Executive+Branch+Test+Answers

Use this to check your work and add to your midterm study guide.

1. Briefly describe the executive branch under the Articles of Confederation.

__There was no executive branch with any real power.__

2. What problem did it cause?

__There was no one to enforce the laws Congress had passed, or represent us to other countries.__

3. What was the framers’ major fear in creating a strong executive branch?

__That it would overpower the other branches; the president would be a tyrant, like King George.__

4-5. How did they achieve a compromise? (i.e. what was the compromise?)

__They created an executive branch strong enough to balance the power of the other branches, but with limits on its power so as not to overpower the other branches.__

6. To be elected president, a candidate needs to win a certain number of _ votes
 * 1) Popular
 * 2) __Electoral__
 * 3) Congressional
 * 4) Gubernatorial

7. What is the minimum age for to be president? 8. How long do you have to have been a resident of the U.S. to be elected president?
 * 1) 25
 * 2) 30
 * 3) __35__
 * 4) 40
 * 1) 10 years
 * 2) __14 years__
 * 3) 24 years
 * 4) Your entire life

9. How long do you have to have been a citizen of the U.S. to be elected president?
 * 1) 10 years
 * 2) 14 years
 * 3) 24 years
 * 4) __Your entire life__

10. Presidential elections take place every… a. __4 years__ b. 6 years c. 8 years d. 10 years 11. The president’s main job is to a. __Carry out laws passed by Congress__ b. Give the State of the Union speech c. Receive leaders of foreign countries d. Reduce penalties against people convicted of federal crimes 12. The executive branch is discussed in this part of the Constitution a. Preamble b. Article I c. __Article II__ d. Article III e. It is not in the Constitution 13. Originally, in the Constitution, the president could have __UNLIMITED__ terms in office, but now he/she is limited to __TWO__ terms.

14. This change was made by the __22nd__ amendment.

15. What president’s success in the electoral process led to this change in the Constitution? In which decades was he president? __Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR); 1930s & 40s.__

16-17. What is the purpose of a primary election? __For a state’s party members to choose their party’s nominee for president.__

18. Traditionally, which state holds the first primary? __New Hampshire__

19. Which state holds the first caucus? __Iowa__

20-21. Imagine in January of 2012, there are 10 Republican candidates for president. By June, there is only one. What has happened and why? __The candidate/s who win the early primaries and caucuses gain momentum—media attention, campaign donations, supporters. Those who don’t win early will have a harder time gaining support, because they are seen as “losers”.__

22-23. What are TWO reasons a presidential nominee might pick a particular vice presidential candidate to be on his/her ticket?

__To balance the ticket by picking someone who has different qualities than the presidential candidate and could attract different / additional voters (i.e. male/female, moderate/conservative/liberal); also to pick someone who is qualified to step into the presidency should something happen to the president.__

24-25. How is the General Election different than a primary election? (i.e. who is running for what “prize” and who votes.) __In a primary election, candidates are competing to win their party’s nomination; in most states, only party members are eligible to vote in the primary election. In the general election, the candidates who have earned their parties’ nominations are competing against each other; all eligible voters in the country can vote in the general election.__

26-27. In November, to find out who won the presidential election, count the __ELECTORAL__ votes. You need this many to win: __270 .__

28. States are assigned a certain number of these votes according to their __POPULATION.__  Maryland has 10 electoral votes and 5,300,000 people.

Dragon 2,100,000 Unicorn 2,000,000
 * 2010 Popular vote results:**

//Refer to the above table to answer the next two questions.//

29. How many electoral votes does Dragon get? 10

30. How many does Unicorn get? 0

31. In brief, what was unusual about the electoral and popular vote results in 2000? AL GORE WON THE POPULAR VOTE; GEORGE W. BUSH WON THE ELECTORAL VOTE AND THEREFORE THE PRESIDENCY.

32-33. What is the purpose of the Electoral College? What is a criticism?

__THE PURPOSE OF THE EC IS SO THAT “WISE, POLITICALLY EXPERIENCED” CITIZENS, THE ELECTORS, WOULD CHOOSE THE PRESIDENT; ALSO, THAT CANDIDATES HAVE TO APPEAL TO MORE THAN ONE REGION.__

34.-35. Name at least two procedures/rules, etc we put in place to ensure a fair election process in our mock election. Answers will vary…examples: __Ballot that is easy to read/understand; fair to both candidates Those running the election don’t campaign in front of voters When counting the votes, have guidelines in place to make sure you don’t mess up the results Apply rules in advance about who can vote; how and when to vote; don’t change rules after the fact Give people the opportunity, information and tools to vote Clearly establish how a winner will be identified__

36. Which of the following is NOT a presidential power?

a. __Impeachment__ b. Pardon c. Veto d. Appoint Ambassadors

37. Which of the following IS a presidential power? a. Interpret the law b. __Make treaties__ c. Declare war d. Introduce bills on the floor of Congress

38. To help the president carry out his main job, he has which of the following to help him? a. __15 cabinet departments__ b. 15 congressmen c. 15 federal court judges d. 15 senators 39-40. List two positions/ jobs to which the president appoints people (not including vice-president):

a. _AMBASSADORS_ b. _SUPREME COURT JUSTICE_ ALSO: CABINET SECRETARIES, OTHER FEDERAL JUDGES

41. As the ultimate “boss” of the military, the president is also called the _COMMANDER IN CHIEF 42. Because of his above “job”, who or what is the president “checking”?

THE MILITARY

43. As the leader of the political party, which of the following is NOT expected of the president? a. Become the least popular person in the political party b. Raise money for other politicians in the party c. Serve as the main leader of the political party d. Work hard to get politicians in the political party elected

44. Which of these was NOT one of the original cabinet departments? a. War b. State c. Judiciary d. Treasury e. Homeland Security 45. Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton were impeached by the HOUSE __but__ acquitted, or found not guilty, by the SENATE __.__ 46.-47. Name two current or past cabinet members. Include their titles. ANSWERS WILL VARY, EXAMPLE: a. HILLARY CLINTON, SECRETARY OF STATE (CURRENT)

b. DONALD RUMSFELD, SECRETARY OF DEFENSE FOR GWB

48. Name one current or past member of the White House staff. Include his/her title.

ANSWERS WILL VARY. EXAMPLE: RAHM EMANUEL, CURRENT CHIEF OF STAFF

49.-54. Fill out the table below, showing which branch is checking which other branch. //Executive branch should either be in the left hand column, OR the right hand column//. //The first one is done as an example.// EXEC. BRANCH || Veto || LEGIS. BRANCH || LEGIS. BRANCH || Impeach || EXEC. BRANCH || LEGIS. BRANCH || Overturn a veto || EXEC. BRANCH || LEGIS. BRANCH || Confirm Supreme Court nominees || EXEC. BRANCH || EXEC. BRANCH || Pardon || JUD. BRANCH ||
 * **Checker** || **Power** || **Checkee** ||
 * //Legislative Branch// || //Declare War// || //Executive Branch// ||
 * JUD. BRANCH || Declare actions unconstitutional || EXEC. BRANCH ||

55. Describe a presidential action/power done by the president you are researching. Include the president (spelling counts), the year, //and// the action.

ANSWERS WILL VARY. EXAMPLE: PRESIDENT POLK NEGOTIATED A TREATY WITH BRITAIN, ESTABLISHING A BOUNDARY BETWEEN AMERICAN AND BRITISH LAND IN THE NORTHWEST; WHAT BECAME KNOWN AS “THE OREGON TREATY” OF 1846 ESTABLISHED A BOUNDARY AT THE 49TH PARALLEL (FURTHER SOUTH THAN THE 54TH PARALELL BOUNDARY POLK HAD SOUGHT AS A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE.) THE SENATE APPROVED THIS TREATY.

Bonus: If you could make one change to anything about the executive branch that you think would make ours a better country, what would it be and why?

ANSWERS WILL VARY.

EXAMPLE: I WOULD CHANGE THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE BECAUSE IT DOESN’T REALLY LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE WHO THE PRESIDENT SHOULD BE. -NATALIE L.