AP US Government : Political Role of the Presidency

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP US Government

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Political Role Of The Presidency

Which of the following is granted to the President in the Constitution?

Possible Answers:

The power to levy taxes

The power to declare war

To coin money

The power to pardon criminals

The power to ratify treaties

Correct answer:

The power to pardon criminals

Explanation:

The only power listed that is granted to the President is that of pardoning criminals.  The rest of these powers are explicitly given to Congress.

Example Question #23 : Presidency

Devolution is most associated with which United States President?

Possible Answers:

Jimmy Carter

Bill Clinton

Ronald Reagan

James Madison

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Correct answer:

Ronald Reagan

Explanation:

Devolution as a concept relates to the decentralization of power by offering some powers previously reserved for the Federal government to the states. It’s purpose is to reduce the overwhelming power held by the national government. Because it focuses on reducing Federal power, it should be understood as a conservative policy and therefore should lead you to select Ronald Reagan as the correct answer.

Example Question #1 : Political Role Of The Presidency

Who has the power to call a special session of Congress, after Congress has been adjourned?

Possible Answers:

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

The President pro tempore of the Senate

The President

The Attorney General

The Speaker of the House

Correct answer:

The President

Explanation:

In the event that a special session of Congress becomes necessary after Congress has been adjourned, only the President may summon Congress back into session.

Example Question #24 : Presidency

The Stewardship Theory is attributed to which United States President?

Possible Answers:

Andrew Jackson

Jimmy Carter

Woodrow Wilson

Thomas Jefferson

Theodore Roosevelt

Correct answer:

Theodore Roosevelt

Explanation:

The Stewardship Theory of the President states that the President is the steward of the people, who must act in their best interests at all times. The theory was promoted by Theodore Roosevelt.

Example Question #1 : Political Role Of The Presidency

Which of these Presidents was the first to be forced from office by impeachment?

Possible Answers:

Andrew Johnson

None of these is correct; no President has ever been removed from office by impeachment.

Bill Clinton

John Tyler

Richard Nixon

Correct answer:

None of these is correct; no President has ever been removed from office by impeachment.

Explanation:

Although Congress has come close to removing four Presidents from office, none has ever been removed from office due to impeachment. Congress introduced a resolution to impeach John Tyler over the issue of states’ rights, but the resolution failed; Andrew Johnson was impeached for his handling of the Reconstruction Era, but he was found not guilty in his senate trial (by one vote); Richard Nixon, who might have become the first President to be removed from office due to impeachment, resigned during the process; Bill Clinton's case went to the Senate, where he was found not guilty. Because a two-thirds vote is needed to convict the President in the Senate, it is very difficult to convict a President during an impeachment (his party will likely support him unless doing so will cause such a massive drop in public support).

Example Question #23 : Presidency

Which of these is not a power given to the President under the Constitution?

Possible Answers:

Receive ambassadors

Ratify treaties with foreign nations

Negotiate treaties with foreign nations

Appoint ambassadors

Pardon crimes

Correct answer:

Ratify treaties with foreign nations

Explanation:

The President is given numerous powers under the Constitution—including Executive Clemency, which allows the President to pardon criminal offenders. The President has many powers related to war and foreign relations. The President may appoint ambassadors, receive foreign ambassadors, and negotiate treaties with foreign nations. The President, however, cannot ratify a treaty. For a treaty that is negotiated by the President to be ratified, it must be approved by a two-thirds vote in the Senate.

Example Question #24 : Presidency

Which of these groups typically sets the nation’s policy agenda?

Possible Answers:

The majority party

The Senate

The House

The President

The Supreme Court

Correct answer:

The President

Explanation:

Ever since Franklin Roosevelt greatly expanded the powers of the Presidency, during the New Deal era of American history, the nation’s policy agenda has more and more often been set by the President. The expanding power of the Presidency is one of the defining traits of twentieth-century American politics.

Example Question #131 : National Government Institutions

The Environmental Protection Agency was established by __________.

Possible Answers:

Andrew Jackson

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Richard Nixon

John F. Kennedy

Woodrow Wilson

Correct answer:

Richard Nixon

Explanation:

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was first proposed and established by President Richard Nixon in 1970. Its purpose is to regulate the conduct of businesses and individuals for the purpose of protecting the environment and human health.

Example Question #2 : Political Role Of The Presidency

A lame-duck president is __________.

Possible Answers:

a president who is less popular than his or her vice president

a president whose own party no longer supports his or her presidency

a president whose political support has fallen below fifty percent nationally

a president whose political support has fallen below fifty percent within his own party

a president who has been voted out of office, but continues to preside until the inauguration of the newly elected president

Correct answer:

a president who has been voted out of office, but continues to preside until the inauguration of the newly elected president

Explanation:

A lame-duck president is one who has been voted out of office or finds his or her term limit has expired, but is still serving as president for a few months until the inauguration of the new president. The term is generally used solely to refer to a president who has been voted out of office; it is generally thought that he or she has lost the mandate of the people and therefore cannot try to pass any significant legislation for the remainder of his or her term—he or she is a "lame duck." Probably the most notable lame duck president of the twentieth century is Herbert Hoover, who was voted out of office during the early years of the Great Depression in favor of Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Example Question #132 : National Government Institutions

An enumerated power of the Executive is ____________.

Possible Answers:

To endorse members of his political party running for office

To issue a veto

To have regular press conferences

To host presidential dinners

To issue injunctions on striking workers

Correct answer:

To issue a veto

Explanation:

There are three main types of powers held by the President: enumerated powers, powers granted by Congress, and inherent powers. Enumerated powers are those given to the President in the Constitution. Powers granted by Congress are just as the name states. And, inherent powers are those that the President has that are derived from either of the two categories, and exist to allow the President to complete his duties. Of the powers listed above, all besides “to issue a veto” are inherent powers. The President has the power “to issue a veto” according to Article 1, Section 7 of the Constitution, making it an enumerated power.

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