Executive Branch Exam

Question 1

who creates the budget for the US?

Answer 1

the president

Question 2

what three things does the US spend the most on?

Answer 2

1) Social Services
2) Defense
3) Interest on Debt

Question 3

what are the three types of budgets?

Answer 3

1) Surplus (takes in more $ than we spend)
2) Balanced (revenues=expenditures)
3) Deficit (we spend more than we take in)

Question 4

debt vs. deficit

Answer 4

deficit- typically 1 year

debt- money owed for a set period of time

Question 5

what are the two stages of budgeting?

Answer 5

1) concurrent budget resolution phase

2) reconciliation phase

Question 6

concurrent budget resolution phase

Answer 6

HOR & Senate set spending limits for upcoming year

Question 7

reconciliation phase

Answer 7

HOR & Senate write tax laws & agree upon how much money will be spent for each specific cause

Question 8

lobbyists

Answer 8

groups that try to convince legislators to support their cause (write laws)

Question 9

what is the impeachment process?

Answer 9

1) allegation
2) HOR finds evidence
3) Senate holds trial
* 67 Senators to convict

Question 10

the proposal stage

Answer 10

proposal to amend Constitution is passed between both chambers and it requires a 2/3 vote in each

Question 11

president qualifications (3)

Answer 11

age: 35
natural-born citizen
lived in country for 14 years

Question 12

law of the blood (name+meaning)

Answer 12

jus sanguinis

parents are natural-born citizens

Question 13

law of the soil (name+meaning)

Answer 13

jus soli

anyone born in the US

Question 14

intangible powers of the president (4 P’s)

Answer 14

• Propose Public Policy
• Power of Personal Persuasion
• Power of Precedent
• Power of Prestige

Question 15

power of precedent

Answer 15

looking back to past decisions for guidance

Question 16

power of prestige

Answer 16

built through political capital- amount of “goodwill” with the public is built through popular policies

Question 17

political capital

Answer 17

amount of “goodwill” with the public is built through popular policies

Question 18

22nd amendment

Answer 18

limits presidential terms to 2

Question 19

fiscal policy

Answer 19

attempt to manage economy through taxing and spending

Question 20

monetary policy

Answer 20

attempt to manage economy by controlling overall money supply

Question 21

inflation

Answer 21

when money loses value

Question 22

recession

Answer 22

decline in economic activity

Question 23

capitalism connotations

Answer 23

limited government, supply and demand, self-interest, competition

Question 24

cost-push inflation

Answer 24

cost of production increases, supply decreases

prices are raised

Question 25

demand-pull inflation

Answer 25

demand is high, supply is low | prices go up

Question 26

recession problems

Answer 26

limited money, high unemployment, decline in GDP (how much items are worth)

Question 27

inflation (taxing and spending habits)

Answer 27

tax increases + less spending

Question 28

recession (taxing and spending habits)

Answer 28

tax cuts + more government spending

Question 29

surplus budget

Answer 29

revenues exceed expenditures

Question 30

deficit budget

Answer 30

expenditures exceed revenues

Question 31

fiscal year

Answer 31

Oct 1- Sept 30

Question 32

how many regions of the Federal Reserve

Answer 32

12

Question 33

multiplier effect

Answer 33

reserve rate expands money supply

Question 34

discount rate

Answer 34

rate Fed. Reserve charges member banks

Question 35

federal funds rate

Answer 35

rate banks charge to loan each other

Question 36

how many cabinet apartments

Answer 36

15

Question 37

what is the cabinet?

Answer 37

highest level w/ access to the President

Question 38

big four cabinet departments

Answer 38

1) Defense 2) Treasury 3) State & Justice Advisory 4) Policy Making

Question 39

executive agencies

Answer 39

important agencies appointed by president (CIA, NASA)

Question 40

open markets (what do they do + for inflation and recession)

Answer 40

buy or sell bonds inflation- sell recession- buy

Question 41

government corporations (+ examples)

Answer 41

pay as you go system/ private-sector corporation | Amtrak, FDIC, Post Office

Question 42

independent regulatory commissions (+ examples)

Answer 42

designed to monitor and oversee areas of US economy (nuclear power, television, securities and exchange- stock market)

Question 43

pardon vs. reprieve

Answer 43

Pardon- president forgives those charged w/ crime Reprieve-delay in execution of sentence to allow convict time to apply for Presidential Pardon

Question 44

what vote do treaties require?

Answer 44

2/3 vote in Senate