Am Govt Final Exam
Which of the following amendments provides the MOST substantial grounding for modern civil rights legislation? a. First Amendment b. Fourth Amendment c. Thirteenth Amendment d. Fourteenth Amendment
d. Fourteenth Amendment
The group that believed that the new government created under the Constitution had too much power and could become tyrannical was known as the a. Antifederalists. b. Whigs. c. Federalists. d. Tories.
a. Antifederalists.
Which case ended segregation in public schools? a. Brown v. Board of Education b. Dred Scot v. Sanford c. Plessy v. Ferguson d. Roe v. Wade
a. Brown v. Board of Education
Which of the following people was an important leader in the fight for Latino rights in America? a. Cesar Chavez b. Martin Luther King Jr. c. Malcolm X d. Fidel Castro
a. Cesar Chavez
The Lemon test is most clearly related to which amendment? a. First b. Second c. Fifth d. Sixth
a. First
Which of the following best describes the idea of "consent of the governed"? a. Government gains its legitimacy from the people. b. People must vote for a constitution for it to be legitimate. c. Constitutional amendments should come from the people. d. Monarchs gain their right to rule from divine sources.
a. Government gains its legitimacy from the people.
The constitutional proposals of New Jersey and Virginia found a middle ground in the a. Great Compromise. b. Articles of Confederation. c. U.S. Senate. d. political writings of Thomas Hobbes.
a. Great Compromise.
One of the key early sparks of the mid-twentieth century civil rights movement happened when ________ refused to give up a seat on a bus to a white person. a. Rosa Parks b. Martin Luther King Jr. c. Cesar Chavez d. Susan B. Anthony
a. Rosa Parks
Why is there so much debate over the meaning of the Second Amendment? a. The wording of the right to bear arms is ambiguous and open to interpretation. b. American public opinion is strongly in favor of gun control but the courts will not allow it. c. The right to privacy is not explicitly stated anywhere in the Constitution. d. The courts keep changing the line on what constitutes freedom of political speech.
a. The wording of the right to bear arms is ambiguous and open to interpretation.
The first form of government adopted by the United States was a. confederal. b. federal. c. unitary. d. monarchial.
a. confederal
Which ideology is most often associated with support for low taxes, a free market, and more traditional social practices? a. conservative b. liberal c. libertarian d. authoritarian
a. conservative
Segregation that exists because of circumstances that occur outside the law is called ____________ segregation. a. de facto b. de jure c. de novo d. de integro
a. de facto
Kiki lives in a country where the leaders are selected through free and fair elections. This is most consistent with which American value? a. democracy b. equality c. fraternity d. liberty
a. democracy
Some civil liberties are rooted in the ___________ clause of the Fourteenth Amendment; the grounding for civil rights is found in the ______________ clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. a. due process, equal protection b. privileges and immunities; due process c. equal protection; privileges and immunities d. citizenship; equal protection
a. due process, equal protection
Any evidence that is gathered illegally or unconstitutionally cannot be used in a subsequent trial. This is known as the a. exclusionary rule. b. right to privacy. c. direct incitement test. d. establishment clause.
a. exclusionary rule.
The integration of the armed forces in 1948 and the establishment of affirmative action in government hiring in 1961 and 1965 are examples of civil rights reform being pushed by which branch? a. executive b. legislative c. judicial d. state/local
a. executive
Gibbons v. Ogden in 1824 was important because it a. gave the national government significant new authority to regulate interstate commerce. b. established the principal of judicial review. c. declared that interstate commerce was to be regulated by state governments. d. established the principal of no fees on exports.
a. gave the national government significant new authority to regulate interstate commerce.
What is the tool used by Congress to remove a president for abuse of power? a. impeachment b. legislation c. litigation d. appointment of an inspector general
a. impeachment
When it comes to the criminal justice system, blacks are a. more likely than whites to be convicted of the same crime and serve longer sentences once convicted. b. less likely than whites to be convicted of the same crime and serve shorter sentences once convicted. c. about as likely to be convicted of the same crime and serve longer sentences once convicted. d. about as likely to be convicted of the same crime and serve shorter sentences once convicted.
a. more likely than whites to be convicted of the same crime and serve longer sentences once convicted.
As outlined in Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Letter from the Birmingham Jail," what was one of the key parts of civil rights protests in the South in the early 1960s? a. nonviolence b. letters to members of Congress c. lawsuits d. targeted violence
a. nonviolence
The so-called Culture War is being fought over a. religious and moral issues. b. tax policies. c. America's overseas military interventions. d. the proper method for running elections.
a. religious and moral issues.
McCulloch v. Maryland is an important case because a. the Supreme Court interpreted the implied powers of Congress broadly, creating the potential for increased national powers. b. the Supreme Court gave a very restricted definition of Congress's implied powers, in keeping with the era of dual federalism. c. the Supreme Court announced that the concept of dual federalism was not part of the original Constitution. d. this case began the era of dual federalism.
a. the Supreme Court interpreted the implied powers of Congress broadly, creating the potential for increased national powers.
What are the two broad purposes of all forms of government? a. to provide order and promote the general welfare b. federalism and checks and balances c. to provide order and create a more perfect union d. federalism and general welfare
a. to provide order and promote the general welfare
What does the Fourth Amendment provides protection from? a. unreasonable searches and seizures b. self-incrimination c. cruel and unusual punishment d. quartering of soldiers
a. unreasonable searches and seizures
What are the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution known as? a. Rights of Man b. Bill of Rights c. Social Contract d. Bill of Attainder
b. Bill of Rights
Redistributive tax policies and few restrictions on individual behavior are generally tenets of the ___________ Party a. Republican b. Democratic c. Libertarian d. Pro-Life
b. Democratic
Laws mandating that students of different races had to attend different schools is an example of what kind of segregation? a. de facto b. de jure c. de novo d. de integro
b. de jure
While court rulings on affirmative action have left substantial grey areas, which of the following best summarizes the current legality of affirmative action in college and university admissions decisions? a. Race may not be used as a factor in determining admissions. b. Race may be one of several factors in a holistic approach to determining admissions. c. Race can be used to give extra points to a candidate in determining admissions. d. There are no restrictions on race being used in admissions decisions.
b. Race may be one of several factors in a holistic approach to determining admissions.
Which of the following MOST clearly demonstrates that political process matters? a. Government influences most aspects of daily life. b. The political party in power has extensive control over the policies that are enacted. c. People generally dislike political conflict. d. Over 11 million people receive a paycheck from the federal government.
b. The political party in power has extensive control over the policies that are enacted.
How has the Supreme Court ruled on attempts to establish English as the official language in several states? a. They have overturned such attempts as violating the Civil Rights Act. b. They have upheld such attempts. c. They have not agreed to hear such cases. d. No such cases have been brought to trial.
b. They have upheld such attempts.
The ______________ Plan called for representation based on population, whereas the ______________ Plan called for equal representation for each state. The two plans were eventually combined in the _____________ Compromise, which created a two-house legislation featuring one house based on each plan. a. New Jersey; Connecticut; Great b. Virginia; New Jersey; Great c. Connecticut; Virginia; Three-fifths d. Rhode Island; Connecticut; Three-fifths
b. Virginia; New Jersey; Great
Which term describes giving each branch of government power over the other two? a. separation of powers b. checks and balances c. federalism d. plutocracy
b. checks and balances
Which of the following is NOT a major ideology in modern America? a. conservatism b. communism c. liberalism d. libertarianism
b. communism
Libertarians are big supporters of a. redistributive tax policies. b. economic individualism. c. government programs. d. factions.
b. economic individualism.
The idea that the United States should not have an official religion is most clearly found in the a. Second Amendment. b. establishment clause. c. takings clause. d. free exercise clause.
b. establishment clause.
A group of people who share a common goal and try to influence the government toward achieving that goal are known as a a. free rider group. b. faction. c. libertarian d. branch
b. faction
What system of government splits power across local, state, and national levels? a. aristocracy b. federalism c. confederation d. oligarchy
b. federalism
Which of the following is NOT a way in which power is divided among different groups in the American governmental system? a. checks and balances b. free riders c. federalism d. separation of powers
b. free riders
Antifederalists' concerns about the Constitution a. centered on their fears about another Shay's Rebellion. b. included a concern that it did not specifically list protected civil liberties. c. were that it did not go far enough to strengthen the central government. d. were based on their opposition to the Bill of Rights.
b. included a concern that it did not specifically list protected civil liberties.
Cases involving gender discrimination fall under which legal test? a. rational basis b. intermediate scrutiny c. strict scrutiny d. Lemon
b. intermediate scrutiny
The Supreme Court uses the __________ test to determine whether a practice violates the First Amendment's establishment clause. a. Miller b. Lemon c. Baker d. Candle
b. lemon
Leia often votes Democratic. She is in favor of government programs to help the needy, and she is pro-choice. Which ideology does Leia most likely exemplify? a. conservative b. liberal c. libertarian d. authoritarian
b. liberal
What did the "separate but equal" doctrine do? a. required public facilities be shared by whites and blacks b. permitted a system of segregated social facilities c. maintained integrated private facilities d. made sure that black schools got equal funding
b. permitted a system of segregated social facilities
In the area of education policy, the local, state, and national governments all share responsibility for setting policy and carrying it out. Most officials in the education area, though, do not really interact with local, state, and national government officials who work in the areas of agriculture or health care. This is an example of what kind of federalism? a. dual b. picket fence c. coercive d. devolved
b. picket fence
The idea by which some people have justified discrimination on the grounds that some people should be denied equal rights for their own good is known as what? a. "separate but equal" b. protectionism c. de jure segregation d. strict scrutiny
b. protectionism
Under a system of dual federalism, the national and state governments are a. equally subject to the decisions of state supreme courts. b. seen as distinct entities providing separate services. c. seen as distinct entities providing overlapping services to ensure that all citizens have access to necessary legislation void. d. each entitled to declare the other's legislation void.
b. seen as distinct entities providing separate services.
American economic identity tends to center on _____________ and ____________ . a. government regulation; economic individualism b. the free market; economic individualism c. the free market; economic mutualism d. government regulation; economic mutualism
b. the free market; economic individualism
What is the president's most important check on the power of Congress? a. judicial review b. the veto c. impeachment d. the power of the purse
b. the veto
The vast majority of countries in the world today have which system of government? a. confederal b. unitary c. federal d. monarchial
b. unitary
When was the era of "Jim Crow" laws? a. 1776 to 1860 b. 1860 to 1877 c. 1877 to 1964 d. 1965 to 2000
c. 1877 to 1964
What group was concerned about the Constitution's provisions for the strength of the president and the lack of specific guarantees of civil liberties? a. Tories b. Unionists c. Antifederalists d. Federalists
c. Antifederalists
In _________________, the Supreme Court ruled that homosexual behavior was not protected by the Constitution, but overruled this decision nearly 20 years later. a. Lawrence v. Texas b. Boy Scouts v. Dale c. Bowers v. Hardwick d. Romer v. Evans
c. Bowers v. Hardwick
What is the difference between a categorial grant and a block grant? a. Categorial grants are awarded by Congress, whereas the president awards block grants. b. Categorial grants allow the states to determine how they are spent, whereas block grants have to be defined by the Supreme Court. c. Categorial grants are for spending on specific items and programs, whereas block grants allow states to determine how they are spent. d. Categorial grants are funded mandates, whereas block grants are unfunded mandates.
c. Categorial grants are for spending on specific items and programs, whereas block grants allow states to determine how they are spent.
What act prevented Chinese immigrants already in the United States from becoming citizens and halted almost all immigration from China? a. Alien Exception Act b. Asian Immigration and Citizenship Act c. Chinese Exclusion Act d. Taft Immigration Act
c. Chinese Exclusion Act
Who has the power of the purse under the constitutional framework? a. the president b. the Supreme Court c. Congress d. the states
c. Congress
In an attempt to pay back their student loans a bit faster, Mary and Bob commit identity theft and impersonate others to use their credit cards. The government prosecutes them but loses due to lack of evidence. After more evidence surfaces, it attempts to prosecute Mary and Bob again. In doing so, it may be violating which amendment? a. First b. Second c. Fifth d. Eighth
c. Fifth
How does the level of income inequality in America compare to other developed nations? a. There is greater equality in America b. It is about the same. c. Incomes are more unequal in America. b. We have no data on this issue.
c. Incomes are more unequal in America.
The Stonewall Rebellion was a major moment in the history of civil rights of which group? a. African Americans b. Women c. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people d. Latino Americans
c. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people
This person was a supporter of nonviolent protest as outlined in their "Letter From a Birmingham Jail." a. Rosa Parks b. Malcolm X c. Martin Luther King Jr. d. Cesar Chavez
c. Martin Luther King Jr.
Protections against cruel and unusual punishments can be found in which amendment? a. First b. Fifth c. Sixth d. Eighth
d. Eighth
Which of the following is NOT one of the three themes about politics in the textbook? a. Politics is conflictual. b. Political process matters. c. Politics is done for the public good. d. Politics is everywhere.
c. Politics is done for the public good.
What are your Miranda rights? a. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness b. Freedom of speech, religion, the press, association, and petition c. Right to remain silent, to talk to a lawyer, and to have one provided for you d. Privacy in your own home
c. Right to remain silent, to talk to a lawyer, and to have one provided for you
Cases like McCulloch v. Maryland and Gibbons v. Ogden had what effect on the balance of power between the national and state governments? a. One case found for the national government while the other found for the states. b. They had no direct effect on the balance of power as they were not related to federalism. c. They cemented the national government's supremacy in the early days of the Republic. d. They shifted the power toward the state governments in the early 1800s.
c. They cemented the national government's supremacy in the early days of the Republic.
Why did the colonists create such a weak government in the Articles of Confederation? a. They failed to compromise between those who wanted a strong president and those who wanted a strong legislature. b. The North and South could not agree on fundamental issues concerning slavery, and thus the Articles were the only suitable compromise. c. They feared a strong government after their experience under the British as colonists. d. Antifederalists refused to go along with a more powerful government under the Articles.
c. They feared a strong government after their experience under the British as colonists.
Which of the following describes a federal system of government? a. a system with one centralized level of government b. a system in which states hold power over a limited government c. a system with powers shared across more than one level of government d. a system with powers shared across more than one branch of government at the national level
c. a system with powers shared across more than one level of government
Imagine two government actions. The first is a Supreme Court ruling that the government cannot prevent someone from sending out pamphlets protesting a war. The second is a part of the bureaucracy that reviews complaints about racial and gender discrimination of employers. The first example deals primarily with ______, while the second is more about ______. a. civil rights; civil liberties b. civil unions; civil liberties c. civil liberties; civil rights d. civil liberties; civil unions
c. civil liberties; civil rights
The fact that an individual is better off when refusing to cooperate leads to a. terrorism. b. tyranny. c. collective-action problems. d. public administration.
c. collective-action problems
Marble cake federalism, in which each of the layers mix together, is an analogy for what type of federalism? a. coercive b. competitive c. cooperative d. dual
c. cooperative
Which of the following is NOT an American political value identified in the textbook that helps resolve conflict? a. democracy b. equality c. fraternity d. liberty
c. fraternity
Civil liberties listed in the Bill of Rights include all EXCEPT which of the following? a. freedom of speech, religion, and assembly b. rights of criminal defendants c. freedom from discrimination d. the right to bear arms
c. freedom from discrimination
Ultimately, which branch of government determines the balance of power between the federal and state governments? a. bureaucratic b. executive c. judicial d. legislative
c. judicial
In a unitary government, which level of government holds the ultimate authority? a. state or provincial b. county c. national d. supranational
c. national
Dual federalism is a form in which a. policy makers within a particular policy area world together across levels of government. b. national and state governments work together to provide services efficiently. c. national and state governments are seen as distinctive entities providing separate services. d. federal funds are allocated to lower levels of government through transfer payments.
c. national and state governments are seen as distinctive entities providing separate services.
When Congress holds a hearing about the way the National Security Agency is spending its money, this is an example of it using which power? a. impeachment b. judicial review c. power of the purse d. veto
c. power of the purse
Prior restraint is when the government a. prohibits protestors from gathering in certain times and places. b. outlaws certain proposed religious practices. c. prevents the media from publishing something. d. uses illegally gathered evidence in a trial.
c. prevents the media from publishing something.
NAACP litigation leading up to Brown v. Board of Education challenged and weakened the __________ doctrine. a. three-fifths b. Grandfather clause c. separate but equal d. one man, one vote
c. separate but equal
The toughest test for allowable discrimination, which is used in situations involving potential discrimination against racial minorities, is the _____ test: a. rational basis b. intermediate scrutiny c. strict scrutiny d. Lemon
c. strict scrutiny
Redistributive tax policy involves a. ensuring that everyone has the same tax rate. b. providing the lowest tax rates to the wealthy in the hope that their wealth will trickle down. c. taxing the wealthy at higher prices than the poor to help create greater social equality. d. taking money from one area of the country and spending it on a different area.
c. taxing the wealthy at higher prices than the poor to help create greater social equality.
What document is the legal foundation for the civil liberties of American citizens? a. Article I of the Constitution b. the Declaration of Independence c. the first 10 amendments of the Constitution d. the Magna Carta
c. the first 10 amendments of the Constitution
Which of the following is NOT a natural right outlined in the Declaration of Independence? a. the pursuit of happiness b. life c. the right to bear arms d. liberty
c. the right to bear arms
Block grants consist of federal aid to state or local governments that is a. distributed based on a state's geographical region of the country. b. to be spent on any policy area decided on by the state or local government. c. to be spent within a specified policy area, with very few restrictions. d. contingent on, or local endorsement of, some contentious piece of federal legislation.
c. to be spent within a specified policy area, with very few restrictions.
Why was the court case Plessy v. Ferguson important? a. It ended segregation in school systems. b. It led to the Civil War by saying that states could not outlaw slavery. c. It made it harder to have affirmative action programs. d. It established the idea of separate but equal.
d. It established the idea of separate but equal.
Which group formally received the right to vote in 1924? a. women b. blacks c. Asian-Americans d. Native Americans
d. Native Americans
Which concept describes the idea that actions by the government touch most aspects of your life? a. Politics is understandable. b. Politics is conflictual. c. Political process matters. d. Politics is everywhere.
d. Politics is everywhere.
As a condition of admitting California to the United States as a free state, representatives from southern states demanded Congress pass what law? a. the Missouri Compromise b. the Compromise of 1840 c. the Underground Railroad Act d. the Fugitive Slave Act
d. The Fugitive Slave Act
Why do politicians have a hard time resolving the issue of abortion? a. Politicians don't listen to the people. b. The parties are divided on what the policy should be. c. Politicians don't know what their constituents' views are. d. The country is divided on what the policy should look like.
d. The country is divided on what the policy should look like.
In a federal system, power is distributed a. among the state governments. b. between the state and local governments. c. within the three branches of national government. d. between state and national governments.
d. between state and national governments.
Basic political freedoms that protect citizens from governmental abuses of power are known as a. civil rights. b. selective incorporations. c. inalienable rights. d. civil liberties.
d. civil liberties.
Under the strict scrutiny standard, a law that discriminates based on race must be shown to serve some _____ in order to be upheld. a. higher purpose b. reasonable social end c. greater moral good d. compelling state interest
d. compelling state interest
The goal of equality in American politics has generally meant all of the following EXCEPT a. political equality b. equality of opportunities c. equality before the law d. equal income and/or wealth
d. equal income and/or wealth
According to Madison, what does people's self-interest lead to? a. democracy b. public good c. liberty d. factions
d. factions
The clear and present danger test is directly related to which freedom in the First Amendment? a. freedom of petition b. freedom of expression c. freedom of religion d. freedom of speech
d. freedom of speech
If you decide to drive across the country from Virginia to Oregon, you do not need to stop at every state's border to get a new driver's license. This is the best example of which constitutional clause? a. privileges and immunities b. commerce c. necessary and proper d. full faith and credit
d. full faith and credit
If one state recognizes a marriage sanctioned by another state, which constitutional clause is being exemplified? a. privileges and immunities clause b. elastic clause c. commerce clause d. full faith and credit clause
d. full faith and credit clause
The elastic clause a. gives the president of the United States flexible war-making powers. b. gives the Supreme Court its own ability to adjudicate political issues. c. grants the president of the United States codependent legislative authority. d. gives Congress the ability to pass laws related to its expressed powers.
d. gives Congress the ability to pass laws related to its expressed powers.
Which of the following options is a form of expression that is offensive or abusive, particularly in terms of race, gender, or sexual orientation, and is currently protected under the Constitution? a. fighting words b. symbolic speech c. performative speech d. hate speech
d. hate speech
"Conservative" and "liberal" are examples of a. political parties. b. factions. c. free riders. d. ideologies.
d. ideologies
Which branch has the power of the elastic, or necessary and proper, clause? a. executive b. federal c. judicial d. legislative
d. legislative
Separation of powers and federalism were important parts of the solution for what tension faced by the Founders? a. slave states versus nonslave states b. executive versus legislative power c. large states versus small states d. majority rule versus minority rights
d. majority rule versus minority rights
Imagine that you are the editor at a major daily newspaper. The government finds out that you are about to run a story detailing sensitive government information, so it sues you to prevent you from publishing it. Which of the following is the government attempting to engage in? a. slander b. libel c. perjury d. prior restraint
d. prior restraint
One reason governments exist is to help people overcome the collective action problem in providing __________ goods. a. factional b. political c. private d. public
d. public
Order these three judicial "tests" from most likely to permit to discrimination to least likely to permit discrimination: a. intermediate scrutiny, rational basis, strict scrutiny b. strict scrutiny, rational basis, intermediate scrutiny c. intermediate scrutiny, strict scrutiny, rational basis d. rational basis, intermediate scrutiny, strict scrutiny
d. rational basis, intermediate scrutiny, strict scrutiny
Miranda rights advise an individual of the Fifth Amendment's protection from a. eminent domain. b. double jeopardy. c. grand juries. d. self-incrimination.
d. self-incrimination.
The president gets to appoint important members of the bureaucracy, but the Senate has to confirm those appointments before they go into place. This is an example of what type of power? a.exclusive b. implied c. shared d. negative
c. shared
Why was the Brown v. Board of Education case filed? a. to draw attention to lack of funding for urban public schools b. to contest busing plans designed to achieve racial integration c. to challenge the separate but equal doctrine d. to change affirmative action admissions plans at University of Michigan
c. to challenge the separate but equal doctrine
Why did the Founders incorporate separation of powers, checks and balances, and federalism into the structure of American government? a. to mimic the structure of English government b. to promote altruism c. to counter the effects of powerful factions d. to prevent class-based politics
c. to counter the effects of powerful factions
When comparing wealth levels of white Americans and black and Hispanic Americans, a. there is no noticeable difference in wealth based on race. b. racial differences in household wealth only exist in the South. c. white households on average have far more wealth than minority households. d. we do not have any data on household wealth broken down by race.
c. white households on average have far more wealth than minority households.
Which of the following is an example of checks and balances in action? a. Congress passing legislation b. the president issuing an executive order c. the Supreme Court issuing a writ of certiorari d. the president vetoing congressional legislation
d. the president vetoing congressional legislation