American Gov Final Exam
Congress oversees the bureaucracy by using A. All of these answers are correct. B. None of these answers is correct. C. the Government Accounting Office. D. oversight hearings. E. sunset provisions
A. All of these answers are correct.
Objective journalism is based on the idea that the reporter's job is to A. report the facts and cover alternative sides of a partisan debate. B.All of these answers are correct. C. scrutinize the partisan debate, and inform the news audience about which party has the better argument. D. discover what other reporters are saying and provide a uniform interpretation of events. E. report what political leaders want them to report.
A. report the facts and cover alternative sides of a partisan debate.
In general, public opinion A. sets limits on government action. B. determines specific government actions. C. is unrelated to government action. D. generally affects government action only on election issues. E. is strongest during a presidential election
A. sets limits on government action.
The freedoms of speech, press, assembly, and petition are found in A. the First Amendment. B. the Sixth Amendment. C. the Fourteenth Amendment. D. the Tenth Amendment. E. the Fourth Amendment.
A. the First Amendment.
Which of the following statements have been shown by scholarly research to be true? A. Network journalists have a very substantial conservative bias. B. Network journalists tend to be negative. C. Network journalists have a very substantial liberal bias. D. Network journalists have a clear Republican bias. E. Network journalists have a clear Democratic bias
B. Network journalists tend to be negative.
A major point of debate surrounding the Federal Reserve's role in economic policy is A. whether the president should be able to veto the Fed's decisions. B. the Fed's political accountability. C. the issue of competence. D. whether Congress should be able to reject the Fed's decisions. E. None of these answers is correct.
B. the Fed's political accountability.
Congress's inability to consistently provide leadership on broad national issues is primarily due to A. opposition from the mass media. B. the fragmented nature of Congress. C. the lack of talented leadership in Congress. D. the constant threat of a presidential veto. E. constitutional restrictions on Congress's lawmaking powers.
B. the fragmented nature of Congress.
The news media's common-carrier role is based on the idea that A. the press should be patriotic in the reporting of the news. B. the press should not charge for public service announcements. C. the press should provide a channel through which political leaders can communicate their views to the public. D. various news organizations should interpret the news in nearly the same way. E. the news will be available to all citizens
C. the press should provide a channel through which political leaders can communicate their views to the public.
About ________ percent of the nation's legal cases are decided in state court systems. A. 50 B. 25 C. 10 D. 95 E. 75
D. 95
When the House and Senate pass different versions of a bill, the differences are resolved by A. rules committee. B. select committee. C. joint committee. D. conference committee. E. standing committee.
D. conference committee.
Which of the following would NOT be considered a secondary socializing agent? A.leaders B.peers C.the media D.church E.events
D.church
When was the last time the U.S. government had a balanced budget? A. 1990s B. 2010 C. 1970s D. 1980s E. 2000s
A. 1990s
One must be ________ years of age to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives, and ________ years of age to serve in the U.S. Senate. A. 25; 30 B. 40; 50 C. 18; 21 D. 21; 25 E. 35; 45
A. 25; 30
In the Constitution, procedural due process is protected by the A. All these answers are correct. B. Fourth Amendment. C. Sixth Amendment. D. Eighth Amendment E. Fifth Amendment.
A. All these answers are correct.
The FCC restriction requiring broadcasters to "afford reasonable opportunity for the discussion of conflicting views of public importance" was known as the A. Fairness Doctrine. B. signaling function. C. "Equal Time" rule. D. common-carrier function. E. objective-reporting model
A. Fairness Doctrine.
The forced removal of a president from office through impeachment and conviction requires action by the A. House and Senate in separate proceedings. B. House and Senate in a joint session. C. Supreme Court in a judicial proceeding. D. House of Representatives only. E. Senate only.
A. House and Senate in separate proceedings.
The Great Compromise produced A. a bicameral Congress B. checks and balances C. the abolition of slavery D. federalism E. separation of powers
A. a bicameral Congress
In comparison with today's newspapers, early American newspapers A. could not have survived without political party support. B. were so inexpensive that nearly everyone read a daily paper. C. were written by hand. D. All of these answers are correct. E. were more widely read.
A. could not have survived without political party support.
The Lemon test is designed to A. ensure the secular nature of a government action. B. test state adherence to rights protected by proxy in the Fourteenth Amendment. C. ensure that a defendant has been given access to counsel from the time of arrest through a trial. D. prevent a prosecution or defense from creating a biased jury. E. test a state's practice of guaranteeing procedural due process rights.
A. ensure the secular nature of a government action.
The federal government's power to tax, regulate commerce among the states, and declare war are all examples of ________ powers. A. enumerated B. implied C. concurrent D. reserved E. None of these answers is correct
A. enumerated
The focus of civil liberties is the ________ and the focus of civil rights is the ________. A. individual; group B. group; individual C. Tenth Amendment; Fourteenth Amendment D. group; group E. individual; individual
A. individual; group
A law that placed restrictions on courses girls could take in high school would be evaluated by the courts using the A. intermediate scrutiny test. B. suspect classification test. C. reasonable basis test. D. precedent basis test. E. strict scrutiny test.
A. intermediate scrutiny test.
Which legal doctrine holds that in nearly every instance, policy issues should be decided by elected lawmaker and not by appointed judges? A. judicial restraint B. appellate jurisdiction C. judicial executive power D. judicial legitimacy E. judicial activism
A. judicial restraint
Which of the following groups is overrepresented in Congress? A. lawyers B. blue-collar workers C. African Americans D. middle-class Americans E. women
A. lawyers
Federal judges are A. nominated by the president and approved by the Senate. B. elected by majority vote in their respective states. C. nominated by the president and approved by both houses of Congress. D. elected by majority vote in their respective districts. E. nominated by the Senate and approved by both houses of Congress
A. nominated by the president and approved by the Senate.
Devolution is the A. passing of authority from the national government to the state and local levels B. expansion of national authority that began in the 1930s C. expansion of national authority that began in the 1960s D. None of these answers is correct E. contraction of state authority and the expansion of local government authority
A. passing of authority from the national government to the state and local levels
The writers of the Constitution devised the Electoral College as the method of choosing presidents because A. that method would shield executive power from direct linkage to popular majorities. B. the framers had a great deal of faith in the wisdom of the masses. C. that method guaranteed a majority winner. D. direct election was impractical due to the poor systems of communication and transportation that existed in the late 1700s. E. that method would give weight to the preferences of ordinary people.
A. that method would shield executive power from direct linkage to popular majorities.
The MOST obvious sign of the party realignment of recent decades has been the strong tendency of A. the South to vote Republican. B. the Plains states to vote Republican. C. the Midwest to vote Democratic. D. Colorado to vote Democratic. E. the West Coast to vote Democratic.
A. the South to vote Republican
In the case of a tied vote in the U.S. Senate, the deciding vote is cast by A. the Vice President. B. the President. C. the Senate Parliamentarian. D. the Senate Majority Leader. E. the Senate Minority Leader.
A. the Vice President.
According to the Supreme Court, prior restraint on the press is only acceptable if A. the government can clearly justify the restriction. B. the press is careless in its claims. C. lower federal courts approve the action. D. the press is malicious in its intent. E. the press itself willingly accepts that restraint.
A. the government can clearly justify the restriction.
A flaw in pluralism theory is the fact that A. the interest group system is unrepresentative, because some interests are far better organized and more powerful than others. B. political parties better represent different interests than do interest groups. C. larger groups always prevail politically over smaller groups. D. All of these answers are correct. E. the public interest is never served by policies that promote special interests.
A. the interest group system is unrepresentative, because some interests are far better organized and more powerful than others.
Conventional forms of political participation include all of the following EXCEPT A. violent protests B. campaigning C. lobbying D. community activities E. voting
A. violent protests
Voter turnout is LOWEST in which age group? A. young adults B. middle-aged adults C. senior citizens D. Voter turnout is essentially the same for all age groups E. older adults
A. young adults
Modern presidents A. exercise more authority than the founders of the U.S. ever anticipated. B. All of these answers are correct. C. use executive agreements more than the founders of the U.S. ever anticipated. D. use the veto more than the founders of the U.S. ever anticipated. E. use military action without formal Congressional approval more than the founders of the U.S. ever anticipated.
B. All of these answers are correct.
Robert Putnam argues in Bowling Alone that A. community participation among young adults has risen in the past two decades because of new media technologies like Internet activism. B. America has been undergoing a long-term decline in its social capital. C. voter apathy is only going to increase as long as we maintain a two-party system. D. a proportional representation system in the legislature would increase voter turnout. E. the increase in frequency of elections in the United States has increased the level of general voter apathy.
B. America has been undergoing a long-term decline in its social capital.
What is the economic system in the United States? A. Daoist B. Capitalist C. Socialist D. Anarchist E. Fascist
B. Capitalist
African American men gained suffrage with the passage of the _______ Amendment; women gained suffrage with the passage of the _______ Amendment. A. Nineteenth; Twenty-Third B. Fifteenth; Nineteenth C. Twenty-Third; Twenty-Sixth D. Nineteenth; Fifteenth E. Fifteenth; Twentieth
B. Fifteenth; Nineteenth
The United States has two court systems, state and federal. The federal system A. is the only one with appellate courts. B. None of these answers is correct. C. is the only one based on the constitutional doctrine of the separation of powers. D. is the only one that has judges who are appointed to office. E. has discretionary jurisdiction over all cases arising in the state system.
B. None of these answers is correct.
What are the constitutional requirements for being a federal judge? A. at least 30 years old and a resident of the specific judicial district B. There are no constitutional requirements for being a federal judge. C. at least 30 years old and a lawyer in good standing with the state bar D. at least 30 years old and a citizen of the United States E. at least 25 years old and a citizen of the United States
B. There are no constitutional requirements for being a federal judge.
The Great Compromise produced A. federalism B. a bicameral Congress C. the abolition of slavery D. checks and balances E. separation of powers
B. a bicameral Congress
A writ of certiorari is A. a statement from a group not directly involved in a Supreme Court case, indicating the group's opinion on the legal issue at hand. B. a request to a lower court to submit to the Supreme Court a record of the case it has been requested to hear. C. the statement explaining the reasoning behind a Supreme Court decision. D. an application for a waiver of court fees due to indigence. E. the official transcript of Supreme Court proceedings.
B. a request to a lower court to submit to the Supreme Court a record of the case it has been requested to hear.
An interest group that focuses on policy benefits for senior citizens would be an example of A. a business group. B. a single-issue group. C. a philosophical interest group. D. an ideological group. E. a professional group
B. a single-issue group.
Party identification refers to A. a political party's platform—the stances on issues that define its beliefs. B. an emotional attachment to a political party. C. formal membership in a political party. D. the percentage of polled individuals that claim membership in a particular party. E. the ability of individual citizens to identify the major issue positions of the major political parties.
B. an emotional attachment to a political party.
High levels of government spending or deep cuts in taxes result in a(n) ________ in which the federal government spends more in a year than it receives in tax and other revenues. A. credit imbalance B. budget deficit C. trade deficit D. national debt E. income disparity
B. budget deficit
Most of the work on legislation in Congress is done A. on the floor of the House and Senate. B. by committees and their respective subcommittees. C. by conference committees. D. by the president. E. by bureaucratic agencies
B. by committees and their respective subcommittees.
Federal grants-in-aid used only for a designated activity are called A. block grants. B. categorical grants. C. targeted grants. D. revenue-sharing grants. E. streamlined grants.
B. categorical grants.
In the United States, the primary responsibility for registration of the individual voter rests with the A. state and local governments. B. individual. C. federal government. D. employer. E. local courts.
B. individual.
Redistricting A. happens every 4 years. B. is conducted by state legislatures. C. must be approved by Congress. D. has little effect on who wins or loses congressional races. E. must be approved by the highest court in each state.
B. is conducted by state legislatures.
Which legal doctrine holds that in nearly every instance, policy issues should be decided by elected lawmaker and not by appointed judges? A. judicial legitimacy B. judicial restraint C. appellate jurisdiction D. judicial executive power E. judicial activism
B. judicial restraint
Like all other rights, the right of free expression is A. fully respected by public officials. B. not absolute. C. protected from action by federal officials but not state officials. D. spelled out in precise terms in the Bill of Rights. E. None of these answers is correct.
B. not absolute.
How long do federal judges serve? A. two years B. until they retire, die, or are removed through the impeachment and conviction process C. eight years D. ten years E. four years
B. until they retire, die, or are removed through the impeachment and conviction process
How has the Internet affected the watchdog role of the media? A.It has diluted the watchdog capacity with an overflow of opinions. B.It has expanded the watchdog capacity of the media. C.It has tainted the watchdog role with a partisan bent. D.It has almost completely usurped the watchdog role from the traditional media outlets. E.It has had little to no effect because it lacks the objective standards of traditional media outlets.
B.It has expanded the watchdog capacity of the media.
In its 1969 Brandenburg v. Ohio ruling, the Supreme Court established the ________ test. A. Lemon B. Cry Wolf C. Imminent Lawless Action D. SLAPS E. Clear and Present Danger
C. Imminent Lawless Action
In terms of holding the bureaucracy accountable, the MOST important unit within the Executive Office of the President is the A. Council of Economic Advisors. B. Office of Policy Development. C. Office of Management and Budget. D. White House Office. E. Office of the Vice President.
C. Office of Management and Budget.
The second-most powerful federal official (after the president) is often said to be the A. chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. B. Senate majority leader. C. Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. D. president pro tempore of the U.S. Senate E. chair of the House Appropriations Committee.
C. Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Eighteen, nineteen, and twenty-year-old Americans were granted the right to vote by the passage of the __________ Amendment. A. Fifteenth B. Nineteenth C. Twenty-Sixth D. Twenty-First E. Twenty-Third
C. Twenty-Sixth
The Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas ruling (1954) held that racial segregation in schools violated the A. due process clause of the Fifth Amendment. B. establishment clause of the First Amendment. C. equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. D. due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. E. Civil Rights Act.
C. equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
In Federalist No. 10, James Madison argued that A. interest groups are less troublesome than political parties B. America was not diverse enough to prevent powerful interest groups from exercising too much political power C. government is most dangerous when a single group is powerful enough to gain full political control D. interest groups should be heavily regulated in America E. monarchies are preferable to democracies
C. government is most dangerous when a single group is powerful enough to gain full political control
Modern bureaucracy in America is BEST characterized in terms of A. honesty, efficiency, and patronage. B. inefficiency, inflexibility, and red tape. C. hierarchy, specialization, and rules. D. waste, red tape, and lack of rules. E. corruption, incompetence, and spoils.
C. hierarchy, specialization, and rules.
The media perform the signaling role by A. acting as the public's representative. B. exposing officials who violate accepted performance and moral standards. C. informing the public of breaking events and new developments. D. All of these answers are correct. E. serving as an open channel for leaders to express their opinions.
C. informing the public of breaking events and new developments.
The judiciary's status as an independent branch of national government depends on judicial review, which grants the judiciary the authority to A. decide which laws apply to a particular case. B. strike down certain sections of the Constitution. C. invalidate the actions of other institutions when judges believe they have acted unconstitutionally. D. make political decisions; judges can overturn any congressional or presidential decision they personally dislike. E. ignore public opinion when making decisions.
C. invalidate the actions of other institutions when judges believe they have acted unconstitutionally.
The policy of affirmative action arose when A. the Supreme Court declared in Bakke that the Fourteenth Amendment requires government and large firms to hire more women and minorities. B. the Supreme Court ruled that de facto discrimination is unlawful. C. it became apparent that disadvantaged Americans would not attain equal employment opportunities through lawsuits that benefited single individuals only. D. private firms decided on their own that a more diverse workforce was actually a more productive and effective workforce. E. the Supreme Court rendered its Adarand v. Pena decision in 1995.
C. it became apparent that disadvantaged Americans would not attain equal employment opportunities through lawsuits that benefited single individuals only.
Monetary policy differs from fiscal policy in that A. the policy goals are very different. B. None of these answers is correct. C. it can be implemented more quickly than fiscal policy. D. it is a slower process than fiscal policy. E. it has to be exercised by the legislature.
C. it can be implemented more quickly than fiscal policy.
Which of the following is one of the three major functions of Congress's policymaking role? A. inform the people B. check the Supreme Court C. lawmaking D. appease special interests E. check the president
C. lawmaking
Compared with U.S. citizens of higher incomes, those of lower incomes are A. None of these answers is correct. B. much more likely to vote in elections. C. much less likely to vote in elections. D. about equally likely to vote in elections. E. much less likely to vote in elections - a pattern that is also true in European democracies
C. much less likely to vote in elections.
Under the New Jersey Plan, each state would have ____ vote(s) in Congress. A. five B. four C. one D. three E. two
C. one
When the nation was founded, who was eligible to vote? A. everyone—there was universal suffrage B. all males and females who were at least 21 years of age C. only white males who owned property D. only citizens who had lived in the nation for at least ten years E. all native-born citizens
C. only white males who owned property
The process by which a society settles its conflicts and allocates the resulting benefits and costs is called A. elitism B. communism C. politics D. government E. socialism
C. politics
The writers of the Constitution justified different methods of selecting and varying terms of office for the president, Senate, and House as a means of A. maintaining experienced leadership. B. increasing popular influence. C. protection against rapid control by an impassioned majority. D. increasing voter turnout. E. preventing elite control of government.
C. protection against rapid control by an impassioned majority.
Which of the following represents the greatest blow to the organizational strength of U.S. parties? A. voter registration B. the emergence of PACs C. the direct primary D. Jacksonian democracy E. the national convention
C. the direct primary
Where is the Bill of Rights found in the Constitution? A. Article I, Section 8 B. Article III C. the first ten amendments D. amendments 17 through 26 E. Article II
C. the first ten amendments
States with the most restrictive voter registration laws also have A. turnout rates comparable to the national average. B. the lowest rates of verified voter fraud. C. turnout rates well below the national average. D. the highest percentage of eligible voters registered. E. the highest rates of verified voter fraud
C. turnout rates well below the national average.
The Fourth Amendment protects Americans from A. unreasonable searches conducted only by federal officers. B. searches conducted only by local officers. C. unreasonable searches. D. any search conducted without a warrant. E. all searches conducted by state officers.
C. unreasonable searches.
Some interest groups pursue collective goods. A collective good is one that A. is secured by the president. B. is secured by Congress. C.cannot be selectively granted or denied to individuals; it must be shared. D. is provided by a public service organization. E.None of these answers is correct.
C.cannot be selectively granted or denied to individuals; it must be shared.
Which of the following statements is TRUE? A. Party-line voting rarely occurs in Congress. B. Partisanship makes virtually no difference in the votes cast in Congress. C. None of these answers is correct. D. Party unity in Congress has increased in recent years. E. Political parties are unimportant in the organization of the U.S. Congress.
D. Party unity in Congress has increased in recent years.
A general belief about the role and purpose of government is called A. socialization. B.politicization. C. conservatism. D. an ideology. E. None of these answers is correct
D. an ideology.
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was aimed at eliminating discrimination A. by governments in their job practices and provision of services (e.g., schools, roads). B. All these answers are correct. C. by private individuals in their social relations—bigoted statements and other acts of prejudice are unlawful under most circumstances. D. by private individuals in their employment practices and in their operation of public accommodations (e.g., hotels, restaurants). E. by governments in their conduct of elections (e.g., registration, placement of polling booths).
D. by private individuals in their employment practices and in their operation of public accommodations (e.g., hotels, restaurants).
Policy implementation refers to the bureaucratic function of A. delegating legislative authority to smaller operating units of the bureaucracy. B. regulating the distribution of funds to individuals and corporations. C. both regulating the distribution of funds to individuals and corporations, and delegating legislative authority to smaller operating units of the bureaucracy. D. carrying out decisions made by Congress, the president, and the courts. E. None of these answers is correct.
D. carrying out decisions made by Congress, the president, and the courts.
A blending of state and national authority is associated with ________ federalism, while a separation of national and state authority is associated with ________ federalism. A. cooperative; pyramid B. dual; fiscal C. dual; cooperative D. cooperative; dual E. picket-fence; cooperative
D. cooperative; dual
The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction in legal disputes involving A. the president. B. free speech and equal protection issues. C. private parties. D. foreign diplomats. E. Congress.
D. foreign diplomats.
Amtrak is an example of a(n) A. cabinet department. B. regulatory agency. C. independent agency. D. government corporation. E. presidential commission.
D. government corporation.
States that apply the unit rule A. do not use the Electoral College system. B. are not considered to be states in which there is a competitive race between candidates. C. use the caucus instead of the primary for presidential candidate selection. D. grant all their electoral votes as a unit to the candidate who wins the state's popular vote. E. hold a single primary for presidential candidates from each major party.
D. grant all their electoral votes as a unit to the candidate who wins the state's popular vote.
A concurring opinion A. explains why the Court accepted the case in the first place. B. is delivered when at least two justices, but less than a majority, hold the same opinion in a case. C. is delivered when the Court interprets a constitutional issue. D. is a separate view written by a justice who votes with the majority but disagrees with its reasoning. E. explains the chief justice's position on a case.
D. is a separate view written by a justice who votes with the majority but disagrees with its reasoning.
Change in party identification is uncommon and is almost always a consequence of A. a Supreme Court ruling. B. a change in the law. C. a change in the policy position of the president. D. major upheaval. E. popular satisfaction with a government initiative.
D. major upheaval.
The Federal Reserve plays a large part in establishing ________ policy. A. military B. budgetary C. security D. monetary E. fiscal
D. monetary
The history of democratic government is virtually synonymous with the history of A. protest movements. B. high voter turnout. C. economic recessions. D. political parties. E. the separation of powers.
D. political parties.
Since the founding of the United States, the debate over the representation function of Congress has centered on whether A. congressional or presidential authority should dominate on broad issues. B. key decisions should be made by a small number of representatives in committee or by the whole membership in floor debate. C. the House or the Senate is more responsive to the public. D. the primary concern of a representative should be the interests of the nation or of his or her constituency. E. the House or the Senate should take the lead on foreign policy issues.
D. the primary concern of a representative should be the interests of the nation or of his or her constituency.
National authority has greatly expanded in the twentieth century in large part because A. constitutional amendments have opened the way for wider application of national authority B. Americans like the idea of "big government" C. the state governments have shown themselves to be an ineffective level of government D. the states and the federal government have become increasingly interdependent E. the Democrats have been in control of Congress for most of the century
D. the states and the federal government have become increasingly interdependent
How many Electoral College votes are needed to secure victory for a presidential candidate? A. 321 B. 51 C. 538 D. 430 E. 270
E. 270
Which of the following best describes what "checks and balances" refers to? A. The decisions by the Federal Reserve Board about interest rates and banking. B. A division of power between state and federal governments. C. Regulation of auditors and the financial services industry by the Securities and Exchange Commission. D. Negotiations between Congress and the President over a balanced federal budget. E. A division of power among the branches of federal government that prevents any one of them from going beyond their constitutional authority.
E. A division of power among the branches of federal government that prevents any one of them from going beyond their constitutional authority.
Supply-side economics, as implemented by the Reagan and Bush administrations, involved A. he supply component of the supply-demand equation. B. stressing the importance of tax cuts for businesses. C. stressing the importance of tax cuts for the wealthy. D. an increase in the size of the national debt. E. All of these answers are correct
E. All of these answers are correct
Sources of polling error can include A. respondents' lack of knowledge or interest in the issue. B. question order. C. question wording. D. unrepresentative samples. E. All these answers are correct.
E. All these answers are correct.
Robert Putnam argues in Bowling Alone that A. a proportional representation system in the legislature would increase voter turnout. B. the increase in frequency of elections in the United States has increased the level of general voter apathy. C. voter apathy is only going to increase as long as we maintain a two-party system. D. community participation among young adults has risen in the past two decades because of new media technologies like Internet activism. E. America has been undergoing a long-term decline in its social capital.
E. America has been undergoing a long-term decline in its social capital.
All of the following are characteristic of a party realignment EXCEPT A. the emergence of unusually powerful and divisive issues. B. an enduring change in the parties' policies. C. an election in which voters shift their partisan support. D.an enduring change in the parties' coalitions. E. a very close electoral result.
E. a very close electoral result.
Which of the following was NOT provided for by the Articles of Confederation? A. a federal government subordinate to the states B. each state having one vote in Congress C. a national Congress D. unanimous approval by the states to amend the Articles E. an independent federal executive
E. an independent federal executive
Which of the following is NOT one of the core values of American political culture? A. equality B. self-government C. individualism D. liberty E. cooperation
E. cooperation
The framers' most significant modification of the traditional doctrine of the separation of powers was to A. include a two-chamber legislature B. define legislative power precisely, while defining executive and judicial power only in general terms C. grant the power of judicial review to the judiciary D. include federalism E. ensure that the powers of the separate branches overlap, so that each could better act as a check on the others
E. ensure that the powers of the separate branches overlap, so that each could better act as a check on the others
The Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas ruling (1954) held that racial segregation in schools violated the A. due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. B. establishment clause of the First Amendment. C. due process clause of the Fifth Amendment. D. Civil Rights Act. E. equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
E. equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
A ruling by the Food and Drug Administration that a drug is dangerous to use and therefore cannot be marketed is an example of regulation for the purpose of A. efficiency. B. profit. C. demand-side safety. D. supply-side safety. E. equity.
E. equity.
The Civil Rights Act of 1968 addressed A. hiring. B. education. C. work conditions. D. voting. E. housing.
E. housing.
The frequency of elections in the United States reduces voter turnout by A. discouraging local politicians from playing an active role in presidential elections. B. focusing too much attention on state and local elections. C. creating more complex registration requirements. D. increasing the amount of taxes paid at the polls. E. increasing the personal effort needed to participate in all elections.
E. increasing the personal effort needed to participate in all elections.
PACs tend to contribute the most money to A. liberal Republicans. B. challengers. C. independents. D. liberal Democrats. E. incumbents.
E. incumbents.
Which of the following is most closely related to the concept of implied powers? A. supremacy clause B. the commerce clause C. the power to tax D. Tenth Amendment E. necessary and proper clause
E. necessary and proper clause
Scholarly research has shown that, overall, the traditional media have A. a strong conservative bias. B. a strong liberal bias. C. a slight conservative bias. D. a slight liberal bias. E. no substantial bias.
E. no substantial bias.
The winner-take-all system is also known as the ________ system. A. majority B. minority C. proportional D. democratic E. plurality
E. plurality
Any law that attempts a racial or ethnic classification is subject to the A. suspect classification test. B. reasonable basis test. C. intermediate scrutiny test. D. precedent basis test. E. strict scrutiny test.
E. strict scrutiny test.
Any law that attempts a racial or ethnic classification is subject to the A. precedent basis test. B. reasonable basis test. C. suspect classification test. D. intermediate scrutiny test. E. strict scrutiny test.
E. strict scrutiny test.
Which of the following is a concurrent power held by both the national government and state governments? A. chartering local governments B. foreign affairs C. national defense D. issuing currency E. taxation
E. taxation
Congress's inability to consistently provide leadership on broad national issues is primarily due to A. the lack of talented leadership in Congress. B. opposition from the mass media. C. constitutional restrictions on Congress's lawmaking powers. D. the constant threat of a presidential veto. E. the fragmented nature of Congress.
E. the fragmented nature of Congress.
The total cumulative amount the federal government owes to its creditors is known as A. a budget deficit. B. a credit imbalance. C. a trade deficit. D. income disparity. E. the national debt.
E. the national debt.
Citizens' interest groups are distinguished from economic interest groups by the fact that A. they do not lobby government officials directly, but rely instead on public service announcements to get their views across to society. B. All of these answers are correct. C. their leaders are elected by secret ballot among the group's members. D. they always pursue goals in which there is a high level of agreement among society members. E. their members receive no direct economic benefit from attainment of the group's goals.
E. their members receive no direct economic benefit from attainment of the group's goals.
As described in the text, "political thinking" A. results from an individual allowing personal bias to inform all thoughts about political issues, instead of doing objective learning or research to form an opinion B. is the result of an individual's attempts to seek out news media that reinforce a pre-existing political bias C. is the reflection of an individual's ideological position when applied to political issues D.is a strategy taken by those seeking election to public office in which their publicly stated positions are designed to maximize their attractiveness to the widest voting bloc E.involves the careful gathering and sifting of information in the process of forming a knowledgeable view about a political issue
E.involves the careful gathering and sifting of information in the process of forming a knowledgeable view about a political issue
Fiscal policy is a mechanism the government employs to influence the economy. Fiscal policy is based on A. the idea that a balanced budget is the key to a healthy economy. B. the importance of maintaining a 12-month (fiscal year) economic cycle. C. the money supply. D. the projections of the Federal Reserve Board. E.the government's taxing and spending decisions.
E.the government's taxing and spending decisions.
The most recent party realignment had a realigning election in A. The most recent party realignment had no single realigning election. B. 1968. C. 1980. D. 2012. E. 1960.
The most recent party realignment had no single realigning election.
