AP US Government : National Government Institutions

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP US Government

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Example Questions

Example Question #111 : National Government Institutions

Oftentimes this person is a figurehead within a government (that is, has very little actual power). At all times, however, this person “represents” her (or his) country to others by being the “face” of the country. What is this person?

Possible Answers:

President

Head of Government

Queen of England

Head of State

Correct answer:

Head of State

Explanation:

This is a difficult question, for multiple reasons. First and foremost, the difference between the Head of State and the Head of Government is always a little tricky. Second, the answers include two actual heads of state (the president and the Queen of England), but those answers are not the best answers as they are examples of a Head of State rather than the Head of State himself. Regardless, a Head of State is a quasi-ceremonial position which is oftentimes held by figureheads (such as the Queen of England) who, while they lack actual power, possess the ability—perhaps even duty—to be the first and foremost representative of their country to the world. 

Example Question #112 : National Government Institutions

This person is never a figurehead and possesses actual, political power. Generally speaking, this person is the chief executive and is responsible for the implementation of laws.

Possible Answers:

Head of State

 Head of Government

President Pro Tem

Prime Minister

Correct answer:

 Head of Government

Explanation:

This is a difficult question. Heads of State and Heads of Government are always difficult to keep separate. Additionally, the answers included an actual example of a Head of Government (i.e. the Prime Minister). Regardless, a Head of Government is a non-ceremonial, powerful position in which the holder of it is generally the chief executive and responsible for implementing laws along with supervising the bureaucracy (if there is one).

Example Question #113 : National Government Institutions

The Head of State and Head of Government must be two different people.

Possible Answers:

True, the president is the head of state and the Majority whips in the house are the heads of government

True, the president is the head of state and the Joint-Chiefs of Staff are the heads of government

False, these are descriptive terms, the president is both the head of state and government

None of these answers is correct

Correct answer:

False, these are descriptive terms, the president is both the head of state and government

Explanation:

This is an interesting question. One would assume that a Head of State could not also be the Head of Government, but one would assume incorrectly! Since these are simply descriptive titles, and not actually people, it is possible to be both a head of state and a head of government at the same time. In other words, it is possible to not only represent your country as the face of the country and the receiver of foreign diplomats etc (head of state) but to also hold a position of power as the chief executive, etc (head of government). In the US, for example, the president is BOTH a head of state AND government. In the UK, however, the roles are split: the Queen is the head of state and the Prime Minister is the head of government. 

Example Question #114 : National Government Institutions

Which of the following is the most correct definition for agency loss?

Possible Answers:

The Supreme Court’s refusal to strike down laws

The president’s inability to control a wayward congress

None of these answers are correct

When delegating, the difference between what you want and what you get

Correct answer:

When delegating, the difference between what you want and what you get

Explanation:

Agency loss is a problem inherent in any kind of delegation of power. Agency loss is the possibility that your agent—that is, the person to whom you have delegated power—will do something different than what you would have preferred. Any amount of variation is agency loss—not just substantial amounts. When Congress delegates power to the president, for example, Congress must worry about agency loss.

Example Question #115 : National Government Institutions

What is the role of the National Security Council?

Possible Answers:

To manage and advise the president on the armed forces

To advise the president on matters of national security

To reform immigration policy

To keep the president and first family secure

To provide intelligence on national security to the president and Congress

Correct answer:

To advise the president on matters of national security

Explanation:

Created in 1947 by the National Security Act, the NSC advises the president on issues related to national security and coordinates information between the different branches of the military and the CIA.

Example Question #115 : National Government Institutions

The Constitution grants many enumerated powers to the President. Out of the following list, please select the one power that is NOT directly granted to the presidency.

Possible Answers:

The power to veto legislation

The power to serve as Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces

The power to draw up international treaties

The power to declare war

Correct answer:

The power to declare war

Explanation:

Contrary to popular belief, the President is not, in fact, authorized to declare war. Under the Constitution, ONLY Congress has the power to declare war; the President is instructed to go before Congress and present their case for military involvement, with the final decision left up to both the House and Senate. However, the issue of war powers – and specifically the extent of the President’s permitted exercise of them – is perhaps one of the most contentious modern political controversies. In the last several decades, a new trend has begun to emerge, in which Presidents increasingly insert temporary deployments of troops and other forms of military assistance into foreign conflicts, all without obtaining prior Congressional approval. Informed of the nation’s military actions only once these commitments had been made, Congress has usually chosen to sanction the President’s decisions after the fact – notable examples include the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and several sectors of the ongoing War on Terror. Congress did attempt to take back some of its control with the 1973 War Powers Resolution, which would have held the President to much stricter rules on activating the army and making military commitments. But every President who has held office since the law’s passage has chosen to simply ignore it – a fact which Congress has yet to effectively challenge.

Example Question #116 : National Government Institutions

Which of the following is NOT one of the provisions outlined in the Twenty fifth Amendment?

Possible Answers:

A President who has either declared himself or has been deemed to be disabled can resume his post upon successful recuperation, with due Congressional approval

A President may declare themselves disabled, perhaps due to illness or injury, on either a temporary or permanent basis

Presidents are limited to serving a maximum of two four-year terms in office, barring an impeachment conviction

The Vice President and the Cabinet can deem a President to be disabled, in which case the Vice President steps in as the Acting President

Correct answer:

Presidents are limited to serving a maximum of two four-year terms in office, barring an impeachment conviction

Explanation:

The rule governing Presidential term limits – a maximum of two four-year terms – was actually set in place with the passage of the Twenty-second Amendment. Ratified in 1951, the Twenty second Amendment owes its existence to the twelve-year Oval Office occupancy of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the first (and only) president to put aside the two term precedent established by George Washington. The Twenty fifth Amendment also owes its existence to prior presidential action – ratified in 1967, it was inspired by the chaos left in the wake of President Woodrow Wilson’s debilitating stroke, in which his wife covertly assumed many of his duties while Congress dithered and bickered helplessly.

Example Question #17 : Structure Of The Presidency

The White House has several occupants (both full and part time) whose roles are neither described nor clarified by the Constitution. Which of the following individuals DOES have Constitutionally-mandated duties?

Possible Answers:

The Vice President

The First Lady

White House staffers 

The members of the Cabinet

Correct answer:

The Vice President

Explanation:

The Constitution does make mention of the Vice President, although s/he is not officially entrusted with much power. According to the Constitution, the Vice President’s sole responsibilities are to preside over the Senate and to cast the deciding vote in the event of a Senate-wide tie (both tasks are seldom ever carried out). Curiously, the Constitution contains no provisions concerning the White House staffers, the members of the President’s Cabinet, or the First Lady. George Washington is credited with inventing the Cabinet, a team of confidential advisors chosen by the President, the legality of whose appointments are traditionally determined by the Senate. The White House staffers operate under similar conditions – while not mentioned in the Constitution, an office as prestigious as the Executive Branch could hardly be expected to function effectively without a staff. Many of these aides are personally selected by the President and assist him in a wide variety of necessary tasks, from conducting legislative research to serving as liaisons to various Congressional and military departments. As for the First Lady, while the Constitution neglects to mention her, historically Presidents’ wives have occupied a special role within the government hierarchy. Often, the First Lady serves as her husband’s more accessible representative, making numerous public appearances and championing a wide range of causes to promote the common good.

Example Question #16 : Structure Of The Presidency

Which of the following is NOT one of the Constitutional requirements for Presidential eligibility?

Possible Answers:

Any potential president must have spent at least five years holding any lesser governmental (local, state, or federal) office

Any potential president must be at least thirty five years old

Any potential president must be a natural-born citizen

Any potential president must have lived in the U.S. for a minimum of fourteen years

Correct answer:

Any potential president must have spent at least five years holding any lesser governmental (local, state, or federal) office

Explanation:

The Constitution’s list of criterion for presidential eligibility is relatively simple and sparse: any potential president must be at least thirty-five years of age, must have lived in the US for at least fourteen years, and must be a natural-born citizen. No prior governmental service is required – theoretically, anyone is eligible to hold the nation’s highest office without having first obtained any political experience at all. Recently, there has been some debate as to the exact meaning of the “natural-born citizen” clause. The Constitution does not elaborate as to what circumstances constitute “natural-born” citizenship and so a key question remains: Can a naturalized citizen, who meets all the other requirements, become President? As of yet, this issue is unresolved, mainly because the Supreme Court has yet to show much interest, but it is not inconceivable to think that this may be the next of the Constitution’s clauses to soon face judicial clarification.

Example Question #542 : Ap Us Government

Please select the statement that best describes the Framers’ original conception of the Presidency.

Possible Answers:

The President would spend most of his time performing diplomatic functions, such as meeting with international leaders, drawing up treaties, and working to establish beneficial foreign friendships

In times of war, as Commander in Chief, the President would personally lead the US Army into battle

The President would function entirely independently, seldom collaborating with either Congress or the Supreme Court

The President would defer to Congress on most policy and decision-making matters

Correct answer:

The President would defer to Congress on most policy and decision-making matters

Explanation:

The Framers were greatly concerned about future Presidents becoming monarchial, snatching up greater extensions of their powers or otherwise trying to dictate commands to the other two branches of government. The Framers imagined that Congress, with its bicameral structure and lengthy membership roster, would act as the main deterrent to any scheming president’s pretensions. This viewpoint might perhaps have been influenced by the outsize personalities that many of the early Congressmen possessed but regardless, the Framers predicted that, in the future, Congress would tend to dominate the President. According to their way of thinking, the Chief Executive would defer to Congress’s desires, allowing Congress to set the administrative agenda and confining himself to responding to legislation that Congress issued, instead of sponsoring, inspiring, or pushing for bills himself (as is the real historic norm).

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