Intro to Politics Ch4, 5, 11, 12 (Test 2)

The 1964 Civil Rights Act banned

discrimination in public accommodations.

In recent elections, the Internet has greatly increased the ability of presidential candidates to

"get out the vote." raise money for their campaigns.

In determining that it was unconstitutional to reserve 10 percent of federally funded construction projects for minority-owned firms (Adarand v. Peña), the Supreme Court used what part of the test it applies to affirmative action cases?

"narrowly tailored"

Political scientist Richard Neustadt contended that an effective president is successful in using

"the power to persuade."

Which amendment to the United States Constitution protects citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures?

4

Which of the following amendments contribute to ensuring criminal due process?

4 5 6 8

From the late 1950s to 2010, how many Americans have been convicted solely for criticizing the government's war policies?

0

Reapportionment takes place every years following a census.

10

How many Asian Americans currently serve in Congress?

12

In which decade did the election of "tough on crime" candidates lead to state legislatures enacting stiffer penalties for crime while also limiting judges' abilities to reduce sentences for nonviolent crimes of first-time offenders?

1990

The 2014 North Carolina Senate race (Hagan vs. Tillis) was one of the most extensive campaigns in Senate history, with more than $75 million spent. What portion of that money came from super PACs?

2/3

What rough proportion of the nation's voters identify with either the Republican or Democratic party (and disregard third parties)?

2/3

The president appoints approximately how many ambassadors?

200

In which year did the Supreme Court rule that forced busing violated student's constitutional right to equal protection under the law?

2007

In what year, in the case of District of Columbia v. Heller, did the Supreme Court finally address the issue of how the Second Amendment should be interpreted?

2008

In order to be a member of the House of Representatives, a person must be ______ years of age.

25

In order to become a member of the Senate, a person must be at least years of age and have been a citizen for at least years.

30, 9

According to United States government statistics, roughly ______ percent of black children live in poverty, compared to ______ percent of white children.

35; 12

Which amendment to the United States Constitution protects individuals from testifying against themselves in a court of law?

5

The right to legal counsel is a ______ Amendment protection.

6

A limit of ______ exists for how long a Republican member can chair a particular committee.

6 years

In the 1980s, before partisan deadlock, congressional approval ratings were about ______ percent.

60

Of the 500 largest U.S. corporations, about ______ percent are headed by women.

7

Despite the Court's ruling in Brown v. Board of Education in 1954, by the 1970s ______ percent of black children were still attending schools that were mostly or entirely black.

95

What aspect of the system of presidential selection changed in 1972?

A majority of national convention delegates are chosen through primary elections.

What has the Supreme Court ruled concerning police use of modern technology, such as listening or thermal-imaging devices, to investigate a subject?

A search warrant is required, just as it would be for other circumstances.

England's ______ gave members of Protestant sects the right to worship freely and publicly. The first Amendment reflects this tradition.

Act of Toleration

The Supreme Court decision in what case led many affirmative action opponents to believe that the Court may have been on its way to abolishing affirmative action completely?

Adarand v. Peña

Economic problems usually affect the public's confidence in

American presidents.

Which statement best describes the political engagement of most Asian Americans in the 1960s?

Asian Americans were not politically active to any great extent.

In which 2014 case did the Supreme Court rule that companies that are "closely held" (only a few owners) are not required to provide their employees with birth control if they object on religious grounds?

Burwell v. Hobby Lobby

What was the first result of the national boycott of California lettuce and grapes that was launched by Cesar Chavez?

California passed a law giving migrant workers the right to bargain collectively.

Which influential figure began civil rights work by organizing strikes by farmworkers to attain basic labor rights for migrant workers?

Cesar Chavez

Which influential figure began civil rights work by organizing strikes by farmworkers to attain basic labor rights for migrant workers?

Chavez

If the president chooses to veto a bill,

Congress can override the veto by a two-thirds vote in each chamber.

In which case did the Supreme Court rule that the Second Amendment protects an individual's right to possess a firearm unconnected to service in a militia?

District of Columbia v. Heller

Under which of the following presidents did the greatest expansion of presidential authority take place?

Franklin Roosevelt

Who was the first woman to run on the national ticket of a major political party?

Geraldine Ferraro

Under which of the following Supreme Court cases did part of the Bill of Rights first become incorporated to apply to actions by the states?

Gitlow v. New York

What sociologist authored the book An American Dilemma?

Gunnar Myrdal

If the majority of the members of the House of Representatives are Republican, then every committee and subcommittee in the House will

Have a majority of republican members

Why was President Hoover slow to respond to the Great Depression?

He claimed he lacked the constitutional authority to take strong action.

How did Thomas Jefferson define the meaning of "all men are created equal"?

He did not believe there was a precise meaning.

Which of the following are among redlining's legacies?

Hispanics and African Americans still have difficulty obtaining mortgages (compared to whites). Segregated neighborhoods still exist.

The Supreme Court upheld the forced relocation of tens of thousands of Japanese Americans during World War II in which of the following cases?

Korematsu v. United States

______ typically benefit from gerrymandering because the majority party ensures that there are enough of the party's voters in the district to ensure reelection.

Incumbents

What is one reason that incumbents have a fundraising advantage over challengers?

Incumbents have a ready list of potential contributors from past campaigns.

In 1968 Congress passed a law, the ______, that granted Native Americans constitutional rights similar to those held by other Americans.

Indian Civil Rights Act

Successful early starters in presidential campaigns need to do well in which of the following?

Iowa New Hampshire

What did the Voting Rights Act of 1965 entail?

It allowed federal intervention in voter registration in states with a history of discriminating against black voters. It banned discriminatory voter registration practices.

As compared to other stages of the presidential nominating process, how important is money once the nominating races are reached?

It is critical.

Since the 1950s, how has the federal government responded to demands for equal rights for African Americans?

It passed a series of laws that secured fundamental rights for African Americans.

Which of the following statements about the Americans with Disabilities Act are true?

It requires government agencies to take steps to make their buildings accessible to persons with disabilities. It grants certain employment protections to persons with disabilities.

Which of the following statements about the War Powers Act are true?

It requires the president to inform Congress within 48 hours of the reasons for military action.

In 1993, a Wisconsin law that allowed lengthier sentences for hate crimes was challenged as a violation of the First Amendment. How did the Court rule?

It upheld the law because it was not aimed at free speech but at actions that were not protected by the First Amendment.

The Supreme Court determined that privacy rights extend to consensual activity between same-sex partners in

Lawrence v. Texas.

Among presidents remembered for rising to challenges (benefiting from circumstance) while in office are

Lyndon Johnson. Franklin Roosevelt. Ronald Reagan.

Which of the following accurately describes women and poverty?

Many poor working women find that their wages cannot cover child-care expenses. Most single-parent families are headed by women and one-third of those live below the poverty line. Single-parent women who work in nonprofessional fields are particularly vulnerable to poverty.

In which of these cases did the Supreme Court rule that the Second Amendment, with some restrictions, prohibited state and local governments from effectively banning gun ownership?

McDonald v. Chicago

Which of the following correctly describes the role of the cabinet in the modern presidency?

Members are important figures in an administration. It is made up of the heads of the executive departments. Members are selected by the president, subject to Senate confirmation.

Which of the following minority groups make up the largest Hispanic population in the United States?

Mexicans

Which of the following statements about affirmative action are true? (Select all that apply.)

Most Americans oppose programs that give preferential treatment to groups that have been disadvantaged historically. Most Americans support programs to give equal treatment to groups that have been disadvantaged historically.

Which of the following correctly describes protocol for committee membership?

Most newly elected members of Congress request committee assignments. Most vacancies occur after elections, either from retirements or incumbent defeats.

The president's top advisers on matters related to foreign policy make up part of the

National Security Council.

Which 2015 Supreme Court decision removed the ban on same-sex marriage, citing it violated the Fourteenth Amendment's equal protection and due process clauses?

Obergefell v. Hodges

What is at the heart of many civil rights struggles for equality in the United States?

People hold deep-seated prejudices based on such things as race, color, and religion.

Which of the following describe the irony of the presidency?

Presidents get too much credit when things go right. Presidents get too much blame when things go poorly.

Which landmark Supreme Court case declared affirmative action constitutional but invalidated the use of racial quotas?

Regents of the University of California v. Bakke

The Supreme Court decision that determined that the right to privacy extended to include abortion is

Roe v. Wade.

Under which of the following presidents did the greatest expansion of presidential authority take place?

Roosevelt

The constitutional right to bear arms is found in which of the following amendments?

Second Amendment

The percentage of survey respondents who say that they support the work the president is doing is known as the president's ______ rating.

approval

______ refers to a practice whereby members of Congress respond to constituents' individual requests for information or help with a federal benefit or service.

Service strategy

Following the Supreme Court's ruling in Brown v. Board of Education, a number of southern congressmen wrote a letter titled the ______, urging state governments to "resist forced integration by any lawful means."

Southern Manifesto

The most powerful leader in the House of Representatives is the

Speaker of the House.

Friske v Kansas Near v Minnesota Hamilton v Regents Dejonge v Oregon

Speech press religion assembly

Which of the following is an ongoing struggle between state governments and Native American tribal governments?

States want to control casino gambling on Native American reservations.

In 2013, the Senate Democratic majority prohibited the filibustering of presidential nominees, except in the case of ______; in 2017, Senate Republicans extended the practice to include those nominees.

Supreme Court justices

What was challenged by Lawrence v. Texas (2003)?

Texas's sodomy laws

What occurs after a conference committee reconciles differences in the House and Senate versions of a bill?

The bill goes back to both chambers for a vote.

The Supreme Court decision in Schenck v. United States established which principle?

The federal government can restrict free expression but it does not have unlimited authority to do so.

Which of the following constitutional protections were at issue in the Supreme Court decision in Miranda v. Arizona?

attorney silent

Where is the Bill of Rights located in the U.S. Constitution?

The first ten amendments to the Constitution make up the Bill of Rights.

What unique circumstance existed at the time of the Korematsu v. United States decision?

The nation was at war.

Why is the president usually better suited than Congress to taking the lead on broad national issues?

The president has sole executive authority and thus can decide a course of action without needing the consent of other top executives.

Which of the following are reasons why the president is better suited to oversee government activity and to develop comprehensive public policy?

The president is able to direct the actions of federal agencies. Final authority rests with a single individual.

What presidential control problems exist concerning low-level appointees?

The president rarely, if ever, sees them. Many of them are politically inexperienced.

The text uses the immigration issue as an example of a national issue on which Republican and Democratic lawmakers cannot agree. What is the sticking point?

The two parties have different solutions to the same problem.

Why was the National Security Agency's wiretapping of phone calls and e-mail messages originating in the United States, first revealed by The New York Times in 2005, controversial? (Select all that apply.)

The wiretapping had been authorized by President George W. Bush without approval from the courts. The NSA had collected data on nearly every call made by Americans.

Why do Republican and Democratic lawmakers generally have different perspectives on national issues?

Their parties differ philosophically. Their parties differ politically.

Which president changed the nature of the presidency at the beginning of the 20th century, adopting what he called the stewardship theory of the presidency?

Theodore Roosevelt

Which of the following statements about congressional committees are true?

They make it possible for Congress to consider a high volume of bills. They each specialize in a certain area of legislation.

In order for police roadblocks to check drivers to be legal, they must conform to which of the following?

They must be systematic and not arbitrary. They can be used to check for signs of alcohol intoxication.

Which of the following are true of joint committees?

They perform advisory functions. They are composed of members of both houses.

Polls indicate that voters' opinions of Donald Trump's performance had what effect in the 2018 midterms?

Those who were discontented with Trump helped Democrats retake control of the House.

In 1972, Native Americans organized a caravan titled the ______ that journeyed from California to Washington, D.C., to protest federal policy.

Trail of Broken Treaties

Presidents use the mass media to

appeal to the American public for support.

Of the major candidates in the nominating races for the 2016 presidential election, who spent the least at this stage?

Trump

The first elected U.S. president who had not previously held public office was

Trump

The law passed by Congress, soon after the 9/11 attacks, that allows the FBI and other intelligence agencies to access personal information and records without consent from targeted individuals is known as the

USA Patriot Act

In which case did the Supreme Court rule that the male only admissions policy at the Virginia Military Institute was unconstitutional?

United States v. Virginia

Which of the following statements about midterm elections are generally true?

Voter turnout is lower than for presidential elections. There is less media coverage of candidates and issues than in a presidential election. The president's party usually loses seats.

Why are incumbents at risk when elections are being waged in the context of disruptive issues?

Voters are more likely to believe those in power should be removed from office.

After Vietnam, Congress sought to limit the ability of presidents to commit the United States to war by passing the

War Powers Act.

The exclusionary rule is based on the Supreme Court decision in

Weeks v. United States (1914).

The Executive Office of the President includes which of the following components?

White House Office Office of Management and Budget National Security Council National Economic Council

Which of the following are true concerning women and minorities who run for congressional office?

Women and minorities are less likely to run for Congress than white males. There are more women than there are minorities in Congress.

The importance of listing individual rights in the Constitution is that it gives individuals who feel that their rights have been violated

a basis for taking the alleged violation into a court of law for a ruling by a judge.

The largest recent Hispanic demonstrations in the U.S. have been in reaction to

a bill passed by the House that would have led to the arrest and deportation of millions of undocumented immigrants.

Which of the following circumstances help to create a powerful president?

a decisive election victory a major national problem

In 2012, Senator Richard Lugar, a six-term incumbent, was beaten in the GOP primary by conservative Richard Mourdock, who portrayed Lugar as

a moderate Washington insider.

Members of Congress may experience conflict between their lawmaking responsibility and their responsibility to represent their constituency when

a policy that is good for the nation as a whole does not coincide with the needs of their constituency.

The Second Amendment protects and supports which of the following?

a well-regulated militia the right to keep and bear arms

Which of the following best describes the subject under consideration in Roe v. Wade?

abortion

According to the ______ doctrine, government can aid a religious organization so long as the aid is non-religious in nature and the government doesn't favor one religion over another.

accomodationist

The Eighth Amendment protects

against cruel and unusual punishment.

In Lawrence v. Texas (2003), the Supreme Court ruled that states cannot lawfully

ban sexual relations between consenting same-sex adults.

In the case of Shelby v. Holder, the majority held that the formula for identifying states and counties subject to federal oversight was

based on obsolete statistics.

Why is the Rules Committee considered one of the most important committees in the House?

because it decides the length of debate that will occur on a bill and whether amendments will be allowed

Which of the following strongly and positively affects a congressional candidate's ability to raise money and win an election?

being an incumbent

The U.S. Congress is a(n) legislature with two chambers, the House and the Senate.

bicameral

Congress's structure makes it easier to

block legislation than enact it.

The type of discrimination in which traditionally disadvantaged groups have fewer opportunities because of prejudice despite legal protections is

de facto discrimination.

Which type of discrimination is based on the law?

de jure discrimination

Serving the United States in the fight against Nazism in World War II led African American soldiers to

demand their civil rights.

A key to understanding the power of the presidency is a recognition that presidential power

depends on the occupant of the office.

The duties of each vice president are

determined by the particular president with whom he or she serves.

On major bills, it is increasingly typical for the majority party's leaders to

direct the floor debate after the bill leaves the committee. shape the bill's broad content.

In Engle v. Vitale (1962), the Supreme Court ruled against the reciting of prayers in public schools on grounds it violates the

establishment clause.

The president's ______ power includes the responsibility to faithfully execute the laws of the nation and to appoint major administrators.

executive

Over the course of American history, the powers of the president have ______ from those envisioned by the founding fathers.

expanded

Among the reasons that presidents are less powerful than many Americans assume is that they

face uncontrollable circumstances that can hurt their ability to lead. ultimately derive their power from the American public itself.

Based on the exclusionary rule, evidence that is illegally obtained can normally be used in a trial.

false

True or false: The right to appeal after conviction is guaranteed in the Constitution.

false

In general, presidents have more power to act on their own in which policy area?

foreign policy

The First Amendment protection that makes it illegal for the government to enact laws that restrict the free practice of religion by any individual is known as the

free-exercise clause.

Hearings are an effective way for committees to

gather info

Article I of the Constitution lists the powers of Congress and Article II lists the powers of the presidency. Compared to Article I, the wording of Article II is more

general

In United States v. Leon, the Supreme Court ruled that, despite the exclusionary rule, that evidence discovered under a faulty warrant was admissible because police had acted

good faith

Regarding freedom of the press, the Supreme Court has generally upheld the principle of no prior restraint. This principle means that

government generally cannot stop the news media from reporting a story.

The Supreme Court has ruled that prisoners should generally appeal their cases first

in state courts.

Hispanics in the U.S. are generally concentrated

in their states of entry.

Since the 1790s, the power of the presidency has evolved owing to the

increased involvement of the presidency in a range of policy areas.

As a result of the increased level of party polarization in the United States, which candidates face greater risk of losing the primary election?

incumbent moderates

Congressional elections usually favor

incumbents.

A type of election that gives voters the power to select delegates who choose candidates is called

indirect primary

The promise made by the phrase "all men are created equal" has done which of the following?

inspired a hope for eventual equality given moral strength to diverse movements been foundational in legal decisions

Events leading up to the Iowa caucus create a very important time for potential presidential candidates. This period of time is known as the

invisible primary.

The party that controls the rules and has the most powerful leadership position in the House is the party.

majority

Which of the following positions in the Senate schedules debates on legislation?

majority leader

The framers of the Constitution granted Congress the power to ______, the greatest of all powers of government.

make laws

Presidents since the mid-20th century have relied heavily on ______ to convey their images and messages.

mass media

Among the reasons why Congress has difficulty taking the lead on broad issues are the facts that

members of Congress come from different districts and often have conflicting views on national policy. Congress has two chambers, and they are not always in agreement on policy issues.

The Bill of Rights protects some civil liberties, including freedom

press, speech, assembly

The attempt to block the publication of material considered to be harmful is known as ______ restraint.

prior

The right of an individual to be left alone without any interference from others is known as the right to

privacy.

In Gitlow v. New York, the Supreme Court ruled that the Bill of Rights

protects individuals from actions by state governments as well as the federal government.

Before any caucuses or primaries even occur, it is crucial for potential presidential candidates to

raise a lot of campaign money.

An increase in a president's approval rating often occurs when there is a foreign crisis, an effect called

rallying around the flag.

The term that describes the minority party's committee and subcommittee leaders is members.

ranking

The process of determining how many House seats each state is allowed as a result of population change since the last census is known as

reapportionment.

Which legal test gives government considerable leeway in treating people differently, such as imposing a higher tax rate on upper-income Americans?

reasonable-basis test

When congressional district boundaries are redrawn within a state, it is known as .

redistricting

The plain view exception

says evidence found in plain sight is admissible even if a suspect was stopped for another infraction.

The imminent lawless action test

says that speech must be likely to produce lawless action. says that for speech to be restricted, it must be directed at inciting or producing imminent lawless action. has two criteria for speech advocating the unlawful use of force.

Political scientist John Hibbing advises that the "first thing to being reelected is to stay away from ______."

scandal

The Speaker of the House has the right to

select the chairperson of the House Rules Committee. choose who may speak on the House floor. speak first during House debate on legislation.

Presidents might not succeed in achieving certain goals if Congress does not provide the necessary funding for them. This illustrates the government's

separation of powers.

In the 2018 midterm elections, how many House and Senate races received money from super PACs?

several dozen

In the process of selective incorporation, which is the amendment that the Supreme Court relies on to apply most, but not all, of the provisions of the Bill of Rights to actions by the state governments?

the Fourteenth Amendment

During which of these major events was there an enormous expansion of presidential authority?

the Great Depression

What was the name of the 1798 law that criminalized any speech or writings critical of the government, Congress, or the president?

the Sedition Act

In Hamdan v. Rumsfeld (2006), the Supreme Court ruled that enemy combatant detainees were protected by which of the following?

the U.S. Uniform Code of Military Justice the Geneva Convention

Which of the following acts of legislation after the September 11 terrorist attacks gave government greater surveillance power to monitor phone calls and emails without a warrant or court order?

the USA Patriot Act

Rioting broke out in 1957 during

the desegregation of Little Rock Central High School.

The 1977 Supreme Court case that provided guidance on the allowable restrictions on freedom of speech and freedom of assembly upheld which of the following?

the right of an American Nazi Party group to hold a parade in Skokie, a city with a large Jewish population that included Holocaust survivors

The Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects

the right of the people to keep and bear arms.

Which of the following are rights gays and lesbians had to fight for in the U.S.?

the right to have the same benefits as traditional couples the right to openly enlist in the military

Which of the following methods is most often used to select committee chairs?

the seniority system

The USA Patriot Act was passed

to combat terrorism.

The scenario in which the president belongs to the same political party that controls the House and Senate is called

unified government

According to political scientist Richard Neustadt, a sign of presidential weakness is the

veto

Who is the next person to succeed the president if the president is unable to complete the term of office?

vice president

Before 1900, service in Congress

was not usually a career for most of its members.

In 1892, Congress suspended Asian immigration to the United States on the grounds that Asians

were an inferior people.

Which of the following are considered criteria that the average American uses to evaluate presidential leadership?

whether the president prioritizes many of the same issues that concern much of the public whether the president is a strong leader unafraid to exercise power and to communicate a vision for the nation

Despite the persisting issues of institutional racism, one area in which African Americans have made significant gains is in

winning elective office.

Which groups have historically lacked equality in the United States?

women catholics asain americas

After the presidential primaries and caucuses are finished, the political parties hold

their national party conventions.

The best opportunity presidents have to get Congress to pass policy initiatives is when

their party controls both houses of Congress.

The leaders of the top executive departments are collectively known as the president's

cabinet

To end a filibuster, sixty senators must agree to invoke and end the debate.

cloture

In its rulings in Riley v. California (2014) and United States v. Wurie (2014), the Supreme Court acknowledged that

it would impact law enforcement's ability to combat crime.

Southern states used a number of devices to prevent African Americans from voting, including which of the following?

literacy tests literacy tests poll taxes

The preclearance provision of the Voting Rights Act states that designated states and counties must

obtain federal permission before making changes that might adversely affect a minority group.

Which constitutional amendment granted women the right to vote?

Nineteenth Amendment

Which of the following correctly describes the role that televised debates play in presidential elections? (Select all that apply.)

Most voters have made their choice by the time of the debates. If their candidate does badly, supporters are likely to waiver.

What shift brought the president to a more central role in the legislative process?

National and international forces combined to place greater policy demands on the federal government.

Which of the following Native American tribes have a majority who speak native languages at home?

Navajo Pueblo

Which of the following statements about slander and libel is true?

Neither libel nor slander is protected by the First Amendment.

The first elected U.S. president that was not a white male was

Obama

Which of the following are examples of de jure discrimination?

Women are not allowed to vote in federal elections. A state requires separate public bathrooms for black and white people.

What Sioux village has been the site of both a U.S. cavalry massacre of Native Americans and a modern protest?

Wounded Knee

The framers of the Constitution intended that lawmakers ______, something that has become increasingly difficult in today's partisan Congress.

act in the spirit of compromise

Which policy required the federal government to begin implementing measures aimed at reinforcing equal access to employment by mandating recruitment procedures that gave qualified minority workers an equal opportunity to gain government jobs?

affirmative action

In the Whig theory of leadership, the president serves mainly as

an administrator of the will of Congress.

To win the presidency, presidential candidates now need

an electoral majority of votes in the Electoral College.

In its rulings in Riley v. California (2014) and United States v. Wurie (2014), the Supreme Court compared the search of a suspect's cell phone or similar electronic device to

an exhaustive search of a suspect's home.

An open party caucus is

an open meeting that allows voters to express their preference for the political party's presidential nominee.

If congressional representatives finds themselves having to choose between angering voters and donors or angering party leadership by refusing to go along with a vote, which will they likely choose?

angering leadership by voting the way their donors and voters want them to

Most members of Congress are

career politicians who want to stay in Congress and put themselves in position for reelection.

The cases of Riley v. California (2014) and United States v. Wurie (2014) both dealt with the use of what technology?

cell phones

Which of the following is not a direct power of the committee chair?

changes party affiliation at will

Under the Fifth Amendment, suspects

charged with a federal crime cannot be tried unless indicted by a grand jury.

The president shapes and administers the nation's foreign policy while acting in the role of

chief diplomat.

Native Americans were not considered to be ______ until 1924.

citizens

Constitutional guarantees that protect citizens from arbitrary government action are known as

civil liberties

Which term refers to the rights and privileges guaranteed to all citizens under the equal protection and due process clauses of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments?

civil rights

Not only is the size of a state's population important, but so too is its ______; candidates will spend more time campaigning in states that are considered "toss-ups" rather than solidly Democrat or Republican.

competitiveness

Members of Congress usually serve on congressional committees that concentrate on policy areas that affect the members'

constituency

In following the Eighth Amendment, the Supreme Court has used which of the following tests to determine if an action constitutes cruel and unusual punishment?

determining whether a punishment is "disproportionate to the offence" determining if a punishment is "unnecessarily cruel" determining if a punishment violates "fundamental standards of good conscience and fairness"

What is "America's curse," according to the author of An American Dilemma?

discrimination

Which practices were banned as a result of the Civil Rights Act of 1968?

discriminatory practices in housing discriminatory practices in mortgage lending discriminatory real estate practices such as steering African American families to certain neighborhoods

What took the heaviest toll on the Native American population after white settlers arrived in what is now the U.S.?

disease

How does the public generally feel about Congress?

dissatisfied

Most of the bills Congress passes are in nature, which means they provide benefits to a particular group in society while spreading the costs across the taxpaying public as a whole.

distributive

The scenario in which the president belongs to one political party while the opposition party has majority control of at least one chamber of Congress is known as

divided government.

Freedom of expression

does not cover obscene forms of sexual expression. does not cover some forms of commercial speech, such as advertising. allows individual Americans to communicate thoughts of their choosing.

Which of the following could be considered personal misconduct that might lead to a congressional incumbent losing a bid for reelection?

engaging in bribery being involved in a sex scandal

Which clause of the U.S. Constitution was at the center of the argument in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka?

equal-protection clause

Although many Americans believe that the concept of ______ includes such things as access to jobs and health care, others argue that it means only that people are all treated the same under the law.

equality

In order to ensure equal employment opportunity for all, the federal government in the 1960s began to require agencies and businesses to

establish policies aimed at giving minority-group members equal opportunities to obtain jobs.

True or False: The Senate majority leader's position is more powerful than that of the House Speaker.

false

True or false: According to the Supreme Court, police can search a person's home merely on the basis of a hunch that the owner might be breaking the law.

false

True or false: In a 1992 cases involving a St. Paul, Minnesota city ordinance, the Supreme Court ruled that the government can restrict hate speech as it causes "anger or alarm."

false

True or false: Most congressional bills survive committee scrutiny and are voted upon by the House and Senate.

false

What accounts for the fact that Hispanics are healthier and have a longer life expectancy than would be predicted based on their education and income levels?

family structure

When white settlers first arrived in what is now the U.S., there were approximately 5 to 10 million Native American inhabitants. By 1900, there were

fewer than 1 million.

When members of the Senate wish to halt or delay the passage of a bill, a(n) may take place.

filibuster

When public approval of a presidential administration is at low levels, it is usually

harder for a president to pursue initiatives.

Based on the Lemon test, state-funded programs are least likely to survive under the establishment clause if the program

has a significant effect on advancing a religion.

Asian Americans are more likely than other minority groups to

have a high median income. be college educated.

The beginning of a new presidential administration, which is often characterized by higher levels of public approval, is known as a

honeymoon

Which chamber of Congress can vote to impeach the president?

house

The power to formally accuse and place on trial the president as well as other high-ranking figures in the federal government for alleged crimes of treason, bribery, or high crimes and misdemeanors is known as

impeachment

The barrier to restrict speech established in Brandenburg v. Ohio is best described as

imposing

In general, the Supreme Court has held that gender discrimination in law

is almost always unconstitutional.

As a result of changes in sentencing policies, the U.S. prison population, per capita,

is the largest in the world.

In the case of New York Times Co. v. United States

it was ruled that prior restraint is unconstitutional without a compelling argument for the restriction.

A committee that is composed of members of both chambers of Congress is known as a ______ committee.

joint

Which of these groups is typically more protective of individual rights?

judges

When a bill falls into the area in which a committee is authorized to act, that committee is said to have

jurisdiction

Which function is the main responsibility of Congress, to which all other functions of Congress are related?

lawmaking

An example of Congress's ______ is when Congress passes legislation that creates incentives for the development of alternative energy sources.

lawmaking function

What portion of congressional seats are held by women?

less than a quarter

How has the importance of local issues changed in Congress as party polarization has taken hold?

local issues are less important

The practice in which members of Congress agree to vote for a bill in exchange for their colleague's vote on another bill is called .

logrolling

The Sedition Act of 1798

made it a crime to publish stories that were harshly critical of the president.

In Insecure Majorities, Frances Lee noted that, in the currently closely matched parties, members of Congress are engaged in "______" rather than "governing."

messaging

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 classified which of the following as legally protected groups?

minorities women

A strong showing in early presidential election caucuses and primaries is known as

momentum

When major disruptive issues occur, incumbents are

more likely to lose.

How many Hispanics currently serve in the U.S. House of Representatives?

more than 30

The Supreme Court has stated that in order for an affirmative action program to be upheld, the program must be

narrowly tailored.

What term describes the situation in which Republican and Democratic lawmakers vote in the same way as their fellow partisans, regardless of constituency differences?

nationalization

In his role as chief diplomat, the president

negotiates treaties with other nations. appoints ambassadors.

An open-seat election is one in which

no incumbent is running.

A(n) rule allows members to propose amendments that are relevant to any section of the bill.

open

Which function describes the process by which the legislature checks on the executive branch to make sure it is carrying out the laws in the way Congress intended?

oversight

Which of the following are the functions of Congress?

oversight representation lawmaking

In which of the four systems of presidential selection did/do Electoral College members cast their ballots for the popular-vote winner in their respective states?

party convention, primary system party primary, open caucus system party convention system

If a "turf war" erupts as different committees vie for jurisdiction over a bill, who or what decides the committee assignment?

party leaders

The House and the Senate each elect ______ to lead their party's efforts in the chamber.

party leaders

Which of the following states that evidence is admissible when it is immediately visible in the course of stopping a person for another infraction?

plain view exception

Going into the 2018 election, the Democratic Party was able to field an unusually strong set of candidates because

polls showed that voters were trending toward the Democrats.

Who is constitutionally required to see that the laws passed by Congress are faithfully executed?

president

Most of America's recent wars have been waged on the basis of a

presidential directive.

By tradition, the choice of the vice presidential candidate has mostly been made by the

presidential nominee.

Redistricting consists of

redrawing congressional district boundaries within a state.

According to the establishment clause, the government is required to

remain neutral toward all religions.

Which of the following best exemplifies the profound impact of the civil rights movement?

removing discrimination in voting requirements

Members of Congress give various interests a voice in the legislative process as part of Congress's ______ function.

representative

The trend toward party unity in Congress can clearly be seen in voting records of members of Congress when their votes are officially recorded during a (. )-(. )vote.

roll call

Members of Congress cannot claim to be the leader of the United States because they

share power with other members of Congress. are elected from different areas and not nationally.

Which two features of the presidency have enabled presidents to claim leadership on national policy?

singular authority national election

A permanent committee in Congress is known as a(n) committee.

standing

Which of the following terms describes a permanent committee in Congress that has a defined legislative jurisdiction?

standing committee

In Mapp v. Ohio, the Supreme Court extended the constitutional protection against unreasonable search and seizure to action by ___________ government.

state

Any law that treats individuals differently based on race is subject to the ______ test.

strict-scrutiny

Incumbents have ______ over challengers.

substantial advantages

The emergence of , groups that can pour money into a political campaign with few limits, has given challengers a better opportunity to unseat congressional incumbents.

super, PACs

The Supreme Court has ruled that the right of free assembly

takes precedence over the possibility that the exercise of the right might have undesirable consequences.

What are conference committees?

temporary joint committees that are formed to work out differences

Today, most of the guarantees in the Bill of Rights are protected from action by which of the following?

the federal and state governments

Which of the following allows the admission into trial of otherwise excludable evidence if the evidence was obtained by police who thought they were following proper procedure?

the good faith exception

By which name does the text describe past presidencies?

the heroic presidency the imperiled presidency the imperial presidency

In Brandenburg v. Ohio the Supreme Court developed which of the following tests that expanded protections for Americans to voice political opinions?

the imminent lawless action test

Concerning age discrimination in employment, the courts have given employers the right to force individuals to retire based on

the performance of a particular employee. the nature of the job.

Members of Congress are most indebted to which of the following?

the wealthy donors who fund their campaigns hardcore partisan voters in their state or district

Presidents have more power in foreign policy making in part because

they have close relationships with the intelligence, diplomatic, and military agencies.

True or false: After clearing the committee stage, floor debate on a bill is usually led by the majority party's leadership in the House.

true

True or false: Although it is a core principle for most Americans, the right to privacy is not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution.

true

True or false: The Supreme Court ruled that school administrators have discretion in searching student lockers for drugs and weapons, as they are responsible for student safety.

true

True or false: The winner in the November general election is nearly certain to be the Republican or the Democratic candidate.

true

In Hamden v. Rumsfeld, the Supreme Court ruled that the use of secret military tribunals to try detainees accused of terrorism was ______, as detainees were entitled to a trial affording all the guarantees contained in the Constitution.

unconstitutional

The Supreme Court consistently ruled that the George W. Bush administration's practice of denying constitutional and legal protections to enemy combatants was

under the jurisdiction of the United States courts.

Which of the following oversight tools help Congress to ensure that the executive branch is administering the laws properly?

budgetary appropriations congressional hearings

Among the laws giving women greater equality in the workplace were laws prohibiting

certain employers from paying women less than men for doing the same job.

A constituency is comprised of

citizens from the incumbent's state or district.

Partisan voting is most apparent when members are voting on major ______ issues.

domestic policy

Since the Truman administration, the number of bureaucratic agencies has

doubled

The legal safeguards that prevent the government from depriving citizens of life, liberty, or property without adhering to strict legal procedures are known as

due process protections.

Ironically, when are most presidents most powerful?

during their first months in office

Which of the following makes a challenger to a Senate incumbent more likely to be successful?

having an existing campaign organization having strong public recognition having access to large sums of money to fund the campaign

The framers of the Constitution anticipated that presidents would

hold limited legislative power.

In a 1930s Supreme Court case that challenged the application of the separate-but-equal doctrine, the Court ruled that blacks ______ be allowed to use public facilities reserved for whites in those cases where they didn't have separate facilities.

must

What is a distributive policy?

one that confers a benefit on a particular group while spreading the cost across the taxpaying public

The increase in party polarization in Congress has led to increased

policy deadlock

In a case involving protester Gregory Johnson, the Supreme Court ruled that burning the American flag was protected specifically as ______ speech.

symbolic