American Government Unit 4 (Chapters 13, 14, and 15) Study Sheet
Standards
SSCG12 The student will analyze the various roles played by the President of the
United States; include Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, chief executive, chief
agenda setter, representative of the nation, chief of state, foreign policy leader, and party
leader.
SSCG13 The student will describe the qualifications for becoming President of the
United States.
SSCG14 The student will explain the impeachment process and its usage for elected
officials.
SSCG15 The student will explain the functions of the departments and agencies of the
federal bureaucracy.
Terms
1. Chief of state
2. Commander in
Chief
3. Chief Executive
4. Chief Agenda
Setter
5. Presidential
Succession Act
of 1947
6. 22nd Amendment
7. Electoral votes
8. Electoral college
9. Popular vote
10. Presidential
primary
11. National
convention
12. Platform
13. Executive order
14. Treaty
15. Executive
agreement
16. Reprieve
17. Pardon
18. Clemency
19. Commutation
20. Amnesty
21. Bureaucracy
22. Secretary
23. Attorney General
24. Independent
agencies
25. Independent
regulatory
commissions
26. Civil service
27. Spoils system
28. Patronage
Essential Questions
1. What are the three formal qualifications necessary to become President?
2. What are three informal qualifications to become President?
3. What official duties does the Constitution give the Vice-President?
4. Why were most of the Framers opposed to choosing the President by popular
vote?
5. What are the original provisions for the Electoral College?
6. What are three main weaknesses of the Electoral College system?
7. What is one argument for and against direct popular election?
8. Which officials does the President appoint? What is the Senate’s role in this
process?
9. What are the president’s two major legislative powers?
10. What is the purpose of the Cabinet?
11. What role do the House of Representatives and the Senate play in the
impeachment process? Be exact!
12. Why was President Andrew Jackson impeached? What was the ruling of the
Senate?
13. Why was President Bill Clinton impeached? What was the ruling of the Senate?
14. How did the spoils system affect the civil service?