Study.com Political Science 102: American Government

One major difference between county governments and municipal governments is:

County governments do not have the power to create laws; municipal governments can create their own laws.

Same-sex couples receiving equal protections under federal law resulted from the Supreme Court striking down WHICH piece of existing legislation?

Defense of Marriage Act

A general is preparing to hold military exercises in order to display the arsenal the United States has at its disposal. What policy is this most associated with?

Defense policy

Which of the following is a direct lobbying technique used by interest groups?

Donating money to a politician's electoral campaign

What two important legal concepts are associated with the Fourteenth Amendment in the U.S. Constitution?

Equal protection and due process before the law

What was the basis for the Supreme Court's original ruling on Brown v. Board of Education in 1954?

Even if the tangible aspects of schools may be equal, the intangible aspects of separating children by race could never be reversed

A Democratic president is trying to pass a law that will increase restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions. He has the support of the general public and thinks that the law should pass Congress because he has talked to key figures in the Republican Party and gained their support. However, the law fails to pass Congress. Which of the following should the president have done?

He should have made sure that he had the backing of the Democratic Party, because support from either side of Congress should not be taken for granted.

Which U.S. government agency handles most of the federal housing programs?

Housing and Urban Development

The Voting Rights Act was in _____________.

1965

How many total Electoral College votes are there?

538

You have a list of people that includes some of their most basic traits. Which of the following individuals is most likely to be a supporter of the Democratic Party?

A 40-year-old female from New York

John Clemence is a popular member of a large political party who has spent a long time as a member of the country's main legislative house. He often disagrees with the leadership and refuses to vote with the majority of the party due to his own beliefs, but he will still have the support of his party in the upcoming election. In which of the following systems is this likely to occur?

A congressional democracy

WHICH consequence in U.S. politics can result from uninformed voters?

A shift in power from the majority of voters to specific groups

The government has established a new body that is focused on determining whether U.S. companies conform to the Paris Treaty. This new body has the power to create and enforce new rules. It can also punish companies or individuals that do not conform to the law. Which of the following best describes this new body?

An independent regulatory agency

A first-term congressman is delivering a speech in Congress and states: 'Today, on June the first, 2016, we will change the American Constitution for the fiftieth time based on Article V of our great nation's Constitution. After this house agrees on the wording of the bill, the president will sign it, and we will have a constitutional amendment that will allow us to far more efficiently monitor the work of the NSA.' Which of the following parts the congressman's speech was correct?

Article V of the Constitution regulates how the Constitution can be amended.

How are primary elections defined?

As the elections where a party chooses its nominee for a political office

Which type of programming can only be broadcast during certain hours?

Indecent programming or profane language

Why is divided government significant to the U.S. political system?

It allows the individual branches of government to keep the power of the other branches equally balanced and in check.

What happens to economic output as measured by GDP during a recession?

It contracts for at least six months.

What is the purpose of the Federal Election Campaign Act?

It governs the financing of federal elections

Which answer choice best describes the significance of the Supreme Court case of 'Marbury v. Madison?'

It is the first case that recognized the power of judicial review

What benefits does Medicare Part D provide?

It provides prescription drug coverage for individuals who are at least 65-years-old.

Which of the following answer choices contains the best example of the rights established by Article IV of the U.S. Constitution?

Jill and Jack, who were married in Washington state, must also have their marriage recognized in other states.

When the Supreme Court declared that the states did not have the right to regulate interstate commerce, they were practicing which principle?

Judicial nationalism

Journalist Karen just wrote a newspaper article exposing the corrupt actions of the state governor. This is an example of:

Muckraking

You are a candidate for a congressional seat in Ohio. The president is up for reelection and wants to campaign with you. His current approval ratings are around 20%, and he just enacted a very unpopular tax reform. Should you call him to give a speech at one of your campaign rallies?

No, you should try to distance yourself from the president's bad performance and indicate the strengths of your own program.

The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence has commenced an investigation into certain activities of the Central Intelligence Agency. What authority grants the Senate this power?

Oversight Power

We can't expect everyone to vote. However, if everyone stops believing in the power of voting, the democratic process ceases. This is an example of which principle?

Paradox of participation

State courts have the legal authority or jurisdiction to hear which types of cases?

Personal injury claims

What was the effect of Plessy v. Ferguson on the Equal Protection Clause?

Plessy v. Ferguson weakened the influence of the Equal Protection Clause, due to the fact that it permitted segregation and codified the 'separate but equal' doctrine.

Which core principle states that the government operates only with the people's consent and authority?

Popular sovereignty

Which of the following was NOT a U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War?

Preemptive war doctrine

You live in a country where the number of legislative seats allocated to each political party is determined according to the vote percentages won by each political party in an election. What is this system of representation called?

Proportional representation

An economy that is in a recession experiences which of the following?

Real GDP shrinks for at least six months in a row, prices are falling, and unemployment is higher.

A wealthy male who lives in the Great Plains is most likely an _____.

Republican

Supreme Court justices and federal judges are appointed for life terms. However, these appointments are conditioned upon which of the following?

Serving with good behavior

Callie is browsing her Facebook feed. She notices that several of her friends like and follow an organization called 'The Society for the Rehumanization of American Music'. She goes to the organization's website and realizes she agrees with what they have to say about bringing imagination and soul back to modern music. Callie starts supporting and promoting their efforts. Callie's political attitude has been shaped through _____.

Sharing

Janet has recently been appointed as a United States ambassador. Which of the following answer choices concerning her appointment is most accurate?

She was appointed by the President of the United States and then confirmed by the Senate.

Which of the following statements concerning U.S. Supreme Court justices is most accurate?

Supreme Court justices are appointed by the President of the United States and confirmed by the Senate, Although Supreme Court justices serve for life, their terms may end earlier if they resign, retire, or are impeached

The _____ typically grants less than 1% of the Writs of Certiorari filed before it.

Supreme Court of the United States

The National Women Suffrage Association was founded by:

Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton

A survey was conducted in which voters were asked about the most important factor in deciding who they would vote for. 40% of them answered that they wanted an educated person, 24% said it was important that the candidate be truthful and candid, 22% wanted the person to be modest, and 14% said the party to which the candidate belonged was most important to them. Which of the following issues does this survey identify as the most important factor for voters?

The candidate's personal attributes

Which of the following is NOT a factor in the rise of the permanent campaign?

The decrease in existing interest groups

In which of the following is voter turnout generally higher?

The general election, because the results are more important.

Which of the following refers to voter participation?

The number of voters who cast a ballot in an election

Which of the following is NOT a reason why interest groups are developed and maintained?

The passing of laws that make interest groups required for the lobbying of legislation for specific interests

Which of the following answer choices contains the best example of the free rider problem?

The president of a large automobile manufacturer association notices that the group is not growing because the benefits they created can be enjoyed without membership.

Identify which of the following is a trait of progressive federalism?

There is a slight shift towards reclaiming power for the federal government through the use of federally supervised programs.

The Equal Protection Clause required constitutional backing primarily because _____.

There were concerns that some states would ignore the Civil Rights Act of 1866 if it wasn't obligatory and supported by the Constitution

Why was freedom of religion so important to the original European settlers to the U.S.?

They had been persecuted religiously in their own countries.

Which of the following goals do the rules of American politics accomplish?

They safeguard constituents, They keep the American political system running smoothly and efficiently, They protect politicians and government leaders

What does ratification mean in the context of a constitutional amendment?

Three-fourths of the state legislatures must approve the proposed amendment.

How was the political system impacted when candidates began presenting themselves on television in the 70's?

Voters began placing a higher value on a candidate's personality

Based on their voting records, a civil society group has identified seven members of Congress who always vote against political finance control. After their records are published, the media starts calling these individuals 'The Corrupt Seven'. Select which lobbying technique was used in this situation.

a direct technique

How would you describe the political party system of the United States?

a two-party system

The president has the authority to _____.

appoint members of the bureaucracy and reorganize the bureaucracy

Many media outlets have reported extensively on the long wait times for veterans seeking medical attention through VA hospitals. Several of those outlets neglected to cover the federal corruption and bureaucratic difficulties that led to the poor care of veterans. This is an example of _____.

bias by omission

You are watching the news on TV and you realize that the reporter is adding personal comments, using an ironic tone, and giving a personal interpretation of the facts. This is a clear case of:

bias by spin

The President of the United States has broken the law by using the NSA to spy on his political opponents. He refuses to resign, but Congress has started the impeachment procedure in order to remove him from office. This is an example of which of the following?

checks and balances

Larry sues his homeowner's association because they told him he couldn't fly his American flag. Larry believes this is a violation of his 1st Amendment rights. Larry loses in district court and asks for his case to be reviewed. What kind of court will hear his case?

circuit court

John is talking to a coworker in the state legislature office who is complaining that what started as a joint project of the state and federal government is completely dependent upon federal funding. Thus, this project is completely dependent upon the federal government. What is this an example of?

creative federalism

The country of Latervia is decreasing its aggregate demand. What is Latervia's fiscal policy?

deflation

A candidate is running for office and she believes that the government should be responsible for certain economic and social needs. Which of the following parties does this candidate MOST likely belong to?

democrats

The federal government's use of taxation and spending policies to affect overall business activity is called _____.

fiscal policy

Under the procedural right to a jury trial, selection of the jurors _____.

guarantees and unbiased jury

WHAT practice is a bureaucracy engaging in when it tries to maintain its own size and importance for the sake of itself?

imperialism

During class, John said that the state's Supreme Court is comprised of public officials holding high ranking state positions, including the governor. Instead of the state's Supreme Court, John probably meant the _____ branch.

legislative

In regards to magnitude of government, WHAT term BEST describes a core philosophy of U.S. government?

limited

The notion of a separation of powers and the system of checks and balances promoted by the U.S. Constitution are two examples of _____ in the United States.

limited government

WHICH of the following groups BEST connects interest groups hoping to gain influence over government officials?

lobbyists

Police and fire departments, as well as public libraries and swimming pools, are generally under the direction of WHICH of the following governments?

local government

_____ refers to the act of closely examining and judging the media.

media criticism

_____ is a social insurance benefit program that offers health care benefits for eligible participants.

medicare

Which of the following encompasses the national security interest?

military security, energy security and environmental security

Privacy rights are specifically mentioned in the _____.

nowhere in the constitution

An interest group is an organized group of individuals with common _____ who are actively trying to influence policy makers.

objectives

People who influence the opinions of others by openly and publicly expressing their ideas are known as _____.

opinion leaders

Several members of Congress noted that a government agency was working far below its correct level of efficiency. They decided to significantly decrease its budget and were supported by a majority of Congress. This is an example of _____.

oversight

Voter turnout is greatest in _____ elections.

presidential

The ability to abstain from answering questions relating to allegations of committing a crime is guaranteed by the Fifth Amendment's right to protect against _____.

self-incrimination

A measure of an individual's or a family's economic and social position based on education, income and occupation is called _____.

socioeconomic status

The right to remain silent implies _____.

that the defendant is protected from testifying against himself

The Federal Communications Commissions, which manages the airwaves, was established by _____.

the Federal Communications Act of 1934.

The birth of the two-party political system happened with the formal emergence of _____.

the Federalists and Democratic-Republicans

Republicans and Democrats both agree on which of the following concerning education policy?

the end goal

The incentive that banks offer in return for use of a depositor's money is called _____.

the interest rate

Article I of the Constitution establishes _____.

the legislative branch of the government, the Congress.

The privacy right of housing protects _____.

the right of an extended family to live together

In the spoils system, bureaucrats were selected based on _____.

their political loyalty and party membership

If Congress passes a law that the president believes is against good foreign policy, what's his most effective and constitutionally permissible course of action?

veto the law

Sex-segregated help wanted ads _____.

violate a ruling by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

Stuart failed to return a loan and is currently bankrupt. According to studies, this fact _____.

will affect the way he chooses to vote

A voter's political decisions are often affected by political socialization. How does this occur?

By shaping his/her political views from an early age

The purpose of the _____ is to implement laws and policies made by elected officials, provide necessary administrative functions, and regulate various government activities.

Bureaucracy

How are electoral votes divided?

According to congressional districts

Rational choice theory states that voting is an illogical behavior. What does the theory offer as an explanation for why voting is illogical?

Because it doesn't provide a sufficient benefit to voters

A political action committee (PAC) is supporting the congressional race of a major political party. It has spent over $50,000 on negative advertisement against the other candidates. It's donated over $2,000 to a candidate in New Hampshire and over $10,000 to a candidate in Florida. It has also directly donated $12,500 to the party it supports. Why did this PAC break the law?

Because it donated more than $5,000 to a candidate.

Your friend, James, considers himself a Republican. In the last presidential election, he voted for the candidate of the Democratic Party. Why is this an odd occurrence?

Because party identification usually leads to 90% of people voting for the party they support

Which of the following is an example of bureaucratic conflict?

When the Federal Drug Administration decides a drug licensed by Congress is not valid

When a party is dissatisfied with a lower court's decision and wishes to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, the party must first file _____.

a Writ of Certiorari