frq

Terms in this set (6)

Presidential approval ratings fluctuate over the course of each presidential administration
a) identify two factors that decrease presidential approval ratings, and explain why each factor has that effect
b) identify two factors that increase presidential approval ratings, and explain why each factor has that effect
a) presidential scandals, expectations gap, economic conditions if bad, decline of popularity over time, foreign policy problems/crises and war only if goes badly over prolonged time
b) spin/administrative use of media, foreign policy problems/crises and war- rally around flag, foreign policy success, reelection
Presidents are generally thought to have advantages over Congress in conducting foreign policy because of the formal and informal powers of the presidency
a) Identify two formal constitutional powers of the President in making foreign policy
b) Identify two formal constitutional powers of Congress in making foreign policy
c) Identify two informal powers of the President that contribute to the President's advantage over Congress in conducting foreign policy
d) Explain how each of the informal powers identified in c contributes to the President's advantage over Congress in conducting foreign policy
a) commander in chef; power to commit troops/ recognition of nations
b) declare war/ confirm ambassadors
c) executive agreements/ agenda setting
d) ability to circumvent the formal process/ persuade congress: negotiate, offer support, threats, etc
The judicial branch is designed to be more independent of public opinion than are the legislature or the executive. Yet, the United States Supreme Court rarely deviates too far for too long from prevalent public opinion
a) Describe two ways in which the United States Supreme Court is insulated from public opinion
b)Explain how two factors work to keep the United States Supreme Court from deviating too far from public opinon
a) Appointed, serve life terms
b) Reliance on other public officials to execute decisions/ the potential for the impeachment of justices
A significant feature of the electoral college is that most states have a winner take all system
a) describe the winner take all feature of the electoral college
b) explain one way in which the winner take all feature of the electoral college affects how presidential candidates from the two major political parties run their campaigns
c) explain one way in which the winner take all feature of the electoral college hinders third party candidates
d) explain two reasons why the electoral college has not been abolished
a)the candidate who gets the most votes wins all of a states electoral votes
b) issues (an issue may swing a bloc of votes in a state)
choice of vice president (regional balance)
c) third party candidates may get a lot of popular votes but no electoral votes unless they carry a state
d)helps to ensure that a majority of electoral votes are earned by one candidate
would require constitutional amendment
history/tradition `
In the Federalist Paper....
a) identify the part of the national government that was originally most closely tied to citizens and explain how it was tied to citizens
b) explain two ways the united states constitution limited majority rule
c) chose two of the following twentieth century developments and explain how each moved the united states from a less democratic system to a more democratic system
a) House of Representatives- closely tied to citizens
-members must live in the state they represent
-house members represent relatively small districts
b)provisions that limit how the majority can have an impact on government
-electoral college
-longer terms of senators
provisions that limit the power of government
-bill of rights
-expressed powers
in the united states political system, there are linkage institutions..
a) describe how each of the following is related to the likelihood of voting
-age/education
b) identify one current government electoral requirement that decreases voter turnout. explain how it decreases voter turnout
c) identify one linkage institution other than elections and explain two ways it connects citizens o government
a)older people are more likely to vote
turnout is lowest for young people
people with more education are more likely to vote
b) citizenship- the requirement makes a person ineligible to vote
c) media- convey the views of the people to government - interviewing citizens/ presenting poll results
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