FRQs on the Presidency

5-11

FRQ 1 The concept of divided government in the United States means that one political party can control
the executive branch while another controls the legislative branch. This poses problems for the President in
making appointments to federal offices.
A) Describe two problems that divided government poses for the President in making federal
appointments.
B) Identify and explain two ways Presidents try to overcome the problems described in (a).
FRQ 2 Presidents are generally thought to have advantages over Congress in conducting foreign policy
because of the formal and informal powers of the presidency.
A) Two formal constitutional powers of the President in making foreign policy.
B) Identify two formal constitutional powers of Congress in making foreign policy.
C) Identify two informal powers of the President that contribute to the President's advantage over
Congress in conducting foreign policy.
D) Explain how each of the informal powers identified in (c) contributes to the President's
advantage over Congress in conducting foreign policy.
FRQ 3 The number of factors enable the president to exert influence over Congress in the area of domestic
policy. However, presidents are also limited in their influence over domestic policymaking in Congress.
A) The Constitution gives the President certain enumerated powers. Describe two of these powers
that enable the president to exert influence over domestic policy.
B) Choose two of the following. Define each term and explain how each limits the presidents
ability to influence domestic policy.
o Mandatory spending
o Lame duck period
o Party Polarization
FRQ 4 The prosecution of (impeachments), for this reason, will seldom fail to agitate the passions of the
whole community, and to divide it into parties more or less friendly or inimical to the accused. In many cases
it will connect itself with the pre-existing factions, and will enlist all their animosities, partialities, influence,
and interest on one side or on the other; and in such cases there will always be the greatest danger that the
decision will be regulated more by the comparative strength of parties, than by the real demonstrations of
innocence or guilt.
Alexander Hamilton, Federalist 65
1. The House of Representatives has twice impeached sitting presidents, both of whom avoided removal
from office by the Senate.
A. Define impeachment and removal, and describe the process of impeachment and removal as listed in
the Constitution.
B. Assess the accuracy of Hamiltons observations as applied to both cases of presidential impeachment.
C. Identify ONE strength and ONE weakness of checks and balances in dealing with Hamiltons
concerns.