Political Science Quizzes

What is the primary cause of the rising political partisanship and polarization?

-------

Which Justice(s) in the decision in Griswold believed that there was no general right to privacy found in the Constitution? (Select all that apply.)

1. Justice Black 2. Justice Stewart

Which age group was most likely to look for information about protests or rallies using social media?

18-29

Which of the following did the delegates to the Constitutional Convention represent?

A narrow cross section of society

Which situation represents an example of de jure segregation?

Dale's grandfather could not drink from the "whites only" public drinking fountains as a young man.

Which of the following statements best describes Mitt Romney's conclusions about his impeachment vote?

Despite his partisan allegiance to the president, the evidence requires that he vote to convict.

Sean supports the government's actions to promote economic equality and also to defend traditional family values. Which label of the four-cornered ideological grid best describes Sean's political leaning?

Economic liberal, social conservative

The first act in a criminal proceeding is an arraignment in which the defendant is brought before a court to do which of the following?

Enter a plea of guilty or not guilty

With which statement would the author of the excerpt most likely agree?

Even though on the surface it appears beneficial, exclusion from the draft has a negative impact on the relationship between women and their country.

Susan was punished for an act she committed in 1980, but it was not illegal at the time when she committed it. This is an example of what?

Ex post facto law

As the Founders debated whether to have a more centralized or diffuse national government, Federalist No. 2 argued for a union among the states under which of the following?

Federal government

What amendment gives the right to not self-incriminate?

Fifth

The "clear and present danger" test was used to determine when it is permissible to restrict which of the following?

Freedom of speech

Which Supreme Court case incorporated the constitutional provision of the right to bear arms?

McDonald v. City of Chicago (2010)

What was the amendment that gave women the right to vote in 1920?

Nineteenth

What did the Federalists advocate for?

Ratification of the new Constitution

What major goal had the transgender rights movement achieved by 2020?

The right to change birth certificates to reflect a person's recorded sex in forty-eight states

For a presidential veto to be overridden by Congress, it requires the approval of bot

two-thirds

Which of the following statements accurately describes a system of government? (Select all that apply.)

1. A confederal system involves an alliance of relatively independent regional authorities. 2. While the national government may create regional governments in a unitary system, a single national government retains all the power.

Which of the following are considered basic functions of government? (Select all that apply.)

1. Ensure social order 2. Provide a common defense 3. Promote the general welfare

The quest to end gender inequality and discrimination continues in multiple arenas, including which of the following? (Select all that apply.)

1. Ensuring a safe work environment free from sexual harassment 2. Securing employment 3. Compensation

How are census data used? (Select all that apply.)

1. For federal funding decisions 2. Number of congressional districts and representatives 3. State and local money for essential services

Which of the following statements are true about democracy and the rule of law? Select all that apply.

1. In a democracy, the power to govern is derived from the people. 2. The rule of law requires that those who govern and those governed both abide by the laws of the land.

Which of the following are true of citizenship in the United States? Select all that apply.

1. Naturalized citizens obtain the same rights and responsibilities as citizens born in the United States. 2. Included among the legal obligations of U.S. citizenship are the requirements to obey the law, pay taxes, and serve on juries.

Which of the following constitutional provisions has the Court not incorporated? (Select all that apply.)

1. Right against quartering soldiers 2. Right to a jury trial in civil cases 3. Right to a grand jury hearing

What are some of the groups that led the fight for civil rights in the 1950s and 1960s? (Select all that apply.)

1. Southern Christian Leadership Conference 2. NAACP 3. Freedom Riders 4. Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC)

When you are arrested and charged with a crime, the Bill of Rights guarantees which of the following? (Select all that apply.)

1. You have the right to know what you are accused of doing wrong. 2. You have the right to a lawyer to help you. 3. You have a right to have your trial soon and in public.

In Ledbetter v. Goodyear, the Court ruled that even though Lilly Ledbetter was paid a lower wage than her male counterparts, she should have filed her claim within ---- days of her first paycheck.

180

Despite losing the fight over Constitutional ratification, the Anti-Federalists did make a strong and successful case for the inclusion of which of the following?

A bill of rights

The early colonists sought to create a weak central government with a voluntary association of independent states that agreed to only limited restraints on their freedom of action. What did they form?

A confederation

One of the original purposes of government is the maintenance of order. Which scenario is an example of providing order?

A government that works to protect society from violence and crime.

Which description best defines a democracy?

A system of government in which political authority is vested in the people.

What is the standard used to determine if damages can be obtained from a libelous statement made about a public official?

Actual malice

Jones Engineering is hiring for several new positions. The owner wants to give special consideration to traditionally disadvantaged groups in an effort to overcome the effects of past discrimination. The owner should consider which policy?

Affirmative action

Which statement is true regarding African American political participation after the Voting Rights Act of 1965?

African American voter registration surged in the South after 1965.

What is counted in the U.S. Census?

All people living in the country

For the Articles of Confederation to be amended, it required the approval of how many states?

All thirteen members

As an ongoing organization that performs certain functions for society and has a life separate from the lives of the individuals who are part of it, what can a government be categorized as?

An institution

Based on a series of Supreme Court rulings, the most restrictions on free speech generally allowed under the Constitution occur in which of the following contexts?

At a high school

In Gideon v. Wainwright (1963), the Supreme Court held that if a person is accused of a felony and cannot afford an attorney, an attorney must be made available to the accused person under what circumstances?

At the government's expense

How did the Jamestown colonists set a political precedent?

By instituting a representative assembly

What did Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. advocate to achieve racial justice?

Civil disobedience

What is a law regulating conduct between private persons over matters such as contracts, domestic relations, and business interactions known as?

Civil law

Rights that are rooted in the Fourteenth Amendment's guarantee of equal protection are known as which of the following?

Civil rights

Which of the following statements correctly describes the status of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA)?

Congress passed it in 1972

What civil liberty is listed in the Bill of Rights, rather than the Constitution?

Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion.

A church in Texas secretly endorses and makes substantial contributions to a political candidate's campaign. Another candidate reports this to the election commission, and IRS investigates and intervenes. Which aspect of the First Amendment does this demonstrate?

Constraints of the free exercise clause

Which right is considered a civil liberty?

Freedom of speech

What are some of the freedoms described in the First Amendment? (Select all that apply.)

Freedom to petition Freedom of speech Freedom of religion

What is term for a practice, policy, or procedure that denies equal treatment to an individual or to a group because they are male or female?

Gender discrimination

According to the Bill of Rights, you do not have to let soldiers into your house except when which of the following occurs?

If there is a war

What was the Court's ruling in McCullough v. Maryland?

In this unanimous decision, the Court found that Congress had the right to establish a bank in Maryland and that the state had no right to tax that bank.

To determine whether a law or government action improperly discriminates against women, the courts would use which standard?

Intermediate scrutiny

Which statement is true regarding the Three-Fifths Compromise?

It gave free individuals in slave states greater representation in Congress.

Why is the Bill of Rights often referred to as a "bill of limits"?

It limits the powers of the national government.

What is one formal method of proposing and ratifying a Constitutional Amendment?

It must be proposed by two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress and ratified by a positive vote of three-fourths of state legislatures.

What power does the Supreme Court use when it interprets laws to ensure they abide by Constitution?

Judicial review

Which of the following best illustrates the process of political socialization?

Julio's class stands and recites the Pledge of Allegiance while facing the flag.

Currently, what is the largest minority group in the United States?

Latino Americans

The Supreme Court's decision in which case reversed its previous decision and invalidated any remaining sodomy laws?

Lawrence v. Texas (2003)

What do governments often lose when they repeatedly fail to provide for the needs of their people during wars, financial crises, or outbreaks of disease?

Legitimacy

A local newspaper writes a lengthy article about the mayor, hinting that she is an alcoholic who is often found sleeping on the job. What illegal action might this newspaper be accused of?

Libel

Which political ideology is based on skepticism or opposition toward most government activities?

Libertarianism

It is necessary to protect citizens from government abuses by protecting what freedom?

Liberty

Shortly after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, President George W. Bush issued an executive order allowing which agency to conduct secret surveillance without court warrants?

National Security Agency

Young Benjamin is learning about colonial times. As he reads a passage from the Declaration of Independence stating that all men have the rights to "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness," he realizes he's already learned about this concept from the writings of John Locke. What type of right is the Declaration is referring to?

Natural rights

Which of the following gave women the right to vote?

Nineteenth Amendment

Which amendment states, "The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people"?

Ninth Amendment

In which situations are roving wiretaps allowed to be used for a person under suspicion?

No matter what form of electronic communication he or she uses

Which US Supreme Court decision legalized marriage for LGBT couples?

Obergefell v Hodges

In the Supreme Court case , the Court ruled that states were required to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples seeking them and to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states.

Obergefell v. Hodges

What theory of democracy was political scientist E. E. Schattschneider criticizing when he observed that low-income Americans are less likely to participate in interest groups than those that are economically better off?

Pluralist theory

What term best describes the collection of ideas, values and ways about thinking about government and politics?

Political culture

What are both initiatives and referenda examples of?

Political processes in which voters have a role in making law

What term best describes the struggle over power or influence within organizations that can grant benefits or privileges?

Politics

What barrier to African American voting rights included a payment?

Poll taxes.

What is the act of restricting expression before it occurs called?

Prior restraint

Which principle did Justice Brandeis argue was included in the Fourth Amendment?

Privacy in the home

In a series of rulings dealing with the establishment clause, which has the Supreme Court clearly established?

Prohibited organized religious prayers in public schools

In the case of Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954), the U.S. Supreme Court established which of the following?

Public school segregation based on race violates the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

In the Bakke case of 1978, the Supreme Court ruled that Allan Bakke was a victim of reverse discrimination. What was the cause?

Race was used as the sole criteria for admitting others over Bakke in a selective academic program

The Civil Rights Act of 1964, the most far-reaching bill on civil rights in modern times, forbids discrimination on the basis of which of the following?

Race, color, religion, gender, or national origin

A defendant's pretrial rights arising from the Eight Amendment include which of the following?

Reasonable bail

What, according to the author, is an important but onerous civic duty from which women have historically been excluded in the United States and remain excluded from today?

Registering with selective service

Which of the following is an expressed power that the national government holds according to Article 1, Section 8, of the U.S. Constitution? (Select all that apply.)

Regulate commerce Collect taxes Declare war

For criminal suspects held in custody by the police, Miranda rights explain to suspects that they have the right to which of the following?

Remain silent

Of what is the U.S. government an example?

Representative democracy

Although Eva's parents are unauthorized immigrants, she was born in the United States and has lived here all her life. Which statement is true about Eva?

She is a U.S. citizen.

What did the word militia, which is mentioned in the Second Amendment, mean in 1790 when the Bill of Rights was originally written?

Small local army

What did John Locke call an agreement among the people to form a government and abide by its rules?

Social contract

State University's long-time affirmative action policy considers race as a part of its admissions process. If this policy is taken to court by an applicant, the court should employ which of the following?

Strict scrutiny

Which amendment of the U.S. Constitution says that states get any powers not given to the national government?

Tenth Amendment

In Bostock v. Clayton County what act did the Court rule that protects gay, lesbian, and transgender employees from discrimination based on sex?

The 1964 Civil Rights Act

Why did many of the Framers feel that enumerating specific civil liberties in a bill of rights was unnecessary?

The Constitution already included certain rights.

In the summer of 1776, Thomas Jefferson began writing the first drafts of what document, in order to separate from Britain?

The Declaration of Independence

Which statement is true regarding wage discrimination?

The Equal Pay Act did not address the fact that jobs traditionally held by women pay lower wages than jobs usually held by men.

What amendments to the Constitution establish the right to privacy?

The First, Third, Fourth, Fifth, and Ninth Amendments

In Gitlow v. New York (1925), what did the Supreme Court use for the first time to begin to apply the Bill of Rights to state governments?

The Fourteenth Amendment

What is the Supreme Court's current ruling on the death penalty?

The Supreme Court has encouraged the states to enact more precise laws regarding the death penalty.

Which of the following best illustrates a check that the judiciary branch has on the executive branch?

The Supreme Court rules that an executive order on immigration is unconstitutional.

The proposal of a legislature based solely on representation proportional to population was a key feature of which proposal?

The Virginia Plan

How did the legislative branch under the Articles of Confederation differ from Congress today?

The congress had the power to appoint a committee with executive authority.

Freedom of religion rests upon two distinct principles. What are these?

The establishment and free exercise clauses

Davis is pulled over for a minor traffic violation. While he is receiving a ticket, the police officer checks the phone in Davis' backpack because he's in the vicinity of a recent break-in, and the officer thinks he "looks guilty." Later, this illegally seized evidence is ruled inadmissible because of protections provided by which of the following?

The exclusionary rule

What did Shays' Rebellion demonstrate about the new central government?

The government could not protect the citizenry from armed rebellion.

What important issue was addressed in the Supreme Court decision, Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)?

The separate-but-equal doctrine.

What was one of the New Jersey Plan's proposals retained in the new constitution?

The supremacy doctrine

In the federal system established by the founders, how were sovereign powers assigned?

They were divided between the states and the national government.

In a debate about whether the Electoral College is outdated, Betsey reminds the audience of the original purpose of the Electoral College. What is this purpose?

To make the presidency independent of Congress

If a government wanted to minimize the influence of subsidiary governments, it would be best served by establishing a unitary form of government.

True

More than 20 percent of all adults and in every age group used social media to encourage others to take action on issues they find important.

True

The U.S. Census happens every ten years.

True

At the Constitutional Convention, the Founders agreed to a Congress consisting of legislature.

a bicameral

What are the first ten amendments of the Constitution called?

bill of rights

In U.S. v. Lopez, the Supreme Court ruled that a federal law banning firearms in school zones represented an unconstitutional application of the

commerce

Medicaid is considered an example of federalism because responsibility for the program is shared between state and federal governments.

cooperative

The notion that the United States is actually a "sham democracy" fits with which perspective?

elite theory

In this news release, when Congress created a new version of the law in response to a Supreme Court ruling, it was attempting to avoid

judicial review

Senator Rand Paul firmly opposes any government intervention in the free market economy. What political ideology does he most likely support?

libertisian

On what ideal is the U.S. capitalist system based ?

private property

According to the graph, most people want eligibility for Medicaid to be determined by

the federal government

What portion of the states are needed to ratify an amendment to the Constitution?

three-fourths

What factor is most predictive of future population growth?

total rise of fertility