Unit 5
Chapter 14
1. Give two examples of the duties of the President as chief executive and the duties as chief
of state.
 As the chief executive the duties of the President include calling out the armed
forces and negotiating treaties. As the chief of the state, the duties of the President
include entertaining foreign leaders and speaking to charitable organizations.
2. How is the position of President different from the leadership positions in most other
modern nations?
 It is different from the leadership positions in most other modern nations because
the job itself grants you immense power and responsibility and they also have
good/luxurious benefits.
3. During the Constitutional Convention, what were the four different proposals concerning
the length of the President’s term in office, and which proposal was finally accepted?
 Some delegates wanted a three-year term allowing for re-election, others
supported a six-or-seven-year term with no possibility of re-election, a few
favored electing a President.
4. How did the assassination of President Kennedy lead to the passage of the 25th
Amendment?
 Because situations have occurred over the years of Presidents dying, becoming ill,
or were not fit to serve.
5. Who has the power to impeach federal officials, and who can remove them from office?
 Only the House of Representatives can impeach federal officials and the Senate
and Chief Justice of the United States can remove them from office with a twothirds vote.
6. How is the number of electors for each state determined?
 The number of electors for each state is determined by the Electoral College.
7. Who are specifically prohibited from being electors?
 Those who are not voted for.
8. What important characteristic of American politics did the original plan for the Electoral
College fail to anticipate?
9. Why is the gerrymandering a potential problem with the district vote plan?
10. What would be required to change the Electoral College System?
Chapter 15
1. What are the two major constraints on the President’s power to appoint federal officials?
 They need the Senate’s “advice and consent” and they have to make sure that the
person(s) job(s) is filled through the civil service.
2. What three official messages is the President required to present to Congress?
 The three official messages that the President is required to present to Congress
are; State of the Union Address, Economic Report, and Budget Message.
3. Which two options may a President use to approve legislation? Which two may be used
to kill legislation?
 To approve legislation, the President may sign the/a bill, thus making it a law or
do nothing. If ten days (excluding Sundays) pass without any action by the
President, the bill becomes law without his formal consent. The President may
veto (forbid) bills.
4. Is diplomatic recognition extended by the federal or state governments? Which official is
responsible?
 Diplomatic recognition is extended by the federal government. The President is
responsible for doing this.
5. What is the Senate’s role in making treaties with foreign nations?
 The Senate’s role in making treaties with foreign nations is to approve, reject, or
impose conditions on treaties that are approved.
6. What actions did Congress take to support the wars in Vietnam and the Persian Gulf?
 The action that Congress took to support the war in Vietnam was sending advisers
over to help maintain colonial rule and in the Persian Gulf, sent troops over to
protect Saudi Arabia from Sadam Husein’s troops.
7. What are the main restrictions on a President’s use of American troops according to the
War Powers Act of 1973?
 According to the War Powers Act of 1973, the President may not send American
troops abroad unless Congress declares war, a law authorizes such action, or there
is a national emergency.
8. What is the usual effect of an international crisis on the President’s approval rating, or
popularity?
 The usual effect of an international crisis on the President’s approval rating, or
popularity is a “no-win” situation for the President.
Chapter 16
1. Why did the size of the presidential staff increase during the 1930s?
 The size of the presidential staff increased during the 1930s because there was a
need during this time (the Great Depression) the president needed lots of people
to run programs that meet America’s serious and social economic problems.
2. When and why was the Executive Office of the President (EOP) created?
 The Executive Office of the President was created in 1939 to provide the
President with the support that he or she needs to govern efficiently.
3. Which Cabinet members are referred to as the “Inner Cabinet”? Why?
 The Cabinet members that are referred to as the “Inner Cabinet” are the ones who
work most closely with the President. They are often the Attorney General and the
Secretaries of State, Defense, and Treasury.
4. Why were independent regulatory commissions created?
 Independent regulatory commissions were created in response to social or
economic conditions that brought public demands for regulation and to save time
for Congress (who do not have the expertise and time) to deal with the technical
aspects of regulation.
5. The Postal Service is an example of which type of independent government agency?
 The Postal Service is an example of a Government Corporation.
6. What are three reasons why the government contracts with private businesses to perform
certain tasks?
 The government contracts with private businesses to perform certain tasks
because there are specialized tasks that need to be fulfilled, services can also be
provided at a lower cost, and it allows for greater flexibility because there are
fewer rules and regulations.
7. What process are applicants for the civil service required to complete?
 Applicants for the civil service are required to complete the civil service
examinations.
Allen Manipon
Period 7
U.S Government
Essay
However, many of these people working in the executive branch are in charge of implementing
the laws that are created by the legislative branch, meaning that the executive branch plays the role of
doing a review before a law is passed and in effect. I personally think that the president should be the only
person that decides if a law should be passed or not because he is in charge of our nation, but however if
our president makes a mistake with his decisions in passing a law it could be a threat to our everyday
living. Meaning, our economy could suffer debt or let me make this clear, many can suffer if the president
makes a big mistake on passing a law.
Why is the executive branch necessary? Many people wonder why the executive branch
is necessary, but the executive branch is necessary because is vested in the President of the United States.
This means that the executive branch is the head of state and the commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
This branch is built up of the main people in our government such as the president and vice president of
the United States. The President’s role is to be responsible for implementing and enforcing the laws
written by congress. The Vice President’s role is to be ready to assume the Presidency should have the
need to rise to an action. Other roles played in the executive branch include the roles of the executive
office of the president and the cabinet.
Working in the executive branch includes many different parts to worry about; here is the process
of how the executive branch works. The executive branch carries out the laws made by Congress; the
president is the leader of the executive branch of our government, the Executive Office of the President,
the Cabinet, and the independent agencies are responsible in helping the president take care of tasks. An
executive branch is really necessary because someone needs to be in charge of our nation and someone
needs to be there to make a stand and decisions for whenever the time comes. The executive branch is
necessary because they handle deals, trades, and laws of our economy and what goes on in our country.
Without an executive branch our world may be good or bad because a type of executive branch will keep
us warned and give us some type of fairness with their laws that they decided to pass. Without an
executive branch I think that our world would be a disaster right now, but yet, our world may be good
because we wouldn’t be having wars with other countries.
The role of the American government is to ensure the economic and social well-being of its
citizens. This role applies to all branches of the government and I believe that most of this responsibility
relies on our president and a controversial debate that rises from this responsibility concerns the degree to
which and how the government should be actively involved. Meaning that, the government has to be
responsible for everything that goes on in our society. However, there are also areas of continued
government which include assistance to small businesses and reducing the poverty level. Although I am
not sure about that statement I think that the government is failing at reducing poverty levels because we
have many people that are living on the street and are struggling in the challenges of poverty.
In conclusion is that an executive branch seems like a hard job to have because you need
to work with bills, laws and other things. Then again having this job may be easy because you have the
people from the cabinet helping you. After doing this essay I learned that there is more than one person
working in the cabinet together to help support our president Barack Obama with this wonderful job that
he does. Although our government is not as great in reducing poverty there are other things we could do
to help our government succeed at accomplishing their job. People need to realize that the occurring
problem within society cannot be simply resolved over night it takes time. The collaboration of union and
to truly see that things to change for the betterment of society and for the people, this is and can be the
future for Americans alike.