POLI 1090 Final - Brown
Which of the following would be considered the "mass media" in today's society? a. radio b. newspapers c. all of these options d. television e. the Internet
c
Which part of the Constitution discusses political parties? a. the 16th Amendment b. Article I c. none of these options d. the Preamble e. Article II
c
Party workers, candidates, and members _________________. a. increase party influence over government b. carry out similar functions c. pledge lifelong allegiance to the party d. are required to work together e. pay dues to the party
a
Which parties existed at the time of the Founding? a. the Republican Party b. the Democratic Party c. none of these options d. the Whig Party e. the Federalist Party
c
Roughly how long did it take the federal government to enact new policy in response to 9/11? a. less than two months b. less than a month c. less than a year d. less than a week e. less than six months
a
Roughly what percentage of Americans talked to others about their voting preferences before the 2012 election? a. 37 percent b. 25 percent c. 66 percent d. 12 percent e. 50 percent
a
Comparatively, which of the following groups is more likely to go online for news? a. high school dropouts b. older adults c. Republicans d. younger adults e. immigrants
d
The 1960 presidential debate led to which of the following? a. elevation of candidate characteristics over partisan affiliation b. civil rights reform c. all of these options d. increased focus on partisan affiliation e. the "Southern strategy"
a
The Automobile Association of America (AAA) is a good example of an organization that provides which of the following benefits to its members? a. material benefits b. medical benefits c. free-riding opportunities d. right-to-work benefits e. social advantages
a
Calls for journalistic reform led to which of the following? a. television news programs b. fewer editors c. all of these options d. the establishment of journalism schools e. declining newspaper readership
d
What was the main problem associated with the polling methods of the Literary Digest? a. Its respondents were not randomly selected. b. It was in competition with Gallup polls. c. It falsified the data. d. It used a small sample size. e. It used badly worded questions.
a
Which event ended the era of Republican Party dominance? a. the stock market crash of 1929 b. World War II c. the assassination of President McKinley d. World War I e. the election of Herbert Hoover
a
Which government institution can make public policy by declaring a law unconstitutional? a. the Supreme Court b. the presidency c. the military d. Congress e. the bureaucracy
a
Interest group money generally does which of the following? a. backs ideologically aligned candidates b. bribes legislators c. all of these options d. purchases the votes of their opponents e. gets funneled to parties rather than candidates
a
Most formal proposals during the policy formulation process are introduced by which of the following actors? a. members of Congress b. think tanks c. George Clooney d. bureaucrats e. interest groups
a
On what does the federal government spend the most money? a. entitlement programs b. education c. pork d. national defense e. interest on the debt
a
According to the text, what is attitude consistency? a. political opinions founded on a set of principles about the function of government b. a political focus on one set of issues c. a balanced personality d. a mixture of either moderate and liberal or moderate and conservative opinions e. maintaining the same party identification throughout one's life
a
According to the text, what is the primary goal of privately owned media sources? a. profitability b. unbiased stories c. all of these options d. objective coverage e. niche audiences
a
How does scorekeeping by interest groups help voters? a. It helps them establish which candidates align with them on particular issues. b. It helps them figure out how long each member has served in Congress. c. all of these options d. It helps them determine the political party of the candidates. e. It helps them gain information on the campaign donations of each candidate.
a
How have political candidates reacted to the growing popularity of infotainment? a. by making appearances on infotainment programs b. by boycotting shows such as The Colbert Report c. all of these options d. by pushing for stricter FCC regulations e. by failing to pass net neutrality laws
a
If a reporter intended to frame gay marriage in a positive light, how might she do so? a. discuss the issue as a matter of civil rights b. discuss the continued prevalence of AIDS in the gay community c. none of these options d. describe the benefits of the Defense of Marriage Act e. discuss the biblical definition of marriage
a
If the Democrats and the Republicans are the opposing teams (metaphorically speaking), interest groups are which of the following? a. the fans b. the coaches c. none of these options d. the team managers e. the referees
a
In his farewell address, George Washington outlined his views on which of the following? a. the spirit of party as an aspect of human nature b. the formation of third parties c. none of these options d. the responsible party government model e. the benefits of a two-party system
a
In which of the following scenarios would an interest group be most likely to form? a. when the government threatens to limit corporate tax breaks b. when several farmers desire to influence policy c. all of these options d. when the government threatens to cut welfare benefits e. when a state passes harsh immigration laws
a
The Founders designed the electoral process to do which of the following? a. ensure that the government has political legitimacy b. ensure that elections are held every four years c. all of these options d. involve citizens in elections as directly as possible e. ensure that the president would be directly elected
a
The RNC is which of the following? a. a national-level party organization b. the Republican Party's agenda c. none of these options d. a state-level party organization e. the Republican candidate election process
a
The election of 1860 divided the country between which of the following? a. Northern and Southern states b. Eastern and Western states c. all of these options d. whites and African Americans e. supporters of Lincoln versus Jackson
a
The stock market collapse of September 2008 and subsequent events provide an example of which of the following? Choose the BEST answer. a. the complicated relationship between members of Congress and the public b. the power of the executive branch over the legislative branch c. a national crisis bolstering a president's popularity d. stability in American public opinion e. members of Congress acting as trustees in relation to their constituents
a
Under what circumstances are congressional elections most competitive? a. when there is an open seat b. when the challenger is independently wealthy c. when Congress has low approval ratings d. when the incumbent has sponsored few bills in Congress e. when the president has low approval ratings
a
What action did the Blue Dog Democrats take with regard to health care reform? a. They defied party leadership. b. They ignored the wishes of their constituents. c. They successfully stopped the legislation from passing. d. They adhered to the responsible party government model. e. They voted for health care reform.
a
What are the three general policy categories? a. foreign, domestic, and economic b. legislative, executive, and judicial c. low priority, high priority, and emergency d. federal, state, and local e. legal, cultural, and political
a
What compromise concerning the implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) was struck between the Obama administration and religious institutions? a. Religious institutions were exempted from having to provide contraception to employees. b. Religious institutions were exempted from covering employees who drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes. c. Religious institutions were allowed to use PPACA funding to provide pro-life counseling to women seeking an abortion d. Religious institutions were exempted from all provisions of the PPACA. e. Religious institutions were allowed to use PPACA funding to pay clergy or pastors for bedside services.
a
What differentiates new media from other sources? a. It is interactive. b. It is published in written formats. c. It is accurate and credible. d. It is considered mass media. e. It is supported by advertising.
a
What distinguishes a closed primary system from an open primary system? a. In a closed primary, voters may only vote on the ballot for the party with which they are registered. b. In a closed primary, registered Republicans may vote in the Democratic primary, and vice versa. c. In a closed primary, voting occurs in secret. d. In a closed primary, voters can vote for whichever candidate they choose e. In a closed primary, an independent may choose either the Democratic or the Republican ballot.
a
What does it mean that the United States has global hegemony? a. The U.S. exercises great influence over other global actors as the sole superpower in world affairs. b. The U.S. must preemptively strike against threats of terrorism. c. The U.S. and China have a mutual interest in maintaining friendly relations in order to prevent another world war. d. The U.S. must expand militarily in order to balance the threat of force from other nations. e. The U.S. is contractually obligated to provide aid to developing countries.
a
What happened when newspaper coverage of health care reform declined? a. Fewer people viewed it as the most important issue facing the country. b. People forgot about the issue completely. c. The legislation was defeated in Congress. d. People clamored for more stories on the issue. e. More people viewed it as the most important issue facing the country.
a
What happened when the United States threatened to bomb the Syrian government in 2013? a. Syria agreed to disarmament of its chemical weapons. b. Syria increased its use of chemical weapons against rebel forces in the country's ongoing civil war. c. nothing d. Syria threatened to launch nuclear weapons at Israel. e. Russia threatened an embargo on U.S. exports to the Middle East.
a
What is it called when the federal government spends more money than it takes in during the year? a. deficit b. outlays c. gross domestic product d. revenue e. national debt
a
What is the main goal of frontloading in the electoral process? a. exerting more influence over the selection of party presidential nominees b. holding primaries later in order to have the final say in the election season c. drawing national attention to state politics d. gathering the largest number of delegates e. being the state to hold the last caucus
a
What is the most effective way to ensure that a study reflects the opinions of the general population? a. use random sampling b. poll equal numbers of black, white, Hispanic, and Asian voters c. conduct telephone surveys d. poll all Americans registered to vote e. use both private and public pollsters
a
What issue caused a serious rift in the Whig Party? a. expansion of slavery b. manifest destiny c. the Mexican-American War d. laissez-faire economics e. the national bank system
a
Which of the following accurately describes the role of modern parties in political campaigns? a. Parties exercise less control over electoral politics than in the past. b. Parties play a peripheral role in the election process. c. all of these options d. Candidates no longer run under partisan banners. e. Parties no longer fund campaigns.
a
Which of the following are considered the fathers of American political parties? a. Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton b. John Adams and Thomas Jefferson c. John Adams and Andrew Jackson d. Thomas Jefferson and George Washington e. Alexander Hamilton and George Washington
a
Which of the following could be considered an advantage of infotainment? a. It attracts audiences who otherwise wouldn't follow politics. b. It reduces opportunities for the media to be sued for libel. c. none of these options. d. It highlights the complexity of modern news stories. e. It reflects a commitment to professionalism.
a
Which of the following is NOT among the factors that might lead lawmakers to prioritize a certain issue over others? a. media attention b. constituent concerns c. personal interests d. party platforms e. presidential leadership
a
Which of the following is an accurate statement about the strength of partisan loyalty? a. Only major events or issues cause voters to reevaluate their partisan loyalties. b. Catholics have become increasingly liberal since the abortion debate. c. People change their party identification frequently. d. Partisanship has increased over the last 60 years. e. Fewer independents exist today than in 1950.
a
Which of the following is considered an advantage of using the Electoral College system to select the president? a. It preserves federalism as the Founders envisioned it. b. The electoral process is nationally sponsored rather than state sponsored. c. all of these options d. It makes the election process technically complex, reducing risk of voter fraud. e. Larger states have more influence over the process.
a
Which of the following is true of print media? a. The print media provides more detailed stories about politics and government. b. The print media is considered the leader in breaking news. c. all of these options d. Newspaper readership is increasing. e. Newspapers tend to appeal to those between the ages of 35 and 65.
a
Which of the following represents a notable instance of party members working across party lines? a. Southern Democrats voting to oppose healthcare reform b. Democrats voting to support education affordability c. none of these options d. Republicans voting to oppose healthcare reform e. President Obama encouraging Republicans to support H.R. 4872
a
Which of the following was used to evaluate the No Child Left Behind Act? a. Student scores on math tests were collected and analyzed over time. b. Government officials used classroom observations to measure improvements. c. Federal agencies conducted student surveys measuring the approval rate of the act. d. Federal agencies conducted teacher surveys measuring the approval rate of the act. e. Report card grades were collected and analyzed over time.
a
Which of the following would be considered a disadvantage of having interest groups in society? a. Interest groups overemphasize minority interests. b. Interest groups foster political engagement. c. all of these options d. Interest groups allow for mobilization of action. e. Interest groups are a source of pressure on government.
a
Which of the following would be considered a disadvantage of the two-party system? a. limited access to minor parties b. checks and balances on political power c. all of these options d. simplified vote choices e. reflection of median of public opinion
a
Which of the following would be considered a form of conventional political participation? a. voting b. demonstrations c. all of these options d. protests e. boycotts
a
Which of the following would have been LEAST in favor of using public opinion to guide governmental decisions? a. James Madison b. the anti-Federalists c. Patrick Henry d. Abraham Lincoln e. Brutus
a
Which of the following would offer a reason why government leaders should NOT pay attention to public opinion? a. Polling organizations do not always conduct surveys scientifically. b. The public will lose trust in government. c. all of these options d. The general public knows nothing about current affairs or how the government works. e. Elected officials must represent the will of the people.
a
Which two states traditionally hold the first caucus and primary of the presidential nomination season? a. Iowa and New Hampshire b. New York and Texas c. Ohio and Vermont d. Michigan and Florida e. Virginia and California
a
Why are redistributive policies often controversial? a. They take money from wealthier citizens and give it to poorer citizens. b. They limit behavior. c. They involve charities and other organizations with a religious orientation. d. They involve environmental regulations. e. They give states federal money to implement policy.
a
Yellow journalism might include which of the following? a. fabricated news stories b. in-depth election coverage c. all of these options d. rigorous fact checking e. minutes of Supreme Court hearings
a
Younger voters are more likely to take part in which of the following? a. protests b. conventional participation c. donating to political campaigns d. attending political meetings e. voting
a
During a recession, which of the following would an economist be MOST likely to suggest? a. deregulate industry b. decrease government spending c. cut unemployment benefits d. increase government spending e. limit market intervention
d
Which of the following would be considered the most critical standard of journalistic professionalism? a. control b. subjectivity c. entertainment d. media bias e. credibility
e
A party-centered strategy would be more useful in which of the following? a. the nomination process b. the general election c. all of these options d. primary elections e. advertising
b
An event in which groups of voters switch party loyalty is known as what? a. a swing vote b. a critical election c. a mass betrayal d. a decisive contest e. an electoral realignment
b
Based on recent surveys, supporters of smaller government would be more likely to vote for which of the following in the 2016 election? a. the Libertarian presidential candidate b. the Republican presidential candidate c. the Know-Nothing presidential candidate d. the Democratic presidential candidate e. the Socialist presidential candidate
b
How did President Barack Obama pressure Congress to pass the Hurricane Sandy relief bill? a. He campaigned for action via cross-country bus tours. b. He held a highly publicized event at the White House. c. He petitioned the Supreme Court to urge Congress to act. d. He demanded action during his State of the Union address. e. He used Twitter to influence public opinion.
b
How do most states currently select their presidential nominees? a. They are elected by voters in caucuses. b. They are elected by voters in direct primaries. c. They are chosen by lottery from a pool of potential candidates. d. They are hand-picked by party leaders. e. They are nominated by party delegates at state conventions.
b
How may a congressional candidate qualify for the state ballot? Choose the BEST answer. a. by winning the general election b. by gathering enough petition signatures to run autonomously of a party c. all of these options d. through selection by party leaders e. through selection by national party committee chair
b
How might the media "frame" the issue of budget cuts? a. by highlighting both the benefits and the drawbacks of the budget cuts b. by choosing certain words to refer to the budget cuts c. all of these options d. by discussing a separate issue in order to link it to budget cuts e. by accessing reliable sources to comment on budget cuts
b
How might the national committee chair try to get state and local committees to adopt policy positions? a. by hiring like-minded committee members b. by threatening to withhold funding c. all of these options d. by appointing new heads of the committees e. by enlisting the help of high-level party members like senators and governors
b
How much of the Senate goes up for reelection every two years? a. one-half b. one-third c. all of it d. one-fourth e. two-thirds
b
How often does the Constitution require elections to be held? a. every four years b. every two years c. none of these options d. once a year e. every six years
b
In which of the following countries would we consider the press to be highly regulated? a. India b. China c. Canada d. the United States e. Brazil
b
Interest groups that observe and report on governmental activities are known as what? a. Blue Dogs b. watchdogs c. electioneers a. accountability monitors b. 527s
b
Interest groups would not exist if every person based their political decisions on which of the following? a. the difficulty of raising money b. the ease of free riding c. all of these options d. the ease of joining an interest group e. the difficulty of finding like-minded people
b
The Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act of 1888 stipulated that public employees be hired according to what criteria? a. links with political parties b. merit c. status in political machines d. appearance e. connections to powerful families
b
The Penny Press allowed citizens to do which of the following? a. cast secret ballots b. access affordable news c. all of these options d. print their own newspapers e. conspire against the British Crown
b
The political party formed by Andrew Jackson is the ancestor of which of the following? a. the Progressive Party b. the modern Democratic Party c. the Tea Party d. the modern Republican Party e. the Whig Party
b
The power of which of the following appears to be increasing? a. the Republican Party b. the party in government c. the Tea Party d. the party in the electorate e. the Democratic Party
b
The publication of both the Federalist Papers and anti-Federalist essays in newspapers reflected which of the following developments? a. the existence of only two major newspapers in 18th-century America b. the growing influence of political parties c. the lack of much hard news to report at the time d. increasingly heated debate over print media regulations e. the election of Thomas Jefferson to the presidency
b
Voter support for incumbents is strongly related to which of the following? a. religion b. financial security c. all of these options d. prospective voting e. success in military operations
b
What accounts for the honeymoon period that most presidents enjoy? a. voter misinformation b. a lack of a presidential record in office c. frustration with the incumbent president d. selection of a vice-presidential running mate e. improperly conducted opinion polls
b
What determines the number of electors each state receives? a. the number of registered voters in the state b. the number of U.S. senators and representatives from the state c. the age of the state (time since incorporation into the U.S.) d. the geographic size of the state e. the highest percentage of adults in relation to the rest of the state's population
b
What does James Madison identify as the most prevalent cause of interest groups (or "factions")? a, the military b. the unequal distribution of property c. all of these options d. the government e. federalism
b
What does the "black box" represent in David Easton's systems model? a. new laws and regulations b. the institutions of government c. policy change d. opinion polling and constituent communication e. societal outcomes
b
What does the Consumer Confidence Index use to predict presidential election results? a. candidates' political experience b. voters' views on the economy c. all of these options d. candidates' personal characteristics e. voters' party identification
b
What is the first step in winning the presidency? a. winning a majority of electoral votes among the states b. winning the most party delegates from around the United States to support your nomination c. none of these options d. winning the New Hampshire primary e. winning the support of the party chairman
b
What is the origin of the American political divide over the proper scope of government? a. the Great Depression b. the Federalist/anti-Federalist debates c. the Great Recession d. the Declaration of Independence e. the economic expansion of the late 19th century
b
What might supporters of mandatory voting argue? a. Those that vote should receive special attention from the government. b. Voting is a civic duty. c. all of these options d. Elections should be decided by informed voters. e. Religious reasons might prevent people from voting.
b
What power does the U.S. Constitution explicitly give to the president? a. the power to commit troops for up to 60 days without a declaration of war b. the position of commander in chief of the military c. the power to raise and support armies d. the power to declare war e. the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations
b
What ushered in the era of watchdog journalism? a. the Monica Lewinsky scandal b. coverage of the Watergate break-in c. the Gulf of Tonkin incident d. the creation of the Pulitzer Prize e. conspiracy theories on the Kennedy assassination
b
What would be considered the primary cause of Congress's initial rejection of the federal bailout package in 2008? a. tax incentives added to the bill b. constituent opposition c. bipartisanship d. pressure exerted by President Bush e. misinformation about the bill
b
When did radio transform mass media? a. during the Great Depression b. in 1920 c. in the 1950s d. in the 1890s e. in 1941
b
Which area was hardest hit by sequestration? a. education b. defense c. welfare d. Social Security e. Medicaid
b
Which government actor is primarily responsible for implementing U.S. monetary policy? a. the president b. the Federal Reserve Board c. Arnold Schwarzenegger d. Congress e. the Supreme Court
b
Which of the following BEST characterizes the relationship between the two major parties today? a. unity b. polarization c. Democratic Party dominance d. cooperation e. Republican Party dominance
b
Which of the following BEST describes Americans' general views on Congress? a. Americans' approval of Congress tends to be highly unstable. b. Americans tend to approve of their particular member of Congress. c. Americans tend to both approve of Congress as an institution AND approve of their member of Congress. d. Americans generally approve of Congress as an institution. e. Americans' approval of Congress is usually around 50 percent.
b
Which of the following BEST describes Cesar Chavez? a. a free rider b. an interest group entrepreneur c. a congressional lobbyist d. a civil rights activist e. a wealthy interest group supporter
b
Which of the following characterizes the pluralist model of policymaking? a. The agenda is static. b. Policymaking is directed by groups of citizens. c. Only governmental actors can affect the policy agenda. d. Policymaking is directed by elites. e. The agenda is the result of corporations pressuring lawmakers to enact policy change.
b
Which of the following explains the reasons for the two-party system in the U.S.? a. the ideological spectrum b. Duverger's Law c. the Nader Effect d. Article I of the Constitution e. the third-party rule
b
Which of the following forms of unconventional participation was MOST effective in bringing about legislative policy change? a. anti-Iraq War protests b. civil rights activism c. Occupy Wall Street activism d. anti-abortion protests e. anti-Obamacare protests
b
Which of the following groups is more likely to identify with conservative positions? a. Catholics b. Asians c. young people d. women e. graduate students
b
Which of the following has the highest percentage of Democrats in its audience? a. Fox News b. MSNBC c. Family Guy d. CNN e. nightly network news
b
Which of the following interest groups fought to keep health care reform legislation alive? a. America's Health Insurance Plans b. the AFL-CIO c. all of these options d. the 60 Plus Association e. the American Medical Association
b
Which of the following is a distributive policy? a. Social Security b. public education c. smoking bans d. the Affordable Care Act e. seatbelt laws
b
Which of the following is a part of the military-industrial complex described by President Dwight D. Eisenhower? a. the secretary of state b. defense contractors c. the United Nations d. soldiers e. the FBI
b
Which of the following is an example of the disconnect between how people benefit from government and how people view government? a. The majority of Americans claim to prefer big government, but a majority also show disapproval of large government entitlement programs. b. The majority of Americans claim to prefer small government, but a majority also show support for large government entitlement programs. c. The majority of Americans own homes but can't afford to pay for them without government subsidies. d. The majority of Americans are registered Democrats, but vote Republican. e. The majority of Americans disapprove of Congress but approve of their district's representative in the House.
b
Which of the following is considered a principle of early learning? a. the constructive principle b. the primacy principle c. the school principle d. the cognitive principle e. the values principle
b
Which of the following political systems comes closest to that of a true democracy? a. modern United States b. ancient Greece c. modern China d. ancient Rome e. 19th-century United States
b
Which of the following would be an example of a public interest group? a. the American Medical Association b. the NAACP c. none of these options d. the AFL-CIO e. the American Farm Bureau Federation
b
Which of the following would be considered a street-level bureaucrat responsible for implementing federal policy at a local level? a. a grassroots political activist b. schoolteachers c. any person registered as a member of the Democratic or Republican parties d. union members e. the president
b
Who became the first Republican president? a. William Howard Taft b. Abraham Lincoln c. James K. Polk d. Thomas Jefferson e. John Adams
b
During the economic crisis, Congress acted in which of the following ways? a. as a check on the power of the president b. as the Framers intended c. all of these options d. slowly and deliberately e. as a check on the power of national public opinion
c
How are delegates selected to participate in the parties' national conventions? a. through caucuses b. through general elections c. through both primary elections AND caucuses d. through primary elections e. through both primary elections AND general elections
c
How can an interest group address the problem of free riding? a. by establishing a sense of community b. by providing benefits to members c. all of these options d. by requiring membership e. by offering selective benefits to members
c
According to C. Wright Mills, who or what controls the political agenda? a. the public b. the media c. elites d. the military-industrial complex e. bureaucrats
c
According to the Society of Professional Journalists, with which of the following behaviors should the news industry be concerned? a. reporting the truth b. accountability c. all of these options d. independent action e. thoroughness
c
According to the text, what is the main qualification party members consider when nominating congressional candidates? a. electability b. knowledge c. ideological fidelity d. experience e. affability
c
Distrust in government likely resulted from which of the following? a. the Vietnam War b. Watergate c. all of these options d. the civil rights movement e. the social and cultural turmoil of the 1960s and 1970s
c
How did President Franklin Roosevelt respond to the economic situation of the 1930s? a. with the New Deal b. with public works projects c. all of these options d. with legislation to improve working conditions e. with infrastructure development
c
How did the 26th Amendment affect voter turnout? a. It focused the political process on younger generations. b. It brought attention to the issue of Social Security. c. none of these options d. It encouraged the elderly to vote. e. It brought more women and African Americans to the polls.
c
How do bureaucrats implement the law? a. The Supreme Court gives them explicit directions for implementation. b. The president gives them explicit directions for implementation. c. They use administrative discretion to develop rules and regulations to operationalize policies. d. Congress gives them explicit directions for implementation. e. State legislatures create rules and regulations that operationalize policies.
c
How do lobbyists influence the judicial process? a. by providing information to the Supreme Court b. by maintaining legal defense funds c. all of these options d. by filing amicus curiae briefs e. by pressuring Congress over judicial appointments
c
How might the party in government try to enact the party agenda? a. by coordinating executive and legislative actions b. by appointing party members to the executive cabinet c. all of these options d. by building coalitions e. by making certain committee assignments
c
In 2012, a plurality of Americans (38 percent) identified themselves as which of the following? a. Socialists b. Republicans c. independents d. Democrats e. Libertarians
c
In the 21st century, Americans have increasingly come to identify with which of the following? a. the Green Party b. the Republican Party c. no party d. the Democratic Party e. the Libertarian Party
c
In which of the five stages of the policymaking process does the government assess the effectiveness of a policy? a. adoption b. formulation c. evaluation d. agenda setting e. implementation
c
Party workers are responsible for which of the following tasks? a. researching the opposition b. recruiting candidates c. all of these options d. raising money e. encouraging voters to vote
c
President Barack Obama's shift toward targeted military involvements includes which of the following strategies? a. covert CIA operations to assassinate hostile foreign leaders b. multilateral nuclear disarmament c. the use of drone aircrafts d. military support to anticommunist insurgents e. more aid to emerging democracies
c
Roughly what percentage of incumbents win reelection in any given election cycle? a. 50 percent b. 30 percent c. 90 percent d. 10 percent e. 70 percent
c
The Society of Professional Journalists formed in response to which of the following? a. sensationalism in the media b. the Progressive Era c. all of these options. d. the practice of muckraking e. public dissatisfaction with the political climate
c
The actions of Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein led to which of the following? a. the establishment of investigative units by media outlets b. the making of All the President's Men c. all of these options d. political controversy e. greater scrutiny of White House activity
c
The civil rights movement used which of the following? a. Freedom Rides b. sit-ins c. all of these options d. unconventional forms of political participation e. marches
c
The electoral system in the United States is characterized by which of the following? a. plurality election rule b. single-member districts c. both single-member districts AND a plurality election rule d. proportional representation e. both proportional representation AND a plurality election rule
c
The goals of the Progressive Party centered on which of the following? a. anti-trust laws b. environmental conservation c. all of these options d. women's suffrage e. increasing popular participation
c
The incumbency advantage stems from which of the following? a. casework b. media attention c. all of these options d. franking e. money
c
The national party conventions held in late summer serve which of the following purposes? a. to attract media attention to the party and its candidates b. to establish the party platform c. all of these options d. to formally anounce the party's presidential nominee e. to unify members of the party
c
What can influence the party identifications held by Americans? a. churches b. schools c. all of these options d. parents e. synagogues
c
What did former House Speaker Tip O'Neill claim was the key to carrying out a successful campaign strategy? a. the campaign organization b. the issues c. money d. the candidate e. the party
c
What does the FCC regulate? a. licensing of television broadcast services b. radio c. all of these options d. international communications e. wireless communications
c
What engendered the political uncertainty of the 1970s and 1980s? a. the realignment of the South b. the Vietnam War c. all of these options d. the Watergate scandal e. President Nixon's resignation
c
What is fragmentation in the political system? a. the separation of powers between the three branches of government b. the ideological divisions that develop within parties c. the phenomenon of separate government actors seeking to solve the same problem in different ways d. the polarization of partisan factions e. the division of power between the national, state, and local governments
c
What might account for the results of many public opinion surveys? a. timing and context of the studies b. the phrasing of questions c. all of these options d. opinions changing as circumstances change e. answering at random
c
What percentage of today's lobbyists represent private interests? a. 30 percent b. 25 percent c. 90 percent d. 10 percent e. 65 percent
c
What was the "Great Recession"? a. a tightening of the federal budget in the 1980s b. a period of soaring inflation in the 1970s c. a financial crisis beginning in the late 2000s d. a period of economic decline in the 1930s e. an economic expansion beginning in the early 1990s
c
When might people be less likely to participate in the political process? a. when they have no interest in participation b. when they lack resources c. all of these options d. when they have limited time to participate e. when they have no one to recruit them
c
Which group of Americans is most likely to access news on a given day? a. those aged 30-34 b. those aged 25-29 c. those aged 65 and over d. those aged 18-24 e. those aged 50-64
c
Which of the following contributed to the shift to candidate-centered campaigns? a. introduction of televisions b. ballot reform c. all of these options d. technological advancements e. political consultants
c
Which of the following countries had the lowest voter turnout between 1960 and 2000? a. Canada b. Germany c. the United States d. Austria e. the United Kingdom
c
Which of the following countries has mandatory voting but does not enforce it? a. Australia b. Greece c. France d. Brazil e. Mexico
c
Which of the following executive departments is NOT involved in U.S. foreign policy? a. the Department of Commerce b. the Department of State c. the Department of the Treasury d. the Department of Homeland Security e. the Department of Defense
c
Which of the following groups reported the highest levels of voter registration and turnout in 2012? a. people with annual incomes between $40,000 and $49,999 b. people with annual incomes between $20,000 and $29,999 c. people with annual incomes of $150,000 and above d. people with annual incomes under $10,000 e. people with annual incomes between $75,000 and $99,999
c
Which of the following is a responsibility of the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative? a. to regulate customs and border patrol b. to provide Congress with information on the competitiveness of American goods c. to participate in negotiations over import policies d. to oversee the Foreign Agriculture Service e. to approve treaties
c
Which of the following is considered a disadvantage of using the Electoral College system to select the president? a. It focuses most campaign activity on battleground states. b. It overrepresents small states. c. all of these options d. It marginalizes third parties e. It makes it possible for a candidate to lose the popular vote but still win the presidency,
c
Which of the following play an important role in agenda setting? a. presidents b. the news media c. all of these options d. governors e. mayors
c
Which of the following played a role in establishing freedom of the press in the United States? a. the Founders b. the First Amendment c. all of these options d. the Virginia Declaration of Rights e. state constitutions
c
Which of the following represent the largest source of federal government revenue? a. sales taxes b. entitlement taxes c. income taxes d. Social Security taxes e. excise taxes
c
Which of the following represents the evaluation stage of the policymaking process as it relates to the events of 9/11 and the government response? a. President Bush signing new anti-terrorism legislation b. anti-terrorism laws being debated in Congress c. concerns about anti-terrorism efforts violating civil liberties d. hijacked jets crashing into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon e. the creation of the Department of Homeland Security
c
Which of the following should be considered when evaluating the trustworthiness of polling information? a. How were the questions worded? b. What was the margin of error? c. all of these options d. In what order were the questions asked? e. How many respondents were there?
c
Which of the following tend to be the most liberal in regard to social issues such as abortion and same-sex marriage? a. black Protestants b. white mainline Protestants c. the religiously unaffiliated d. white evangelical Protestants e. Catholics
c
Which of the following types of policies seeks to benefit society in general by prohibiting activities that might cause harm to oneself or others? a. distributive policies b. redistributive policies c. regulatory policies d. domestic policies e. foreign policies
c
Which of the following would be considered a shortcut in making voting decisions? a. identifying with a party b. receiving advice from family members c. all of these options d. taking suggestions from friends e. using existing political values
c
Which of the following would be considered an increasingly popular way of reaching voters during political campaigns? a. campaign websites b. Internet advertising c. all of these options d. email e. Facebook
c
Which of the following would be considered primarily a foreign policy issue? a. law enforcement b. interest rates c. national defense d. public debt e. health care
c
Who participated in the vote to elect Nancy Pelosi Speaker of the House in 2007? a. registered Democratic voters b. Republican representatives in the House c. both Democratic AND Republican representatives in the House d. Democratic representatives in the House e. registered Republican voters
c
Why did the McCain campaign select Sarah Palin as the Republican vice-presidential candidate in 2008? a. to represent a "Washington outsider" b. to balance the ticket c. all of these options d. to appeal to more voters e. to reach out to female voters
c
Campaign financing for federal elections is currently regulated by which of the following? a. Citizens United b. the First Amendment c. the Federal Election Campaign Act d. the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act e. McConnell v. Federal Election Commission
d
According to a 2012 poll, approximately what percentage of Americans reported that they read a newspaper the day before? a. 48 percent b. 35 percent c. 75 percent d. 29 percent e. 61 percent
d
According to political scientist Robert Putnam, how did the political environment of the 1950s and 1960s differ from that of the present? a. The civil rights movement increased voter turnout. b. Women tended to be more involved in politics. c. all of these options d. Social capital and civic engagement were higher than they are today. e. Third-party candidates were more popular than they are today.
d
According to the text, on which issue did the media prime the public in the run-up to the 2004 presidential election? a. the housing boom b. the economic recession c. civil rights d. national security e. health care
d
According to the text, what is the key to proper public opinion studies? a. open-ended surveys b. ambiguously worded questions c. all of these options d. scientific measurement e. anonymous surveys
d
According to the text, what is the main obstacle preventing the formation of interest groups? a. establishing PACs b. finding people that share the same interests c. raising money d. overcoming the collective action problem e. moving from the local to the national level
d
Electoral reforms of the late 19th century did which of the following? a. permitted non-secret balloting b. outlawed visual cues for voters c. all of these options d. lessened party control over ballot design e. made straight-ticket voting illegal
d
Groups concerned with private interests may include which of the following? a. consumer advocacy groups b. citizen groups c. all of these options d. labor associations e. civil rights groups
d
How did Congress follow the Federal Reserve Board's advice at the beginning of the 2008-2009 financial crisis? a. Congress passed a law making credit-default swaps illegal. b. Congress provided a $700 billion bailout package to aid struggling homeowners and unemployed workers. c. Congress could not agree on any course of action, and did nothing. d. Congress provided a $700 billion bailout package to aid struggling banks. e. Congress passed a law setting interest rates at zero percent until the end of the recession.
d
How do lawmakers ensure that a policy's effectiveness will be evaluated after it is implemented? a. They petition the Supreme Court to evaluate the law. b. They create agencies specifically to evaluate the law. c. They don't assure that evaluation occurs after implementation. d. They require evaluation in the language of the law. e. They have a standing committee responsible for all policy evaluation.
d
In prospective voting, which of the following would MOST likely be taken into consideration? a. voting record b. military service c. candidate experience d. campaign promises e. economic prosperity
d
In which of the following cases might a president expect to see a temporary increase in approval ratings? a. economic recessions b. political scandals c. all of these options d. wars or national crises e. Supreme Court appointments
d
In which of the following ways is the United States attempting to make it easier for people to participate in elections? a. declaring election day a holiday b. holding elections on weekends c. all of these options d. offering convenience voting e. simplifying the voter registration process
d
In which of the following would Americans be LEAST likely to participate? a. persuading others to vote a certain way b. giving money to a campaign or candidate c. putting a political sticker on a car d. working for a party or candidate e. voting in a presidential election
d
Party activists may be described as which of the following? a. authors of the party platform b. candidates in training c. a menace to society d. contributors of resources e. disaffected party workers
d
Persuasion works best under which of the following circumstances? a. Individuals lack interest in the subject. b. Individuals have a high ideological bias. c. The content is heavily pro-conservative, regardless of the issue. d. Individuals lack knowledge of the subject. e. The content is heavily pro-liberal, regardless of the issue.
d
Public approval ratings of presidents tend to be which of the following? a. exponentially increasing b. unreliable c. extremely low d. cyclical e. gradually increasing
d
Single-member districts contribute to which of the following? a. increased political participation b. voter fatigue c. intensified partisanship d. voters' resistance to "wasting" votes e. better representation in Congress
d
Solidary benefits of joining an interest group would include which of the following? a. raising money b. working towards a goal c. all of these options d. networking e. expressing political viewpoints
d
The "Contract from America" succeeded in doing which of the following? a. defeating health care reform legislation b. strengthening the Democratic Party c. overriding a presidential veto d. securing the House of Representatives for the Republicans e. securing Republican majority control in the Senate
d
The Democratic-Republican Party was most closely aligned with which of the following? a. the Republicans b. the Federalists c. none of these options d. the anti-Federalists e. the Progressives
d
The Electoral College was established by which of the following? a. the 12th Amendment b. Article I, section 1 of the Constitution c. The Electoral College was never mentioned in the Constitution. d. Article II, section 1 of the Constitution e. the 26th Amendment
d
The era of Republican Party dominance is also known as what? a. the golden age of parties b. the Reconstruction Era c. all of these options d. the Progressive Era e. the epoch of the political machine
d
What are the "ingredients" that go into David Easton's systems model of policymaking? a. new laws and regulations b. the institutions of government c. policy change d. opinion polling and constituent communication e. societal outcomes
d
What does it mean to legitimate public policy? a. It is the introduction of a policy bill in Congress. b. It is the act of campaigning for public support for a policy. c. It is the validation provided by majority support of the policy. d. It is the act of giving a policy the force of law. e. It is the period of debate before a policy becomes law.
d
What does the "Solid South" refer to? a. Jim Crow laws b. the Ku Klux Klan's reign of terror during Reconstruction c. the success of Radical Republicans in Congress d. Democratic Party dominance in Southern states following the Civil War e. the oil boom in Texas at the turn of the century
d
What function do minor parties serve in the political system? a. They decrease the power of the Republican Party during elections. b. They provide popular alternatives to Republican and Democratic candidates. c. all of these options d. They spotlight issues ignored by the major parties. e. They increase the likelihood of proportional representation in the U.S.
d
What is priming? a. a form of muckraking b. the press influencing people to switch parties c. none of these options d. press coverage of an issue influencing the way people think about related issues e. falsified coverage of primary elections
d
What must an individual do in order to prove libel? a. prove that the information was false b. meet the excessive malice standard c. all of these options d. show that the media heedlessly disregarded the truth e. produce a video or audio recording of the false statements
d
What was the first newspaper to be continuously published in the United States? a. the Federalist Papers b. Publick Occurrences Both Forreign and Domestick c. the National Gazette d. the Boston Newsletter e. the Gazette of the United States
d
Which of the following BEST describes the average spending difference between incumbents and challengers in House races in 2012? a. Challengers spent about three times as much as incumbents did. b. Incumbents spent about twice as much as challengers did. c. Incumbents and challengers spent roughly the same amounts. d. Incumbents spent about three times as much as challengers did. e. Challengers spent about twice as much as incumbents did.
d
Which of the following considerations tend to diminish differences in voter turnout due to race? a. party affiliation b. gender c. rates of conventional participation d. socioeconomic factors e. rates of unconventional participation
d
Which of the following education policies would you expect a liberal to support? a. the abolishment of the Department of Education b. local supervision and resource distribution for all public school c. private-school vouchers d. federal oversight and funding for all public schools e. individual discretion regarding childhood education
d
Which of the following is NOT among the responsibilities of the Federal Reserve? a. minimizing unemployment b. regulating the banking industry c. maintaining stable markets d. setting tax rates e. setting interest rates
d
Which of the following is a method used by parties to elect presidential nominees? a. a general election b. a secondary election c. the winner-take-all system d. the caucus system e. an opinion poll
d
Which of the following is an example of a bilateral agreement? a. the Geneva Conventions b. the North Atlantic Treaty Organization c. the Kyoto Protocol d. the United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement e. the Paris Peace Accords
d
Which of the following is an example of a regulatory policy that aims to promote "clean living"? a. Cash for Clunkers b. restrictions on alcohol sales c. the Medicaid expansion d. mandatory recycling e. speed limits
d
Which of the following is correlated with increasingly consistent ideological thinking? a. increased income b. liberalism c. all of these options d. increased education e. conservatism
d
Which of the following provided American aid to European countries to help their economies recover from World War II? a. the Cold War b. the Truman Doctrine c. the grand strategy d. the Marshall Plan e. the Bush Doctrine
d
Which of the following represents an example of a reformulation of a previous government program? a. Aid to Families with Dependent Children b. the No Child Left Behind Act c. the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act d. Temporary Assistance to Needy Families e. Annual Yearly Progress reports
d
Which of the following resulted from the 1980 election between Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter? a. Presidents began to employ the services of polling firms. b. The use of straw polling was established. c. all of these options d. Media outlets agreed to wait to call races until all polls on the West Coast had closed. e. Voter polling methods became much more scientific than in the past.
d
Which of the following would be considered a basic campaign strategy? a. a business-oriented strategy b. a leadership-oriented strategy c. all of these options d. an issue-oriented strategy e. a legislation-oriented strategy
d
Which of the following would be considered an advantage of having interest groups in society? a. Interest groups advantage those with resources who can afford the costs of exercising influence in politics and government. b. Interest groups can slow down the policymaking process. c. all of these options d. Interest groups provide opportunities for communities of like-minded individuals to network and participate in politics. e. Interest groups encourage conflict.
d
Which of the following would offer a reason why government leaders should pay attention to public opinion? a. Incumbents who base most of their decisions on public opinion stand a better chance of getting reelected. b. In a representative democracy, national leaders make decisions to promote the public good. c. all of these options d. People lose trust in government when their leaders fail to adequately represent public opinion. e. The public is extremely well informed and usually knows what's best for the country.
d
Who was the first president to use a private polling firm? a. Dwight D. Eisenhower b. Woodrow Wilson c. Ronald Reagan d. Franklin Roosevelt e. John F. Kennedy
d
Why is division of power present in the American political system? a. It is an intentional attempt of modern governmental actors to maintain the status quo and prevent efforts at policy reform. b. It was an unintentional consequence of compromises made between the Founders over the proper scope of government. c. It is an intentional attempt of the president to derail Congress. d. It was an intentional attempt by the Founders to prevent any single entity from gaining control of the government and its policies. e. It is an unintentional consequence of the competition for power between interest groups.
d
A margin of error of +/- 5 in an exit poll would indicate which of the following? a. The poll included 10 percent of eligible voters. b. A candidate won by 5 percentage points. c. Roughly 10 percent of the respondents were undecided. d. Only 5 percent of the population was actually polled. e. The winner's actual vote percentage could be 5 percentage points higher or lower than predicted by the poll.
e
Approximately how many lobbyists are currently registered in Washington, DC? a. more than 5,000 b. more than 1,000 c. more than 50,000 d. more than 500 e. more than 10,000
e
Battleground states in the 2012 presidential election included which of the following? a. Illinois b. Virginia c. both Virginia AND Illinois d. Florida e. both Florida AND Virginia
e
Close relationships between interest groups and lawmakers would likely result in which of the following? a. less conflict b. increased governmental accountability c. all of these options d. political gridlock e. less governmental transparency
e
During the era of Republican Party dominance, the political agenda focused on which of the following issues (among others)? a. slavery b. foreign policy c. tax cuts d. race relations e. women's suffrage
e
Effective lobbying results in which of the following? Choose the BEST answer. a. political favors b. media attention c. electoral victories d. immediate legislative success e. mutually beneficial relationships
e
Grassroots lobbying includes all of the following EXCEPT: a. holding demonstrations b. staging public protests c. attracting media attention to a cause d. sending letters to policymakers e. sending advocates to Washington
e
How did Barack Obama announce his vice-presidential selection during the 2008 campaign? a. on his website b. in a speech c. none of these options d. at a press conference e. through a text message
e
How did George W. Bush overcome potential policy fragmentation within the federal government in the aftermath of 9/11? a. He dissolved FEMA and handed responsibility for disaster relief to the states. b. He gave funding to New York City for disaster relief. c. He threatened to pack the Supreme Court with new justices. d. He unified public opinion by making well-regarded speeches at the Pentagon and World Trade Center. e. He worked with Congress to consolidate various intelligence agencies.
e
How did the North American Free Trade Agreement incentivize trade among Mexico, the United States, and Canada? a. It orchestrated arms sales among the three countries. b. It threatened embargoes on trade if violated. c. It limited each country's ability to trade with member states of the European Union. d. It reduced restrictions on crossing the borders. e. It eliminated tariffs on trade among the three countries.
e
How do local bureaucrats influence public policy? a. They decide which public policies to adopt as law. b. They formulate public policy by developing solutions to societal problems. c. They assess the effectiveness of public policies and revise legislation accordingly. d. They set the public policy agenda for Congress. e. They make decisions that influence the implementation of public policy.
e
How long did it take for health care reform to be formulated and adopted by the federal government? a. six months b. a month c. three years d. a week e. a year
e
How many Electoral College votes must a candidate secure in order to win the presidency? a. at least 218 b. at least 150 c. at least 300 d. at least 210 e. at least 270
e
In 2010, what percentage of voters identified themselves as pure independents? a. 10 percent b. 5 percent c. more than 25 percent d. less than 1 percent e. 16 percent
e
In what way does the legislative branch check and balance executive power regarding foreign policy? a. The House of Representatives has authority over the ratification of treaties and confirmation of major presidential appointments. b. The Senate determines when, where, and how U.S. troops will be deployed in foreign conflicts. c. All major foreign policy initiatives must be approved by a two-thirds majority in both houses of Congress. d. The House of Representatives determines when, where, and how U.S. troops will be deployed in foreign conflicts. e. The Senate has authority over the ratification of treaties and confirmation of major presidential appointments.
e
In which of the following forms of protest would Americans be most likely to participate? a. strikes b. demonstrations c. occupying buildings d. boycotts e. signing petitions
e
Individuals with more political knowledge are considered to be which of the following? a. more likely to be conservative b. more likely to accept media messages that contradict their ideology c. more likely to be liberal d. less capable of receiving media messages e. less likely to accept media messages that contradict their ideology
e
Interest groups are organized around which of the following? a. candidate recruitment b. age groups c. all of these options d. party ideologies e. sets of issues
e
Interest groups resemble all of the following EXCEPT: a. outsiders to government b. political parties in countries with multiparty systems c. fans of opposing political teams d. constellations surrounding the major parties e. congressional caucuses
e
Most Americans hold which of the following views on the use of public opinion polls? a. They believe the use of opinion polls is a waste of resources. b. They believe elected officials should make decisions independent of public opinion. c. There is no public opinion on public opinion. d. They would not want to participate in public opinion polls. e. They think government leaders should pay attention to public opinion.
e
Since the 1950s, Republicans and Democrats have become which of the following? a. less powerful in Congress b. increasingly moderate c. united against third parties d. more likely to work together e. more polarized
e
The addition of independent editors to the newspaper industry allowed for more stories based on which of the following? a. partisan preferences b. audience appeal c. profitability d. sensationalism e. quality
e
The issue of immigration fits best into which policy type? a. Immigration is only an economic policy issue. b. Immigration is only a foreign policy issue. c. Immigration is a unique issue that doesn't relate to any of the typical policy categories. d. Immigration is only a domestic policy issue. e. Immigration is an issue of domestic policy, foreign policy, and economic policy
e
The responsible party government model suggests all of the following EXCEPT: a. Candidates should carry out campaign promises. b. It is possible for parties to contribute to the democratic process. c. Parties should present clear and consistent programs to voters. d. Voters should hold the party accountable. e. The winning party may change its programs once elected.
e
What are 527 organizations allowed to do? a. design negative campaign commercials (such as the Swift Boat ads) b. coordinate with candidates' campaigns c. all of these options d. pay for advertising to endorse candidates e. participate in issue advocacy
e
What did studies from the 1950s reveal about public opinion? a. The American people tended to be fairly conservative. b. There was a high level of consistency in public opinion. c .all of these options d. Citizens behaved much differently than the Founders expected. e. Citizens possessed low levels of political knowledge.
e
What do the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Higher Education Act, and ARPANET have in common? a. They are all public policies that enhanced accreditation standards for colleges and universities. b. They are all public policies that were enacted due to the lobbying efforts of college students. c. They are all public policies that have nothing whatsoever to do with college students. d. They are all public policies aimed at making college more affordable. e. They are all public policies that have an impact on the daily lives of college students
e
What happened to the approval ratings of President George W. Bush? a. They were affected negatively by the terrorist attacks of 9/11. b. They were affected positively by the economic situation in 2005. c. all of these options d. They peaked halfway through his second term. e. They peaked in late 2001 and then generally declined.
e
What is sequestration? a. the total value of all goods and services produced within a country in a single year b. money disbursed by the government to meet obligations incurred through entitlement programs c. the amount by which government spending exceeds government revenue in a single fiscal year d. government spending authorized by Congress e. the freezing of expenditures in order to provide automatic spending cuts
e
What is the president's role in influencing fiscal policy? a. The president sets tax rates. b. The president is responsible for coining money and overseeing the operations of the Treasury. c. The president is responsible for borrowing money to fund the operations of the United States government. d. The president regulates all domestic business transactions via the Commerce Department. e. The president submits an annual budget to Congress.
e
What probably hurt Senator John Kerry's election chances the MOST in the 2004 presidential race? a. his poor debate performances b. his voting record in Congress c. President Bush's high approval ratings d. his military experience e. his reputation as a flip-flopper
e
What was the average amount spent by candidates who won Senate seats in 2012? a. $5 million b. $2 million c. $100 million d. $1 million e. $10 million
e
When did Americans first encounter dramatic visual images of military conflict? a. the Korean War b. World War II c. the War on Drugs d. World War I e. the Vietnam War
e
Which of the following BEST describes voter turnout trends since the 1960s? a. There has been increased turnout in both presidential and congressional elections. b. There has been decreased turnout in congressional elections. c. There has been increased voter turnout in the United States and decreased voter turnout in the rest of the world. d. There has been increased turnout in presidential elections. e. There has been decreased turnout in both presidential and congressional elections.
e
Which of the following BEST summarizes the Supreme Court's decision in the case of Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission? a. The Court upheld the ban on soft money but allowed unlimited hard-money contributions to candidates for federal office. b. The Court upheld the BCRA in full, ruling that corporate spending was prohibited in federal elections. c. The Court ruled that political advertising by corporations could not be restricted by the government. d. The Court struck down the BCRA in full, resetting campaign-finance regulations to those established by the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971. e. The Court ruled that political advertising by corporations was not protected by the First Amendment.
e
Which of the following applies to the system of media coverage in the United States? a. Government agencies regulate the scope and type of news coverage. b. Broadcasting laws are very strict. c. none of these options d. Media outlets are required to provide some public affairs stories. e. Media outlets may cover whatever they choose.
e
Which of the following aspects of the U.S. electoral system can affect voter turnout? a. partisanship b. frequency of participation c. both frequency of participation AND partisanship d. ballot length e. both ballot length AND frequency of participation
e
Which of the following currently pertains to the use of "soft money" in campaigns? a. An individual may donate a maximum of $2,400 to a candidate in soft money. b. Soft money contributions must come from individuals rather than groups or corporations. c. none of these options d. Soft money contributions are limited to $5,000 from PACs. e. The BCRA banned unregulated soft money donations to political parties.
e
Which of the following is a component of fiscal policy? a. dollar valuation b. currency circulation c. unemployment d. interest rates e. taxation
e
Which of the following is a diplomatic duty of the secretary of state? a. acting as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations b. setting tariffs c. acting as commander in chief d. approving treaties e. overseeing the U.S. Foreign Service
e
Which of the following led the United States to abandon its isolationist policies? a. the grand strategy b. global hegemony c. the European Union d. the Cold War e. a worldwide economic depression
e
Which of the following might be considered a disadvantage of mandatory voting? a. Elections would tend to favor the wealthy. b. It would lead to less political accountability. c. all of these options d. It would lead to decreased political knowledge. e. Uninformed voters could skew election results.
e
Which of the following organizations spent the most on lobbying between 1998 and 2013? a. Exxon Mobil b. the American Medical Association c. Blue Cross / Blue Shield d. General Electric e. the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
e
Which of the following represented the largest source of funding for the Obama campaign in 2008? a. PACs b. self-financing c. corporate donations d. federal financing e. individual donations
e
Which of the following statements accurately describes the relationship between economic class and interest groups? a. No interest groups exist that represent the issues of the lower-class members of society. b. The poor are always misrepresented by interest groups. c. all of these options d. Americans with low socioeconomic status belong to interest groups in similar numbers to those with higher socioeconomic status e. Blue-collar workers and those with lower education levels are less likely to belong to interest groups.
e
Which of the following states does NOT use a winner-take-all system to determine which party's slate of electors will participate in the Electoral College? a. Florida b. New York c. Alabama d. Wyoming e. Maine
e
Which of the following would be considered an advantage of the two-party system? a. a lack of coalition building b. fewer candidates c. all of these options d. little difference in party platforms e. a guaranteed legislative majority
e
Why is membership in the Federal Reserve advantageous for financial institutions? a. These institutions gain prestige by participating in the Federal Reserve. b. The Federal Reserve provides annual funding for these institutions. c. These institutions can offer lower interest rates. d. These institutions are subject to fewer regulations. e. The Federal Reserve provides a safety net in case of economic collapse.
e
Why is policy change usually slow and incremental? a. Conflicts between the parties create gridlock. b. Conflicts between the three branches of government create gridlock. c. The press sensationalizes political conflict and exacerbates policy disagreements in Washington. d.People are apathetic. e. A successful proposal must unite multiple stakeholders with different values.
e
Why was the time of the Monroe administration known as the Era of Good Feelings? a. The 19th Amendment granted female suffrage. b. Thomas Jefferson reconciled with James Monroe. c. all of these options d. No political disputes resulted in duels. e. Electoral politics were dominated by the Democratic-Republicans.
e