ap gov unit 2 test review
Here is the condensed set of flashcards covering all the key content efficiently in Q&A format:
Q: Who was the first president of the United States under the Articles of Confederation?
A: Samuel Huntington (March 1, 1781 – July 9, 1781).
Q: Who was the first president of the United States under the Constitution?
A: George Washington.
Q: What are the three branches of government, and where does the executive branch rank in size?
A: Legislative, Executive, and Judicial; the executive branch is the middle in size.
Q: What branch of government is the Vice President a member of?
A: The Vice President is a member of the Executive and Legislative branches.
Q: What are the official constitutional requirements to become president?
A: Must be a natural-born citizen, at least 35 years old, and have 14 years of U.S. residency.
Q: What is the length of a presidential term?
A: Four years.
Q: What are the four main powers of the president listed in the Constitution?
A: Military power, diplomatic power, appointment power, and veto power.
Q: What is the president's military power?
A: The president is the Commander in Chief and can send armed forces abroad without a formal declaration of war.
Q: What diplomatic powers does the president hold?
A: The president can create treaties (with 2/3 Senate approval), make executive agreements (no Senate approval needed), and recognize foreign governments.
Q: What is the president’s appointment power?
A: The president appoints ambassadors, public officers, and Supreme Court judges with Senate approval.
Q: What is the president’s veto power?
A: The president can veto bills by returning them to the house of origin. If no action is taken within 10 days, the bill becomes law.
Q: What is an executive agreement?
A: An agreement between heads of state that does not require Senate approval and is not binding on future administrations.
Q: How many members are there in the House, Senate, and presidency?
A: House: 435, Senate: 100, Presidency: 1.
Q: How long are the terms for members of the House, Senate, and presidency?
A: House: 2 years, Senate: 6 years, President: 4 years.
Q: Can the president deploy troops without congressional approval?
A: Yes, the president can deploy troops without House or Senate approval.
Q: What did the 12th Amendment establish about presidential elections?
A: It made the president and vice president a package deal ("ticket").
Q: Which department handles foreign policy?
A: The State Department.
Q: What is the largest federal department?
A: The Department of Defense.
Q: What is the smallest federal department?
A: The Department of Education.
Q: What is the significance of the Take Care Clause?
A: It has been used to increase presidential powers.
Q: What Supreme Court case confirmed the president’s right to executive privilege?
A: US v. Nixon.
Q: What is the current status of line-item vetoes?
A: They were deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
Q: What is trial ballooning?
A: Leaking information to the press to gauge public reaction.
Q: What are the three points of the iron triangle?
A: Interest groups, congressional committees, and bureaucratic agencies.
Q: Which tax brings the most revenue to the federal government?
A: Individual income taxes.
Q: Who compiles the president’s budget for proposal?
A: The Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
Q: Does the chief of staff require Senate approval?
A: No, the chief of staff does not require Senate approval.
Q: Who has tie-breaking vote power in the Senate?
A: The vice president, as granted by the Constitution.
Q: What did the Pendleton Act eliminate?
A: The patronage system.
Q: What is the role of the Federal Election Commission (FEC)?
A: It is an independent regulatory agency overseeing elections.
Q: What powers do the president and Congress share?
A: Budget, legislative (veto), and some appointment powers (with Senate approval required for some).
Q: Which article of the Constitution deals with the presidency?
A: Article II.
Q: How many sections are in Article II, and what do they state?
A: Four sections detailing the president's qualifications, powers, responsibilities, and impeachment process.
Q: What marks the modern presidency?
A: Large White House staff, bureaucratic measures for press interaction, formalized Congressional relations, increased power as Commander-in-Chief, more travel, media dependence, and continuous campaigning.
Q: What are the seven roles of the president?
A: Chief of State, Chief Executive, Chief Diplomat, Commander-in-Chief, Chief Legislator, Party Chief, and Chief Guardian of the Economy.
Q: What are the ceremonial duties of the president?
A: State of the Union Address, celebrating national holidays, and representing U.S. ideals.
Q: What does the president oversee as Chief Executive?
A: The largest branch of government (millions of employees) and appoints officials like ambassadors and department heads (Senate ratification required).
Q: What is the president’s role in foreign policy?
A: Helps determine foreign policy, hosts foreign governments, attends international events, and negotiates treaties.
Q: What authority does the president have as Commander-in-Chief?
A: Controls the armed forces, sends troops abroad, and directs military leaders.
Q: What does the president do as Party Chief?
A: Supports party members in elections, rewards loyalty with appointments, and serves as honorary party chair.
Q: How can the president influence Congress as Chief Legislator?
A: Urges Congress to pass laws and can veto bills.
Q: What does the president do as Chief Guardian of the Economy?
A: Focuses on unemployment, taxes, prices, and general prosperity, though not directly controlling the economy.
Q: Can one person perform the duties of president to everyone’s satisfaction?
A: Many question if the job is too large and complex for one person to succeed.
Q: What is the "Take Care" Clause?
A: It allows the president to deploy troops to enforce laws, such as desegregating schools.
Q: What are executive orders, and do they require Congressional approval?
A: Directives issued by the president that have the force of law; they do not require Congressional approval.
Q: What are notable examples of executive orders?
A: FDR: Japanese internment, Truman: Military integration, Eisenhower: Desegregation of schools.
Q: Why do critics argue that executive orders can be problematic?
A: They claim presidents abuse them to essentially create laws without Congressional input.
Q: What is executive privilege, and why is it used?
A: The president's right to keep communications private for candid advice and separation of powers.
Q: What was the outcome of US v. Nixon regarding executive privilege?
A: Executive privilege cannot block federal court procedures; Nixon had to release tapes.
Q: What is a pocket veto?
A: If Congress adjourns within 10 days of the president not signing a bill, the bill is killed.
Q: What is the purpose of the War Powers Act of 1973?
A: To check the president’s power as Commander-in-Chief by requiring Congressional approval for troop deployment beyond 60 days.
Q: What are the steps outlined in the War Powers Act?
A: Report to Congress within 48 hours of deploying troops, obtain approval within 60 days, or withdraw troops.
Q: Why has the War Powers Act been criticized?
A: Many presidents have ignored it, claiming it restricts their authority as Commander-in-Chief.
Q: What is the significance of the War Powers Act of 1973?
A: It limits the president’s power to deploy troops, requiring Congressional approval for military engagements longer than 60 days.
Q: What is the "hierarchical" structure in presidential administration?
A: A structure where all levels answer to a "chief of staff" who acts as a gatekeeper.
Q: What is the "roundtable/circular" structure in presidential administration?
A: A structure where staffers collaborate in "groupthink" to solve problems and advise the president.
Q: What is the "informal/ad hoc" structure in presidential administration?
A: A structure where task forces, committees, and close advisors deal directly with the president.
Q: What is the president’s role as Chief Executive?
A: The president oversees the administration of government, managing a federal bureaucracy of over 4 million employees.
Q: How many positions does the president appoint in the federal bureaucracy?
A: The president appoints 500 high-level positions and 2,500 lesser jobs.
Q: What is the primary role of the Vice President?
A: The Vice President replaces the president if necessary, helps decide presidential disability, and presides over the Senate, voting in case of ties.
Q: What happens if the office of Vice President becomes vacant?
A: The president nominates a new Vice President, subject to Senate approval
.