midterm

in 2018, Latinos composed approximately what percentage of the American public? A. 67 percent B. 52 percent C. 31 percent D.18 percent E.6 percent

18 percent

A state that permits its citizens to vote directly on laws and policies is practicing a form of... A. representative democracy B. direct democracy C. pluralism D. Laissez-faire capitalism E. Republicanism

direct democracy

which of the following statements best describes the history of income inequality in the united states? A. the top 1 percent has never earned more than 10 percent of the nations annual income B. the top 1 percent has never earned less than 10 percent of the nations annual income C. income inequality has remained fairly consistent since the late 1970's D. income inequality has increased considerably since the late 1970's E. income inequality has decreased considerably since the late 1970's

income inequality has increased considerably since the late 1970s

Over time, the value of categorical grants has A. increased from $51.5 billion in 1960 to approximately $115 billion in 2019. B. increased from $51.5 billion in 1960 to approximately $630 billion in 2019. C. decreased from $31 billion in 1960 to approximately $2 billion in 2019. D. decreased from $667 billion in 1960 to approximately $2 billion in 2019. E.remained the same between 1960 and 2019.

increased from $51.5 billion in 1960 to approximately $630 billion in 2019.

The principle of political inequality can be best summed up as... A. "equality of results" B. "equality of opportunity" C. "one person, one vote" D. "equality between the sexes" E. "leave everyone alone"

"one person, one vote"

What is the difference between a totalitarian government and an authoritarian government? A. Authoritarian governments require popular participation, while totalitarian governments do not. B. Totalitarian governments are generally based on religion, while authoritarian governments are not. C. Authoritarian governments are often kept in check by other institutions, while totalitarian governments are not. D. Totalitarian governments acknowledge strict limits on their power, E. while authoritarian governments do not. There is no difference between these two kinds of government.

Authoritarian governments are often kept in check by other institutions, while totalitarian governments are not.

From the perspective of democratic population, the multiple layers of government in a federal system... A. Can make it difficult for individuals to figure out which government is responsible for the problem that concerns them B. Provide very limited opportunities for citizens to become involved in the political process C. narrow the channels through which citizens can demand answers from their government D. can clarify for citizens which levels of government are responsible for which policy issues E. encourage citizens to vote for candidates of different parties at different levels of government

Can make it difficult for individuals to figure out which government is responsible for the problem that concerns them

The framers hoped to create a presidency that would be A. Unconditionally powerful B. easily influenced by popular democratic pressures C. Constrained by congressional stalemates D. Capable of timely and decisive action E. Completely dependent on congress

Capable of timely and decisive action

One of the downsides of state control over policy is that... A. states may come up with policy innovations that diffuse to other states or federal governments B. States are not as in tune with the needs of their citizens as the federal government is, so state policy may be inadequate C. Citizens may benefit or suffer unevenly from government action or inaction depending on where they live D. can clarify for citizens which levels of government are responsible for which policy issues E. encourage citizens to vote for candidates of different parties at different levels of government

Citizens may benefit or suffer unevenly from government action or inaction depending on where they live

The process of transferring responsibility for policy from the national level to the state level is known as... A. Dual federalism B. devolution C. preemption D. home rule E. incorporation

Devolution

Under which system of federalism have states done most of the fundamental governing? A. dual federalism B. regulated federalism C. states rights D. cooperative federalism E. new federalism

Dual Federalism

Which term describes the division of powers and the functions between the national government? A. separation of powers B. federalism C. checks and balances D. expressed powers E. unitary system

Federalism

Which constitutional clause requires that states normally honor the public acts and judicial decisions of other states? A. Privileges and immunities clause B. necessary and proper clause C. interstate commerce clause D. Preemption Clause E. Full Faith Clause

Full faith clause

Most states have amended their constitutions to guarantee that their larger cities will have the authority to manage local affairs without interference from state government. This power is called... A. home rule B. preemption C. devolution D. states rights E. new federalism

Home rule

The British attempted to raise revenue in the North American colonies by A. Imposing income taxes B. Imposing taxes on commerce C. Expropriating and selling native American lands D. Levying licensing fees for mining of natural resources E. Requesting voluntary donations

Imposing taxes on commerce

Which of the following best describes the process of amending the constitution? A. It is difficult and has rarely been used successfully to address specific public problems B. It is difficult and has frequently been used successfully to address specific public problems C.it is easy and rarely been used successfully to address specific public problems D. It is easy and has frequently been used to successfully to address specific public problems E. it is easy, but it has never been used for any purpose

It is difficult and has rarely been used successfully to address specific public problems

An economic system that allows the government very little power to regulate commerce or restrict the use of private property is called... A. Socialism B. Communism C. Laissez-Faire Capitalism D .corporation E. feudalism

Laissez-Faire Capitalism

How has the internet affected Americans relationship with politics? A. Thanks to the internet, Americans sense of political efficacy has increased in recent years B. The internet has equalized access to political knowledge for people of different incomes, education levels, races, and ages C. the internet now allows Americans to vote online D. Large majorities of Americans now get political information from the internet E. The internet has driven a decrease in rates of political participation among Americans

Large majorities of Americans now get political information from the internet

In which court case did the supreme court create the potential for increased national power by ruling that congress could, based on the necessary and proper clause, exercise powers "implied" by its delegated powers? A. United states V. Lopez B. Printz V. United States C. Loving V. Virginia D. McCulloch V. Maryland E. Gibbons V. Ogden

McCulloch V. Maryland

What are expressed powers? A. Powers granted to the federal government by the supreme court decisions B. Powers specifically expressed in the text of the constitution C. Powers expressed in legislation passed by congress D. Powers granted to the federal government by the tenth amendment E. Powers exercised according to the necessary and proper clause

Powers specifically expressed in the text of the constitution

The principle that allows the federal government to take over areas of regulation from states or local governments is called... A. Regulated Federalism B. Devolution C. Preemption D. Layer cake federalism E. Exemption

Preemption

Why are minority rights important for American democracy? A. the wishes of the minority determine what government does. B. the house of representatives was designed to ensure minority rights C. minority interest are the backbone of popular sovereignty D. Protecting minority interests ensures that government does not become a "tyranny of the majority" E. Minority rights are not important for American democracy

Protecting minority interests ensures that government does not become a "tyranny of the majority"

Which event led directly to the Constitutional Convention by providing evidence that the government created under the Articles of Confederation was unable to act decisively in times of national crisis? A. The Boston Massacre B. The Boston Tea Party C. Shays rebellion D. The Annapolis Convention E. The war of 1812

Shays rebellion

In their fight against British taxes, such as the Stamp Act and the Sugar Act of 1764, New England merchants and southern planters allied with which of the following groups? A. Shopkeepers, small farmers, laborers and artisans B. Shopkeepers only C. laborers only D. artisans only E. Shopkeepers and laborers only

Shopkeepers only

Which amendment to the constitution states that the powers the constitution does not delegate to the national government or prohibit to the states are "reserved to the states" A. First amendment B. Fifth Amendment C. Tenth amendment D. Fourteenth Amendment E. Twenty-Sixth Amendment

Tenth Amednment

The first governing document in the United States was... A. The Declaration of independence B. The Articles of confederation C. The constitution D. the bill of rights E. the Virginia plan

The Declaration of independence

Which proposal argued that states should be represented in the national legislature according to their size and wealth? A. The Connecticut Plan B. The Maryland Plan C. the new jersey plan D. the Rhode island Plan E. The Virginia plan

The Virginia Plan

A state governments authority to regulate health, safety, welfare, and morals of its citizens is frequently referred to as A. The reserved power B. The expressed power C. The police power D. The concurrent power E. The implied power

The police power

Who was responsible for carrying out laws passed by the national Congress under the Articles of Confederation? A. The presidency B. The congress C. The states D. the federal judiciary E. the federal bureaucracy

The states

During the debate over ratification, the Federalists were A. Those who opposed the new constitution because it created a stronger national government than existed under the articles of confederation B. Those who opposed the new constitution because it created a weaker national government than existed under the articles of confederation C. Those who opposed the new constitution because it did not end slavery D. Those who supported the new constitution because it created a stronger national government than existed under the articles of confederation E. Those who supported the new constitution because it ended slavery

Those who supported the new constitution because it created a stronger national government than existed under the articles of confederation

The agreement reached at the Constitutional Convention that determined how enslaved people would be counted for the purposes of taxation and congressional representation was called the A. Virginia Plan B. New jersey Plan C. Connecticut Plan D. Three-Fifths compromise E. Great compromise

Three-Fifths compromise

What percentage of Americans live in urban areas today? A. less than 10 percent B. about 20 percent C. about 40 percent D. about 60 percent E. about 80 percent

about 80 percent

in 1937 the supreme court laid the groundwork for a stronger national government by issuing a number of decisions that... A. Dramatically narrowed the definition of the commerce clause. B. dramatically expanded the definition of the commerce clause C. Struck down the supremacy clause D. Struck down the privileges and immunities clause E. Struck down the full faith and credit clause

dramatically expanded the definition of the commerce clause

To what does the term new federalism refer? A. The era of federalism initiated by president Roosevelt during the late 1930s B. The national governments regulation of state action through grants in aid C. the type of federalism that uses categorial grants to influence state action D. efforts to return more policy making discretion to the states through the use of block grants E. the recent emergence of local governments as important political actors

efforts to return more policy making discretion to the states through the use of block grants

Americans' trust in their government... A. is at an all time high B. has risen steadily since the early 1960s C. has remained relatively constant since the early 1960s D. has declined since the early 1960s E. has modestly increased since the early 1960s

has declined since the early 1960s

The percentage of foreign born individuals living in the united states A. has increased significantly since reaching its low point in 1970 B. has decreased significantly since reaching its high point in 1970 C. has remained the same since 1970 D. has never been less than the percentage of native born individuals living in the united states E. has not been studied since 1970

has increased significantly since reaching its low point in 1970

In all constitutional governments... A. the government recognizes no formal limits on its power B. presidential elections are held every four years C. government power is held by a single individual D. laws limit what governments can do and how they go about doing it E. the government follows the wishes of the majority

laws limit what governments can do and how they go about doing it

Political efficacy is the belief that.. A. government operates efficiently B. government has grown too large C. government cant be trusted D. ordinary citizens can affect what government does E. government is wasteful and corrupt

ordinary citizens can affect what government does

The Phrase "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" appears in... A. the preamble to the constitution B. the bill of rights C. the declaration of independence D. the magna carta E. the Gettysburg address

the declaration of independence

Which of the following best describes the supreme court as understood by the founders? A. The body that would choose the president B. The principal check on presidential power C. an arbiter of disputes within the congress D. a figurehead commission of elders E. the highest court of both the national government and the states

the highest court of both the national government and the states

Which of the following statements best describes the shift in Americas age profile since 1900? A. the percentage of adults over the age of 65 has declined dramatically B. the percentage of adults over the age of 65 has increased dramatically C. the percentage of adults over the age of 65 has remained constant D. the percentage of children under the age of 18 has increased dramatically E. the percentage of children under the age of 18 has remained constant

the percentage of adults over the age of 65 has increased dramatically

Which feature of the Constitution did the antifederalists fear would lead to the emergence of tyranny? A. The 3/5 compromise B. the provisions that created government institutions without direct responsibility to the people C. the provisions that lent power to a popular majority of citizens D. the checks that the constitution placed on the legislative branch of government E. the supremacy clause

the provisions that created government institutions without direct responsibility to the people

When state and local governments conform to requirements imposed by the national government but do not receive funding for the expenditure required to fulfill them, they are complying with... A. States rights B. block grants C. general revenue sharing D. unfunded mandates E. redistributive programs

unfunded mandates