GOVT 2305: Unit 1 Smartbooks
When Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected president in 1932, there were more than _____ million workers who were employed by industry, compared to only 1 million in 1860.
10
The First National Bank of the United States was established in what year?
1791
The Constitution gave Congress the power to end the importation of new slaves in which year?
1808
In what year was discrimination against Chinese, Japanese, and other Asian immigrants finally removed from U.S. immigration law?
1965
A U.S. representative (member of the House) has a term of service of
2 years
At present there are ______ standing committees in the House of Representatives.
20
In what year, in the case of District of Columbia v. Heller, did the Supreme Court finally address the issue of how the Second Amendment should be interpreted?
2008
During the direst part of the Great Depression, approximately ______ percent of the nation's workers was unemployed.
25
Slavery in America lasted for ______ years.
250
What has the Supreme Court ruled concerning police use of modern technology, such as listening or thermal-imaging devices, to investigate a subject?
A search warrant is required, just as it would be for other circumstances.
Who among the following were the authors of The Federalist Papers, which argued for ratifying the Constitution?
Alexander Hamilton James Madison
Identify some of the core principles of the Declaration of Independence.
All men have fundamental rights. All men are equal. The consent of the governed is fundamental.
Which of the following statements are true about American ideals and government?
Americans believe that their government should have a high purpose. Americans generally believe that government power should be widely shared.
The text suggests that Americans tend especially toward selective memory and recasting history because
Americans' beliefs are so idealistic.
Which document served as the first constitution of the United States?
Articles of Confederation
In which 2014 case did the Supreme Court rule that companies that are "closely held" (only a few owners) are not required to provide their employees with birth control if they object on religious grounds?
Burwell v. Hobby Lobby
States alone are sovereign in a
Confederacy
According to the Virginia Plan, who or what would exercise power in all areas "in which the separate states are incompetent"?
Congress
The Constitution's commerce clause says that ______ shall have the power to "regulate commerce" among the states.
Congress
One way to propose an amendment to the Constitution is to have
Congress pass it by at least a two-thirds majority in the House and Senate.
In Gibbons v. Ogden (1824), the Supreme Court ruled that
Congress's commerce power included all aspects of trade between states.
The power to impeach and remove the president from office is held by
Congress.
Prior to the Great Depression, the ______ Party supported greater regulation of business and more rights for labor, while the ______ Party was ideologically committed to free markets and smaller government.
Democratic; Republican
Which of the following would have fought against uncontrolled business power in the era just before the Great Depression?
Democrats progressive Republicans
In which case did the Supreme Court rule that the Second Amendment protects an individual's right to possess a firearm unconnected to service in a militia?
District of Columbia v. Heller
What is the true test of an opinion?
Does it hold up when judged against other views?
The system chose by the framers to select the president is the
Electoral College.
True or False: The Senate majority leader's position is more powerful than that of the House Speaker.
False
True or false: According to the Supreme Court, a statement that someone makes that ruins a public official's career may be considered libel or slander even if the statement is factually accurate.
False
True or false: According to the Supreme Court, police can search a person's home merely on the basis of a hunch that the owner might be breaking the law.
False
True or false: In a 1992 cases involving a St. Paul, Minnesota city ordinance, the Supreme Court ruled that the government can restrict hate speech as it causes "anger or alarm."
False
True or false: It is more common for House incumbents than Senate incumbents to face challengers in the form of prominent local politicians.
False
True or false: The Virginia Plan favored the states with smaller populations.
False
Which of the following statements are true of economic power in the United States?
Firms have greater control over wages and working conditions than in other Western democracies. Corporate power operates in part through the influence that firms have with government officials. Roughly two-thirds of all lobbyists in the nation's capital represent business firms.
Which amendment of the Constitution was at the center of the famous Supreme Court case, Plessy v. Ferguson?
Fourteenth Amendment
Which post-Civil War amendment required states to give their residents due process of law?
Fourteenth Amendment
Which amendment to the United States Constitution protects citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures?
Fourth
Under which of the following Supreme Court cases did part of the Bill of Rights first become incorporated to apply to actions by the states?
Gitlow v. New York
The plan that accommodated both large and small states by creating a two-chamber Congress was known as the
Great Compromise.
Which of the following are true statements about the federal structure of the United States?
Hamilton felt people would shift their trust between the national and state governments, depending on their needs and interests at the time. Madison and Hamilton argued that the states and national government would serve to check each other and thus protect peoples' rights.
In which of the following cases did the Supreme Court argue that the Tenth Amendment gave the states, and not the federal government, the power to regulate factory practices?
Hammer v. Dagenhart
How did Jefferson propose to put his vision of a popular government into practice?
He had no clear idea about how to accomplish this.
How did George III react to the demands put forth by the First Continental Congress?
He rejected them outright.
In terms of the budget to hire office staff,
House members receive identical amounts of money. senators receive varying amounts of money, depending on the population of their state.
The difference between amendments that can be offered in the House and Senate to a bill under consideration is that in the
House, amendments must directly relate to a bill's contents.
Which of the following statements describe the terms democracy and republic as understood by the framers of the Constitution?
In a democracy the power of the majority is unlimited. The government of a republic responds to the needs of the majority while protecting the minority. The separation of powers is a characteristic of republican government.
______ typically benefit from gerrymandering because the majority party ensures that there are enough of the party's voters in the district to ensure reelection.
Incumbents
What is one reason that incumbents have a fundraising advantage over challengers?
Incumbents have a ready list of potential contributors from past campaigns.
_____ is a commitment to personal initiative and self-sufficiency.
Individualism
Why is the necessary and proper clause called the elastic clause?
It allows for adjustments to the national government's implied powers.
Which of the following conditions or strings is typically attached to a categorical grant?
It can be used only for a specific, designated activity.
What did the Supreme Court rule concerning the interstate commerce clause in the 1930s?
It covers only transportation of goods, not their manufacture.
Which of the following correctly describes political culture?
It is derived from the country's traditions. It helps define the relationship between citizens and their government. It helps define citizens' relationships to each other.
Why were the Anti-Federalists concerned about passage of the "necessary and proper" clause?
It provided a constitutional basis for expanding federal power.
In 1993, a Wisconsin law that allowed lengthier sentences for hate crimes was challenged as a violation of the First Amendment. How did the Court rule?
It upheld the law because it was not aimed at free speech but at actions that were not protected by the First Amendment.
Which of the following people is acting in a way that promotes critical thinking?
Jamal is a liberal but his best friend is conservative. The two often compare sources before forming opinions on political issues.
The essay Federalist No. 10, written by ______, is considered one of the most influential writings on American government.
James Madison
What was the doctrine of nullification?
John C. Calhoun's argument that a state has the constitutional right to invalidate a national law
The Supreme Court determined that privacy rights extend to consensual activity between same-sex partners in
Lawrence v. Texas.
Which of the following statements are true of libel and slander?
Laws on libel and slander are based on the assumption that society has an interest in encouraging media and citizens to express themselves freely. Public officials can usually be criticized freely without fear the writer or speaker will have to pay for damages due to libel or slander.
Which of the following statements best describes politicians' "slanting" of the facts?
Leaders of both parties have done this.
______ 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
In which two legal cases did the Supreme Court rule on the authority of federal and state governments to regulate business practices?
Lochner v. New York Hammer v. Dagenhart
Which of the following is a major reason why incumbents are reelected?
Many congressional districts and some states are lopsidedly Democratic or Republican.
The federal court case that established judicial review was
Marbury v. Madison.
In 1965 the federal government partnered with states to provide health care to the poor as part of which program?
Medicaid
As a result of the Supreme Court's ruling in Dred Scott v. Sandford, the Supreme Court invalidated which of the following?
Missouri Compromise
The concept of separation of powers was proposed by
Montesquieu.
Which of the following statements about federalism is accurate?
Neither the national nor state governments has the right to abolish the other.
The proposal that tended to favor the less-populated states was called the
New Jersey Plan.
In which of the following cases did the Supreme Court rule that for public figures to win a libel claim, they must prove actual malice?
New York Times Co. v. Sullivan
n which of the following cases did the Supreme Court rule that for public figures to win a libel claim, they must prove actual malice?
New York Times Co. v. Sullivan
Which of the following describes the power of Congress relative to the other branches of government?
No executive agency or lower court can exist without congressional authorization.
In Federalist No. 10, Madison argued which faction was best suited to guarding the interests of the new nation?
None of the answers is correct; Madison warned against the power of any faction.
The Supreme Court had been handing down rulings against New Deal programs by 1937, and President Roosevelt put forth a plan to increase the number of justices in order to give himself a majority. How was this plan resolved?
One justice inexplicably changed sides, giving Roosevelt the majority he wanted.
Which of the following are true of party polarization?
Partisan divisions have surfaced on nearly every issue. Partisanship has increased dramatically over the past few decades. Partisan fights have become prolonged and bitter.
When the states drafted new constitutions after the start of the Revolutionary War, ______ did not have separation of powers. Its negative experience, in which the all-powerful legislature ignored basic rights and freedoms, proved the necessity of separation.
Pennsylvania
Which of the following are elements of the social contract that John Locke believed was the foundation of government?
People are born with certain inalienable rights, such as life, liberty, and property. People submit to governmental authority in return for the protection it can provide, if it respects their rights. If a government does not respect the natural rights of the people, the people can rightfully rebel against it.
The text describes one compromise as crucial to convince small states to support what became known as the Great Compromise. What was it?
Representation in the Senate would be equal for all states.
What two states were steadfastly opposed to the new union created at Philadelphia?
Rhode Island and North Carolina
The Supreme Court decision that determined that the right to privacy extended to include abortion is
Roe v. Wade.
______ refers to a practice whereby members of Congress respond to constituents' individual requests for information or help with a federal benefit or service.
Service strategy
The ratification of what constitutional amendment made the direct election of senators, a cause long supported by Progressives, the law of the land?
Seventeenth
In which 2011 case did the Supreme Court rule that the First Amendment's protection of speech extended even to hate speech during the funerals of soldiers killed in action?
Snyder v. Phelps
What best describes the ways in which our media system has presented obstacles to critical thinking in recent history?
Some sources invent information that suits their purpose. Some sources purposely hide contradictory information. Media consumers fail to question media sources.
The most powerful leader in the House of Representatives is the
Speaker of the House.
Which of the following were features of the Virginia Plan for national government?
States with the largest populations would have the most representatives. It would include a bicameral legislature.
States' reserved powers are provided through the ______ Amendment.
Tenth
What was challenged by Lawrence v. Texas (2003)?
Texas's sodomy laws
Identify the events that led to creation of the U.S. Constitution.
The Annapolis Convention did not have enough participants to revise the Articles of Confederation. Shays' rebellion had shown the weakness of the national government under the Articles of Confederation. Madison and Hamilton encouraged delegates at the Annapolis Convention to meet again to revise the Articles of Confederation.
Upon what assumption was Chinese immigration to the U.S. suspended in 1882?
The Chinese were an inferior people.
What was the legal argument in McCulloch v. Maryland against the federal government establishing a national bank?
The Constitution did not expressly authorize the establishment of a national bank.
Which of the following statements best represents the American constitutional model of federalism?
The Constitution grants sovereignty to both the national and state governments.
Which of the following statements are true concerning the Supreme Court's decisions involving symbolic speech?
The Supreme Court has protected symbolic speech nearly as vigorously as actual speech. The Supreme Court has ruled that burning an American flag is a protected form of symbolic speech.
Since the 1950s, what has been the government's approach to free speech?
The Supreme Court has ruled that spoken words do not pose a true threat to national security, so Americans can speak their minds politically. The Supreme Court has ruled that national security must truly be at risk before the government can limit speech. Not a single individual has been convicted solely for criticizing the government's war policies.
Which of the following best describes the doctrine of dual federalism?
The Supreme Court maintained a precise separation of state power and national power.
Which of the following happened during the New Deal period?
The Supreme Court struck down key pieces of the New Deal programs. The New Deal programs thrust federal power into policy areas previously reserved for the states.
Which of the following are reasons why the Constitution begins with the words "We the People"?
The U.S. government ultimately derives its power from the people. People need to exercise control over government.
What occurs after a conference committee reconciles differences in the House and Senate versions of a bill?
The bill goes back to both chambers for a vote.
What led the British navy to blockade Boston's port during the period of the Boston Tea Party?
The city refused to par for the destroyed tea.
What is the method of selecting nominees for state and national offices that was introduced by Progressives and adopted by most states by the early 1900s?
The common people voted for nominees in primary elections.
What is the connection between the Lochner decision and the Hammer decision?
The earlier Lochner decision actually made the later Hammer decision unenforceable.
The Supreme Court decision in Schenck v. United States established which principle?
The federal government can restrict free expression but it does not have unlimited authority to do so.
Which of the following has occurred under cooperative federalism?
The federal government has been more heavily involved in policy areas traditionally reserved for the states.
Where is the Bill of Rights located in the U.S. Constitution?
The first ten amendments to the Constitution make up the Bill of Rights.
What best explains why European governments give the American colonies a degree of self-determination?
The geographical distance that separated them was too great to do otherwise.
Which of the following statements are true about the motivations for creating American democracy?
The idea of individual potential could be achieved more easily in the New World than in the Old World. Colonists, following Enlightenment ideas, wanted to overturn the European way of governing. The American Revolution sought to create a radically different form of society.
Why are the states' constitutional powers called reserved powers?
The language of the Constitution reserves all powers not delegated to the national government to the states.
Under the Articles of Confederation, what problem arose because the national government had no power to levy taxes on its citizens?
The nation could not maintain an army or navy.
Which of the following were the major weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?
The national government had no power to tax. The national government had no power to regulate interstate commerce.
Which of the following best describes the limit that dual federalism places on national government power?
The national government is kept from extending its power into policy areas traditionally reserved for the states.
What provisions of the Constitution serve to limit the power of the judicial branch of the federal government?
The president can appoint federal judges with the consent of the Senate. Congress can impeach and remove judges from office. Congress can restrict the Supreme Court's appellate jurisdiction in some instances.
Which of the following statements about Shays' Rebellion are correct?
The rebellion was led by a former captain in the American army. The primary purpose of the rebellion was to prevent land foreclosures. Shays' followers were a large group of farmers.
If citizens do not develop the habit of critical thinking, what may result?
Their choices may not result in the outcome they expect. They may engage in wishful thinking. They may invent odd versions of reality.
What had Daniel Shays' followers been promised during their Revolutionary War service?
Their land would not be confiscated for unpaid debts and back taxes.
Which of the following are true concerning women and minorities who run for congressional office?
There are more women than there are minorities in Congress. Women and minorities are less likely to run for Congress than white males.
Which of the following statements about midterm elections are generally true?
There is less media coverage of candidates and issues than in a presidential election. The president's party usually loses seats. Voter turnout is lower than for presidential elections.
Why didn't Congress respond with troops when the governor asked for assistance during Shays' Rebellion?
There were no troops to send.
How do committees and subcommittees serve to decentralize power in Congress?
They allow more members to hold leadership positions.
How did Madison view factions?
They are natural divisions, but no faction should gain full power.
How are the media treated under an authoritarian government?
They are tightly controlled.
Which of the following is true of bills that emerge from committee with the full support of the committee members?
They are typically passed by an overwhelming majority.
Which of the following is true of American democratic political ideals?
They come from European Enlightenment beliefs about individual worth.
What is it that holds party lawmakers together?
They have far more in common with each other than they do with lawmakers of the other party.
In order for police roadblocks to check drivers to be legal, they must conform to which of the following?
They must be systematic and not arbitrary. They can be used to check for signs of alcohol intoxication.
When did North Carolina and Rhode Island ratify the Constitution?
They ratified only after the other 11 states had done so.
Who argued that "A bill of rights is what the people are entitled to against every government on earth, general or particular, and what no just government should refuse or rest on inference"?
Thomas Jefferson
Who was the principal writer of the Declaration of Independence?
Thomas Jefferson
Polls indicate that voters' opinions of Donald Trump's performance had what effect in the 2018 midterms?
Those who were discontented with Trump helped Democrats retake control of the House.
The Philadelphia convention was called to
To revise the Articles of Confederation
Natural rights are defined as those possessed by all people.
True
True or false: Although it is a core principle for most Americans, the right to privacy is not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution.
True
True or false: Madison and Hamilton thought that the federal structure would encourage the state and national governments to check each other if either became abusive to individual freedom.
True
True or false: Prior to the passage of the United States Constitution, many of the states governed under their own state constitutions that dated back to the colonial era.
True
True or false: The U.S. Constitution provides the method for choosing the country's leaders.
True
True or false: The principle of federalism has provoked frequent and bitter conflict from the time the Constitution was ratified.
True
Which of the following accurately describe higher education in the U.S.?
U.S. states with the lowest proportion of college grads have more residents with a bachelor's degree than the typical European country. The U.S. has the most elaborate system of higher education in the world. The U.S. ranks second only to Canada in the number of people over 25 with a college degree.
Most historians assume that ______ role in the new government is what tipped the balance toward ratification of the Constitution?
Washington's
What was the central question that led to establishing judicial review?
Who was to decide whether officials were operating withing the limits of their constitutional powers?
Which of the following were periods with high levels of bipartisanship in American history?
World War II George Washington's first years as president World War I
Madison argued in Federalist No. 10 that it is not the size of government that determines whether it serves the common good. Instead, this is determined by
a broad range of interests that share political power.
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.
A procedural move in which a member or members of the Senate speak(s) for an unlimited amount of time on the Senate floor in order to prevent a vote on a bill is known as
a filibuster.
Historian Charles Beard described the founding fathers who wrote our Constitution as
a group of wealthy individuals whose main goal was to keep power in the hands of the wealthy.
In 2012, Senator Richard Lugar, a six-term incumbent, was beaten in the GOP primary by conservative Richard Mourdock, who portrayed Lugar as
a moderate Washington insider.
What provision had been removed from Jefferson's initial draft of the Declaration of Independence at the insistence of southern states?
a statement critical of slavery
The Boston Tea Party happened in direct response to
a tax on tea.
Which of the following best describes the subject under consideration in Roe v. Wade?
abortion
According to the ______ doctrine, government can aid a religious organization so long as the aid is non-religious in nature and the government doesn't favor one religion over another.
accomodationist
In the framers' view, a republican government
adds constraints that protect rights of individuals prevents tyranny majority reduces likelihood of reckless, hasty actions
Which of the following are activities that typically take place in a party caucus?
adopting a single policy message developing issues
Political culture in the U.S. is based upon Americans'
allegiance to common goals.
The necessary and proper, or elastic, clause of the Constitution
allows Congress to have powers that are not listed in the Constitution but are needed to exercise the listed powers.
Freedom of expression
allows individual Americans to communicate thoughts of their choosing. does not cover some forms of commercial speech, such as advertising. does not cover obscene forms of sexual expression.
The U.S. Constitution is rarely amended because
amending the Constitution is a difficult, two-step process
The framers' goal of a government that would not threaten liberty was to be accomplished by
an elaborate system of checks and balances.
John Adams believed that the nation was best governed by
an elite class.
In its rulings in Riley v. California (2014) and United States v. Wurie (2014), the Supreme Court compared the search of a suspect's cell phone or similar electronic device to
an exhaustive search of a suspect's home.
If congressional representatives finds themselves having to choose between angering voters and donors or angering party leadership by refusing to go along with a vote, which will they likely choose?
angering leadership by voting the way their donors and voters want them to
In its decision to uphold the National Labor Relations Act, along with a subsequent ruling, the Supreme Court declared that Congress's commerce power is
as broad as the nation needs it to be.
Which governing structure represses individuals and groups that oppose the regime?
authoritarianism
The text cites President Trump's decision to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Agreement on climate change—even though two-thirds of Americans polled disagreed with the decision—as an example of
authority.
Shays' Rebellion was an uprising of farmers against the government of Massachusetts over what two issues?
back pay for military service taxes
In Lawrence v. Texas (2003), the Supreme Court ruled that states cannot lawfully
ban sexual relations between consenting same-sex adults.
Andrew Jackson believed the public should
be more fully involved in government.
Why is the Rules Committee considered one of the most important committees in the House?
because it decides the length of debate that will occur on a bill and whether amendments will be allowed
As political leaders have become more willing to make deceptive claims, the public has
become more tolerant of the practice.
Which of the following strongly and positively affects a congressional candidate's ability to raise money and win an election?
being an incumbent
Henri is a conservative Republican. This morning, he heard a news story describing how the local Democrat school board chair was allowing student scores to be artificially inflated. If Henri is guilty of confirmation bias, he will likely
believe the story without any further research.
Southern delegates to the Philadelphia convention were determined to
block any attempt to end slavery.
Which of the following characterized the era of dual federalism?
business supremacy in commerce policy
Rather than using the Fourteenth Amendment to protect freed slaves, in 1886 the Supreme Court interpreted the amendment to provide protection to
businesses.
Thomas Jefferson's interpretation of Locke's ideas, as found in the Declaration of Independence, was a
call for revolution.
The New Jersey Plan
called for a unicameral legislature. designated that all states would have an equal vote in the legislature.
Most members of Congress are
career politicians who want to stay in Congress and put themselves in position for reelection.
The cases of Riley v. California (2014) and United States v. Wurie (2014) both dealt with the use of what technology?
cell phones
Which of the following is not a direct power of the committee chair?
changes party affiliation at will
A constituency is comprised of
citizens from the incumbent's state or district.
Which of the following is a procedural move in the Senate that can end a filibuster?
cloture
Which of these is not considered to be a core value of American political ideals?
collectivism
Americans' belief in self-government formed in
colonial America.
The idea that there are lawful restrictions on government power is called
constitutionalism.
Concerning symbolic speech, the Supreme Court has generally held that government regulation of the ______ of a message is unconstitutional. (This was illustrated by a Texas flag-burning case; the state of Texas actually burns old flags to dispose of them.)
content
When the Great Depression hit, Republican President Herbert Hoover
continued to fight against government intervention in the economy.
According to sociologist C. Wright Mills, who or what has greater control over economic policy than even elected officials have?
corporate elites
From the beginning of the Philadelphia convention, prominent delegates were determined to
create a stronger central government.
Individualism in the U.S. is best described as
deeply ingrained
A constitution's main purpose is to
define the way that the system of government will legitimately operate.
The U.S. system of government is said to be ______ in providing for majority influence through elections.
democratic
Which of the following is a system of majority rule through elections, empowering majorities, groups, and officials?
democratic
Powers specifically prohibited from belonging to the state and national governments in the Constitution are known as
denials of power.
Select committees are
designed to address a specific issue or problem.
What is critical thinking?
determining what can be reasonably believed and then using the information to reach a thoughtful conclusion
The goal of the First Continental Congress, which met in Philadelphia in 1774, was to
develop policy requirements for an improved relationship with Britain.
A recent trend in intergovernmental relations to "pass down" policy authority from the national government to state and local governments is known as
devolution.
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
Which of the following are common threats to incumbency?
disruptive issues personal misconduct strong challengers
Partisan voting is most apparent when members are voting on major ______ issues.
domestic policy
The doctrine by which state and national authority was separated precisely is known as
dual federalism.
The legal safeguards that prevent the government from depriving citizens of life, liberty, or property without adhering to strict legal procedures are known as
due process protections.
Liberals who only listen to liberal talk radio as a source of information are immersing themselves in a(n)
echo chamber.
Despite the existence of institutions that encourage widespread participation, wealth gives rise to ______, the power that well-positioned and highly influential individuals have.
elitism
The power exercised by well-positioned and highly influential individuals is known as
elitism.
What are the powers specifically given to the national government by the Constitution called?
enumerated
Those powers expressly listed in the Constitution are referred to as
enumerated powers.
Which of the following reflects the notion that all individuals have the same moral worth and treatment under the law?
equality
In Engle v. Vitale (1962), the Supreme Court ruled against the reciting of prayers in public schools on grounds it violates the
establishment clause.
The two trends that define federalism in the period from 1937 to the 1990s in the U.S. are
expansion and devolution of federal authority.
Americans have a(n) ______ view of their rights and freedoms.
expansive
Why was there strong support for a bill of rights during the debate over ratification of the Constitution?
fear that the national government would not respect people's rights
A governmental structure with two levels of government in which each level has sovereignty over different policy matters and geographic areas is a ______ system.
federal
According to the supremacy clause in Article VI of the Constitution, which layer of government prevails whenever federal and state law conflict?
federal
The Bill of Rights initially applied to which level or levels of government?
federal only
The expenditure of federal funds on programs run in part through state and local governments is known as
fiscal federalism.
John Adams publicly stated that the Constitution was designed
for a governing elite.
Which of the following is an economic system that centers on the transactions between private parties?
free market
The First Amendment protection that makes it illegal for the government to enact laws that restrict the free practice of religion by any individual is known as the
free-exercise clause.
Hearings are an effective way for committees to
gather information.
The redrawing of congressional boundaries to benefit a political party is called
gerrymandering.
Which of the following problems is most likely to jeopardize an incumbent's chances of reelection?
getting caught in a scandal
Regarding freedom of the press, the Supreme Court has generally upheld the principle of no prior restraint. This principle means that
government generally cannot stop the news media from reporting a story.
Money provided by the federal government to state and local governments to administer programs is called
grants-in-aid.
Under socialism as it is practiced today in Sweden and other countries, the government
guarantees its citizens a minimal standard of living.
Under the Articles of Confederation, the states
had more power than the national government
Based on the Lemon test, state-funded programs are least likely to survive under the establishment clause if the program
has a significant effect on advancing a religion.
If the majority of the members of the House of Representatives are Republican, then every committee and subcommittee in the House will
have a majority of Republican members.
In the system of cooperative federalism, the states
have retained most of their traditional authority.
Which of the following makes a challenger to a Senate incumbent more likely to be successful?
having access to large sums of money to fund the campaign having an existing campaign organization having strong public recognition
The U.S. Constitution placed limitations on popular rule in which of the following ways?
having the president nominate federal judges having the president elected by the Electoral College having U.S. senators elected by state legislatures
In Lemon v. Kurtzman, the Supreme Court ruled that the state funding of salaries for teachers at parochial schools, even if they taught secular subjects, violated the establishment clause because
he teachers could use classroom time to teach religious subjects.
What tax policies did the South fear as the negotiations began that eventually resulted in the Three-Fifths Compromise?
heavy taxes on manufactured goods imported from Europe a tax of any kind on the importation of slaves heavy taxes on agricultural goods exported from the U.S.
The case of Carpenter v. United States (2018) dealt with the issue of the warrantless search of a cell phone in order to
identify the locations at which cell phone calls were placed.
The barrier to restrict speech established in Brandenburg v. Ohio is best described as
imposing.
Madison, Hamilton, and Jay wrote The Federalist Papers
in support of the Constitution.
As a result of the increased level of party polarization in the United States, which candidates face greater risk of losing the primary election?
incumbent moderates
In the large majority of cases, the winner of a congressional campaign is the
incumbent.
Congressional elections usually favor
incumbents.
Donors are more willing to make campaign contributions to
incumbents.
Which of the following describes the fact that what happens in a policy area at one level of government affects what happens at all other levels?
interdependency
Free speech is usually protected in the United States unless it
involves false commercial advertising claims. leads to imminent and lawless action. presents a clear and present danger to others.
The president's ability to veto a bill
is a check on Congress
The purpose of pork barrel projects is to show constituents that their representative
is actively working for them in Congress.
In the case of New York Times Co. v. United States
it was ruled that prior restraint is unconstitutional without a compelling argument for the restriction.
In the democratic system of the United States, which of the following are bestowed with legal authority to exercise power?
judges the president members of Congress
The power of the federal judiciary to determine the constitutionality of the actions of the other two branches of government and to declare their actions null and void is called
judicial review.
One reason why standing committees are powerful is that they have by law
jurisdiction over bills in their designated policy area.
When a bill falls into the area in which a committee is authorized to act, that committee is said to have
jurisdiction.
The justices of the post-Civil War Supreme Court mostly favored
laissez-faire capitalism.
Which of the following are the functions of Congress?
lawmaking representation oversight
The use of the courts as a means of asserting rights and interests is known as
legal action.
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, is known as
liberty.
The Bill of Rights
limited the power of the national government.
Which of the following entities are in a competitive situation regarding taxation?
localities states
Political scientists use the term ______ to describe the situation in which the majority of citizens effectively determines what government policy will be.
majoritarianism
When political leaders respond to the policy desires of the majority, it is referred to as
majoritarianism.
Which of the following is the most powerful party leadership position in the Senate?
majority leader
Which of the following positions in the Senate schedules debates on legislation?
majority leader
The framers of the Constitution granted Congress the power to ______, the greatest of all powers of government.
make laws
The supremacy clause of the U.S. Constitution
makes national laws the supreme law of the land
In the House, both the full committee and a subcommittee may ______, or propose changes to, a bill.
mark up
Elections held in the years between presidential elections are called ______ elections.
midterm
A single individual controls governance in which of these forms of government?
monarchy
Compared to other countries, the U.S. holds
more elections.
When major disruptive issues occur, incumbents are
more likely to lose
Chief Justice John Marshall is best described as a(n)
nationalist. activist.
An increase in national authority is known as
nationalization.
Another term for "inalienable rights" is ______ rights.
natural
Delegates to the constitutional convention decided that the Constitution would take effect for ratifying states when ________ of the 13 states approved it.
nine
To pass legislative policies and ratify treaties under the Articles of Confederation, only ______ states were required to vote for it.
nine
If the Rules Committee places a "closed rule" on a piece of legislation, ______ amendments are permitted.
no
An open-seat election is one in which
no incumbent is running.
As defined by the framers, who or what limits the majority's power in a democracy?
nothing and no one
The Bill of Rights protects some civil liberties, including freedom
of assembly. of the press. of speech.
Those who ______ increased gun control believe that the Second Amendment gives individual citizens the right to bear arms free from excessive control.
oppose
Historical evidence suggests that a majority of ordinary Americans ______ ratification of the Constitution.
opposed
A vote where most members of one political party vote one way while most members of the other party vote the other way is categorized as a ______ unity vote.
party
If a "turf war" erupts as different committees vie for jurisdiction over a bill, who or what decides the committee assignment?
party leaders
The House and the Senate each elect ______ to lead their party's efforts in the chamber.
party leaders
Under the Constitution, Congress was prohibited until 1808 from taking which of the following actions regarding slaves?
passing laws ending the slave trade
An 1886 Supreme Court ruling determined that corporations were
persons.
Which concept refers to the widely shared and deep-seated beliefs of a people about their politics?
political culture
Basic to politics is ______, which is needed to influence political developments.
political power
The overall way in which society settles conflicts and allocates the resulting benefits and costs is called
politics.
Going into the 2018 election, the Democratic Party was able to field an unusually strong set of candidates because
polls showed that voters were trending toward the Democrats.
The ability of persons, groups, or institutions to influence political developments is called
power.
One goal of the framers of the Constitution was to
preserve the states as governing entities
The attempt to block the publication of material considered to be harmful is known as ______ restraint.
prior
The right of an individual to be left alone without any interference from others is known as the right to
privacy.
Who or what owns the means of production in a free-market economic system?
private firms
Which term describes the set of procedures authorities must follow before a person can be lawfully punished for an offense?
procedural due process
According to Andrew Jackson, what requirement should not be used to determine who has the right to vote?
property
In Gitlow v. New York, the Supreme Court ruled that the Bill of Rights
protects individuals from actions by state governments as well as the federal government.
The Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments
provide that no person can be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law.
According to the decision in United States v. Butler (1936), Congress's spending power is based upon, and limited by,
providing for "the general welfare."
A particularly strong example of Americans' determination to build a more equal society is its
public education system.
The state of California barred individual of Japanese descent from doing what?
purchasing property
Even if passed by two-thirds of both houses of Congress, a constitutional amendment still must be _______ by three-quarters of the states.
ratified
The process of determining how many House seats each state is allowed as a result of population change since the last census is known as
reapportionment.
When congressional district boundaries are redrawn within a state, it is known as
redistricting
Concerning banks, Andrew Jackson sought to
reduce their power
Alexander Hamilton claimed that the federal government had the implied power to create a national bank through its power to
regulate currency.
In Gibbons v. Ogden, the Supreme Court interpreted the meaning of which constitutional power of Congress?
regulating commerce between the states
According to the establishment clause, the government is required to
remain neutral toward all religions.
Jefferson and Jackson had different views concerning the branch of government that was best equipped to
represent the views of the majority.
The powers granted to the states in the Constitution are called ______ powers.
reserved
Political scientist John Hibbing advises that the "first thing to being reelected is to stay away from ______."
scandal
Goals of the First Continental Congress included
seeking an end to the British military occupation in the colonies. requesting a guarantee of trial by local juries. asking Britain for their own councils for the imposition of taxes.
After the Plessy decision, black Americans in the South were forced to endure legal segregation, which included
separate public conveyances. inferior public schools. hospitals with few doctors and fewer supplies.
The belief that the power of government can be controlled by dividing it into several branches instead of concentrating it in one area is known as
separation of powers.
In the 2018 midterm elections, how many House and Senate races received money from super PACs?
several dozen
The tools of political science attempt to
sharpen students understanding of American politics.
A limit of ______ exists for how long a Republican member can chair a particular committee.
six years
As part of its ruling in Dred Scott v. Sandford, the Supreme Court ruled that Congress lacked the power to outlaw ______ in the states.
slavery
The Dred Scott decision involved the issue of
slavery
Which of the following issues divided the northern and southern states at the constitutional convention?
slavery
As practiced today, ______ is a system in which the government stresses economic equality and owns a number of major industries.
socialism
Politics are necessary because
society's resources are limited. conflict in a society is inevitable. people do not all think alike.
Supreme and final governing authority is known as
sovereignty.
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
Which of the following terms describes a permanent committee in Congress that has a defined legislative jurisdiction?
standing committee
In Federalist No. 28, Hamilton stated that the people would have an "instrument of redress," should they wish to challenge established power. What was that instrument?
state power against national power, or national power against state power
The Articles of Confederation created a union of
states.
The reserved powers in the U.S. system of government fall to the
states.
Who is more likely to vote in a primary election?
strong partisans
Incumbents have ______ over challengers.
substantial advantages
Historical evidence suggests that a majority of wealthier Americans ______ ratification of the Constitution.
supported
In the debate over the U.S. Constitution, the Federalists
supported a strong national government.
Chief Justice John Marshall's rulings generally
supported the idea of expanding federal power.
In a case involving protester Gregory Johnson, the Supreme Court ruled that burning the American flag was protected specifically as ______ speech.
symbolic
The Supreme Court has ruled that the right of free assembly
takes precedence over the possibility that the exercise of the right might have undesirable consequences.
Which of the following are constitutional grants of power to the national government?
taxation raising an army declaring war against another nation
Which British policy was the main source of dispute for the American colonists?
taxation without representation
Which of the following were actions of the British government after the French and Indian War (1754-1763) that colonists found objectionable?
taxation without representation levying a tax on newspaper
What are conference committees?
temporary joint committees that are formed to work out differences
Which of the following are tools that political science offers to increase one's ability to think critically?
terms and concepts that precisely describe aspects of politics reliable information about how the U.S. political system operates systematic generalizations about major tendencies in American politics
In the U.S., what is the highest law of the land?
the Constitution
What document proclaimed that "Governments deriv[e] their just powers from the consent of the governed"?
the Declaration of Independence
In the process of selective incorporation, which is the amendment that the Supreme Court relies on to apply most, but not all, of the provisions of the Bill of Rights to actions by the state governments?
the Fourteenth Amendment
In the House of Representatives, debate is limited on the congressional floor by
the Rules Committee.
What was the name of the 1798 law that criminalized any speech or writings critical of the government, Congress, or the president?
the Sedition Act
When the president makes a treaty, it must be approved by
the Senate.
During the debate over ratification of the Constitution, what objections did the Anti-Federalists raise?
the absence of a Bill of Rights too much power being taken from the states and given to the national government
Today, most of the guarantees in the Bill of Rights are protected from action by which of the following?
the federal and state governments
What are the religious clauses in the First Amendment?
the free-exercise clause the establishment clause
In Brandenburg v. Ohio the Supreme Court developed which of the following tests that expanded protections for Americans to voice political opinions?
the imminent lawless action test
Following the French and Indian War, Britain for the first time imposed what on the colonies?
the implementation of heavy taxation
Democracy may free the mind, but who determines how that freedom will be used?
the individual
In a majority of the state conventions to ratify the Constitution (8 of 13), it was claimed that ______ would have the power to nullify actions that violated the Constitution.
the judiciary
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 helps the Speaker set the party's legislative agenda in the House?
the majority leader
Anti-Federalists believed that
the national government was going to have excessive power under the Constitution
The implied powers of Congress derive from which clause of the Constitution?
the necessary and proper clause
In the U.S., who or what is the ultimate source of governing authority?
the people
Who is the "self" in the political ideal of self-government?
the people
According to historian Charles Beard in his critique of the U.S. Constitution, what did wealthy Americans fear?
the poor
Who or what has the power to pardon persons convicted in the courts?
the president
Elements of constitutionalism include
the protection of individual rights. officials being required to follow the laws. lawful restrictions of governmental power.
In a pluralist system, who or what would have the most influence on policies regarding regulation of Internet service providers?
the providers themselves
Under an authoritarian government,
the regime is usually backed by the military or police. opposition leaders are sometimes brutalized or imprisoned. political opposition is openly repressed.
The 1977 Supreme Court case that provided guidance on the allowable restrictions on freedom of speech and freedom of assembly upheld which of the following?
the right of an American Nazi Party group to hold a parade in Skokie, a city with a large Jewish population that included Holocaust survivors
The Second Amendment protects and supports which of the following?
the right to keep and bear arms a well-regulated militia
Which of the following methods is most often used to select committee chairs?
the seniority system
The term party polarization refers to
the situation resulting from the intense conflicts between republicans and democrats in recent years.
Before the New Deal, who was responsible for assisting the poor?
the states
Which of the following are the two most important forces in the evolution of the American federal structure?
the strength of partisan interests that sought to change the balance of power between the nations and the states the country's changing needs
Whether or not Congress takes the lead in the making of laws usually depends on
the type of policy at issue.
Who among the following felt threatened by Shays' Rebellion?
the wealthy
Participants in a free-market economy depend primarily on which of the following for their economic security?
themselves
When the key pieces of the New Deal programs were struck down by the Supreme Court, President Franklin Roosevelt responded by
threatening to pack the Court with his own justices.
How many distinct eras of federalism have occurred in the U.S.?
three
In America, majoritarianism occurs mainly
through competition between the republican and democratic parties.
Andrew Jackson argued that electoral votes should be
tied to the popular vote.
Why does our Constitution contain checks and balances?
to prevent the arbitrary use of power
The Articles of Confederation gave the most power
to the individual states
A country's political culture derives from its
traditions.
True or false: After clearing the committee stage, floor debate on a bill is usually led by the majority party's leadership in the House.
true
True or false: During the 1930s, the Supreme Court ruled that the Congress had the power to regulate all aspects of commerce as an industrial economy could not be confined to one state and thus must be subject to national regulation.
true
Members of the House of Representatives typically serve on ______ committees, while members of the Senate serve on ______.
two, four
The 2014 North Carolina Senate race (Hagan vs. Tillis) was one of the most extensive campaigns in Senate history, with more than $75 million spent. What portion of that money came from super PACs?
two-thirds
The framers tried to balance the need to give people a voice in their government against the need to prevent
tyranny of the majority.
Compared with their percentage of the overall population of the United States, women and minorities are ______ in Congress.
underrepresented
In Planned Parenthood v. Casey, the Supreme Court ruled that restrictions on abortion were legal so long as they didn't place an ______ ____ on a woman's right to obtain an abortion.
undue burden
Concerning power sharing, the U.S. is
unique.
A system in which the national government alone has sovereignty (final governing authority) is called a ______ system.
unitary
Americans' personal freedom at the time the Constitution was being created is best characterized as
unparalleled.
The American Revolution was partly a rebellion against Britain's failure to
uphold colonial traditions of self-government.
Gerrymandering is
usually legal.
Article I, Section 10, of the Constitution prohibits the states from which of the following actions?
waging war printing money making treaties with other nations raising armies
For the Federalists, the Bill of Rights
was a political necessity to get the Constitution ratified
Before 1900, service in Congress
was not usually a career for most of its members.
In an echo chamber, you hear
what you want to hear.
What was the first opportunity to determine whether or not the judiciary had the power to nullify actions that violated the Constitution?
when a dispute arose after the election of 1800
When does a bill become a law?
when congress overrides a presidential veto when the president signs it
The framers of the Constitution wanted a government
where people could be free to do as they pleased if they didn't harm others. that protected unpopular groups from mob rule and violence. where popular majorities could not disregard the rights of others.
Both political parties in the House have a ______, who acts as a go-between with the leadership and the party members in the House.
whip
The "two Americas" referenced in the text are
white America and black America.
The best way to characterize political power in the United States is that it is
widely shared.
In a unitary system, all sovereignty rests
with the national government
