PLS 101 Exam 3 UPDATED ACTUAL
Questions and CORRECT Answers
Executive Privilege - CORRECT ANSWER - A statute that exists under the separation of
powers document, but is not directly stated in the constitution but is acknowledged in the
supreme court case United States v. Nixon (1974). Executive Privilege is the president keep
sensitive material from the other branches of government. Richard Nixon during the Watergate
scandal was refusing giving up personal tapes to the private investigator, congress declared this
unacceptable use of executive privilege.
Executive Order - CORRECT ANSWER - Presidents can issue executive orders, which
are supposed to be clarifications of how laws passed by congress are to be implemented by
specific agencies. Since executive orders are not congress made laws, a new president can
reverse any of the previous president's executive order if he wishes to. Examples of notable
executive orders include President Truman's order that called the military to integrate white and
black soldiers.
Executive Agreement - CORRECT ANSWER - A presidential agreement with another
country that creates foreign policy without the need for Senate approval. While the requirement
for Senate approval for treaties is meant to check the President's power of foreign policy, much
of the U.S foreign policy is made by the president through executive agreements. This process
avoids the slower and cumbersome route of treaty making. However congress may still thwart
the President's intentions by refusing to approve the funds needed to put an agreement in action.
Presidential Veto - CORRECT ANSWER - A president's authority to reject a bill passed
by congress; may be overridden only by a two-thirds majority in each house. Most of the time
president's are successful in having their vetoes sustained.
The Cabinet - CORRECT ANSWER - The constitution specifies that the president, with
the approval of the majority in the senate, will appoint the heads of departments, who will
oversee the work of implementation. This is known as the cabinet.
The Cabinet Departments - CORRECT ANSWER - Each department in the executive
branch is headed by a presidential appointee, collectively, these appointees form the president's
, cabinet. Today the cabinet comprises fifteen posts heading up fifteen departments. Homeland
Security is the newest added department, added in 2003.
Independent Regulatory Commissions - CORRECT ANSWER - Government
organizations that regulate various businesses, industries, or economic sectors. An attempt by
congress to depoliticize these positions. Have more specific function.
Government Corporations - CORRECT ANSWER - Companies created by Congress to
provide to the public a good or service that private enterprises cannot or will not profitably
provide. Provide functions that congress deemed a public function. Post office is an example of a
government corporation.
Bureaucratic Discretion - CORRECT ANSWER - Bureaucrat's use of their own judgement
in interpreting and carrying out the laws of Congress
Congressional Oversight - CORRECT ANSWER - Efforts by Congress, especially
through committees to monitor agency rulemaking, enforcement, and implementation of
congressional policies.
Executive Office of the President - CORRECT ANSWER - Collection of nine
organizations that help the president with policy and political objectives.
Head of Government - CORRECT ANSWER - Head of Government The political role of
the president as leader of a political party and chief arbiter of who gets what resources.
Head of State - CORRECT ANSWER - The apolitical, unifying role of the president as
symbolic representative of the whole country.
Honeymoon Period - CORRECT ANSWER - The time following an election when a
president's popularity is high and congressional relations are likely to be productive.
Questions and CORRECT Answers
Executive Privilege - CORRECT ANSWER - A statute that exists under the separation of
powers document, but is not directly stated in the constitution but is acknowledged in the
supreme court case United States v. Nixon (1974). Executive Privilege is the president keep
sensitive material from the other branches of government. Richard Nixon during the Watergate
scandal was refusing giving up personal tapes to the private investigator, congress declared this
unacceptable use of executive privilege.
Executive Order - CORRECT ANSWER - Presidents can issue executive orders, which
are supposed to be clarifications of how laws passed by congress are to be implemented by
specific agencies. Since executive orders are not congress made laws, a new president can
reverse any of the previous president's executive order if he wishes to. Examples of notable
executive orders include President Truman's order that called the military to integrate white and
black soldiers.
Executive Agreement - CORRECT ANSWER - A presidential agreement with another
country that creates foreign policy without the need for Senate approval. While the requirement
for Senate approval for treaties is meant to check the President's power of foreign policy, much
of the U.S foreign policy is made by the president through executive agreements. This process
avoids the slower and cumbersome route of treaty making. However congress may still thwart
the President's intentions by refusing to approve the funds needed to put an agreement in action.
Presidential Veto - CORRECT ANSWER - A president's authority to reject a bill passed
by congress; may be overridden only by a two-thirds majority in each house. Most of the time
president's are successful in having their vetoes sustained.
The Cabinet - CORRECT ANSWER - The constitution specifies that the president, with
the approval of the majority in the senate, will appoint the heads of departments, who will
oversee the work of implementation. This is known as the cabinet.
The Cabinet Departments - CORRECT ANSWER - Each department in the executive
branch is headed by a presidential appointee, collectively, these appointees form the president's
, cabinet. Today the cabinet comprises fifteen posts heading up fifteen departments. Homeland
Security is the newest added department, added in 2003.
Independent Regulatory Commissions - CORRECT ANSWER - Government
organizations that regulate various businesses, industries, or economic sectors. An attempt by
congress to depoliticize these positions. Have more specific function.
Government Corporations - CORRECT ANSWER - Companies created by Congress to
provide to the public a good or service that private enterprises cannot or will not profitably
provide. Provide functions that congress deemed a public function. Post office is an example of a
government corporation.
Bureaucratic Discretion - CORRECT ANSWER - Bureaucrat's use of their own judgement
in interpreting and carrying out the laws of Congress
Congressional Oversight - CORRECT ANSWER - Efforts by Congress, especially
through committees to monitor agency rulemaking, enforcement, and implementation of
congressional policies.
Executive Office of the President - CORRECT ANSWER - Collection of nine
organizations that help the president with policy and political objectives.
Head of Government - CORRECT ANSWER - Head of Government The political role of
the president as leader of a political party and chief arbiter of who gets what resources.
Head of State - CORRECT ANSWER - The apolitical, unifying role of the president as
symbolic representative of the whole country.
Honeymoon Period - CORRECT ANSWER - The time following an election when a
president's popularity is high and congressional relations are likely to be productive.
