POSC 1010 Presidency Assessment Questions
and Answers
1. President Obama's executive orders
a. simply filled in policy gaps missing in congressional legislation.
b. have declined since the Democratic Party maintains control of both chambers of
Congress.
c. have had little impact since they address largely symbolic issues.
d. have created political tension because he has addressed controversial issues
such as immigration and the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. - ANS-d.
have created political tension because he has addressed controversial issues such
as immigration and the implementation of the Affordable Care Act.
2. Most executive orders
a. arise from the authority and responsibilities explicitly delegated to the President
by law.
b. are quickly overturned by congressional action.
c. fail to cite the authority that allows the President to take action.
d. represent decisions by a president to disregard the plain text of the Constitution.
- ANS-a. arise from the authority and responsibilities explicitly delegated to the
President by law.
3. Who was the first president to take an expansive view of presidential powers
underthe "take care" clause?
a. Franklin Delano Roosevelt
b. Richard Nixon
c. Theodore Roosevelt
d. Barack Obama - ANS-c. Theodore Roosevelt
4. Which of the following statements about executive orders is accurate?
a. Executive orders are permanent and nearly impossible to change.
b. Executive orders are not laws because they are confined by the scope of
discretion delegated to the President.
c. There are few disagreements on whether executive orders fall on the right side or
wrong side of the Constitution's limitations.
d. Modern presidents generally do not issue many executive orders because they
prefer that Congress pass laws so any decisions are permanent. - ANS-b. Executive
orders are not laws because they are confined by the scope of discretion delegated
to the President.
5. What is key to creating an energetic presidency?
a. Creating a plural executive so power will be shared among different individuals
who can find the best solutions.
b. Giving the President a broad grant of power so he is capable of responding to
any crisis.
, c. Providing the President with an unlimited term so he can consider national
interests.
d. Avoiding ambitious individuals who would use the temporary advantages
conveyedby national crisis to permanently alter the constitutional order. - ANS-d.
Avoiding ambitious individuals who would use the temporary advantages
conveyedby national crisis to permanently alter the constitutional order.
6. Which of the following statements about presidential power is accurate?
a. The president has enough resources for coordinating national responses during
emergencies, but insufficient authority to usurp the Constitution.
b. The internal checks of the presidency were designed to be similar to the type of
checks used to control the legislative branch.
c. The Constitution provides the President with a long list of enumerated powers to
promote the independence of the executive branch.
d. Presidential power is absolute because of broad and easily invoked emergency
powers that allow the President to gain an upper hand over his opponents. - ANS-a.
The president has enough resources for coordinating national responses during
emergencies, but insufficient authority to usurp the Constitution.
7. President Grover Cleveland noted which of the following about presidential
appointments?
a. "I make one ingrate and ten enemies."
b. "It's the biggest and best source of my power."
c. "I love it more than any other aspect of my job."
d. "I couldn't care less who is in my cabinet; I'm the President and they work for
me." - ANS-a. "I make one ingrate and ten enemies."
8. The relationship between 19th-century presidents and their cabinets was based
on which of the following?
a. loyalty
b. cabinet members being the successful bidders for their posts
c. reciprocity
d. the whim of the Senate - ANS-c. reciprocity
9. Compared with its 19th-century counterpart, which of the following is true about
the modern cabinet?
a. It is much more powerful and more of a stepping-stone to the White House.
b. It has lost much of its luster as offices with real political clout.
c. It more likely compromised the President's rivals.
d. It is smaller and employs fewer people. - ANS-b. It has lost much of its luster as
offices with real political clout.
10. The President's role in 19th-century politics was which of the following?
a. It was relatively minor since newspapers rarely reported on the President and
focused most of their coverage on Congress.
b. The focus was during presidential election years as presidents pulled the party
train but receded into the background during midterm election years.
c. It was confined primarily to vetoing legislation and issuing executive orders.
and Answers
1. President Obama's executive orders
a. simply filled in policy gaps missing in congressional legislation.
b. have declined since the Democratic Party maintains control of both chambers of
Congress.
c. have had little impact since they address largely symbolic issues.
d. have created political tension because he has addressed controversial issues
such as immigration and the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. - ANS-d.
have created political tension because he has addressed controversial issues such
as immigration and the implementation of the Affordable Care Act.
2. Most executive orders
a. arise from the authority and responsibilities explicitly delegated to the President
by law.
b. are quickly overturned by congressional action.
c. fail to cite the authority that allows the President to take action.
d. represent decisions by a president to disregard the plain text of the Constitution.
- ANS-a. arise from the authority and responsibilities explicitly delegated to the
President by law.
3. Who was the first president to take an expansive view of presidential powers
underthe "take care" clause?
a. Franklin Delano Roosevelt
b. Richard Nixon
c. Theodore Roosevelt
d. Barack Obama - ANS-c. Theodore Roosevelt
4. Which of the following statements about executive orders is accurate?
a. Executive orders are permanent and nearly impossible to change.
b. Executive orders are not laws because they are confined by the scope of
discretion delegated to the President.
c. There are few disagreements on whether executive orders fall on the right side or
wrong side of the Constitution's limitations.
d. Modern presidents generally do not issue many executive orders because they
prefer that Congress pass laws so any decisions are permanent. - ANS-b. Executive
orders are not laws because they are confined by the scope of discretion delegated
to the President.
5. What is key to creating an energetic presidency?
a. Creating a plural executive so power will be shared among different individuals
who can find the best solutions.
b. Giving the President a broad grant of power so he is capable of responding to
any crisis.
, c. Providing the President with an unlimited term so he can consider national
interests.
d. Avoiding ambitious individuals who would use the temporary advantages
conveyedby national crisis to permanently alter the constitutional order. - ANS-d.
Avoiding ambitious individuals who would use the temporary advantages
conveyedby national crisis to permanently alter the constitutional order.
6. Which of the following statements about presidential power is accurate?
a. The president has enough resources for coordinating national responses during
emergencies, but insufficient authority to usurp the Constitution.
b. The internal checks of the presidency were designed to be similar to the type of
checks used to control the legislative branch.
c. The Constitution provides the President with a long list of enumerated powers to
promote the independence of the executive branch.
d. Presidential power is absolute because of broad and easily invoked emergency
powers that allow the President to gain an upper hand over his opponents. - ANS-a.
The president has enough resources for coordinating national responses during
emergencies, but insufficient authority to usurp the Constitution.
7. President Grover Cleveland noted which of the following about presidential
appointments?
a. "I make one ingrate and ten enemies."
b. "It's the biggest and best source of my power."
c. "I love it more than any other aspect of my job."
d. "I couldn't care less who is in my cabinet; I'm the President and they work for
me." - ANS-a. "I make one ingrate and ten enemies."
8. The relationship between 19th-century presidents and their cabinets was based
on which of the following?
a. loyalty
b. cabinet members being the successful bidders for their posts
c. reciprocity
d. the whim of the Senate - ANS-c. reciprocity
9. Compared with its 19th-century counterpart, which of the following is true about
the modern cabinet?
a. It is much more powerful and more of a stepping-stone to the White House.
b. It has lost much of its luster as offices with real political clout.
c. It more likely compromised the President's rivals.
d. It is smaller and employs fewer people. - ANS-b. It has lost much of its luster as
offices with real political clout.
10. The President's role in 19th-century politics was which of the following?
a. It was relatively minor since newspapers rarely reported on the President and
focused most of their coverage on Congress.
b. The focus was during presidential election years as presidents pulled the party
train but receded into the background during midterm election years.
c. It was confined primarily to vetoing legislation and issuing executive orders.
