Name:
Date: 2/5/10
Section A or B
Practice Test: Executive Branch
1. Briefly describe the executive branch under the Articles of Confederation.
There was no executive branch with any real power.
2. What problem did it cause?
There was no one to enforce the laws Congress had passed, or represent us to other
countries.
3. What was the framers’ major fear in creating a strong executive branch?
That it would overpower the other branches; the president would be a tyrant, like King
George.
4-5. How did they achieve a compromise? (i.e. what was the compromise?)
They created an executive branch strong enough to balance the power of the other
branches, but with limits on its power so as not to overpower the other branches.
6. To be elected president, a candidate needs to win a certain number of _____ votes
a. Popular
b. Electoral
c. Congressional
d. Gubernatorial
7. What is the minimum age for to be president?
a. 25
b. 30
c. 35
d. 40
8. How long do you have to have been a resident of the U.S. to be elected president?
a. 10 years
b. 14 years
c. 24 years
d. Your entire life
9. How long do you have to have been a citizen of the U.S. to be elected president?
e. 10 years
f. 14 years
g. 24 years
h. Your entire life
10. Presidential elections take place every…
a. 4 years
b. 6 years
c. 8 years
d. 10 years
11. The president’s main job is to
a. Carry out laws passed by Congress
b. Give the State of the Union speech
c. Receive leaders of foreign countries
d. Reduce penalties against people convicted of federal crimes
12. The executive branch is discussed in this part of the Constitution
a. Preamble
b. Article I
c. Article II
d. Article III
e. It is not in the Constitution
13. Originally, in the Constitution, the president could have
in office, but now he/she is limited to
TWO
14. This change was made by the
22nd
UNLIMITED
terms.
terms
amendment.
15. What president’s success in the electoral process led to this change in the Constitution? In
which decades was he president?
Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR); 1930s & 40s.
16-17. What is the purpose of a primary election?
For a state’s party members to choose their party’s nominee for president.
18. Traditionally, which state holds the first primary?
New Hampshire
19. Which state holds the first caucus?
Iowa
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20-21. Imagine in January of 2012, there are 10 Republican candidates for president. By June,
there is only one. What has happened and why?
The candidate/s who win the early primaries and caucuses gain momentum—media attention,
campaign donations, supporters. Those who don’t win early will have a harder time gaining
support, because they are seen as “losers”.
22-23. What are TWO reasons a presidential nominee might pick a particular vice presidential
candidate to be on his/her ticket?
To balance the ticket by picking someone who has different qualities than the presidential
candidate and could attract different / additional voters (i.e. male/female,
moderate/conservative/liberal); also to pick someone who is qualified to step into the
presidency should something happen to the president.
24-25. How is the General Election different than a primary election? (i.e. who is running for
what “prize” and who votes.)
In a primary election, candidates are competing to win their party’s nomination; in most states,
only party members are eligible to vote in the primary election. In the general election, the
candidates who have earned their parties’ nominations are competing against each other; all
eligible voters in the country can vote in the general election.
26-27. In November, to find out who won the presidential election, count the
votes. You need this many to win: 270
.
ELECTORAL
28. States are assigned a certain number of these votes according to their
POPULATION.
Maryland has 10 electoral votes and 5,300,000 people.
2010 Popular vote results:
Dragon 2,100,000
Unicorn 2,000,000
Refer to the above table to answer the next two questions.
29. How many electoral votes does Dragon get? 10
30. How many does Unicorn get? 0
31. In brief, what was unusual about the electoral and popular vote results in 2000?
AL GORE WON THE POPULAR VOTE; GEORGE W. BUSH WON THE ELECTORAL VOTE AND
THEREFORE THE PRESIDENCY.
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32-33. What is the purpose of the Electoral College? What is a criticism?
THE PURPOSE OF THE EC IS SO THAT “WISE, POLITICALLY EXPERIENCED” CITIZENS, THE
ELECTORS, WOULD CHOOSE THE PRESIDENT; ALSO, THAT CANDIDATES HAVE TO APPEAL TO
MORE THAN ONE REGION.
34.-35. Name at least two procedures/rules, etc we put in place to ensure a fair election
process in our mock election.
Answers will vary…examples:
Ballot that is easy to read/understand; fair to both candidates
Those running the election don’t campaign in front of voters
When counting the votes, have guidelines in place to make sure you don’t mess up the results
Apply rules in advance about who can vote; how and when to vote; don’t change rules after the
fact
Give people the opportunity, information and tools to vote
Clearly establish how a winner will be identified
36. Which of the following is NOT a presidential power?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Impeachment
Pardon
Veto
Appoint Ambassadors
37. Which of the following IS a presidential power?
a. Interpret the law
b. Make treaties
c. Declare war
d. Introduce bills on the floor of Congress
38. To help the president carry out his main job, he has which of the following to help him?
a. 15 cabinet departments
b. 15 congressmen
c. 15 federal court judges
d. 15 senators
39-40. List two positions/ jobs to which the president appoints people (not including vicepresident):
a. _____AMBASSADORS_________________________
b. _____SUPREME COURT JUSTICE_________________________
ALSO: CABINET SECRETARIES, OTHER FEDERAL JUDGES
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41. As the ultimate “boss” of the military, the president is also called the
_________COMMANDER IN CHIEF______________________________________
42. Because of his above “job”, who or what is the president “checking”?
THE MILITARY
43. As the leader of the political party, which of the following is NOT expected of the
president?
a. Become the least popular person in the political party
b. Raise money for other politicians in the party
c. Serve as the main leader of the political party
d. Work hard to get politicians in the political party elected
44. Which of these was NOT one of the original cabinet departments?
a. War
b. State
c. Judiciary
d. Treasury
e. Homeland Security
45. Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton were impeached by the HOUSE
acquitted, or found not guilty, by the
SENATE
but
.
46.-47. Name two current or past cabinet members. Include their titles.
ANSWERS WILL VARY, EXAMPLE:
a. HILLARY CLINTON, SECRETARY OF STATE (CURRENT)
b. DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR GWB
48. Name one current or past member of the White House staff. Include his/her title.
ANSWERS WILL VARY. EXAMPLE: RAHM EMANUEL, CURRENT CHIEF OF STAFF
49.-54. Fill out the table below, showing which branch is checking which other branch.
Executive branch should either be in the left hand column, OR the right hand column.
The first one is done as an example.
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Checker
Power
Checkee
Legislative Branch
Declare War
Executive Branch
EXEC. BRANCH
Veto
LEGIS. BRANCH
LEGIS. BRANCH
Impeach
EXEC. BRANCH
JUD. BRANCH
Declare actions
unconstitutional
EXEC. BRANCH
LEGIS. BRANCH
Overturn a veto
EXEC. BRANCH
LEGIS. BRANCH
Confirm Supreme Court EXEC. BRANCH
nominees
EXEC. BRANCH
Pardon
JUD. BRANCH
55. Describe a presidential action/power done by the president you are researching.
Include the president (spelling counts), the year, and the action.
ANSWERS WILL VARY. EXAMPLE:
PRESIDENT POLK NEGOTIATED WITH BRITAIN, ESTABLISHING A BOUNDARY
BETWEEN AMERICAN AND BRITISH LAND IN THE NORTHWEST; WHAT BECAME
KNOWN AS “THE OREGON TREATY” OF 1846 ESTABLISHED A BOUNDARY AT THE
49TH PARALLEL (FURTHER SOUTH THAN THE 54TH PARALELL BOUNDARY POLK
HAD SOUGHT AS A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE.) THE SENATE APPROVED THIS
TREATY.
Bonus: If you could make one change to anything about the executive branch that you think
would make ours a better country, what would it be and why?
ANSWERS WILL VARY.
EXAMPLE:
I WOULD CHANGE THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE BECAUSE IT DOESN’T REALLY LET
THE PEOPLE DECIDE WHO THE PRESIDENT SHOULD BE.
-NATALIE L.
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