STUDY GUIDE - Civics - Chapter 9: The Executive Branch
Mr. Ron McCants, Teacher
Answers on pages 5-7
Matching
KEY TERMS
Match each item with the correct statement below.
a. treaties
f.
b. bureaucracy
g.
c. executive agreements
h.
d. ambassadors
i.
e. domestic policy
j.
____ 1.
____ 2.
____ 3.
____ 4.
____ 5.
____ 6.
____ 7.
____ 8.
____ 9.
____ 10.
administration
foreign policy
executive branch
Cabinet
executive privilege
plans that guide our nation's relationship with other countries
organization of government departments, agencies, and offices
plans for dealing with national problems
accords with other countries not requiring Senate approval
important group of policy advisors to the President
official representatives to foreign governments
part of government that carries out the law
right of the President to keep some information secret from Congress and the courts
team of executive branch officials appointed by President
formal agreements with other countries
Multiple Choice
Identify the letter of the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
MAIN IDEAS
____ 11. Which of these people could not serve as President?
a. a person who is a natural-born U.S. citizen
b. a person who has lived in the United States for 15 years
c. a person who is 30 years old
d. a person who has been elected to office
____ 12. Presenting the State of the Union message to Congress shows the President's
a. limitations.
b. legislative powers.
c. term of office.
d. role as ambassador.
____ 13. Which is the best example of a President's judicial powers?
a. choose a Supreme Court justice
b. make a budget
c. issue a veto
d. create foreign policy
____ 14. Which is an example of a presidential role created by tradition?
a. make treaties
b. act as commander in chief
c. serve as party leader
d. call a special session of Congress
____ 15. A President can
a. serve more than two terms.
b. carry out laws.
c. make laws.
d. be a U.S. immigrant.
____ 16. Under the civil service system, government workers are hired
a. by the President.
b. by the Congress.
c. as each President takes office.
d. on the basis of merit.
____ 17. Which executive department carries out foreign policy?
a. Department of Labor
b. Department of Justice
c. Department of State
d. Department of the Interior
____ 18. The United States Post Office is an example of a(n)
a. FCC agency.
b. executive agency.
c. government corporation.
d. defense group.
____ 19. Which is in charge of setting standards for products in your house?
a. Federal Reserve System
b. CPSC
c. OMB
d. Tennessee Valley Authority
____ 20. According to the Constitution, the Vice President
a. presides over the Senate.
b. advises the President daily.
c. is an ambassador abroad.
d. heads special commissions.
____ 21. The Department of Homeland Security was created
a. during the Cold War.
b. after World War I.
c. by the Constitution.
d. after terrorist attacks in 2001.
____ 22. Some of the duties of the executive branch are carried out by
a. regulatory commissions.
b. government corporations.
c. executive agencies.
d. all of the above.
____ 23. Which statement is true about a President's power?
a. not limited by the legislature
b. can sign a treaty before Senate approval
c. needs approval to talk with other nations
d. may use executive power only after a Senate vote
____ 24. Which is an advantage of Presidents being able to act on their own?
a. They may exercise weaker judgment in making decisions.
b. They may defeat the purpose of checks and balances.
c. They may avoid separation of powers.
____ 25.
____ 26.
____ 27.
____ 28.
____ 29.
____ 30.
____ 31.
____ 32.
____ 33.
____ 34.
d. They may act swiftly in time of crisis.
What was the effect of President Jefferson’s buying the Louisiana Purchase?
a. doubled size of United States
b. decreased President’s powers
c. people in Louisiana rebelled
d. Napoleon charged more money
Why did President Truman place the Secretary of Commerce in control of the steel mills during the Korean
War?
a. to keep their work secret
b. it was a national emergency
c. to enter into a treaty
d. to improve quality of steel
What was the effect of Nixon refusing to turn over the Watergate tapes?
a. Nixon was reelected.
b. Nixon taped his conversations.
c. Nixon resigned.
d. Nixon was impeached and tried.
Checks and balances help ensure that government
a. acts in citizen’s best interests.
b. officials are not subject to the law.
c. always protects the President.
d. has control of all media reports.
The President needs approval from Congress in order to
a. keep some information secret.
b. use executive privilege.
c. appoint a Supreme Court Justice.
d. speak with other countries.
Which has grown since the Framers wrote the Constitution?
a. the U.S. population
b. power of the President
c. President’s duties
d. all of the above
The President has the power to
a. make Supreme Court decisions.
b. carry out laws.
c. serve as a representative during his term.
d. serve as a senator during his term.
Congress checks the power of the President by
a. appointing members of the executive branch.
b. ignoring the President’s actions as a legislative leader.
c. deciding if the President’s actions are unconstitutional.
d. approving many presidential decisions and appointments.
Who is the most important representative of the United States in relations with other nations?
a. Senate
b. Congress
c. President
d. Vice President
Which is not a job of the Department of Commerce?
a. issuing patents and trademarks
b. running the Family Support Administration
c. conducting the national census
d. maintaining official weights and measures
____ 35. Which is not a part of the President’s job?
a. set goals for the country
b. carry out laws
c. develop policies
d. introduce bills in Congress
____ 36. The role of President has become clearly defined through
a. the actions of our Presidents
b. constitutional amendments
c. the Framers’ instructions
d. meetings with other leaders
____ 37. Which is an executive agency under the direct control of the President?
a. FCC
b. NASA
c. Department of State
d. United States Postal Service
Essay
CRITICAL THINKING
Answer each of the following questions. Write your answers in complete sentences.
38. Analyze Information President George Washington said, "I walk on untrodden ground. There is scarcely any
part of my conduct which may not hereafter be drawn into precedent [made an example of]." What does this
statement mean? Why did President Washington make the statement?
39. Demonstrate Reasoned Judgment Why is the threat of a veto a powerful tool the President can use to
influence Congress?
40. Link Past and Present Why was Watergate such an important event in our nation's history? What is the
likely influence of Watergate on the actions of other officials?
Civics - Chapter 9: The Executive Branch
Answer Section
Mr. Ron McCants, Teacher
MATCHING
1. ANS:
STO:
2. ANS:
STO:
3. ANS:
STO:
4. ANS:
STO:
5. ANS:
STO:
6. ANS:
STO:
7. ANS:
STO:
8. ANS:
STO:
9. ANS:
STO:
10. ANS:
STO:
G
DIF:
WG.18, WG.21, C.5
B
DIF:
C.4, C.6
TOP:
E
DIF:
C.2, C.4, C.6
C
DIF:
C.4
TOP:
I
DIF:
C.4
TOP:
D
DIF:
C.4
TOP:
H
DIF:
C.1, C.2, C.4
J
DIF:
C.4
TOP:
F
DIF:
C.2, C.4
TOP:
A
DIF:
C.5, WG.18 TOP:
Easy
REF:
TOP:
Easy
REF:
Executive branch
Easy
REF:
TOP:
Easy
REF:
President's roles
Easy
REF:
Executive branch
Easy
REF:
President's roles
Easy
REF:
TOP:
Easy
REF:
Presidential power
Easy
REF:
Executive branch
Easy
REF:
Presidential power
244
OBJ: 9.1.2
President's roles
249
OBJ: 9.2.1
Medium
REF:
President's roles
Medium
REF:
President's roles
Medium
REF:
President's roles
Medium
REF:
President's roles
Medium
REF:
TOP:
Medium
REF:
Executive branch
Medium
REF:
TOP:
Medium
REF:
Executive branch
Medium
REF:
Executive branch
Medium
REF:
245
OBJ: 9.1.2
President's roles
245
OBJ: 9.1.2
253
OBJ: 9.2.2
244
OBJ: 9.1.2
249
OBJ: 9.2.1
Executive branch
256
OBJ: 9.3.1
249
OBJ: 9.2.1
255
OBJ: 9.3.1
241
OBJ: 9.1.1
242
OBJ: 9.1.2
246
OBJ: 9.1.2
247
OBJ: 9.1.3
MULTIPLE CHOICE
11. ANS:
STO:
12. ANS:
STO:
13. ANS:
STO:
14. ANS:
STO:
15. ANS:
STO:
16. ANS:
STO:
17. ANS:
STO:
18. ANS:
STO:
19. ANS:
STO:
20. ANS:
C
DIF:
C.2, C.4
TOP:
B
DIF:
C.2, C.4
TOP:
A
DIF:
C.2, C.4
TOP:
C
DIF:
C.4
TOP:
B
DIF:
C.2, C.4, C.6
D
DIF:
C.4
TOP:
C
DIF:
C.2, C.4, WG.18
C
DIF:
C.10
TOP:
B
DIF:
C.15
TOP:
A
DIF:
241
OBJ: 9.1.1
President's roles
254
OBJ: 9.2.4
252
OBJ: 9.2.2
Executive branch
254
OBJ: 9.2.3
253
OBJ: 9.2.3
250
OBJ: 9.2.1
STO:
21. ANS:
STO:
22. ANS:
STO:
23. ANS:
STO:
24. ANS:
STO:
25. ANS:
STO:
26. ANS:
STO:
27. ANS:
STO:
28. ANS:
STO:
29. ANS:
STO:
30. ANS:
STO:
31. ANS:
STO:
32. ANS:
STO:
33. ANS:
STO:
34. ANS:
STO:
35. ANS:
STO:
36. ANS:
STO:
37. ANS:
STO:
C.2, C.4
TOP: Executive branch
D
DIF: Medium
REF:
C.2, C.4
TOP: Executive branch
D
DIF: Medium
REF:
C.2, C.4
TOP: Executive branch
B
DIF: Medium
REF:
C.2
TOP: Presidential power
D
DIF: Medium
REF:
C.2, C.4
TOP: Presidential power
A
DIF: Medium
REF:
C.1, WG.1, WG.3
TOP:
B
DIF: Medium
REF:
WG.19, WG.23, WG.26, WG.27
TOP:
C
DIF: Medium
REF:
C.4
TOP: Presidential power
A
DIF: Medium
REF:
C.1, C.2
TOP: Presidential power
C
DIF: Medium
REF:
C.4
TOP: Presidential power
D
DIF: Medium
REF:
C.1, C.2, C.4
TOP:
B
DIF: Medium
REF:
C.2, C.4, C.6
TOP:
D
DIF: Medium
REF:
C.2, C.4
TOP: President's roles
C
DIF: Medium
REF:
WG.18, WG.21
TOP:
B
DIF: Medium
REF:
C.15, WG.15, WG.28
TOP:
D
DIF: Medium
REF:
C.2
TOP: President's roles
A
DIF: Medium
REF:
C.1, C.2, C.4, WG.9
TOP:
B
DIF: Medium
REF:
C.4, WG.10, WG.23
TOP:
253
OBJ: 9.2.2
253
OBJ: 9.2.3
255
OBJ: 9.3.1
256
OBJ: 9.3.2
257
OBJ: 9.3.3
Presidential power
257
OBJ: 9.3.3
Presidential power
258
OBJ: 9.3.3
259
OBJ: 9.3.3
255
OBJ: 9.3.1
249
OBJ: 9.3.1
Presidential power
241
OBJ: 9.1.1
President's roles
241
OBJ: 9.1.1
244
OBJ: 9.1.2
Presidential power
252
OBJ: 9.2.2
Executive branch
245
OBJ: 9.1.2
242
OBJ: 9.1.2
President's roles
253
OBJ: 9.2.3
Executive branch
ESSAY
38. ANS:
Answers will vary, but should reflect an understanding of Washington serving as the first President and being
a leader and a role model for Presidents who followed him.
DIF: Medium
REF: 242
OBJ: 9.1.2
STO: C.1, C.2, C.4
TOP: President's roles
39. ANS:
Answers will vary, but should reflect an understanding that Congress may change a bill to avoid a veto and
that Congress has overridden only a tiny percentage of vetoes throughout history.
DIF: Medium
REF: 245
OBJ: 9.1.2
STO: C.2
TOP: President's roles
40. ANS:
Answers will vary, but should reflect an understanding of the abuse of power in the way Nixon tried to
exercise executive privilege. Answers should also reflect an understanding that officials would likely not try
to use official capacity as a screen for personal wrongdoing.
DIF: Hard
REF: 258
TOP: Presidential power
OBJ: 9.3.3
STO: C.2, C.4