’s legislative agenda?​
Indicate the answer choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
10. When playing the role of chief diplomat, the president must get approval from Congress for which of these?​
a. ​treaty
b. ​veto
c. executive agreement
d. ​reprieve
11. Which of the following is a tool that the president can use to obtain congressional support for his or her legislative
agenda?​
a. ​promise of campaign support to a senator
b. ​political patronage appointment for a constituent
c. ​extensive meetings with cabinet members
d. ​promise to sign any bill that supports the agenda
Indicate whether the statement is true or false.
12. When the president attends the funeral of a foreign leader, he or she is fulfilling the role of head of state.​
a. True
b. False
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Name: Class: Date: Ver: 1
The Presidency
Indicate the answer choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
13. Which of these presidents used executive orders to reduce the rights of certain citizens during wartime?​
a. ​Franklin D. Roosevelt
b. ​Abraham Lincoln
c. ​Harry S. Truman
d. ​Dwight D. Eisenhower
14. When President Harry S. Truman enacted new policy by racially integrating the armed forces, he did it using
which of these?​
a. ​executive agreement
b. ​executive order
c. ​amnesty
d. ​agency policy
15. When these presidents made the following decisions, which one used a power granted by the constitution that did
not have to be approved by Congress or the courts?​
a. ​President Obama approved NATO air strikes in Libya. b. ​President Reagan worked on a plan to fund Social Security.
c. ​President Nixon impounded money appropriated for programs he did not agree with.
d. ​President Carter designated Alaskan land as a national park.
16. A president could continue to assert power twenty years after leaving the presidency through which of these
methods?​
a. ​fulfilling the duties of head of state
b. ​issuing reprieves
c. ​appointing a Supreme Court justice
d. ​choosing cabinet members
17. How did Franklin D. Roosevelt avoid the usual checks and balances necessary when working with foreign
governments?​
a. ​He worked with Congress to obtain authorization to use force in Afghanistan.
b. ​He withheld his acknowledgment of the Cuban government as legitimate.
c. ​He negotiated an executive agreement to aid Great Britain in fighting Nazi Germany.
d. ​He conducted a shadow war to protect the United States during World War II.
18. The prime minister of Canada and the U.S. president acting as chief executive might do which of the following?​
a. ​attend the Stanley Cup hockey final
b. ​enact treaties with foreign countries
c. ​appoint heads of agencies
d. ​send military personnel to war
19. Which of these bodies would the president consult to obtain advice about setting import taxes for goods from
China?​
a. ​Council of Economic Advisers
b. ​Federal Reserve
c. ​House of Representatives
d. ​Senate
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Name: Class: Date: Ver: 1
The Presidency
20. A U.S. military base is attacked in a Middle Eastern country. Which of the following is best equipped to respond
quickly to the incident?​
a. ​judicial branch
b. ​executive branch
c. ​legislative branch
d. ​private contractors
a. ​releases a person from legal punishment
b. ​policy with the force of law; needs no approval by Congress
c. ​claimed by president; ability to withhold information
d. focuses on presidential economic priorities; sent to Congress​
e. ​given by Founders; includes veto power, military command
f. ​no action required, and the bill does not become law
g. ​may use private military and drones; no approval by Congress
h. role includes rewarding loyal party members with positions
i. ​negotiated by Wilson to end World War I; not approved by Congress
j. presidential power; subject to approval by Congress
21. ​shadow war
22. ​executive power
23. pardon
24. ​party leader
25. ​pocket veto
a. ​treaty
b. ​War Powers Act
c. ​chief diplomat
d. ​USA Patriot Act
e. ​commander in chief
26. ​check on presidential power to wage war
27. ​allows broad gathering of information
28. ​allows interactions between two countries
29. ​power to use the military for defense
30. ​power to negotiate with other countries
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Name: Class: Date: Ver: 1
The Presidency
Indicate the answer choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
31. Who in the following list has the clearest mandate from the people and could claim the most inherent powers?​
a. ​a vice president who succeeds to the presidency after the president is impeached
b. ​an incumbent president who loses to a newcomer
c. ​an incumbent president who wins the majority vote in 38 states
d. ​a candidate who narrowly defeats the incumbent president
32. Which of these is a duty fulfilled by both the American president as chief executive and the Australian prime
minister?​
a. ​execution of laws related to health care
b. ​visits to schools and hospitals
c. ​travel to weddings of heads of state d. ​designation of official state holidays
33. Because the Founding Fathers feared that the legislature could be too influenced by changes in popular opinion,
they created which role?​
Indicate the answer choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
34. ​As commander in chief, the president is allowed to do which of the following?
a. ​send troops to assist after a hurricane
b. ​declare war on another country at any time
c. approve a pay raise for military personnel​
d. ​lead troops as their chief military officer
35. Presidential impoundment of funds that were appropriated for new military aircraft is a check on the power of
which of these?​
a. ​legislative branch
b. ​judicial branch
c. ​past presidents
d. ​agency heads
36. If executive privilege were not allowed, which of these would be most affected?​
a. ​ability of the president to discuss controversial policy options
b. ​ability of the president to influence members of Congress
c. ​ability of the president to avoid impeachment by Congress
d. ​ability of the president to exercise most inherent powers
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Name: Class: Date: Ver: 1
The Presidency
37. A president who withholds documents related to private conversations with advisers can point to the actions of
which president, who first claimed this power?​
a. ​Abraham Lincoln
b. ​Ronald Reagan
c. Thomas Jefferson
d. George Washington​
Indicate whether the statement is true or false.
38. As party leader, part of the duties of the president is to select the national chair of the party.​
a. True
b. False
Indicate the answer choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
39. If Congress is controlled by the party other than the president’s, his or her budget is likely to be​
a. ​accepted with few changes.
b. ​changed dramatically.
c. ​changed slightly.
d. ​completely rejected.
40. Which of these powers of the presidency is specifically described in the Constitution?​
a. ​thoughtfully impound funds
b. ​faithfully execute laws
c. ​mindfully issue executive orders
d. ​dutifully appoint political supporters
41. Which of these presidents used inherent powers to significantly expand the executive branch by enacting many
new economic programs?​
a. ​Abraham Lincoln
b. ​George W. Bush
c. ​Harry Truman
d. ​Franklin Delano Roosevelt
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Name: Class: Date: Ver: 1
The Presidency
​
42. In which country shown in the chart does the president have similar powers to the President of the United
States? How might the United States be different if some of the other powers in the chart were available to the
president?​
Indicate the answer choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
43. A controversial bill passes in the House by a wide majority but barely passes in the Senate. The president is
against the bill, and so are his supporters. What is the likely course of action that would be taken by the president,
to try to prevent the bill from becoming a law?​
a. ​veto the bill
b. take no action​
c. ​sign the bill
d. ​try for a pocket veto
44. Which of these was a successful check on the power of a president?​
a. After Truman seized steel mills, the courts declared the action unconstitutional.​
b. ​When Lincoln blockaded southern ports, he was not opposed by Congress.
c. ​When FDR’s New Deal programs took effect, the executive branch expanded.
d. ​After Jefferson negotiated the Louisiana Purchase, the Senate ratified it.
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Name: Class: Date: Ver: 1
The Presidency
a. ​gave domestic and foreign powers to a strong executive
b. ​order that postpones legal punishment
c. ​role includes proposing legislation, vetoing bills
d. ​provided military aid to Laos; no Senate consent
e. ​role includes submitting budgets and economic reports
f. ​address to Congress highlighting legislative priorities
g. ​used inherent powers to suspend habeas corpus
h. ​ceremonial role; entertains foreign visitors
i. ​challenged when indefinitely detaining foreigners
j. ability to fill cabinet positions to make policy
45. ​legislative leader
46. ​executive agreement
47. ​head of state
48. ​chief economic planner
49. ​George W. Bush
50. ​State of the Union
51. ​Abraham Lincoln
52. ​appointment power
53. ​reprieve
54. ​Constitutional Framers
Indicate whether the statement is true or false.
55. Ideas proposed by the president are more likely to be incorporated into legislation if the president is popular with
the public.
a. True
b. False
Indicate the answer choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
56. The president is fulfilling which role when choosing a supporter to run the Environmental Protection Agency?​
a. ​economic planner
b. ​commander in chief
c. ​political party leader
d. ​legislative leader
57. Acting as chief diplomat, the president puts together a treaty with Japan. What must happen next for the treaty to
go into effect?​
a. ​It must be approved by the people of the United States.
b. ​It must be approved by the Senate.
c. ​It must be approved by the Supreme Court.
d. ​It must be approved by the House of Representatives.
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Name: Class: Date: Ver: 1
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58. What is the minimum number of members of the Senate that must approve a treaty for it to go into effect?​
a. ​51
b. ​75
c. ​33
d. 67
59. When President Obama attended the funeral of Nelson Mandela in South Africa, he was honoring the leader and
fulfilling which of his roles?​
Indicate the answer choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
60. Which of these illustrates an expansion of the president’s power as commander in chief?​
a. ​The use of military tribunals to try suspected terrorists was ruled illegal.
b. ​Congress authorized the use of forces in Iraq in 2002.
c. ​Congress passed the War Powers Act in 1973.
d. ​Drones have secretly been used to kill suspected terrorists in Yemen.
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Name: Class: Date: Ver: 1
The Presidency
Answer Key
1. c
2. c
3. a
4. a
5. False
6. a
7. a
8. False
9. ​Student essays should acknowledge that Johnson expected Congress to pass legislation that would combat poverty.
Essays should recognize that the speech was an effective tool, because it used a public forum to call on Congress to
support this agenda. By doing this, Johnson enlisted the support of the American people to put pressure on Congress
to pass legislation that Johnson supported.
10. a
11. a
12. True
13. a
14. b
15. d
16. c
17. c
18. c
19. a
20. b
21. g
22. e
23. a
24. h
25. f
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Name: Class: Date: Ver: 1
The Presidency
26. b
27. d
28. a
29. e
30. c
31. c
32. a
33. strong executive​
34. a
35. a
36. a
37. d
38. True
39. b
40. b
41. d
42. Student essays should identify Argentina as the country where the president has the most similar powers. Essays
should discuss how the power to suspend rights or dissolve the legislature could result in abusive behavior by the
executive branch which would threaten the freedom of citizens and weaken the checks and balances of the American
system.​
43. a
44. a
45. c
46. d
47. h
48. e
49. i
50. f
51. g
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Name: Class: Date: Ver: 1
The Presidency
52. j
53. b
54. a
55. True
56. c
57. b
58. d
59. head of state​
60. d
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Name: Class: Date: Ver: 1
The Presidency
Scramble Map
Question #
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
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Original Question #
13
11
38
16
37
56
20
39
60
5
10
18
23
14
21
57
15
53
2
24
29
28
25
27
26
36
33
34
32
35
59
55
31
19
8
6
51
54
22
1
12
30
52
9
40
41
48
47
49
45
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Name: Class: Date: Ver: 1
The Presidency
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
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44
43
46
42
50
58
3
7
4
17
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