PS111: exam 1 (chapters 1-4), PS111 (federal courts, public opinion, the media, political parties and interest groups, and participation, campaigns, and elections), PS111: exam 2 (civil rights, congress, presidency, bureaucracy)

de facto

"by fact"; refers to practices that occur even when there is no legal enforcement, such as school segregation now

de jure

"by law"; refers to legally enforced practices, such as school segregation in the south

amicus curiae

"friend of the court"; individuals or groups who are not parties to a lawsuit but who seek to assist the Supreme Court in reaching a decision by presenting additional briefs

vesting clause

"the executive power shall be vested in a president of the u.s."

house of representatives

2 year term, at least 25 y.o., 435 members, elected by people of the district

senate

6 year term, at least 30 y.o., 100 members, 2 per state, originally elected by state legislatures, now elected by people of the state

articles of confedration

America's first written constitution; served as the basis for America's national government until 1789

commerce clause

Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution, which delegates to Congress the power "to regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes"; this clause was interpreted by the Supreme Court in favor of national power over the economy

necessary and proper clause

Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution, which provides Congress with the authority to make all laws "necessary and proper" to carry out its expressed powers

supremacy clause

Article VI of the Constitution, which states that laws passed by the national government and all treaties are the supreme law of the land and superior to all laws adopted by any state or any subdivision

right of rebuttal

a Federal Communications Commission regulation giving individuals the right to have the opportunity to respond to personal attacks made on a radio or television broadcast

omnibus appropriations bill

a bill that deals with a number of unrelated topics

unitary system

a centralized government system in which lower levels of government have little power independent of the national government

amendment

a change added to a bill, law, or constitution

political ideology

a cohesive set of beliefs that forms a general philosophy about the role of government

principle-agent problem

a conflict in priorities between an actor and the representative authorized to act on the actor's behalf

habeas corpus

a court order demanding that an individual in custody be brought into court and shown the cause for detention

writ of habeas corpus

a court order that the individual in custody be brought into court and shown the cause for detention; habeas corpus is guaranteed by the Constitution and can be suspended only in cases of rebellion or invasion

court of appeals

a court that hears appeals of trial court decisions

mootness

a criterion used by courts to screen cases that no longer require resolution

digital citizen

a daily Internet user with high-speed home Internet access and the technology and literacy skills to go online for employment, news, politics, entertainment, commerce, and other activities

writ of certiorari

a decision of at least four of the nine Supreme Court justices to review a decision of a lower court; "to make more certain"

dissenting opinion

a decision written by a justice in the minority in a particular case, in which the justice wishes to express their reasoning in the case

gender gap

a distinctive pattern of voting behavior reflecting the differences in views between women and men

regulated federalism

a form of federalism in which Congress imposes legislation on states and localities, requiring them to meet national standards

regulatory capture

a form of government failure in which regulatory agencies become too sympathetic to interests or businesses they are supposed to regulate

autocracy

a form of government in which a single individual—a king, queen, or dictator—rules

oligarchy

a form of government in which a small group—landowners, military officers, or wealthy merchants—controls most of the governing decisions

virginia plan

a framework for the Constitution, introduced by Edmund Randolph, that called for representation in the national legislature based on the population of each state

new jersey plan

a framework for the Constitution, introduced by William Paterson, that called for equal state representation in the national legislature regardless of population

conference

a gathering of House republicans every 2 years to elect house leaders

independent regulatory commission

a government agency outside the executive department usually headed by commissioners

government corporation

a government agency that performs a market-oriented public service and raises revenues to fund its activities

unfunded mandate

a law or regulation requiring a state or local government to perform certain actions without providing funding for fulfilling the requirement

issue network

a loose network of elected leaders, public officials, activists, and interest groups drawn together by a specific policy issue

simple random sampling

a method used by pollsters to select a representative sample in which every individual in the population has an equal probability of being selected as a respondent

adversarial journalism

a model of reporting in which the journalist's role involves adopting a stance of opposition and a combative style in order to expose perceived wrongdoings

plea bargain

a negotiated agreement in a criminal case in which a defendant agrees to plead guilty in return for the state's agreement to reduce the severity of the criminal charge or prison sentence the defendant is facing

caucus

a normally closed political party business meeting of citizens or lawmakers to select candidates, elect officers, plan strategy, or make decisions regarding legislative matters

whip

a party member in the House or Senate responsible for coordinating the party's legislative strategy, building support for key issues, and counting votes

standing committee

a permanent committee with the power to propose and write legislation that covers a particular subject, such as finance or agriculture

devolution

a policy to remove a program from one level of government by delegating it or passing it down to a lower level of government, such as from the national government to the state and local governments

two-party system

a political system in which two parties have a realistic opportunity to compete effectively for control

selection bias

a polling error in which the sample is not representative of the population being studied, so that some opinions are over- or underrepresented

random digit dialing

a polling method in which respondents are selected at random from a list of 10-digit telephone numbers, with every effort made to avoid bias in the construction of the sample

push poll

a polling technique in which the questions are designed to shape the respondent's opinion

national security council

a presidential foreign policy advisory council composed of the president, the vice president, the secretary of state, the secretary of defense, and other officials invited by the president

pocket veto

a presidential veto that is automatically triggered if the president does not act on a given piece of legislation passed during the final 10 days of a legislative session

limited government

a principle of constitutional government; a government whose powers are defined and limited by a constitution

popular sovereignty

a principle of democracy in which political authority rests ultimately in the hands of the people

precedent

a prior case whose principles are used by judges as the basis for their decision in a present case

gatekeeping

a process by which information and news are filtered to the public by the media; for example, a reporter choosing which sources to include in a story

merit system

a product of civil service reform, in which appointees to positions in public bureaucracies must objectively be deemed qualified for those positions

bill

a proposed law that has been sponsored by a member of Congress and submitted to the clerk of the House or Senate

closed rule

a provision by the House Rules Committee limiting or prohibiting the introduction of amendments during debate

open rule

a provision by the House Rules Committee that permits floor debate and the addition of new amendments to a bill

delegate

a representative who votes according to the preferences of his or her constituency

trustee

a representative who votes based on what he or her thinks is best for their constituency

party unity vote

a roll-call vote in the House or Senate in which at least 50 percent of the members of one party take a particular position and are opposed by at least 50 percent of the members of the other party

cloture

a rule or process in a legislative body aimed at ending debate on a given bill; in the U.S. Senate, 60 senators (three-fifths) must agree in order to impose a time limit and end debate

regulation

a rule-making body must clarify and interpret legislation, it's enforcement, and adjunction of disputes about it

federalist papers

a series of essays written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay supporting ratification of the Constitution

bandwagon effect

a shift in electoral support to the candidate whom public opinion polls report as the front-runner

sample

a small group selected by researchers to represent the most important characteristics of an entire population

welfare state

a social system whereby the government assumes primary responsibility for the welfare state

attitude/opinion

a specific preference on a particular issue

iron triangle

a stable, cooperative relationship that often develops among a congressional committee, an administrative agency, and one it more supportive interest groups; not all of these relationships are triangular, but the iron triangle, but the iron triangle is the most typical

lobbying

a strategy by which organized interests seek to influence the passage of legislation by exerting direct pressure on government officials

federalism

a system of government in which power is divided, by a constitution, between a central government and regional governments

confederation

a system of government in which states retain sovereign authority except for the powers expressly delegated to the national government

representative democracy

a system of government in which the populace selects representatives, who play a significant role in governmental decision-making

constitutional government

a system of rule in which formal and effective limits are placed on the powers of the government

authoritarian government

a system of rule in which the government recognizes no formal limits but may nevertheless be restrained by the power of other social institutions

totalitarian government

a system of rule in which the government recognizes no formal limits on its power and seeks to absorb or eliminate other social institutions that might challenge it

democracy

a system of rule that permits citizens to play a significant part in the governmental process, usually through the election of key public officials

direct democracy

a system of rule that permits citizens to vote directly on laws and policies

filibuster

a tactic used by members of the Senate to prevent action on legislation they oppose by continuously holding the floor and speaking until the majority backs down

strict scrutiny

a test used by the supreme court in racial discrimination cases and other cases involving civil liberties and rights that places the burden of proof on the government rather that on the challengers to show that the law in question is constitutional

cooperative federalism

a type of federalism existing since the New Deal era in which grants-in-aid have been used strategically to encourage states and localities (without commanding them) to pursue nationally defined goals; also known as intergovernmental cooperation

descriptive representation

a type of representation in which representatives have the same racial, gender, ethnic, religious, or educational background as their constituents

substantive representation

a type of representation in which representatives is held accountable to a constituency if he or she fails to represent that constituency properly

roll-call vote

a vote in which each legislator's yes or no vote is recorded as the clerk calls the names of the members alphabetically

equality of opportunity

a widely shared American ideal that all people should have the freedom to use whatever talents and wealth they have to reach their fullest potential

concurring opinion

a written opinion by a judge agreeing with the majority opinion but giving different reasons for their decision

libel

a written statement made in "reckless disregard of the truth" that is considered damaging to a victim because it is "malicious, scandalous, and defamatory"

which of the following statements about presidential declarations of national emergency is not accurate? a. Presidents can only declare a state of national emergency in response to foreign threats after receiving the approval of Congress. b. The president's power to declare national emergencies is one of the office's expressed powers. c. A declaration of national emergency in response to foreign threats allows the president to embargo trade, seize foreign assets, and prohibit transactions with whatever foreign nations are involved. d. Declarations of national emergency remain in force for only one year unless they are renewed by the president. e. Congress may, by a joint resolution of the two houses, terminate a declaration of national emergency.

a. Presidents can only declare a state of national emergency in response to foreign threats after receiving the approval of Congress.

when the president makes an announcement about their interpretation of a bill that they're signing into law, it is called a. a signing statement. b. a line-item veto. c. an executive order. d. legislative initiative. e. executive privilege.

a. a signing statement.

The Supreme Court's decision in Hernandez v. Texas was significant because it a. affirmed all nationality groups were entitled to equal protection under the Fourteenth Amendment. b. determined that anyone born in the United States was entitled to full citizenship c. allowed school districts to achieve racial integration through busing. d. held that public accommodations could be segregated by race but still be equal. e. eliminated the government's power to use race as a criterion for discrimination in law.

a. affirmed all nationality groups were entitled to equal protection under the Fourteenth Amendment.

which piece of recent legislation was challenged in the supreme court on the grounds that some of its provisions violated the free exercise clause? a. affordable care act b. religious freedom restoration act c. espionage act d. bipartisan campaign reform act e. higher education act

a. affordable care act

Which of the following is a brief submitted to the Supreme Court by someone who is not a direct party to the case? a. amicus curiae brief b. writ of habeas corpus c. writ of ceritorari d. ex post brief e. de jure brief

a. amicus curiae brief

a loose network of like-minded politicians, consultants, activists, and interest groups drawn together by a public policy issue is referred to as... a. an issue network b. a public interest group c. a political action committee d. pluralism e. an iron triangle

a. an issue network

Socialism refers to a political ideology that... a. argues that more government is necessary to promote justice and to reduce economic and social inequality b. emphasizes freedom and voluntary association with small government. c. argues for the need to place strict limitations on voting rights and civil liberties. d. argues that a single ruler should have total control over every aspect of people's lives. e. argues that governments are inherently repressive and should be abolished entirely.

a. argues that more government is necessary to promote justice and to reduce economic and social inequality

Most Americans try to get political information... a. by using shortcuts, such as taking cues from trusted friends and colleagues b. by consulting a range of nonpartisan news sources. c. by reading long-form, in-depth political journalism. d. by watching congressional proceedings on C-SPAN. e. by attending their congressional representatives' town hall meetings.

a. by using shortcuts, such as taking cues from trusted friends and colleagues

from the perspective of democratic participation, the multiple layers of government in a federal system... a. can make it difficult for individuals to figure out which government is responsible for the problem that concerns them. b. provide very limited opportunities for citizens to become involved in the political process. c. narrow the channels through which citizens can demand answers from their government. d. can clarify for citizens which levels of government are responsible for which policy issues. e. encourage citizens to vote for candidates of different parties at different levels of government.

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

What is the name for the body of law that deals with disputes in which no criminal violation is charged? a. civil law b. privacy law c. plea bargains d. household law e. common law

a. civil law

under which system of federalism have states done most of the fundamental governing? a. dual federalism b. regulated federalism c. cooperative federalism d. states' rights e. new federalism

a. dual federalism

the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 8th amendments, taken together, are the essence of... a. due process of the law b. free speech c. the right to bear arms d. civil rights of minorities e. freedom of religion

a. due process of the law

in mapp v. ohio, the supreme court ruled that... a. evidence obtained from an illegal search cannot be introduced in a trial. b. the government must provide legal counsel for defendants who are too poor to provide for themselves. c. persons under arrest must be informed prior to police interrogation of their rights to remain silent and to have the benefits of legal counsel. d. the government has the right to take private property for public use if just compensation is provided. e. a person cannot be tried twice for the same crime.

a. evidence obtained from an illegal search cannot be introduced in a trial.

the number of federal contractors ________ the number of federal employees. a. exceeds b. is slightly less than c.is significantly less than d. is roughly the same as e. is projected to soon overtake

a. exceeds

in which case was a right to privacy related to the use of birth control first formally recognized by the supreme court? a. griswold v. connecticut b. roe v. wade c. lemon v. kurtzman d. planned parenthood v. casey e. miranda v. arizona

a. griswold v. connecticut

the percentage of foreign-born individuals living in the US... a. has increased significantly since reaching its low point in 1970 b. has decreased significantly since reaching its high point in 1970 c. has remained the same since 1970 d. has never been less than the percentage of native-born individuals living in the US e. has not been studied since 1970

a. has increased significantly since reaching its low point in 1970

most states have amended their constitutions to guarantee that their larger cities will have the authority to manage local affairs without interference from state government. this power is called... a. home rule b. preemption c. devolution d. states' rights e. new federalism

a. home rule

who are "hidden partisans"? a. independents who lean toward one of the major parties b. congressional staffers and other unelected government workers c. officials who work for the national party committees d.republicans who identify as liberal and democrats who identify as conservative e. partisans who do not regularly vote

a. independents who lean toward one of the major parties

which of the following best describes the process of amending the constitution? a. it's difficult and has rarely been used successfully to address specific public problems b. it's difficult and has frequently been used to successfully to address specific public problems c. it's easy and has rarely been used successfully to address specific public problems d. it's easy and has frequently been used successfully to address specific public problems e. it's easy, but it has never been used for any purpose

a. it's difficult and has rarely been used successfully to address specific public problems

If a justice looks strictly to the words of the Constitution in interpreting its meaning, he or she would be considered an advocate of which judicial philosophy? a. judicial restraint b. judicial activism c. stare decisis d. judicial liberalism e. judicial conservatism

a. judicial restraint

more than 3/4 of daily print newspapers are owned by... a. large media conglomerates b. the national government c. small local companies d. private individuals e. the employees who run them

a. large media conglomerates

When Congress conducts an investigation to explore the relationship between what a law intended and how an executive agency has implemented it, it is engaged in a. oversight. b. advice and consent. c. appropriations. d. executive agreement. e. direct patronage.

a. oversight.

in a ___________ electoral system, political parties are awarded legislative seats based on their share of the total vote cast in the election. a. plurality b. proportional representation c. split-ticket d. straight-ticket e. open primary

a. plurality

political parties are different from interest groups in that political parties... a. seek to control the government by nominating candidates and electing them to office b. are constitutionally exempt from taxation c. are entirely nonprofit d. have much larger memberships e. have much smaller memberships

a. seek to control the government by nominating candidates and electing them to office

In their fight against British taxes such as the Stamp Act and the Sugar Act of 1764, New England merchants allied with which of the following groups? a. shopkeepers, small farmers, laborers, and artisans b. shopkeepers only c. laborers only d. artisans only e. shopkeepers and laborers only

a. shopkeepers, small farmers, laborers, and artisans

which courts hear the majority of all cases in the United States? a. state courts b. appellate courts c. federal courts d. federal circuit courts e. the Supreme Court

a. state courts

which type of representation is described when constituents have the power to hire and fire their representative? a. substantive b. descriptive c. philosophical d. ideological e. economic

a. substantive

to what does the term new federalism refer? a. the era of federalism initiated by President Roosevelt during the late 1930s b. the national government's regulation of state action through grants-in-aid c. the type of federalism that uses categorical grants to influence state action d. efforts to return more policy-making discretion to the states through the use of block grants e. the recent emergence of local governments as important political actors

a. the era of federalism initiated by President Roosevelt during the late 1930s

Which of the following is not included as a "special and compelling" reason to hear a case under rule 10 of the Rules of the Supreme Court of the United States? a. the president of the US authors an amicus curiae brief on the issue in question b. A circuit court decision on the issue in question conflicts with previous Supreme Court decisions. c. There are conflicting decisions by two or more state courts of last resort on the issue in question. d. There are conflicting decisions between circuit courts and state courts of last resort on the issue in question. e. There are conflicting decisions by two or more circuit courts on the issue in question.

a. the president of the US authors an amicus curiae brief on the issue in question

A push poll is a poll in which... a. the questions are designed to shape the respondent's opinion rather than measure the respondent's opinion b. the questions are designed to measure the respondent's opinion rather than shape the respondent's opinion. c. the questions are designed to reduce measurement error. d. the sample is chosen to include only undecided or independent voters. e. the sample is not representative of the population it is drawn from.

a. the questions are designed to shape the respondent's opinion rather than measure the respondent's opinion

a state government's authority to regulate the health, safety, welfare, and morals of its citizens is frequently referred to as... a. the reserved power b. the expressed power c. the police power d. the concurrent power e. the implied power

a. the reserved power

which of the following issues is commonly debated and considered in terms of the establishment clause? a. whether public schools can sponsor prayer sessions b. whether corporations can fun political advertisements c. whether hate speech can be restricted on social media platforms d. whether states can ban the possession of assault weapons e. whether states can place restrictions on abortion

a. whether public schools can sponsor prayer sessions

thirteenth amendment

abolished slavery; civil war amendment

executive agreement

an agreement, made between the president and another country, that has the force of a treaty but does not require the Senate's "advice and consent"

news aggregator

an application or feed that collects web content such as news headlines, blogs, podcasts, online videos, and more in one location for easy viewing

laissez-faire capitalism

an economic system in which the means of production and distribution are privately owned and operated for profit with minimal or no government interference

prior restraint

an effort by a governmental agency to block the publication of material it deems libelous or harmful in some other way; censorship; in the United States, the courts forbid prior restraint except under the most extraordinary circumstances

party identification

an individual voter's psychological ties to one party or another

slander

an oral statement made in "reckless disregard of the truth" that is considered damaging to the victim because it is "malicious, scandalous, and defamatory"

white house staff

analysts and advisers to the president, each of whom is often given the title "special assistant"

signing statements

announcements made by the president when signing bills into law, often presenting the president's interpretation of the law

preclearance requirement

applies to "covered jurisdictions" as determined by the "coverage formula"

pork barrel

appropriations made by legislative bodies for local projects that are often not needed but that are created so that local representatives can win re-election in their home districts

civil liberties

areas of personal freedom constitutionally protected from government interference

structure of the supreme court

article 3 of the constitution vests the judicial power in one supreme court and congress was free to establish lower courts

new federalism

attempts by Presidents Nixon and Reagan to return power to the states through block grants

concurrent powers

authority possessed by both state and national governments, such as the power to levy taxes

the principle of political equality can be best summed up as... a. "equality of results" b. "equality of opportunity" c. "one person, one vote" d. "equality between the sexes" e. "leave everyone alone"

b. "equality of opportunity"

When congressional hearings on bureaucratic agency operations are prompted by media attention or advocacy group complaints, it is an example of a. "police patrol" oversight b. "fire alarm" oversight c. "watchdog" oversight d. devolution e. preemption

b. "fire alarm" oversight

what are two primary ways that presidents can expand their power? a. avoiding "going public" and creating a closer relationship with Congress b. "going public" and reducing their dependence on Congress c. "going public" and creating a closer relationship with Congress d. avoiding "going public" and reducing their dependence on Congress e. weakening national partisan institutions and creating a closer relationship with Congress

b. "going public" and reducing their dependence on Congress

which of the civil war amendments abolished slavery? a. 12th b. 13th c. 14th d. 15th e. 16th

b. 13th

Which of the following statements about the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is most accurate? a. it was passed following the 9/11/2001 terrorist attacks b. FOIA is primarily meant to help bureaucratic agencies request information from other bureaucratic agencies c. all agencies are required to comply with FOIA requests, with no exceptions d. FOIA requests sometimes prompt congressional oversight and investigation when agency misbehavior is revealed e. president trump instructed federal agencies to reject all FOIA requests made during his term in office

b. FOIA is primarily meant to help bureaucratic agencies request information from other bureaucratic agencies

which of the following is one way in which the house and the senate are different? a. Senators are more interested in attending to their constituents' immediate legislative needs, while members of the House are more insulated from the pressures of immediate interests. b. Members of the House are more interested in attending to their constituents' immediate legislative needs, while senators are more insulated from the pressures of immediate interests. c. Senators serve smaller and more homogeneous constituencies than members of the House. d. Senators are often more attuned to the legislative needs of local interest groups than members of the House. e. There are no important differences between the House and the Senate.

b. Members of the House are more interested in attending to their constituents' immediate legislative needs, while senators are more insulated from the pressures of immediate interests.

The small group that pollsters use to make inferences about the opinions of the whole population is called... a. a control group b. a sample c. a micropopulation d. respondents e. median voters

b. a sample

A dissenting opinion is written by... a. the chief justice of the supreme court b. a supreme court justice who agrees with the majority's ultimate decision but wishes to offer a different rationale or emphasis c. a supreme court justice who disagrees with the majority decision d. the solicitor general e. a supreme court justice assigned by the chief justice

b. a supreme court justice who agrees with the majority's ultimate decision but wishes to offer a different rationale or emphasis

public broadcasting outlets that receive partial funding through license fees and government subsidies... a. are prohibited by the by the Constitution from operating in the US b. account for less than 5% of media market share in the US c. account for nearly 1/3 of media market share in the US d. account for approximately half of media market share in the US e. account for more than 2/3 of media market share in the US

b. account for less than 5% of media market share in the US

which of the following is an example of a government corporation? a. national aeronautics and space administration b. amtrak c. federal bureau of investigation d. environmental protection agency e. department of justice

b. amtrak

Which article of the Constitution describes the basic powers of the presidency and the means of selecting presidents? a. article i b. article ii c. article iii d. article iv e. article v

b. article ii

the first governing document in the US was... a. the declaration of independence b. articles of confederation c. constitution d. bill of rights e. viriginia plan

b. articles of confederation

Which of the following is not included in the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court? a. cases between the United States and one of the states b. cases brought by one state against citizens of another state or against a foreign country c. cases involving challenges to the constitutionality of state laws d. cases between 2 or more states e. cases involving foreign ambassadors or other ministers

b. cases brought by one state against citizens of another state or against a foreign country

the NRA, the Sierra Club, and Mothers Against Drunk Driving are all examples of... a. membership associations b. citizen groups c. professional association d. ideological group e. public-sector groups

b. citizen groups

Which of the following types of committees includes members of both the House and the Senate on the same committee? a. standing committee b. conference committee c. select committee d. All committees include both House members and senators. e. No committees include both House members and senators.

b. conference committee

the process of transferring responsibility for policy from the national level to the state level is known as... a. dual federalism b. devolution c. preemption d. home rule e. incorporation

b. devolution

a state that permits its citizens to vote directly on laws and policies is practicing a form of... a. representative democracy b. direct democracy c. pluralism d. laissez-faire capitalism e. republicanism

b. direct democracy

in 1937 the Supreme Court laid the groundwork for a stronger federal government by issuing a number of decisions that... a. dramatically narrowed the definition of the commerce clause b. dramatically expanded the definition of the commerce clause c. struck down the supremacy clause d. struck down the privileges and immunities clause e. stuck down the full faith and credit clause

b. dramatically expanded the definition of the commerce clause

the power of government to take private property for public use is called... a. habeas corpus b. eminent domain c. selective incorporation d. the miranda rule e. double jeopardy

b. eminent domain

which term describes the division of powers and functions between the national government and lower levels of government? a. separation of powers b. federalism c. checks and balance d. expressed powers e. unitary system

b. federalism

Congressional polarization a. has decreased since the mid-1970s. b. has increased since the mid-1970s. c. has remained the same since the mid-1970s. d. has been driven entirely by Democrats becoming more liberal since the mid-1970s. e. has not been measured since the mid-1970s.

b. has increased since the mid-1970s.

digital citizenship requires... a. a subscription to one or more online newspapers b. high-speed internet access and the skills to use it c. a smartphone d. a social media account, such as facebook or twitter e. maintaining a political blog

b. high-speed internet access and the skills to use it

the british attempted to raise revenue in the north american colonies by... a. imposing income taxes b. imposing taxes on commerce c. expropriating and selling native american lands d. levying licensing fees for the mining of natural resources e. requesting voluntary donations

b. imposing taxes on commerce

over time, the value of categorical grants has... a. increased from $51.5 billion in 1960 to approximately $115 billion in 2019. b. increased from $51.5 billion in 1960 to approximately $630 billion in 2019. c. decreased from $31 billion in 1960 to approximately $2 billion in 2019. d. decreased from $667 billion in 1960 to approximately $2 billion in 2019. e. remained the same between 1960 and 2019.

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

which of the following describes a written statement made in "reckless disregard of the truth" that is considered damaging to a victim because it is "malicious, scandalous, and defamatory"? a. slander b. libel c. speech plus d. fighting words e. expressive speech

b. libel

A familiar polling problem is the "bandwagon effect," which occurs when... a. the same results are used over and over again. b. polling results influence people to support the candidate identified as the probable victor in a campaign c. polling results influence people to support the candidate who is trailing in a campaign. d. background noise makes it difficult for a pollster and a respondent to communicate with each other. e. a large number of people refuse to answer a pollster's questions.

b. polling results influence people to support the candidate identified as the probable victor in a campaign

what are expressed powers? a. powers granted to the federal government by the Supreme Court b. powers specifically expressed in the text of the Constitution c. powers expressed in legislation passed by congress d. powers granted to the federal government by the 10th amendment e.powers exercised according to the necessary and proper clause

b. powers specifically expressed in the text of the Constitution

Unauthorized immigrants in the United States are all eligible to a. vote b. receive education c. receive government-funded health insurance d. receive a green card e. sponsor other members of their family who wants to immigrate to the United States

b. receive education

What is "quid pro quo" workplace harassment? a. harassment that involves a systemic gender pay gap between women and men b. sexual harassment that involves an explicit or strongly implied threat that the employee's submission is a condition of continued employment c. harassment in which an employer retaliates against an employee for reporting racial discrimination d. harassment that does not cause financial harm to an employee e. harassment in which employees are subjected to racial or gendered slurs

b. sexual harassment that involves an explicit or strongly implied threat that the employee's submission is a condition of continued employment

why are minority rights important for american democracy? a. the wishes if the minority determine what government b. the HOR was designed to ensure minority c. minority interests are the backbone of popular sovereignty d. protecting minority interests ensures that government does not become a "tyranny of the majority" e. minority rights are not important for american democracy

b. the HOR was designed to ensure minority

which of the following statements best describes the shift in america's age profile 1900? a. the percentage of adults over the age of 65 has declined dramatically b. the percentage of adults over the age of 65 has increased dramatically c. the percentage of adults over the age of 65 has remained constant d. the percentage of adults under the age of 18 has increased dramatically e. the percentage of children under the age of 18 has remained constant

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

which feature of the constitution did antifederalists fear would lead to the emergence of tyranny? a. the three-fifths compromise b. the provisions that created government institutions without direct responsibility to the people c. the provisions that lent power to a popular majority of citizens d. the checks that the constitution placed in the legislative branch of government e. the supremacy clause

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

which of the following best describes the size of the federal service? a. the size of federal service has grown exponentially since 1980 b. the size of the federal service has changed very little since 1980 c. as a percentage of the total workforce, federal employment has declined since 1950 d. the federal service has employed at least 25% of the American workforce every year since 1950 e. The federal service was eliminated during the 1990s in order to hire more state government employees.

b. the size of the federal service has changed very little since 1980

Which of the following play an important role in shaping the flow of cases heard by the Supreme Court? a. the attorney general and the secretary of state b. the solicitor general and federal law clerks c. the president and congress d. state legislatures e. the federal district and circuit courts

b. the solicitor general and federal law clerks

which of the following statements best describes the history of income inequality in the US? a. the top 1% has never earned more than 10% of the nation's annual income b. the top 1% has never earned less than 10% of the nation's annual income c. income inequality has remained fairly constant since the late 1970s d. income inequality has increased considerably since the late 1970s e. income equality has decreased considerably since the late 1970s

b. the top 1% has never earned less than 10% of the nation's annual income

what are the requirements for overriding a presidential veto? a. 50 percent plus one vote in both houses of Congress b. two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress c. two-thirds vote in the Senate only d. three-fourths vote in both houses of Congress e. A presidential veto cannot be overridden by Congress.

b. two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress

when did civil rights first become a part of the constitution? a. in 1789 at the founding b. with the adoption of the 14th amendment c. in 2008 when obama was elected president d. with the adoption of the 19th amendment in 1920 e. in the 1954 brown v. board of education decision

b. with the adoption of the 14th amendment

values/beliefs

basic principle that shape a person's opinions about political issues and events

collective good

benefits sought by groups that are broadly available and cannot be denied to nonmembers

political culture

broadly shared values, beliefs, and attitudes about how the government should function; American political culture emphasizes the values of liberty, equality, and democracy

Surveys conducted with ______ people are generally considered sufficient for accurately measuring public opinion. a. 100 b. 500 c. 1,000 d. 5,000 e. 10,000

c. 1,000

approximately how many people work for agencies withing the executive office of the president? a. 25-50 b. 500-750 c. 1,500-2,000 d. 4,500-5,000 e. over 10,000

c. 1,500-2,000

which amendment to the constitution states that the powers the constitution does not delegate to the national government or prohibit to the states are "reserved to the states"? a. 1st b. 5th c. 10th d. 14th e. 26th

c. 10th

Which statement best describes citizens' influence over politics and public policy decisions in the United States? a. All citizens exert an equal influence over politics and public policy decisions in the United States. b. Citizens who are less affluent and less educated have a disproportionately large influence over politics and public policy decisions in the United States. c. Citizens who are more affluent and more educated have a disproportionately large influence over politics and public policy decisions in the US d. Less affluent and less educated citizens only exert an influence over politics and public policy decisions when the Democratic Party controls the U.S. Congress. e. Less affluent and less educated citizens only exert an influence over politics and public policy decisions when the Republican Party controls the U.S. Congress.

c. Citizens who are more affluent and more educated have a disproportionately large influence over politics and public policy decisions in the US

which of the following best describes the role of factions within the major parties? a. Factions do not exist; party members largely agree about all issues in a party's platform. b. Parties are usually divided into no more than two factions: one liberal and one conservative. c. Factions exist within parties because parties are coalitions of people who represent many diverse interests d. Factions are only relevant during elections; they are not relevant among officials who have already been elected. e. Factions nearly always result in major parties being split up into smaller parties.

c. Factions exist within parties because parties are coalitions of people who represent many diverse interests

Which of the following distinguishes the "new order" from the "regular order" when it comes to passing legislation? a. The new order reflects the enhanced power of committees and subcommittees in both houses of Congress. b. The new order reflects the diminished power of party leaders in both houses of Congress. c. The new order relies heavily on conference committees to draft legislation. d. The new order is meant to move bills along more slowly, with more deliberation. e. the new order is meant to move bills along more quickly, with less deliberation.

c. The new order relies heavily on conference committees to draft legislation.

which of the following statements of the vice president is not true? a. The vice president succeeds the president in case of death, resignation, or incapacitation. b. The vice president casts the tie-breaking vote in the Senate when necessary. c. The vice president serves as an honorary member of the Supreme Court. d. Eight vice presidents have had to replace American presidents who died in office. e. Presidential candidates typically select a vice-presidential candidate who they feel can win the support of a state that may not otherwise support the ticket.

c. The vice president serves as an honorary member of the Supreme Court.

How did the 1975 amendments to the Voting Rights Act benefit Native Americans? a. They granted citizenship to all Native Americans. b. They renewed tribal rights and tribal self-government. c. They established Native Americans' right to be taught in their own languages. d. They established reservations for Native Americans. e. They freed Native Americans from state regulations prohibiting gambling

c. They established Native Americans' right to be taught in their own languages.

adversarial journalism refers to... a. the recent shift in American society away from general-purpose sources of information and toward narrowly focused niche sources b. and era in American history when political parties provided all of the financing for newspapers c. a form of reporting in which the media adopt a skeptical or even a hostile posture toward the government and public officials d. a form or reporting in which the media adopt and accepting and friendly posture toward the government and public officials e. the process of preparing the public to take a particular view of an event or political actor

c. a form of reporting in which the media adopt a skeptical or even a hostile posture toward the government and public officials

In Allan Bakke's case against the medical school of the University of California at Davis, the Supreme Court ruled that a. race can never be considered as a factor in university admissions, even to promote diversity. b. achieving "a diverse student body" was a "compelling public purpose," and the method of a rigid quota of admission slots assigned on the basis of race was consistent with the Fourteenth Amendment's equal protection clause. c. achieving "a diverse student body" was a "compelling public purpose," but the method of a rigid quota of admission slots assigned on the basis of race violated the Fourteenth Amendment's equal protection clause. d. achieving "a diverse student body" was a "compelling public purpose," but affirmative action policies can only be used to give preferences to African Americans. e. achieving "a diverse student body" was a "compelling public purpose," but affirmative action policies can only be used to give preferences to Asian Americans.

c. achieving "a diverse student body" was a "compelling public purpose," but the method of a rigid quota of admission slots assigned on the basis of race violated the Fourteenth Amendment's equal protection clause.

what is the difference between a totalitarian government and an authoritarian government? a. authoritarian government require popular participation, while totalitarian governments do not b. totalitarian government are generally based on religion, while authoritarian governments are not c. authoritarian governments are often kept in check by other institutions, while totalitarian governments are not d. totalitarian government acknowledge strict limits on their power, while authoritarian governments do not e. there is no difference between these two kinds of government

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

the pendleton civil service reform act of 1883 required that bureaucratic personnel a. pledge an oath of loyalty to the United States b. register as independents rather than as a member of an organized political party c. be qualified for the job to which they were appointed d. serve for no more than 10 years e. serve no fewer than 10 years

c. be qualified for the job to which they were appointed

Which of the following outlawed discrimination by employers in hiring, promoting, and laying off their employees? a. 14th amendment b. 15th amendment c. brown v. board of education d. the 1964 civil rights act e. regents of the university of california v. bakke

c. brown v. board of education

one of the downsides of state control over policy is that... a. states may come up with policy innovations that diffuse to other states or the federal government. b. states are not as in tune with the needs of their citizens as the federal government is, so state policy may be inadequate. c. citizens may benefit or suffer unevenly from government action or inaction depending on where they live. d. cities are unable to create and enforce local policies that differ from those at the state level. e. the laws and judicial decisions that take place in a given state may not be honored in other states.

c. citizens may benefit or suffer unevenly from government action or inaction depending on where they live.

Today, the term ______ refers to someone who believes that a large government poses a threat to the freedom of individual citizens and to free markets and democracy. a. libertarian b. liberal c. conservative d. democrat e. socialist

c. conservative

what is the difference between de jure segregation and de facto segregation? a. de jure segregation is segregation in private housing, and de facto segregation is de facto segregation is segregation in employment and public accommodations b. de jure segregation is segregation in employment and public accommodations, and de facto is segregation in private housing c. de jure is legally enforced segregation, and de facto is segregation in practice that is not enforced by law d. de jure is segregation in that is not enforced by law and de facto is legally enforced segregation e. de jure is based on race and de facto is based on gender

c. de jure is legally enforced segregation, and de facto is segregation in practice that is not enforced by law

the phrase "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" appears in the... a. preamble to the constitution b. bill of rights c. declaration of independence d. magna carta e. gettysburg address

c. declaration of independence

the so-called new deal coalition was severely strained... a. during the 1860s by conflicts over slavery and southern secession. b. during the 1890s by conflicts over the gold standard. c. during the 1930s by conflicts over the Great Depression and America's involvement in World War II. d. during the 1960s by conflicts over civil rights and the Vietnam War. e. during the 1990s by conflicts over abortion and affirmative action.

c. during the 1930s by conflicts over the Great Depression and America's involvement in World War II.

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 significantly strengthened voting rights protections by a. barring literacy tests as a condition for voting in six southern states b. requiring all voters to register two weeks before any federal election c. eliminating all federal-level registration requirements d. allowing voters to sue election officials for monetary damages in civil court e. requiring that all voters show a valid government-issued photo ID

c. eliminating all federal-level registration requirements

Executive agreements are exactly like treaties except that a. executive agreements are exactly involve only domestic, not international, affairs b. the constitution explicitly mentions the president's ability to make executive agreements c. executive agreements do not require approval by 2/3 of the senate d. executive agreements are ordinarily used to carry out commitments not already made in treaties or laws e. executive agreements require a 2/3 approval vote in the senate

c. executive agreements do not require approval by 2/3 of the senate

which of the following organizations is responsible for adjusting the supply of money and credit in the economy? a. office of management and budget b. treasury department c. federal reserve system d. internal revenue service e. commerce department

c. federal reserve system

which landmark ruling deals with the 6th amendment's guarantee of the right to cousel? a. roe v wade b. mapp v. ohio c. gideon v. wainwright d. mcdonald v. chicago e. miranda v. arizona

c. gideon v. wainwright

an economic system that allows the government very little power to regulate commerce or restrict the use of private property is called... a. socialism b. communism c. laissez-faire capitalism d. corporatism e. feudalism

c. laissez-faire capitalism

in general, FCC regulations apply only to.... a. cable TV b. internet websites c. over-the-air broadcast media d. satellite radio e. newspapers and magazines

c. over-the-air broadcast media

the principle that allows the federal government to take over areas of regulation from states or local governments is called... a. regulated federalism b. devolution c. preemption d. "layer cake" federalism e. exemption

c. preemption

the process by which some of the liberties in the bill of rights were considered separately as a possible limit on the states is known as... a. habeas corpus b. ratification c. selective incorporation d. establishment e. preemption

c. selective incorporation

which event led directly to the constitutional convention by providing evidence that the government created under the AOC was unable to act decisively in times of national crisis? a. the boston massacre b. the boston tea party c. shay's rebellion d. the annapolis convention e. the war of 1812

c. shay's rebellion

Friendship and networking are examples of... a. purposive benefits b. informational benefits c. solidarity benefits d. material benefits e. member cues

c. solidarity benefits

The legal principle that previous court decisions should apply as precedents in similar cases is known as... a. habeas corpus b. a writ of ceritorari c. stare decisis d. the rule of four e. senatorial courtesy

c. stare decisis

the supreme court has ruled that a. only the House of Representatives has the constitutional authority to redraw congressional district lines. b. states may use independent bipartisan commissions to redraw congressional districts. c. states may not use independent bipartisan commissions to redraw congressional districts. d. states can forgo the redistricting process if they lose more than 10 percent of their population between censuses. e. only the Senate has the constitutional authority to redraw congressional district lines.

c. states may not use independent bipartisan commissions to redraw congressional districts.

the term public opinion is used to describe... a. the collected speeches and writings made by a president during his or her term in office b. political punditry and analysis broadcast on cable news channels c. the attitudes that people have about policy issues, political events, and elected officials d. decisions of the supreme court e. any political statement that is made by a citizen outside of his or her private residence or place of employment

c. the attitudes that people have about policy issues, political events, and elected officials

which of the following is not a reason that many Americans appear to prefer online news? a. the depth of the information available online b. the diversity of online viewpoints c. the convenience of getting news online d. the accuracy and objectivity compared to traditional media outlets e. the up-to-the-minute currency of online information

c. the convenience of getting news online

interest groups with ______ have been shown to have more access to lawmakers. a. a history of supporting successful candidates for office b. large constituencies who have an interest in hot-button policy issues c. the most money d. headquarters in DC e. demonstrated technical expertise

c. the most money

Which statement best describes the relationship between public opinion and government policy? a. Public opinion almost never influences government policy. b. Government policy almost never influences public opinion. c. the relationship between government policy and public opinion is dynamic, with government policy responding to public opinion but mass opinions also shifting based on new government policies d. Public opinion always influences government policy because lawmakers are legally bound to enact the majority's preferences. e. Government policy never influences public opinion because most Americans pay very little attention to politics.

c. the relationship between government policy and public opinion is dynamic, with government policy responding to public opinion but mass opinions also shifting based on new government policies

the now-defunct rile that required broadcasters to provide time for opposing views when they aired programs on controversial issues was called... a. the equal time rule b. the fairness doctrine c. the right of rebuttal d. the response rule e. the free speech doctrine

c. the right of rebuttal

who was responsible for carrying out laws passed by the national congress under the articles of confederation? a. the presidency b. the congress c. the states d. the federal judiciary e. the federal bureaucracy

c. the states

What is policy feedback? a. the process of submitting public comments on a proposed new policy b. the tendency of lawmakers to focus only on one policy area for the length of a congressional term c. the way in which government policy can work to shift public opinion d. the effect that public policies have on citizens' voting decisions e. the influence that interest groups and wealthy Americans have on policy formation

c. the way in which government policy can work to shift public opinion

hierarchy

chain of communication and command running from an executive director at the top through all worker

penny press

cheap, tabloid-style newspaper produced in the nineteenth century, when mass production of inexpensive newspapers first became possible due to the steam-powered printing press; a penny press cost one cent compared with other papers, which cost more than five cents

public opinion

citizens' attitudes about political issues, leaders, institutions, and events

politics

conflict over the leadership, structure, and policies of governments

categorical grants

congressional grants given to states and localities on the condition that expenditures be limited to a problem or group specified by law

delegated powers

constitutional powers that are assigned to one governmental agency but are exercised by another agency with the express permission of the first

the judiciary act of 1789

created a 3-tier system of federal courts (district, circuit, courts of appeal, and one Supreme Court)

No Supreme Court ruling or national legislation explicitly protected gay men and lesbians from discrimination until a. 1934. b. 1964. c. 1975. d. 1996. e. 2015.

d. 1996.

In which case did the Supreme Court rule that race may be considered in college admissions decisions as part of a "highly individualized, holistic review of each applicant's file"? a. Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. b. Mendez v. Westminster c. Brown v. Board of Education d. Grutter v. Bollinger e. Fisher v. University of Texas

d. Grutter v. Bollinger

Which of the following statements about the filibuster is most accurate? a. The filibuster was first used in 1975. b. The votes of 67 senators are currently required to end a filibuster. c. The filibuster was used far more frequently in the 1930s and '40s than it has been in the last two decades. d. Nominees for federal executive and judicial positions cannot currently be filibustered. e. Filibusters were declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 2013.

d. Nominees for federal executive and judicial positions cannot currently be filibustered.

which of the following statements best describes the social composition of the U.S Congress? a. The majority of representatives do not have university degrees. b. Men and women are equally represented in Congress. c. Most members of Congress do not affiliate with any specific religion d. The legal profession is the most common career of members of Congress prior to their election. e. The number of African American, Latino, and Asian American representatives has decreased over the last 20 years.

d. The legal profession is the most common career of members of Congress prior to their election.

the congressional election system in the US is called "first past the post" because.... a. candidates must win both a primary election and a general election before taking office b. seats in the HOR and Senate are allocated to political parties based on their share of the total vote cast in the election c. the candidate with the most votes wins even if she did not win a majority of the total d. a candidate can win an election only if they win a majority of the total vote e. more americans now vote by mail than at their local polling places

d. a candidate can win an election only if they win a majority of the total vote

The term writ of habeas corpus refers to... a. a short, unsigned decision by an appellate court that rejects a petition to review the decision of a lower court b. a criterion used by courts to screen cases that no longer require resolution c. a decision of at least 4 of the 9 supreme court justices to review a decision of a lower court d. a court order to authorities to show cause for a prisoner's incarceration e. a brief filed by the solicitor general when the federal government is not a direct litigant in a supreme court case

d. a court order to authorities to show cause for a prisoner's incarceration

the environmental protection agency and the food and drug administration were created through the use of a. a pocket veto. b. a signing statement. c. an executive agreement. d. an executive order. e. executive privilege.

d. an executive order.

In United States v. Wong Kim Ark, the Supreme Court ruled that a. school districts must provide bilingual education for students whose English is limited. b. the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II was constitutional on the grounds of military necessity. c. the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act was an unconstitutional form of racial discrimination. d. anyone born in the United States was entitled to full citizenship. e. Chinese immigrants were ineligible for citizenship in the United States.

d. anyone born in the United States was entitled to full citizenship.

which president's administration instituted the National Performance Review? a. richard nixon b. lyndon johnson c. jimmy carter d. bill clinton e. george w. bush

d. bill clinton

in which case did the Supreme Court rule that state governments no longer had the authority to make private sexual conduct a crime? a. webster v. reproductive health services b. gonzales v. oregon c. lawrence v. texas d. bowers v. hardwick e. texas v. johnson

d. bowers v. hardwick

the framers hoped to create a presidency that would be... a. unconditionally powerful b. easily influenced by popular democratic pressures c. constrained by congressional stalemates d. capable of timely and decisive action e. completely dependent on congress

d. capable of timely and decisive action

The size of the Supreme Court is determined by... a. president b. chief justice c. department of justice d. congress e. the constitution

d. congress

which of the following statements about congress and the bureaucracy is not true? a. bureaucracies employ people who have much more specialized expertise in specific policy areas than do members of congress b. members of congress often prefer to delegate politically difficult decision-making to bureaucrats c. while congress is responsible for making laws, the bureaucracy is responsible for filling in the details by determining how the laws should be implemented d. congress banned rule making by federal bureaucracy in 1995 e. Congress relies heavily on bureaucratic flexibility in implementing laws because updating legislation can take many years, and bureaucrats can ensure that laws are administered in ways that take new conditions into account.

d. congress banned rule making by federal bureaucracy in 1995

which of the following best describes Americans' level of trust in the media today? a. nearly 90% of all Americans express high levels of trust in national news organization. b. just 10% of all Americans express high levels of trust in national news c. republicans are more likely than democrats to think that information from national news organizations is very trustworthy d. democrats are more likely than republicans to think that information from national news organizations is very trustworthy e. republicans and democrats are equally likely to think that information from national news organization is very trustworthy

d. democrats are more likely than republicans to think that information from national news organizations is very trustworthy

the 8th amendment prohibits not only creul and unusual punishment but also... a. capital punishment b. double jeopardy c. slander and libel d. excessive fines e. unreasonable searches and seizures

d. excessive fines

americans' trust in their government has... a. is an an all-time high b. has risen steadily since the early 1960s c. has remained relatively constant since the early 1960s d. has declined since the early 1960s e. has modestly increased since the early 1960s.

d. has declined since the early 1960sd. has declined since the early 1960s

Which of the following statements about political knowledge is not accurate? a. In general, citizens with high levels of political knowledge are more likely to be partisans (Democrats or Republicans). b. In general, citizens with high levels of political knowledge are more likely to have an ideology (such as liberal or conservative). c. In general, citizens with high levels of political knowledge are better able to evaluate new information and determine if it is consistent with their beliefs and opinions d. in general, citizens with high levels of political knowledge are less likely to belong to political organizations and to be active in politics e. In general, citizens with high levels of political knowledge are better able to recognize their political interests and act consistently to further those interests.

d. in general, citizens with high levels of political knowledge are less likely to belong to political organizations and to be active in politics

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

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

gifts, discounts, and health insurance are examples of... a. purposive benefits b. informational benefits c. solidarity benefits d. material benefits e. member cues

d. material benefits

political efficacy is the belief that... a. government operates efficiently b. government has grown too large c. government cannot be trusted d. ordinary citizens can affect what government does e. government is wasteful and corrupt

d. ordinary citizens can affect what government does

The process by which Americans form political beliefs and values is called... a. brainwashing b. propaganda c. indoctrination d. political socialization e. political development

d. political socialization

which of the following best describes the level of ideological bias in the news media overall? a. most sources exhibit a clear liberal bias b. most sources exhibit a clear conservative bias c. most sources have need found to be centrist d. sources with conservative owners are likely to be conservative, and those with liberal owners are likely to be liberal e. sources tend to change from right-leaning to left leaning, or vice-versa, depending in which party has more power in government at the time

d. sources with conservative owners are likely to be conservative, and those with liberal owners are likely to be liberal

in distric of columbia v. heller, the supreme court ruled that... a. states can require citizens to own firearms b. federal grants can be used to support the formation of state militias c. felons cannot be prevented from purchasing assault rifles d. the second amendment provides a constitutional right to keep a loaded handgun at home for self-defense e. the Second Amendment applies only to the federal government and not to states.

d. the second amendment provides a constitutional right to keep a loaded handgun at home for self-defense

Members of Congress take their constituents' views into account because a. the Supreme Court can invalidate laws passed without majority support in the public. b. interest groups are forbidden from lobbying during legislative votes. c. most constituents pay close attention to what's going on in Congress at all times. d. they worry that their voting record will be used as ammunition by their opponents at election time. e. they can be impeached if they go against their constituents' policy preferences.

d. they worry that their voting record will be used as ammunition by their opponents at election time.

during the debate over ratification, the federalists were... a. those who opposed the new Constitution because it created a stronger national government than existed under the Articles of Confederation. b. those who opposed the new Constitution because it created a weaker national government than existed under the Articles of Confederation. c. those who opposed the new Constitution because it did not end slavery. d. those who supported the new Constitution because it created a stronger national government than existed under the Articles of Confederation. e. those who supported the new Constitution because it ended slavery.

d. those who supported the new Constitution because it created a stronger national government than existed under the Articles of Confederation.

the agreement reached at the constitutional convention that determined how enslaved people would be counted for the purposes of taxation and congressional representation was called the.... a. virginia plan b. new jersey plan c. connecticut compromise d. three-fifths compromise e. great compromise

d. three-fifths compromise

which of the following is not a responsibility of the DNC and RNC? a. to work to enhance their party's media image b. to set the rules for primaries and caucuses c. to give candidates money for their campaigns d. to select their party's candidates for elective office e. to try to minimize disputes within the party

d. to select their party's candidates for elective office

when state and local governments conform to requirements imposed by the national government but do not receive funding for the expenditures required to fulfill them, they are complying with... a. states' rights b. block grants c. general revenue sharing d. unfunded mandates e. redistributive programs

d. unfunded mandates

23rd amendment

d.c. gets the same amount of electoral votes as the least populous state (3)

cracking

diluting the voting power of the opposing party's supporters across many districts

"separate but equal" rule

doctrine that public accommodations could be segregated by race but still be considered equal

in 2018, latinos composed approximately what percentage of the american public? a. 67% b. 52% c. 31% d. 18% e. 6%

e. 6%

in which case did the Supreme Court create the potential for increased national power by ruling that Congress could, based on the necessary and proper clause, exercise powers "implied" by its delegated powers? a. US v. Lopez b. Printz v. US c. Loving v. Virginia d. McCulloch v. Maryland e. Gibbons v. Ogden

e. Gibbons v. Ogden

Which of the following statements about impeachment is not true? a. the president is not the only official who can be impeached by Congress. b. Impeachment means to charge a government official with "Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors." c. The House of Representatives decides by simple majority vote whether the accused ought to be impeached. d. The Senate decides whether to convict and remove the person from office. e. Only criminal offenses are impeachable.

e. Only criminal offenses are impeachable.

what percentage of americans live in urban areas today? a. less that 10% b. about 20% c. about 40% d. about 60% e. about 80%

e. about 80%

Which of the following is not an agent of socialization? a. the family b. social groups c. education d. party affiliation e. all of the above are agents of socialization

e. all of the above are agents of socialization

which of the following could be described as a jim crow law? a. a law forcing black people and white people to ride in separate train cars b. a law criminalizing interracial marriage c. a law requiring black students and white students to attend different schools d. a law segregating all public accommodations, such as hotels, restaurants, and theaters e. all of the above are examples of jim crow laws

e. all of the above are jim crow laws

a stable, cooperative relationship between a House or Senate committee or subcommittee, an executive branch program, and one or more well-organized interest groups is called... a. an issue network b. a public interest group c. a political action committee d. pluralism e. an iron triangle

e. an iron triangle

which of the following is a way that interest groups use the courts to influence public policy? a. supplying judges with solidarity benefits b. joining an issue network c. creating an iron triangle d. forming a political action committee e. filing amicus briefs

e. filing amicus briefs

which constitutional clause requires that states normally honor the public acts and judicial decisions of other states? a. privileges and immunities clause b. necessary and proper clause c. interstate commerce clause d. preemption clause e. full faith and credit clause

e. full faith and credit clause

framing is the power the media has to... a. deny coverage to certain politicians b. bring public attention to particular issues and problems c. designate some issues, events, or people as important, and others not d. influence the issues that people consider when making judgments about public officials e. influence how events, issues, and people's actions are interpreted and understood

e. influence how events, issues, and people's actions are interpreted and understood

If Congress wants to create an agency with independent, bipartisan leadership, it will likely a. locate the agency withing the executive branch b. refrain from exercising its oversight powers on the agency c. allow the president to decide how the agency should be organized d. provide for the election, rather than the appointment, of the agency's leadership e. install a multiperson board at the head of the agency

e. install a multiperson board at the head of the agency

The Supreme Court's decision in Marbury v. Madison was important because... a. it invalidated state laws prohibiting interracial marriage. b. it ruled that the recitation of prayers in public schools is unconstitutional under the establishment clause of the First Amendment. c. it established that arrested people have the right to remain silent, the right to be informed that anything they say can be held against them, and the right to counsel before and during police interrogation. d. it provided an expansive definition of commerce under the interstate commerce clause. e. it established the power of judicial review.

e. it established the power of judicial review.

the state department's primary mission is a. gathering intelligence b. unifying the nation's military departments c. engaging in diplomacy d. investigating terrorism e. overseeing domestic security efforts

e. overseeing domestic security efforts

the judicial standard that places a heavy burden of proof on the government when it seeks to restrict speech is called... a. judicial restraint b. judicial activism c. habeas corpus d. prior restraint e. strict scrutiny

e. strict scrutiny

which of the following best describes the relationship that the news media have with big technology companies? a. technology companies have largely stayed separate from the private, for-profit companies that drive news media b. the news media and technology companies each promote news catered to completely different audiences c. traditional news media rely on ad revenue, while big technology companies are able to promote news without relying on ad revenue d. big technology companies place a higher value on fact-checking and editorial standards than traditional news media have in the past e. technology companies are increasingly developing or buying major news media companies

e. technology companies are increasingly developing or buying major news media companies

what is executive privilege? a. the president's ability to exercise unlimited and unconditional veto power over acts of Congress b. the president's role in creating the national budget c. the idea that the president has access to the highest levels of classified governmental information d. the idea that constituents tend to support the president's policy initiatives more than they support policies initiated by Congress e. the claim that confidential communications between a president and close advisers should not be revealed without presidential consent

e. the claim that confidential communications between a president and close advisers should not be revealed without presidential consent

The fact that women tend to oppose military intervention more than men do is an example of... a. the rally around the flag effect b. partisan polarization c. the peace paradox d. the bandwagon effect e. the gender gap

e. the gender gap

which of the following best describes the Supreme Court as understood by the founders? a. the body that would choose the president b. the principal check in presidential power c. an arbiter of disputes within the congress d. a figurehead commission of elders e. the highest court of both the national government and the states

e. the highest court of both the national government and the states

how has the internet affected americas' relationship with politics? a. thanks to the internet, Americans' sense of political efficacy has increased in recent years. b. the internet has equalized access to political knowledge for people of different incomes, education levels, races, and ages. c. the internet now allows americans to vote online. d. large majorities of americans now get political information from the internet. e. the internet has driven a decrease in rates of political participation among americans.

e. the internet has driven a decrease in rates of political participation among americans.

which of the following social groups usually votes for republicans? a. women b. nonwhite racial and ethnic groups c. people with college degrees d. organized labor e. the very wealthy

e. the very wealthy

which proposal argued argued that states should be represented in the national legislature according to their size and wealth? a. the connecticut plan b. the maryland plan c. the new jersey plan d. the rhode island plan e. the virginia plan

e. the virginia plan

the war powers resolution of 1973 was an act passed by congress that a. required the CIA to collect intelligence on all Americans born in a foreign country. b. outlawed presidential use of executive agreements. c. created the National Security Council. d. granted the president the authority to declare war. e. was designed to restore Congress's role in military policy.

e. was designed to restore Congress's role in military policy.

What is regulatory capture? a. when Congress uses its oversight powers to block agencies from creating regulations b. when an executive department assumes control over an agency that is outside of its traditional jurisdiction c. when regulations get stuck in the notice-and-comment stage for over a year d. when Congress refuses to confirm the president's nominees to high-level bureaucratic offices e. when an agency becomes too favorable toward the organized interests or corporations it is supposed to be regulating

e. when an agency becomes too favorable toward the organized interests or corporations it is supposed to be regulating

"fire alarm" oversight

episodic, as-needed congressional hearings on bureaucratic agency operations, usually prompted by media attention or advocacy group complaints

fake news

false stories intended to be read as factual news that are circulated to benefit one candidate or party over another or to generate ad revenue.

whistleblowers

federal employees who report wrongdoing in federal agencies

block grants

federal grants-in-aid that allow states considerable discretion in how the funds are spent

civil rights act of 1875

forbids private businesses from discriminating on the basis of race; constitutional basis = equal protection clause

liberty

freedom from governmental control

circuit court of appeals

geographically bounded, can only appeal to the circuit area you are in; 13 across the US

spoils system

government jobs and contract are awarded on the basis of party loyalty

affirmative action

government policies or programs that seek to redress past injustices against specified groups by making special efforts to provide members of those groups with access to education and employment opportunities

fourteenth amendment

guaranteed equal protection and due process; civil war amendment

fifteenth amendment

guaranteed voting rights for african american men; civil war amendment

bicameral

having a legislative assembly composed of two chambers or houses

bicameral

having a legislative assembly composed of two chambers or houses; distinguished from unicameral

district courts

hear federal criminal and civil cases; 94 across the US

Pendleton Act of 1883

hiring and promoting based on professional merit

incumbency

holding the political office for which one is running

partisanship

identification with or support of a particular party or cause

inspectors general (igs)

independent audit organizations located in most federal agencies

interest group

individual who organize to influence the government's programs and policies

political power

influence over a government's leadership, organization, or policies

political knowledge

information about the formal institutions of government, political actors, and political issues

citizenship

informed and active membership in a political community

government

institutions and procedures though which a territory and its people are ruled

civil rights act of 1964

it shall be unlawful for to discriminate based on race, sex, color, religion or national origin

election of 1800

jefferson and burr tied; brought up the 12th amendment (vote for president and vice president together)

conference committees

joint committees created to work out a compromise on House and Senate versions of a piece of legislation

grand jury

jury that determines whether sufficient evidence is available to justify a trial; grand juries do not rule on the accused's guilt or innocence

chief justice

justice on the Supreme Court who presides over the Court's public sessions

jim crow laws

laws enacted by southern states following the reconstruction that discriminated against african americans

supremacy clause

laws passed by the national government and all treaties are the supreme law f the land and superior to all laws adopted by any state or any subdivision

joint committees

legislative committees formed of members of both the House and Senate

staff agencies

legislative support agencies responsible for policy analysis

packing

majority of one party in a district

checks and balances

mechanisms through which each branch of government is able to participate in and influence the activities of the other branches; major examples include the presidential veto power over congressional legislation, the power of the Senate to approve presidential appointments, and judicial review of congressional enactments

citizen journalism

news reported and distributed by citizens, rather than professional journalists and for-profit news organizations

civil rights

obligation imposed on government to take positive action to protect citizens from any illegal action of government agencies and of other private citizens

tyranny

oppressive government that employs cruel and unjust use of power and authority

political parties

organized groups that attempt to influence the government by electing their members to important government offices

jurisdiction

original: first to hear cases involving state and ambassadors appellate: S.C can review cases decided in a lower federal court

third parties

parties that organize to compete against the two major American political parties

party activists

partisans who contribute time, energy, and effort to support their party and its candidates

bureaucrat

people who work in a bureaucracy

administration

performance of routine tasks associated with a specific goal

which supreme court case established the "separate but equal" rule?

plessy v. ferguson

sampling error

polling error that arises based on the small size of the sample

home rule

power delegated by the state to a local unit of government to manage its own affairs

police power

power reserved to the state government to regulate the health, safety, and morals of its citizens

inherent powers

powers claimed by a president that are not expressed in the Constitution but are inferred from it

implied powers

powers derived from the necessary and proper clause of Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution; such powers are not specifically expressed but are implied through the expansive interpretation of delegated powers

reserved powers

powers, derived from the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution, that are not specifically delegated to the national government or denied to the states

media

print and digital forms of communication, including television, newspapers, radio, and the Internet, intended to convey information to large audiences

grants-in-aid

programs through which Congress provides money to state and local governments on the condition that the funds be employed for purposes defined by the federal government

full faith and credit clause

provision from Article IV, Section 1, of the Constitution requiring that the states normally honor the public acts and judicial decisions that take place in another state

equal protection clause

provision of the 14th amendment guaranteeing citizens "the equal protection of the laws." this clause has been the basis for the civil rights of african americans, women, and other groups

privileges and immunities clause

provision, from Article IV, Section 2, of the Constitution, that a state cannot discriminate against someone from another state or give its own residents special privileges

judicial restraint

refusal to go beyond the words of the Constitution in interpreting the documents meaning

"police patrol" oversight

regular or even preemptive congressional hearings on bureaucratic agency operations

independent regulatory commissions

regulate sectors of the country's economy in the public interest

public opinion polls

scientific instruments for measuring public opinion

solidarity benefits

selective benefits of group membership that emphasize friendship, networking, and consciousness-raising

purposive benefits

selective benefits of group membership that emphasize the purpose and accomplishments of the groups

government corporations

semi-independent government agency that administers a business enterprise

franking privilege

sending constituents mail to gain an advantage

independent agencies

smaller than a cabinet department and have a narrower set of responsibilities

agents of socialization

social institutions, including families and schools, that help shape individuals' basic political beliefs and values

libertarian

someone who emphasizes freedom and believes in voluntary association with small government

socialist

someone who generally believes in social ownership, strong government, free markets, and reduction in economic inequality

material benefits

special goods, services, or money provided to members of groups to entice others to join

informational benefits

special newsletters, periodicals, training programs, conferences, and other information provided to members of groups to entice others to join

expressed powers

specific powers granted by the Constitution to Congress (Article I, Section 8) and to the president (Article II)

specialization

specific tasks should be delegated to an individuals whose training and experience to give expertise to execute them

"speech plus"

speech accompanied by conduct such as sit-ins, picketing, and demonstrations; protection of this form of speech under the 1st is conditional, and restrictions imposed by state or local authorities are acceptable if properly balanced by considerations of public order

fighting words

speech that directly incites damaging conduct

brown v. board of education (1954)

supreme court decision that struck down separate but equal ad fundamentally unequal; eliminated state power to use race as a criterion of discrimination in law and provided the national government with the power to intervene by exercising strict regulatory policies against discriminatory actions

broadcast media

television, radio, or other media that transmit audio and/or video content to the public

select committees

temporary legislative committees set up to highlight or investigate a particular issue or address an issue not within the jurisdiction of existing committees

"clear and present danger"

test used to determine whether speech is protected or unprotected, based on its capacity to present a "clear and present" to society

executive departments

the 15 departments in the executive branch headed by Cabinet secretaries and constituting the majority of the federal bureaucracy

free exercise clause

the 1st amendment clause that protects a citizen's right to believe and practice whatever religion they choose

establishment clause

the 1st amendment clause that says "congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion"; this constitutional provision means that a "wall of separation" exists between church and state

judicial activism

the Court should go beyond the works of the Constitution or a statute to consider the broader societal implications of its decisions

double jeopardy

the Fifth Amendment right providing that a person cannot be tried twice for the same crime

exclusionary rule

the ability of courts to exclude evidence obtained in violation of the Fourth Amendment

office of management and budget (omb)

the agency in the Executive Office of the President with control over the federal budget and regulations

great compromise

the agreement reached at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that gave each state an equal number of senators regardless of its population but linked representation in the House of Representatives to population

3/5 compromise

the agreement reached at the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that stipulated that for purposes of the apportionment of congressional seats only three-fifths of slaves would be counted

appropriations

the amounts of money approved by Congress in statutes (bills) that each unit or agency of government can spend

gerrymandering

the apportionment of voters in districts in such a way as to give an unfair advantage to one racial or ethnic group or political party

original jurisdiction

the authority to initially consider a case

political efficacy

the belief that one can influence government and politics

civil law

the branch of law that deals with disputes that do not involve criminal penalties

criminal law

the branch of law that regulates the conduct of individuals, defines crime, and specifies punishment for proscribed conduct

speaker of the house

the chief presiding officer of the HOR; most important party and House leader and can influence the legislative agenda, fate of pieces of legislation, and member positions

civil rights cases of 1883

the civil rights act of 1875 because the equal protection clause is for public discrimination

executive privilege

the claim that confidential communications between a president and close advisers should not be revealed without the consent of the president

bureaucracy

the complex structure of offices, tasks, rules, and principles of organization that is employed by all large-scale institutions to coordinate the work of their personnel

elastic clause

the concluding paragraph of Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution (also known as the "necessary and proper clause"), which provides Congress with the authority to make all laws "necessary and proper" to carry out its enumerated powers

majority rule, minority rights

the democratic principle that a government follows the preferences of the majority of voters but protects the interests of the minority

separation of powers

the division of governmental power among several institutions that must cooperate in decision-making

social desirability effect

the effect that results when respondents in a survey report what they expect the interviewer wishes to hear rather than what they believe

oversight

the effort by Congress, through hearings, investigations, and other techniques, to exercise control over the activities of executive agencies

implementation

the efforts of departments and agencies to translate laws into specific bureaucratic rules and actions

majority leader

the elected leader of the majority party in the HOR or Senate; in the House, the majority leader is subordinate in the party hierarchy to the speaker

minority leader

the elected leader of the minority party in the House or Senate

bill of rights

the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1791; they ensure certain rights and liberties to the people

trial court

the first court to hear a criminal or civil case

impeachment

the formal charge by the House of Representatives that a government official has committed "Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors"

party organization

the formal structure of a political party, including its leadership, election committees, active members, and paid staff

digital divide

the gap in access between those who have access to information and communications technology and those who do not

supreme court

the highest court in a particular stare or in the US; appellate function

plaintiff

the individual or organization that brings a complaint in court

political socialization

the induction of individuals into the political culture; learning the underlying beliefs and values on which the political system is based

defendant

the one against whom a complaint is brought in a criminal or civil case

media monopolies

the ownership and control of the media by a few large corporations

executive office of the president

the permanent agencies that perform defined management tasks for the president; created in 1939, the EOP includes the OMB, the Council of Economic Advisers (CEA), the NSC, and other agencies

judicial review

the power of the courts to review actions of the legislative and executive branches and declare them unconstitutional; marbury v. madison

judicial review

the power of the courts to review actions of the legislative and executive branches and, if necessary, declare them invalid or unconstitutional; the Supreme Court asserted this power in Marbury v. Madison (1803)

agenda setting

the power of the media to bring public attention to particular issues and problems

framing

the power of the media to influence how events and issues are interpreted

multiple referral

the practice of referring a bill to more than one committee for consideration

veto

the president's constitutional power to turn down acts of Congress; a presidential veto may be overridden by a two-thirds vote of each house of Congress

executive order

the president's inherent power to bring a legislative agenda before Congress

legislative initiative

the president's inherent power to bring a legislative agenda before Congress

political appointees

the presidentially appointed layer of the bureaucracy on top of the civil service

preemption

the principle that allows the national government to override state or local actions in certain policy areas; in foreign policy, the willingness to strike first in order to prevent an enemy attack

states' rights

the principle that the states should oppose the increasing authority of the national government; this principle was most popular in the period before the Civil War

privatization

the process by which a formerly public service becomes a service provided by a private company but paid for by the government

selective incorporation

the process by which different protections in the BOR were incorporated into the 14th amendment, thus guaranteeing citizens protection from state as well as national governments

general revenue sharing

the process by which one unit of government yields a portion of its tax income to another unit of government, according to an established formula; revenue sharing typically involves the national government providing money to state governments

priming

the process of making some criteria more important than others when evaluating a politician, problem, or issue

redistricting

the process of redrawing election districts and redistributing legislative representatives

apportionment

the process that allocates congressional seats among the 50 states

intergovernmental relations

the processes by which the three levels of American government (national, state, local) negotiate and compromise over policy responsibility

seniority

the ranking given to an individual on the basis of length of continuous service on a committee in Congress

equal time rule

the requirement that broadcasters provide candidates for the same political office equal opportunities to communicate their messages to the public

miranda rule

the requirement, articulated by the Supreme Court in Miranda v. Arizona, that persons under arrest must be informed prior to police interrogation of their rights to remain silent and to have the benefit of legal counsel

constituency

the residents in the area from which an official is elected

standing

the right of an individual or organization to initiate a court case, on the basis of having a substantial stake in the outcome

due process of law

the right of every individual against arbitrary action by national or state governments

eminent domain

the right of government to take private property for public use

right to privacy

the right to be left alone, which has been interpreted by the Supreme Court to entail individual access to birth control and abortions

political equality

the right to participate in politics equally, based on the principle of "one person, one vote"

commander in chief

the role of the president as commander of the national military and the state National Guard units (when called into service)

cabinet

the secretaries, or chief administrators, of the major departments of the federal government; Cabinet secretaries are appointed by the president with the consent of the Senate

committee markup

the session in which a congressional committee rewrites legislation to incorporate changes discussed during hearings on a bill

jurisdiction

the sphere of a court's power and authority

oral argument

the stage in the Supreme Court procedure in which attorneys for both sides appear before the Court to present their positions and answer questions posed by the justices

dual federalism

the system of government that prevailed in the United States from 1789 to 1937 in which most fundamental governmental powers were shared between the federal and state governments

pluralism

the theory that all interests are and should be free to compete for influence in the government; the outcome of this competition is compromise and moderation

solicitor general

the top government lawyer in all cases before the Supreme Court where the government is a party

senior executive service

the top, presidentially appointed management rank for career civil servants

discrimination

the use of any unreasonable and unjust criterion of exclusion

opinion

the written explanation of the Supreme Court's decision in a particular case

pluralism

theory that all interests are and should be free to compete for the influence in the government; the outcome of this competition is compromise and moderation

free riders

those who enjoy the benefits of collective goods but did not participate in acquiring or providing them

federalists

those who favored a strong national government and supported the Constitution proposed at the American Constitutional Convention of 1787

antifederalists

those who favored strong state governments and a weak national government and who were opponents of the Constitution proposed at the American Constitutional Convention of 1787

casework

time and staffing on a constituency service

liberal

today this term refers to those who generally support social and political reform, governmental intervention in the economy, more economic equality, expansion of federal social services, and greater concern for consumers and the environment

conservative

today this term refers to those who generally support the social and economic status quo and are suspicious of the efforts to introduce new political formulas and economic arrangements; large and powerful government poses a threat to citizens' freedom

social media

web- and mobile-based technologies that are used to turn communication into interactive dialogue among organizations, communities, and individuals; social media technologies take on many different forms including text, blogs, podcasts, photographs, streaming video, Facebook, and Twitter

briefs

written documents in which attorneys explain, using case precedents, why the court should find in favor of their client