US Gov Final Exam

Read the information and answer the question below. Many states have implemented laws that would require United States citizens who are registered voters to present their driver's licenses or passports in order to vote in elections. Which statement was most likely made by a critic of these laws?

"Voter identification laws make it harder for some Americans to exercise their fundamental right to vote."

Which statement from the Declaration of Independence has become a well-known statement on human rights?

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

What is one effect an open primary system will likely have on a primary election?

Voters who have registered with any party can influence the nomination of a candidate in the opposing party

Read the following descriptions and answer the question below. A 27-year-old African American woman A 45-year-old Caucasian man A 21-year-old Arab American man An 18-year-old Asian American woman Which amendment from the Bill of Rights does NOT protect all of the individuals?

Amendment X

Read the following description and answer the question below. Great Britain has a form of government where the queen acts as head of state, but the prime minister acts as leader of the government, which is represented in Parliament. Which form of government does Great Britain have?

constitutional monarchy

There are three ways to obtain citizenship legally. Which scenario below does not reflect a way to obtain citizenship?

Carllota has lived in the United States for a few months, has filled out the required paperwork, and has received a permit to work in the United States.

Read the following excerpt and answer the question below. Concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) are a subset of livestock and poultry animal feeding operations. . . . These operations generate significant volumes of animal waste which, if improperly managed, can result in risks such as water quality impairment, fish kills, algal blooms, contamination of drinking water sources, and transmission of disease-causing bacteria and parasites associated with food and waterborne diseases. Source: Public Domain/U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Why is the Environmental Protection Agency involved in monitoring the operation and management of CAFOs?

CAFO practices are legally banned by the Clean Water Act

Which statement best explains how the congressional elections that are required by the Constitution reflect the principle of republicanism?

Congressional elections give citizens a way to choose representatives who make laws for the nation.

Read the following scenario and answer the question below. A man at a political meeting says: "The current government is no good. They are taking our rights away. We'd be better off if the whole government blew up and went away." A law enforcement officer asks her supervisor for permission to arrest the man, but is told that this speech is not illegal. Which part of the Constitution describes the American ideal that the supervisor identified?

First Amendment: "Congress shall make no law .. abridging the freedom of speech"

Which statement best describes the relationship between a nation's system of government and the likelihood that it will violate the human rights of its citizens?

Human rights violations are most likely to occur in nations with multi-party political systems.

Read the following excerpt and answer the question below. To secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. -Declaration of Independence Which political principle is described in this excerpt?

the social contract

Which of the following protects the human rights of prisoners of war?

Geneva Convention

Read the following summary and answer the question below. In Gideon v. Wainwright, Gideon was accused of breaking into a pool hall and stealing money, which was a felony in the state of Florida. At trial, Gideon, who could not afford an attorney, requested that one be appointed free of charge. He was denied and later convicted. Gideon appealed to the Supreme Court, claiming his conviction was unconstitutional. The Supreme Court agreed, ruling that the Sixth Amendment requires states to provide defense attorneys. Why was this ruling considered essential to fair trials?

In a system of unequal resources, representation provides an even opportunity to the accused.

To understand political power right, and derive it from its original, we must consider, what state all men are naturally in, and that is, a state of perfect freedom to order their actions, and dispose of their possessions and persons, as they think fit, within the bounds of the law of nature, without asking leave, or depending upon the will of any other man. - John Locke, Second Treatise of Government Source: Public Domain/Library of Congress How does The Declaration of Independence incorporate this Enlightenment belief?

It establishes the idea of the social contract.

Read the following information and answer the question below. The Constitution protects individual rights. However, some limits on individual rights can be imposed by law. Which statement best supports this idea?

Individual rights cannot infringe upon the rights of others.

Which statement best explains how decisions made by the Supreme Court differ from decisions made by Congress?

Justices are appointed for life rather than elected, so the Supreme Court is more immune from public opinion than Congress.

Which of the following pairs of leaders and contributions or approach is not correct?

Malcolm X/Black Muslim leader who urged blacks to separate from white society

Which statement best describes the effect of the European Union (EU) on the governments of member countries?

Most member countries' governments have adopted a common currency.

Read the following paragraph and answer the question below. The first televised presidential debate was held in 1960 between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon. However, not all people were able to watch the debate. Some listened to it over the radio. Many of the radio listeners thought that Nixon won the debate. Most people who watched the debate on television felt that Kennedy won. What can today's politicians learn from this election?

Physical appearance can affect public opinion.

Read the information and answer the question below. Florida had two more Electoral College votes in 2012 than it did in 2008. Which conclusion is supported by this information?

Population in Florida increased between 2008 and 2012

Which political theory led James Madison to believe that a republican model would be successful for the United States?

Representative government could successfully extend over wide areas.

Which Supreme Court case protects different types of speech?

Schenck v. United States

Read the following. He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law:... -Article II, Section 2, United States Constitution What procedure does this excerpt from the U.S. Constitution explain about the President's ability to select the heads of the major, cabinet-level positions within the executive branch?

The Senate selects the heads of the cabinet-level departments in the executive branch.

Read the following summary and answer the question below. In 2011, the United States imposed economic sanctions against individuals and companies associated with the Syrian government in protest to human rights abuses committed by the Syrian government. Those sanctions included frozen assets and bans on dealings with U.S. businesses. Which statement explains one result of the U.S. government's 2011 sanctions against the Syrian government?

Syrian manufacturers lost business in global exports.

In our Bill of Rights, the Fifth Amendment guarantees the right that "No person shall ...be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of the law." When this idea was first put forth in the Magna Carta, it applied to "free men only." What can we infer considering the difference in intent of the two documents?

The Bill of Rights was written to expand these rights to every man.

James Madison, John Jay, and Alexander Hamilton wrote a series of essays promoting the ratification of the U.S. Constitution. What was the collection of essays called?

The Federalist Papers

How did the Federalists and Anti-Federalists differ in their views on government?

The Federalists wanted a stronger national government while the Anti-Federalists wanted state governments to be stronger.

Read the quote below and answer the following question. "Mr. President, our government, above all others, is founded on the right of people freely to discuss all matters pertaining to their government, in war not less than in peace, for in this government the people are the rulers in war no less than in peace." -Robert LaFollette, 1917 Which interpretation of application of the First Amendment during wartime does this message support?

The First Amendment must be balanced against the government's responsibility for conducting a war.

Which of the following is not a power granted to the President of the United States?

The President of the United States can write legislation and submit to Congress for approval.

Which change in U.S. foreign policy occurred as result of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks?

The United States began taking an active military role in spreading democracy to other countries like Iraq and Afrghanistan.

Read the following article and answer the question below. Incompetence or Deception? Prior to the Iraq War, which began in 2003, government officials said they possessed irrefutable evidence that Saddam Hussein was pursuing development of nuclear weapons. As the U.S. public would soon discover, no such weapons existed, or at least, were found by coalition forces. While the Department of Defense, State Department, White House, and CIA pointed fingers at one another for their mistaken claims, the general public was left wondering how the most powerful nation in the world could go from having "absolute" proof to no proof at all. However, politicians must often disguise their true motivations in order to garner public support for war. Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein had previously shown his resolve to counter U.S. influence in the Middle East when he invaded oil-rich Kuwait to the south. Furthermore, U.S. politicians were convinced any increase in Iraqi power would weaken future U.S. influence in the Middle East. Did the U.S. government make up an excuse to go to war that would allow them to achieve their foreign policy goals? In this case, it is clear that foreign policy goals tied to national security interests were the real reason for the "mistaken" intelligence failure. Which statement describes how this article shows bias?

The article presents only one possible theory for U.S. government actions

Why, for instance, should it be said that the liberty of the press shall not be restrained, when no power is given by which restrictions may be imposed? - Alexander Hamilton, 1788 Source: Public Domain/Federalist Papers, No. 84 Why did Alexander Hamilton oppose the inclusion of a Bill of Rights in the Constitution?

The people have sovereignty, and they will not create laws to oppress themselves.

How is the popular vote process different from the electoral vote process in presidential elections?

The popular vote process is solely based on majority rule.

Based on the chart, which statement describes the development of democratization in Russia over the last decade?

The scores indicate the weakening of the electoral process in Russia over time

"When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation." -Declaration of Independence Source: Public Domain/National Archives Based on this excerpt, which explanation describes how Enlightenment ideas influenced the writing of the Declaration of Independence?

The world is governed by natural laws. People can determine what these laws are through observation and reason. These laws can be used to describe and govern society

I go further, and affirm that bills of rights . . . are not only unnecessary in the proposed Constitution, but would even be dangerous. - The Federalist Papers, No. 84. Source: Library of Congress Which statement best describes why the Anti-Federalists opposed the view expressed in this excerpt?

They believed a bill of rights was necessary because the U.S. Constitution granted powers to the government but did not protect specific rights of the people.

How do the first three articles of the U.S. Constitution reflect the separation of powers of government?

They distribute power among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government.

Which of the following is not true about the Jim Crow Laws in the United States?

They were laws that were enacted by the federal government.

Who was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence?

Thomas Jefferson

Read the following scenario and answer the question below. In 2010, Virginia created legislation that negated aspects of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act instituted by the U.S. Congress. The Virginia legislation was challenged and the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals found parts of the legislation unconstitutional. In 2011, the state of Virginia appealed the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the Fourth Circuit Court's decision. Why did the federal courts deny Virginia the power to enact the Virginia Health Care Freedom Act?

Virginia was not allowed to implement the law because the courts used judicial review and the Supremacy Clause to declare it unconstitutional.

Of the statements below, which is the best pairing for the definition of voting and the requirements of voting?

Voting is a right; the voter must be able to speak English fluently.

Read the following descriptions and answer the question below. In its 1954 ruling on Brown v. Board of Education, the U.S. Supreme Court stated that separate schools for white children and African-American children violated the Fourteenth Amendment. The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) is a federal education law that was signed by President George W. Bush in 2002. The law is intended to improve public schools and student performance by requiring increased accountability of schools, school districts, and states. The goal of the law is to bring all public school students to 100 percent proficiency in reading and math by mid-2014. Which statement describes how these government actions have affected the daily lives of students across the nation?

With Brown, all students are guaranteed the right to an equal education; with NCLB, all students are guaranteed a standard of education.

Read the following information and answer the question below. The nine justices of the U.S. Supreme Court serve lifetime appointments. Article III of the Constitution states that the justices "shall hold their Offices during good Behavior..." Which action listed below could result in the removal from office of a U.S. Supreme Court justice?

an impeachment and conviction

Read the following summary and answer the question below. One of the early differences between Federalists and Republicans was a disagreement on the powers of the new government to allow for the creation of a national bank. Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson advocated a narrow construction of the U.S. Constitution that would have prohibited a national bank. Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton supported the bank with a broader constitutional interpretation. President Washington eventually sided with Hamilton. How could President Washington justify his decision to side with Hamilton?

by interpreting the power to coin money implied the power to create the bank

Read the following scenario and answer the question below. In northern Wisconsin, a small community has a tradition of fishing using a particular method. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decides at the federal level that this particular method of fishing is environmentally unsound and creates regulations that effectively ban the use of this method in the United States. The community in Wisconsin is displeased with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's actions. Which statement describes how the Bill of Rights allows members of this small community to address their grievances with the new U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regulations?

by protecting an individual's right to due process, so community members can continue fishing until appeals are resolved

Read the following excerpt and answer the question below. In 1975, President Gerald Ford returned H.R. 4035, the Petroleum Price Review Act, to Congress. He had vetoed the bill. Which constitutional concept is illustrated by the action above?

checks and balances

The U.S. Supreme Court most likely has jurisdiction in a case between—

citizens from the same state about interpreting the constitutionality of a federal law.

Under federalism, power is distributed three ways. One type of power is known as concurrent powers. Which of these powers is not an example of a concurrent power?

declaring war

While the Civil Rights movement could arguably be ongoing, the strategies used in the 1950s and 1960s such as civil disobedience, boycotts and voter registration were successful in several areas. Which set of results below best reflects the results of the civil rights strategies used?

ended legal segregation/ removed barriers to voting/ led to more African Americans holding political office

A newspaper reporter is writing an article criticizing a powerful politician accused of taking bribes. The politician hears that the newspaper will likely publish this article and calls to complain. She threatens to have the reporter arrested if he writes the article. Which constitutional principle protects the reporter in this situation?

freedom of the press

Read the excerpt from one of President Franklin Roosevelt's fireside chats in 1942 and answer the question below. [T]here is one front and one battle where everyone in the United States—every man, woman, and child—is in action, and will be privileged to remain in action throughout this war. That front is right here at home, in our daily lives, in our daily tasks. Here at home everyone will have the privilege of making whatever self-denial is necessary, not only to supply our fighting men, but to keep the economic structure of our country fortified and secure during the war and after the war. Yesterday I submitted to the Congress of the United States a seven-point program . . . First, we must, through heavier taxes, keep personal and corporate profits at a low reasonable rate. Second, we must fix ceilings on prices and rents. Third, we must stabilize wages. Fourth, we must stabilize farm prices. Fifth, we must put more billions into war bonds. Sixth, we must ration all essential commodities which are scarce. And seventh, we must discourage installment buying, and encourage paying off debts and mortgages. Which of these principles associated with the American system of government would most likely be used to justify this quote?

furthering the public good

Read the excerpt from the Bill of Rights below and answer the following question. Amendment I - Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. Which of the following would not be allowed under the First Amendment?

laws against peaceful assembly in a public place

Study the following data from a 2012 report to the Florida legislature, and answer the question below. Source: Florida Office of Economic and Demographic Research Which state and local service will be the most impacted by this demographic trend?

health care

Read the following excerpt about King George of England and answer the question below. He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people. -Declaration of Independence Which political principle is the basis for this grievance?

popular sovereignty

Read this statement and answer the question below. The Florida Clean Indoor Air Act was passed to curb secondhand smoke hazards in public places. How should this law be categorized?

public health

Which of the following principles of government means that the law applies to everyone, even those who govern?

rule of law

Read the following amendment and answer the question below. The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people. -Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution Source: Public Domain/National Archives Which constitutional principle does this amendment most directly protect?

separation of powers

Read the following excerpts and answer the question below. Congress shall have Power . . . To raise and support Armies, but no Appropriation of Money to that Use shall be for a longer Term than two Years . . . - Article I, Section 8. Source: Public Domain/ www.archives.gov The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States . . . - Article II, Section 2 Source: Public Domain/ www.archives.gov Which political principle do these excerpts support?

separation of powers

What was the cause of the activities shown in the political cartoon?

tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union over political ideology

Read the following excerpt from the Address to the People of the State of New York by John Jay and answer the question below. We are told, among other strange things, that the liberty of the press is left insecure by the proposed Constitution; and yet that Constitution says neither more nor less about it than the Constitution of the state of New York does. We are told that it deprives us of trial by jury; whereas the fact is, that it expressly secures it in certain cases, and takes it away in none. It is absurd to construe the silence of this, or of our own Constitution, relative to a great number of our rights, into a total extinction of them. Silence and blank paper neither grant nor take away any thing. Complaints are also made that the proposed Constitution is not accompanied by a bill of rights; and yet they who make these complaints know, and are content, that no bill of rights accompanied the Constitution of this state. In days and countries where monarchs and their subjects were frequently disputing about prerogative and privileges, the latter then found it necessary, as it were, to run out the line between them, and oblige the former to admit, by solemn acts, called bills of rights, that certain enumerated rights belonged to the people, and were not comprehended in the royal prerogative. But, thank God, we have no such disputes; we have no monarchs to contend with, or demand admissions from. The proposed government is to be the government of the people: all its officers are to be their officers, and to exercise no rights but such as the people commit to them. The Constitution only serves to point out that part of the people's business, which they think proper by it to refer to the management of the persons therein designated: those persons are to receive that business to manage, not for themselves, and as their own, but as agents and overseers for the people, to whom they are constantly responsible, and by whom only they are to be appointed. Source: Public Domain/National Archives Which document does John Jay argue is unnecessary?

the Bill of Rights

Read the following description and answer the question below. Following Fidel Castro's rise to power, the United States has had an economic embargo on Cuba in place since 1961. Which statement best describes the long-term impact of this embargo?

the increase in exports from Cuba to other Latin American nations

Which of the following events is an example of a challenge to the federal government in defense of states' rights?

the nullification crisis of 1832, in which South Carolina declared the federal Tariffs of 1828 and 1832 null and void

According to the Declaration of Independence, where does the power to govern come from?

the people

Read the following paragraph and answer the question below. Thomas Jefferson's purpose for writing the Declaration of Independence was to explain the colonies' reasons for separating themselves from Great Britain to foreign nations. After Jefferson listed a series of abuses the colonies had suffered under King George III's rule, he explained that, "In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petition for Redress..." Which political principle best describes the colonist's act of petitioning for redress?

the principle of social contract

Which right does the U.S. Constitution protect by upholding habeas corpus?

the right to a fair trial

Which of the following terms best classifies the government of Vatican City?

theocracy

"The enumeration [listing] in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed [interpreted] to deny or disparage [weaken] others retained by the people." -9th Amendment to the United States Constitution What was the purpose of including this amendment in the Bill of Rights?

to protect individual rights that are not specifically granted in the Constitution

Read the following excerpt from Article 1 of the U.S. Constitution and answer the question below. When vacancies happen in the Representation from any State, the Executive Authority thereof shall issue Writs of Election to fill such Vacancies. -Section 2 What is the purpose of this part of the Constitution?

to provide a method to replace government officials