Chapter.9 Congress And Interbranch Politics Exam Questions

Test Bank

Chapter 9: Congress and Interbranch Politics

Multiple Choice

1. Conventional wisdom often casts the president as ______ of foreign policy, whereas Congress is cast as ______.

a. the decider; uninterested

b. uninterested; the decider

c. deferential; compliant

d. compliant; deferential

Learning Objective: 9-1: Know the constitutional and institutional context of congressional foreign policymaking.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Introduction

Difficulty Level: Hard

2. Which of the following foreign policy powers of the president is spelled out in the US Constitution?

a. power to regulate commerce with the foreign nations

b. power to receive foreign dignitaries

c. power to make rules for the government and regulation of the land and naval forces

d. power to suppress insurrections

Learning Objective: 9-1: Know the constitutional and institutional context of congressional foreign policymaking.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: The Constitutional Foundation of Foreign Policy

Difficulty Level: Medium

3. Which of the following foreign powers of Congress is spelled out in the US Constitution?

a. power to receive foreign dignitaries

b. power to make treaties

c. power to commission military officers

d. power to provide for the common defense and general welfare

Learning Objective: 9-1: Know the constitutional and institutional context of congressional foreign policymaking.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: The Constitutional Foundation of Foreign Policy

Difficulty Level: Medium

4. Key diplomatic powers of the president are subject to the advice and consent of ______.

a. the public

b. the House

c. the Senate

d. the States

Learning Objective: 9-1: Know the constitutional and institutional context of congressional foreign policymaking.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: The Constitutional Foundation of Foreign Policy

Difficulty Level: Easy

5. Which of the following is an example in which the president can check the Congress?

a. the president can deem laws unconstitutional

b. the president can declare war

c. the president can veto laws

d. the president can make treaties

Learning Objective: 9-1: Know the constitutional and institutional context of congressional foreign policymaking.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: The Constitutional Foundation of Foreign Policy

Difficulty Level: Medium

6. Which of the following is an example in which the Congress can check the president?

a. the Congress can deem laws unconstitutional

b. the House can override vetoes

c. the Senate must provide its advice and consent of appointments

d. the Congress may pass bills

Learning Objective: 9-1: Know the constitutional and institutional context of congressional foreign policymaking.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: The Constitutional Foundation of Foreign Policy

Difficulty Level: Medium

7. Determining the constitutionality of a law or action is known as ______.

a. advice and consent

b. veto

c. judicial review

d. filibuster

Learning Objective: 9-1: Know the constitutional and institutional context of congressional foreign policymaking.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: The Courts, the Congress, and the Presidency

Difficulty Level: Easy

8. The power of judicial review rests in which of the following?

a. the presidency

b. the legislature

c. the states

d. the courts

Learning Objective: 9-1: Know the constitutional and institutional context of congressional foreign policymaking.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: The Courts, the Congress, and the Presidency

Difficulty Level: Easy

9. In foreign policy, the Supreme Court tends to rule in favor of ______.

a. the Congress

b. the people

c. the president

d. the states

Learning Objective: 9-1: Know the constitutional and institutional context of congressional foreign policymaking.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: The Courts, the Congress, and the Presidency

Difficulty Level: Easy

10. In which of the following cases did the Supreme Court uphold a congressional grant of authority to the president to prevent the sale of arms to belligerents and ruled generally in favor of national governmental and presidential supremacy in foreign policy?

a. United States v. Curtiss-Wright Export Corp (1936)

b. Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer Case (1962)

c. Crockett v. Reagan (1981)

d. Campbell v. Clinton (1999)

Learning Objective: 9-1: Know the constitutional and institutional context of congressional foreign policymaking.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: The Courts, the Congress, and the Presidency

Difficulty Level: Medium

11. The courts have strengthened the power of the president, in part, by determining that ______ have the same force as treaties.

a. presidential memoranda

b. executive agreements

c. presidential statements

d. state of the union addresses

Learning Objective: 9-1: Know the constitutional and institutional context of congressional foreign policymaking.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: The Courts, the Congress, and the Presidency

Difficulty Level: Medium

12. In which of the following cases did the Congress challenge the presidential administration’s power to send military advisors into El Salvador?

a. Dellums v. Bush (1990)

b. Campbell v. Clinton (1999)

c. Lowry v. Reagan (1987)

d. Crockett v. Reagan (1981)

Learning Objective: 9-1: Know the constitutional and institutional context of congressional foreign policymaking.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: The Courts, the Congress, and the Presidency

Difficulty Level: Medium

13. Which of the following congressional tools was affected by the Immigration and Naturalization Service v. Chadha (1983) case?

a. power to declare war

b. legislative veto

c. advice and consent

d. power to impeach

Learning Objective: 9-1: Know the constitutional and institutional context of congressional foreign policymaking.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: The Courts, the Congress, and the Presidency

Difficulty Level: Medium

14. The right of the executive branch to withhold information from Congress and the public is referred to as ______.

a. implied consent

b. presidential immunity

c. judicial review

d. executive privilege

Learning Objective: 9-1: Know the constitutional and institutional context of congressional foreign policymaking.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: The Courts, the Congress, and the Presidency

Difficulty Level: Easy

15. Which of the following is considered a legislative action?

a. determine the constitutionality of laws

b. create budgets

c. make treaties

d. authorize and appropriate funds

Learning Objective: 9-1: Know the constitutional and institutional context of congressional foreign policymaking.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Congressional Actors and Avenues of Influence

Difficulty Level: Medium

16. When members take direct action ______.

a. they look at the policy climate to signal preferences

b. they look at the policy process

c. they target specific foreign policy issues

d. they take aim at the broader context

Learning Objective: 9-1: Know the constitutional and institutional context of congressional foreign policymaking.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Congressional Actors and Avenues of Influence

Difficulty Level: Medium

17. When members of Congress accede to the administration’s request, their behavior is considered to be ______.

a. compliant

b. resistant

c. independent

d. rejection

Learning Objective: 9-2: Identify the major historical patterns of interbranch relations in US foreign policy.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Historical Patterns of Interbranch Relations on Foreign Policy

Difficulty Level: Easy

18. When members modify the administration’s request, delivering a result either more or less than the administration desired, their behavior is considered ______.

a. compliant

b. resistant

c. independent

d. rejection

Learning Objective: 9-2: Identify the major historical patterns of interbranch relations in US foreign policy.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Historical Patterns of Interbranch Relations on Foreign Policy

Difficulty Level: Easy

19. ______ behavior is when Congress flatly refuses to enact the administration’s desires.

a. Compliant

b. Resistant

c. Independent

d. Rejection

Learning Objective: 9-2: Identify the major historical patterns of interbranch relations in US foreign policy.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Historical Patterns of Interbranch Relations on Foreign Policy

Difficulty Level: Easy

20. When members of Congress go beyond reacting to the administration’s policy requests and proposals and choose to enact their own foreign policy agenda, their behavior is considered ______.

a. compliant

b. resistant

c. independent

d. rejection

Learning Objective: 9-2: Identify the major historical patterns of interbranch relations in US foreign policy.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Historical Patterns of Interbranch Relations on Foreign Policy

Difficulty Level: Easy

21. After Vietnam, congressional ______ sharply fell.

a. resistance

b. compliance

c. rejection

d. independence

Learning Objective: 9-2: Identify the major historical patterns of interbranch relations in US foreign policy.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Historical Patterns of Interbranch Relations on Foreign Policy

Difficulty Level: Easy

22. In the post-Cold War period, Congress became more ______ in its foreign policy actions.

a. compliant

b. rejection

c. resistant

d. independent

Learning Objective: 9-2: Identify the major historical patterns of interbranch relations in US foreign policy.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Historical Patterns of Interbranch Relations on Foreign Policy

Difficulty Level: Easy

23. Initial signs of re-assertiveness by Congress after World War II quickly gave way to ______.

a. antagonism

b. acquiescence

c. accommodation

d. awakening

Learning Objective: 9-2: Identify the major historical patterns of interbranch relations in US foreign policy.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Congressional Accommodation, 1944–1950

Difficulty Level: Easy

24. The height of bipartisanship took place during which of the following periods?

a. congressional antagonism

b. congressional acquiescence

c. congressional accommodation

d. congressional awakening

Learning Objective: 9-2: Identify the major historical patterns of interbranch relations in US foreign policy.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Congressional Accommodation, 1944–1950

Difficulty Level: Medium

25. McCarthyism, which fueled anticommunism, took place during which of the following periods?

a. congressional antagonism

b. congressional acquiescence

c. congressional accommodation

d. congressional awakening

Learning Objective: 9-2: Identify the major historical patterns of interbranch relations in US foreign policy.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Congressional Accommodation, 1944–1950

Difficulty Level: Medium

26. Which of the following has been the factor most responsible for the growth of presidential power and the straining of relations between Congress and the president?

a. the power of oversight and investigation

b. the power to appropriate funds to make laws

c. advice and consent

d. the war powers

Learning Objective: 9-4: Describe the congressional foreign policy activity in key foreign policy issue areas.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: The War Powers

Difficulty Level: Medium

27. Which of the following has the constitutional authority to advise the president on and consent to his appointments and treaties?

a. Senate

b. cabinet heads

c. Supreme Court

d. House

Learning Objective: 9-4: Describe the congressional foreign policy activity in key foreign policy issue areas.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Advice on and Consent to Appointments and Treaties

Difficulty Level: Easy

28. Linked directly to the legislative process is the power of ______.

a. advice and consent

b. war

c. congressional oversight

d. the purse

Learning Objective: 9-4: Describe the congressional foreign policy activity in key foreign policy issue areas.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: The Power of Oversight and Investigation

Difficulty Level: Easy

29. Which of the following represents the ultimate means by which Congress may exercise its constitutional role?

a. advice and consent

b. veto

c. oversight

d. fund appropriation

Learning Objective: 9-4: Describe the congressional foreign policy activity in key foreign policy issue areas.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: The Power of Oversight and Investigation

Difficulty Level: Easy

30. Which type of oversight provides numerous opportunities for watchdog activities?

a. regular

b. crisis-driven

c. event-driven

d. they all provide opportunities

Learning Objective: 9-4: Describe the congressional foreign policy activity in key foreign policy issue areas.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: The Power of Oversight and Investigation

Difficulty Level: Easy

31. Which of the following types of oversight increased during the Vietnam War?

a. event-driven

b. regular

c. crisis-driven

d. they all increased

Learning Objective: 9-4: Describe the congressional foreign policy activity in key foreign policy issue areas.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: The Power of Oversight and Investigation

Difficulty Level: Easy

32. According to the authors, which of the following has become the norm for Washington, DC?

a. polarization

b. bipartisanship

c. politicization

d. divided government

Learning Objective: 9-3: Understand the context of post–Cold War congressional foreign policymaking.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Polarization and Partisanship

Difficulty Level: Medium

33. When is Congress more likely to defer to the president’s policy preferences?

a. when debates focus on national threats and priorities

b. during times of peace

c. when the political debate over threat is less salient

d. in periods of stability

Learning Objective: 9-3: Understand the context of post–Cold War congressional foreign policymaking.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: The Politics of Threat

Difficulty Level: Medium

34. The 1969 National Commitments Act and the 1972 Case Act required the president to report all agreements within ______ days of their completion.

a. 30

b. 60

c. 90

d. 120

Learning Objective: 9-4: Describe the congressional foreign policy activity in key foreign policy issue areas.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Advice on and Consent to Appointments and Treaties

Difficulty Level: Easy

35. Which of the following has always been the greatest strength of the legislative branch?

a. advice and consent

b. war powers

c. power to appropriate funds

d. power of the purse and to make laws

Learning Objective: 9-4: Describe the congressional foreign policy activity in key foreign policy issue areas.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: The Power of the Purse and the Power to Make Laws

Difficulty Level: Medium

36. Which of the following processes actually provides the money for programs?

a. approval

b. authorization

c. budgetary

d. appropriation

Learning Objective: 9-4: Describe the congressional foreign policy activity in key foreign policy issue areas.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: The Power of the Purse and the Power to Make Laws

Difficulty Level: Medium

37. What are the keys to legislative success?

a. divided government and polarization

b. bargain and compromise

c. collaboration and commitment

d. independence and assertiveness

Learning Objective: 9-4: Describe the congressional foreign policy activity in key foreign policy issue areas.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: The Power of the Purse and the Power to Make Laws

Difficulty Level: Medium

38. Event-driven oversight is tied to ______.

a. authorization and appropriation cycles

b. policy agendas and issues

c. major policy failures

d. scandals

Learning Objective: 9-4: Describe the congressional foreign policy activity in key foreign policy issue areas.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: The Power of Oversight and Investigation

Difficulty Level: Easy

39. Watch dog activities are associated with which of the following?

a. advice and consent

b. power of the purse

c. war powers

d. power of oversight and investigation

Learning Objective: 9-4: Describe the congressional foreign policy activity in key foreign policy issue areas.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: The Power of Oversight and Investigation

Difficulty Level: Medium

40. Which of the following is considered the investigative arm of Congress and engaged in oversight of the executive branch?

a. Congressional Research Service (CRS)

b. Government Accountability Office (GAO)

c. Congressional Budget Office (CBO)

d. Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

Learning Objective: 9-2: Identify the major historical patterns of interbranch relations in US foreign policy.

Cognitive Domain: Application

Answer Location: Staffing

Difficulty Level: Medium

True/False

1. There is no foreign policy power provided to the president that is not shared by Congress.

Learning Objective: 9-1: Know the constitutional and institutional context of congressional foreign policymaking.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: The Constitutional Foundation of Foreign Policy

Difficulty Level: Medium

2. Throughout the cold war years of the 1950s and 1960s, both the House and Senate were dominated by southerners, members of the Democratic Party, and political conservatives.

Learning Objective: 9-2: Identify the major historical patterns of interbranch relations in US foreign policy.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Understanding Congressional Reassertiveness

Difficulty Level: Easy

3. Congress has declared war just five times in American history.

Learning Objective: 9-4: Describe the congressional foreign policy activity in key foreign policy issue areas.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: The War Powers

Difficulty Level: Easy

4. Both treaties and executive agreements require Senatorial advice and consent.

Learning Objective: 9-4: Describe the congressional foreign policy activity in key foreign policy issue areas.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: Advice on and Consent to Appointments and Treaties

Difficulty Level: Easy

5. During times of peace, power tends to flow back to Congress.

Learning Objective: 9-3: Understand the context of post–Cold War congressional foreign policymaking.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: The Politics of Threat

Difficulty Level: Easy

Short Answer

1. Why is the separation of powers considered an “invitation to struggle”? Provide an example.

Learning Objective: 9-1: Know the constitutional and institutional context of congressional foreign policymaking.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: The Constitutional Foundation of Foreign Policy

Difficulty Level: Medium

2. Explain the avenues of influence.

Learning Objective: 9-1: Know the constitutional and institutional context of congressional foreign policymaking.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Congressional Actors and Avenues of Influence

Difficulty Level: Hard

3. Historically, what has been the distribution of foreign policymaking power between Congress and the president?

Learning Objective: 9-2: Identify the major historical patterns of interbranch relations in US foreign policy.

Cognitive Domain: Comprehension

Answer Location: Historical Patterns of Interbranch Relations on Foreign Policy

Difficulty Level: Medium

4. What are the three central requirements of the War Powers Act?

Learning Objective: 9-4: Describe the congressional foreign policy activity in key foreign policy issue areas.

Cognitive Domain: Knowledge

Answer Location: The War Powers

Difficulty Level: Easy

5. Identify and discuss the principal elements that support the continuation of an active congressional role in the foreign policymaking process.

Learning Objective: 9-4: Describe the congressional foreign policy activity in key foreign policy issue areas.

Cognitive Domain: Analysis

Answer Location: Congress and The Politics of Foreign Policy

Difficulty Level: Hard