Chapter One Quizlet

What did Thomas Jefferson mean when he wrote "all men are created equal"?

All people are entitled to equal protection under the law.

Which of the following statements is true about the American political culture?

America's cultural beliefs are idealistic.

Which of the following best describes Americans' tolerance of leaders who make deceptive claims in recent years?

Americans have become more tolerant of leaders who slant the facts.

Which of the following statements about democracy, as currently practiced in the United States, is most accurate?

In the United States, national public policy is determined by the people's representatives, not by the people themselves.

Who among the following exhibits critical thinking when deciding to vote for Adia, a black candidate nominated for an upcoming election?

Lorna, who decides to vote for Adia after listening to both her speech and her opponent's, because she thinks Adia is the best candidate for the office

What is a major limit on majoritarianism suggested by the author?

The public as a whole takes an interest in only a few of the hundreds of policy decisions that U.S. officials make each year.

Which of the following is a difference between communism and socialism, as described by the text?

Under communism, the government takes responsibility for overall management of the economy, whereas under socialism, the government does not try to manage the overall economy.

In an oligarchy,

control rests with a small group, such as military officers or a few wealthy families.

Differences in the average incomes of minimum-wage workers in the United States and Europe reflect a greater influence of which of the following in the United States?

corporate power

The influence of business firms on public policy, as through the use of lobbyists, is called

corporate power.

According to English philosopher John Stuart Mill, a(n) _____ government promotes political thinking.

democratic

Which of the following best describes a political system dominated by a powerful, accomplished group of highly influential people who use their money and position to deeply influence and control government policy?

elitist

In the early 1900s, African Americans were legally forbidden to travel in the same buses, attend the same schools, and dine in the same restaurants as white people. Today, this would be regarded a violation of the core principle of

equality.

Unlike a majoritarian government, a pluralistic government

focuses on the preferences of special interest groups.

A commitment to personal initiative and self-sufficiency is known as

individualism.

A government's authority

is evidenced when government officials use their right to exercise power.

Pluralism contends that, on most issues,

it is the preference of the special interest that largely determines what government does.

Eric, a first-time voter, wants to cast his vote for Alex Bradley, a Democrat. Members of Eric's family, being staunch supporters of the Republican Party, force him to vote for a Republican candidate instead. Based on the information provided in this scenario, which core principle of the American constitution has been violated?

liberty

Which of the following terms is defined as the principle that individuals should be free to act and think as they choose, provided they do not infringe unreasonably on the freedom and well-being of others?

liberty

The fact that many people seek out information from blogs, websites, and other media sources matching what they already believe shows that

paying closer attention to politics does not necessarily make a person better informed.

The systematic study of government and politics is termed

political science.

Democracy as practiced in the United States and most other Western nations is best described as

representative.

The fact that the United States uses primary elections and has more elected officials than other countries is a reflection of the belief in

self-government.

American's national identity is derived from their

shared beliefs.

Americans' core ideals are rooted in

the experience of the American Revolution.

An understanding of America's cultural ideals begins with recognition that

the individual is paramount.

Marguerite is a conservative voter. She routinely listens to partisan talk shows for several hours a day. It is likely that Marguerite is among

the most misinformed citizens.

Which of the following actions taken by America in the past is a violation of its own cultural ideals?

the suspension of Chinese immigration in 1882

In a constitutional system,

there are lawful restrictions on a government's power.

Why did the writers of the American Constitution divide authority among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches?

to keep a check on the power of the majority

A defining characteristic of American politics is the

widespread sharing of power.