10.1 - Presidential Qualifications and Leadership

Describe how the office of the president has changed over time.

•  The symbolic role of the president has declined but the political power of the office has grown.

• The symbolic role and political power of the president have both declined.

• The symbolic role and political power of the president have both grown.

• The symbolic role of the president has grown but the power of the office has declined.

President Woodrow Wilson's actions involving the League of Nations BEST illustrates

• that a successful president must know when the time is right to introduce a new policy.

• how important it is for a president to be able to compromise.

• how the office of the presidency has become much stronger than the Founders ever intended.

• the importance of political courage.

Which characteristic has made winning a presidential election more difficult?

• holding extreme political beliefs

• being from the middle class

• having European heritage

• serving in the U.S. military

What is the purpose of the Federal Elections Commission?

• It certifies the results of federal elections reported by states.

• It verifies that presidential and vice-presidential candidates meet the formal requirements for the office.

• It runs the meeting of the Electoral College.

• It regulates campaign finance legislation.

What is the definition of the term landslide?

• An election outcome where the outcome is seen as a disaster for the country.

• An election outcome where the eastern states support one candidate and the western states support another candidate.

• An election where the victorious candidate dies before taking office.

• An election outcome with a wide margin of victory for a candidate.

Which of the following statements about presidential candidates is most accurate?

• A candidate without a military background has no chance of winning a presidential election.

• Extremely liberal or conservative candidates have the best chance of winning a presidential campaign.

• The backgrounds of presidential candidates have become more diverse in recent years.

• Only a wealthy American has any chance of becoming president.

Presidents Franklin Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan were both known as

• champions of conservative policies.

• being out of touch with the pulse of the nation.

• first-rate campaign fundraisers.

• skillful communicators.

Why is Richard Nixon's opening of diplomatic relations with China often cited as an example of political courage?

• His action was unpopular with both his party and the public.

• At the time, China was a much more powerful country than the United States.

• There was a chance that he would have been taken hostage by Chinese radicals during his visit to China.

• Because he changed his own views about China to match those held by other Republicans.

Why is the ability to generate public support for policies important for a president?

• Members of Congress are sensitive to the amount of popular support policies have.

• The president can bypass Congress by appealing directly to the public to create new laws.

• The president wants to avoid being impeached because of implementing unpopular policies.

• Foreign leaders are more likely to implement policies that are popular with the U.S. public.

Which of the following is a constitutional requirement for becoming president of the United States?

• serving in the U.S. military

• being at least 35 years old

• serving at least one term as an elected federal or state official

• serving at least one term as a judge