POLS 355 MIDTERM 1 QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS
Going Public - Answers - Definition: A president taking his message to the American
people in an attempt to gain public support, which would result in Congress shrinking
back from a fight for fear they may offend voters
-President's appeal to the public and once the public is on their side, Presidents use that
leverage to pressure other politicians
-Taking policies directly to public rather than to Congress
-"Public leads, President strategically follows"
-Some scholars question the efficacy of res. ability to go public while others assume
pres. shapes public opinion (generally backfires)
-President is more successful going public with foreign policy than domestic issues
-Frequently uses rhetoric to sell policies to the public
Significance: An application of the 'Bully Pulpit'
-President uses the public as leverage to pressure Congress and extend the ability to
act unilaterally (public support isa critical resource)
-Power of 'going public' has decreased b/c the rise of TV
Example: Clinton and Health Care
-Only 5 speeches produced public opinion increase of more than 6%
-Pres. can shift options when there is a way or crisis involved
-Position taking usually backfires
-Learned his ability to move public opinion was modest at best (outside of military
policy)
Reading: Edwards
-"Going public is the central strategy for governing"
LBJ and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 - Answers - Definition: Passed and signed the
VRA
-Made the right to vote real for African Americans in the South
-After Bloody Sunday, LBJ saw his chance to go and make an appeal to Congress for
the VRA --> a week later he gave a speech
Significance: Draws on the rhetoric of movement and calling upon Congress to pass an
act
-Explains how Presidential Agency is constrained by a President's context (specifically
public opinion and political actors)
-VRA changed the course of American politics in the 20th century
Example: After footage of Bloody Sunday (march from Selma to Montgomery, AL where
unarmed protestors were attacked by police) was released - there was an increase in
public support for the VRA --> LBJ saw this as his chance to go and appeal to Congress
for the VRA
Reading: Dara Lind (19 Maps and Charts) - Registration numbers dramatically
increased
, -Among blacks: 6% in 1964 to 59% in 1969
Veto Power - Answers - Article 1 Section 7 of the Constitution
Definition: Only formal legislative power the President has
-Power or rights vested in one branch of a government to cancel or postpone the
decisions of another branch
Significance: A type of 'check and balance'
-Important because it stops bills from becoming a law that is unconstitutional
-Veto can be overridden with biparty cooperation (2/3 of House and Senate)
-Vetoes only relevant when Congress passes something
Example: Federalist 69 "Real Character of the Executive"
-Johnson had so many vetoes overriden
-Taft Hartley Act passed over the vetoes of Truman (protects employees from harm
resulting from practices by labor unions)
-Vetoes becoming a less prominent form of presidential acting
22nd Amendment - Answers - Definition: Sets term limits for the election POTUS
-No president should serve more than two terms
Significance: Relates to the idea of 'checks and balances' by preventing one person
from holding such a significant position for so long
Example: George Washington decided against running for a 3rd term
-He and founding fathers felt that a 2 term limit was appropriate and they did not want a
pseudo-monarchy to occur
Energy in the Executive - Answers - Federalist 70 (Hamilton)
Definition: Ingredients that constitute Energy in the Executive are: unity, duration, an
adequate provision for support and competent powers
-Uniform: Legislators are supposed to be individualistic
-Duration: Fixed term of reasonable length
-Must have resources and be funded
Significance: Hamilton argues that executive powers should not be concentrated in a
single chief
-Argues without an executive the government will collapse
-Favors executive power (Hamilton sees executive being created as vigorous enough to
perform functions without being tyrannical)
Example: NEED
Reading: Federalist 70 (Hamilton)
The Federalist Era - Answers - 1788-1800
Definition: Two Federalist Presidents (Washington and Adams)
-Hamilton was the brains of the Federalist Party, but not a President (had most
influence over policy)
-Saw a rise of strong central govt.
Significance: Established two term precedent (which eventually became the 22nd
Amendment)
Example: NEED
ANSWERS
Going Public - Answers - Definition: A president taking his message to the American
people in an attempt to gain public support, which would result in Congress shrinking
back from a fight for fear they may offend voters
-President's appeal to the public and once the public is on their side, Presidents use that
leverage to pressure other politicians
-Taking policies directly to public rather than to Congress
-"Public leads, President strategically follows"
-Some scholars question the efficacy of res. ability to go public while others assume
pres. shapes public opinion (generally backfires)
-President is more successful going public with foreign policy than domestic issues
-Frequently uses rhetoric to sell policies to the public
Significance: An application of the 'Bully Pulpit'
-President uses the public as leverage to pressure Congress and extend the ability to
act unilaterally (public support isa critical resource)
-Power of 'going public' has decreased b/c the rise of TV
Example: Clinton and Health Care
-Only 5 speeches produced public opinion increase of more than 6%
-Pres. can shift options when there is a way or crisis involved
-Position taking usually backfires
-Learned his ability to move public opinion was modest at best (outside of military
policy)
Reading: Edwards
-"Going public is the central strategy for governing"
LBJ and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 - Answers - Definition: Passed and signed the
VRA
-Made the right to vote real for African Americans in the South
-After Bloody Sunday, LBJ saw his chance to go and make an appeal to Congress for
the VRA --> a week later he gave a speech
Significance: Draws on the rhetoric of movement and calling upon Congress to pass an
act
-Explains how Presidential Agency is constrained by a President's context (specifically
public opinion and political actors)
-VRA changed the course of American politics in the 20th century
Example: After footage of Bloody Sunday (march from Selma to Montgomery, AL where
unarmed protestors were attacked by police) was released - there was an increase in
public support for the VRA --> LBJ saw this as his chance to go and appeal to Congress
for the VRA
Reading: Dara Lind (19 Maps and Charts) - Registration numbers dramatically
increased
, -Among blacks: 6% in 1964 to 59% in 1969
Veto Power - Answers - Article 1 Section 7 of the Constitution
Definition: Only formal legislative power the President has
-Power or rights vested in one branch of a government to cancel or postpone the
decisions of another branch
Significance: A type of 'check and balance'
-Important because it stops bills from becoming a law that is unconstitutional
-Veto can be overridden with biparty cooperation (2/3 of House and Senate)
-Vetoes only relevant when Congress passes something
Example: Federalist 69 "Real Character of the Executive"
-Johnson had so many vetoes overriden
-Taft Hartley Act passed over the vetoes of Truman (protects employees from harm
resulting from practices by labor unions)
-Vetoes becoming a less prominent form of presidential acting
22nd Amendment - Answers - Definition: Sets term limits for the election POTUS
-No president should serve more than two terms
Significance: Relates to the idea of 'checks and balances' by preventing one person
from holding such a significant position for so long
Example: George Washington decided against running for a 3rd term
-He and founding fathers felt that a 2 term limit was appropriate and they did not want a
pseudo-monarchy to occur
Energy in the Executive - Answers - Federalist 70 (Hamilton)
Definition: Ingredients that constitute Energy in the Executive are: unity, duration, an
adequate provision for support and competent powers
-Uniform: Legislators are supposed to be individualistic
-Duration: Fixed term of reasonable length
-Must have resources and be funded
Significance: Hamilton argues that executive powers should not be concentrated in a
single chief
-Argues without an executive the government will collapse
-Favors executive power (Hamilton sees executive being created as vigorous enough to
perform functions without being tyrannical)
Example: NEED
Reading: Federalist 70 (Hamilton)
The Federalist Era - Answers - 1788-1800
Definition: Two Federalist Presidents (Washington and Adams)
-Hamilton was the brains of the Federalist Party, but not a President (had most
influence over policy)
-Saw a rise of strong central govt.
Significance: Established two term precedent (which eventually became the 22nd
Amendment)
Example: NEED
