ap government 2.4

On February 9, 2016, President Barack Obama released his budget proposal for the 2017 fiscal year. Facing a Republican Congress, many declared the plan "dead on arrival." Among the cited issues was Obama's request for $582.7 billion in discretionary spending for defense, which many Republicans believed was not enough. Which of the following most accurately explains the interaction between the president and the Congress regarding the defense budget?

• The Congress has the enumerated power to raise revenue, but it is forced to work with the president because the president has the power to determine spending for each department in the upcoming fiscal year.

• The president can create a budget for defense spending, but Congress has the power to execute laws and operate the government, which can affect how much money is actually spent.

• Congress passes a budget for the entire federal government, including defense, but it must consider the president's proposal because the president may veto the bill.

• The president introduces a specific budget bill for defense spending, but Congress uses its power of legislative oversight to set up a negotiation process with the president.

In 2012, after negotiations on a bill in Congress failed, President Obama issued an executive order that protected from deportation individuals illegally brought to the United States as children by their parents. The president took this action because

• the executive order would require Congress to bring a bill regarding illegal immigration to the floor for a vote

• disagreement between congressional leaders and the president on the issue meant that a compromise on a bill was not likely

• the president was reacting to a Supreme Court decision that required him to do something to protect these individuals

• the Constitution clearly gives the president control over the legal status of immigrants in the United States

On February 9, 2016, President Barack Obama released his budget proposal for the 2017 fiscal year. Facing a Republican Congress, many declared the plan "dead on arrival." Among the cited issues was Obama's request for $582.7 billion in discretionary spending for defense, which many Republicans believed was not enough. Which of the following most accurately explains the interaction between the president and the Congress regarding the defense budget?

• The Congress has the enumerated power to raise revenue, but it is forced to work with the president because the president has the power to determine spending for each department in the upcoming fiscal year.

• The president can create a budget for defense spending, but Congress has the power to execute laws and operate the government, which can affect how much money is actually spent.

• Congress passes a budget for the entire federal government, including defense, but it must consider the president's proposal because the president may veto the bill.

• The president introduces a specific budget bill for defense spending, but Congress uses its power of legislative oversight to set up a negotiation process with the president.

In 2012, after negotiations on a bill in Congress failed, President Obama issued an executive order that protected from deportation individuals illegally brought to the United States as children by their parents. The president took this action because

• the executive order would require Congress to bring a bill regarding illegal immigration to the floor for a vote

• disagreement between congressional leaders and the president on the issue meant that a compromise on a bill was not likely

• the president was reacting to a Supreme Court decision that required him to do something to protect these individuals

• the Constitution clearly gives the president control over the legal status of immigrants in the United States

Which of the following correctly identifies an implication of the line graph?

• Presidents are far more likely to make changes to the bureaucracy at the end of a second term than at the beginning of a first term.

• Congress is more likely to act on a president’s policy proposal at the beginning of a first term than at the end of a second term.

• The Supreme Court is more likely to rule on an important case at the beginning of a first term than at the end of a second term.

• Presidents are more likely to send troops into conflict at the end of a second term than at the beginning of a first term.

Which of the following statements reflects a pattern in the line graph?

• Nixon had the highest approval ratings of any president in the graph.

• Most presidents exit office with lower approval ratings than when they entered office.

• Most presidents begin their term with approval ratings lower than 50%.

• Eisenhower had the lowest approval ratings of any president in the graph.

Which of the following represents a reason that a president might use a signing statement to express displeasure with a bill as opposed to issuing a veto?

• The president may have objections to provisions of a bill but does not want to risk Congress overriding a veto.

• Congress has severely curtailed the power of the president to withhold funds for bills that have been adopted.

• The Supreme Court is hesitant to acknowledge the president’s power to veto legislation.

• The president wants to ensure executive agencies do not spend the money appropriated by Congress.

Which of the following trends is best supported by the information in the table?

• The number of treaties has increased over time.

• The number of treaties has decreased over time.

• The number of executive agreements has increased over time.

• The number of executive agreements has decreased over time.

In which year did Congress pass all stand-alone appropriations(spending) bills on time?

• 1977

• 1980

• 1993

• 2012

According to the Constitution, all revenue or tax bills must originate in:

• The Executive Branch

• Senate

• Treasury Department

• House of Representatives