quiz and exam questions

According to "Political Psychology and Democratic Competence," which of the following is NOT one of the suggested fixes for an uninformed and misinformed electorate? a) Keep elites out of politics - elites pursue the policies they prefer not the policies preferred by the majority, thus distorting democracy b) Reduce the number of elections - people will be more engaged and make better choices if they have to choose less often c) Put fewer items on the ballots - in the US people vote often and for many offices from school and park district board members all the way up to president d) Shorten the election cycle - most people don't have the attention span to stay interested in politics for years

A

According to the 2020 Global Gender Gap Report, the United States ranked: a) Behind Mexico, Canada, and most of Europe on measures of gender equality b) Near the very top for gender equality, far ahead of Mexico, Canada, and most of Europe c) Ahead of Mexico but behind Canada and most of Europe on measures of gender equality

A

At 17.9% of GDP in Fiscal Year 2020, the federal deficit is almost twice as large than at the worst of the Great Recession in 2009 a) True b) False

A

Black households are less likely to own their own home than White households regardless of important demographic factors (education, income, age, and marital status). Meaning, for example, that high-income Black households are less likely to own their own home than White households with comparable incomes a) True b) False

A

Deaton argues in "Without governments, would countries have more inequality, or less?" that "rent seeking" in American politics means democratic governments are often creating policies that favor the corporations and the economically affluent. As a result, in the American political system, our federal government may be redistributing income from the poor and middle class to the wealthy a) True b) False

A

If the courts were reviewing a law based on race, which test would they apply? a) strict scrutiny b) intermediate scrutiny c) clear and present danger d) rational basis

A

In chapter 4, Page & Gilens compare policy preferences of multimillionaires and average citizen. What do they conclude? a) Their policy preferences are different - average citizens favor more aggressive social spending and more progressive taxation policies compared to multimillionaires b) Their policy preferences are the same - multimillionaires and average citizens have pretty much the same policy preferences in that both groups want more spending on social programs and more progressive taxes c) Their policy preferences are different - multimillionaires favor more aggressive social spending and more progressive taxation policies compared to average citizens d) Their policy preferences are the same - multimillionaires and average citizens have pretty much the same policy preferences in that both groups want less spending on social programs and less progressive taxes

A

One of the challenges in reducing government spending is that the amount of "mandatory spending" has increased over time while the amount of discretionary spending has decreased a) True b) False

A

Over time, the number of cloture votes (votes to end a filibuster) has... a) increased b) stayed about the same c) decreased

A

Page & Gilens argue that multiple veto points, divided party rule, and disharmony among institutions are the causes for gridlock. a) True b) False

A

Republicans have become increasingly critical of several major U.S. institutions, including big corporations and banks. a) True b) False

A

There has been a dramatic increase in individual campaign donations in federal elections since the 1980s a) True b) False

A

This amendment to the US Constitution: "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude." a) 15th Amendment b) 19th Amendment c) 5th Amendment d) 26th Amendment

A

What was David Wessel's answer in "How worried should you be about the federal deficit and debt?" a) At least for now, you shouldn't be too worried. Government continues to borrow at low interest rates. But we'll have problems if the federal debt cannot grow faster than the economy indefinitely. b) Very worried, government spending should never exceed revenue. Not even during an economic crisis c) Very worried, rising debt will eventually cripple the economy, the only question is when d) Not worried at all. Deficits and, by extension, debt doesn't matter

A

Which of the following is true regarding marijuana use and arrests? a) African-Americans and White Americans use marijuana at about the same rate but African-Americans are much more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession b) White Americans use marijuana at a much higher rate than African-Americans but get arrested less often c) African-Americans and White Americans use marijuana at about the same rate and get arrested for possession at about the same rate d) African-Americans use marijuana at a much higher rate an get arrested more often

A

which of the following is true? a) Women typically have a higher rate of voter turnout than men, and the majority of women lean Democrat b) Men typically have a higher rate of voter turnout than men, and the majority of women lean Republican c) Women typically have a higher rate of voter turnout than men, and the majority of women lean Republican d) Men typically have a higher rate of voter turnout than women, and the majority of women lean Democrat

A

When a president receives a piece of legislation that has already been passed by both the House and the Senate, they can.... (select all that apply) a) Veto it b) Sign it and it becomes law c) Not sign it and if Congress adjourns with in ten days, the legislation is effectively vetoed (pocket veto) d) Adjourn Congress and call for new elections e) Not sign it and if Congress is still in session in ten days, the bill becomes law without the president's signature

A, B, C, and E

Which of the following were used to deny African-Americans the right to vote? (Check all that apply) a) literacy tests b) all white primaries c) poll taxes d) 26th amendment

A, B, and C

Which of the following is true regarding public opinion on taxes and spending? (Select all that apply) a) Americans believe most government spending is wasted (about 50 cents of every dollar) b) Americans (mostly) support more government spending across a wide range of issues, including education, health care, and infrastructure c) Americans are fiscal conservatives favoring low spending and reduced taxes d) Americans (mostly) support news taxes as long as the new taxes are on the wealthy (and they are not personally included in any definition of wealthy)

A, B, and D

(Based on the The Opportunity Atlas) What can we learn by examining the neighborhood children grow up in? a) Moving to a better neighborhood in early childhood has no effect on how child fares later in life b) Children's outcomes in adulthood vary sharply across neighborhoods that are just a mile or two apart c) The neighborhood one grows up in has no correlation with any measurable life outcome d) Places that have good outcomes for one racial group always have good outcomes for others as well

B

According to "Political Psychology and Democratic Competence," why is Sigmund Freud relevant to politics? a) Politicians routinely have "Freudian slips" which result in scandal and gaffes, and hurt their chances at winning election b) Much of what we do as human beings is guided by unconscious thought. We don't always know why we do what we do. This leads to elites questioning the underlying assumptions of democratic theory. c) People who are compelled to run for office are trying to make up for feelings of inadequacy during childhood

B

According to "U.S. Public Opinion and the $3.5 Trillion Senate Budget Plan" by Frank Newport, is public opinion supportive of the "soft infrastructure" budget plan? a) No - a majority opposes the overall bill and its individual components b) Yes - a majority supports the overall bill and, where survey data is available, the individual components c) Yes - a majority supports the overall bill but does not support its individual components d) No - a majority opposes the overall bill but supports its individual components

B

According to "Where do our Federal Tax Dollars Go" by the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities what is the single largest spending category in the Federal budget? a) Interest on the Federal Debt b) Entitlements (Social Security, Medicare, & Medicaid) c) Transportation and Infrastructure d) Foreign Aid

B

According to Bonica, McCarty, Poole, & Rosenthal, which of the following is NOT connected to increased economic inequality: a) Immigration and low turn-out of the poor have combined to make the distribution of voters more weighted to higher income voters b) The political process makes elected officials MORE accountable to democratic majorities and majorities support economic inequality c) Wealthy citizens use their political influence to secure favorable policy outcomes d) Republicans and Democrats both receive corporate funding for their political campaigns and are largely accepting of limited regulation and free market capitalism

B

According to Gehl & Porter, the U.S. political system will eventually fix itself. Policy-makers need to just get out of the way and allow political markets to work a) True b) False

B

According to Giordono, Boudet, and Zanocco, how did experiencing extreme weather events affect attitudes toward climate change? a) Experiencing extreme weather events had no effect on support for climate change mitigation policies even when individuals were personally harmed b) Experiencing extreme weather events increased support for climate change mitigation policies but primarily when individuals were personally harmed c) Extreme weather events increased support for climate mitigation policies but only among Democrats d) Extreme weather events decreased support for climate mitigation policies but only for Republicans

B

According to chapter 5 in Page and Gilens wealthy individuals and corporations often have the same views and effects on public policy (e.g., view protection of the environment similarly) a) True b) False

B

According to measures designed to estimate member ideology, members of Congress have become... a) Less polarized over time as both parties have tried to win over the median voter in congressional elections b) More polarized over time as the Republican Party has become more conservative and the Democratic Party has become more liberal

B

According to the Pew Research Center "Key Findings," people who are more trusting (high trusters) are... a) No more (and no less) likely to treat others with respect, work together to solve community problems and accept election results no matter who wins. Trust isn't an important predictor of other attitudes and behaviors. b) More likely to treat others with respect, work together to solve community problems and accept election results no matter who wins c) Less likely to treat others with respect, work together to solve community problems or accept election results no matter who wins

B

According to the Pew Research Center's "Divisions in Americans' Views of Nation's Racial History," if someone believes the country has made a lot of progress in ensuring equal rights for all Americans... a) They also believe there is more to do and that we, as Americans, can get it done b) They also believe that we do not need to do a lot more. Equal rights were largely achieved after the Civil Rights Act of 1964 c) They are no more (or less) likely to say we there is more to do. Views of progress have little bearing on views of what needs to be done today

B

According to various opinion polls views in class, most Americans oppose any new federal government spending on infrastructure a) True b) False

B

Based on opinion polls discussed in class, which party is more likely to believe we have made a lot of progress on racial discrimination? a) whigs b) Republicans c) tories d) Democrats

B

Because of political polarization, most bills introduced into the US Congress get voted down on the floor and never become law a) True b) False

B

Despite progress, women are less likely to graduate from college than men and are less likely to attend law school a) True b) False

B

Heather McGhee uses the example of public swimming pools to argue that: a) Communities can come together when there is a cause that unites them (e.g., building a community swimming pool) b) Racial discrimination hurts us all. Closing public swimming pools as a result of desegregation hurt everyone c) Only rich communities have public swimming pools

B

In "If Governments did not exist would countries have more inequality?," Angus Deaton argues one of the main drivers of wealth inequality in the United States is.. a) The Supreme Court b) The fact that politicians need wealthy donors to compete in elections and this in turn causes their behaviors to be in-line with their wealthier constituent's preferences rather than majority preferences c) The number of members in the House of Representatives, if there were more members there would be less inequality d) Timing of elections in the United States

B

In class we used the example of the WNBA to illustrate what idea? a) Strict Scrutiny, the idea that laws that discriminate will be carefully reviewed by the Supreme Court b) Comparable worth, the idea that men and women should be compensated equally for work requiring comparable skills, responsibilities, and effort c) Coverture, a legal principle that makes it difficult for women as athletes to negotiate a fair salary d) The Equal Rights Amendment, and how its passage has helped women achieve greater equality

B

In class, we discussed corporate influence in politics within the context of pharmaceutical companies that manufacture opioids. Which of the following is NOT one of the ways these companies legally influence the political process? a) By donating to political candidates and political parties assuring access to political decision-makers b) By bribing politicians and demanding policy favors or risk exposure c) By lobbying members of congress for favorable treatment in legislation (e.g., extending patents on drugs)

B

In one of our class readings, Lee Drutman argued that voter turnout during the 2020 elections proves that: a) Turnout decreases when potential voters don't like either of the candidates b) High voter turnout does not mean that American democracy is healthy. Higher voter turnout in 2020 didn't reflect greater satisfaction with the process or in the losing side seeing the election outcome as more fair or more legitimate. c) American democracy is doing well despite its critics. High voter turnout is a sign of a healthy democracy.

B

Interest groups can only influence legislation on the floor of the House and Senate, after a bill has been written and reported out by a standing committee a) True b) False

B

Interest groups can only influence legislation on the floor, after a bill has been written and reported out by a standing committee a) True b) False

B

Looking at the trends over time (in class), wealth has increased at similar rates for all income groups. Less wealthy Americans have seen their wealth increase at the same rate as the top one percent in terms of wealth a) True b) False

B

One of the reasons there are not more women elected to Congress is that voter turnout is lower for women. Men are advantaged because more men vote a) True b) False

B

One of the solutions Gehl & Porter offer for "Fixing U.S. Politics" is.... a) campaign finance reform b) top five primaries and ranked choice voting c) term limits d) balanced budget amendment

B

Revisionist scholars who challenged the view of the average citizen developed in early voting behavior studies (e.g., The American Voter and The People's Choice) argued: a) The costs of being informed about - or participating in - politics outweighs any potential benefit of being informed b) Voters can make reasonably informed decisions with limited information (e.g., know the partisan identification of the candidates can serve to simplify vote choice) c) Voters carefully study party platforms and select the party that best represents their view. They elect candidates who don't reflect their values only when candidates lie or misrepresent their policy view

B

Through rent-seeking, corporations and interest groups increase their own wealth while also increasing the wealth of society as a whole a) True b) False

B

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act applies to all educational institutions that receive federal aid. It also prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in academic programs, dormitory space, healthcare access, and school activities including sports a) True b) False

B

Under which presidency does trust in government begin to decline? a) George H. W. Bush b) Lyndon Johnson c) Ronald Reagan d) Bill Clinton

B

We could significantly reduce the national debt if we just cut stopped sending foreign aid to other countries a) True b) False

B

What of the following is NOT TRUE regarding the number of women elected to Congress? a) More Democratic women have been elected to Congress than Republican women b) After recent election cycles, the number of women elected to Congress roughly equals the number of women in the population (~50 percent) c) Based on objective measures (legislation sponsored, responsiveness to constituents), Women elected as representatives do a better job than men elected as representatives (on average)

B

When it comes to passing laws, it is... a) Easier to play offense, because individual members can force legislation through the House and Senate b) Easier to play defense, meaning it is easier to stop a proposed bill from becoming law because there a multiple access points to kill legislation

B

Which of the following best reflects Republican opinion on climate change? (As revealed in public opinion polls) a) Republicans and Democrats both agree on the importance of climate change and what to do about it b) Republicans believe climate change and global warming are not that big of a problem and implementing policies to fix it cause more harm than good c) Republicans don't believe climate change and global warming are that big of a problem, but they still support policies to combat climate change because it helps win elections d) Republicans believe we should focus more on climate change and make policy changes to prevent it

B

Which of the following is true of the Equal Rights Amendment? a) The Equal Rights Amendment provided the right to vote to African-American males but not to women b) The Equal Rights Amendment was never ratified c) After the Equal Rights Amendment was ratified, de jure discrimination was eliminated but de facto discrimination has remained

B

Which of the following was NOT discussed in class as evidence of climate change? a) Sea levels have been rising, creating threats of flooding in coastal communities b) It is almost Thanksgiving and it is still really warm outside c) Arctic sea ice has declined significantly d) Earth's temperature has warmed significantly

B

Which of the following was NOT listed as a reason there are not more Republican women in Congress? (Based on the article, "Why aren't there more Republican women in Congress") a) Black, Latinx and Asian Pacific Islander women — have made gains in elective office at a faster rate than White women, a pattern that has benefited the Democratic Party almost exclusively b) Democratic women have consistently expressed greater interest in running for office c) The Democratic Party has made gender equality an explicit goal and has a more decentralized and open culture. The Republican Party is more hierarchical and individualistic, so they have not been as active in recruiting women candidates d) Gender conservativism is concentrated almost exclusively among Republicans in the South

B

Women elected as representatives are no more responsive to requests from women constituents than men elected as representatives a) True b) False

B

according to "Democracy's Meanings," all individuals that identify with the Republican party are also Minimalist (or Procedural) Democrats and all individuals that identify with the Democrat party are Maximalist (or Substantive) Democrats a) True b) False

B

in the fight over ratification, the Federalists argued the best reason for ratifying the U.S. Constitution was that the new government would be a democracy a) True b) False

B

most bills that are introduced into the U.S. Congress.... a) are signed into law b) are never reported out of committee c) die on the floor of the U.S. Senate d) die on the floor of the House of Representatives

B

what DID NOT occur after the Supreme Court ruled that "separate was inherently equal" in Brown v. Board (1954)? a) Enrollments in private schools increased b) Public schools quickly desegregated and K-12 students attended racially diverse schools c) White Americans moved out of the cities and into the suburbs to avoid desegregated schools d) Public schools desegregated slowly because the Supreme Court used the phrase "all deliberate speed"

B

what does a high quality democracy look like when judged on the equalitarian principle of democracy? a) when individuals have at least three candidates in every election b) when individuals in all social groups are equally protected, resources are equally distributed across social groups, and all individuals have the same access to power c) when individuals have as many opportunities as possible to participate in political dialogue d) when individuals have the maximum protection for individual rights and civil liberties

B

which branch of the federal government do Americans trust most? a) bureaucracy b) Supreme Court c) Congress d) presidency

B

which of the following is NOT an example of participatory democracy? a) recall elections (e.g., the California recall election) b) citizens participating in conversations about policies using common good motives and then reaching a consensus through meaningful dialogue with one another rather than coercion c) citizens getting measures on the ballot for voters to approve or reject (e.g., residents in South Dakota getting a measure on the ballot to legalize medical marijuana) d) voters trying to approve or reject state constitutional amendment

B

you are a town person in Medieval England, would you rather be occasionally visited by a roving bandit or ruled over a stationary bandit? and why? a) stationary bandit - they are more polite b) stationary bandit - will extract fewer resources from you and have an interest in the community they oversee c) roving bandit - roving bandits steal less money and resources than stationary bandits d) roving bandit - you only sometimes have to deal with a bandit

B

"Political Psychology and Democratic Competence" discusses motivated reasoning as a problem for democracy. If a voter engages in motivated reasoning, they... a) Only reason when they are motivated to do so, so candidates and parties must motivate voters to reason b) Are guided by accuracy motivations, meaning they are open-minded and searching for the truth when trying to learn about political candidates and issues c) Are guided by directional motivations, meaning they are trying to find evidence to support their existing beliefs. They already knew what they belief and are motivated to support those beliefs

C

According to Bryan Caplan (The Myth of the Rational Voter), how can democratic governments best address the problem of uninformed and misinformed voters? a) Create structural impediments to voting, like voter identification laws, that will keep less informed citizens from voting b) Give voters a true democracy and meaningful choices and they will rise to the challenge and become more informed c) Rely less on government and more on private choice and free markets d) Do nothing, the better informed already vote at higher rates. This is as good as democracy gets.

C

According to Gehl & Porter (Fixing U.S. Politics), the problem with American politics is.... a) Healthy competition but high barriers to entry b) Unhealthy competition, low barriers to entry, and a lack of innovation c) Unhealthy competition, high barriers to entry, and a lack of innovation d) Unhealthy competition and low barriers to entry

C

According to the 2020 Global Gender Gap Report, the United States ranked most positively (relative to other nations) for _______ and most negatively for ________ a) Economic opportunity; Educational attainment b) Political empowerment; Economic opportunity c) Educational attainment; Political empowerment d) Political empowerment; Educational attainment

C

Based on class discussions, which of the following best reflects the common thread across the "problems" we have discussed in this section of the course? (Racial and gender equality, deficits and debt, and climate change) a) The problems we have discussed are easy to fix we are just too dumb to fix them b) The problems we have discussed are difficult because they have no solution and government can do little to fix them c) The problems we have discussed are the result of the policy choices we have made. We could make different choices, but there is often little agreement on what should be done

C

If you are worried about the federal deficit, does it make a difference which major political party you support (based on the information presented in class)? a) Yes, deficits decrease during Republican Administrations because they favor smaller government and increase during Democratic Administrations because they favor big government b) No, both Democratic and Republican Administrations have made deficit reduction a priority in recent years c) Yes but deficits increase during Republican Administrations because they cut taxes and reducing revenue but do not cut spending. Deficits increase during Democratic Administrations because they increase spending

C

Over time, the laws that have been passed by Congress have... a) gotten shorter, Congress is unable to deal with big issues b) stayed about the same c) gotten longer, Congress passes fewer but longer bills

C

When it comes to passing legislation, which of the following is true? a) Congress is passing more bills but shorter bills b) Congress is passing about the same number of bills but they are shorter c) Congress is passing fewer but longer bills d) Congress is passing about the same number of bills and they are longer today

C

Which of the following best reflects the central argument of Gehl & Porter "Fixing US Politics"? a) The US political system is highly competitive today. Even if the system is polarized, healthy competition limits the ability of either party to do much damage b) The US political system is plagued by economic inequality that means the rich keep getting richer c) The US political system is plagued by unhealthy competition and high barriers to entry, limiting the sorts of innovation we might see an a free market economy

C

According to David Brooks, what is key to restoring trust to American politics? a) Trick Question: Brooks argues it is too late to restore trust to the American political system b) Creating a multiple party democracy c) Term limits for politicians, we can't have trust until we get rid of the current set of politicians d) Creating new civic organizations, like Boy Scouts, 4-H, and the United Way, which help communities build norms

D

According to Drutman, "What the Framers Got Right," why are the parties (Democrats and Republicans) exactly the kind of political parties that the Framers most feared? a) Because the two major political parties in the United States have traded off the presidency in four to eight year time periods b) Because political parties are more exclusive than they were in the past. c) Because there are only two parties today compared to during the Framers time when there was a wide range of parties d) Because the division between Democrats and Republicans falls largely on geographic lines (Democrats are more likely to live in urban areas and Republicans in rural)

D

According to Foa & Mounk, a dirty democracy is when... a) Democracy is controlled by dirty "deplorables," voters who are crass, vulgar, and unrefined in their tastes and preferences, rather than better educated and more refined voters b) Democratic citizens largely accept the rules of the game and don't make policy demands on elites c) Democracy is not well-established and everyone in politics is corrupt so citizens have to bribe elected officials to get anything done d) Democratic citizens fight over the rules of the game, elites change the rules to advantage their party, and each side believes the other side is cheating or manipulating the process

D

According to Page & Gilens, which of the following best describes the difference between the wealthy today and the wealthy during the Gilded Age? a) America's wealthy today are move involved with their communities and have a better understanding of the needs of Americans in lower economic brackets b) America's wealthy in the Gilded Age were more isolated, living mostly near one another and spending time with one another which made them unaware of the importance or success of some government programs c) America's wealthy in the Gilded Age donated twice as much to political campaigns and volunteered more in elections d) America's wealthy today are more isolated, living mostly near one another and spending time with one another which makes them unaware of the importance and/or success of government programs

D

According to the Pew Research Center "Key Findings," the public views declining trust as: a) As not a problem at all, there have been periods of low trust in the past, and the public expresses little concern about low trust levels today b) A "very big problem" and put it at the top of their list of issues facing the United States including budget deficits and climate change c) As a problem but one that is impossible to fix so why worry about it d) As a problem but not as big of problem as more important and pressing concerns. Even so, they connect declining trust to other problems they worry about.

D

According to the article "US State Polarization, Policymaking Power, and Population Health," do state laws have a major effect on population health (not necessarily your health but the health of the overall population in the state) and why? a) No, they do not have a major effect - population health is based on individual characteristics and choices, policy is not important b) No, they do not have a major effect because, at least when it comes to health, most state health policy is pretty similar c) Yes, they have major effect - some states have laws that attract healthier people to the state and then the overall life expectancy of the state increases solely because of how people move around the country d) Yes, they have a major effect - over time the gap between life expectancy in different states has widened depending on the state's political orientation and the laws they pass

D

According to the report "100 Years On" in which of the four categories do women in the United States experience the greatest levels of inequality? a) educational attainment b) health and survival c) economic participation and opportunity d) political empowerment

D

Compared to Republicans, Democrats are more likely to believe that (based on the Pew Research Findings presented in class): a) Attention to the history of slavery and racism is good for society but great progress has been made to assure equal rights for all Americans regardless of race or ethnicity. White people, however continue to benefit a great deal from racial advantage b) Attention to the history of slavery and racism is bad for society, and despite the fact that little progress has been made to assure equal rights for all Americans regardless of race or ethnicity, and that White people benefit very little from racial advantages c) Attention to the history of slavery and racism is bad for society, great progress has been made to assure equal rights for all Americans regardless of race or ethnicity, and White people benefit very little from racial advantages d) Attention to the history of slavery and racism is good for society, too little progress has been made to assure equal rights for all Americans , and White people benefit a great deal from racial advantages

D

In chapter 5, Page & Gilens discuss how interest groups have changed over time. Which of the following best characterizes their conclusions? a) There has been no change in the relative importance of different organized interest groups over time b) Only in the last few years, since 2010, have private companies come to understand how to effectively lobby for their interests c) The decline in union membership happened because unions were no longer needed as the interests of the average worker is well represented by corporate interests d) A decline in union membership in the United States has reduced their political power while an increase in the number of corporations has increased corporate influence

D

In class, I showed public opinion data on the question of whether government is doing too much or not doing enough. What can we conclude from that data? a) Americans don't express opinions on whether government is doing too much or if they are not doing enough, they acknowledge they do not really know if government is doing too much or not enough. b) Since the 1940s, Americans increasingly think government is doing too much c) Since the 1940s, Americans increasingly think government is not doing enough d) Public opinion on whether government is doing too much or too little is cyclical. Americans cycle between thinking government is doing too much to thinking government is not doing enough.

D

In class, we discussed John Rawls and the Veil of Ignorance. What does this mean? a) That is better to remain ignorant of politics because we have little ability to actually change the political system b) Voters are largely ignorant because they pay very little attention to politics c) If we are going to improve society, we should lift the veil of ignorance that makes it hard for us to see the world as it is d) Our political system should be guided by those principles we would choose if we didn't know any of our personal characteristics (race, income, gender, place of birth, social economic status)

D

Looking at voter evaluations of the economy over time (whether the economy is getting better or worse) in class, we found that in contemporary politics: a) Economic evaluations are closely tied to objective economic conditions and are not as closely tied to partisan affiliation b) Economic evaluations do not change much over time c) Economic evaluations are unrelated to partisan affiliation and objective economic conditions d) Economic evaluations are closely tied to partisan affiliation and are not as closely tied to objective economic conditions

D

Which American city does David Brooks describe as a model for rebuilding trust at the neighborhood level? a) New York City, NY b) Denver, CO c) Chicago, IL d) Houston, TX

D

Which of the following issue helped Republican Glenn Youngkin win the gubernatorial election in Virginia? a) Corruption in state government b) Voter concerns that the 2020 Presidential Election was stolen in Virginia c) Wage stagnation and economic inequality d) Parents' concerns over how race was being taught in public schools as critical race theory

D

Which of these is NOT a reason for gridlock in the American political system as discussed in class and the assigned readings? a) The party not in the majority, currently Republicans, have no real incentive to compromise with the majority party to pass legislation or address problems b) The system is biased against policy change, evidenced by a multitude of checks and veto points built into the lawmaking process c) Many of our elected representatives have to worry more about being challenged by someone in a party primary than in a general election creating a disincentive to compromise d) Increased racial and gender diversity of legislators has lead to greater partisan polarization

D

democracy should be about more than casting ballots and choosing between candidates based on emotional appeals. we need to have a thoughtful and reasonable discussion about the issues. only then can we make meaningful choices. a) electoral b) equalitarian c) liberal d) deliberative e) participatory

D

in "Democracy in America?" Page and Gilens argue that the major problem with American democracy is... a) political polls and pundits b) voters are too polarized c) social media adds to much noise to the political process d) wealth and income inequality has lead to political inequality

D

it has been argued that we have a crisis of democratic legitimacy in the United States. what does this mean? a) we have too many differences of opinion in society b) too few people - especially young people - don't respect traditional values like the value of hard work c) we can't say or do what we want whenever we want for fear of being cancelled d) we won't accept democratic outcomes, either elections or policy decisions, when our side loses

D

According to the data presented in class, the average White American lives in a neighborhood that is more than 70 percent white. a) True b) False

a

Over time, the number of laws passed by Congress has... a) increased b) decreased c) stayed about the same

decreased

democracy requires more than voting and aggregating preferences, it requires thoughtful dialogue to reach decisions

deliberative democracy

democracy requires free and fair elections where winners are accepted as legitimate by losing parties

electoral democracy

democracy requires protecting individual (and minority) rights against democratic majorities

liberal democracy

"Democracy Meanings" takes issue with the idea that public support for democracy is declining (or backsliding) because... a) the meaning of democracy is contested, there are multiple public meanings of democracy so it is hard to say support for democracy is declining b) America is a republic, not a democracy so public support for democracy makes no sense c) the public lacks a clear understanding of democracy d) when you re-examine the data, support for democracy is actually increasing

A

According to "Managing a Pandemic at a Less Than Global Scale: Governors Take the Lead," the role of state governors has expanded over time. Initially in United States history state governors were relatively weak positions. During the Covid-19 pandemic, we have seen state governors act as unilateral crisis managers. a) True b) False

A

According to "US State Polarization, Policymaking Power, and Population Health" scholars who study public health and groups that want to improve public health and life expectancy should put more emphasis on: a) Macro-level policies at the state and national level (e.g., Medicaid expansion, gun control laws, women's health laws) b) Individual choices and encouraging people to make better personal health decisions (e.g., eat more vegetables)

A

According to Drutman, "What the Framers Got Right," what did Madison get wrong about the number of political parties at the Federal level? a) Madison thought at the national level Madison thought there would be so many parties that any one party would be unable to dominate the rest. In reality there are now only two major parties at the national level in the United States. b) Madison thought the Democrat and Republican parties would not be the two parties to remain in power over time. Now the Democrat and Republican parties are the two main parties in the United States. c) Madison thought that the United States was in danger of having too many political parties. Currently in the United States if we count parties represented in state legislators and third parties with no representation there are actually many parties in the United States d) Madison worried political parties would be too moderate and would not be ideologically distinct

A

According to Lee Drutman, under what conditions would high voter turnout signal greater satisfaction? a) In proportional representation systems where there are more parties and votes count equally across districts b) In electoral systems that reward citizens for voting and penalize citizens for not voting c) In countries that give workers the day off to go to the polls d) When all elections in a country are held concurrently

A

According to Page & Gilens what is "Astroturf" lobbying? a) When corporations or interest groups send mail and emails to representatives theoretically on behalf of average citizens in an attempt to convince representatives that specific policies have strong public support b) When lobbyists go around pretending to sign individuals up to vote but never deliver the registration paperwork to the state c) When ordinary citizens band together around a policy and send mail, emails, and call their representatives to express their policy preferences in a coordinated effort d) Astroturf lobbying is just the new name for grassroots lobbying

A

According to Page & Gilens, economic inequality: a) Is directly related to public policy. Economic inequality reflects policy choices and the relative influence of wealthier Americans and organized interests. Greater economic inequality is a bad thing because it translates into political inequality and undermines democracy. b) Is unrelated to public policy. Economic inequality reflects differences in individual work ethic and motivation and, as a result, leads to greater innovation and entrepreneurial activity. Greater inequality is a good thing. c) Is much worse in European democracies than in the United States because European democracies have larger social safety nets and those welfare programs have the unintended effect of increasing economic inequality

A

According to Paul Musgrave (in "Political Scientists Turned a Blind Eye to America's Democratic Failures"): We need to rethink how liberal the United States and other democracies were and are in actuality over the course of American political history (e.g., women only were given the vote in 1920 in the United States but Polity scored the United States as a 10 prior to 1920). a) True b) False

A

According to the Pew Research Center ("key findings about declining trust"), Americans who are more trusting in each other: a) Are more likely to treat others with respect and work together to solve community problems b) Are less likely to pay their taxes or respect the rights of other Americans c) Are less likely to obey laws or report problems to local authorities d) Are no different than people who less trusting of others

A

According to the findings from the Pew Research Center, which is the only institution Republicans rate substantially more positively (20% plus) than Democrats? a) churches b) universities c) technology companies d) entertainment industry

A

As discussed in class and in the readings (Misreading the Bill of Rights), which of the following is offered as evidence that "the United States is a Christian Nation" is a myth? a) Thomas Jefferson used a razor to cut out all of the mentions of miracles and supernatural events out of a bible to create a new bible called Jefferson Bible b) Thomas Jefferson took a bible and added in additional supernatural events and then went around the United States selling it as the Jefferson Bible c) The United States IS a Christian nation, this is not a myth

A

Based on readings and class discussions, in which of the following cases would the constitutional protections for free speech best apply (as currently interpreted by the Supreme Court)? a) The federal government arresting someone for expressing an opinion considered offensive or unpopular b) A major network cancelling a television show c) Twitter deciding that speech violated its terms of service and suspending President Trump's account d) Consumers deciding that a business owner said something offensive and encouraging other consumers to boycott the business and shut it down

A

In "Collapsing Levels of Trust are Devastating America" which of the following best describes the doom loop as discussed by David Brooks? a) Government institutions fail, social trust declines, which reduces the value that people see in institutions so they become underfunded and fewer high-quality employees want to work in government, which leads to more government failure and then more distrust b) People naturally go through cycles of high and low political trust that bounce back and forth about every 10 years c) Government institutions succeed which makes people think they can pay less attention to government and then they pay even less attention to government institutions until they are ignored all together

A

In Chapter 3, Page & Gilens describe an ideal political system that they believe will yield more just and equitable policy outcomes. Which of the following is NOT part of the system they describe? a) Citizens with college degrees should receive additional votes in elections to assure votes are informed and election outcomes are meaningful b) Only voters should affect the outcome of elections, not corporations or lobbyists c) Political institutions should give equal voice to all citizens d) Voters should have attractive choices to vote for in elections, rather than choosing a lesser of two evils

A

Looking at voter evaluations of the economy (whether the economy is getting better or worse) over time, we found that: a) Economic evaluations are closely tied to partisan affiliation and are not closely tied to economic conditions b) Economic evaluations are unrelated to partisan affiliation and economic conditions. c) Economic evaluations are closely tied to economic conditions and are not closely tied to partisan affiliation

A

Which of the following is NOT a source of "explosive distrust" according to David Brooks? a) physical insecurity b) financial insecurity c) emotional insecurity d) social insecurity

A

despite increased partisan polarization and concern about the future of democracy, what is one "good' sign from recent election cycles? a) voter turnout has increased, people are participating at higher rates b) the quality of political debate has been elevated, we talk about politics in a much starter and more reasoned way c) people are more tolerant of viewpoints that differ from their own d) money matters less in politics and political spending has decreased

A

in Democracy's Meanings, which understanding of democracy was most common (meaning it was supported by a plurality, though not a majority, of Americans) a) substantive democracy with a plurality of Americans giving strong support to free and fair elections, political rights, and economic equality b) procedural democracy with a plurality of Americans giving strong support to free and fair elections but not political rights or economic equality c) moderate democracy with a plurality of Americans wanting something in the middle and less extreme d) indifferent with a plurality not really caring much about democracy

A

one of the main takeaways from "Misreading the Bill of Rights" is that: a) the rights and protections in the Constitution were never meant to be absolute and their meaning changes over time b) our rights were clearly defined when the Bill of Rights was ratified and haven't changed meaningfully since c) we don't really have any rights, especially if you are poor d) we have gone too far in expanding "rights" by discovering rights that never existed in the Constitution

A

the American Revolution has been called a "conservative revolution" because the revolution was to protect rights the colonists already had a) True b) False

A

voter turnout in recent elections.... a) has increased and been much higher than in previous election cycles b) has increased due to systematic voter fraud c) has decreased because of national laws restricting who counts as an eligible voter d) has decreased because most people are turned off of politics

A

which of the following definitions of politics were discussed in class? (select all that apply) a) the authoritative allocation of values for a society b) the process of deciding which groups are oppressed and which groups are oppressors c) who gets what, when, and how in a society d) the art of making self-serving behavior look like it is in the public interest when it is really defined by hidden motives, lies, and deception

A and C

which of the following are examples of how the founders put a check on the people (ordinary residents of the United States)? meaning ways in which the founders limited the peoples' ability to directly elect those in government (select all that apply). a) originally only allowing land owners to vote b) Senators originally being elected by the state legislatures c) selecting the president through the Electoral College d) allowing the federal government to tax incomes

A, B, and C

According Page & Gilens, what effect does the shift away from signing more bills a year with smaller scopes to a few large omnibus spending bills a year have on the ability of organized interests to engage in lobbying? a) Lobbyists have the same ability to insert special provisions into the law, they just need to take meetings with different Congressmen than they previously did b) It is easier for organizations to engage in low visibility lobbying because there is less scrutiny applied to every part of the bill making it easier for lobbyists to insert special provisions into the law c) Organized interests have always struggled to include special provisions desired by their constituents into legislation. d) Organized interests now have a much harder time including special provisions into legislation because the bills are so long and complex

B

According to Foa and Mounk... a) American democracy is failing and will move from a clean democracy to a dirty democracy and will necessarily end in authoritarianism b) American democracy is moving from a relatively clean democracy where people largely accept the rules of the game to a dirty democracy where each side thinks the other side is cheating c) American democracy is moving from a clean democracy controlled by elites to a dirty democracy controlled by voters who the authors refer to as "deplorables"

B

According to Median Voter Theorem, political candidates should: a) Appeal to base voters because they care the most and will turn out at the highest rate b) Appeal to voters in the middle of the ideological spectrum because this will help win the most votes c) Advertise on television - and now on social media - because image matters more than issues

B

According to Paul Musgrave (in "Political Scientists Turned a Blind Eye to America's Democratic Failures"): America's political history contains even less political violence than most people believe. a) True b) False

B

According to class discussions, Democrats are more likely to point to ___________ as contributing to economic inequality while Republicans are more likely to believe economic inequality as the result of ___________ a) Divine Will; Luck b) Systemic factors (e.g., policy choices); Individual decisions (e.g., work ethic) c) Individual decisions (e.g., work ethic); Systemic factors (e.g., policy choices) d) Luck; Divine Will

B

According to the article "Collapsing Levels of Trust are Devastating America" by David Brooks, what is moral freedom? a) Freedom to be any religion that a person decides b) The belief that life is best when each individual finds his or her own morality c) The belief that all religions should be viewed as equal d) Freedom of speech

B

As technology has resulted in greater productivity in recent years, the average worker has seen their income increase at comparable rates. The lesson from this data is that the key to reducing to economic inequality then is to increase worker productivity. a) True b) False

B

In "The myth of the rational voter," Bryan Caplan argues the solution to the challenges of voter irrationality is more democracy a) True b) False

B

In chapter 4, Page & Gilens use the 2016 Republican Primary as a way to illustrate.... a) The power that small dollar donors have over candidates. All presidential candidates, aside from Trump, took policy positions that were popular with the Republican base but were out of step with the policy preferences of the very wealthy Republican donors. b) The power that ultra-wealthy donors have over candidates. All presidential candidates, aside from Trump, took policy positions that were relatively unpopular with the Republican base but were in-line with the policy preferences of the very wealthy Republican donors. c) What happens when there is a large field of candidates running for office d) The importance of free or earned media coverage, this is the reason why Trump won the 2016 primary

B

Page and Gilens argue that market forces like globalization, immigration, technological advances, and wage globalization are so strong that income inequality in the United States cannot be reduced through policy change a) True b) False

B

according to Olson's article "Dictatorship, Democracy, and Development," (called Roving Bandits in class) what is the major benefit to individuals to living in a democracy vs. an autocracy? a) lower taxes b) secure long-term contracts and property rights c) elections and the right to choose one's rulers d) freedom of speech and the marketplace of ideas

B

according to Thomas Hobbes, life in nature (without government) is.... a) trick question: Hobbes said nothing about life in nature b) brutish and short, which is why we need monarch c) peaceful and tranquil without the constraints of society and government d) no different than life with government which is why we don't need government

B

based on class discussion and the readings ("Misreading the Bill of Rights"), why did the Bill of Rights devote so much text to the rights of the accused? a) They wanted to be able to get away with criminal activity after the Bill of Rights was ratified b) They understood criminal law could be used to punish or harass political opponents c) They didn't realize that this would allow the people accused of crimes to use their rights to get off on a loophole or a technicality d) Trick Question! The Bill of Rights doesn't provide an protections to people accused of a crime!

B

during the Second Constitutional Convention (as discussed in class and in the article "A Conservative Counterrevolution: The Antidemocratic Origins of the Constitution"), one of the goals of the Federalists was... a) to increase direct democracy and opportunities for citizens to weigh in on policies b) to constrain democracy and keep the American political system from being a purely majoritarian institution c) to make sure the American political system was a purely majoritarian institution d) to commend Daniel Shay for the rebellion he led

B

select the statement that best describes the relationship between markets and the political system per our discussion in class (based on "Market Reasoning as Moral Reasoning") a) before we have a political system, we need to develop free economic markets. democracy depends on capitalism b) we need a political system to help determine which goods and services there should be a market for (and which goods and services should be determined by other values) c) political systems and markets are the same systems in the United States d) capitalist market systems exploit the working class and undermine democracy

B

According to Bryan Caplan (The Myth of the Rational Voter), how do economists differ from the average citizen when it comes to economic policy preferences? a) Despite being uninformed, the average citizen and economists largely agree on economic policy which is why the system works despite voter ignorance b) Economists place less faith in domestic and international markets (they are better at recognizing the risks of market failures), are more pessimistic about the future of the economy, and are less likely believe immigration and free trade improve the economy c) Economists place greater faith in domestic and international markets, are less pessimistic about the future of the economy, and are more likely believe immigration and free trade improve the economy

C

According to Page & Gilens, public policy is most responsive to: a) Interest groups, but not majority preferences or economic elites b) Majority preferences and economic elites, but not interest groups c) Economic elites and interest group pressure but not majority preferences d) Economic elites, but not majority preferences or interest groups e) Majority preferences and interest groups but not economic elites

C

According to the article "Is There a First Amendment Right to Tweet?" what is one of the big differences in how the US and Europe think about speech on social media platforms (and speech in general)? a) The United States has more comprehensive laws governing speech on social media platforms compared to the European Union b) in the United States it is easier to sign up for an account on a social media site compared to in Europe c) The United States government plays a comparatively smaller role in regulating speech on social media platforms compared to governments in the European Union and this difference is in part due to an inherent distrust of government in the United States and relatively higher trust of government in Europe d) The United States and Europe actually share the same laws when it comes to regulating free speech on social media platforms

C

According to the most recent polling numbers (shown in class), the percent of Americans believing government is doing too much: a) Remained largely unchanged during the first 10 months of the Biden Administration b) Decreased during the first 10 months of the Biden Administration c) Increased during the first 10 months of the Biden Administration

C

As discussed in class, in the constitution where does it say the authority for the federal government comes? a) From King Author pulling the sword Excalibur from a stone b) from the states because the states existed before the federal government c) From "We the people" because the federal government wanted its legitimacy to be based on the people (not the states) d) From god, because of divine providence and American exceptionalism

C

As we discussed in class and as Page and Gilens discuss in "More Democracy", the reason policy is unresponsive to the majority's preferences is because: a) Wealth and income are unevenly distributed in the United States and this leads to political power being concentrated in the hands of the poor because there are more individuals that make less money b) majorities are often wrong c) Wealth and income are unevenly distributed in the United States and this leads to political power being unevenly distributed and concentrated in the hands of the wealthy d) Majorities don't really know what they want

C

Based on class discussions on political trust, what type of trust refers to underlying support for the political system, independent of which party currently controls government? a) specific b) long-term c) diffuse d) short-term

C

Early research on political campaigns (e.g., "The American Voter" and "The People's Choice") found that: a) Individual opinion is noisy but aggregate opinion moves in a "rational" fashion b) Better candidates with better messages were more likely to run winning campaigns regardless of the median voter c) Campaigns primarily reinforced prior partisan preferences which were, in turn, based largely on partisan attachments d) The voters were not fools, they made reasonably good decisions with limited information.

C

If a voter engages in motivated reasoning, they are motivated to: a) Participate in politics and use reason to persuade voters on the other side of the issues b) Accept the legitimacy of democratic outcomes as reasonable c) Have a directional goal in reasoning, meaning they reason from conclusion to evidence d) Learn the truth about candidates, policies, and parties

C

In "Collapsing Levels of Trust are Devastating America," which of the following best describes the doom loop as discussed by David Brooks? a) Government institutions succeed which makes people think they can pay less attention to government and then they pay even less attention to government institutions till they are ignored all together. With no one paying attention, political leaders become corrupt. b) People naturally go through cycles of high and low trust in government that bounce back and forth about every 10 years. c) Government institutions fail, social trust declines, which reduces the value that people see in institutions so they become underfunded and fewer high quality employees want to work in government, which leads to more government failure and then more distrust

C

In chapter 5, Page & Gilens show that organized interests are ____ than average citizens to have their policy preferences reflected by Congress a) less likely b) equally likely c) more likely

C

John Locke argued that in the social contract: a) governments should act as Leviathans scaring people to behave b) democracies quickly give way to tyranny, so government needs safeguards against democratic majorities c) governments have a responsibility to protect life, liberty, and property d) the best government is no government at all

C

What do Page & Gilens mean when they talk about the SYSTEMIC corruption of American politics? a) That politicians are getting into politics "for the wrong reasons" b) That members of Congress are taking bribes from government contractors at unprecedented levels c) That today politicians have conflicting dependencies, due to politician's reliance on wealthy donors in the American Political System d) That politicians are handing out state secrets to spies from other countries

C

Which of the following best describes the relationship between social and political trust in contemporary American politics? a) Political trust and social trust are unrelated b) Despite the fact that we are less trusting in politics and our political institutions, we are more trusting in each other c) As political trust has declined, social trust has also declined

C

Which of the following individuals would be most likely to be a nonvoter? a) Paul, who has income of $200,000 a year working as a financial investor and has a degree from Harvard b) Ringo, who is highly partisan, identifies strongly with the Republican Party, and is an NRA member c) John, who didn't finish high school, works at a minimum wage job, and has little time or energy to keep up with politics d) George, who is highly partisan, identifies strongly with the Democratic Party, and is a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers

C

Which of the following is NOT an example of the free rider problem? a) When an individual believes in environmental causes and enjoys clean air or water because of the work of environmental groups but won't volunteer time or contribute money b) When students download music or entertainment media without paying for the services c) When an interest group lobbyist adds a rider to an omnibus bill carving out an economic advantage in new legislation d) When your professor listens to public radio but doesn't contribute to support its production

C

Which of the following is an example of limited information rationality? a) When voters carefully study the issues and choose the candidate closest to them on the issues b) When voters irrationally participate in politics by voting and campaigning c) When voters use heuristics, like partisan affiliation, to choose between candidates

C

according to Olson, if you have to live in an autocracy, would you prefer the autocrat to live a long-time or short-time? a) short-time, because change is good and the next autocrat may be better than the current one b) short-time, because they will be worried about their legacy c) long-time, "long live the king" - because autocrats who live a long time can take a longer view and will be better at looking out for public welfare d) long-time, because the devil you know is better than the devil you don't know

C

according to Olson, is it better to live in a democracy or an autocracy? a) autocracy - as long as the king or queen doesn't live too long b) democracy - because the voters are not fools c) democracy - because they better secure individual rights in the long term (especially property rights and contracts) d) autocracy - because kings and queens provide stability and look out for the long-term interest of the community

C

according to Sandel's "Market Reasoning as Moral Reasoning," paying a friend for cookies that they gave you as a gift.... a) increases the value of the cookies because now they have market value b) has no effect on their social or economic value c) cheapens the value of the cookies which were given for social not economic reasons

C

according to the authors of Democracy's Meanings is it challenging to define democracy? why? a) yes - because no one has ever defined democracy b) no - everyone knows what democracy means because we live in one c) yes - in part because everyone, scholars and ordinary citizens, have their own definition of what they mean when they talk about democracy d) no - because most people have to take middle and high school social studies in the United States

C

as discussed in class and in the article "A Conservative Counterrevolution: The Antidemocratic Origins of the Constitution," the elites in Massachusetts and the other colonies saw Shay's Rebellion as... a) a sign that we needed stronger militias at the state level b) a sign that the Articles of Confederacy were working well c) proof that America needed a strong national government that would not be undermined by an excess of democracy at the state-level d) proof that the colonies made the right decision to rebel against British rule

C

based on the definitions discussed in class, which of the following is best defined as "the institutions, processes, and actors that allocate values for a society" a) politics b) legitimacy c) government d) power

C

in "life in authoritarian states is mostly boring and tolerable," Thomas Pepinsky argues that Americans.... a) admire authoritarian leaders more than they should b) have such little knowledge of foreign affairs, they think life in authoritarian countries is boring but tolerable c) have an overly dramatic view what the end of democracy looks like

C

were the founders more concerned with political majorities or political minorities? a) majorities because they'll win elections b) minorities because they will control policy and undermine democracy c) majorities because they'll begin taking away rights from minorities d) minorities because they will be advantaged in elections

C

what is the main take away from Sandel's "Market Reasoning as Moral Reasoning"? a) political decisions are best left to markets, there are no areas of life where market solutions are not preferable b) morality has no place in politics c) that there are some exchanges or areas of life that should not be governed by markets because markets can crowd out non-market norms (e.g., donating) d) fines and fees are interchangeable

C

which of the following best summarizes the argument made by Michael Sandel? a) capitalism exploits workers so only the illusion of democracy is possible b) organized groups represent the rich and powerful c) placing an economic value on certain transactions cheapens them (e.g., access to government) d) we should allow markets rather than morality to decide what something is worth in a democratic society

C

According to "Misreading the Bill of Rights," the Second Amendment was included in the Bill of Rights to assure (select all that apply): a) Individuals could hunt since much of the country was still wilderness at the time of the founding b) Individuals could protect themselves, their homes, and their families from criminals c) Individuals could protect themselves against an overly intrusive federal government d) States could organize militias if needed

C and D

why were the Bill of Rights not included in the U.S. Constitution? (select all that apply) a) The Founding Fathers didn't believe that it was the role of government to protect rights b) It was an oversight, Madison simply forgot to include them c) Naming a limited set of rights would necessarily limit those rights d) They were not seen as necessary, Madison called a "Bill of Rights" a "parchment barrier"

C and D

Based on class discussion and "Misreading the Bill of Rights," what is the best description of myths? a) Myths were useful during the founding of the United States but no longer serve a purpose b) Myths are stories about monsters like the Loch Ness Monster, they have power only if you believe them c) Myths are mostly true and generally are historically accurate d) Myths are popular beliefs or stories used to describe an event or a history and/or justify existing social and political institutions

D

In "Political Psychology and Democratic Competence," Goidel argues that voters fall short of the democratic ideal because: a) Today, voters are more knowledgeable than elites and in the democratic ideal the opposite should be true b) Voters are too partisan to meet the democratic ideal, voters need to put party ahead of country for democracy to work c) Citizens vote in high enough numbers to meet the democratic ideal d) Citizens are uninformed and misinformed, calling into question the assumptions of democratic theory

D

Page & Gilens also provide a list of what they view as problems with the American political system. Which of the following is NOT one of the problems they identify? a) The power of wealthy individuals b) Restricted choices in elections (limited number of viable candidates) c) An unrepresentative electorate (voters are unrepresentative of the American people) d) Legislation moves too quickly through the process making it easy for lobbyists add language to bills without legislators paying attention

D

Page & Gilens conclude that, when it comes to influencing policy, ordinary Americans are.... a) So consistent in their political preferences that legislators can easily identify and follow constituent opinion b) Identical to wealthy Americans in almost every way c) Extremely powerful and their preferences are considered by legislators d) Virtually powerless compared to wealthy Americans, organized interests, and corporations

D

Which of the following best describes the relationship between social and political trust in contemporary American politics? a) Political trust and social trust are largely unrelated b) Despite the fact that we are less trusting in politics and our political institutions, we are more trusting in each other c) Despite the fact that we are less trusting in each other, we are more trusting in our political institutions d) As political trust has declined, social trust has also declined

D

under the provisions of the Articles of Confederation, the number of states required to change the constitution was _______. during the Second Constitutional Convention the framers reduced this number to ________ for ratification a) 50% (a majority in both cases) b) 2/3 and 3/4 c) 100% (unanimous in both cases) d) 13 and 9

D

we need to protect individual rights and political minorities from political majorities. otherwise, democratic majorities will take away the rights of losing political parties a) electoral b) participatory c) equalitarian d) liberal e) deliberative

D

which fo the following was NOT TRUE of the Second Constitutional Convention (where the U.S. Constitution was drafted)? a) they were only supposed to revise the Articles of Confederation but instead drafted an entirely new governing framework b) the framers met in secret c) they had to have a second convention because not enough people showed up to the first one d) the framers largely agreed on the design of government so the convention was only necessary to hammer out the details. there was little negotiation or compromise

D

which of the following best summarizes the argument made by Michael Sandel (in "Market Reasoning as Moral Reasoning")? a) organized groups represent the rich and powerful b) capitalism exploits workers so only the illusion of democracy is possible c) we should allow markets rather than morality to decide what something is worth in a democratic society d) placing an economic value on certain transactions cheapens and corrupts them (e.g., access to government)

D

which of the following examples best represents the definition of power given in class? a) I prefer buying Nike branded products rather than New Balance b) I happily stand for the Pledge of Allegiance because I am proud to be an American c) I refuse to drive under the speed limit because I think the speed limit is too low d) I pay taxes even though I hate to pay taxes and think they are unfair

D

in a democracy, winning should be based on a majority vote, and the majority should be able to govern with as few constrains as possible. a) liberal b) deliberative c) equalitarian d) participatory e) electoral

E

democracy is unthinkable when the gaps between rich and poor are too large, and poverty limits participation

equalitarian democracy

democracy should rely less on representatives and more on the levers of direct democracy (referendum, recall, initiative)

participatory democracy