AP Government Questions

Which of the following groups would be most likely to support a constitutional amendment banning all abortions? A Conservatives B Libertarians C Independents D Liberals E Moderates

A Conservatives

The largest amount of political coverage in newspapers during presidential campaigns is devoted to A day-to-day campaign activities B the platforms of the major parties C candidates' policy stands on domestic issues D candidates' stands on foreign policy issues E candidates' experience and qualifications

A day-to-day campaign activities

Since the 1960s, support for the Democratic Party has declined the most among which of the following groups? A Labor union members B Business leaders C African Americans D Native Americans E White southerners

E White southerners

Which of the following demographic groups has voted most consistently for the Democratic Party in national elections over the last three decades? A African Americans B Hispanics C Protestants D Wealthy White males E Southern White males

A African Americans

Which of the following best explains why delegates to both the Republican and Democratic Conventions in 1996 were much more likely to have college and postgraduate degrees than was the rest of the voting population? A College education increases the likelihood of holding liberal political positions. B College education increases the likelihood of holding conservative political positions. C Political activism increases with education levels. D Education allows people to have more time to attend conventions. E Some states required delegates to hold college degrees.

C Political activism increases with education levels.

Which of the following best explains how most candidates are recruited to run for office? A Candidates for office usually first work as lawyers for political parties before running for office. B Most candidates who run for office are recruited by political leaders to do so because they are famous. C Political parties usually recruit and train people at the local level they believe are most fit to run for office. D Most candidates running for office are selected after earning merit working for the government.

C Political parties usually recruit and train people at the local level they believe are most fit to run for office.

Refer to the bar graph for the following question. Source: United States Census Bureau, 2012 Which of the following is a likely effect of the trend depicted in the bar graph on voting and elections? A There will be fewer restrictions placed on voting. B Voter turnout is likely to increase among non-Whites. C The Democratic Party will win more elections, based on current voting trends. D There will be more retrospective voting among young voters.

C The Democratic Party will win more elections, based on current voting trends.

Which of the following is a correct statement about political action committees (PAC's)?*This item is subject to changes in the campaign finance laws A The number of PAC's has remained stable over the past decade. B Most PAC money is distributed to challengers in an effort to unseat hostile incumbents. C The amount of money that PAC's can contribute directly to an individual candidate is limited by law. D PAC's are illegal in most states. E PAC's rarely attempt to influence legislation through lobbying activities.

C The amount of money that PAC's can contribute directly to an individual candidate is limited by law.

Top Priorities for the President and Congress Survey of 1,503 adults, conducted Jan. 10-15, 2018. Source: Pew Research Center, 2018 Which of the following best explains the data in the line graph? A Between 2012 and 2018, the economy did not grow enough to make economic issues a top priority. B Voters care more about jobs than the budget deficit because there has been an increase in unemployment between 2010 and 2018. C The economy is likely the most important issue because it is a broader category that is more open to individual interpretation than both jobs and the budget deficit. D Complex issues such as the budget deficit receive little attention in the media even though citizens care deeply about them.

C The economy is likely the most important issue because it is a broader category that is more open to individual interpretation than both jobs and the budget deficit.

Which of the following took place after presidential candidates Truman in 1948, Nixon in 1968, and Clinton in 1992 won only pluralities of the popular vote? A The election was formally decided in the House of Representatives. B The election was formally decided in the Senate. C The winning candidate took office after receiving less than 50% of the popular votes cast. D The electoral college votes cast by independents were critical in determining the winner. E The results of the popular vote necessitated a runoff.

C The winning candidate took office after receiving less than 50% of the popular votes cast.

Which of the following political parties would be most likely to oppose reduced sentencing for nonviolent felony offenders? A The Green Party B The Libertarian Party C The Republican Party D The Democratic Party

C The Republican Party

Citizens who believe that their votes will have no effect on the outcome of an election have a A high level of trust in elected officials B high level of political participation C high level of political interest D low level of political efficacy E low level of political cynicism

D low level of political efficacy

Which of the following scenarios best reflects the process of political socialization? A) An individual takes a civics course in school and develops opinions about politics. B) Members of Congress increasingly vote the same way as other members of their party. C) A group is able to attract new members by offering access to a broad network of people. D) As media choices increase, individuals expand their media consumption to new sources.

A) An individual takes a civics course in school and develops opinions about politics.

An interest group would likely have the greatest influence on policy matters involving A narrow issues, only a few interest groups, and technical information B broad, highly visible national issues C broad foreign policy issues D major constitutional questions about civil rights and liberties E areas in which members of Congress have considerable expertise and commitment

A narrow issues, only a few interest groups, and technical information

Children are most likely to adopt the party identification A of their parents B of the president C of their friends D of their teachers E endorsed by the media

A of their parents

In the last thirty years, the single most important variable in determining the outcome of an election for a member of the House of Representatives has been, A incumbency B personal wealth C previous political offices held in the district D membership in the political party of the President E positions on key social issues

A incumbency

When contributing to congressional campaigns, political action committees (PACs) are most likely to contribute to A incumbents of both major parties B third-party challengers C Republican challengers D state party organizations E national party organizations

A incumbents of both major parties

When party members meet to nominate a candidate for office, they participate in which of the following? A General election B Caucus C Blanket primary D Open primary E Closed primary

B Caucus

Which of the following best explains how parties link citizens to the electoral process? A Parties send volunteers to knock on doors to register voters. B Parties recruit candidates to run for election. C Parties research how best to frame issues in campaigns. D Parties determine the leadership of congressional committees.

A Parties send volunteers to knock on doors to register voters.

Which of the following is the most important influence on the choice made by voters in presidential elections? A Partisan identification B Party platform adopted at the national convention C Vice-presidential running mate D Endorsement by political incumbents E Appeal of the candidates' spouses

A Partisan identification

"Corporate Income Tax Rates by State in 2018" Source: Tax Foundation and CNN.com, 2018. Using both the maps, which of the following best explains how states with the highest corporate tax rates voted in the 2016 election? A The maps show that states with the highest corporate tax rates were more likely to vote for the Democrat, Hillary Clinton, in the 2016 election. B The maps show that states with the highest corporate tax rates split their votes between the Democrat, Hillary Clinton, and the Republican, Donald Trump, in the 2016 election. C The maps show that states with the highest corporate tax rates were more likely to vote for the Republican, Donald Trump, in the 2016 election. D The maps show that there was no relationship between high corporate tax rates and which candidate a state was likely to vote for in the 2016 election.

A The maps show that states with the highest corporate tax rates were more likely to vote for the Democrat, Hillary Clinton, in the 2016 election.

Which of the following is true of amicus curiae briefs? A They are used by interest groups to lobby courts. B They are used exclusively by liberal interest groups. C They are used exclusively by conservative interest groups. D They are now unconstitutional. E They are the means by which a litigant seeks Supreme Court review of a lower court decision

A They are used by interest groups to lobby courts.

Voter turnout tends to be highest among A college-educated voters B working-class voters C African American voters D young voters E low-income voters

A college-educated voters

Which of the following explains how The Federalist 10 relates to the decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010) ? A Both regarded factions as destructive to liberty. B In both, a limited approach to government regulation was argued for. C In The Federalist 10, the author opted for stricter regulation of factions, whereas in Citizens United, petitioners argued that regulation was a violation of liberties. D The Federalist 10 supports free speech, whereas the Citizens United decision opposes free speech.

B In both, a limited approach to government regulation was argued for.

Which of the following is a significant trend in the presidential nominating process over the past three decades? A Replacement of national party conventions by national primaries for each party B Increasing importance of presidential primaries rather than state conventions C A sharply declining role for political action committees (PAC's) D Decreasing cost of campaigns E Increasing control by political party leaders over outcomes

B Increasing importance of presidential primaries rather than state conventions

All of the following contribute to the success of incumbent members of Congress in election campaigns EXCEPT: A Incumbents usually raise more campaign funds than do their challengers. B Incumbents tend to understand national issues better than do their challengers. C Incumbents are usually better known to voters than are their challengers. D Incumbents can use staff to perform services for constituents. E Incumbents often sit on committees that permit them to serve district interests.

B Incumbents tend to understand national issues better than do their challengers.

An advertisement airs on television attacking a candidate running for office. The advertisement was produced and distributed by a group that was not affiliated with nor funded by any political campaign. Which of the following statements explains why this expenditure is not prohibited by the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 ? A The press can freely criticize elected officials in their publications. B Political spending by groups not directly affiliated with a campaign is a form of protected speech. C The press can protect the confidentiality of their sources with regard to campaign funding violations. D Restrictions on individual contributions to political campaigns violate the First Amendment.

B Political spending by groups not directly affiliated with a campaign is a form of protected speech.

Which of the following public policies would Democrats be most likely to support? A Authorizing additional funding for the military B Securing a universal health care system C Cutting the budget for foreign aid to other countries D Withdrawing from international climate change agreements

B Securing a universal health care system

"Corporate Income Tax Rates by States in 2018" Source: Tax Foundation and CNN.com, 2018. Using both of the maps, which of the following best explains the role that ideology has played in the shaping of corporate tax rates? A The maps indicate that there is no correlation between corporate tax rates and a state's ideology. B The maps indicate that states that have high corporate tax rates are more likely to enact liberal policies. C The maps indicate that states with high corporate tax rates are more likely to hold libertarian positions. D The maps indicate that states with high corporate tax rates do not have an ideological preference.

B The maps indicate that states that have high corporate tax rates are more likely to enact liberal policies.

Typically, presidential candidates implement their campaign strategies by A applying their resources evenly among the states, because they must win popular votes in a majority of the states to be elected B focusing on larger, competitive states, because they might tip the balance of the electoral college C focusing on small states, because these states have proportionally more electoral votes than more populous states have D ignoring the electoral college, because the popular vote determines the outcome of the election E ignoring the electoral college, because more states are moving away from the winner-take-all system

B focusing on larger, competitive states, because they might tip the balance of the electoral college

When a child's parents both identify strongly with the same political party, the child will most likely A identify with the opposing party B identify with the parents' party C have a low sense of political efficacy D become an independent rather than a party identifier E become alienated from the political system

B identify with the parents' party

Which of the following scenarios is most related to the Twenty-Sixth Amendment? A A primary election is held to determine the candidate who will run as the Republican for the United States Senate. B An interest group purchases a television ad prior to an election. C An eighteen-year-old votes in a presidential election. D A woman votes in a local election.

C An eighteen-year-old votes in a presidential election.

The primary responsibility for determining monetary policy in the United States rests with the A International Monetary Fund B World Bank C Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System D Treasury Department E Comptroller of the Currency

C Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System

Which of the following would result from the direct election of presidential candidates? A A national primary would be established. B Party nominating conventions would be abolished. C Each vote would count equally in determining which candidate won the election. D The electoral college would become more influential in the electoral process. E Third-party candidates would have less chance of winning the election.

C Each vote would count equally in determining which candidate won the election.

A person loses his job and refuses to accept any government assistance to get back on his feet, instead relying on savings and seeking a new job immediately. Which of the following core values would this person most relate to? A Rule of law B Free enterprise C Individualism D Equality of opportunity

C Individualism

The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (McCain-Feingold) did which of the following? A It created interest groups known as 527s. B It made it illegal for unions to donate to presidential campaigns. C It banned soft money donations to national parties. D It banned candidates from running negative advertisements. E It banned third-parties from federal funding.

C It banned soft money donations to national parties.

"Corporate Income Tax Rates by State in 2018" Source: Tax Foundation and CNN.com, 2018. Using both of the maps, which of the following best explains how states with the lowest corporate tax rates voted in the 2016 election? A The maps show that states with the lowest corporate tax rates were more likely to vote for the Democrat, Hillary Clinton, in the 2016 election. B The maps show that states with the lowest corporate tax rate had no distinct preference for either the Democrat, Hillary Clinton, or the Republican, Donald Trump. C The maps show that states with the lowest corporate tax rate were more likely to vote for the Republican, Donald Trump, in the 2016 election. D The maps show that states with low corporate tax rates were just as likely to vote for the Democrat, Hillary Clinton, as they were for the Republican, Donald Trump, in the 2016 election.

C The maps show that states with the lowest corporate tax rate were more likely to vote for the Republican, Donald Trump, in the 2016 election.

An election involving more than two candidates in which the person who receives the most votes is the winner is called A a majority election B a proportional election C a plurality election D a simple election E an indirect election

C a plurality election

The primary reason for the current existence of only two major political parties in the United States is that A the Constitution puts severe restrictions on other parties B third parties are usually far to the right or left, and Americans are moderates C a winner-take-all electoral system makes it difficult for new parties to emerge and survive D voters naturally think of themselves as either liberals or conservatives E presidential electors can vote for only two candidates

C a winner-take-all electoral system makes it difficult for new parties to emerge and survive

Candidates for political office use public opinion polls for all of the following purposes EXCEPT to A assess recognition of the candidate's name B measure voters' support for the candidate's issues C bring the opposition's opinions into alignment with those of the candidate D fine-tune policy stands E identify key issues among the voters

C bring the opposition's opinions into alignment with those of the candidate

The process known as front-loading refers to A presidential candidates raising funds far in advance of the first presidential primary B a presidential candidate seeking endorsements before officially declaring candidacy C the tendency of states to choose an early date on the primary calendar D political action committees (PACs) contributing money to candidates at least one year before the first presidential primary or caucus E the winner-take-all principle of the electoral college

C the tendency of states to choose an early date on the primary calendar

A corporate lobbyist would be LEAST likely to have an informal discussion about a pending policy matter with which of the following? A A member of the House in whose district the corporation has a plant B A member of the White House staff concerned about the issue C A member of the staff of the Senate committee handling a matter of concern to the corporation D A federal judge in whose court a case important to the corporation is being heard E A journalist for a major newspaper concerned about the issue

D A federal judge in whose court a case important to the corporation is being heard

Which of the following explains why any attempt to reduce Social Security benefits is difficult? A The Supreme Court has ruled that benefits are constitutionally required. B Interest groups concerned with Social Security are ineffective. C The global economy makes government insurance programs necessary. D There are many voters who support Social Security. E Government cannot predict the number of new retirees each year.

D There are many voters who support Social Security.

In the process and structure of public policy-making, "iron triangles" refer to the A bargaining and negotiating process between the President and Congress about the direction of domestic policy B dominance of corporate power in setting the national policy agenda for economic expansion C interrelationship among federal, state, and local levels of government in the policy process D networks of congressional committees, bureaucratic agencies, and interest groups that strongly influence the policy process E group of presidential advisers who formulate the President's foreign policy agenda

D networks of congressional committees, bureaucratic agencies, and interest groups that strongly influence the policy process

Which of the following form an "iron triangle"? A President, Congress, Supreme Court B President, House majority leader, Senate majority leader C Interest group, Senate majority leader, House majority leader D Executive department, House majority leader, President E Executive department, Congressional committee, interest group

E Executive department, Congressional committee, interest group

Which of the following techniques would a corporate lobbyist be likely to use to influence political outcomes in Congress? I. Organizing a demonstration in Washington just because a key House vote II. Ensuring that the corporation's political action committee (PAC) makes donations to the campaigns of members of key committees III. Meeting informally with Senate aides over lunch or cocktails IV. Bringing influential constituents to Washington to discuss important policy matters with their representatives A II only B I and II only C III and IV only D I, III, and IV only E II, III, and IV only

E II, III, and IV only

The primary function of political action committees (PAC's) is to A serve as fund-raising organizations for challengers B provide members of Congress with unbiased information regarding proposed legislation C consult with the President regarding domestic policy D encourage broader participation in politics among the electorate E raise campaign funds to support favored candidates

E raise campaign funds to support favored candidates

An election in which there is a significant shift in the bases of electoral support from one political party to another is called a A deviating election B maintaining election C dealigning election D primary election E realigning election

E realigning election

The concept of "critical elections" is most closely associated with A) the electoral college process B) elections during wartime C) the nomination process D) economic recession E) party realignment

E) party realignment

Policy that describes the impact of the federal budget (including taxes, spending, and borrowing) on the economy is referred to as which of the following? A Monetary policy B Trade policy C Fiscal policy D Antitrust policy E Capitalist policy

C Fiscal policy

The most widely performed act of political participation in the United States is A writing letters to public officials B voting in local elections C voting in presidential elections D contributing money to political candidates E attending local party meetings

C voting in presidential elections

Compared to the general population, delegates to presidential nomination conventions are A less interested in politics B less educated C financially worse off D more likely to register as independent E more ideological

E more ideological

Compared to voters in a general election, voters in presidential primary elections are A less likely to be members of political parties B less likely to be well educated C likely to be a larger percentage of the voting-age population D more likely to be members of ethnic or racial minority groups E more likely to be affluent

E more likely to be affluent

Since 1960 the presidential election process has been affected by an increase in all of the following EXCEPT the A) proportion of independents in the electorate B) influence of political consultants C) number of primaries D) turnout of votes E) role of television

D) turnout of votes

CHURCH ATTENDANCE IN THE UNITED STATES, 1972-2010 Source: General Social Survey, 2010. Based on the line graph, what percentage of people surveyed attended church weekly in 1990 ? A 35% B 30% C 25% D 15%

A 35%

The advantages of incumbency in congressional elections include which of the following? I. Incumbents receive more campaign contributions than do challengers. II. Incumbents are able to provide important services for individual voters. III. The government provides campaign funds for incumbents. IV. The President usually endorses incumbents for reelection. V. Most American voters believe Congress does a good job. A I and II only B III and IV only C I, IV, and V only D II, III, and V only E III, IV, and V only

A I and II only

POLITICAL EFFICACY AND PARTY AFFILIATION Source: Pew Research Center, 2015. Which of the following conclusions is best supported by the graphs? A Political efficacy is a major factor in shaping political views about government, but political ideology also plays a role. B Regardless of party, there is a great deal of ideological agreement about the role of government among those with greater political efficacy. C While trust in government has declined over time, this is due to a decrease in political efficacy. D Republicans promote trust in government, which increases political efficacy.

A Political efficacy is a major factor in shaping political views about government, but political ideology also plays a role.

Which of the following is a type of primary election that requires registration as a party affiliate to vote? A Blanket B Closed C General D Open E Plebiscite

B Closed

In the United States, which of the following is a rule on voting found in the Constitution or its amendments? A No person may be denied the right to vote merely for lack of either state or federal citizenship. B No person eighteen years of age or older may be denied the right to vote on account of age. C No person may be denied the right to vote merely because he or she has previously served a prison sentence. D A state may not establish a residency requirement for voting. E A state may require a person to pay a poll tax in order to register to vote.

B No person eighteen years of age or older may be denied the right to vote on account of age.

There is an ongoing debate over the role of money in elections. The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA) of 2002 banned soft money and restricted advertisements in the weeks before an election. Parts of this act were challenged and struck down in the Supreme Court case Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010). Which of the following was a consequence of that ruling? A The Federal Election Commission cannot place any restrictions on political advertisements because they are protected by the freedom of speech. B Super PACs may spend unlimited funds on advertisements that are not coordinated with the campaign because they are protected by the freedom of speech. C Advertisements produced in coordination between campaigns and super PACs cannot be restricted because they are protected by the freedom of speech. D The Federal Election Commission can place restrictions on all advertisements because they are not protected by the freedom of speech.

B Super PACs may spend unlimited funds on advertisements that are not coordinated with the campaign because they are protected by the freedom of speech.

Which of the following best characterizes the influence of the news media on public opinion in the United States? A They alter the public's views on issues. B They affect which issues the public thinks are important. C They determine how citizens will vote. D They are most able to influence people with the highest level of education. E They are most able to influence the urban sectors of society.

B They affect which issues the public thinks are important.

Which of the following is true of political action committees (PACs) ? A They are a part of political party organizations. B They make campaign contributions to gain access to legislators. C They are allowed to contribute to only one candidate in a given contest. D They effectively control the presidential campaigns. E They may operate at the state level but not at the national level.

B They make campaign contributions to gain access to legislators.

Since the early 1980s, the Republican Party platform has been increasingly influenced by A environmental activists B evangelical Christians C civil libertarians D labor unions E active military officers

B evangelical Christians

Which of the following best explains why the winner of a presidential election usually claims to have a mandate from voters? A) The president's party often wins a majority of seats in Congress by riding the president's coattails. B) The allocation of electoral votes in the winner-take-all system exaggerates the margin of victory. C) Presidents are allowed to implement their legislative agendas without interference during their first term. D) The new president is allowed to replace a significant number of justices on the Supreme Court. E) The incoming president automatically gains control of Congress.

B) The allocation of electoral votes in the winner-take-all system exaggerates the margin of victory.

Which of the following scenarios best represents an example of party-line voting? A A citizen always votes for the candidate who supports conservation of the environment. B A homeowner votes for a candidate based on the candidate's promise to lower property taxes. C A citizen casts votes for all Republicans based solely on the candidates' affiliation with the Republican Party. D A citizen votes for the incumbent member of the House of Representatives after receiving help processing his disability claim.

C A citizen casts votes for all Republicans based solely on the candidates' affiliation with the Republican Party.

If voters are acting according to the retrospective model of voting, which of the following will be the most important consideration in their decision? A The party affiliations of the candidates B The campaign promises made by the candidates C The effect of recent economic conditions on the voters D Whether the candidates will act in the best interest of the voters if elected

C The effect of recent economic conditions on the voters

A primary election in which voters are required to identify a party preference before the election and are not allowed to split their ticket is called A an open primary B a blanket primary C a closed primary D a runoff primary E a presidential preference primary

C a closed primary

In 1987 the cooperation among the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the National Organization for Women (NOW), and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to defeat Robert Bork's nomination to the United States Supreme Court was an example of A) impeachment B) litigation C) coalition building D) the recall process E) the initiative process

C) coalition building

SPENDING BY THE NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION (NRA), BY ELECTION CYCLE Source: Opensecrets.org, 2018. If a researcher were interested in understanding how much the NRA spent in each state, what visual could be created to accurately display this information in the bar graph? A A table that gives details about the home states of candidates receiving money from the NRA in 1994 B An infographic that explains how the NRA has helped Republicans win elections in the South C A pie chart that shows the amount of money the NRA spent in each state since 1992 D A map showing the dollar amounts spent by the NRA in each state since 1992

D A map showing the dollar amounts spent by the NRA in each state since 1992

Which of the following policies would an individual who identifies as a Democrat most likely support? A Reducing regulations on Wall Street to stimulate economic growth B Decreasing the role of the federal government to ensure access to health care C Increasing federal enforcement of immigration laws D Strengthening anti-discrimination policies for married gay couples

D Strengthening anti-discrimination policies for married gay couples

An electoral system based on single-member districts is usually characterized by A strong, centralized political parties and a weak executive B higher rates of voter turnout than are common in other systems C legislative representation of each party in proportion to the number of votes it receives D domination of the legislature by two political parties E ideological rather than mass-based parties

D domination of the legislature by two political parties

The activities of the Federal Reserve Board have the most direct influence on A bank interest rates B government spending C oil prices D troop-strength levels of the armed services E availability of scarce minerals

A bank interest rates

Which of the following statements about voting behavior in the United States is correct? A College graduates are more likely to vote than are those who have at most a high school diploma. B Voters under the age of 25 are more likely to vote than are those in any other age group. C Registration requirements have no significant effect on voter turnout. D Since 1920, the proportion of women who have voted is approximately the same as the proportion of men who have voted. E During the twentieth century, the proportion of African Americans who voted was approximately the same as the proportion of White Americans who voted.

A College graduates are more likely to vote than are those who have at most a high school diploma.

Which of the following is most frequently reported in the media during a presidential election? A Results from public opinion polls that indicate which candidates are most likely to win B The official platforms of each of the major political parties C Financial strategies and management of the campaigns D Comparisons of candidates' positions on foreign and domestic policy issues E Information about the candidates' experience in government and record in office

A Results from public opinion polls that indicate which candidates are most likely to win

Which of the following is true of political action committees (PACs) ? A They make campaign contributions in hopes of gaining access to legislators. B They are a part of political party organizations. C They are allowed to contribute to only one candidate in any election. D They nominate candidates for president at national party conventions. E They operate at the state level but not at the national level.

A They make campaign contributions in hopes of gaining access to legislators.

The main intent of "motor voter" laws is to A increase voter registration B increase voter turnout by providing transportation to polls for people without cars C increase the rate at which incumbents are reelected to office D prevent states from using literacy requirements for voting E allow sixteen year olds to vote if they have a valid driver's license

A increase voter registration

Which of the following is most important for getting an accurate measure of public opinion in a survey? A Surveying only cell phone users B Selecting a random sample C Asking leading questions D Contacting only registered voters E Conducting the survey online

B Selecting a random sample

A state government places security cameras facing a popular site of protest in a public square in front of its statehouse. This scenario illustrates A how political attitudes quickly shift in the United States B the balance of promoting stability and ensuring civil liberties C the free-rider problem of organizing a civil rights protests D the impact of globalization on individual political attitudes

B the balance of promoting stability and ensuring civil liberties

The concept of realignment refers to changes in A the United States system of international alliances B the social bases of the parties' voting support C the media's criticism of the president and Congress D spending priorities in the federal budget E the rate of voter participation

B the social bases of the parties' voting support

Based on the data in the chart and your knowledge of presidential elections, which of the following is the best strategy that Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump could have used to pull votes away from the third-party candidates, Jill Stein and Gary Johnson? A) Trump or Clinton could have promised to work with members of third parties in Congress if elected. B) Trump or Clinton could have agreed to appoint Stein or Johnson to Cabinet positions after the election. C) Trump or Clinton could have adopted issues that were popular with Stein's and Johnson's voters in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin as part of their campaigns. D) Trump and Clinton could have agreed to include Stein and Johnson in presidential debates to show that they were open to discussing issue important to third parties.

C) Trump or Clinton could have adopted issues that were popular with Stein's and Johnson's voters in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin as part of their campaigns.

Which of the following generalizations about group voting tendencies is true? A Jewish voters tend to vote Republican. B Protestant voters tend to be more liberal than Roman Catholics on economic issues. C More women than men identify themselves as Republicans. D Rural voters are more likely to support Democratic candidates than are urban voters. E African American Democrats tend to support the more liberal candidates within their party.

E African American Democrats tend to support the more liberal candidates within their party.

Which of the following best describes an exit poll? A A poll that asks voters at randomly selected voting places whom they voted for so that election results can be predicted more quickly B A poll conducted by having a computer randomly select phone numbers from around the country C An opinion poll that is used to intentionally sway people's opinions by using false or misleading information in the conversation D A poll that randomly samples a population to capture public opinion at a given time

A A poll that asks voters at randomly selected voting places whom they voted for so that election results can be predicted more quickly

Source: Pew Research Center, 2015. Which generation group is most likely to oppose a protest of national symbols or ceremonies? A Silent B Boomer C Generation X D Millennial

A Silent

In 2002, Congress passed the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act in an effort to regulate campaign finance by limiting the ability of corporations and unions to spend their general treasury funds on election communications. In 2010, the Supreme Court invalidated this provision of the act. Which of the following statements accurately describes the majority decision of the case? A) The First Amendment allows corporations and unions to make independent expenditures regarding candidates for office. B) The Fourth Amendment protects political action committees from excessive searches by protecting their identities during election campaigns. C) The First Amendment allows candidates to spend as much as they want on their own campaigns. D) The Fourth Amendment grants professional consultants and other campaign staff immunity from disclosing donor information.

A) The First Amendment allows corporations and unions to make independent expenditures regarding candidates for office.

The free rider problem occurs when A) interest groups seek public funding to advance their special interests B) people benefit from an interest group's efforts without making any contribution C) elected officials provide government services for those who have helped their campaigns D) political campaigns manipulate the news media in order to obtain free advertising E) congressional candidates win elections because they belong to the party of a popular president

B) people benefit from an interest group's efforts without making any contribution

Source: Pew Research Center, 2015. Which of the following best describes how the generations view themselves in regards to the idealistic trait? A Millennial respondents are the least likely to consider themselves idealistic. B Each group is less likely to identify as idealistic as they get older. C Baby-Boomer respondents are more likely to consider themselves idealistic than Generation X respondents. D Silent Generation respondents are the most likely to consider themselves idealistic.

C Baby-Boomer respondents are more likely to consider themselves idealistic than Generation X respondents.

The media's effect on public opinion can best be described as A influencing older citizens' opinions of incumbents B affecting the public's views on domestic policy only C influencing which issues the public sees as important D changing well-educated people's views on foreign policy E influencing the public's views on controversial issues only

C influencing which issues the public sees as important

Of the following, the most important role in the political socialization of children is played by A their peer groups B their places of worship C the family D the media E the school

C the family

Top Priorities for the President and Congress Survey of 1,503 adults, conducted Jan. 10-15, 2018. Source: Pew Research Center, 2018 Which of the following is likely true about the 2018 midterm elections based on the data in the line graph? A The budget deficit is going to be a bigger issue in the 2018 midterm elections than it was in the 2010 midterm elections. B Members of Congress that are running for reelection are likely to emphasize their record on the budget deficit rather than jobs. C Democrats are more likely than Republicans to vote in the 2018 midterm elections. D Economic issues are less likely to be discussed in the 2018 midterm elections than in the 2012 presidential elections.

D Economic issues are less likely to be discussed in the 2018 midterm elections than in the 2012 presidential elections.

Political parties serve which of the following functions in the United States? I. Informing the public about political issues II. Mobilizing voters and getting them to the polls III. Organizing diverse interests within society IV. Establishing the rules governing financial contributions to political candidates A II only B I and II only C III and IV only D I, II, and III only E I, III, and IV only

D I, II, and III only

Critical elections in the United States typically have occurred A as a result of a temporary shift in the popular coalition supporting one or both parties B whenever a third party has secured more than fifteen percent of the presidential vote C each time a Republican has been elected President D when voter turnout has declined significantly from the previous election E when groups of voters have changed their traditional patterns of party loyalties

E when groups of voters have changed their traditional patterns of party loyalties

In a public opinion poll, a polling company used an online survey tool to randomly contact respondents who did not have telephone lines in addition to contacting people over the phone. Which of the following best explains this decision? A The company saved money because it did not need to hire as many telephone interviewers to conduct the poll. B The company was establishing a benchmark poll at the beginning of a campaign. C The company was interested in asking different questions to different individuals. D The company wanted to ensure that the sample of the population was truly random.

D The company wanted to ensure that the sample of the population was truly random.

Based on the data in the chart, which of the following strategies would best help third-party candidates like Jill Stein and Gary Johnson increase their chances of winning elected office? A) Allowing third-party candidates to create political action groups to raise money when campaigning in swing states B) Employing campaign managers to develop get-out-the-vote strategies for campaigns in swing states C) Developing strong party platforms that would attract independent and undecided voters in swing states D) Lobbying state legislatures to shift from a winner-take-all system to a proportional voting system

D) Lobbying state legislatures to shift from a winner-take-all system to a proportional voting system

The chart above supports which of the following conclusions? A) A majority of the men polled identified with the Republican party. B) More men than women voted for Ronald Reagan in 1984. C) The younger a man was, the more likely he was to identify himself as a Democrat. D) The Geraldine Ferraro vice-presidential candidacy caused many formerly Republican women to identify with the Democrats. E) The gender gap among those who identified with the Republican party was narrowest for those between 25 and 34 years of age.

E) The gender gap among those who identified with the Republican party was narrowest for those between 25 and 34 years of age.

Which of the following is the most accurate statement about political parties in the United States? A) Parties increasingly identify themselves with coherent ideologies to attract large blocs of voters. B) The percentage of voters identifying themselves as either Democrats or Republicans has been declining since the 1970's. C) National party organizations are generally the strongest party organizations. D) It is increasingly difficult for third parties to gain more than two percent of the popular vote. E) Most candidates prefer to run as independents rather than as Democrats or Republicans.

B) The percentage of voters identifying themselves as either Democrats or Republicans has been declining since the 1970's.

Which of the following is NOT a core value of United States political culture? A Legal equality B Political equality C Economic equality D Freedom of religion E Freedom of speech

C Economic equality

Which of the following statements is supported by the information in the table? A Strong Democrats were more likely to vote their party identification than were strong Republicans. B Independents were less likely to vote than were party identifiers. C There was no difference among Independents voting for candidates of either party. D Partisanship was a good predictor of the way a person voted. E The number of strong Democrats was less than the number of strong Republicans.

D Partisanship was a good predictor of the way a person voted.

Interest groups engage in all of the following activities EXCEPT A testifying before congressional committees B sponsoring issue advocacy ads C lobbying federal agencies D filing federal lawsuits E using the franking privilege

E using the franking privilege

Directions: The question or incomplete statement below is followed by four suggested answers or completions. Select the one that is best in each case. Refer to the graph for the question. Source: United States Census Bureau, 2010 Given the information in the graph, in which of the following states would an individual's vote likely have more influence? A Wyoming B West Virginia C Alabama D California

A Wyoming

All of the following are reasons incumbents in the House of Representatives enjoy an electoral advantage over challengers EXCEPT that incumbents A get substantial financial support from their party's national committee B are better known to voters than are challengers C find it much easier to raise campaign funds than do challengers D can use staff members to do constituent service E often serve on committees that enable them to help the constituency

A get substantial financial support from their party's national committee

When none of the presidential candidates receives a majority of the votes in the electoral college, the winner is chosen by the A Federal Elections Commision B Supreme Court C House of Representatives only D Senate only E majority of the House and Senate combined

C House of Representatives only

Which of the following is an accurate statement about the voter turnout rate in the United States? A It is high because of the large numbers of elective offices. B It is significantly higher among men than among women. C It is lower than in most other Western democracies. D It increased sharply when eighteen year olds were given the right to vote. E It has been steady over the last 30 years.

C It is lower than in most other Western democracies.

One reason for the persistence of a two-party system in the United States is A the lack of divisive issues in United States politics B the separation of powers C the single-member district electoral system D the lack of a strong labor movement E low voter turnout in most elections

C the single-member district electoral system

Which of the following is the leading predictor of how an individual will vote in a congressional election? A) Newspaper endorsements B) Gender C) Partisanship D) Presidential endorsement E) Occupation

C) Partisanship

Party identification in the United States is most successfully transmitted by which of the following? A Workplace B Church C Educational system D The media E Family

E Family

The use of direct primaries instead of the convention system in selecting presidential candidates results in which of the following? I. A weakening of party control over nominations II. A reduction in the costs of election campaigns III. An increase in the number of people involved in the choice of candidates IV. An increase in voter turnout in midterm elections A I and III only B II and IV only C III and IV only D I, II, and III only E I, II, III, and IV

A I and III only

The National Education Association (NEA) is an organization of teachers, administrators, and other educators who work together to advance the interests and impact of public education. One of the NEA's goals is to support public education by ending government funding of voucher programs that promote school privatization. Vouchers give parents financial incentives to send their children to private schools rather than having children attend local public schools. Which of the following strategies would be the most effective way to achieve the NEA's goal of furthering the interest of public education? A Lobby members of congressional committees to vote against all legislation that would support school voucher programs. B Petition Congress to hold an oversight hearing of the Department of Education on private and public school funding. C Increase membership in the NEA by offering new members financial benefits. D Request that the Supreme Court to declare the school voucher and privatization programs unconstitutional.

A Lobby members of congressional committees to vote against all legislation that would support school voucher programs.

Top Priorities for the President and Congress Survey of 1,503 adults, conducted Jan. 10-15, 2018. Source: Pew Research Center, 2018 Which of the following is a likely public policy result of the data on the line graph? A Public policies that create jobs but increase the deficit, such as tax cuts or infrastructure spending, will likely be prioritized over paying down the national debt. B Bills in Congress that create an economic stimulus through public works projects will pass with bipartisan support. C A program to extend unemployment benefits to more people will likely pass in 2018. D Public policies that pay down the deficit but are harmful to economic growth will likely pass during the next Congress.

A Public policies that create jobs but increase the deficit, such as tax cuts or infrastructure spending, will likely be prioritized over paying down the national debt.

Of the following groups of eligible voters, which is LEAST likely to vote? A The young with low education levels B The middle-aged with low education levels C Middle-aged and older women D Blue-collar workers E Middle-class black people

A The young with low education levels

An interest group is most likely to have influence in Congress when the issue at stake A is narrow in scope and low in public visibility B is part of the president's legislative package C has been dramatized by the media D engages legislators' deeply held convictions E divides legislators along party lines

A is narrow in scope and low in public visibility

During the past twenty-five years, all of the following changes in public opinion and political behavior have occurred in the United States EXCEPT A) a decline in party competition in the South B) a decline in the level of trust in government C) a drop in voter turnout D) an increase in ticket-splitting E) an erosion of party loyalties, especially among young people

A) a decline in party competition in the South

Which of the following is a true statement about the role of the media in providing citizens with information? A Investigative reporting dominates the news because it is less expensive than political commentary. B Demand for instantaneous news reporting has led to the growth of 24-hour news operations and a shift to online media consumption. C The media is increasingly controlled by the major political parties, who determine which stories are covered by the press. D There has been an increase in social media and Internet news consumption by the public, causing the top five media conglomerates to have greater control over public opinion.

B Demand for instantaneous news reporting has led to the growth of 24-hour news operations and a shift to online media consumption.

Which of the following is true of the electoral college system? A It encourages the emergence of third parties. B It encourages candidates to concentrate their campaigns in competitive, populous states. C It ensures that the votes of all citizens count equally in selecting the President. D It requires that a candidate win a minimum of 26 states to obtain a majority in the college. E It tends to make a presidential elections appear closer than they really are.

B It encourages candidates to concentrate their campaigns in competitive, populous states.

The primary election system of selecting presidential candidates has had which of the following effects? A It has increased the importance of state party organizations. B It has loosened the hold of party leaders over the nomination process. C It has reduced the role of citizens in the candidate selection process. D It has lowered the cost of running for office. E It has led to a decline in the importance of party voter-registration drives.

B It has loosened the hold of party leaders over the nomination process.

Which of the following sets of policies appears to be most influenced by a libertarian ideology? A Increase income taxes on the wealthy to raise revenue for social security benefits. B Legalize the commercial sale of marijuana and reduce government spending on prisons. C Eliminate the estate tax and promote government-funded prekindergarten education. D Expand the welfare state and reduce spending on national defense.

B Legalize the commercial sale of marijuana and reduce government spending on prisons.

Which of the following describes a fundamental difference between political parties and interest groups? A Political parties are prohibited from sponsoring campaign advertisements, and interest groups are not. B Political parties represent broad arrays of issues, whereas interest groups are more likely to focus on narrow sets of issues. C Political parties are more likely to focus on national politics, whereas interest groups focus on local politics. D Political parties tend to have strength in particular regions, whereas the power of interest groups is more consistent across states. E Political parties are required to disclose their campaign finance activities, whereas interest groups are not.

B Political parties represent broad arrays of issues, whereas interest groups are more likely to focus on narrow sets of issues.

"Any candidate using Facebook can put a campaign message promising one thing in front of one group of voters while simultaneously running an ad with a completely opposite message in front of a different group of voters. The ads themselves are not posted anywhere for the general public to see (this is what's known as 'dark advertising'), and chances are, no one will ever be the wiser. That undermines the very idea of a 'marketplace of ideas,' says Ann Ravel, a former member of the Federal Election Commission who has long advocated stricter regulations on digital campaigning. 'The way to have a robust democracy is for people to hear all these ideas and make decisions and discuss," Ravel said. 'With microtargeting, that is not happening.'" Julia Carrie Wong, "'It Might Work Too Well:' the Dark Art of Political Advertising Online," The Guardian, March 19, 2018. Which of the following scenarios reflects the most direct effect of the practice described in the passage on the electoral process? A State legislatures will redraw the boundaries of electoral districts to group like-minded voters together. B Political parties will rely increasingly on social media advertising to reach different coalitions of voters. C Political campaigns will operate with greater transparency regarding the sources of their financing and advertising. D Political parties will play a greater role in recruiting qualified candidates capable of effectively communicating their party's policy agenda to potential voters.

B Political parties will rely increasingly on social media advertising to reach different coalitions of voters.

The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (McCain-Feingold) was designed to curtail which of the following? A Individual contributions to candidates B Soft money C Hard money D Public disclosure rules E Lobbying

B Soft money

Which of the following best describes the relationship between socioeconomic status and participation in politics? A The lower one's socioeconomic status, the more likely it is that one will run for public office. B The higher ones socioeconomic status, the greater the probability of active involvement in the political process. C Adults who are unemployed have a greater personal interest in policy and tend to participate more actively in politics than do employed adults. D People in the lower middle class are the most likely to participate in politics. E There is no relationship between socioeconomic status and political participation.

B The higher ones socioeconomic status, the greater the probability of active involvement in the political process.

Refer to the bar graph for the following question. Source: United States Census Bureau, 2012 According to the bar graph, which of the following statements will be true in the year 2060? A The percentage of those identifying as Asian alone will be less than it was in 2012. B Those identifying as White alone will remain a majority. C Those identifying as Hispanic White will be 31% of the population. D The percentage of those identifying as Black alone will be less than it was in 2012.

B Those identifying as White alone will remain a majority.

POLITICAL EFFICACY AND PARTY AFFILIATION Source: Pew Research Center, 2015. Which of the following conclusions can be drawn from the data in the graphs? A Those with greater political efficacy are Republicans; as a result, they hold more conservative views on how the government needs to be reformed. B Those with greater political efficacy have a more positive view of government; as a result, they are more likely to vote in elections. C Those who are angry with government are more likely to be Republicans and vote in elections. D Those who know more about government and politics tend to be more skeptical of both.

B Those with greater political efficacy have a more positive view of government; as a result, they are more likely to vote in elections.

"Any candidate using Facebook can put a campaign message promising one thing in front of one group of voters while simultaneously running an ad with a completely opposite message in front of a different group of voters. The ads themselves are not posted anywhere for the general public to see (this is what's known as 'dark advertising'), and chances are, no one will ever be the wiser. That undermines the very idea of a 'marketplace of ideas,' says Ann Ravel, a former member of the Federal Election Commission who has long advocated stricter regulations on digital campaigning. 'The way to have a robust democracy is for people to hear all these ideas and make decisions and discuss," Ravel said. 'With microtargeting, that is not happening.'" Julia Carrie Wong, "'It Might Work Too Well:' the Dark Art of Political Advertising Online," The Guardian, March 19, 2018. Which of the following political processes or behaviors is most directly affected by the development described in the passage? A Party-line voting in Congress B Voter mobilization C Campaign finance reform D Regional party realignments

B Voter mobilization

Source: Cato Institute, 2017. The data in the line graph would be least useful to a researcher interested in finding out which of the following? A Whether or not there are ideological differences in regards to job approval of the Federal Reserve B Whether or not there was a decrease in support for the Federal Reserve after the 2008 financial crisis C The percentage of people who identify as conservative who believe the Federal Reserve caused the 2008 financial crisis D If the Federal Reserve was an institution broadly supported by liberals

B Whether or not there was a decrease in support for the Federal Reserve after the 2008 financial crisis

The term "horse-race journalism" refers to the tendency of the media to A cover Congress by focusing on committee chairs rather than on the work of the committees B cover campaigns by emphasizing the relative standings of the candidates in the polls rather than the issues they discuss C cover politics by concentrating on scandal and corruption rather than on instances of integrity and honorable action D compete for access to sources rather than to cooperate in gathering news E compete to be first with major breaking stories rather than trying to present full, accurate accounts of such stories

B cover campaigns by emphasizing the relative standings of the candidates in the polls rather than the issues they discuss

In response to the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (McCain-Feingold Act), the United States Supreme Court, in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010), ruled that A limits cannot be placed upon candidates' contributions to their own campaigns B independent campaign expenditures by corporations and unions are protected by the First Amendment C limits on issue advertisements 90 days before an election are unconstitutional D limits on campaign contributions by minors are constitutional under the First Amendment E requiring endorsement statements in campaign advertisements is unconstitutional

B independent campaign expenditures by corporations and unions are protected by the First Amendment

The most common criterion that people use when voting for a presidential candidate is the candidate's A views on specific issues B party identification C ideological position D personal appearance E fiscal policy

B party identification

"Presidential Vote in Election by Groups" The data in the table provide clear evidence that A Republicans were increasingly likely to defect from their party's candidate B the vote in the Midwest predicted the outcome rather consistently C the East has become a Republican stronghold D voters under the age of 30 were more likely than older voters to support the Democratic candidate E nonwhite voters showed no preference for one party over another

B the vote in the Midwest predicted the outcome rather consistently

Which of the following has the most influence on the outcome of a congressional election? A) Local performance of a candidate's party in the presidential race B) A candidate's incumbency status C) The amount of a candidate's campaign spending relative to that of his or her opponent D) The level of support from local party leaders E) The level of voter turnout

B) A candidate's incumbency status

COMPETITION IN CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS, 1958 - 1986 The data displayed in the table above best support which of the following statements? A The reelection rate is higher in the Senate than in the House. B The average vote won by Senate members surpasses that won by House members. C House seats are safer from election turnover than are Senate seats. D House members serve more terms than do Senators. E More members of the Senate win reelection by 60% or more of the vote than do members of the House. Related Content & Skills Topic5.9 Skill

C House seats are safer from election turnover than are Senate seats.

Source: The National Election Studies, Center for Political Studies, University of Michigan. The table above supports which of the following conclusions? I. A plurality of the people has consistently supported the Democrats. II. Support for the two major parties increased slightly between 1952 and 1994. III. The largest percentage increase in political identification between 1952 and 1994 occurred among independents. A I only B II only C III only D I and II only E I, II, and III

C III only

Of the following, which is the most important reason that voter turnout is lower in the United States than in most other industrial democracies. A American citizens are more apathetic than are citizens in other democracies. B There are fewer elections in the United States than in other democracies. C It has traditionally been more difficult to register to vote in the United States than in most other industrial democracies. D United States elections receive less media attention than do elections in other democracies. E Unlike other industrial democracies, the United States has a two-party system.

C It has traditionally been more difficult to register to vote in the United States than in most other industrial democracies.

Which of the following best describes the difference between an open and closed primary? A Voters must pay a poll tax to vote in a closed primary, but not in an open primary. B Voters are allowed to split their ticket in a closed primary but not in an open primary. C Only voters who register as members of a political party may vote in that party's closed primary, while independents and others may be eligible to vote in open primaries. D Open primaries require a run-off system, while closed primaries do not. E Candidates must seek the approval of the party organization to run in a closed primary, but anyone may be a candidate in an open primary.

C Only voters who register as members of a political party may vote in that party's closed primary, while independents and others may be eligible to vote in open primaries.

Which of the following public policies would Republicans be most likely to support? A Implementing new standards to reduce pollution B Instituting paid maternity and paternity leave C Opening public lands for ranching and oil exploration D Raising the national minimum wage to $15 an hour

C Opening public lands for ranching and oil exploration

In 1980, a small group of parents personally affected by drunk driving formed the group Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). Over the past four decades, they have grown in number and have lobbied on state and local levels promoting legislation such as stricter limits on blood alcohol levels for drivers. MADD is an example of which of the following? A Political party with the goal of influencing public opinion B Social movement with the goal of influencing the federal budget C Single-issue group with the goal of impacting policy making D Bureaucratic agency implementing policy

C Single-issue group with the goal of impacting policy making

A state has 11 electoral votes. In a presidential election, the Democratic candidate receives 48 percent of that state's popular vote, the Republican candidate receives 40 percent of the vote, and an independent candidate receives 12 percent of the vote. If the state is similar to most other states, how will the electoral votes most likely be allocated? A The Democratic candidate will receive 5 electoral votes, the Republican will receive 4, and the independent will receive 2. B The Democratic candidate will receive 6 electoral votes and the Republican will receive 5. C The Democratic candidate will receive all 11 electoral votes. D The votes will not be allocated until there has been a runoff election between the Democratic and Republican candidates. E The House of Representatives will determine the allocation of the electoral votes.

C The Democratic candidate will receive all 11 electoral votes.

Two interest groups are competing for influence in Congress. One group represents banking institutions, while the other advocates for consumer protections. A critic of the influence of interest groups would make which of the following claims? A The interest groups will nominate a slate of candidates for office to compete against each other in the next election in order to determine which interests prevail. B The consumer protection group will appeal only to Republican leaders, while the banking interests will appeal only to Democratic leaders. C The banking interest group likely has greater financial resources and access to policy makers than the consumer protection group. D The consumer protection group is prohibited by federal regulations from direct lobbying.

C The banking interest group likely has greater financial resources and access to policy makers than the consumer protection group.

Source: Cato Institute, 2017. Which of the following statements accurately explains a limitation of the line graph? A The line graph does not take into account the views of those who identify as moderate. B It is difficult to tell what the relationship is between ideology and the perception of the Federal Reserve. C The line graph does not illustrate differences along party lines regarding the perception of the Federal Reserve. D It is difficult to tell if there is a relationship between the two survey questions on the Federal Reserve.

C The line graph does not illustrate differences along party lines regarding the perception of the Federal Reserve.

Refer to the passage for the following question. In many places, classrooms are overcrowded and curricula are outdated. Most of our qualified teachers are underpaid, and many of our paid teachers are unqualified. So we must give every child a place to sit and a teacher to learn from. Poverty must not be a bar to learning, and learning must offer an escape from poverty. But more classrooms and more teachers are not enough. We must seek an educational system which grows in excellence as it grows in size. This means better training for our teachers. It means preparing youth to enjoy their hours of leisure as well as their hours of labor. It means exploring new techniques of teaching, to find new ways to stimulate the love of learning and the capacity for creation.... . . . While our Government has many programs directed at those issues, I do not pretend that we have the full answer to those problems. But I do promise this: We are going to assemble the best thought and the broadest knowledge from all over the world to find those answers for America. I intend to establish working groups to prepare a series of White House conferences and meetings... on the quality of education, and on other emerging challenges. And from these meetings and from this inspiration and from these studies we will begin to set our course toward the Great Society. The solution to these problems does not rest on a massive program in Washington, nor can it rely solely on the strained resources of local authority. They require us to create new concepts of cooperation, a creative federalism, between the National Capital and the leaders of local communities. President Lyndon B. Johnson, May 22, 1964 A liberal response to the "strained resources" of local government most likely would include A a reduction of federal income taxes so that state and local governments can use those resources B less federal regulation and more authority for local school boards to create curricula and standards C an increase in federal spending on public education and more programs aimed at helping lower-income communities D encouraging state and local governments to offer vouchers so that students can attend private or charter schools

C an increase in federal spending on public education and more programs aimed at helping lower-income communities

An important change in political culture since 1950 is that United States citizens have become A more likely to believe that their actions can influence government policy B more trusting of nongovernmental institutions and leaders C less trusting of governmental institutions and leaders D less supportive of school integration E less likely to think of themselves as ideologically moderate

C less trusting of governmental institutions and leaders

Interest groups and political parties both promote United States democracy by A expressing detailed, ideologically distinct programs B centralizing public authority C linking citizens to the political process D increasing domination of the political process by elites E lobbying members of Congress

C linking citizens to the political process

A major difference between political parties and interest groups is that A interest groups typically shift their positions on issues over time, while political parties tend to keep the same position on issues over time B interest groups usually recruit candidates for office, while political parties usually limit themselves to making campaign contributions to candidates C political parties seek to gain control of government, while interest groups seek to influence public policy D political parties tend to have narrow coalitions of support, and interest groups tend to have broad coalitions of support E political parties usually focus on one issue, while interest groups focus mainly on many issues

C political parties seek to gain control of government, while interest groups seek to influence public policy

Interest groups use political action committees (PACs) to A provide expertise to members of Congress when they are writing legislation B lobby the executive bureaucracy when they are considering new rules and regulations C raise and spend money on election campaigns D generate research that can be used to influence public opinion E hire policy experts who will promote their views in the media

C raise and spend money on election campaigns

Which of the following is NOT an explanation for low voter turnout? A) Registration requirements B) Low political efficacy among many voters C) Laws protecting minority voting rights D) Frequent elections at the state and local level E) Weekday elections

C) Laws protecting minority voting rights

Which of the following public policies is best supported by the notion of free enterprise? A The government subsidizing the cost of milk B Congress passing legislation bailing out the automobile industry C Taxpayers funding a national high-speed railway service D After a review, the Federal Trade Commission approving a corporate merger of cable providers

D After a review, the Federal Trade Commission approving a corporate merger of cable providers

All of the following are true about the relationship between regulatory agencies and the industries they regulate EXCEPT: A Agency employees are often recruited from the regulated industry. B Agencies often rely on support from regulated industries in making budget requests before Congress. C An agency's relationship with a regulated industry may change when a new president takes office. D Agencies usually make decisions without consulting the regulated industry. E Agency employees often are employed by the regulated industry once they leave the agency.

D Agencies usually make decisions without consulting the regulated industry.

Which of the following is a result of the electoral college system? A The winner of the presidency often lacks a majority of the popular vote. B Candidates focus on one-party states in which they can win most of the electoral votes. C The House of Representatives frequently chooses the President from the top three candidates. D Candidates focus on the states with the largest populations. E Campaign spending increases because candidates emphasize television advertising.

D Candidates focus on the states with the largest populations.

The following question(s) are based on the table below. "Electoral Support for Democratic Candidates" Source: The National Election Studies, Center for Political Studies, University of Michigan The table best supports which of the following statements about the two elections for which data are provided? A The 1988 and 1990 elections were clear victories for the Democratic party. B Republican voters exhibited greater party discipline in 1990 than they did in 1988. C Independent-leaning Republicans were the Republicans least likely to cross party lines. D Independent-leaning Republicans were the Republicans least likely to cross party lines. E Weak Democrats were the group most likely to vote for Republican candidates.

D Independent-leaning Republicans were the Republicans least likely to cross party lines.

Which of the following describes an effect of the Twenty-Fourth Amendment? A It assured equal access to places of public accommodation regardless of race. B It increased the importance of the Speaker of the House of Representatives. C It reduced barriers to political participation on the basis of gender. D It eliminated poll taxes.

D It eliminated poll taxes.

Source: Cato Institute, 2017. Which of the following descriptions is the information on the line graph too limited to support? A The more conservative an individual is, the less likely he or she is to believe that the Federal Reserve helps to stabilize the economy. B The more liberal an individual is, the more likely he or she is to believe that the Federal Reserve helps stabilize the economy. C About half of those who identify as very liberal believe that the Federal Reserve helped stabilize the economy. D Most who identify as very conservative believe that the Federal Reserve should be abolished.

D Most who identify as very conservative believe that the Federal Reserve should be abolished.

In which of the following ways do political parties primarily rely on to finance their election activities? A Parties rely primarily on tax revenue. B By winning elections, parties are able to fund government programs they care about. C Parties sell posters, stickers, buttons, and other products. D Parties solicit funds from private donors who oftentimes contribute large sums of money.

D Parties solicit funds from private donors who oftentimes contribute large sums of money.

The table above supports which of the following statements about partisanship and the 1984 presidential election? A Democrats were more likely to vote their party identification than were Republicans. B The number of strong Democrats was less than the number of strong Republicans. C Independent Democrats and independent Republicans were the two groups most likely to vote for candidates of the other party. D Partisanship was a good predictor of the way a person voted. E Independents were less likely to vote than were party identifiers.

D Partisanship was a good predictor of the way a person voted.

POLITICAL EFFICACY AND PARTY AFFILIATION Source: Pew Research Center, 2015. Which of the following statements can best be supported by the survey data displayed in the bar graphs? A Democrats with a low level of political efficacy are the most likely group to trust government most of the time. B Democrats with a high level of political efficacy are the most likely group to be angry with government. C Republicans with a high level of political efficacy are the most likely group to say that government often does a better job than given credit for. D Republicans with a low level of political efficacy are the most likely group to say that government needs major reforms.

D Republicans with a low level of political efficacy are the most likely group to say that government needs major reforms.

Which of the following is an accurate statement about political participation in the United States today? A A majority of Americans campaign for a candidate in each presidential election. B Over 75% of Americans vote in presidential elections. C People who participate in the political process are usually angry at government. D Similar proportions of eligible men and women vote in presidential elections. E People in their thirties or forties are less likely to be active in politics than are those aged 18-21.

D Similar proportions of eligible men and women vote in presidential elections.

Which of the following is the best example of the core value of limited government? A Interest groups lobbying the government to influence legislation on a particular issue B The media covering a confirmation hearing for a potential Supreme Court justice C Citizens voting to elect a new member of the United States Congress D The United States Constitution delegating specific powers to Congress

D The United States Constitution delegating specific powers to Congress

Over the past 20 years, reforms of the presidential nomination process have had which of the following effects? A The nomination process in both parties has become less democratic and open. B The number of Black delegates at Republican national conventions has grown substantially. C The number of candidates willing and able to seek the nomination has decreased dramatically. D The number of female delegates and minority-group delegates at Democratic national conventions has grown substantially. E State and local party organizations have increased their control over the process.

D The number of female delegates and minority-group delegates at Democratic national conventions has grown substantially.

"Voting is partly a matter of habit: the more frequently a person has voted in the past, the more likely she or he is to vote in the current election." All of the following support the observation above EXCEPT: A Immediately after the Twenty-Sixth Amendment in 1971 gave 18-21 year olds the vote, the proportion of eligible voters who actually voted declined. B Immediately after the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920 gave women the vote, the proportion of eligible voters who actually voted declined. C Immediately after the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the participation rate of Black voters in the South was lower than that of White voters in the South. D Unmarried persons over the age of 65 are less likely to vote than are married persons in that age group E Newly naturalized citizens may need special inducements to vote.

D Unmarried persons over the age of 65 are less likely to vote than are married persons in that age group

"Any candidate using Facebook can put a campaign message promising one thing in front of one group of voters while simultaneously running an ad with a completely opposite message in front of a different group of voters. The ads themselves are not posted anywhere for the general public to see (this is what's known as 'dark advertising'), and chances are, no one will ever be the wiser. That undermines the very idea of a 'marketplace of ideas,' says Ann Ravel, a former member of the Federal Election Commission who has long advocated stricter regulations on digital campaigning. 'The way to have a robust democracy is for people to hear all these ideas and make decisions and discuss," Ravel said. 'With microtargeting, that is not happening.'" Julia Carrie Wong, "'It Might Work Too Well:' the Dark Art of Political Advertising Online," The Guardian, March 19, 2018. The practice of "microtargeting" described in the passage is an even more powerful campaign tool for parties if they are able to A command greater loyalty to their party platform B attract a large audience for their national party conventions C develop a unified message that appeals to a majority of voters D collect and manage large databases of information on specific groups of voters

D collect and manage large databases of information on specific groups of voters

In the process and structure of public policymaking, "iron triangles" refer to the A bargaining and negotiating process between the President and Congress about the direction of domestic policy B dominance of corporate power in setting the national policy agenda for economic expansion C interrelationship among federal, state, and local levels of government in the policy process D networks of congressional committees, bureaucratic agencies, and interest groups that strongly influence the policy process E group of presidential advisers who formulate the President's foreign policy agenda

D networks of congressional committees, bureaucratic agencies, and interest groups that strongly influence the policy process

Political socialization is the process by which A the use of private property is regulated by the government B governments communicate with each other C public attitudes toward government are measured and reported D political values are passed to the next generation E children are trained for successful occupations

D political values are passed to the next generation

Which of the following factors best accounts for the rise of interest groups and the decline of political parties in recent years? A National parties have become too closely identified with controversial issues. B Court decisions have restricted the political parties' abilities to recruit new-members. C It is less expensive to join an interest group than to join a political party. D Interest groups have been more successful in avoiding negative press coverage than have political parties. E Interest groups are better able to articulate specific policy positions than are political parties.

E Interest groups are better able to articulate specific policy positions than are political parties.

Which of the following statements about political action committees (PACs) is true? A PACs may give unlimited contributions to the election campaigns of individual candidates. B PAC spending has not kept pace with inflation. C PAC activity is limited to direct contributions to candidates. D Social issue groups are the source of most PAC dollars. E PAC spending makes up a higher percentage of congressional campaign funds than of presidential campaign funds.

E PAC spending makes up a higher percentage of congressional campaign funds than of presidential campaign funds.

The following question(s) are based on the table below. "Electoral Support for Democratic Candidates" Source: The National Election Studies, Center for Political Studies, University of Michigan The table best supports which of the following statements about party identification and voting behavior? A There is no consistent relationship between party identification and voting behavior. B People with weak party identification tend to vote for opposing party candidates. C Independent-leaning Democrats are unreliable voters for the Democratic party. D People who most resist party identification tend to vote for Republican candidates. E People with strong Democratic party identification tend to vote for the Democratic party.

E People with strong Democratic party identification tend to vote for the Democratic party.

Which of the following statements about voting behavior in national elections is most accurate? A Men are more likely to vote than are women. B Blue-collar workers are more likely to vote than are professionals. C Those with less than a high school education are more likely to vote than are college graduates. D Democrats are more likely to vote than are Republicans. E Senior citizens are more likely to vote than are college students.

E Senior citizens are more likely to vote than are college students.

"Opinions on Affirmative Action for Women" The differences shown in the table demonstrate which of the following? A Political efficacy B Women's greater political participation C Men's greater political participation D Age discrimination E The gender gap

E The gender gap

Which of the following statements about political parties and the United States Constitution is true? A According to the Constitution, only two major political parties may exist at any time. B The Constitution requires political parties to be restricted by both federal and state law. C The Constitution indicates that political party leaders at the national level be elected by political party leaders at the state level. D The Constitution specifies that political party leaders must be native-born United States citizens. E The issue of political parties is not addressed in the Constitution.

E The issue of political parties is not addressed in the Constitution.

Which of the following is LEAST characteristic of the history of political parties in the United States during the twentieth century? A An increase in the number of organized interest groups B An increase in the influence of political action committee (PAC) money in congressional elections C State adoption of direct primary elections D The loss of party patronage power E The splitting of the two major parties into a multiparty system

E The splitting of the two major parties into a multiparty system

Which of the following is true of voter turnout in the United States? A Three-fourths of the electorate votes in a presidential election. B The South votes in larger numbers than does any other region of the country. C Men vote in larger numbers than do women. D There is no relationship between the age of the voter and participation rates. E The voter-participation rate is one of the lowest of any industrialized nation.

E The voter-participation rate is one of the lowest of any industrialized nation.

Which of the following describes a consequence of the growing concentration of ownership of the news media? A Newspaper prices have gone down. B Coverage of political events has gotten more liberal over time. C Prices for televised campaign ads have gone down. D Candidates get more free airtime. E There is increased similarity of network news coverage.

E There is increased similarity of network news coverage.

The franking privilege refers to the A Federal Reserve Board's control over interest rates B practice of permitting senators to preview lists of judicial nominees C practice whereby legislators with the most seniority select the committees on which they want to serve D right of the chair to control the schedule of his or her congressional committee E right of members of Congress to send mail to their constituents at the government's expense

E right of members of Congress to send mail to their constituents at the government's expense

The most common form of political activity undertaken by United States citizens is A lobbying to influence decisions by public officials B campaigning for candidates for office C contributing money to a political party D voting in local elections E voting in political elections

E voting in political elections

Which of the following best accounts for the lack of success generally encountered by minor political parties in electing members to the House or Senate? A Political action committee (PAC) contributions are restricted by law to the two major parties. B General elections in the United States are based on the winner-take-all principle. C House and Senate rules exclude members of minor parties from organizing coalitions with the major parties. D The public has great faith in the two major political parties. E Some states outlaw minor political parties.

B General elections in the United States are based on the winner-take-all principle.

Of the following, which best predicts the likelihood that citizens will vote? A Their race B Their religion C Their educational level D Their gender E Their region of residence

C Their educational level

Which of the following describes the potential impact on the electorate when daily media coverage of elections focuses primarily on the newest poll results? A The electorate will be increasingly divided along partisan lines. B The electorate will be less likely to turn out to vote on Election Day. C The electorate will be more likely to have expanded knowledge of the electoral process. D The electorate will be less able to accurately compare the policy platforms of candidates running in the election.

D The electorate will be less able to accurately compare the policy platforms of candidates running in the election.

When people vote for some candidates from one party and other candidates from another party, it is called A) dealignment B) realignment C) republicanism D) ticket splitting E) caucusing

D) ticket splitting

Which of the following is NOT a way in which the federal government regulates campaigns? A By requirements for disclosure of campaign donations B By establishment of federal agencies to regulate campaign finance activities C By limits on the distribution of soft money D By limits on individual donations to campaigns E By prohibitions on negative advertising

E By prohibitions on negative advertising

OPINIONS ON AFFIRMATIVE ACTION FOR WOMEN The differences shown in the table demonstrate which of the following? A Political efficacy B Women's greater political participation C Men's greater political participation D Age discrimination E The gender gap

E The gender gap

Senator Hoffman is campaigning for reelection in her state. Her campaign message emphasizes how the policies she has supported have benefited her constituents. She has spotlighted job creation and an overall improvement in the standard of living in the state in the past six years. Senator Hoffman is hoping to appeal to which of the following voting behavior models? A Retrospective voting B Prospective voting C Party-line voting D Rational-choice voting

A Retrospective voting

Which of the following describes the result in a winner-take-all, single-member-district plurality system? A The candidate who receives the most votes in the election wins. B The candidate must receive at least 51% of the votes to win. C The top two vote-getters compete in a run-off election. D A political party must receive 51% of the votes to win all of the seats in the district. E The party that receives the most votes in the election wins the seat and selects the party member who will fill the seat.

A The candidate who receives the most votes in the election wins.

Source: Pew Research Center, 2015. Which of the following best describes a trend in the data? A The older the respondents, the more likely they are to identify as patriotic. B Generation X respondents are more likely to be politically active than the Baby-Boomer respondents. C Baby Boomer respondents are the most likely to consider themselves self-reliant. D The younger the respondents, the more likely they are to identify as religious and moral.

A The older the respondents, the more likely they are to identify as patriotic.

Based on the data in the chart, which of the following best explains a likely impact of third-party votes in the 2016 election? A) The third-party vote in the three states depicted in the chart helped Donald Trump acquire enough electoral votes to win the election. B) The third parties were able to gain seats in Congress because of the large number of votes they received in the three states depicted in the chart. C) The third-party vote counts in the three states depicted in the chart forced the election to a tie, forcing the House of Representatives to cast the deciding vote. D) The third-party vote counts forced the three states depicted in the chart into runoff elections to decide who would be the winner of each state.

A) The third-party vote in the three states depicted in the chart helped Donald Trump acquire enough electoral votes to win the election.

Since 1972, voters in presidential elections have A) become more focused on individual candidates B) increasingly based their votes on televised candidate debates C) become more influenced by party platforms D) become more likely to focus on local rather than national conditions E) become more likely to rely on print media for information

A) become more focused on individual candidates

CHURCH ATTENDANCE IN THE UNITED STATES, 1972-2010 Source: General Social Survey, 2010. Based on the line graph, which of the following statements about church attendance in 1972 is true? A In 1972, about 30% of people surveyed reported attending church monthly or less. B In 1972, more people surveyed reported attending church weekly than reported attending rarely or never. C In 1972, most people surveyed reported attending church yearly. D In 1972, more people surveyed reported attending church yearly than reported attending weekly.

B In 1972, more people surveyed reported attending church weekly than reported attending rarely or never.

Considering all elections at all levels of government, which of the following best describes electoral behavior in the United States? A Primary elections tend to elicit a higher voter turnout than do general elections. B The majority of the electorate does not vote in most elections. C Voter turnout plays an insignificant role in election outcomes. D Adult citizens under the age of 30 tend to have the highest rate of voter turnout. E Voters with strong party identification vote less regularly than do independents.

B The majority of the electorate does not vote in most elections.

One of the principal effects of 9/11 was instilling in Americans a fear that their personal security was at greater risk than ever before. Many aspects of the post-9/11 world are indeed new, but the fear it evokes echoes that felt by prior generations. At times the country has met those fears while still holding fast to its core democratic principles. Other times, fear has overruled American principles, especially the protection of individual freedoms. The most important legacy of the American experience following 9/11 will not be the novelty of fear, but rather how well the country copes with that fear while adhering to its constitutional framework. Given how searing the 9/11 experience was, it is sometimes hard to remember that prior generations of Americans didn't always sleep soundly either. Pearl Harbor is an often-cited example, but it joins many other moments of intense fear in U.S. history. During the 40-plus years of the Cold War, American school children practiced "duck and cover" drills the way today's kids might practice school lock-downs. As a teenage in the 1980s, I joined Sting in hoping we could avert a nuclear holocaust if "the Russians love their children, too." With the collapse of the Soviet Union, other threats in the United States soon appeared: the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, and the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Park bombing, to name just a few. During the 1990s, some in the military liked to refer to the United States as a "homeland sanctuary;" after 9/11, many talk about the end of that sanctuary. True, the country has experienced fewer external threats to its population than have most other nations. But it's a misconception to think that the American sense of external threat is new. Kathleen Hicks, "What Will Americans Do About Their Fear of Terrorism?" The Atlantic Monthly, 2016. The passage is most related to which of the following concepts? A Political partisanship B Political socialization C Political ideology D Political polling

B Political socialization

One of the best strategies that interest groups can use to achieve their goals is A pressing for changes in high-profile public policies B lobbying members of Congress to make small changes in existing policy C using the judiciary to invalidate federal legislation D encouraging states to use their Tenth Amendment rights and ignore federal law E running candidates for office

B lobbying members of Congress to make small changes in existing policy

Which of the following provides the most accurate explanation of how consumer-driven media increases partisan polarization? A) Consumer-driven media tends to avoid discussing controversial political topics. B) Consumer-driven media reinforces existing political biases in individuals. C) Consumer-driven media relies heavily on corporate advertising. D) Consumer-driven media is overwhelmingly conservative.

B) Consumer-driven media reinforces existing political biases in individuals.

The three points of an iron triangle include A) an independent agency, a state, and a member of Congress B) an administrative agency, an interest group, and a congressional committee C) a cabinet department, an interest group, and the House majority leader D) a regulatory commission, a corporation, and the White House Office E) the Executive Office of the President, an interest group, and a Senate committee

B) an administrative agency, an interest group, and a congressional committee

SPENDING BY THE NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION (NRA), BY ELECTION CYCLE Source: Opensecrets.org, 2018. The bar graph shows the National Rifle Association's spending on Democratic and Republican candidates over several decades of election cycles in support of gun ownership rights. How could a visual best be created to better understand how the spending of the NRA compares to that of gun control proponents? A A line graph that compares the amount that gun control proponents gave to Democrats over time B A table that shows how much each member of Congress received in contributions from both gun control advocates and the NRA C A pie chart that tallies total spending by both the NRA and gun control proponents since 1992 D The graph that includes information regarding important gun control laws that have been passed since 1992

C A pie chart that tallies total spending by both the NRA and gun control proponents since 1992

SPENDING BY THE NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION (NRA), BY ELECTION CYCLE Source: Opensecrets.org, 2018. For which of the following tasks would using the bar graph as currently designed be the LEAST helpful? A Comparing whether the National Rifle Association (NRA) prefers Democrats or Republicans B Tracking the campaign spending of the NRA over time C Calculating the election cycle spending based on the intervals shown on the vertical axis D Determining which years the NRA spent the most money on elections

C Calculating the election cycle spending based on the intervals shown on the vertical axis

Which of the following statements about incumbent senators running for reelection is correct? A The senators with the best chances of reelection are those who have served the longest. B The amount of money spent by a challenger has little bearing on an incumbent's reelection chances. C Incumbent senators are less likely to be reelected than are incumbent members of the House of Representatives. D An incumbent senator is equally likely to be reelected or defeated. E The most important factor influencing the reelection chances of senators is whether they belong to the President's party.

C Incumbent senators are less likely to be reelected than are incumbent members of the House of Representatives.

Parents have the greatest stake in the outcome of their child's education. Accordingly, they should also have the power to make sure their child is getting the right education. As Deven Carlson points out, there is little constituency in America for the top-down reforms that have been tried time and again. In order for any reform to truly work, it must attract and maintain the support of the people. I have seen such support for parental empowerment. The more parents exercise it, the more they like it. This growing support is why states are responding to that demand one by one. . . . Equal access to a quality education should be a right for every American and every parent should have the right to choose how their child is educated. Government exists to protect those rights, not usurp them. So let's face it: the opponents of [school choice] could repeal every voucher law, close every charter school, and defund every choice program across the country. But school choice still wouldn't go away. There would still be school choice . . . for the affluent and the powerful. Let's empower the forgotten parents to decide where their children go to school. Let's show some humility and trust all parents to know their kids' needs better than we do. Betsy DeVos, Secretary of Education, January 16, 2018 Which of the following is a necessary step for the government to take to protect school choice, based on the article? A The federal government should require all students to pass standardized tests before moving to the next grade level. B The federal government should increase funding for technology training for teachers. C The federal government should provide funding to families to pursue schooling options other than the public school system. D The federal government should implement mandatory background checks for teachers.

C The federal government should provide funding to families to pursue schooling options other than the public school system.

Agree-Disagree v. Forced Choice Questions Agree-Disagree The best way to ensure peace is through military strength. (55% agree, 42% disagree) Forced Choice The best way to ensure peace is through military strength (33%) OR Diplomacy is the best way to ensure peace (55%) Source: Pew Research Center, 1999. Which of the following is the best conclusion a polling group might draw from the results of the two polls? A Including loaded phrases such as "military strength" in questions skews the results of the poll. B Asking the same question twice biases respondents, encouraging them to change their position. C Using an agree-or-disagree format encourages respondents to agree with the position. D A majority of Americans support using military force to ensure peace.

C Using an agree-or-disagree format encourages respondents to agree with the position.

Explanations for low voter turnout include all of the following EXCEPT A registration requirements B weak party affiliation C laws protecting voting rights for minorities D weekday elections E frequency of elections at the state and local level

C laws protecting voting rights for minorities

CHURCH ATTENDANCE IN THE UNITED STATES, 1972-2010 Source: General Social Survey, 2010. Which of the following is true about church attendance based on the line graph? A About 30% of people surveyed in 2010 rarely or never attend church. B About 26% of people surveyed in 2010 attended church once a month or less. C About 16% of people surveyed in 2010 attend church about once a year. D About 54% of people surveyed in 2010 attended church once a year or less.

D About 54% of people surveyed in 2010 attended church once a year or less.

Which of the following best describes the concept of political efficacy? A It is the belief that the average citizen can make little or no difference in an election. B It is the belief that an intelligent voting decision cannot be made without information. C It is the belief that the media must provide unbiased information for citizens to be able to make well-informed choices. D It is the belief that one can make a difference in politics by expressing an opinion and acting politically. E It is the belief that politicians must keep the electorate well-informed if they are to govern efficiently.

D It is the belief that one can make a difference in politics by expressing an opinion and acting politically.

Which of the following statements is best supported by the data in the table above? A Latinos are fairly homogeneous in their party identification. B Latinos have become substantially more supportive of the Democratic Party than they were in the 1950s. C The majority of Latinos probably voted for Bill Clinton in 1992. D Latinos of Cuban descent are more supportive of the Republican Party than are Latinos of Mexican or Puerto Rican descent. E Latinos of Mexican descent are less likely to consider themselves independent than are Latinos of Cuban or Puerto Rican descent.

D Latinos of Cuban descent are more supportive of the Republican Party than are Latinos of Mexican or Puerto Rican descent.

Agree-Disagree v. Forced Choice Questions Agree-Disagree The best way to ensure peace is through military strength. (55% agree, 42% disagree) Forced Choice The best way to ensure peace is through military strength (33%) OR Diplomacy is the best way to ensure peace (55%) Source: Pew Research Center, 1999. Which of the following most likely explains the difference in result of the two polls? A Margin of error B Wording choice C Question order D Question format

D Question format

The development and persistence of the two-party system in the United States is best accounted for by A the Twelfth Amendment B proportional representation C multimember legislative districts D single-member legislative districts E strong party loyalty of elected representatives

D single-member legislative districts

Which of the following is the main reason interest groups are often successful in getting legislation passed to benefit their members? A) It is easy to garner support from most members of Congress on any issue. B) All members of society desire the legislation that special interests pursue. C) It is very easy to get legislation passed in Congress. D) A narrow constituency derives the benefits from such legislation but the costs are spread broadly across the population. E) Interest group activity represents the democratic process at work because individual interest groups often represent more than half the population.

D) A narrow constituency derives the benefits from such legislation but the costs are spread broadly across the population.

The Congressional Leadership Fund, a super PAC, has raised over $50 million dollars, which it plans to spend on advertising in the next midterm election. It plans to target its spending in competitive districts in the days leading up to Election Day. Which of the following court cases decision is most likely to protect the right of the group in the scenario? A) New York Times Company v. United States (1971) B) Shaw v. Reno (1993) C) McDonald v. Chicago (2010) D) Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010)

D) Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010)

A chief executive officer (CEO) of a corporation believes that the Republican candidate for president will enact policies that are more beneficial to her business. The CEO donated the maximum amount allowed by law directly to the candidate's campaign fund. To increase the candidate's chances for election, the CEO also directed her corporation to donate funds to an independent political action committee to create ads criticizing the opposing candidate. According to the decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010), which provision of the Constitution protects her actions? A) Reserved powers in the Tenth Amendment B) Due process clause in the Fifth Amendment C) Freedom of association in the First Amendment D) Freedom of speech in the First Amendment

D) Freedom of speech in the First Amendment

Which of the following most accurately describes media coverage of elections? A Coverage of presidential primaries gives relatively equal power to states regardless of when they hold their primaries. B Coverage tends to focus on issues rather than on which candidate is ahead in public opinion polls. C Reporters who use secret sources in their campaign coverage are shielded by federal law from having to reveal those sources. D Radio and television stations must provide on their news broadcasts equal time for and equal coverage of major party candidates. E Network news coverage is usually dominated by reporters who offer relatively short sound bites from the candidates.

E Network news coverage is usually dominated by reporters who offer relatively short sound bites from the candidates.

Which of the following statements best describes the organization of the two major political parties in the United States? A Parties have no organization except at the national level. B Parties are centrally organized to provide a smooth transition from one national campaign to the next. C Parties are organized much like a large corporation, in that decisions flow from national to state and local levels. D Local and state parties have virtually no power in the party system. E Separate and largely independent party organizations exist at national, state, and local levels.

E Separate and largely independent party organizations exist at national, state, and local levels.

Which of the following statements most accurately compares elections in the United States with those in most other Western democracies? A United States citizens have fewer opportunities to vote in elections. B Political parties exert a stronger influence over voting in the United States C There are fewer obstacles to voting in the United States D There are more political parties in the United States E Te voter turnout rate in the United States is usually lower

E Te voter turnout rate in the United States is usually lower

How is a president chosen when none of the candidates receives a majority of the electoral college vote? A There is a national runoff election between the two candidates with the greatest number of electoral votes. B The United States Supreme Court directly elects the president. C The election is ruled null and void and Congress appoints a new president. D The Senate chooses a new president by a majority vote of its entire membership. E The House chooses a new president by a majority vote of its state delegations.

E The House chooses a new president by a majority vote of its state delegations.

Which of the following statements about voting patterns is best supported by the table? A Women were more likely than men to vote Democratic. B People who were young, White, and from the South were most likely to be Perot supporters. C Voters with low educational attainment were more likely to vote Republican than Democratic. D Voters in the South were more likely to vote Democratic than those in other regions. E Nonwhite voters were less likely to support Republican presidential candidates in 1992 than they were in 1980.

A Women were more likely than men to vote Democratic.

One of the principal effects of 9/11 was instilling in Americans a fear that their personal security was at greater risk than ever before. Many aspects of the post-9/11 world are indeed new, but the fear it evokes echoes that felt by prior generations. At times the country has met those fears while still holding fast to its core democratic principles. Other times, fear has overruled American principles, especially the protection of individual freedoms. The most important legacy of the American experience following 9/11 will not be the novelty of fear, but rather how well the country copes with that fear while adhering to its constitutional framework. Given how searing the 9/11 experience was, it is sometimes hard to remember that prior generations of Americans didn't always sleep soundly either. Pearl Harbor is an often-cited example, but it joins many other moments of intense fear in U.S. history. During the 40-plus years of the Cold War, American school children practiced "duck and cover" drills the way today's kids might practice school lock-downs. As a teenage in the 1980s, I joined Sting in hoping we could avert a nuclear holocaust if "the Russians love their children, too." With the collapse of the Soviet Union, other threats in the United States soon appeared: the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, and the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Park bombing, to name just a few. During the 1990s, some in the military liked to refer to the United States as a "homeland sanctuary;" after 9/11, many talk about the end of that sanctuary. True, the country has experienced fewer external threats to its population than have most other nations. But it's a misconception to think that the American sense of external threat is new. Kathleen Hicks, "What Will Americans Do About Their Fear of Terrorism?" The Atlantic Monthly, 2016. Which of the following best explains how the passage relates to the political process? A Attacks on United States soil can mobilize the public to act and demand changes to the public policy process. B Public opinion plays an important role in the development of new security measures to protect the United States from internal and external threats. C There are important political and cultural events that can cause the development of lasting political beliefs across groups of people in society. D Citizens judge political leaders on how they react to the internal and external threats faced during their time in office.

C There are important political and cultural events that can cause the development of lasting political beliefs across groups of people in society.

The agenda-setting function of the media refers to the power to A endorse specific candidates for political office B favor the position of one interest group over another C counter the censorship activities of media watch groups D mobilize economic interests in favor of a particular candidate E decide which issues are important enough to bring to public attention

E decide which issues are important enough to bring to public attention

Lobbyists try to influence legislators mainly through A "wining and dining" legislators B orchestrating petition drives and letter-writing campaigns C placing persuasive advertisements in the media D threatening to help the legislator's opponent in the next election E providing legislators with information on technical issues

E providing legislators with information on technical issues

One of the principal effects of 9/11 was instilling in Americans a fear that their personal security was at greater risk than ever before. Many aspects of the post-9/11 world are indeed new, but the fear it evokes echoes that felt by prior generations. At times the country has met those fears while still holding fast to its core democratic principles. Other times, fear has overruled American principles, especially the protection of individual freedoms. The most important legacy of the American experience following 9/11 will not be the novelty of fear, but rather how well the country copes with that fear while adhering to its constitutional framework. Given how searing the 9/11 experience was, it is sometimes hard to remember that prior generations of Americans didn't always sleep soundly either. Pearl Harbor is an often-cited example, but it joins many other moments of intense fear in U.S. history. During the 40-plus years of the Cold War, American school children practiced "duck and cover" drills the way today's kids might practice school lock-downs. As a teenage in the 1980s, I joined Sting in hoping we could avert a nuclear holocaust if "the Russians love their children, too." With the collapse of the Soviet Union, other threats in the United States soon appeared: the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, and the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Park bombing, to name just a few. During the 1990s, some in the military liked to refer to the United States as a "homeland sanctuary;" after 9/11, many talk about the end of that sanctuary. True, the country has experienced fewer external threats to its population than have most other nations. But it's a misconception to think that the American sense of external threat is new. Kathleen Hicks, "What Will Americans Do About Their Fear of Terrorism?" The Atlantic Monthly, 2016. The experience of those who lived through 9/11 needs to create which of the following outcomes, according to the author of the passage? A Citizens should not let their fear of another terror attack override the country's ability to adhere to the civil liberties protections outlined in the Constitution. B Citizens need to acknowledge that the 9/11 attack was a unique event and work to develop a new strategy to combat future terror attacks. C Citizens have to be willing to sacrifice some civil liberties in order to protect the country from future terroristic attacks. D Citizens can rely on the government to develop plans to protect them in the event of a future attack on the United States.

A Citizens should not let their fear of another terror attack override the country's ability to adhere to the civil liberties protections outlined in the Constitution.

The animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) urges its members to take action in support of what they term "animal friendly" legislation through their website. In addition to providing information about important issues that legislators may vote on, the nonprofit organization also describes the best ways to contact a legislator and tips on how best to interact with lawmakers. Which of the following is being illustrated in the scenario? A Interest groups sometimes form around a narrow set of issues with the goal of impacting policy making. B Interest groups lacking funding can overcome the free-rider problem by proposing legislation on their website. C Interest groups work to mobilize citizens and members of Congress to form an iron triangle. D Interest groups post messages on social media to request donations from members.

A Interest groups sometimes form around a narrow set of issues with the goal of impacting policy making.

Parents have the greatest stake in the outcome of their child's education. Accordingly, they should also have the power to make sure their child is getting the right education. As Deven Carlson points out, there is little constituency in America for the top-down reforms that have been tried time and again. In order for any reform to truly work, it must attract and maintain the support of the people. I have seen such support for parental empowerment. The more parents exercise it, the more they like it. This growing support is why states are responding to that demand one by one. . . . Equal access to a quality education should be a right for every American and every parent should have the right to choose how their child is educated. Government exists to protect those rights, not usurp them. So let's face it: the opponents of [school choice] could repeal every voucher law, close every charter school, and defund every choice program across the country. But school choice still wouldn't go away. There would still be school choice . . . for the affluent and the powerful. Let's empower the forgotten parents to decide where their children go to school. Let's show some humility and trust all parents to know their kids' needs better than we do. Betsy DeVos, Secretary of Education, January 16, 2018 Which of the following actions would give opponents of school choice the best chance of preventing the Department of Education from adopting the policy outlined above? A Opponents of school choice could take the Department of Education to federal court and have the school choice policy declared unconstitutional. B Opponents of school choice could write letters to the Department of Education expressing why they are opposed to school choice. C Opponents of school choice could protest in front of their city's local school board to insist that the district do not take any money from the Department of Education for school choice. D Opponents of school choice could raise money for a potential challenger the next time Betsy DeVos runs for reelection as Secretary of the Department of Education.

A Opponents of school choice could take the Department of Education to federal court and have the school choice policy declared unconstitutional.

Question: We hear a lot of talk these days about liberals and conservatives. I'm going to show you a seven-point scale on which the political views that people might hold are arranged from extremely liberal — point 1 — to extremely conservative — point 7. Where would you place yourself on this scale? (Point 4 not shown on scale.) MY POLITICAL VALUES ARE... The graph above supports which of the following statements? A People with higher incomes are more likely to think of themselves as conservative than are those with lower incomes. B Americans with incomes under $10,000 are twice as likely to think of themselves as liberal than as conservative. C A majority of people whose incomes fall between $10,000 and $50,000 think of themselves as conservative. D No income group contains more people who think of themselves as liberal than people who think of themselves as conservative. E People with higher incomes are less likely to think of themselves as either liberal or conservative than are those with lower incomes.

A People with higher incomes are more likely to think of themselves as conservative than are those with lower incomes.

Which of the following makes a correct comparison between political parties and interest groups in the United States? A Political Parties Political parties recruit and run candidates in elections. Interest Groups Interest groups seek to influence public policy. B Political Parties Political parties have small constituencies and thus try to win elections by energizing their base to vote for them. Interest Groups Interest groups alert and educate voters regarding pending legislation. C Political Parties Political parties have organizations that donate money to candidates for public office. Interest Groups Interest groups are barred by law from donating money to political campaigns. D Political Parties Political parties achieve the bulk of the changes they seek through the use of the courts. Interest Groups Interest groups build relationships with congressional committees and the bureaucracy to form iron triangles.

A Political Parties Political parties recruit and run candidates in elections. Interest Groups Interest groups seek to influence public policy.

Agree-Disagree v. Forced Choice Questions Agree-Disagree The best way to ensure peace is through military strength. (55% agree, 42% disagree) Forced Choice The best way to ensure peace is through military strength (33%) OR Diplomacy is the best way to ensure peace (55%) Source: Pew Research Center, 1999. Based on the outcome of the polls, which of the following is likely true about questions that use the agree-disagree format? A Questions that use the agree-disagree format increase the percentage of respondents who agree with the primary statement. B Questions that use the agree-disagree format create confusion about what is being asked. C Questions that use the agree-disagree format reduce support for the public policy that is being surveyed. D Questions that use the agree-disagree promote considerations of other perspectives.

A Questions that use the agree-disagree format increase the percentage of respondents who agree with the primary statement.

Parents have the greatest stake in the outcome of their child's education. Accordingly, they should also have the power to make sure their child is getting the right education. As Deven Carlson points out, there is little constituency in America for the top-down reforms that have been tried time and again. In order for any reform to truly work, it must attract and maintain the support of the people. I have seen such support for parental empowerment. The more parents exercise it, the more they like it. This growing support is why states are responding to that demand one by one. . . . Equal access to a quality education should be a right for every American and every parent should have the right to choose how their child is educated. Government exists to protect those rights, not usurp them. So let's face it: the opponents of [school choice] could repeal every voucher law, close every charter school, and defund every choice program across the country. But school choice still wouldn't go away. There would still be school choice . . . for the affluent and the powerful. Let's empower the forgotten parents to decide where their children go to school. Let's show some humility and trust all parents to know their kids' needs better than we do. Betsy DeVos, Secretary of Education, January 16, 2018 The author in the passage seeks to convince those uncertain about the policy of school choice to do which of the following? A To support a parents' right to choose where their child goes to school B To demand that the government provide better funding for all public schools C To elect government representatives who support school choice D To donate money to organizations that support school choice

A To support a parents' right to choose where their child goes to school