Political Science Final

According to the Constitution, the number of Electoral College votes assigned to each state is determined by A. the state's population. B. the number of members that state has in the House of Representatives. C. the number of counties in the state. D. by adding together the number of members the state has in the House of Representatives plus its two senators. E. the number of active political parties in the state.

D

According to the text, U.S. hegemony in the half-century after World War II A. was based on global acceptance of the principles stated in the Declaration of Independence. B. consisted of "hard power" but not "soft power." C. consisted of "soft power" but not "hard power." D. consisted of both "hard power" and "soft power." E. involved neither "hard power" nor "soft power."

D

According to the text, business has generally opposed extending the welfare state because A. business wants to extend the private welfare state instead. B. the welfare state benefits are too limited. C. the welfare state operates according to market principles. D. the welfare state reduces the power that employers exercise over employees. E. the welfare state violates the egalitarian logic of capitalism.

D

According to the text, during the settlement of North America, Europeans slaughteres approximately ________ Native Americans A. 3,000 B. 30,000 C. 300,000 D. 3 million E. 30 million

D

A decision by the federal appeals court for the Fifth Circuit is binding A. only in the Fifth Circuit. B. only in the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Circuits. C. only in the Fifth Circuit and in Washington, D.C. D. in all circuits unless the Supreme Court overturns the decision. E. nowhere until the Supreme Court issues a ruling affirming the Fifth Circuit's decision.

A

According to the text, all of the following have served to weaken presidential power in the past half-century except A. the decrease in the number of interest groups. B. President Johnson's lying about the progress of the Vietnam War. C. President Nixon's attempted cover-up of the Watergate burglary. D. the end of the golden age of capitalism. E. the increase in divided government.

A

According to the text, in addition to the Cold War, another immensely significant aspect of the half-century after World War II was A. the global expansion of U.S. military, economic, political, and cultural influence. B. a sharp decline in U.S. military, economic, political, and cultural influence. C. the overwhelming superiority of "soft power over "hard power" in foreign affairs. D. the emergence of the Soviet Union as the worlds single most powerful country. E. the emergence of the European Union as the world's dominant economic region.

A

According to the text, in ordering a sizable troop buildup in Afghanistan, President Obama A. went beyond President George W. Bush in seeking a military solution. B. chose a policy that relied less on a military solution than did Bush administration policy. C. acknowledged that a U.S. defeat in Iraq was inevitable. D. chose a policy extremely likely to increase U.S. security. E. chose a policy extremely likely to produce a democratic and stable Afghanistan.

A

According to the text, the Constitution sets up a governmental structure that A. makes it very difficult for government to bring about major changes in policy. B. has no effect one way or the other on how easy it is for government to make major policy changes. C. makes it very easy for government to bring about major changes in policy. D. makes it very easy for the government to respond to the slightest changes in public opinion. E. was the very opposite of what the Founders hoped it would be.

A

According to the text, the Reagan Revolution A. resulted in conservatives setting the main terms of the public debate. B. pushed conservative ideas further outside of the political mainstream than they had ever been, led the Democratic Party to champion the virtues of C. big government more strongly than ever, D. was a myth manufactured by political pundits, E. was successful at dismantling the welfare state.

A

According to the text, the Titanic offers a powerful metaphor for U.S. society and politics for all of the following reasons except A. like the Titanic, the U.S. political system is doomed to fail. B. U.S. businesses' concerns with profits resemble the similar concerns of the Titanic's owners. C. the Titanic was the world's most powerful ship, and the United States is the world's most powerful nation. D. there was great economic inequality among the Titanic's passengers, and there is great economic inequality in the United States. E. the Titanic's first-class passengers were treated much better than those in steerage, and the U.S. rich have much more of the good things in life than poor people have.

A

According to the text, the United States's capitalist market system A. is inherently not democratic. B. is inherently democratic. C. may or may not be democratic depending on who is president. D. may or may not be democratic depending on which party controls Congress. E. may or may not be democratic depending on whether the government officials adhere to the Constitution's basic principles.

A

According to the text, transnational corporations (TNCs) A. are those corporations with significant foreign operations. B. are exclusively headquartered in the United States. C. play much less of a role in contemporary economic affairs than is generally believed. D. experienced their most dramatic growth in the decade following World War II. E. are prohibited by a provision of the UN Charter that is never enforced.

A

All House of Representatives members are A. chosen by direct election every 2 years. B. selected by state legislatures every 2 years. C. chosen by direct election every 6 years. D. selected by state legislatures every 6 years. E. chosen by direct election every 4 years.

A

All of the following are cited in the text as reasons for the expansion of the U.S. foreign policy agenda in the wake of World War II except A. the weakened international economic position the United States found itself in at the end of the war. B. the decline of the major European capitalist powers. C. the growth of nationalism in newly independent countries in Asia and Africa. D. the challenge posed by the Soviet Union. E. the risk of a resumption of prewar economic depression.

A

As evidence of the dramatic increase in unilateralism that occurred during the presidency of George W. Bush, the text cites all of the following except A. the invasion of Grenada without a Declaration of War by Congress. B. opposition to the Kyoto Protocol on global warming. C. rejection of the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court. D. rejection of previously negotiated limits on antiballistic missile development. E. the shelving of a previously signed nuclear test ban treaty.

A

As of 2006, compared with other industrialized democracies, the United Stales spent percent of its GDP on health. A. a larger B. about the same C. a slightly lower D. much much lower E. an equal

A

Between 1967 and 2007, the poverty rate for the elderly _________ and the poverty rate for children A. declined ... stayed roughly the same B. stayed roughly the same ... stayed roughly the same C. increased... stayed roughly the same D. increased...increased E. increased... declined

A

Cmpared with people in most other industrial societies, people in the United States enjoy _______ social rights. A. less generous and fewer B. equally generous and about the same number of C. slightly more generous and a slightly greater number of D. much more generous E. a much greater number of

A

Compared with other economically developed countries, the gap between rich and poor in the United States is A. greater. B. about the same. C. slightly less. D. much less. E. so difficult to measure that it's impossible to make such comparisons.

A

Employed in the U.S. Senate, a(n) ________ is a technique to stop the progress of a piece of legislation by continuing debate and thus not permitting a vote. A. filibuster B. cloture C. discharge petition D. committee system E. reconciliation

A

Federalism is a political system in which A. national power is limited by the reservation of certain powers to the states. B. the Constitution guarantees citizens certain basic political liberties. C. there are checks and balances among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government. D. state constitutions trump the national constitution if there is a conflict between the two. E. the Constitution outlines the powers of state and local governments.

A

Government protection of citizens' economic and social well-being through instruments of social insurance and transfers to the needs broadly refers to A. the welfare state. B. public assistance programs. C. charity contributions. D. Social Security. E. economic regulation.

A

The first woman appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court is/was A. Sandra Day O'Connor. B. Ruth Bader Ginsburg. C. Sonia Sotomayor. D. Elena Kagan. E. Nancy Pelosi.

A

Government social policy programs that are funded by premiums paid by people in the labor market to support the benefits given to participants are called. A. social insurance programs B. public assistance programs C. private insurance programs D. unemployment insurance programs E. the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program

A

In 2010, U.S. government expenditures for social and economic development in poor regions of the world were approximately ______ the U.S. military budget. A. 4 percent of B. 10 percent of C. half of D. equal to E. twice as much as

A

In constant (1996) dollars, the value of the minimum wage was highest in A. 1968 B. 1978 C. 1988 D. 1998 E. 2008

A

In discussing social programs instituted during the New Deal, the text says all of the following except A. the federal government set the benefit levels for all of these programs. B. when the threat of civil disorder arose, the federal government expanded work relief programs. C. when the threat of disorder decreased, federally funded jobs diminished. D. social reform was part of the administration's strategy to keep the market economy functioning. E. many benefit levels were generally set quite low.

A

In discussing the operation of Congress, the text quotes a statement by John F. Kennedy that says A. it's much easier to defeat a bill in Congress than to pass one. B. it's much easier to pass a bill in Congress than to defeat one. C. it's about as easy to defeat a bill in Congress as it is to pass one. D. conference committees are unnecessary. E. conference committees should undertake more responsibility for overseeing the federal bureaucracy.

A

In his presidential farewell address, George Washington A. urged the United States to avoid entangling alliances. B. encouraged the United Slates to seek as many alliances as possible to keep Great Britain from trying to regain control of its former colonies. C. said the United States should reaffirm its commitment to the Monroe Doctrine. D. said the United States should renounce its commitment to the Monroe Doctrine. E. emphasized the numerous geographic disadvantages facing the United States.

A

In its discussion of the Cold War, the text uses the term "proxy war" in reference to A. the armed conflicts between U.S. client states and insurgent movements backed by the Soviet Union. B. the bitter diplomatic negotiations between the Soviet Union and the United States. C. the intense controversies among U.S. citizens over the merits of U.S. foreign policy. D. the frequent nuclear confrontations between the Soviet Union and the United States. E. the military skirmishes in Europe between the U.S. and Soviet troops that never developed into all-out war.

A

In the realm of foreign policy, the Constitution sets up structure of government in which A. the Congress and the president share power. B. the Congress, the president, and the United States's twenty largest cities share power. C. only the Congress has power. D. only the president has power. E. only ambassadors and the military's top generals have power.

A

Skeptics" differ from "globalists" in that the skeptics A. stress the political causes of what is usually called globalization. B. stress the technological causes of what is usually called globalization. C. deny there has been an increase in any key global economic flows. D. include all labor unions among their ranks. E. include all large corporations among their ranks.

A

Substantive democracy refers to A. whether all citizens have equitable chances to influence and control the making of decisions that affect them. B. the existence of democratic procedures such as the right to vote. C. the existence of democratic institutions such as a legislative branch elected by the people. D. the existence of a Bill of Rights. E. the right to run for public office regardless of one's race, gender, ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation.

A

Ten years after the Brown decision, what percentage of Southern black children were in non-segregated schools? A. 1 percent B. 25 percent C. 50 percent D. 75 percent E. Nearly 100 percent

A

The Articles of Confederation A. allowed each state to retain its sovereignty and independence. B. were signed in C. provided for an extremely strong and powerful national government. D. gave the president much more power than it gave Congress. E. is just another name for what is usually called the Constitution.

A

The Seventeenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution A. dealt with the election of senators. B. dealt with the election of members of the House of Representatives. C. changed the constitutional authority of the Speaker of the House. D. legalized filibusters. E. made the Senate less malapportioned than the House.

A

The case of Marbury v. Madison A. established the precedent that the Supreme Court could declare laws unconstitutional. B. dealt with the scope of national power as opposed to state power. C. established that blacks could not be considered property under the law. D. established that states could not pass laws abridging free speech. E. involved the phrase, "a switch in time saved nine."

A

The largest part of the welfare stale consists of A. social insurance programs. B. federal aid to education. C. Medicaid. D. food stamps. E. Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF).

A

The making of foreign policy A. is concentrated within the executive branch. B. is concentrated within the Congress. C. frequently involves the House of Representatives but never the Senate. D. frequently involves the Senate but never the House of Representatives. E. takes place without any input from transnational corporations (TNCs).

A

The number of representatives from each state elected to the House of Representatives is based on A. the state's population. B. the geographic size of the state. C. the year the state is admitted to the union (older states have greater representation). D. the amount of federal tax revenue generated in that state. E. equal representation of each state.

A

The program that offers health insurance to the elderly is called A. Medicare B. Medicaid C. Temporary Assistance to Needy Families D. Social Security E. the Affordable Health Care Act

A

The rule of four refers to A. the minimum number of Supreme Court justices needed to choose cases. B. the minimum number of Supreme Court justices needed to decide a case. C. the number of justices on the U.S. Supreme Court. D. the number of justices presiding over an impeachment. E. the number of conservative justices on the Roberts Court.

A

The set of key executive institutions that are close advisers to the president on major policy areas, including the budget, social and economic issues, intelligence, and security is the . A. Executive Office of the President B. Cabinet C. Independent Regulatory Commission D. military-industrial complex E. Conference Committee

A

Unlike the situation in parliamentary regimes, the president is A. head of state and head of government. B. neither the head of state nor the head of government. C. the head of state but not the head of government. D. the head of government but not the head of state. E. there is no difference between being the head of state and being the head of government in a parliamentary regime.

A

What constituency does a member of the House of Representatives represent? A. congressional district within a state B. county C. state D. city E. the United States as a whole

A

What percent of the U.S's total income is earned by the poorest 20% of the country's households? A. Approximately 3% B. Approximately 9% C. Approximately 15% D. More than 20% E. More than 50%

A

What was the Constitutional reasoning that the Supreme Court used to uphold the Affordable Care Act? A. Congress's power to tax B. Congress's power to regulate commerce C. the federal government's responsibility to provide for the general welfare D. the president's power to execute the laws of Congress E. the police power of state governments

A

Which of the following is included on the text's list of countries that possess nuclear weapons? A. Israel B. Iraq C. Cuba D. Egypt E. Canada

A

A federal system is one in which A. the states retain full sovereignty. B. authority is divided between national and state governments. C. the president is elected by an Electoral College. D. power is shared among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the government. E. all government officials are elected by the people

B

Abu Ghraib is the name of the A. Iraqi leader who succeeded Saddam Hussein. B. prison in which Iraqi prisoners were abused. C. city that was the location of the most important battle of the Iraqi War. D. first al-Qaeda operative illegally tortured by the CIA. E. city in which U.S. missiles aimed at al-Qaeda leaders also killed many civilians.

B

According to the Constitution as it was originally ratified A. members of the House of Representatives would be elected by the people every six years. B. senators would be chosen by the state legislatures. C. the president has the power to declare war. D. Congress is prohibited from regulating interstate commerce. E. justices of the Supreme Court are elected by the House of Representatives and the Senate.

B

According to the text A. voters in large stall's are more represented in lire Senate than are voters in small stales. B. voters in small stales are more represented in the Senate than are voters in the large states. C. voters in small and large states are equally represented in the Senate. D. racial and ethnic minorities are the ones who most benefit from whatever malapportionment exists in the Senate. E. voters in small and large states are equally represented in the House of Representatives.

B

According to the text, President Clinton's social policy was shaped by A. his unswerving commitment to the programs of the Great Society and of the New Deal. B. the need to reduce the federal deficit and a conservative definition of the welfare problem. C. the need to gain the support of black and Latino voters. D. the Democratic Party's hope to regain the support of white voters in the South. E. the need for the Democratic Party to gain the support of women voters.

B

According to the text, at the Constitutional Convention, the Founders rejected a suggestion that the president be directly elected by the people because A. most wanted the presidency to be weaker than it was under the Articles of Confederation. B. doing so would make the president responsive to the democratic spirit they wanted to tame. C. like James Wilson, most wanted the president to be chosen by Congress. D. like Alexander Hamilton, most wanted the president to serve a life term. E. most wanted the president to be chosen by the Supreme Court.

B

According to the text, earmarks are A. all money appropriated by Congress. B. the practice of inserting authorizations for a specific project in a bill. C. the practice of inserting signing statements into a bill. D. the practice of specifying that a bill won't be subject to a filibuster. E. the practice of letting lobbyists write provisions of important legislation.

B

According to the text, in the years after World War II, income from foreign investments A. virtually disappeared. B. became an important factor in U.S. global hegemony. C. was outlawed by the UN Charter. D. served primarily to finance public health and education in the developing world. E. was of no importance to transnational corporations (TNCs).

B

According to the text, the U.S. welfare state is conservative because A. it corrects the basic structural inequalities of corporate capitalism. B. it stabilizes the corporate capitalist system. C. it offers a more egalitarian alternative to the marketplace. D. generally, working-class and poor people support it. E. its costs and benefits are equally shared.

B

According to the text, the executive branch of government consists of a series of concentric circles surrounding the president. The circle which is the closest to the president is A. the president's cabinet. B. the Executive Office of the President. C. the independent agencies. D. the Office of Presidential Appointees. E. the White House Office of Presidential Advisors.

B

According to the text, the lopsided distribution of income and wealth is or was a central concern of _______. A. The tea party movement B. The occupy wall street movement C. The business Roundtables D. The federalists E. The abolistionist movement

B

According to the text, the most powerful vice president ever is/was A. Joseph Biden B. Richard Cheney C. Al Gore D. Dan Quayle E. George H.W. Bush

B

According to the text, the recession and global economic crisis of 2008 A. reaffirmed the dangers of too much government regulation of the market. B. called into question the ideology and practice of less-regulated capitalism. C. shows that the world is less interconnected than is generally believed. D. was predicted a decade earlier by Federal Reserve Chair Alan Greenspan. E. is conclusive proof of the validity of Ronald Reagan's ideas.

B

According to the text: A. Senators arc generally more centrist than House members because they arc older. B. Senators arc generally more centrist than House members because they represent broader constituencies. C. House members are more centrist because they stand for election more frequently. D. House members are more centrist because they have longer careers than senators. E. Senators are more extreme because they are older and in general have more money than House members.

B

All of the following statements regarding congressional committees are true except A. committees are legislative gatekeepers. B. the Speaker of the House is a member of all of the House of Representatives' committees. C. committees perform the bulk of the legislative work in Congress. D. mere than 90 percent of all bills submitted to Congress do not make it out of committee. E. conference committees are composed of members of the House and the Senate that meet to reconcile differences in a bill passed by the two chambers.

B

How many federal courts of appeals are there? A. 5 B. 12 C. 25 D. 32 E. 50

B

In discussing the expansion of the government's international security apparatus during the George W. Bush administration, the text makes all of the following, claims except A. the Patriot Act's definition of terrorism was extremely vague and broad. B. Pentagon lawyers unanimously supported President Bush's order about how to deal with unlawful combatants. C. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said that the Geneva Convention's strict limitations on questioning enemy prisoners were obsolete. D. the United States violated many international agreements that it had ratified. E. 2004 saw the start of a pushback against the Bush administration's handling of prisoners and detainees.

B

In discussing the sources of presidential power, the text says presidents can make skillful use of patronage. Of the following, which is the best example of patronage? A. modifying proposed legislation in ways that benefit particular members of Congress B. nominating federal judges C. delivering speeches in carefully selected locations D. refusing to meet with particular members of Congress E. raising money for particular candidates

B

In discussing what it terms the Imperial Presidency, the text identifies all of the following as sources of presidential power except A. the president's unlimited access to the media. B. the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution. C. the president's power to manage the federal bureaucracy. D. the president's ability to raise money and make appearances for other candidates for public office. E. Article II of the Constitution.

B

In the House of representatives over the past fifty years, the number of Republicans from the South has _________, and the number of Republicans from the Northeast has ________. A. increased ... increased B. increased ... decreased C. decreased ... increased D. decreased ... decreased E. stayed approximately the same ... stayed approximately the same

B

In the areas of civil liberties and civil rights, President George W. Bush's judicial appointees have been A. the most liberal on record. B. the most conservative on record. C. the most progressive on record. D. balanced liberal and conservative. E. the most socialist on record.

B

John Locke was A. a political philosopher who said the executive branch was the supreme power in any government. B. a political philosopher who said the legislature was the supreme power in any government. C. a political philosopher who said the judiciary was the supreme power in any government. D. the author of Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution. E. the first Speaker of the House of Representatives.

B

Michael Harrington was A. President Truman's Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare. B. an author whose book drew national attention to poverty. C. the author of the GI Bill. D. the author of the Fair Labor Standards Act. E. the union leader during whose tenure unionized workers obtained the best health insurance in the United States.

B

On average, the U.S. Supreme Court usually hears ______ cases per year. A. about 50 B. less than 100 C. about 200 D. about 1,000 E. more than 1,000

B

Over the subsequent ten years, the health reform that became law in 2010 is estimated by the Congressional Budget to A. increase the federal deficit by $138 billion. B. decrease the federal deficit by $138 billion. C. increase the federal deficit by a trillion dollars. D. decrease the federal deficit by a trillion dollars. E. have no effect on the federal deficit.

B

The Constitution dealt with slavery by A. making slaves citizens. B counting every five slaves as three persons for apportioning seats in the House of Representatives. C. prohibiting Congress from ever passing laws abolishing the importation of slaves. D. declaring that a slave would be free forever if she or he escaped to a state that prohibited slavery. E. outlawing slavery in the North, but not in the South.

B

The Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which provided significant federal aid to K-12 education for the first time, was first passed in A. 1955 B. 1965 C. 1975 D. 1985 E. 1995

B

The Great Compromise refers to the Constitutional Convention debate concerning A. ratification of the Constitution. B. representation in Congress. C. the division of power between the federal government and the states. D. the election of the president. E. the number of justices on the U.S. Supreme Court.

B

The Social Security Act was passed in A. 1925 B. 1935 C. 1945 D. 1955 E. 1965

B

The U.S. Constitution grants the power to declare war to A. the people. B. Congress. C. the Secretary of Defense. D. the House of Representatives. E. the President.

B

The United States contains about ____ percent of the world's population, but accounts for about ____ percent of the world's gross domestic product (GDP). A. 5 ... 13 B. 5 ... 23 C. 5 ... 33 D. 15 ... 33 E. 53

B

The United States has approximately ___ percent of the world's population, and accounts for approximately ___ percent of the world's wealth. A. 5 ... 5 B. 5 ... 33 C. 5 ... 50 D. 10 ... 20 E. 10 ... 40

B

The ____ is a group of key administrative officials appointed by the president to direct major departments of government. A. Executive Office of the President B. Cabinet C. Independent Regulatory Commission D. Conference Committee E. Chiefs of Staff

B

The approval of presidential appointments and foreign treaties requires A. approval and confirmation by the House of Representatives. B. approval and confirmation by the U.S. Senate. C. approval and confirmation by the states. D. approval and confirmation by the U.S. Supreme Court. E. no approval or confirmation is necessary by other branches of government.

B

The case of McCulloch v. Maryland A. established the precedent that the Supreme Court could declare laws unconstitutional. B. dealt with the scope of national power as opposed to state power. C. established that blacks could not be considered property under the law. D. established that states could not pass laws abridging free speech. E. involved the phrase, "a switch in time saved nine."

B

The election of judges may be problematic for a democracy because A. the President has no role in choosing judges. B. as the cost of campaigning increases, judges may be tempted to rule in favor of those who contribute to their campaigns. C. the House of Representatives has not reviewed the judges' credentials. D. private financing of judicial elections is illegal. E. elected judges have less experience in the legal profession than appointed judges.

B

The official who directs the day-to-day work of government is called A. the head of state. B. the head of government. C. a U.S. Senator. D. a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. E. Supreme Court Justice.

B

The power of the president to reject a bill passed by Congress is called a(n) A. pardon. B. veto. C. presidential privilege. D. discretionary power. E. executive order.

B

The program that offers health insurance to the needy is called A. Medicare B. Medicaid C. Temporary Assistance to Needy Families D. Aid to Families with Dependent Children E. the Affordable Health Care Act

B

The text attributes the political downfall of President Johnson's Great Society initiative to all of the following except A. divisions between private sector and public sector workers. B. divisions between men and women. C. the division of workers covered by social insurance programs versus poor people receiving public assistance. D. the resentment of some whites over the racial focus of the Great Society. E. the Vietnam War.

B

The text cites President Andrew Jackson's comment on a Supreme Court decision mainly to illustrate the book's point that A. it is very difficult to remove federal judges from office. B. there are many limitations on the power of the courts. C. the courts are the most powerful branch of government because they have the power of judicial review. D. federal judges have extraordinary independence. E. federal judges' salaries cannot be reduced.

B

Welfare state programs that transfer funds to needy persons and families to help them secure a decent standard of living and become more self-sufficient are called . A. social insurance programs B. public assistance programs C. Social Security programs D. charity programs E. private insurance programs

B

When Brown v. Board of Education was decided, the chief justice was A. William Brennan. B. Earl Warren. C. William Rehnquist. D. Thurgood Marshall. E. David Souter.

B

Which institution of the federal government has the power to impeach a public official? A. U.S. Supreme Court B. House of Representatives C. U.S. Senate D. the President E. the Attorney General

B

Which president warned against "unwarranted influence ... by the military-industrial complex"? A. Franklin Delano Roosevelt B. Dwight D. Eisenhower C. John F. Kennedy D. Ronald Reagan E. Bill Clinton

B

Which presidential role is illustrated by the presidential authority to negotiate treaties, appoint ambassadors, and receive ambassadors from foreign countries? A. commander in chief B. chief diplomat C. manager of the bureaucracy D. head of government E. party leader

B

Which statement is true regarding public assistance programs? A. They are no different from social insurance programs. B. They include TANF. C. They are not means tested. D. They provide benefits that are identical throughout the United States. E. They are rarely eroded by inflation.

B

Who/wlut is an incumbent? A. a person running tor political office B. a person that currently holds a political office C. the most senior member in the House of Representatives D. the most junior member in the House of Representatives E. the president of the Senate

B

A country's combined military and economic strength that results in it having a dominant position in the world is called a. A. democracy B. corporate complex C. superpower D. Titanic E. New World Order

C

A supermajority of ______ votes is needed to end a filibuster in the U.S. Senate. A. 50 B. 52 C. 60 D. 75 E. 100

C

According to llie text, the polices of the Obama administration have been similar to those of the George W. Bush administration in all of the following areas except A. using the doctrine of state secrets to oppose lawsuits challenging alleged torture. B. continuing to issue wiretaps without warrants for U.S. citizens suspected of links to terrorism. C. pursuing plans to build a missile-defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic. D. defending the policy of extraordinary rendition. E. practicing preventive detention.

C

According to the text A. the Electoral College tends to over-represent large states. B. the Electoral College tends to over-represent medium-size states. C. the Electoral College tends to over-represent small states. D. the size of the states that are better represented in the Electoral College depends on whether the president is a Republican or Democrat. E. the Electoral College represents all states equally.

C

According to the text A. the U.S. welfare state doesn't face any significant financial problems, and its future is certain. B. the public welfare state is under pressure, but the private welfare state isn't. C. both the public and private welfare states are under pressure. D. the private welfare state is under pressure, but the public welfare state isn't. E. the 2010 health reform will have so big an effect on both the private and public welfare states that it's impossible at this point to say anything about the pressures and strains on either the public or private welfare states.

C

According to the text A. the balance of power among the three branches of the national government has remained constant throughout U.S. history. B. the Congress, led by the Speaker of the House and Senate majority leader, is now the preeminent branch. C. the executive, directed by the president, is now the preeminent branch. D. the Supreme Court, directed by the chief justice, is now the preeminent branch. E. the federal bureaucracy is now the preeminent institution.

C

According to the text, between 1801 and 1904, the United States engaged in _____ military actions in Latin America. A. 1 B. 11 C. 101 D. 1,001 E. 1,000,001

C

According to the text, in the years after World War II, the United States A. ignored the developing countries of Asia, Africa, and Latin America. B. publicly renounced the Monroe Doctrine. C. expanded the scope of the Monroe Doctrine to include developing regions in Asia and Africa. D. passed legislation requiring transnational corporations (TNCs) to subscribe to the principles of the Monroe Doctrine. E. refused to allow TNCs to invest in the developing countries of Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

C

According to the text, large corporations have disproportionate political power mainly because A. almost all of their top executives are white men. B. the Constitution prohibits government from regulating business too heavily. C. the well-being of everyone as measured by jobs and income depends on the investment decisions and the profits of private firms. D. most politicians are susceptible to bribes. E. most government leaders were once CEOs of large corporations.

C

According to the text, the War on Poverty A. was so Hawed in design that there was no way it could have succeeded. B. was designed well but failed because it was poorly implemented. C. reduced the number of people in poverty. D. increased the political unity between people receiving public assistance and those covered by social insurance. E. was a program that almost all conservatives had to admit was a success.

C

According to the text, the common thread among the UN, IMF, GATT, WTO, and OECD is A. they were created to promote world peace. B. they were created to promote democracy. C. they were created to regulate the world's political and economic order. D. they were created to protect the financial interests of the United States. E. they were organized to give equal voice to all countries.

C

According to the text, the principle of majority rule A. is of no relevance in a representative democracy. B. is applied in the United States to virtually every important issue. C. is applied in the United States only to a confined range of issues. D. is the principle upon which the Declaration of Independence is based. E. is the principle upon which the Constitution is based.

C

According to the text, today considerable power has gravitated to the federal government, but for much of U.S. history, the bulk of government power A. was also exercised by the national government. B. was exercised by local governments such as those of cities and towns. C. was exercised by state governments. D. was exercised by the Supreme Court. E. was exercised by small businesses.

C

All of the following about No Child Left Behind arc true except A. It was passed during the administration of President George W. Bush. B. one of Its main aims was to decrease the achievement gap between advantaged and disadvantaged students. C. It had very little support from Democrats. D. many states consider It an unfunded mandate. E. many critics charge that the federal government has failed to fund It adequately

C

All of the following statements are true about Congress except A. Congress is the most democratic institution in the federal government. B. Congress is less male and less white than it used to be. C. a large number of members are from working-class occupations. D. Congress containes a much higher proportion of whites than the population as a whole. E. Congress contains a much higher proportion of males than the population as a whole.

C

An economic system based on the private ownership of property in which profit is pursued through the investment of capital and the employment of labor is called A. the market. B. the corporate complex. C. capitalism. D. republicanism. E. democracy.

C

Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution states that Congress shall have all of the following powers except the power to A. declare war. B. collect taxes. C. make treaties. D. borrow money. E. establish post offices.

C

As of 2013, African Americans comprised approximately 12 percent of the electorate, occupied approximately percent of the seats in the House, and occupied approximately percent of the seats in the Senate. A. 12 ... 5 B. 12 ... 1 C. 9 ... 1 D. 12 ... 12 E. 1 ... 1

C

Baker v. Carr and Reynolds v. Sims were Supreme Court cases A. that dealt primarily with school desegregation. B. that dealt primarily with the rights of people charged with crimes. C. that dealt with voting rights. D. that overturned the rule of four. E. that led to the Constitutional Revolution of

C

Currently, the unit rule in presidential elections is used A. in all states because the Constitution requires that it be used. B. in all states even though the Constitution doesn't require that it be used. C. in the vast majority of states. D. in about half the states. E. in only a few states.

C

Elementary and high school education in the United States in most financed by _______. A. the federal government B. state governments C. local governments D. local school boards E. tuition paid by individuals

C

Firms with significant foreign operations are called _____. A. horizontal businesses B. vertical businesses C. transnational corporations D. constellation corporations E. multi-government organizations

C

How many federal district courts are there? A. 1 B. 50 C. 94 D. 435 E. 535

C

In 2011, the top 1 percent of income earners in the United States owned about ____ of the nation's wealth. A. 5 percent B. 25 percent C. 40 percent D. 60 percent E. 80 percent

C

In support of its claim that mothers' pensions are an example of how roles based on gender and race can be inscribed in social policy, the text points out that A. mothers' pensions benefited African American women, especially those who had been slaves or whose mothers had been slaves. B. only women who proved they were unable to find a job were eligible for mothers' pensions. C. to receive mothers' pensions, women had to conform to traditional gender roles, and black women were denied pensions in many places. D. the legislation authorizing these pensions was written by white men. E. the bureaucrats administering these pensions were white men.

C

In the United States, the president serves as A. the head of state only. B. the head of government only. C. both the head of state and the head of government. D. head of state, while the vice president serves as head of government. E. head of government, while the vice president serves as head of state.

C

Means-tested programs are programs that are available to A. all citizens in the labor force. B. all citizens regardless of labor force participation. C. citizens whose income or wealth is below a level set by law. D. citizens whose income or wealth is above a level set by law. E. only to citizens above the age of

C

Members of the House of Representatives serve ____ year terms, and the House currently has ____ members. A. 2 ... 235 B. 2 ... 335 C. 2 ... 435 D. 4 ... 335 E. 4 ... 435

C

Of the following, which is an independent regulatory commission? A. the Office of Management and Budget B. the National Security Council C. the Federal Reserve Board D. the Department of State E. the Bureau of the Census

C

The "switch in time that saved nine" refers primarily to A. a Congressional vote that led to the approval of much of FDR's New Deal legislation. B. the Dred Scott decision. C. a change in the way the Supreme Court voted on FDR's New Deal legislation. D. a change in the way the Supreme Court voted on free speech cases. E. a change in the way the Supreme Court voted to end racial discrimination.

C

The Declaration of Independence A. was signed in 1787 B. was written to compensate for the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation. C. states that all human beings have certain unalienable rights. D. is just another name for what is usually called the Constitution E. affirmed Great Britan's right to rule the thirteen colonies.

C

The Monroe Doctrine dealt primarily with the United States, Europe, and A. Africa. B. Asia. C. Latin America. D. the Mediterranean. E. the increased Russian colonization of Alaska.

C

The U.S. Constitution makes the ______ commander in chief of the military. A. highest-ranking U.S. Army General B. Secretary of Defense C. President D. Joint Chiefs of Staff E. highest-ranking U.S. Navy Officer

C

The United States produces approximately _____ percent of the world's oil, and accounts for approximately ____ percent of the world's oil consumption. A. 1 ... 10 B. 5 ... 5 C. 5 ... 25 D. 5 ... 50 E. 10 ... 75

C

The campaign money that a congressional candidate raises A. comes exclusively from donors within the candidate's district. B. comes exclusively from donors outside the candidate's district. C. comes from donors inside and outside the candidate's district. D. comes exclusively from government funds earmarked for congressional elections, E. always comes exclusively from their own private wealth.

C

The case of Roe v. Wade dealt with A. the right of a criminal defendant to be represented by an attorney. B. school busing to achieve racial desegregation. C. a woman's right to an abortion. D. one person, one vote, E. affirmative action.

C

The first African American on the U.S. Supreme Court is/was A. Dred Scott. B. Earl Warren. C. Thurgood Marshall. D. Clarence Thomas. E. William Brandeis.

C

The first Hispanic appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court is/was A. Samuel Alito. B. Antonin Scalia. C. Sonia Sotomayor. D. Alberto Gonzales. E. Ken Salazar.

C

The health reform passed in 2010 says that beginning in 2014 A. the federal government will pay 50 percent of the cost of an abortion for women who receive Medicaid. B. the federal government will pay 100 percent of the cost of an abortion for women who receive Medicaid. C. employers with more than fifty workers will have to provide affordable insurance or pay a penalty. D. all people in the U.S. will have an opportunity to enroll in a public option, that is, insurance provided by the government that competes effectively with plans offered by insurance companies. E. 25 percent of the patients of dermatologists, surgeons, neurologists, and other specialists must be either Medicare or Medicaid recipients.

C

The incentive to get reelected powerfully shapes the preferences and decisions of legislators. This incentive is often referred to as the . A. policy position B. constituents C. electoral connection D. political action committee E. earmark

C

The number of a state's electors in the Electoral College is determined by A. the state's population. B. the number of members the state elects to the House of Representatives. C. the sum of the state's members in the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. D. the number of the state's U.S. Senators. E. electoral laws established by Congress.

C

The president's powers are enumerated in ______ of the U.S. Constitution. A. the Bill of Rights B. Article I C. Article II D. the Preamble E. the Amendments

C

The social insurance program passed in 1935 that offers income in old age and protection against disability and unemployment is called . A. unemployment compensation B. workers' compensation C. Social Security D. public assistance E. Medicaid

C

The text makes all of the following claims except A. formal, legal equality is compromised in a society with racial, gender, and class inequalities. B. as opposed to what Chief Justice John Roberts has said, courts don't merely apply the rules, they decide what the rules are. C. judges do not have policy goals and should never be influenced by public opinion. D. it's hard to pin down whether the law is a progressive or conservative force. E. many people on death row are there because they're poor and can't afford to hire good lawyers.

C

The text quotes a study by political scientist Larry Bartels comparing the preferences of constituents who are wealthy, middle ciass, and poor with the voting of senators on government speeding, abortion, civil rights, and the minimum wage. The study found that A. senators were equally responsive to the wealthy, the middle class, and the poor. B. senators were more responsive to the opinions of the middle class than to those of the wealthy or the poor. C. senators were more responsive to the opinions of the wealthy than to those of the middle class, and weren't at all respective to the poor. D. senators were most respective to the poor. E. senators weren't responsive to the rich, the middle class, or the poor.

C

What constituency does a Senator represent? A. congressional district within a state B. county C. state D. city E. the United States as a whole

C

When the text discusses the private or hidden welfare state, it is referring primarily to A. TANF benefits obtained through fraud. B. Social Security benefits obtained through fraud. C. pensions, health insurance, and other benefits provided by employers. D. the underground economy in which people arc paid in cash and don't pay any taxes. E. the benefits received by undocumented immigrants.

C

When the text says that "the private welfare state is really not so private," this mainly means that A. the data on these issues is readily available to the public. B. the U.S. government collects taxes on the benefits paid through the private welfare state. C. the government subsidizes the private welfare state through the tax code. D. beneficiaries of the private welfare state are U.S. citizens. E. Congress determines the level and duration of all benefits paid by the private welfare state.

C

________ is the doctrine that U.S. interests are best served by minimizing U.S. involvement in international affairs. A. Multilateralism B. Unilateralism C. Isolationism D. Internationalism E. The Monroe Doctrine

C

__________ is the organization created during the Cold War by most democratic states in Western Europe and North America pledging a common military response if any one of them was attacked. A. The United Nations B. The Warsaw Pact C. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) D. NAFTA E. The WTO

C

__________ was the Supreme Court decision that outlawed state-sanctioned segregation in public schools. A. Dred Scott v. Sandford B. Plessy v. Ferguson C. Brown v. Board of Education D. Engel v. Vitale E. McCulloch v. Maryland

C

According to the text, the Founders A. all secretly wanted the United States to be a monarchy. B. wanted to make it easy for government to respond to the wishes of the majority of citizens. C. were not concerned with protecting property rights. D. feared that democracy could endanger the rights of property owners. E. were following the examples of dozens of other countries in trying to establish government in which political authority would be in the hands of the people, not a king.

D

According to the text, the Founders A. were not worried about an excess of democracy. B. were worried about an excess of democracy but thought nothing could be done to prevent it. C. viewed the House as providing more protection against excess of democracy than would the Senate. D. viewed the Senate as providing more protection against excess of democracy than would the House. E. viewed the House and the Senate as providing equal protection against excess of democracy.

D

According to the text, the U.S. Constitution divides political power A. vertically but not horizontally. B. horizontally but not vertically. C. neither horizontally nor vertically. D. both horizontally and vertically. E. horizontally, vertically, and circularly.

D

According to the text, the appointment of judges is hard to reconcile with democratic theory because A. Congress cannot lower their salaries. B. Judges have the power of judicial review. C. Judges serve as umpires in courts of law. D. Judges selected by appointment are not accountable to voters. E. Judges can be removed by referendum.

D

According to the text, the most open and accessible branch of government is the A. presidency. B. Supreme Court. C. Federal Reserve. D. Congress. E. Federal Elections Commission.

D

According to the text, the most powerful predictor of an individual's health and mortality is that individual's _____. A. genetics B. exposure to carcinogens C. smoking D. social class posistion E. race

D

According to the text, the primary purpose of the health reform that passed in 2010 was to A. help President Obama get reelected by strengthening the electoral coalition that brought the Democrats to power in 200 B. resolve the tension between democracy and capitalism. C. facilitate a government takeover of almost one-sixth of the U.S. economy. D. reduce the number of people in the United States who were outside the system of health insurance. E. decrease federal expenditures for TANF, food stamps, and oilier forms of public assistance.

D

According to the text, the principal mission of the U.S. military and foreign policy defense establishment is to A. generate profits for military contractors. B. expand human rights around the world. C. oppose Islamic fundamentalism. D. maintain a stable, integrated world order under U.S. dominance. E. address the U.S. trade and budgetary deficits.

D

According to the text, why do federal courts tend to lag behind other political institutions and act as a drag on political change? A. because there are only nine Supreme Court Justices B. because federal court judges tend to be elderly C. because the federal courts lack democratic legitimacy D. because federal judges enjoy a lifetime tenure E. because the federal courts have always been a conservative institution

D

All of the following statements about the Bill of Rights are true except A. it constitutes the first ten amendments of the Constitution. B. it prohibits Congress from designating any religion as an official one. C. it prohibits courts from requiring people to testify against themselves. D. it guarantees all adults over the age of twenty-one the right to vote. E. it reserves to the people or the states any powers not explicitly assigned to the federal government.

D

Although the text notes that some legislators do a good job of representing constituents whose demographic characteristics are different from those of the legislators, the book states that the social background of legislators is important because A. the Constitution says it is. B. it's necessary to remedy the sexism of the Declaration of Independence's statement that all men are created equal. C. some men may be able to represent women effectively (or vice versa), but racial divisions in this country are so deep that it's impossible for most whites to represent blacks effectively (or vice versa). D. legislators bring assumptions to their work based on their life experiences, and variations in life experience are likely to affect legislators' sensitivity to and awareness of certain issues. E. it is impossible for a legislator to represent constituents who do not share his or her religion.

D

Compared to the gap between high and low incomes in the United States, the wealth gap is A. much smaller. B. slightly smaller. C. about the same. D. greater. E. so difficult to measure that it's impossible to make such comparisons.

D

Congress' responsibility to monitor, supervise, and review how the executive agencies of the federal government conduct their affairs is called . A. casework B. the electoral connection C. confirmation D. oversight E. earmark

D

Following Reconstruction, the Fourteenth Amendment, according to the text A. did an excellent job of protecting both corporate interests and black civil rights. B. did nothing to protect either corporate interests or black civil rights. C. served to protect black civil rights more than corporate interests. D. served to protect corporate interests more than black civil rights. E. allowed the Supreme Court to overrule its earlier decision in Marbury v. Madison.

D

For the most part, U.S. foreign policy is formulated and implemented by , A. transnational corporations B. the U.S. Senate C. the U.S. House of Representatives D. the President E. the voting public

D

Generally, Senate races are more competitive than House of Representatives races for all of the following reasons except A. Senate incumbents face more experienced challengers. B. Senate incumbents face better-financed challengers. C. statewide constituencies are large enough that one party does not dominate them. D. the two-year term of office for Senators does not allow them sufficient time to raise enough campaign money to discourage challengers. E. Senate incumbents tend to ride the president's electoral "coattails" much more effectively than incumbents in the House of Representatives.

D

How are federal judges chosen? A. elected directly by the people B. appointed by the American Bar Association C. nominated by state governors and selected by the President D. nominated by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate E. nominated by the President and confirmed by the House of Representatives

D

In 2010, ______ Americans lacked health insurance. A. no B. nearly 1 million C. nearly 10 millirm D. nearly 50 million E. nearly 100 million

D

In 2011, the United States intervened militarily in _______ to depose Muammar al-Gaddafi. A. Afghanistan B. Pakistan C. Syria D. Libya E. Egypt

D

In discussing criteria for assessing how well a representative democracy is working, the text says all of the following except A. it's important to consider whether representatives are aware of constituents' interests. B. it's important to consider whether representatives are responsive to constituents' interests. C. it's important to consider whether representatives are effective in acting on behalf of constituents. D. it's important to consider whether the representatives live in the same neighborhood as their constituents. E. it's important to consider how inequality of resources affects the operation of the representative democracy.

D

In discussing the consequences of the president beingthe commander in chief of the armed forces, the textsays all of the following except A. the Constitution gives Congress, not the president, the power to declare war. B. the Founders intended the president's power as commander in chief to be confined to the limited occasions when hostilities begin. C. President Reagan ordered the invasion of Grenada without seeking Congressional authorization. D. President Lincoln was unique among U.S. presidents in that he never undertook military action without first obtaining Congressional approval. E. President Polk provoked war with Mexico in 1846 by sending U.S. troops into disputed land between Texas and Mexico.

D

In the aftermath of the Spanish-American War, the United States A. retreated to a policy of isolationism. B. renounced the policy of gunboat diplomacy. C. acquired Venezuela as a colony. D. made a colony of Puerto Rico and imposed a protectorate on Cuba. E. was forced to acknowledge the legitimacy of ongoing Spanish rule over Puerto Rico and Cuba.

D

In the aftermath of the U.S. invasion of Iraq A. the United Nations found definitive proof that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). B. the United States produced conclusive evidence that Iraq had WMDs. C. no WMDs were found, but there was definitive proof that Iraq was actively producing them. D. no WMDs were found, nor was there any evidence of an active program to build them. E. the United States said it would destroy all of its WMDs since Iraq was no longer a threat.

D

In the first decade of the twenty-first century, approximately _______ percent of people in the United States were living in poverty at some point. A. 10 B. 20 C. 30 D. 40 E. 50

D

Incumbents generally enjoy an advantage in elections for all of the following reasons except A. they have experience at their jobs. B. seniority makes them more likely to influence legislation that advantage their constituents. C. generally incumbents have a fund-raising advantage. D. they run as political outsiders. E. they have mailing privileges that others do not.

D

Most social insurance programs benefit A. unemployed people. B. unmarried women with more than one child. C. African Americans. D. the working middle class. E. insurance companies.

D

Regarding military spending, the United States spends A. about the same as the second-biggest military spending nation, China B. slightly more than the second-biggest military spending nation, China C. about the same as the next five highest military spending nations combined D. more than the next fifteen highest military spending nations combined E. more than all other nations combined

D

Senators serve ____ year terms, and each state has _____ senator(s). A. two ... one B. four ... one C. four ... two D. six ... two E. eight... two

D

Since 1980, the gap between rich and poor in the united states has A. decreased a lot B. decreased a little C. stayed about the same D. increased E. been so difficult to measure that there's no was of knowing whether the gap has decreased, increased, or remained the same.

D

The 40-hour work week and the first national minimum wage were established by A. voluntary agreement among businesses B. the Lochner U.S. Supreme Court decision C. President Harry Truman's executive order D. the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 E. the Social Security Act of 1935

D

The Cold War occurred in the years A. leading up to World War I. B. immediately after World War I. C. leading up to World War II. D. after World War II. E. following the breakup of the Soviet Union.

D

The Constitution as initially ratified said that senators would be _____, and members of the House of Representatives would be ______. A. elected by the people ... elected by the people B. elected by the people ... appointed by the state legislatures C. elected by the people... appointed by the president and the state legislatures working together D. appointed by the state legislatures ... elected by the people E. appointed by the state legislatures ... appointed by the state legislatures

D

The Great Society was initiated by President A. Truman. B. Eisenhower. C. Kennedy. D. Johnson. E. Nixon.

D

The House of Representatives is composed of ______ members. A. 50 B. 100 C. 270 D. 435 E. 535

D

The Marshall Plan A. was a restatement of the Monroe Doctrine. B. was the failed plan for a military victory in Vietnam. C. was primarily about U.S. aid to countries in Asia and Africa in the years after World War II. D. involved aid to Europe in the years after World War II. E. laid the basis for the formation of the United Nations.

D

The National Labor Relations Board, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Federal Reserve Board are all examples of A. the Cabinet. B. Congressional Committees. C. Special Presidential Committees. D. Independent Regulatory Commissions. E. Executive Departments.

D

The close relationship between business and goernment is referred to as a A. market economy B. constitutional democracy C. system of checks and balances D. corporate complex E. superpower

D

The final interpreter of the U.S. Constitution is _______. A. the president B. the people C. Congress D. the U.S. Supreme Court E. the states

D

The foreign policy approach that asserted the right of the United States to launch a preemptive military attack if the president decided that an opponent was planning an attack is called . A. Gunboat diplomacy B. the Monroe Doctrine C. the Truman Doctrine D. the Bush Doctrine E. the Obama Doctrine

D

The national government is characterized by a system of checks and balances that includes all of the following except A. the capacity to govern is shared by the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. B. the president can veto congressional legislation. C. the Senate must approve key presidential appointments. D. the president can remove Supreme Court justices whose decisions are unconstitutional. E. the Supreme Court can review laws passed by Congress and signed by the president.

D

The private welfare state is _____ government programs in terms of who benefits and how much they benefit. A. much less inequitable than B. slightly less inequitable than C. equally inequitable as D. more inequitable than E. more equitable than

D

The text points out that for years after the 9/11 attacks, seven out of ten U.S. citizens believed that Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein was linked to the attacks despite there being no credible evidence of this connection. The book makes this point primarily to support its claim that A. U.S. citizens know less about foreign affairs than do citizens in other countries. B. the media is filled with lies, half-truths, and meaningless propaganda. C. the George W. Bush administration lied to the public more than any other administration. D. the president has an unparalleled advantage in defining political reality for most U.S. citizens. E. Hussein's U.S. supporters failed to make effective arguments on his behalf.

D

The text says the U.S. system of political power incorporates all of the following elements except A. a system of separation of powers. B. a system of shared powers. C. a system of checks and balances. D. a system where the executive and legislative branches are fused. E. system of federalism

D

The trial of impeachment takes place in A. U.S. Supreme Court B. Federal District Court C. the House of Representatives D. the U.S. Senate E. the Office of the Executive

D

What percent of the U.S's total income is earned by the richest 20% of the country's households? A. Approximately 20% B. Approximately 30% C. Approximately 40% D. More than 50% E. More than 80%

D

When political scientists say that the United States has a dual court system, they most often mean that A. the Senate must confirm all appointees to the Supreme Court B. the House of Representatives must confirm all appointees to the Supreme Court. C. the federal judiciary has both district and appeals courts. D. state and federal systems of justice exist side by side. E. not all judges take a strict constructionist approach to the Constitution.

D

When political scientists say that the courts have the power of judicial review, they mainly mean that the courts A. have the power to review movies distributed in the United States to see whether they are impermissibly pornographic. B. have the power to review all elections in the United States to see whether there has been cheating. C. have the power to overturn any federal laws but not state laws that conflict with the Constitution. D. have the power to overturn any federal or state law that conflicts with the Constitution. E. have the power to rule that parts of the Constitution are unconstitutional.

D

Which of the following issues is not associated with the Warren Court's "rights revolution"? A. one person, one vote B. school desegregation C. the right to be represented by a lawyer D. election fraud E. freedom of speech

D

Which of the following statements about political polarization is true? A. Political differences within parties have increased. B. differences between the parties have decreased. C. The average Democrat has become more conservative on social issues and more liberal on economic issues. D. Toe average Republican has become more conservative on both social and economic issues. E. The average Republican has become more conservative on social issues but more liberal on economic issues.

D

Which of the following was not part of the Great Society's War on Poverty? A. Medicare B. Head Start and Upward Bound C. Medicaid D. national health insurance E. Job Corps

D

_____ is the idea that the ultimate and supreme source of political authority lies not with rulers but with the people, the citizens of a republic. A. The market B. The Bill of Rights C. The separation of powers D. Popular sovereignty E. Federalism

D

_________ was a term that designated a multidimensional American strategy—using diplomacy, economic power, and military means—to limit the influence and potential for expansion of the Soviet Union. A. Detente B. Isolationism C. Multilateralism D. Containment E. The Bush Doctrine

D

A(n) _____ is a binding directive issued by the president, within areas in which the president has constitutional authority, to members of the executive branch and private citizens or groups. A. veto B. makeup C. discharge petition D. pardon E. executive order

E

According to the Constitution, in order for a candidate to be elected president, the candidate A. must receive a majority of the popular vote. B. must receive a majority of the popular vote and a majority of votes in the Electoral College. C. must receive a majority of votes in the Electoral College and a majority of votes in the Senate. D. must receive two-thirds of the votes in the Electoral College. E. must receive a majority of votes in the Electoral College.

E

According to the Constitution, the president has all of the following powers except A. she or he is commander in chief of the armed forces. B. she or he can veto legislation. C. she or he can appoint government officials. D. she or he can make treaties. E. she or he can declare war.

E

According to the text A. contrary to popular belief, politics is less polarized now than it was fifty years ago. B. U.S. politics is more divided by income and social class than it is by race. C. throughout the twentieth century, the vast majority of southern whites voted Republican. D. in the past half-century, differences within the Democratic and Republican parties have gotten larger at the same time as differences between the two parties have become smaller. E. in the past half-century, differences within the Democratic and Republican parties have gotten smaller at the same time as differences between the two parties have become larger.

E

According to the text A. the Founders expected members of Congress to represent a national constituency. B. the Founders had no expectations about what kind of constituency members of Congress would represent. C. all members of Congress represent a national constituency. D. no members of Congress represent a national constituency. E. the Founders expected members of Congress to represent a local constituency.

E

According to the text A. the world is no more interconnected now than it was a century ago. B. it is only in the twentieth century that U.S. politics have been shaped by war and trade. C. despite increased global interconnectedness, domestic and international affairs remain largely separate from one another. D. as a result of the attacks of 9/11, the United States is no longer the world's lone superpower. E. global interdependence increases U.S. power and vulnerability at one and the same time.

E

According to the text, all of the following are key presidential roles except A. conducting foreign policy. B. supervising the federal bureaucracy. C. directing the economy. D. managing conflict. E. voting in the U.S. Congress.

E

According to the text, all of the following have contributed to the growth of presidental power in the twentyieth century except that A. coporations outgrew the narrow boundaries on the states B. the federal government became responsible for managing the economy. C. the federal government took on new social responsibilities. D. the United States became a global power. E. the Twenty-second Amendment to the Constitution was ratified.

E

According to the text, between the years 1998-2012, labor unions spent $528 million on lobbying. In the same period, the finance, insurance, and real estate sectors alone spent on lobbying. A. $300 million B. $492 million C. $1 billion D. $6 billion E. $2 billion

E

According to the text, contemporary presidents exercise power for all of the following purposes except A. making capitalism work at home. B. maintaining political stability. C. defending the United States at home. D. defending the United States abroad. E. promoting moral values.

E

According to the text, during the Cold War A. the Soviet Union had a sphere of influence, but the United States did not. B. neither the United States nor the Soviet Union had a sphere of influence. C. the United States sponsored the Warsaw Pact, and the Soviet Union organized the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. D. there was never any real threat of a nuclear war. E. nuclear war almost resulted from the Cuban Missile Crisis.

E

According to the text, it is important to consider substantive as well as procedural democracy. If a political scientist were studying the extent to which there is substantive democracy in a political system, she or he would most likely be concerned with A. what the Constitution said. B. whether the political system had a bill of rights. C. how much federalism existed. D. what the laws said about how members of the legislature are elected. E. how economic inequality affected the operation of the political system.

E

According to the text, the greatest difference between the U.S. judicial system and that of other nations is A. the existence of judicial review in the United States. B. the way judges in the United States are chosen. C. the large number of women in the United States who are judges. D. the small number of people of color in the United States who are judges. E. the vast prison complex in the United States and the harsh nature of punishment in the United States.

E

According to the text, the public often lacks respect for Congress mainly because A. members of Congress are seen as spending too much time arguing with one another. B. Congress is seen as focusing too much on foreign policy at the expense of domestic issues. C. Congress is seen as failing to follow the agenda set for it by the president D. the House of Representatives is seen as having more influence than the Senate. E. special interests are seen as having more influence than the people.

E

According to the text, which factor is most important in selecting federal court judges? A. racial diversity B. regional diversity C. religious diversity D. gender diversity E. ideology

E

According to the text, which president has claimed the right of the president to order—without judicial review—targeted killings not only of foreigners but of American citizens regarded as security threats? A. Ronald Reagan B. George H.W. Bush C. Bill Clinton D. George W. Bush E. Barack Obama

E

All of the following statements about transnational corporations (TNCs) are true except A. as a result of the operations of TNCs, U.S. consumers frequently benefit from low prices that are subsidized by the social costs absorbed by citizens in much poorer countries. B. to locate themselves near consumers who buy their products, TNCs direct most investment to affluent countries north of the equator. C. TNCs often benefit from lax labor laws in poor countries. D. TNCs often benefit from poor countries' weak enforcement of environmental regulations. E. there is no significant foreign-based TNC investment in the United States.

E

As a result of the election of Barack Obama, the country's first black president, people of color now A. earn as much as whites. B. live as long as whites. C. are less victimized by street crime than whites are. D. are as well educated as whites are. E. experience similar conditions as before, the income and wealth of people of color has not significantly improved since the election of Barack Obama.

E

As of 2013, women accounted for approximately 52 percent of the electorate, occupied approximately ____ percent of the seats in the House, and occupied approximately _____ percent of the seats in the senate. A. 52 ... 52 B. 48 ... 48 C. 38 .... 38 D. 28 ... 28 E. 18 ... 20

E

Congress may override a presidential veto ________ A. never. Presidential vetoes are final B. by majority vote in the U.S. Senate C. by a two-thirds vote in the House of Representatives D. by majority vote in both Houses of Congress E. by a two-thirds vote in both Houses of Congress

E

In 2011, the Affordable Care Act, popularly known as Obamacare, was upheld in a ______ decision by the U.S. Supreme Court. A. 9-0 B. 8-1 C. 7-2 D. 6-3 E. 5-4

E

In 2012, the U.S. military budget was . A. $100 million B. $500 million C. $100 billion D. $500 billion E. $700 billion

E

In developing foreign policy, presidents must consider all of the following except A. pressure of foreign governments. B. preferences of allies. C. domestic partisan and political issues. D. his or her own ideological preferences. E. including a large number of public and private actors in the decision-making process.

E

In discussing the effects of the United States's many welfare programs on class, regional, generational, and racial inequalities, the text says that taken together A. these programs don't have any effect on such inequalities. B. these programs are so complex that it's impossible to discern how they affect such inequalities. C. these programs always serve to ease such inequalities. D. these programs always serve to exacerbate such inequalities. E. these programs sometimes ease such inequalities and sometimes exacerbate them.

E

In presidential elections, the unit rule most commonly refers to the fact that A. the unit of government that chooses the president is the Electoral College. B. each member of the Electoral College has only one vote. C. each member of the House of Representatives has only one vote. D. the House of Representatives is the unit of government that elects the president if no majority is reached in the Electoral College. E. the candidate who gets more popular votes in a state than any other candidate gets all of that state's Electoral College votes.

E

In the 2008 Congressional elections, the candidate who raised the most money won _____ of the time. A. approximately 50 percent B. approximately 60 percent C. approximately 70 percent D. approximately 80 percent E. approximately 90 percent

E

In the contemporary United States A. the vast majority of Evangelical Protestants vote Republican, as do the vast majority of Catholics and other Protestants. B. the vast majority of Protestants vote Democratic. C. the vast majority of Catholics vote Republican. D. the vast majority of Jews vote Republican. E. roughly half of Catholics vote Democratic and roughly half vote Republican.

E

In the years after World War II, a principal goal of U.S. foreign policy was to A. encourage Middle Eastern countries to take control of their vast petroleum resources. B. support France's efforts to maintain control of its large share of the Middle East's oil. C. support the Soviet Union's efforts to increase its influence in the Middle East. D. establish U.S. government ownership of the Middle East's petroleum reserves. E. help U.S. oil companies gain control of the Middle East's petroleum reserves.

E

Prior to the passage of the Social Security Act, the early U.S. welfare state differed from that in most western European countries in that A. the United States did not extend social protection to any segment of the population. B. most western European countries targeted their early welfare state programs to mothers. C. most western European countries targeted their early welfare programs to veterans. D. the United States extended social protection to mothers but to no other segment of the population. E. the United States extended social protection to mothers and veteran soldiers.

E

The Cold War refers to the period of hostile relations just short of open war that prevailed between the United States and _____ from 1947 to the late 1980s. A. Afghanistan B. Iraq C. France D. Russia E. The Soviet Union

E

The first Hispanic appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court is/was A. Samuel Alito. B. Antonin Scalia. C. Sonia Sotomayor. D. Alberto Gonzales. E. Ken Salazar.

E

The gains in health insurance and employer-funded pensions gained by unions for workers in large corporations A. failed to keep pace with similar gains for workers who worked for smaller companies. B. made workers for these large companies even more dependent on government social programs. C. allowed President Truman's Fair Deal to achieve all of its goals. D. greatly boosted the political unity between workers in large and small companies. E. lowered pressure from corporate sector workers to increase government social programs.

E

The role of Congress in the realm of foreign policy includes all of the following except A. authority to appropriate funds for the Department of Defense. B. authority to legislation relating to foreign affairs. C. authority to summon military and civilian leaders to testify before congressional committees. D. Senate authority to approve treaties. E. Senate authority to appoint military officers.

E

The term extraordinary rendition refers to A. the ways that presidents mislead the public about foreign policy. B. the highly destructive roadside bombs used by insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan. C. drone missiles and other high-tech weapons used to combat al-Qaeda. D. the dedication and religious zeal of suicide bombers in Iraq and Afghanistan. E. handing prisoners over to authoritarian regimes, where they are subjected to torture.

E

The term of office for a federal justice is A. 2 years B. 4 years C. 6 years D. 10 years E. a life term

E

The text cites Senator Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia to illustrate its point that A. senators' reelection depends heavily on their taking consistent ideological stands. B. money determines who wins almost all senatorial elections. C. there are some Republican members of Congress who are leading advocates of social programs for the poor. D. there are some wealthy members of Congress who lose elections no matter how much money they spend. E. there are some wealthy members of Congress who are leading advocates of social programs for the poor.

E

The welfare reform implemented during Clinton's administration A. eliminated the program known as TANF. B. was an entitlement program. C. requires the federal government to give all aid directly to eligible citizens. D. channels welfare funds through state governments and the amount of these funds automatically increases when the welfare rolls increase. E. channels welfare funds through state governments and sets a two-year time limit for recipients.

E

Under the Articles of Confederation, the federal government had the exclusive power to A. coin money. B. levy taxes. C. raise a militia. D. make rules regarding international trade. E. negotiate treaties with other nations.

E

When political scientists talk about the "privileged position of business," they mainly mean that A. business executives are greedy. B. top corporate executives get away with more illegal activity than most other people. C. top corporate executives are admitted to elite private clubs that exclude blue-collar workers. D. top corporate executives get paid much more than factory workers. E. business leaders have an advantage in influencing public policy debates.

E

When political scientists use the term divided government, they are referring mainly to A. the inability of Republicans and Democrats to agree with one another. B. the fact that the president is not a member of Congress. C. situations in which the divisions within the parties are as large as the differences between them. D. situations in which one party controls the House and the other party controls the Senate. E. situations in which one party controls the presidency and the other party controls one or both houses of Congress.

E

When the text says that Social Security benefits are indexed, it means that these benefits A. are generally distributed in alphabetical order. B. are distributed to older beneficiaries before younger beneficiaries. C. depend on the state in which the beneficiary resides. D. are adjusted to take account of the age of the beneficiary. E. are adjusted to take account of the rate of inflation.

E

Which Democratic president worked with Republicans to create the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program and to "end welfare as we know it"? A. Franklin Delano Roosevelt B. John F. Kennedy C. Lyndon Baines Johnson D. Jimmy Carter E. Bill Clinton

E

Which of the amendments to the Constitution indicates that powers not delegated to the national government nor prohibited to the states are reserved to the states or the people? A. First B. Third C. Fifth D. Eighth E. Tenth

E

Which statement about the U.S. Supreme Court is true? A. It is required by the Constitution to hear any case that it is asked to hear. B. It agrees to hear approximately half the cases that it is asked to hear. C. It is required by the Constitution to have nine justices. D. It has never had an African American justice. E. Justices on the U.S. Supreme Court serve life terms of office.

E

Who was the president that put an end to the practice of preventive detention, which involves imprisoning detainees without access to lawyers, judicial review, or trial? A. John F. Kennedy B. Ronald Reagan C. George W. Bush D. Barack Obama E. None. The policy has not ended.

E

Within months of its passage, health reform resulted in all of the following except A. a temporary high-risk insurance pool was created for people who have medical problems and have been rejected by insurers. B. insurers were no longer able to place lifetime limits on coverage. C. provisions were phased in prohibiting insurance companies from denying coverage because of a person's medical condition or prior illness. D. children were able to stay on their parents' policies until they reached the age of twenty-six. E. the federal government began paying 50 percent of the cost of an abortion for women who receive Medicaid.

E