American Government - FINAL REVIEW
Upon reaching Congress, what first happens to the president budget proposal?
It goes to the House and Senate budget committees.
How has the Internet affected the watchdog role of the media?
It has expanded the watchdog capacity of the media
The right to privacy was instrumental in which decision?
Roe v. Wade
At which of the following times did the American media step back from their watchdog role?
after the September 11th terrorist attacks
Congress has formally declared war ____ times in U.S. history.
5
Nearly ___________ percent of all PAC contributions go to the incumbents.
90
The establishment clause prohibits government from
favoring one religion over another or supporting religion over no religion.
The Supreme Court decision in Marbury v. Madison is significant
for the establishment of judicial review.
The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction in legal disputes involving
foreign diplomats.
According to the doctrine of judicial restrain, the judiciary should
defer to precedent and to decisions made by legislation.
Literacy tests were used to
disenfranchise African Americans in the South.
Andrew Jackson's contribution to the development of political parties was the
formation of a new type of grassroots party organization.
The individual right that is widely regarded as the most basic of individual rights is
freedom of expression.
Amtrak is an example of a(n)
government corporation.
Compared to the president and Congress, the bureaucracy
has a more direct impact on the daily lives of Americans.
Most successful Internet blogs
have a liberal bias
On both radio and television, most successful partisan talk shows
have been hosted by conservatives.
The president's constitutional roles, such as chief executive and commander in chief,
have expanded in practice to be more powerful than the writers of the Constitution intended.
The Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas ruling (1954) held that racial segregation in schools violated the
equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment
A conservative is opposed to government intervention
in the economic but not the social spheres.
The focus of civil liberties is the ____________ and the focus of civil rights is th ______________.
indvidual; group
With regard to the lower courts, the Supreme Court's primary responsibility is
establishing legal precedents that will guide their decisions.
According to the Anti-Federalists, too strong of a national government meant
eventual encroachment upon the sovereignty of the states
The appointment of federal judges is influenced most substantially by
partisanship.
Devolution is the
passing of authority from the national government to the state and local levels
Which of the following is NOT a primary socializing agent?
peers
The process by which a society settles its conflicts and allocates the resulting benefits and costs is called
politics.
Which of the following are key players in the modern campaign?
pollsters media producers campaign consultants *All these answers are correct.
The principle of checks and balances is based on the notion that
power must be used to offset power.
A judicial decision that establishes a rule for settling subsequent cases of a similar nature is a
precedent.
Progressive reforms included
primary elections; direct elections of U.S. senators; recall elections **All these answers are correct**
McCuilloch v. Maryland
affirmed that national law is supreme to conflicting state law.
Which of the following three women are currently serving on the Supreme Court of the United States?
"Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan"
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was aimed in large part at eliminating discrimination
"by private individuals in their employment practices and in their operation of public accommodations (e.g. hotels, resturants)."
The presidency is an
"office in which power is conditional, depending on whether the political support that gives force to presidential leadership exists or can be developed."
The Supreme Court's position on prior restraint of the press is that
"prior restraint should apply only in rare circumstances, and it is better to hold the press responsible for what it has printed than to restrict what it may print."
On average, how much money must a U.S. senator raise every week of his or her six-year term in order to acquire enough money to launch a competitive bid for reelection?
$20,000
Compared with the Senate majority leader, the Speaker of the House has more power because
*the House places more limits on debate. *the House is the larger chamber in terms of membership. *the Speaker is that chamber's presiding officer. *All these answers are correct.
Women in America obtained the right to vote in national elections in _________.
1920
The only presidential election in which the Gallop poll erred badly was
1948 Truman v. Dewey.
How many presidents have been impeached in U.S. history?
2
Lobbyist seek to acquire access to policymakers in all branches of government EXCEPT
Congress the executive the courts. *None of the above
The number and types of lower federal courts is established by
Congress.
When asked if he had made any mistakes as president, _______________ replied, "Yes, two, and they are both sitting on the Supreme Court."
Dwight Eisenhower
The FCC restriction requiring broadcasters to "afford reasonable opportunity for the discussion of conflicting views of public importance" was known as the
Fairness Doctrine.
Age is not a good predictor of voter turnout -younger adults are nearly as likely to vote as older adults.
False
At the time of the nations founding, the Framers of the U.S. Constitution specifically sought to establish a democracy, i.e. a government in which the power of the majority was unlimited.
False
Bureaucrats are professionals who work in congressional offices.
False
Constitutionalism is the idea that there are no lawful restrictions on government's power.
False
Economic conservatives believe that government should play a substantial role in the distribution of economic benefits to the less advantage.
False
In his definition of public opinion, the author claims that the opinions of private individuals become public opinion when they are expressed privately.
False
Libel applies to defamation of an individual's reputation through the spoken word.
False
Meager Evers give his famous 'I Have a Dream' speech at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.
False
One's sense of civic duty is usually acquired from one's experience with voting.
False
PAC contributions are limited to $32,400 per candidate per election.
False
Party "bosses" are responsible for nominating candidates to represent the party.
False
Personal misconduct can never be a pitfall to an incumbent.
False
The "motor voter" law was signed by President George H. W. Bush.
False
The Supremacy Clause was readily embraced the states.
False
The Three-Fifths Compromise settled the dispute between the lareg-states and the small-states.
False
The United States has fewer elections than any other nation.
False
The biggest government growth spurt occurred in 2001 in response to the 9/11 terrorist attack on the United States.
False
The current Secretary of State is Arne Duncan.
False
The first institution defined in the Constitution is the Executive branch.
False
The framers of the Constitution preferred a direct or pure democracy.
False
The modern day Democrats began as Federalist.
False
The right to counsel is guaranteed by the Tenth Amendment.
False
Tie votes in the Senate can only be broken by the president.
False
Universal suffrage gives the right to vote to everyone in the universe.
False
You must be at least 45 years old to serve as a federal judge or a Supreme Court justice.
False
Which of the following was an argument in favor of federalism at the time of the writing of the Constitution?
Federalism will protect liberty. Federalism will force officials to be more responsive to the people. Federalism will provide for a stronger national government than existed under the Articles of Confederation. **All these answers are correct.**
_______________ warned Americans of the "baneful effects" of factions (political parties) in his 1797 farewell address.
George Washington
What demographic is key to the future of both parties?
Hispanic voters
The Department of ______________ was created in 2002.
Homeland Security
The presidency was created by Article ___ of the U.S. Constitution.
II
Which of the following statements about the patronage system is true?
It was a means of rewarding party hacks and friends for their loyalty
Which of the following is correct with regard to obscenity and the law?
Obscenity is not protected by the First Amendment.
In terms of holding the bureaucracy accountable, the most important unit within the Executive Office of the President is the
Office of Management and Budget.
_____________ is the ability of persons, groups, or institutions to influence political developments.
Power
The issue of slavery gave birth to the ____________ party as a major political party.
Republican
__________ is based on judgment about the past performance of an elected official or political party.
Retrospective voting
Yellow journalism contributed to public support for the
Spanish-American War.
The second-most powerful federal official (after the president) is often said to be the
Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.
The Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United v. federal Election Commission (2010) ultimately led to the creation of
Super PACs
Which of the following is true about the Sedition Act of 1798?
The Act prohibited malicious newspaper stories about the president.
Congress is said to have the "power of the purse" because of its budgetary responsibilities.
True
Equality is a core American political ideal.
True
Gideon v. Wainwright required that states furnish attorneys for poor defendants in felony cases.
True
Hispanic Americans account for over 50 million in the American population.
True
If a person yells "fire" in a crowded theater when there is no fire, and people are hurt in the ensuing panic, that individual abused his/her freedom of speech according to the doctrine of clear and present danger.
True
In the early 1800s the federal government employed about 3,000 workers.
True
A contemporary legislator who voted for a bill because of a belief in its benefit, even though his constituents back home overwhelmingly opposed the bill, would be performing the Edumnd Burke role of a trustee.
True
A major barrier to political thinking is the unwillingness of citizens to make the effort.
True
American party organizations are still important, but their role in campaigns is secondary to that of candidates.
True
Article II (The Executive) of the constitution was stated in general terms.
True
In the history of the United States we have had over 1000 third (minor) parties.
True
CNN and other cable news networks helped to bring an end to the Fairness Doctrine.
True
Political conservatives who favor more political power devolved back to the states would likely prefer block grants over categorical grants.
True
Presidential elections tend to draw the largest percentage of voters in the United States.
True
Presidents don't routinely get what they want.
True
Public policy can impact job creation.
True
Super PACs allow corporations and labor unions to spend unlimited funds on campaigns.
True
The Department of Homeland Security is the newest government agency.
True
The Great Compromise produced a bicameral Congress.
True
The Vice-president is the presiding officer over the Senate.
True
The budget process last for a year and a half long.
True
The frequency of elections in the United States reduces voter turnout.
True
The majority of the cases heard by the Supreme Court are cases that have been appealed.
True
The recent suspension of the filibuster rule by the Senate was done to allow President Obama's nominees to the D C Appeals Court to be confirmed.
True
The state of Colorado recently held a recall election that resulted in two state Senators being voted out of office.
True
Two characteristics of interest groups are their organized memberships and their members' shared interest.
True
According to the Supreme Court, prayer in public schools violates
the establishment clause.
A totalitarian government
admits to no limits on its power.
A bill has been approved in the House and Senate, albeit in slightly different versions. The bill now goes to
a conference committee.
The Bill of Rights added to the Constitution, among other things,
a guarantee of freedom of speech.
Interest groups all have
a legitimate right (constitutional) to express their views.
An interest group that focuses on policy benefits for senior citizens would be an example of
a single-issue group.
The facts of a case
affect which law or laws will apply to the case.
Party identification refers to
an emotional attachment to a political party
Which of the following is a recent trend in the appointment of new federal judges and justices?
an increase in the number of federal judges and justices with prior judicial experience
The term civil liberties refers to specific individual rights that
are constitutionally protected from infringement by government
The modern Congress is different from the nineteenth century Congress in that most members
are now professional politicians who want to stay in Congress
In the definition of public opinion, the author claims that the opinions of private individuals become public opinion when they
are openly expressed.
With regard to public opinion, the Supreme Court
attempts to stay close enough to public opinion so as to avoid outright defiance of its decisions
What type of government suppresses individuality, forcing people to think and act in prescribed ways or risk punishment?
authoritarian
Through the grants of power in the Constitution, the framers sought to
both empower government and limit it.
The largest number of PACs are those associated with
business.
The Supreme Court is most likely to grant _______ when the U.S. government--through the solicitor general--requests it.
certiorari
Campaign spending tends to be a much grater challenge for
challengers and nonincumbents than for incumbents.
All of the following are economic groups EXCEPT for which one.
citizen groups
The special interests that benefit directly from a bureaucratic agency's programs are called
clientele groups.
The first plan of government for the United States was a
confederation.
Congressional staffers spend most of their time on
constituency service and public relations.
In comparison with today's newspapers, early American newspapers
could not have survived without political party support.
In the late 1800s, rapid economic growth placed new demands on the federal government and led it to
create new federal departments built around economic interests.
The power of the Supreme Court is most apparent in its ability to
declare another institution's action to be unconstitutional.
Voting
is the most widespread form of political participation.
Which of the following statements correctly describes the typical independent agency?
it has a more narrow area of responsibility than that of cabinet departments. it is similar to cabinet agencies. CIA and NASA *All of the above.
Pluralism contends that, on most issues,
it is the preference of the special interest that largely determines what government does
Which of the following is one of the three major functions of Congress's policymaking role?
lawmaking
Culminating in a historic victory in 1954, black activists in the early twentieth century generally pursued civil rights through
legal action.
The idea that government should be restricted in its lawful uses of power and hence in its ability to deprive people of their liberty by the term
limited government.
Which of the following has democracy come to mean in practice?
majority rule through the free and open election of representatives
Which of the following is most closely related to the concept of implied powers?
necessary and proper clause
National party organizations can dictate the day-to-day decisions of
neither local nor state party organizations.
The reason the news product is designed to fascinate as well as to inform is because
news organizations are fundamentally businesses and must obtain revenue to survive.
Like all other rights, the right of free expression is
not absolute
A purposive incentive is defined as
the opportunity to contribute to a worthy goal or purpose.
Effective inside lobbying is based upon
providing useful and persuasive information to key officials.
Sources of polling error can include
question order. unrepresentative samples. question wording. *All these answers are correct.
According to Gunnar Myrdal, what is America's curse?
racial discrimination
Contributing factors to low voter turnout includes
registration requirements the frequency of elections the political party system *All these answers are correct
Whenever Congress has a perceived need for ongoing control of an economic activity, it has tended to create a
regulatory agency.
Objective journalism is based on the idea that the reporter's job is to
report the facts and cover alternative sides of a partisan debate.
The writers of the Constitution used the term ________________ to describe a form of government that consists of carefully designed institutions that are responsive to the majority but not captive to it.
republic
Opposition to the judiciary's creative policy-making role is a consistent tenet of judicial
restraint.
Through the Dred Scott decision, the Supreme Court
ruled that Congress could not outlaw slavery anywhere in the United States.
All of the following tend to decrease voter turnout EXCEPT
sharp policy differences between major parties.
Spoken words that are known to be false and harmful to a person's reputation are an example of
slander.
Bureaucrats are ___________ and elected officials are ____________.
specialists; generalists
Sovereignty refers to
supreme and final governing authority.
Constituency advocacy or grassroots lobbying is a specialty of
the AARP.
The yellow journalism of the late nineteenth century was characterized by
the emphasis on sensationalism as a way of selling newspapers.
The Greek words demos and karis together mean
the people rule.
Which institution receives the most news coverage from the national press?
the presidency
What event occurred in 1877 (the end of Reconstruction) in the South that brought about rapid legal discrimination against blacks?
the removal of federal troops
The writers of the Constitution established a federal system of government in part because
the states already existed as established entities and had to be preserved.
In a constitutional system,
there are lawful restrictions on a government's power.
Economic groups have an advantage over noneconomic groups because
they have greater access to financial resources.
Disadvantaged Americans, along with other disadvanataged groups throughout the world, have generally gained their rights
through struggle against entrenched interests.
When it was developed during the Jackson administration, the patronage system was designed to
tie the administration more closely to the people it served.
To the framers, the great danger of democratic government was the risk of
tyranny of the majority
In comparison with citizens in Western European democracies, Americans are less likely to
vote in national elections.
French philosopher Michel Foucault referred to politics as "_______________________."
war by other means
Native Americans
were not given citizenship status en masse until 1924.