Agencies and Commissions — Unit test Answers
The presidential election of 2000 is an example of how a candidate can receive the greatest share of the popular vote, but lose the election to an opponent. Use the above map to explain why George W. Bush (shown in yellow) won this election, instead of Al Gore (shown in blue).
The 2000 presidential election was decided by an extremely close margin in the state of Florida. A presidential candidate needs to secure 270 electoral votes to win a clear majority and the presidency, and Florida’s electoral votes made the difference for George W. Bush. The map and charts indicate that candidate Al Gore received over 500,000 more votes than Bush, and in the process he won 20 states (and the District of Columbia). Though George Bush received less votes overall, he won 30 states and a higher number of electoral votes. Because the Electoral College does not determine a winner based on popular vote, Bush won this election.
The Constitution lists four qualifications to be eligible for the presidency. What are these qualifications?
The first qualification is that any serving president must be at least 35 years old. The second qualification is that the president must be a natural born citizen. The third qualification is that the president must be a resident of the United States for at least 14 years. The fourth qualification is that the individual must be able to recite the oath of office.
The above map shows Electoral College votes based on 2000 Census data. What do the numbers on this map represent? In the Electoral College system, what targets must be met by a presidential candidate in order to win the election?
This map shows the number of electoral votes assigned to each state between 2000 and 2010. Each state sends a number of electors that matches its representation in the Senate and House of Representatives. In the Electoral College system, a presidential candidate must receive at least 270 of these electoral votes to win the election, and each state won adds to that total.
The primary role of the President of the United States is to serve as the chief executive of the United States. What are the president's responsibilities and powers as chief executive?
The president’s primary duty is to enforce the laws of the United States, which is rarely done directly, but rather through overseeing the many departments that do this. In this role, the president often appoints or nominates the leaders of these departments, agencies, and commissions. Along with this power comes the power of executive order, which means the president can issue a command that has the force of law. As the chief executive, the president can also grant amnesty from the law by granting pardons and reprieves to criminals.
Contrast primary and general elections. How are these two types of elections different?
In a primary elections, political parties choose their nominees for candidacy. Parties may have several members who are interested in running for election, and they use primaries to focus their efforts. Once a candidate has won a primary, he or she moves on to a general election. In this type of election, candidates from different parties face each other. A general election winner takes office.
The State of the Union address is the most important annual speech given by the President of the United States. Briefly outline the history and purpose of the speech.
The State of the Union address is one of the president’s most important public responsibilities. Each year, the president delivers an in-person speech at the Capitol building that speaks to the strengths and weaknesses of the United States government over the past year. It is also a powerful political platform to set an agenda for the next year by suggesting new areas of concentration for policy reform. The State of the Union speech was first delivered by George Washington, but many presidents delivered the State of the Union address by writing a letter to Congress. Woodrow Wilson re-established the tradition of delivering the speech in person in 1913.
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