American Government Final Exam Questions
Which of the following would NOT be considered a secondary socializing agent? A. church B. events C. peers D. the media E. leaders
A. church
When was the last time the U.S. government had a balanced budget? A. 1990s B. 2010 C. 2000s D. 1980s E. 1970s
A. 1990s
Political parties serve to A. All of these answers are correct. B. link the public with its elected leaders C. enable people with different backgrounds and opinions to act together. D. offer the public a choice between policies and leaders. E. provide potential leaders an opportunity to attain public office.
A. All of these answers are correct.
How has the Internet affected the watchdog role of the media? A. It has expanded the watchdog capacity of the media. B. It has had little to no effect because it lacks the objective standards of traditional media outlets. C. It has tainted the watchdog role with a partisan bent. D. It has diluted the watchdog capacity with an overflow of opinions. E. It has almost completely usurped the watchdog role from the traditional media outlets.
A. It has expanded the watchdog capacity of the media.
Under the New Jersey Plan, each state would have ____ vote(s) in Congress. A. One B. two C. Three D. Five E. four
A. One
________ is the ability of persons, groups, or institutions to influence political developments. A. Power B. Liberty C. Apathy D. Politics E. Political culture
A. Power
The most recent party realignment had a realigning election in A. The most recent party realignment had no single realigning election. B. 1980. C. 1960. D. 1968 E. 2012.
A. The most recent party realignment had no single realigning election.
The Great Compromise produced A. a bicameral Congress B. federalism C. checks and balances D. separation of powers E. the abolition of slavery
A. a bicameral Congress
A writ of certiorari is A. a request to a lower court to submit to the Supreme Court a record of the case it has been requested to hear. B. the official transcript of Supreme Court proceedings. C. a statement from a group not directly involved in a Supreme Court case, indicating the group's opinion on the legal issue at hand. D. an application for a waiver of court fees due to indigence. E. the statement explaining the reasoning behind a Supreme Court decision.
A. a request to a lower court to submit to the Supreme Court a record of the case it has been requested to hear.
All of the following are characteristic of a party realignment EXCEPT A. a very close electoral result. B. an enduring change in the parties' coalitions. C. an election in which voters shift their partisan support. D. the emergence of unusually powerful and divisive issues E. an enduring change in the parties' policies.
A. a very close electoral result.
A general belief about the role and purpose of government is called A. an ideology. B. None of these answers is correct. C. socialization. D. conservatism. E. politicization.
A. an ideology.
Which of the following was NOT provided for by the Articles of Confederation? A. an independent federal executive B. B. unanimous approval by the states to amend the Articles C. C. each state having one vote in Congress D. D. a federal government subordinate to the states. E. E. a national Congress.
A. an independent federal executive
The term civil liberties refers to specific individual rights that A. are constitutionally protected from infringement by government. B. apply in civil cases but not in military ones. C. are not covered by the First Amendment. D. apply in civil cases but not in criminal cases. E. are constitutionally protected from infringement by individual.
A. are constitutionally protected from infringement by government.
One example of a policy that aimed chiefly to overcome de facto discrimination is A. busing to achieve racial integration in the schools. B. the Equal Rights Amendment. C. the Fourteenth Amendment. D. the Voting Rights Act of 1965. E. the Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas ruling.
A. busing to achieve racial integration in the schools.
Organizationally, the major political parties in the U.S. are A. decentralized and fragmented. B. no longer in operation. C. centralized and weak. D. centralized and strong. E. decentralized and strong.
A. decentralized and fragmented
A ruling by the Food and Drug Administration that a drug is dangerous to use an therefore cannot be marketed is an example of regulation for the purpose of A. equity. B. supply-side safety. C. efficiency. D. demand-side safety. E. profit.
A. equity.
The enumerated powers in Article I of the Constitution were intended to A. establish a government strong enough to forge a union that was secure in its defense and stable in its economy. B. ensure that neither northern nor southern states would be at a disadvantage. C. ensure that neither small nor large states would be at a disadvantage. D. limit the powers of the state governments. E. limit the power of the presidency.
A. establish a government strong enough to forge a union that was secure in its defense and stable in its economy.
The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction in legal disputes involving A. foreign diplomats. B. free speech and equal protection issues. C. private parties. D. the president. E. Congress.
A. foreign diplomats.
The elastic clause is related to which of the following concepts? A. implied powers B. All these answers are correct. C. enumerated powers D. reserved powers E. concurrent powers
A. implied powers
The frequency of elections in the United States reduces voter turnout by A. increasing the personal effort needed to participate in all elections. B. creating more complex registration requirements. C. discouraging local politicians from playing an active role in presidential elections. D. focusing too much attention on state and local elections. E. increasing the amount of taxes paid at the polls.
A. increasing the personal effort needed to participate in all elections.
Which of the following is NOT a primary socializing agent? A. peers B. school C. church D. family E. None of these are primary socializing agents.
A. peers
Another name for an interest group is A. pressure group. B. constituency. C. political party D. cabal. E. coalition.
A. pressure group.
Which of the following is a concurrent power held by both the national government and state governments? A. taxation B. issuing currency C. foreign affairs D. national defense E.chartering local governments
A. taxation
The Greek words demos and kratis together mean A. the people rule B. politics is immoral C. the king is good D. government is good E. majority is sacred
A. the people rule
Citizens' interest groups are distinguished from economic interest groups by the fact that A. their members receive no direct economic benefit from attainment of the group's goals. B. All of these answers are correct. C. they do not lobby government officials directly, but rely instead on public service announcements to get their views across to society. D. they always pursue goals in which there is a high level of agreement among society members. E. their leaders are elected by secret ballot among the group's members.
A. their members receive no direct economic benefit from attainment of the group's goals.
States with the most restrictive voter registration laws also have A. turnout rates well below the national average. B. the lowest rates of verified voter fraud. C. turnout rates comparable to the national average. D. the highest percentage of eligible voters registered. E. the highest rates of verified voter fraud.
A. turnout rates well below the national average.
The term means test refers to A. whether an applicant's income is low enough to qualify for public assistance. B. None of these answers is correct. C. the mandatory physical examination that Medicare and Medicaid applicants must undergo before they can receive benefits. D. the tax on a portion of the social security benefits of upper-income retirees. E. the mandatory psychological examination that Medicare and Medicaid applicants must undergo before they can receive benefits.
A. whether an applicant's income is low enough to qualify for public assistance.
About ________ percent of the nation's legal cases are decided in state court systems. A. 75 B. 9 C. 10 D. 25 E. 50
B. 9
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. a proportional representation system in the legislature would increase voter turnout. D. the increase in frequency of elections in the United States has increased the level of general voter apathy. E. voter apathy is only going to increase as long as we maintain a two-party system.
B. America has been undergoing a long-term decline in its social capital.
The FCC restriction requiring broadcasters to "afford reasonable opportunity for the discussion of conflicting views of public importance" was known as the A. signaling function. B. Fairness Doctrine. C. "Equal Time" rule. D.common-carrier function. E. objective-reporting model.
B. Fairness Doctrine.
In terms of holding the bureaucracy accountable, the MOST important unit within the Executive Office of the President is the A. White House Office. B. Office of Management and Budget. C. Office of the Vice President. D. Office of Policy Development. E. Council of Economic Advisors.
B. Office of Management and Budget.
________ was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence. A. George Washington B. Thomas Jefferson C. Alexander Hamilton D. James Madison E. John Locke
B. Thomas Jefferson
The Federalists gained enough votes to get the Constitution ratified when they promised this: A. a Supreme Court with the right of judicial review B. a bill of rights to be quickly added to the Constitution C. the right of states to disobey any national law they didn't like D. James Madison to be the first president. E. a banning of the slave trade after 1808
B. a bill of rights to be quickly added to the Constitution
The term iron triangle refers to A. a tightly-knit set of lobbying groups. B. a small and informal but relatively stable set of bureaucrats, legislators, and lobbyists who are concerned with promoting a particular interest. C. the strategy of lobbying all three branches of government simultaneously. D. An informal grouping of officials, lobbyists, and policy specialists who come together temporarily around a policy problem E. a corrupt relationship among the president, Congress, and the Supreme Court.
B. a small and informal but relatively stable set of bureaucrats, legislators, and lobbyists who are concerned with promoting a particular interest.
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. cooperative; dual C. picket-fence; cooperative D. dual; fiscal E. dual; cooperative
B. cooperative; dual
In comparison with today's newspapers, early American newspapers A. All of these answers are correct. B. could not have survived without political party support. C. were so inexpensive that nearly everyone read a daily paper. D. were written by hand. E. were more widely read.
B. could not have survived without political party support.
About one in ________ children live in poverty. A. twenty B. five C. eight D. twelve E. three
B. five
PACs tend to contribute the most money to A. liberal Republicans. B. incumbents. C. challengers. D. liberal Democrats. E. independents.
B. incumbents.
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. invalidate the actions of other institutions when judges believe they have acted unconstitutionally. C. make political decisions; judges can overturn any congressional or presidential decision they personally dislike. D. ignore public opinion when making decisions. E. strike down certain sections of the Constitution.
B. invalidate the actions of other institutions when judges believe they have acted unconstitutionally.
As described in the text, "political thinking" A. is the reflection of an individual's ideological position when applied to political issues B. involves the careful gathering and sifting of information in the process of forming a knowledgeable view about a political issue C. is the result of an individual's attempts to seek out news media that reinforce a pre-existing political bias 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. 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. involves the careful gathering and sifting of information in the process of forming a knowledgeable view about a political issue
A concurring opinion A. explains why the Court accepted the case in the first place. B. is a separate view written by a justice who votes with the majority but disagrees with its reasoning. C. is delivered when the Court interprets a constitutional issue. D. explains the chief justice's position on a case. E. is delivered when at least two justices, but less than a majority, hold the same opinion in a case.
B. is a separate view written by a justice who votes with the majority but
The Federal Reserve plays a large part in establishing ________ policy. A. fiscal B. monetary. C. military D. budgetary E. security
B. monetary
The winner-take-all system is also known as the ________ system. A. proportional B. plurality C. majority D. minority E. democratic
B. plurality
The process by which a society settles its conflicts and allocates the resulting benefits and costs is called A. socialism B. politics C. communism D. government E. elitism
B. politics
John Stuart Mill believed that any form of government should be judged on its ability to A. offer the individual a "plethora of policy options" in the democratic process. B. promote the individual as "a progressive being." C. provide social services for its citizenry. D. provide social services for its citizenry. E. transfer power peacefully from one set of governing officials to the next.
B. promote the individual as "a progressive being."
The inclusion of certain provisions of the Bill of Rights through the Fourteenth Amendment, so that these rights are protected from infringements by the state governments, is called A. the absorption doctrine. B. selective incorporation. C. procedural change. D. the preferred position doctrine. E. prior restraint.
B. selective incorporation.
Any law that attempts a racial or ethnic classification is subject to the A. precedent basis test. B. strict scrutiny test. C. reasonable basis test. D. intermediate scrutiny test. E. suspect classification test.
B. strict scrutiny test.
According to the Supreme Court, prior restraint on the press is only acceptable if A. the press is careless in its claims. B. the government can clearly justify the restriction. C. lower federal courts approve the action. D. the press itself willingly accepts that restraint. E. the press is malicious in its intent.
B. the government can clearly justify the restriction.
Fiscal policy is a mechanism the government employs to influence the economy. Fiscal policy is based on A. the importance of maintaining a 12-month (fiscal year) economic cycle. B. the government's taxing and spending decisions. C. the projections of the Federal Reserve Board. D. the idea that a balanced budget is the key to a healthy economy. E. the money supply.
B. the government's taxing and spending decisions.
The news media's common-carrier role is based on the idea that A. the news will be available to all citizens. B. the press should provide a channel through which political leaders can communicate their views to the public. C. the press should be patriotic in the reporting of the news. D. the press should not charge for public service announcements. E. various news organizations should interpret the news in nearly the same way.
B. the press should provide a channel through which political leaders can communicate their views to the public.
Supply-side economics, as implemented by the Reagan and Bush administrations, involved A. the supply component of the supply-demand equation. B. stressing the importance of tax cuts for businesses. C. All of these answers are correct. D. stressing the importance of tax cuts for the wealthy. E. an increase in the size of the national debt.
C. All of these answers are correct.
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. Twenty-Third; Twenty-Sixth C. Fifteenth; Nineteenth D. Fifteenth; Twentieth E. Nineteenth; Fifteenth
C. Fifteenth; Nineteenth
The United States has two court systems, state and federal. The federal system A. is the only one with appellate courts. B. is the only one based on the constitutional doctrine of the separation of powers. C. None of these answers is correct. D. has discretionary jurisdiction over all cases arising in the state system. E. is the only one that has judges who are appointed to office.
C. None of these answers is correct
________ has the highest child poverty rate among the Western democracies. A. France B. Germany C. The United States D. Great Britain E. Canada
C. The United States
Eighteen, nineteen, and twenty-year-old Americans were granted the right to vote by the passage of the __________ Amendment. A. Fifteenth B. Twenty-Third C. Twenty-Sixth D. Nineteenth E. Twenty-First
C. Twenty-Sixth
An interest group that focuses on policy benefits for senior citizens would be an example of A. a philosophical interest group. B. an ideological group. C. a single-issue group. D. a professional group. E. a business group.
C. a single-issue group.
Partisan talk radio got its start A. during the late 1930s. B. on the day of Rush Limbaugh's first broadcast. C. after the abolition of the Fairness Doctrine. D. after cable television led the way. E. in the early 1990s after the election of Democrat Bill Clinton.
C. after the abolition of the Fairness Doctrine.
In the 1830s, the Frenchman Alexis de Tocqueville wrote that the "principle of ________" was nowhere more evident than in America. A. statesmanship B. separation of church and state C. association D. hard work E. citizenship
C. association
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was aimed at eliminating discrimination : A. All these answers are correct. B. by governments in their job practices and provision of services (e.g., schools, roads) C. by private individuals in their employment practices and in their operation of public accommodations (e.g., hotels, restaurants). D. by governments in their conduct of elections (e.g., registration, placement of polling booths). E. by private individuals in their social relations—bigoted statements and other acts of prejudice are unlawful under most circumstances.
C. by private individuals in their employment practices and in their operation of public accommodations (e.g., hotels, restaurants).
Federal grants-in-aid used only for a designated activity are called ________. A. block grants B. targeted grants C. categorical grants D. revenue-sharing grants E. streamlined grants
C. categorical grants
Judicial review is the power of the Supreme Court to A. impeach the president B. give advice and counsel to the president C. declare a law unconstitutional D. suspend the writ of habeas corpus E. give advisory opinions to Congress
C. declare a law unconstitutional
The most fully organized interests are those that have which of the following as their primary purpose? A. civil liberties B. environmental protection C. economic activity D. reform of government E. labor reform
C. economic activity
The framers' most significant modification of the traditional doctrine of the separation of powers was to A. define legislative power precisely, while defining executive and judicial power only in general terms. B. include a two-chamber legislature. C. ensure that the powers of the separate branches overlap, so that each could better act as a check on the others D. grant the power of judicial review to the judiciary. include federalism
C. 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. Civil Rights Act. B. due process clause of the Fifth Amendment. C. equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. D. establishment clause of the First Amendment. E. due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
C. equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
Libertarians are opposed to governmental intervention A. in the economic but not the social sphere. B. in the social sphere, but not the economic sphere. C. in both the economic and social spheres. D. in neither the social nor the economic spheres. E. only with regard to affirmative action.
C. in both the economic and social spheres.
In the United States, the primary responsibility for registration of the individual voter rests with the A. state and local governments. B. local courts. C. individual. D. employer. E. federal government.
C. individual.
The media perform the signaling role by A. exposing officials who violate accepted performance and moral standards. B. acting as the public's representative. C. informing the public of breaking events and new developments. D. serving as an open channel for leaders to express their opinions. E. All of these answers are correct.
C. informing the public of breaking events and new developments.
Monetary policy differs from fiscal policy in that A. None of these answers is correct. B. it has to be exercised by the legislature. C. it can be implemented more quickly than fiscal policy. D. it is a slower process than fiscal policy. E. the policy goals are very different.
C. it can be implemented more quickly than fiscal policy.
Change in party identification is uncommon and is almost always a consequence of A. popular satisfaction with a government initiative. B. a Supreme Court ruling. C. major upheaval. D. a change in the policy position of the president. E. a change in the law.
C. major upheaval.
Amtrak is an example of a(n) A. regulatory agency. B. cabinet department. C. independent agency. D. presidential commission. E. government corporation
E. government corporation
Regular voters tend to be characterized by a A. strong sense of independence, which motivates them to try to defeat incumbents. B. desire to use government as a vehicle to help other Americans rather than themselves. C. strong sense of civic duty. D. All these answers are correct. E. strong sense of alienation, which motivates them to try to change government.
C. strong sense of civic duty.
In The Wealth of Nations (1776), Adam Smith made all of the following arguments for laissez-faire capitalism, EXCEPT A. that private firms should be left alone to make their production and distribution decisions. B. that the desire for profit is the invisible hand that guides a capitalist system. C. that the government should not be allowed any role whatsoever in the economy. D. that certain areas of the economy were better run by government agencies E. that the government should regulate banking, currency, and contracts.
C. that the government should not be allowed any role whatsoever in the economy.
Which of the following represents the greatest blow to the organizational strength of U.S. parties? A. the national convention B. Jacksonian democracy C. the direct primary D. the emergence of PACs E. voter registration
C. the direct primary
The yellow journalism of the late nineteenth century was characterized by A. an unwillingness to take editorial positions because of a fear of losing circulation. B. its appearance solely in weekly and monthly magazines. C. the emphasis on sensationalism as a way of selling newspapers. D. the desire to present the news in an objective manner. E. prejudice against Asian people and countries.
C. the emphasis on sensationalism as a way of selling newspapers.
The major reason for the persistence of the American two-party system is A. that there are naturally only two sides to political disputes. B. the existence of state laws prohibiting the placement of a third major party on the ballot. C. the existence of single-member election districts. D. regional conflict. E. proportional representation.
C. the existence of single-member election districts.
A flaw in pluralism theory is the fact that A. larger groups always prevail politically over smaller groups. B. All of these answers are correct. C. the interest group system is unrepresentative, because some interests are far better organized and more powerful than others. D. the public interest is never served by policies that promote special interests. E. political parties better represent different interests than do interest groups.
C. the interest group system is unrepresentative, because some interests are far better organized and more powerful than others.
The total cumulative amount the federal government owes to its creditors is known as A. a credit imbalance. B. a budget deficit. C. the national debt. D. a trade deficit. E. income disparity.
C. the national debt.
National authority has greatly expanded in the twentieth century in large part because ________ A. the state governments have shown themselves to be an ineffective level of government B. the Democrats have been in control of Congress for most of the century C. the states and the federal government have become increasingly interdependent D. Americans like the idea of "big government" E. constitutional amendments have opened the way for wider application of national authority
C. the states and the federal government have become increasingly interdependent
Economic groups have an advantage over noneconomic groups because A. they nearly always have larger memberships. B. they are organized primarily for political purposes. C. they have greater access to financial resources. D. they have better leadership. E. Their members are committed to their causes.
C. they have greater access to financial resources.
The poverty line is defined as A. the percentage of homeless people. B. the annual cost of all goods and services that a person can reasonably be expected to want. C. three times the annual cost of a thrifty food budget for an urban family of four. D. the income level below which 20 percent of the American people live. E. the income level below which 10 percent of the American people live.
C. three times the annual cost of a thrifty food budget for an urban family of four.
Conventional forms of political participation include all of the following EXCEPT A. lobbying B. community activities C. violent protests D. campaigning E. voting
C. violent protests
Proportional representation systems encourage the formation of smaller parties by enabling parties to A. win legislative seats by lottery for parties that have no chance of winning majority support. B. receive campaign funds from government in proportion to their support in opinion polls. C. win legislative seats even though they do not receive a majority of votes in elections. D. share in patronage appointments, which serve as an incentive to lure campaign workers. E. advertise on television.
C. win legislative seats even though they do not receive a majority of votes in elections.
According to the Declaration of Independence, governments get their "just powers" from A. "the various factions." B. "the teachings of Jesus Christ." C. "the benevolence of a just king." D. "the consent of the governed." E. "God Almighty."
D. "the consent of the governed."
How many Electoral College votes are needed to secure victory for a presidential candidate? A. 538 B. 321 C. 51 D. 270 E. 430
D. 270
A basic reason for the existence of so many interest groups in the United States is A. the American tradition of free association. B. the separation of powers in American government. C. the extent of diverse interests in American society. D. All of these answers are correct. E. America's federal system of government.
D. All of these answers are correct.
Which of the following is NOT one of the core values of American political culture? A. Cooperation B. Equality C. individualism D. cooperation E. self-government
D. Cooperation
Which of the following most accurately describes the American middle class between 1970 and 2015? A. They have grown dramatically in number. B. Their numerical size and share of the nation's income have remained remarkably constant. C. None of these answers is correct. D. Their share of the nation's income has fallen by almost 20 percent. E. They have come to receive more than half of the nation's income.
D. Their share of the nation's income has fallen by almost 20 percent.
What are the constitutional requirements for being a federal judge? A. at least 30 years old and a lawyer in good standing with the state bar B. at least 30 years old and a resident of the specific judicial district C. at least 30 years old and a citizen of the United States D. There are no constitutional requirements for being a federal judge. E. at least 25 years old and a citizen of the United States
D. There are no constitutional requirements for being a federal judge.
Why are social security and Medicare considered highly efficient programs? A. They are administered at the local level where government is more responsive to changes in the needs of beneficiaries. B. Costs are shared by the state and federal government. C. Their integrated vertical structure D. They do not require a large bureaucracy to administer them. E. They have built-in sunset provisions.
D. They do not require a large bureaucracy to administer them.
Which of the following is an example of checks and balances? A. approval of treaties B. the veto C. the impeachment process D. all these answers are correct E. judiacial review'
D. all these answers are correct
Party identification refers to A. the percentage of polled individuals that claim membership in a particular party. B. formal membership in a political party. C. the ability of individual citizens to identify the major issue positions of the major political parties. D. an emotional attachment to a political party. E. a political party's platform—the stances on issues that define its beliefs.
D. an emotional attachment to a political party.
Shays' Rebellion A. convinced many political leaders that the national government was too powerful. B. was a successful revolt. C. occurred after the Philadelphia convention of 1787. D. convinced many political leaders that the national government was too weak. E. reinforced public support for the Articles of Confederation.
D. convinced many political leaders that the national government was too weak.
The defining characteristic of a social insurance program is that A. it is targeted at those who are most in need of welfare assistance. B. it is administered through private insurance companies. C. it is administered jointly by the national government and the states. D. eligibility is restricted to individuals who paid special payroll taxes during their working years. E. None of these answers is correct.
D. eligibility is restricted to individuals who paid special payroll taxes during their working years.
Public assistance programs are funded through A. payroll taxes paid only by employers. B. payroll taxes paid only by employees. C. payroll taxes paid by both employees and employers. D. general tax revenues. E. sales taxes.
D. general tax revenues.
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. monarchies are preferable to democracies D. government is most dangerous when a single group is powerful enough to gain full political control E. interest groups should be heavily regulated in America
D. government is most dangerous when a single group is powerful enough to gain full political control
In Federalist No. 10, James Madison argued that A. monarchies are preferable to democracies B. interest groups are less troublesome than political parties C. interest groups should be heavily regulated in America D. government is most dangerous when a single group is powerful enough to gain full political control E. America was not diverse enough to prevent powerful interest groups from exercising too much political power
D. 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. waste, red tape, and lack of rules. B. inefficiency, inflexibility, and red tape. C. honesty, efficiency, and patronage. D. hierarchy, specialization, and rules. E. corruption, incompetence, and spoils.
D. hierarchy, specialization, and rules.
The focus of civil liberties is the ________ and the focus of civil rights is the ________. A.individual; individual B. group; individual C. Tenth Amendment; Fourteenth Amendment D. individual; group E. group; group
D. individual; group
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. appellate jurisdiction C. judicial activism D. judicial restraint E. judicial executive power
D. judicial restraint
When the nation was founded, who was eligible to vote? A. only citizens who had lived in the nation for at least ten years B. all males and females who were at least 21 years of age C. everyone—there was universal suffrage D. only white males who owned property E. all native-born citizens
D. only white males who owned property
Objective journalism is based on the idea that the reporter's job is to A. All of these answers are correct. B. scrutinize the partisan debate, and inform the news audience about which party has the better argument. C. report what political leaders want them to report. D. report the facts and cover alternative sides of a partisan debate. E. discover what other reporters are saying and provide a uniform interpretation of events.
D. report the facts and cover alternative sides of a partisan debate.
The freedoms of speech, press, assembly, and petition are found in A. the Tenth Amendment. B. the Fourth Amendment. C. the Fourteenth Amendment. D. the First Amendment. E. the Sixth Amendment.
D. the First Amendment.
In a democratic society, who or what is responsible for personal development? A. the progressive being B. parents C. political parties D. the individual
D. the individual
Voter turnout is LOWEST in which age group? A. Voter turnout is essentially the same for all age groups B. senior citizens C. middle-aged adults D. young adults E. older adults
D. young adults
Congress's inability to consistently provide leadership on broad national issues is primarily due to A. constitutional restrictions on Congress's lawmaking powers B. opposition from the mass media. C. the constant threat of a presidential veto. D. the lack of talented leadership in Congress. E. the fragmented nature of Congress.
E. the fragmented nature of Congress.
Modern presidents A. exercise more authority than the founders of the U.S. ever anticipated. B. use executive agreements more than the founders of the U.S. ever anticipated. C. use the veto more than the founders of the U.S. ever anticipated. D. use military action without formal Congressional approval more than the founders of the U.S. ever anticipated. E. All of these answers are correct.
E. All of these answers are correct.
The forced removal of a president from office through impeachment and conviction requires action by the A. House and Senate in a joint session. B. Senate only. C. House of Representatives only. D. Supreme Court in a judicial proceeding. E. House and Senate in separate proceedings.
E. House and Senate in separate proceedings.
Which of the following statements have been shown by scholarly research to be true? A. Network journalists have a very substantial liberal bias. B. Network journalists have a very substantial conservative bias. C. Network journalists have a clear Democratic bias. D. Network journalists have a clear Republican bias. E. Network journalists tend to be negative.
E. Network journalists tend to be negative.
What type of government suppresses individuality, forcing people to think and act in prescribed ways or risk punishment? A. socialistic B. Communistic C. Egalitarian D. Republican E. authoritarian
E. authoritarian
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. income disparity B. trade deficit C. credit imbalance D. national debt E. budget deficit
E. budget deficit
Some interest groups pursue collective goods. A collective good is one that A. None of these answers is correct. B. is secured by the president. C. is secured by Congress. D. is provided by a public service organization. E. cannot be selectively granted or denied to individuals; it must be shared.
E. cannot be selectively granted or denied to individuals; it must be shared.
Which of the following has led to gains for top earners in recent decades? A. a booming goods and services sector B. the "compression effect" described by economist Paul Krugman C. changes in the nation's job market D. All of these answers are correct. E. changes in tax policy
E. changes in tax policy
The federal government's power to tax, regulate commerce among the states, and declare war are all examples of ________ powers. A. concurrent B. None of these answers is correct C. implied D. reserved E. enumerated
E. enumerated
The establishment clause prohibits government from A. establishing exceptions to the Bill of Rights. B. establishing exceptions to the Fourteenth Amendment. C. interfering with the right to bear arms. D. interfering with freedom of assembly. E. favoring one religion over another or supporting religion over no religion.
E. favoring one religion over another or supporting religion over no religion.
States that apply the unit rule A. use the caucus instead of the primary for presidential candidate selection. B. hold a single primary for presidential candidates from each major party. C. are not considered to be states in which there is a competitive race between candidates. D. do not use the Electoral College system. E. grant all their electoral votes as a unit to the candidate who wins the state's popular vote.
E. grant all their electoral votes as a unit to the candidate who wins the state's popular vote.
Medicare A. is one of the least popular government programs. B. provides health care to all adults over age 50. C. is funded through general tax revenues. D. None of these answers is correct. E. is paid for through a payroll tax.
E. is paid for through a payroll tax.
Which of the following groups is overrepresented in Congress? A. women B. middle-class Americans C. blue-collar workers D. African Americans E. lawyers
E. lawyers
Which of the following is most closely related to the concept of implied powers? A. Tenth Amendment B. supremacy clause C. the power to tax D. the commerce clause E. necessary and proper clause
E. necessary and proper clause
Scholarly research has shown that, overall, the traditional media have A. a slight conservative bias. B. a strong conservative bias. C. a strong liberal bias. D. a slight liberal bias. E. no substantial bias.
E. no substantial bias.
Federal judges are A. elected by majority vote in their respective districts. B. elected by majority vote in their respective states. C. nominated by the president and approved by both houses of Congress. D. nominated by the Senate and approved by both houses of Congress. E. nominated by the president and approved by the Senate.
E. nominated by the president and approved by the Senate.
Devolution is the ________. A. None of these answers is correct B. expansion of national authority that began in the 1930s C. expansion of national authority that began in the 1960s. D. contraction of state authority and the expansion of local government authority E. passing of authority from the national government to the state and local levels
E. passing of authority from the national government to the state and local levels
The history of democratic government is virtually synonymous with the history of A. protest movements. B. high voter turnout. C. economic recessions. D. the separation of powers. E. political parties.
E. political parties.
A person who favors government intervention in both social and economic affairs is a(n) A. libertarian. B. liberal. C. social conservative. D. economic conservative. E. populist
E. populist
One special contribution of Internet-based news is that it A. offers more unbiased reporting. B. None of these answers is correct. C. provides slower, more deliberative reporting. D. prevents rampant editorializing. E. provides the ordinary citizen with an opportunity to be part of the news system.
E. provides the ordinary citizen with an opportunity to be part of the news system.
A major point of debate surrounding the Federal Reserve's role in economic policy is A. the issue of competence. B. whether the president should be able to veto the Fed's decisions. C. None of these answers is correct. D. whether Congress should be able to reject the Fed's decisions. E. the Fed's political accountability.
E. the Fed's political accountability.
The MOST obvious sign of the party realignment of recent decades has been the strong tendency of A. Colorado to vote Democratic. B. the West Coast to vote Democratic. C. the Midwest to vote Democratic. D. the Plains states to vote Republican. E. the South to vote Republican.
E. the South to vote Republican.
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 should take the lead on foreign policy issues. D. the House or the Senate is more responsive to the public. E. the primary concern of a representative should be the interests of the nation or of his or her constituency.
E. the primary concern of a representative should be the interests of the nation or of his or her constituency.
How long do federal judges serve? A. four years B. ten years C. eight years D. two years E. until they retire, die, or are removed through the impeachment and conviction process
E. until they retire, die, or are removed through the impeachment and conviction process
What is the major barrier to political thinking? A. lack of access to governmental institutions B. failure of politicians and government institutions to communicate policy details to the public C. lack of access to news media sources outside of sensationalist television or Internet content D. elite control of political power resources. E. unwillingness of citizens to make the effort.
E. unwillingness of citizens to make the effort.
