Government 2305: Chapter 1 Smartbook

is the principle that individuals should be free to act and think as they choose, provided they do not infringe on the freedoms of others.

Liberty

Which of the following statements are true of economic power in the United States? (Select all that apply.)

1. Corporate power operates in part through the influence that firms have with government officials. 2. Roughly two-thirds of all lobbyists in the nation's capital represent business firms. 3. Firms have greater control over wages and working conditions than in other Western democracies.

Which of the following were periods with high levels of bipartisanship in American history? (Select all that apply.)

1. George Washington's first years as president 2. World War I 3. World War II

Which of the following are true of party polarization? (Select all that apply.)

1. Partisan fights have become prolonged and bitter. 2. Partisanship has increased dramatically over the past few decades. 3. Partisan divisions have surfaced on nearly every issue

Which of the following statements are true about the motivations for creating American democracy? (Select all that apply.)

1. The idea of individual potential could be achieved more easily in the New World than in the Old World. 2.Colonists, following Enlightenment ideas, wanted to overturn the European way of governing. 3. The American Revolution sought to create a radically different form of society.

Which of the following accurately describe higher education in the U.S.? (Select all that apply.)

1. U.S. states with the lowest proportion of college grads have more residents with a bachelor's degree than the typical European country. 2. The U.S. ranks second only to Canada in the number of people over 25 with a college degree. 3. The U.S. has the most elaborate system of higher education in the world.

Elements of constitutionalism include

1. officials being required to follow the laws. 2. lawful restrictions of governmental power. 3. the protection of individual rights.

Which of the following are tools that political science offers to increase one's ability to think critically? (Select all that apply.)

1. reliable information about how the U.S. political system operates 2. systematic generalizations about major tendencies in American politics 3. terms and concepts that precisely describe aspects of politics

Which of the following were placed in the United States Constitution in order to prevent majority tyranny?

1. separation of powers 2. a bill of rights 3. checks and balances

In what year was discrimination against Chinese, Japanese, and other Asian immigrants finally removed from U.S. immigration law?

1965

Slavery in America lasted for ______ years.

250

What best describes the ways in which our media system has presented obstacles to critical thinking in recent history?

All the answers are correct.

What is the true test of an opinion?

Does it hold up when judged against other views?

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 is a core value of American political ideology?

Government should serve the people.

______ is a commitment to personal initiative and self-sufficiency.

Individualism

Which of the following statements best describes politicians' "slanting" of the facts?

Leaders of both parties have done this.

Upon what assumption was Chinese immigration to the U.S. suspended in 1882?

The Chinese were an inferior people.

As political leaders have become more willing to make deceptive claims, the public has

become more tolerant of the practice.

A form of government in which the power to govern is in the hands of the citizens, either directly or through representatives, is called a(n)

democracy

Which of the following is a system of majority rule through elections, empowering majorities, groups, and officials?

democratic

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

What does the text describe as "America's most elusive ideal"?

equality

Which of the following is an economic system that centers on the transactions between private parties?

free market

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

guarantees its citizens a minimal standard of living.

When political leaders respond to the policy desires of the majority, it is referred to as

majoritarianism.

The overall way in which society settles conflicts and allocates the resulting benefits and costs is called

politics.

A particularly strong example of Americans' determination to build a more equal society is its

public education system.

Confirmation bias is the tendency to

reinterpret information in ways that reinforce what we already believe.

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

special interest groups.

Democracy may free the mind, but who determines how that freedom will be used?

the individual

At what point in American history did the influence of business firms on public policy become a defining feature of American politics?

the late 1800s

Who is the "self" in the political ideal of self-government?

the people

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

the providers themselves

In America, majoritarianism occurs mainly

through competition between the republican and democratic parties

Concerning power sharing, the U.S. is

unique

The "two Americas" referenced in the text are

white America and black America.

Which of these ideals encompasses the principle that the people are the ultimate source of government authority and should have a voice in their governing?

self-government

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 tools of political science attempt to

sharpen students understanding of American politics

Political culture in the U.S. is based upon Americans'

allegiance to common goals.

Politics are necessary because

- People do not all think alike - Conflict in a society is inevitable - Society's resources are limited

What role, generally, do politicians play in misinformation?

Politicians' deceptions have always been part of our politics, and they have contributed to the current rise in misinformation.

Helga and Halla are sisters who vehemently disagree about politics and support opposing parties. When they watch a news story about how a Republican congressional representative has been accused of embezzling campaign funds to support his drug addiction, Republican Helga immediately dismisses the story, while Democrat Halla counters that "of course it's true." Both women are demonstrating

a confirmation bias.