CLEP: American Government - Ultimate Test Questions

NAFTA

North American Free Trade Agreement; signed by US, Canada and Mexico in 1993. Tariff rates are falling or disappearing

ICC

Interstate Commerce Commission; created in 1887 to regulate railroads that moved goods and services between states

Each state sends __________ Senators to the United States Senate.

A) 2

B) 4

C) 6

D) a number in proportion to the population of the state

A) 2

The states in the US system of government enjoy _________ powers.

A) delegated

B) reserved

C) only concurrent

D) no particular grant of of constitutional

B) reserved

Each state has a number of electors in the Electoral College equivalent to the number of __________.

A) Representatives in the House of Representatives

B) Senators and Representatives in Congress

C) it's state legislatures

D) delegates sent to the national party conventions

B) Senators and Representatives in Congress

The Supreme Court ruling rendering unconstitutional segregation in the public schools was __________.

A) Plessey v. Ferguson

B) Brown v. Board of Education, Topeka

C) White v. Texas

D) the Dred Scott case

B) Brown v. the Board of Education, Topeka

Just prior to the ratification of the 26th Amendment, MOST states required a person to be 21 years of age to vote, but two states required that a person be only 18. These states were __________.

A) Kansas and Nebraska

B) Georgia and Kentucky

C) Texas and Louisiana

D) Wyoming and Utah

B) Georgia and Kentucky

The Congress does MOST of its legislative work in __________ committees.

A) standing

B) joint

C) conference

D) select

A) standing

Each Court of Appeals has __________ judges.

A) one

B) three

C) six

D) nine

B) three

In the U.S. House of Representatives, Puerto Rico has __________ representative(s).

A) no

B) one

C) two

D) only a nonvoting

D) only a nonvoting

The Supreme Court has primarily __________ jurisdiction.

A) original

B) appellate

C) equal responsibility for original and appellate

D) none of the above

B) appellate

Treaties are ratified by the __________.

A) Secretary of State

B) Senate

C) House of Representatives

D) President

B) Senate

How many Congressmen does each state send to the House of Representatives?

A) two

B) four

C) six

D) A number in proportion to the population of the state

D) a number in proportion to the population of the state

A case appealed from a regulatory commission would go FIRST to the __________.

A) Supreme Court

B) Court of Appeals

C) District Court

D) none of the above

B) Court of Appeals

Constitutionally, the power to coin money rests with __________.

A) Congress ONLY

B) state legislatures ONLY

C) Congress and state legislatures

D) President

A) Congress ONLY

Which statement does NOT apply to the principle of judicial review?

A) Judicial review is the process by which courts interpret the meaning of the Constitution.

B) Judicial review was established in a famous case in which, for the first time, the Supreme Court declared an act of Congress unconstitutional.

C) Judicial review is often used by Congress as a check on the power of the judicial branch.

D) Judicial review is a powerful check upon both the legislative and executive branches of government.

C) Judicial review is often used by Congress as a check on the power of the judicial branch.

The qualifications for Supreme Court justices and other federal judges are __________.

A) Not specified in the Constitution

B) the same as those for the office of President

C) US citizenship and thirty-five years of age

D) a law degree and a knowledge of the US Constitution

C) US Citizenship and thirty-five years of age.

Which of these American political customs is the only one mentioned anywhere in the Constitution?

A) How presidential candidates are selected

B) How many votes each state may cast in the electoral college

C) The formation of political parties

D) Holding national conventions

B) How many votes each state may cast in the electoral college

To __________ is NOT a purpose for which an election would normally be held in the United States.

A) nominate or elect public officials

B) approve or reject constitutional amendments

C) approve or reject a proposed law submitted to a direct popular vote

D) decide whether or not a treaty should be ratified

D) decide whether or not a treaty should be ratified

People who vote in public elections __________.

A) perform a civic duty

B) exercise a basic freedom

C) participate in the democratic process

D) all of the above apply to persons who vote in public elections.

D) all of the above apply to persons who vote in public elections

All powers that the Constitution does not specifically give to the federal government or deny to the states are reserved for __________.

A) Congress

B) the President

C) state legislatures

D) all states, or for the people

D) all states, or for the people

A citizen may be required to pay federal income tax, a state income tax, and a city income tax. This shows how different levels of government exercise __________ powers.

A) concurrent

B) reserved

C) enumerated

D) implied

A) concurrent

It is FALSE that state constitutions __________.

A) deal with many specific aspects of governmental service

B) are apt to change more often than the federal Constitution

C) may or may not establish republic forms of state government

D) cannot violate any provision of the US Constitution

C) may or may not establish republican forms of state government

A __________ is responsible for examining evidence and witnesses to decide of persons charged with criminal offenses should be brought to trial.

A) military court martial

B) grand jury

C) petit jury

D) judge

B) grand jury

Official agreements between states MUST be approved by __________.

A) Congress

B) the President

C) the Secretary of State

D) the Secretary of the Interior

A) Congress

An alien can acquire U.S. citizenship after he has resided in the United States for __________ year(s).

A) one

B) three

C) five

D) ten

C) five

Congress is forbidden by the Constitution to __________.

A) declare war

B) tax imports

C) borrow money

D) none of the above

D) none of the above

A system of __________ BEST describes the Constitution of the United States.

A) unitarianism

B) federalism

C) confederation

D) none of the above

B) federalism

The United States court system is based on __________.

A) civil law

B) common law

C) the French legal system

D) no on particular system

B) common law

United States Senators serve a term of __________ years.

A) two

B) four

C) six

D) eight

C) six

The chief executive officer in ALL the states is the __________.

A) Governor

B) Secretary of State

C) Chief Minister

D) Governor General

A) Governor

An individual desiring to acquire United States citizenship would do so by appearing before a __________.

A) Congressional committee

B) United States court

C) United States immigration officer

D) state legislative committee

B) United States court

A declaration of war is made by the __________.

A) President

B) Secretary of Defense

C) Senate

D) Congress

D) Congress

The __________ Plan presented to the Constitutional Convention was the "Large State Plan".

A) Virginia

B) New Jersey

C) Connecticut

D) Pennsylvania

A) Virginia

MOST murder cases are tried by the __________ court(s).

A) United States District

B) Supreme

C) state

D) state supreme

C) state

__________ has a one-house legislature.

A) Nebraska

B) Oregon

C) Wyoming

D) Indiana

A) Nebraska

__________ is not a common requirement for voting.

A) Age

B) citizenship

C) residence

D) literacy

D) literacy

Constitutionally, Congress is forbidden to __________.

A) levy an income tax

B) levy an export tax

C) regulate interstate commerce

D) print paper money

B) levy an export tax

The Bureau of the Budget is in the __________.

A) Treasury Department

B) Congress

C) Executive Office

D) Federal Reserve Bank

C) Executive Office

The authors of the United States Constitution were, for the most part, men __________.

A) without property

B) of property

C) with very little education

D) from the west

B) of property

The President of the United States serves a term of __________ years.

A) two

B) four

C) six

D) eight

B) four

The Small State Plan presented to the Constitutional Convention was the __________ Plan.

A) Virginia

B) New Jersey

C) Connecticut

D) Pennsylvania

B) New Jersey

A trial jury rendering a verdict MUST do so by a __________.

A) simple majority

B) two-thirds majority

C) three-fourths majority

D) unanimous vote

D) unanimous vote

Puerto Rico's relationship to the United States is __________.

A) a state

B) a commonwealth

C) an occupied territory

D) no legal relationship

B) a commonwealth

The Constitution establishes the important principle called separation of powers by __________.

A) guaranteeing equal justice under law for all citizens

B) guaranteeing that the people shall rule through elected representatives

C) establishing three co-equal branches of government

D) all of the above

C) establishing three co-equal branches of government

The system of checks and balances was introduced into the Constitution so that __________.

A) the President would have only two terms

B) the executive branch would become the dominant branch of government

C) the people would have more direct control over their government

D) no single branch might gain control over the other branches of government

D) no single branch might gain control over the other branches of government

A check on the executive branch of government is the power to __________.

A) approve persons appointed to high office

B) veto bills

C) appoint federal judges

D) negotiate treaties with foreign governments

A) approve persons appointed to high office

The specific written guarantees of our individual liberties are to be found in __________.

A) the main body of the Constitution

B) the first ten amendments

C) certain later amendments

D) all of the above

D) all of the above

The constitutional provision "...nor shall [any person] be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself..." is known as protection against __________.

A) self-incrimination

B) cruel and unusual punishment

C) taking the Fifth Amendment

D) double jeapardy

A) self-incrimination

The legislative process at the national level reflects the intent of the framers of the Constitution to create a legislature that would __________.

A) be less powerful than the executive

B) be cautious and deliberate

C) involve as many citizens as possible

D) ensure that all groups be equally represented

E) allow majorities virtually unlimited control over policy

B) be cautious and deliberate

All of the following are consequences of the federal system in the United States EXCEPT __________.

A) inequality in government services across subnational entities

B) opportunities for experimentation in government programs

C) multiple points of access for interest groups

D) decentralization of political conflict

E) a strict division of power among levels of government

E) strict division of power among levels of government

Divided party control of the presidency and Congress __________.

A) is a natural occurrence due to the constitutional system of checks and balances

B) rarely occurs in US elections, because of straight-ticket voting

C) promotes quick action by the President and Congress on such issues as the federal budget

D) reflects a frequent election pattern over the past three decades

E) results from the reapportionment of House seats after the decennial cencus

D) reflects a frequent election pattern over the last three decades

The Freedom of Information Act was designed primarily to give __________ access to information from __________.

A) Congress; citizens

B) police; criminal suspects

C) the courts; reporters

D) citizens; the executive branch

E) Congress; the executive branch

D) citizens; the executive branch

It is true that the electoral college system __________.

A) encourages the emergence of third parties

B) encourages candidates to concentrate their campaigns in competitive, populous states

C) ensures that the votes of all citizens count equally in selecting the President

D) requires that a candidate win a minimum of 26 states to obtain a majority in the college

E) tends to make presidential elections appear closer than they really are

B) encourages candidates to concentrate their campaigns in competitive, populous states.

The congressional system of standing committees is significant because it __________.

A) fosters the development of expertise by members

B) helps Congress reduce staff costs

C) insulates decision-making from the influence of special interests

D) weakens Congress in its dealings with the President

E) prevents Congress from effectively processing its large legislative workload

A) fosters the development of expertise by members

Elections for the House of Representatives provide __________.

A) approximately equal representation for every voter

B) an equal chance of getting elected for both incumbents and challengers

C) a system in which only those candidates who receive a majority of the votes case win on the first ballot

D) proportional representation based on the percentage of votes cast for each party

E) proportional representation of racial and ethnic minorities

A) approximately equal representaion for every voter

In contrast to revenue sharing, categorical grants-in-aid provide state and local governments with __________.

A) substantial discretion in deciding how to use the grants to solve their problems

B) aid that reflects tax base and population

C) the power to impose regressive taxes

D) funds sufficient to support a high level of local service

E) funds to administer programs clearly specified by the federal government

E) funds to administer programs clearly specified by the federal government

Of the following, the __________ is empowered to create new federal courts and specify the number of judges who will sit on them.

A) Supreme Court

B) Congress

C) President

D) Department of Justice

E) Attorney General

B) Congress

The War Powers Resolution (1973) was designed to __________.

A) allow the Joint Chiefs of Staff to advise the President during periods of conflict

B) allow Congress to suspend certain civil liberties during times of war

C) require a congressional declaration of war before allowing military forces to be used overseas

D) assure congressional involevment in decisions committing military forces in hostile situations overseas

E) ensure funding for military operations lasting more than 60 days

D) assure congressional involvement in decisions committing military forces in hostile situations overseas

The primary reason for the current existence of only two major political parties in the United States is that __________.

A) the Constitution puts severe restrictions on the other parties

B) third parties are usually far to the right or left, and Americans are moderates

C) a winner-take-all electoral system makes it difficult for new parties to emerge and survive

D) voters naturally think of themselves as either liberals or conservatives

E) presidential electors can vote for only two candidates

C) a winner-take-all electoral system makes it difficult for new parties to emerge and survive

An interest group would likely have the greatest influence on policy matters involving __________.

A) narrow issues, only a few interest groups, and a technical information

B) broad, highly visible national issues

broad foreign policy issues

D) major constitutional questions about civil rights and liberties

E) areas in which members of Congress have considerable expertise and commitment

A) narrow issues, only a few interest groups, and technical information

Which of the following has the most influence on the outcome of a congressional election?

A) Local performance of a candidate's party in the presidential race

B) A candidate's incumbency status

C) The amount of a candidate's campaign spending relative to that of his or her opponent

D) The level of support from local party leaders

E) The level of voter turnout

B) A candidate's incumbency status

The voter turnout rate in the United States __________.

A) is high because of the large numbers of elective offices

B) is significantly higher among men than among women

C) is lower than in most other Western democracies

D) increased sharply when eighteen year olds were given the right to vote

E) has been steady over the last 30 years

C) is lower than in most other Western democracies

Which of the following is an accurate statement that could be used to refute the argument that a realignment took place in the 1980's?

A) Although the Republicans had success in national elections, they did not attract members of traditionally Democratic groups.

B) Republican identifiers were less likely to vote their partisanship than were Democratic identifiers.

C) The Republicans had been the dominant party since the late 1960's.

D) The decline in voter turnout slowed steadily.

E) Republican dominance in presidential elections did not extend to congressional, state, and local elections.

E) Republican dominance in presidential elections did not extend to congressional, state, and local elections.

Compared to voters in a general election, voters in presidential primary elections are __________.

A) less likely to be members of political parties

B) less likely to be well educated

C) likely to be a larger percentage of the voting-age population

D) more likely to be members of ethnic or racial minority groups

E) more likely to be affluent

E) more likely to be affluent

An argument used by the Supreme Court in upholding federal statutes outlawing segregation in public accommodations was that such segregation __________.

A) affected interstate commerce, and Congress therefore had the authority to outlaw it

B) was wrong in principle, and Congress had moral authority to outlaw it even though the statutes lacked a strict constitutional basis

C) violated the First Amendment's protection of the right to free assembly, and Congress therefore had the authority to outlaw it

D) violated the Tenth Amendment's reservation of power to state governments, and Congress therefore had the authority to outlaw it

E) affected citizens of different states, consequently it fell under the original jurisdiction of the federal courts and could therefore be outlawed by Congress.

A) affected interstate commerce, and Congress therefore had the authority to outlaw it

The clear-and-present-danger test devised by the Supreme Court was designed to define the conditions under which public authorities could __________.

A) ban obscene materials

B) suspend habeas corpus protections

C) mobilize the National Guard

D) limit free speech

E) commit troops to situations of potential foreign combat

D) limit free speech

As originally ratified, the United States Constitution included provisions designed to __________.

A) limit the importation of foreign manufactured goods

B) increase the economic importance of the agrarian sector relative to that of the manufacturing sector

C) increase the economic powers of the central government

D) expand the states' powers to regulate their own commerce with foreign countries

E) guarantee the states a greater role in economic policy-making

C) increase the economic powers of the central government.

The main difference between elite theories and pluralist theories of politics in the United States is that the elite theories _________; pluralist theories __________.

A) concentrate on the role of interest groups; emphasize the role of individuals

B) argue that a single minority dominates politics in all policy areas; argue that many minorities compete or power in different policy areas

C) argue that social status is the major source of political power; argue that wealth is the major source

D) emphasize the multiple access points that interest groups have to public officials; stress the limits in the number of effectiveness of such access points

E) view government as efficient; view it as slow and wasteful

B) argue that a single minority dominates politics in all policy areas; argue that may minorities complete for power in different policy areas

A committee chair in the House of Representatives is always __________.

A) the member with the longest service on the committee

B) the member with the longest service in the House

C) a representative of the Speaker

D) a member of the majority party in the chamber

E) a trusted ally of the President

E) a trusted ally of the President

It is true that independent regulatory agencies __________.

A) tend to have larger budgets than cabinet departments

B) are directly supervised by cabinet departments

C) provide a product or service directly to the public

D) are insulated from contact with interest groups

E) tend to be freer from presidential control than are cabinet departments

E) tend to be freer from presidential control than are cabinet departments

Which of the following are differences between the legislative process in the House of Representatives and that in the Senate?

I. Debate is more restricted on the House floor than on the Senate floor.

II. The amendment process is more restricted in the House than in the Senate.

III. Bills are more likely to bypass committee consideration in the House than in the Senate.

IV. A Rules Committee sets the guidelines for floor debate in the House but not in the Senate.

A) III only

B) I, II

C) II, IV

D) I, II, IV

E) I, II, III, IV

D) I, II, IV

Communication between congressional representatives and constituents occurs mainly through __________.

A) committee hearings

B) the media

C) the personal staffs of representatives

D) the federal bureaucracy

E) staff members of congressional committees

C) the personal staffs of representatives

The Supreme Court's decision about abortion in Roe v. Wade was based on __________.

A) the right to privacy implied in the Bill of Rights

B) guarantees of freedom of religion contained in the First Amendment

C) the due process clause in the Fifth Amendment

D) the equal protection clause in the Fourteenth Amendment

E) a federal statute legalizing abortion

A) the right to privacy implied in the Bill of Rights

Which of the following trends was evident in presidential elections in the 1980's?

A) The decline of Republican party strength among Black northerners.

B) The decline of Democratic party strength among White southerners.

C) The gradual decline of Democratic party strength among suburban voters

D) A Democratic majority in partisan self-identification

E) A gender gap, with women's support of Republicans sharply declining

B) The decline of Democratic party strength among White southerners

Which of the following statements about incumbent senators running for re-election is correct?

A) The senators with the best chances of re-election are those who have served the longest.

B) The amount of money spent by a challenger has little bearing on an incumbent's re-election chances.

C) Incumbent senators are less likely to be re-elected than are incumbent members of the House of Representatives.

D) An incumbent senator is equally likely to be re-elected or defeated.

E) The most important factor influencing the re-election changes of senators is whether they belong to the President's party.

C) Incumbent senators are less likely to be re-elected than are incumbent members of the House of Representatives.

An important change in political culture since 1950 is that United States citizens have become __________.

A) more likely to believe that their actions can influence government policy

B) more trusting of nongovernmental institutions and leaders

C) less trusting of governmental institutions and leaders

D) less supportive of school integration

E) less likely to think of themselves as ideologically moderate

C) less trusting of governmental institutions and leaders

The most common criterion that people use when voting for a presidential candidate is the candidate's __________.

A) views on specific issues

B) party identification

C) ideological position

D) personal appearance

E) fiscal policy

B) party identification

Protection of the legal rights of women has been facilitated by the passage of which of the following:

I. The Equal Rights Amendment

II. The Equal Pay Act of 1963

III. The Civil Rights Act of 1964

IV. The Education Amendments Act of 1972

A) II only

B) I, III

C) I, IV

D) II, III, IV

E) I, II, III, IV

D) II, III, IV

The framers of the Constitution all believed that one of the primary functions of government is __________.

A) educating citizens

B) protecting individual property rights

C) protecting new immigrants from persecution

D) expanding the borders of the nation

E) ensuring that anyone accused of a crime has the right to legal representation

B) protecting individual property rights

In The Federalist papers, James Madison expressed the view that political factions __________.

A) should be nurtured by a free nation

B) should play a minor role in any free nation

C) are central to the creation of a free nation

D) are undesirable but inevitable in a free nation

E) are necessary to control the masses in a free nation

D) are undesirable but inevitable in a free nation

Agreement among four justices on the Supreme Court is always sufficient to __________.

A) decide the outcome of the case

B) write a majority opinion

C) set a precedent

D) overturn a lower court's opinion

E) accept a case for consideration

E) accept a case for consideration

Of the following, it is true of nominees for federal judgeships that they __________.

A) are recruited from the current pool of United States attorneys

B) are nominated by the Senate and approved by the House of Representatives

C) are elected in popular elections in individual states

D) must receive the approval of the American Bar Association upon nomination

E) are appointed for life by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate

E) are appointed for life by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate

In selecting members of the White House staff, Presidents primarily seek people who __________.

A) give the White House ideological balance

B) are personally loyal to the President

C) have extensive governmental experience

D) will help the President develop a good working relationship with Congress

E) can bring a nonpartisan perspective to policy deliberations

B) are personally loyal to the President

The author of the cartoon would mostly likely agree with which of the following?

A) Only the exclusionary rule can protect the rights of those accused of violating the law.

B) The exclusionary rule has been detrimental to the maintenance of law and order.

C) Plea bargaining is an effective means of reducing court backlogs.

D) The Warren Court advocated social order at the expense of civil liberties.

E) The Rehnquist Court has been too lenient toward criminals.

Answer: B) exclusionary rule has been detrimental to the maintenance of law and order.

All of the following statements pertaining to the presidential veto are true except:

A) Congress overrides fewer than ten percent of presidential vetoes

B) A vetoed bill is often revised and passed in another form.

C) Presidents often threaten to veto bills to increase their leverage with Congress.

D) A President may veto part of a bill.

E) Congress often places provisions the President wants into a bill the President dislikes to make a veto less likely

D) A President may veto part of a bill.

Which of the following is a correct statement about political action committees (PAC's)?

A) The number of PAC's has remained stable over the past decade.

B) Most PAC money is distributed to challengers in an effort to unseat hostile incumbents.

C) The amount of money that PAC's can contribute directly to an individual candidate is limited by law.

D) PAC's are illegal in most states.

E) PAC's rarely attempt to influence legislation through lobbying activities.

C) The amount of money that PAC's can contribute directly to an individual candidate is limited by law.

A "cloture motion" passed in the Senate does which of the following?

A) Returns a bill to committee

B) cuts off debate on a bill

C) criticizes a senator guilty of improprieties

D) removes a president who has been impeached by the House

E) rings a bill directly to a vote without formal committee approval

B) cuts off debate on a bill

The use of direct primaries instead of the convention system in selecting presidential candidates results in which of the following?

I. Weakening of party control over nominations

II. Reduction in the costs of election campaigns

III. Increase in the number of people involved in the choice of candidates

IV. Increase in voter turnout in midterm elections

A) I, III

B) II, IV

C) III, IV

D) I, II, III

E) I, II, III, IV

A) I, III

I. Weakening of party control over nominations

III. Increase in the number of people involved in the choice of candidates

Which of the following factors best accounts for the rise of interest groups and the decline of political parties in recent years?

A) National parties have become too closely identified with controversial issues

B) Court decisions have restricted the political parties' abilities to recruit new members

C) It is less expensive to join an interest group than to join a political party

D) Interest groups have been more successful in avoiding negative press coverage than have political parties

E) Interest groups are better able to articulate specific policy positions than are political parties

E) Interest groups are better able to articulate specific policy positions than are political parties

The news media mainly influences public opinion on the United States by __________.

A) altering the public's views on issues

B) affecting which issues the public thinks are important

C) determining how citizens will vote

D) being able to affect the urban sectors of society

E) influencing people with the highest level of education

B) affecting which issues the public thinks are important

Of the following, the __________ American group voted most heavily Democratic in presidential elections between 1964 and 1992.

A) Mexican

B) Chinese

C) Jewish

D) Black

E) Roman Catholic

D) Black

To enforce the Fourteenth Amendment more clearly, Congress passed the __________.

A) Civil Rights Act of 1964

B) Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act

C) Social Security Act

D) Twenty-sixth Amendment

E) War Powers Resolution

A) Civil Rights Act of 1964

In the United States, most criminal cases end in a(n) __________.

A) plea bargain negotiated by the defense and prosecution

B) appeal to the United States Court of Appeals

C) appeal to a state court of appeals

D) trial by judge

E) trial by jury

A) plea bargain negotiated by the defense and prosecution

"The Congress shall have power...to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by this Constitution in the government of the United States, or in any department or officer thereof."

Interpretations of the clause have been central to attempts to define the nature of which of the following aspects of the United States political system?

A) Republicanism

B) Pluralism

C) Due process of law

D) Federalism

E) Judicial review

D) Federalism

"The Congress shall have power...to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by this Constitution in the government of the United States, or in any department or officer thereof."

The practical effect of this clause has been to __________.

A) make the legislature the most powerful branch of the national government

B) allow the national government to extend its powers beyond those enumerated in the Constitution

C) allow state governments to nullify federal laws within their borders

D) give the President uncontested powers in the area of foreign policy

E) ensure that any powers not delegated by the Constitution to the United States government are reserved to the states and the people

B) allow the national government to extend its powers beyond those enumerated in the Constitution

Those who believe that the Supreme Court in its rulings should defer to the elective institutions of government are advocating __________.

A) social darwinism

B) judicial activism

C) judicial restraint

D) incorporation

E) nullification

C) judicial restraint

In general, Congress is most likely to defer to the President __________.

A) in the area of foreign policy

B) in the area of fiscal policy

C) in the area of social policy

D) late in the President's term

E) when the economy is strong

A) in the area of foreign policy

In trying to influence legislation, the President is generally more successful than congressional leaders in __________.

A) using the legislative schedule to political advantage

B) enforcing party discipline

C) satisfying interest group demands for access to the policy process

D) effectively using formal parliamentary powers rather than persuasion

E) using the media to set the policy agenda

E) using the media to set the policy agenda

Supporters of granting the President line-item veto would most likely argue that this power would increase a President's ability to __________.

A) work effectively with the cabinet

B) negotiate understandings with foreign heads of government

C) control federal spending

D) avoid costly disputes with the judiciary

E) provide effectively for national defense

C) control federal spending