William_T._Bianco,_David_T._Canon]_American_Polit

452 Chapter 12 | The Presidency

The presidency as an

institution

Explain how the Executive Office of the President, the

vice president, the first spouse, and the Cabinet help

the president. (Pages 437–441)

Summary

The executive branch is a huge, complex organization that helps the

president exercise vast responsibilities. Appointees to the branch

serve as the president’s eyes and ears on the bureaucracy. Almost all

appointees are replaced when a new administration begins.

Key terms

Executive Office of the

President (EOP) (p. 438)

Cabinet (p. 440)

Practice Quiz Questions

7. In most appointments to EOP positions, presidents generally
   emphasize.
   a experience
   b expertise
   c effectiveness
   d public opinion
   e loyalty


8. Recent vice presidents have had official duties and/
   but been influential in their role.
   a no; have not
   b limited; have
   c limited; have not
   d extensive; have
   e extensive; have not


9. The primary job of most of the people who work in the
   Executive Office of the President is.
   a to help the president manage the federal bureaucracy
   b to lobby members of Congress to enact the president’s program
   c to manage the president’s reelection campaign
   d to find ways to build public support for the president
   e to oversee the organization of the president’s party

Presidential power today

Explain how modern presidents have become even more

powerful. (Pages 441–449)

Summary

While presidents have gained power over time, the Constitution

grants the president rather limited powers. The growth of presidential

power is closely related to the fact that most limits on it are not well-

defined and presidents have succeeded in taking advantage of these

ambiguities.

Key terms

unilateral action (presidential)

(p. 442)

unitary executive theory (p. 443)

signing statement (p. 444)

presidential approval rating

(p. 446)

going public (p. 448)

Practice Quiz Questions

10. The was used by the George W. Bush administration
    to argue in favor of the power to station American forces in
    Iraq.
    a principal-agent theory
    b unitary executive theory
    c unilateral agreement theory
    d dual presidency theory
    e signing statement power


11. Most presidents use the to control the interpretation
    and implementation of laws.
    a line-item veto
    b recess appointment
    c executive order
    d signing statement
    e pocket veto


12. Congressional challenges to presidential unilateral action are
    used and are generally at constraining
    presidential power.
    a rarely; successful
    b rarely; unsuccessful
    c commonly; successful
    d commonly; unsuccessful


13. Presidential reelection is often tied to.
    a economic conditions
    b policy positions
    c presidential actions
    d presidential appointments
    e an absence of scandals


14. What is the best explanation for the ability of presidents to act
    unilaterally in the face of congressional opposition?
    a Americans’ dislike of Congress
    b the perception that presidents only act in the interests of the
    entire nation
    c the doctrine of executive privilege
    d the difficulty of enacting a law to reverse a president’s actions
    e the theory of the unitary executive

Full_13_APT_64431_ch12_418-453.indd 452 16/11/18 10:34 AM