Chapter 1: Political Thinking and Political Culture: Becoming a Responsible concepts

Which of the following are true of party polarization?

-Partisan fights have become prolonged and bitter. -Partisanship has increased dramatically over the past few decades. -Partisan divisions have surfaced on nearly every issue.

Elements of constitutionalism include ______.

-the protection of individual rights -officials being required to follow the laws -lawful restrictions of governmental power

Which of the following statements are true about American ideals and government? (Choose every correct answer.)

Americans believe that their government should have a high purpose. Americans generally believe that government power should be widely shared.

Which of the following statements are true of economic power in the United States?

Corporate power operates in part through the influence that firms have with government officials. Firms have greater control over wages and working conditions than in other Western democracies. Roughly two-thirds of all lobbyists in the nation's capital represent business firms.

Which of the following statements about political institutions and interests in the United States is true?

Few nations have as many competing interests and institutions as the United States.

Which of the following are true of legal action?

It is a channel through which ordinary Americans exercise power. It involves use of the courts to assert rights and interests. It involves the Bill of Rights, an independent judiciary, and firm attachment to private property.

An economic system that operates mainly on private transactions where firms are free to make their own production, distribution, and pricing decisions is known as ______.

a free-market system

The text cites President Trump's decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement on climate change—even though two-thirds of Americans polled disagreed with the decision—as an example of ______.

authority

______ is the recognized right of officials to exercise power.

authority

The idea that there are lawful restrictions on government power is called ______.

constitutionalism

According to sociologist C. Wright Mills, who or what has greater control over economic policy than even elected officials have?

corporate elites

What term refers to the influence of business firms on public policy?

corporate power

Individualism in the United States is best described as ______.

deeply ingraine

In a(n) ______ form of democracy (for example, the type that might be conducted through town meetings) citizens decide policy instead of depending on elected representatives.

direct

Despite the existence of institutions that encourage widespread participation, wealth gives rise to ______, which is the power possessed by well-positioned and highly influential individuals.

elitism

The power exercised by well-positioned and highly influential individuals is known as ______.

elitism

Americans have a(n) ______ view of their rights and freedoms.

expansive

Under socialism as it is practiced today in Sweden and other countries, the government ______.

guarantees its citizens a minimal standard of living

The use of the courts as a means of asserting rights and interests is known as ______.

legal action

In terms of opportunity, Blacks in the United States today are:

not equal in terms of opportunities for a better life for their children.

Which of the following were placed in the U.S. Constitution in order to prevent the tyranny of the majority?

separation of powers checks and balances a bill of rights

As practiced today, ______ is a system in which the government stresses economic equality and owns a number of major industries.

socialism

Pluralism asserts that, on most issues, the actors who exercise the most influence over government policy are ______.

special interest groups

Who or what holds the power in a pluralist system?

special interests

In a pluralist system, who or what would have the most influence on policies regarding regulation of Internet service providers?

the providers themselves

A defining characteristic of American politics is:

the widespread sharing of power.

In America, majoritarianism occurs mainly ______.

through competition between the Republican and Democratic parties

Concerning power sharing, the United States is ______.

unique