US Government Mastery Tests
Which sentence best explains why politicians continually need to reevaluate domestic policy?
A solution might become obsolete over time
What is NAFTA?
An association dedicated to free and open trade between North American countries
What is the tendency to report on events from a liberal point of view an example of?
Bias
Which case allowed the Supreme Court to claim the power of judicial review (the suthority to declare a law unconsititutional)?
Marbury v. Madison
Which program created during President Johnson's administration focuses on providing health coverage to the elderly?
Medicare
Why was the Reappointment Act of 1929 passed?
Membership in the House needed to be capped to prevent an excessive number of members
What tool does the Federal Reserve use to influence the volume of money in the economy by buying and selling government securities?
Open-market operations
Which information source do political campaigns have complete control over?
Paid media
Which recent presidential candidate led one of the most successful independent campaigns?
Ross Perot
Which ideal is not an essential element of the English political tradition?
Royal Absolutism
What did de Tocqueville warn might threaten American civic life and democracy?
a desire for personal gain over the common good
Where do congressional leaders usually refer a proposed bill after its introduction?
a standing committee
How are presidents elected?
indirectly, by the Electorical College
Although the Anti-Federalists lost their main goal, what important task did they accomplish?
protecting individual liberties through the inclusion of the Bill of Rights in the Constitution
How long is a term for a US senator
six years
In which decade of the twentieth century did the government begin to take a much longer role in the US economy?
1930s
Which sentence describes a legislative referendum?
A legislature passes a bill that must be approved by voters
Which type of law governs the relationship between private individuals or companies?
Civil law
For the first 11 years of its existance, which governmental system did the United States use?
Confederation
Why do federal district courts not try cases dealing with military matters, grievances against the government, or tax disputes?
Congress has created specialized courts to deal with such cases.
Which action is an example of the government pursing a fiscal policy?
Congress increases income tax rates
Which of the following is the best example of a check on presidential power?
Congress overriding a presidential veto
Which action is an example of domestic policy?
Congress passes a law that grants tax credits for installing solar panels
Which issue was at the heart of one of the compromises made between northern and southern states during the Constitutional Convention of 1787?
Counting slaves in the population
What, in some states, is a valid reason for denying someone the right to vote?
Criminal conviction
According to the Ninth Amendment to the Constitution what do the "enumerated rights" in the Bill of Rights not do?
Deny other rights to the people
How are Republican and Democratic presidential candidates chosen?
Each is nominated by his or her respective party
Which function are local governments responsible for meeting?
Education
Who is the only US president to be elected to more than two terms?
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Imagine driving down the highway and reading a sign that states "Save the Planet-don't litter" Which technique of policy entactment is being used?
Hortatory
Which of the following most inspired the inclusion in the Declaration of Independence of the right of the people to revolt against a tyrannical government?
Locke's Second Treatise
Under fedualism, which group was responsible for ruling different regions of a country?
Lords
What effect did the Mayflower Compact have on American Government?
It contributed to the development of representative democracy.
How did the Civil War influence the role of government in the United States?
It highlighted how the national government was the sovereign power
Which statement best describes federalism?
It is the division of powers between a national government and the state government
What did the passage of the Fifteenth Amendment during Reconstruction accomplish?
It outlawed voting discrimination based on race
Which statement does not characterize Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech?
It pointed out racial problems in the South but ignored radical injustice in the North
What is one of the biggest criticisms of the USA PATRIOT Act?
It weakens the protection of civil liberties
Which feature of government does Montesquieu argue for in his book De l'Esprit des Lois (Spirit of Laws)?
Seperation of powers between different branches of government
Which issue led to the split in the Democratic-Republican Party in the late 1850s?
Slavery
Compared with the US Constitution, how difficult is it to amend state constitutions?
State constitutions are easier to amend
In what ways does the international system resemble Thomas Hobbes's view of the state of nature?
Stronger nationals prey upon the weak
During the 1970s, which piece of legislation did the National Organization for Women actively promote, though it was never ratified?
The Equal Rights Amendment
Which government legislation established a federal income tax in 1913?
The Sixteenth Amendment
Which issue did the Great Compromise resolve?
Whether the states' representation should be equal or proportional
What impact did the US Supreme Court case Griswold v. Connecticut have on women's rights?
The case overturned a statute that prevented the use of contraceptives
What is the primary source of uncertainty over the limits on presidential power?
The constituional definition of executive powers is broad and unspecific
What does a strict constructionist believe
The government should exercise only the powers specifically listed in the Constitution
Which of the following is not a concurent power?
The power to sign treaties
Which sentence best explains why critics argue against social welfare programs?
The programs' costs have risen dramitically in the recent past
What is the difference between the State Department and the Department of Defense?
The state Department deals with diplomacy, and the Department of Defense oversees the military
What does the Constitution require for a condidate to be aprroved as a federal judge?
There are no constitutional requirements for becoming a federal judge.
How are electors to the electoral college chosen
They are appointed by the state legislatures
Which Enlightenment Philosopher introduced the idea that people enter a social contract with the purpose of maintaining order in society?
Thomas Hobbes
What is the main purpose of taxation?
To pay for government programs and operations
Why did the Crown pass the so-called Intolerable Acts?
To punish the colonists for their disobedience
What type of responsibility are voting and serving in the military?
Voluntary
Which piece of legislation made it illegal for employers to discriminate against qualified applicants who have disabilities?
the Americans with Disabilities Act
Which group does the president most rely upon for day-to-day advice?
the Executive Office of the President
What legal document explains the legal reasoning behind a Supreme Court decision?
the majority opinion
Which commitment of the framers is most clearly reflected in the Constituion as ratified in 1788?
the principle of limited government
How can Congress initiate the formal constitutional amendment process?
though a two-thirds majority vote of each house
What was the purpose of Blackstone's Commentaries on the Laws of England?
to advocate for common law
According to the Constitution, which of the following is a requirement to be a condidate for president?
to be at least 35 years old
When is the president of the Senate allowed to vote on legislative matters?
to break a tie vote on a bill
What is the primary purpose of a political action committee?
to financially support condidates who further their interests
Why did the Founding Fathers include the Bill of Rights with the Constitution?
to protect the rights of individuals from the federal government
What was the goal of the Marshall Plan
to provide funding to rebuild parts of Europe after World War II