Executive Branch Review

A new president has been elected and has a number of positions to fill within the federal bureaucracy. Which of the following is an example of filling a position based on political patronage?

• Choosing a secretary of state to appease members from the opposition party

• Nominating a high-level campaign fundraiser to serve as an ambassador to New Zealand

• Reappointing the secretary of defense even though he or she was appointed by the previous president, who is a member of the opposite party

• Asking the chair of a prestigious university’s economics department to serve as chair of the Council of Economic Advisers

Which of the following is an accurate comparison of changes in the scope of the presidency?

• A

• B

• C

• D

...Some of those who have entered the United States through our immigration system have proved to be threats to our national security. Since 2001, hundreds of people born abroad have been convicted of terrorism-related crimes in the United States… the unrestricted entry into the United States of nationals of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen would be detrimental to the interests of the United States. I therefore direct that the entry into the United States of nationals of those six countries be suspended for 90 days from the effective date of this order, subject to the limitations, waivers, and exceptions set forth..

President Donald Trump, Executive Order, March 6, 2017

Which type of power did President Trump exert in issuing this executive order?

• Reserved

• Enumerated

• Implied

• Constitutional

...Some of those who have entered the United States through our immigration system have proved to be threats to our national security. Since 2001, hundreds of people born abroad have been convicted of terrorism-related crimes in the United States… the unrestricted entry into the United States of nationals of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen would be detrimental to the interests of the United States. I therefore direct that the entry into the United States of nationals of those six countries be suspended for 90 days from the effective date of this order, subject to the limitations, waivers, and exceptions set forth..

President Donald Trump, Executive Order, March 6, 2017

Which of the following describes President Trump’s perspective in the executive order?

• The talents immigrants bring to the United States outweigh the risk of terrorism

• Foreign nationals of all religions may enter the United States

• People who have already immigrated from the named countries may be untrustworthy

• A person’s nationality is just one of many influences on behavior

...Some of those who have entered the United States through our immigration system have proved to be threats to our national security. Since 2001, hundreds of people born abroad have been convicted of terrorism-related crimes in the United States… the unrestricted entry in to the United States of of national of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen would be detrimental to the interests of the United States. I therefore direct that the entry into the United States of nationals of those six countries be suspended for 90 days from the effective date of this order, subject to the limitations, waivers, and exceptions set forth..

President Donald Trump, Executive Order, March 6, 2017

With which statement would supporters of this executive order most likely agree?

• The president should signal that refugees are welcome in the United States

• The president should make developing world alliances his top foreign policy priority

• The president should make protecting the country from foreign terrorism a top priority.

• The president should limit immigration regardless of any immigrant’s religious identity

Which of the following may the president do to limit the powers of Congress?

• The president can veto particular items or language in bill while passing the remainder of the bill

• The president can veto a congressional bill that has passed the House and Senate

• The president can refuse to spend money that Congress has appropriated

• The president can impeach selected members of Congress

The President’s veto power is accurately described by which of the following statements?

I. A President sometimes threatens to veto a bill that is under discussion in order to

influence congressional decision‐making

II. A President typically vetoes about a third of the bills passed through Congress

III. Congress is usually unable to override a President’s veto

• I only

• III only

• I and III only

• II and III only

Presidents have had the most success in changing the direction of decisions of the federal judiciary by

• threatening to ask Congress to impeach specific judges

• using the media to build consensus for the President’s position

• requesting that Congress reduce the term of office that judges may serve

• using the appointment process to select judges with judicial philosophies similar to those of the President

All of the following powers are granted to the President by the Constitution EXCEPT

• commissioning officers in the armed forces

• addressing the Congress on the state of the union

• receiving ambassadors

• granting pardons for federal offenses

• forming new cabinet‐level departments

All of the following have contributed to an increase in presidential power in the post‐1945 era EXCEPT

• tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War period

• economic and domestic problems such as inflation, unemployment, and civil rights issues

• increasing United States involvement in international affairs

• legislation granting the President the power to impound funds appropriated by Congress