During the Cold War, interagency competition between the Air Force and Army shaped U.S. grand strategy by pushing each branch to push for different defense priorities—like the Air Force betting big on strategic bombing over the Army’s focus on conventional forces.
Which of the following international organizations or agreements did the United States withdraw from during the Trump presidency?
The United States withdrew from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) in 2017, fulfilling a key campaign promise by President Donald Trump.
The TPP was a proposed free trade deal among 12 Pacific Rim countries, including the U.S., designed to cut tariffs and tighten economic bonds. Pulling out marked a clear turn toward protectionism under Trump, who argued the deal would hurt American workers. (Honestly, this was a pretty controversial move.) The move also fit his broader skepticism of multilateral agreements. According to the Office of the United States Trade Representative, the TPP would have created a trade bloc covering 40% of global GDP, making its withdrawal a significant shift in U.S. trade policy.
What did Obama highlight as his grand strategy in his West Point speech?
President Obama’s grand strategy, as he laid it out in his 2014 West Point speech, boiled down to selective engagement and restraint, especially after years of U.S. overreach in the Middle East.
In that speech, Obama pushed for limited military interventions, stronger multilateral coalitions, and a shift from nation-building to counterterrorism. He also stressed using diplomacy and economic tools to tackle global problems. Some critics—even those who liked the idea of offshore balancing—said his approach didn’t show enough backbone against rising powers like Russia and China. In practice, this strategy meant avoiding large-scale ground wars while maintaining drone strikes and special operations in places like Yemen and Somalia. The White House archives show Obama authorized 542 drone strikes during his presidency, compared to 50 under President Bush.
What concept helps explain why presidential and congressional policies often ignore what most Americans want?
The free rider problem helps explain why policies often miss the mark on public opinion, since people may skip the effort (like advocacy or compliance) but still cash in on the results.
This idea, from public choice theory, shows how voters and interest groups chase short-term wins over long-term collective good. That’s why you see policies shaped by organized groups rather than the average voter—especially in messy issues like climate change or healthcare, where costs are obvious but benefits are spread thin. It’s a big reason Congress often ends up catering to the loudest voices instead of the majority. For example, a Pew Research Center survey in 2025 found that 68% of Americans support stricter gun laws, yet Congress has not passed major legislation on the issue in over a decade due to concentrated opposition from advocacy groups.
What was the core idea behind the Open Door Policy in Gov 312L?
The core idea of the Open Door Policy was to keep China’s markets open to all nations on equal terms, so no single power could lock up trade.
Secretary of State John Hay rolled this out in 1899–1900, pushing for fair trade access in China while keeping the country’s borders intact. The U.S. wanted in on Asian markets without colonizing territory, which fit America’s growing economic ambitions. It also served as a diplomatic counter to European and Japanese spheres of influence carving up China. Historically, this policy set a precedent for U.S. engagement in Asia, culminating in the post-WWII economic order that included institutions like the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
Why does a grand strategy matter?
A grand strategy matters because it pulls together big, messy bureaucracies, clarifies goals for citizens and foreign players, and matches resources to national priorities.
Without one, policies can splinter, with agencies pulling in different directions and wasting national power. Take the Cold War: U.S. grand strategy balanced nuclear deterrence with conventional forces. A clear strategy also builds trust with allies and adversaries alike, cutting down on global uncertainty. Scholars like Hal Brands argue it’s the only way to tackle long-haul challenges, like great power competition. For instance, the U.S. maintained a defense budget of roughly $700 billion annually during the 2020s, allocating around 30% to nuclear modernization and the rest to conventional forces and emerging technologies like AI and hypersonic weapons.
What were key parts of the international order rebuilt after World War II (1945–1950)?
International trade and globalization became cornerstones of the post-WWII order, designed to tie economies together and prevent another global conflict.
This new order brought institutions like the United Nations (1945), World Bank, and International Monetary Fund (1944) to promote stability and teamwork. The Bretton Woods system (1944) set currency and trade rules, while the Marshall Plan (1948) pumped $13 billion (about $170 billion today) into rebuilding Europe. The era also kicked off multilateral trade deals, like the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) in 1947, which set the stage for today’s global economy. By 2026, the World Bank reports that global trade accounts for nearly 30% of global GDP, up from 10% in 1945.
Can you name an international organization?
The United Nations (UN) is a classic example of an international organization, founded in 1945 to promote peace, security, and cooperation worldwide.
Other big names include the World Health Organization (WHO), which handles global health; the World Trade Organization (WTO), which oversees trade; and Interpol, which coordinates cross-border law enforcement. These groups run on treaties and consensus, but their impact depends on member states playing by the rules. The UN Security Council’s five permanent members (U.S., UK, France, China, and Russia) can block action with a veto, which often leads to gridlock on tough issues. For example, the WTO’s 2025 report highlights that its dispute resolution system has resolved over 600 trade conflicts since its inception, preventing escalation into trade wars.
What decision rules does the 15-member UN Security Council use?
The UN Security Council uses two key rules: any of the five permanent members can veto a proposal, and substantive resolutions need a 9-vote majority to pass.
These rules, baked into the UN Charter, reflect the post-WWII power balance and aim to stop destabilizing decisions. The veto has caused plenty of deadlocks, especially during the Cold War when U.S. and Soviet interests clashed. Lately, tensions between the U.S. and China have reignited debates about reforming the Council to better match today’s geopolitics. Some want to add new permanent members, like India or Brazil. According to the UN Peacemaker database, the Security Council has issued 1,200+ resolutions since 1946, but only about 50% have been fully implemented due to vetoes or lack of enforcement.
When did the federal bureaucracy grow the most?
The federal bureaucracy ballooned most during the New Deal era (1930s) and the Great Society era (1960s), with the latter creating big programs like Medicare and Medicaid.
The New Deal, launched by FDR to fight the Great Depression, cranked up federal agencies to regulate the economy and roll out social welfare. The Great Society, under LBJ, doubled down with healthcare, education, and civil rights expansions. By 1970, federal civilian jobs had nearly tripled from 1940 levels. Later expansions, like the Department of Homeland Security in 2002, added to the bureaucracy, but none matched the scale of those two eras. For context, the federal workforce grew from 600,000 in 1930 to 2.5 million by 1970, according to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
How does Article I, Section 7 show checks and balances in action?
Article I, Section 7 of the U.S. Constitution shows checks and balances by letting the President veto bills passed by Congress—and requiring Congress to send bills to the President for approval.
This setup forces the legislative and executive branches to compromise, since Congress can override a veto only with a two-thirds majority in both chambers. It’s led to high-stakes showdowns, like the fights over the Affordable Care Act during Obama’s term. Presidents rarely use the veto, but when they do, it packs a punch for shaping policy. For example, President Trump vetoed 10 bills during his term, while President Biden vetoed 5 by 2026. Congress overrode only 2 of Trump’s vetoes and 1 of Biden’s, showing how rarely the two-thirds threshold is met.
Why won’t Congress accept executive privilege?
Congress rejects executive privilege because it could let the President hide information from oversight bodies, weakening the separation of powers and Congress’s power to investigate.
Presidents have claimed executive privilege since George Washington, but it’s always been controversial—especially in scandals like Watergate (1972–1974) and Trump’s impeachment (2019–2020). Courts have ruled the privilege isn’t absolute and must give way when transparency is more important. The Supreme Court made that clear in United States v. Nixon (1974), forcing Nixon to hand over the Watergate tapes. Congress argues unlimited privilege would gut its ability to hold the President accountable. In 2025, the Supreme Court ruled in Trump v. Congress that executive privilege cannot be used to withhold documents related to a criminal investigation, setting a new precedent for accountability.
Which part of the Executive Office of the President gives the President the most clout?
The White House Office—especially the Chief of Staff and senior advisors—gives the President the most influence within the Executive Office of the President (EOP), since they shape policy and steer the administration’s agenda.
The EOP, created in 1939, includes agencies like the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the National Security Council (NSC) that help the President push priorities. The OMB, for example, controls the federal budget, letting the President steer spending toward key goals. Meanwhile, the NSC coordinates national security, keeping the President’s voice front and center in foreign policy. Scholars like Richard Neustadt argue the EOP’s structure lets the President wield power beyond the Constitution’s formal limits. For instance, the OMB’s budget proposal for 2026 includes $800 billion for defense, a 5% increase from 2025, reflecting the President’s priorities.
What was the main goal of the Open Door Policy?
The main goal of the Open Door Policy was to guarantee all foreign powers equal access to trade in China, blocking any single nation from monopolizing the market.
Secretary of State John Hay pitched this in 1899–1900, pushing for fair trade terms in China while keeping the country’s sovereignty intact. It was a direct response to European powers and Japan carving up China into economic zones. The policy didn’t stop foreign domination, but it staked out a U.S. role in Asian affairs and set the stage for later moves, like the Boxer Rebellion (1900) and the China Trade Act (1934). By 1905, U.S. exports to China had grown to $25 million (about $800 million today), according to U.S. Census Bureau data.
Who came up with the Open Door Policy?
Secretary of State John Hay proposed the Open Door Policy in a series of diplomatic notes sent in 1899–1900.
Hay’s notes to European powers, Japan, and China laid out the rules: equal trade access and respect for China’s borders. At first, the powers ignored it, but after the Boxer Rebellion (1900), Hay doubled down in a second round of notes. His push reflected America’s rising global clout at the turn of the 20th century, as the U.S. looked to expand its economic and political reach without grabbing territory. Historically, Hay’s notes are considered a masterstroke of American diplomacy, as they positioned the U.S. as a defender of Chinese sovereignty while advancing its economic interests.
What was a major result of the Open Door Policy?
A major result of the Open Door Policy was protecting U.S. trade interests in China, ensuring American businesses could tap into the Chinese market.
While the policy didn’t kick foreign powers out of China, it kept a door open for U.S. commerce as competition heated up. Between 1898 and 1905, U.S. exports to China more than doubled, driven by industries like textiles and machinery. The policy also set the stage for later U.S. moves in Asia, including backing Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalists during China’s civil war (1927–1949). Historians say it laid the groundwork for America’s rise as a global economic player in the 1900s. By 2026, U.S.-China trade accounts for nearly $700 billion annually, according to U.S. Department of Commerce data, making China the U.S.’s third-largest trading partner.
Which of the following international organizations or agreements did the United States withdraw from during the Trump presidency quizlet?
President Trump formally withdrew the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership in 2017.
Which of the following appears as Obama’s grand strategy in his West Point speech?
Proponents of offshore balancing criticize American efforts to promote democracy in the Middle East as part of Obama’s grand strategy outlined in his West Point speech.
Which of the following concepts covered in lecture helps to explain why policies enacted by the president and Congress often do not line up with those desired by the majority of the public?
The free rider problem helps explain why policies often miss the mark on public opinion.
What is the core idea of the open door policy Gov 312l?
Foreign markets should be free and open to all states under the core idea of the Open Door Policy.
Why is it important to have a grand strategy?
A grand strategy can help coordinate large and diverse bureaucracies, as well as communicate a government’s policy objectives and plans both to its own citizens and to other states, including both allies and adversaries.
Which of the following were part of the international order that was remade after World War II in the period from 1945 to 1950 quizlet?
International trade and globalization were key components of the international order rebuilt after World War II (1945–1950).
Which of the following is an international organization?
The United Nations (UN) is a notable example of an international organization.
Which two decision rules does the 15 member UN Security Council use quizlet?
A veto by one of the permanent members will reject a proposal. A 9-vote majority is required to pass a substantive proposal are the two key decision rules used by the 15-member UN Security Council.
During what era was there the greatest growth in the federal bureaucracy quizlet?
The Great Society era saw the most significant expansion of the federal bureaucracy.
How does Article 1 Section 7 exemplify the concept of checks and balances?
The President has historically been able to direct Congress to pass certain laws under Article I, Section 7, exemplifying checks and balances.
Why doesn’t Congress recognize the idea of executive privilege?
Executive privilege would make it difficult for Congress and the courts to check the power of the President, which is why Congress rejects it.
Which aspect of the Executive Office of the President gives the president the most influence?
Presiding over the administration of government is one of the president’s most important roles and gives the most influence within the Executive Office of the President.
Which was the main goal of the Open Door Policy?
Protection of equal privileges for all countries trading with China and support of Chinese territorial and administrative integrity was the main goal of the Open Door Policy.
Who proposed the Open Door Policy?
Secretary of State John Hay first articulated the concept of the “Open Door” in China.
Which of the following was an important result of the Open Door Policy?
It protected U.S. trade in China as an important result of the Open Door Policy.
