“Presidency and Executive Politics”
POL 474/574 Spring 2017
Dr. Kevin Parsneau
Final Study Guide
The final test consists of three sections. Section A will have 6 identification questions from which
you will choose 4 worth 5 points each. Section B will have 4 short answer questions from which you
will choose 3 worth 10 points each. Section C will have 3 essay questions from which you will choose
1 worth 30 points. Remember, because you have choices of questions in sections, you do not have to
prepare an answer to all of them.
A. Potential Identifications: You should expect to write 3-5 sentence answers that provide a brief
definition or explanation of the word or phrase, and states its relevance to the study of the president. You
should also incorporate these terms into your prepared answers to the questions for other sections.
“Spokes of the Wheel” staffing system, “Pyramid” staffing system, E. O. P., principle-agent relationship,
bureaucratic responsiveness, bureaucratic competence, bureaucratic shirking, Senior Executive Service,
Schedule A/ B/ C appointees, iron triangles, impounding, 1995 Budget Battle, 2006 Iraq War Vote, 2011
Debt Ceiling Debate, U.S. v. Curtiss Wright Export, Youngstown Sheet and Tube v. Sawyer, litmus test,
critical nominations (to the Supreme Court), Solicitor General, Hamdan v. Rumsfeld, Humphrey's
Executor v. United States, U.S. v. Curtiss Wright Export, Youngstown Sheet and Tube v. Sawyer, Cheney
v. U.S. District Court,, A.B.A. rating, Hein et al. v. Freedom of Religion Foundation, executive orders,
executive agreements, executive memoranda, Neutrality Acts of 1936 and 1940, Lend-lease, “Two
Presidencies,” War Powers Resolution 1973.
B. Potential Short Answer Questions: You should expect to write 5-7 sentence paragraph answers that
emphasizes the most important part of the answer and addresses each part of the question.
1. Be able to explain the outcomes congressional committee simulation, how presidents may try
to influence the outcomes and what influences the chance of success.
2. Identify and explain two important implications of Downs’s theory for presidential power or
leadership.
3. From course readings and discussions (and in Nolan McCarty’s words), where do vetoes come
from? Explain.
4. According to the course reading, explain one important way that presidents exercise power
without persuasion according to Howell and Kriner?
5. How do presidents engage in “politicization” of the bureaucracy to advance their policies?
6. Identify and explain two ways that the judiciary and the president appear to be dependent upon each
other.
7. Identify and explain two important ways that the courts exercise oversight of the president.
8. What are the War Powers Resolution and its main provisions? Provide two reasons it has or has not
achieved Congress’s goal in passing it.
C. Potential Essay Questions: The essay questions in Section C will be similar to these examples, and
you should prepare to write a five-to-seven- paragraph answer that provides the most important
information to address the question. Be sure to address each part of the question.
1. What does it mean for presidents and legislators that the American system is “separated by design”?
How are presidents both unified and in competition with Congress? What are the important implications
for democratic policymaking in American government? Provide specific examples.
2. What are the main challenges to presidents to lead in the legislative arena? How can they overcome the
challenges? What challenges are most difficult to overcome? What factors help explain presidential
success in the legislative arena? Provide specific examples.
3. Assume a friendly foreign government hires you to assign a score to the percentage of power and
control (and thus responsibility for policy outcomes) that presidents have over U.S. policies. What
percentage would you assign? Explain the important features of the U.S. system that would factor into
your score and why you would use them. Provide specific examples and use this question as an
opportunity to illustrate important themes from the course.
4. How do presidents attempt to leave their legacy on the judiciary? What are their most important
considerations? What limits their ability to build a judicial legacy? Provide specific examples.
5. Explain the most important tools of the “Unilateral President,” how have they been used, what
“checks” are there upon their use, and what are their limitations for presidential power. Provide specific
examples.
(I reserve the right to change question wording for clarity and make reasonable alterations to the
point structure and question choices on the exam)