American Government Ch. 1-5 and 13 (Inquizitive)
Equality as a political value in the United States is primarily about ensuring that everyone has equal resources and wealth.
False
What does the term "environmental racism" mean?
Minorities are more likely to live in places affected by pollution and toxic waste
Which of the following statements about presidential influence over the courts is accurate?
Most lower-court judges share the same party as the president who nominated them
Which case formally established the right to privacy?
Griswold v. Connecticut
Match the political party with the appropriate statements. Parties can be used more than once.
Republican: favor more regulation on "family values" tend to be more conservative favor less spending on social programs Democratic: favor more redistributive tax policies draw more support from African Americans
What was the primary outcome of the Seneca Falls Convention?
The convention called for women to have the right to vote
Which of the following best summarizes the Supreme Court's position on prayer in schools?
The court has generally sided against prayer in public schools, with some exceptions
A case has reached the Supreme Court, but not as a matter of appeal. How did it most likely get there?
The court invoked original jurisdiction in a case involving multiple states
There are many more sources about politics and government today than there were 50 years ago.
True
What is the name of the theory that having dozens of groups in government lobbying on all different sides of issues ensures that no single group has total control of the government?
pluralism
Currently, the Court hears about what percentage of the cases submitted to them?
1%
The argument in favor of "states' rights"—that states retain some powers under the Constitution—is most often associated with which amendment?
10th
How did the Civil War amendments contribute to the expansion of civil rights?
13th: abolished slavery 15th: guaranteed voting rights for black men 14th guaranteed equal protection of the laws
Which amendment provides the most substantial grounding for modern civil rights legislation?
14th
When did affirmative action programs start?
1960s
According to the map provided, place the following abortion waiting periods in order from most to least common.
1st: 24+ hour waiting period 2nd: no mandatory waiting period 3rd: waiting period law blocked 4th: less than 24 hour waiting period
Use the graphic below to rank the following justices from most conservative to most liberal.
1st: Clarence Thomas 2nd: John Roberts 3rd: Stephen Breyer 4th: Sonia Sotomayor
Place the following events in correct chronological order.
1st: Congress adopts the Declaration of Independence. 2nd: The Articles of Confederation are ratified. 3rd: Shays's Rebellion takes place 4th: The Constitutional Convention begins.
Imagine Congress wants to pass a new bill mandating free college tuition for all American citizens, although the president and the Court oppose this measure. Place the following events in the order in which they would take place.
1st: Congress passes the bill 2nd: The president vetoes the bill 3rd: Congress overrides a presidential veto of the law 4th:The supreme court finds the law unconstitutional
Place the following actions or steps in the order they would take place during the process of the Supreme Court accepting and hearing a case.
1st: Lawyers for each side of the case submit briefs 2nd: Lawyers make oral arguments before the Court 3rd: Justices meet in conference to discuss the case and indicate their voting preferences 4th: Justices write up opinions
Place the following affirmative action policy changes in order.
1st: President Lyndon B. Johnson promotes minority employment among the federal civil service. 2nd: The federal government makes affirmative action a prominent goal 3rd: The Supreme Court subjects affirmative actions policies to strict scrutiny
In an attempt to pay back their student loans just a bit faster, Mary and Bob commit identity theft and impersonate others so as to use their credit cards. The government prosecutes them but loses due to lack of evidence. After more evidence surfaces, the government attempts to prosecute Mary and Bob again. In doing so, it may be violating which amendment?
5th
Place these major moments in the history of the civil rights movement in chronological order.
1st: The Seneca Falls Convention pushes for a woman's right to vote 2nd: Rose Parks is arrested for refusing to move to the back of the bus in Montgomery, Alabama 3rd: Martin Luther King, Jr. writes his famous "Letter from the Birmingham Jail" 4th: The Stonewall Rebellion starts the modern gay rights movement.
Put these major moments from civil rights history in order from earliest to most recent.
1st: The fourteenth amendment is ratified 2nd: Plessy v. Ferguson is decided by the Supreme Court 3rd: Brown v. Board of Education is decided by the Supreme Court 4th: The Voting Rights Act is passed
Order these types of speech from most protected to least protected.
1st: freedom of the press 2nd: symbolic speech 3rd:commercial speech 4th: fighting words
Analyze the graphic on turnout in presidential elections by race, and then place the following demographic groups in order from highest turnout to lowest turnout, based on the 2016 election.
1st: non-latino white 2nd: black 3rd: asian 4th: latino
Place Aristotle's forms of government in the correct order, from most rulers to fewest rulers.
1st: policy 2nd: aristocracy 3rd: monarchy
Order these forms of affirmative action from the most passive to the most active.
1st: targeted recruiting of minority applicants 2nd: use of race or gender as a "plus factor" 3rd: use of racial or gender quotas
You have been accused of a crime but cannot afford an attorney on your own. Nevertheless, you are provided an attorney by the city. What amendment was foundational in giving you this right?
6th amendment
How many of the original 13 states were required to ratify the Constitution in order for it to go into effect?
9
Contrast federal district courts and appeals courts by matching the characteristic to the right kind of court.
Appeals courts: intermediate level of federal courts divided into 12 regional courts District courts: handles most of the federal cases each year first level of federal courts
Which of the following is a factor that shifted national and state governments towards cooperative federalism?
As the nations began to face more complex problems in the 1930s and 1940s, multiple levels of government were required to step in.
What are the first 10 amendments to the Constitution called?
Bill of rights
Which of the following statements best describes the research that has shown the relative levels of average income and accumulated wealth of black and Hispanic families compared to white families?
Black and Hispanic families make less on average than white families and have less accumulated wealth
In the landmark 1954 Supreme Court ruling of -, the Court overturned - declared that "separate but equal are inherently unequal."
Brown v. Board of Education, Plessy v. Ferguson
Which factor best accounts for the decreasing number of opinions the Court has issued in recent sessions?
Chief justices have decided the Court shouldn't issue so many opinions.
Contrast the differences between block grants and categorical grants by labeling their characteristics with the correct term.
Categorical grants: offer more power to the federal government federal funds to states for a specific purpose Block grants: offer more flexibility federal funds to states for a general policy purpose offer more power to states
Sort the following examples into whether they deal with civil rights or civil liberties cases.
Civil liberties: a Court ruling that schools may not compel students to submit to a strip search during a drug test Supreme Court ruling that the government cannot prevent someone from sending out pamphlets protesting a war Civil rights: a congressional act that made it easier for women to sue their employers for unequal pay a government agency reviewing complaints about racial and gender discrimination by employers
Categorize the following as examples of civil liberties or civil rights.
Civil liberties: personal freedoms restricts what the government can do to you Civil rights: rooted in the equal protection clause protects you from discrimination
- federalism can create a "race to the bottom" as states attempt to lure businesses by keeping taxes and social spending low. This is generally thought of as a(n) - of federalism.
Competitive, disadvantage
The "necessary and proper" clause allows - to enact laws related to its - powers.
Congress, enumerated
Over the past 50 years, - has established restrictions on money in political campaigns, but - has reversed many of them. This is largely because political donations are considered a form of - speech.
Congress, the Supreme Court, protected
Justices on the Supreme Court have political ideologies, and these beliefs make them more likely to support certain policies. Label the following political positions and beliefs as more likely to be supported by a conservative justice or a liberal justice.
Conservative justice: support of free markets over the rights of workers opposition to abortion rights support of prosecutors over defendants Liberal justice: support of policies such as affirmative action designed to help minorities support of pro-environment regulations
Which aspects of the federal court structure are specified in the Constitution, and which aspects are specified in the Judiciary Act of 1789?
Consitution: lifetime terms for federal judges created Supreme Court Judiciary Act of 1789: how and when the Supreme Court should meet size of the Supreme Court creation of federal district courts
How did the Constitution differ from the Articles of Confederation? Label the following powers of government as elements of the Constitution or the Articles of Confederation.
Constitution: bicameral legislature only the national government can coin money included provisions for an executive office Articles of Confederation: levying of taxes left to the states no federal courts
Choose all of the following ways that the U.S. government is set up to satisfy James Madison's concerns.
Correct Answers: checks and balances separation of powers federalism Incorrect answers: N/A
When President Obama proposed a plan expanding health insurance coverage for all Americans, which value was he emphasizing?
Correct Answers: equality Incorrect answers: democracy compromise liberty
Which of the following amendments has the Supreme Court argued have elements of the right to privacy?
Correct answers: 3rd 4th 9th 1st 5th Incorrect answers: 6th 2nd
Read the following instances of commercial speech, and select those that can be regulated by the state.
Correct answers: A city refuses to allow advertisements in the municipal softball fields. A juice company falsely claims that its product can cure cancer. Incorrect answers: A major corporation runs ads that endorse a particular political candidate. A women's rights organization publishes a newspaper that describes various methods of birth control.
Which of the following are examples of political factions?
Correct answers: AARP, the Democratic Party, the National Organization of Women, the National Rifle Association Incorrect answers: N/A
Which of the following are true regarding federal appeals courts?
Correct answers: Appellate courts are typically the final court for most appealed cases. The court's decision applies only to its own specific geographic region. Incorrect answers: Appellate courts' jurisdictions have gotten smaller over time. Appellate courts are the first courts in which federal cases are usually heard.
What role do briefs play in Supreme Court cases?
Correct answers: Briefs by parties to the case argue for whether an appeals court decision should be upheld. Both sides of a case must submit a brief. The submission of amicus curiae briefs early on makes it more likely that a case will be heard. Incorrect answers: Only the defendant is required to submit an amicus curiae brief. Most cases before the Supreme Court lack an amicus curiae brief filing.
Watch the animation below, and then choose all of the following that are actual checks in the U.S. government system.
Correct answers: Congress can override a presidential veto with a two-thirds vote in each house. The judicial branch can rule congressional and executive actions unconstitutional. Incorrect answers: The president can check the power of the judiciary by removing judges from office for failure to perform their duty.
How can Congress maintain the power of the national government even when the Supreme Court strikes down federal laws?
Correct answers: Congress can use financial coercion to impose national policies on states. Congress can clarify its intent to overturn some court cases. Incorrect answers: Congress can ignore the will of the Supreme Court. Congress can refuse to have a case heard in the Supreme Court by invoking its sovereign immunity.
Which of the following statements about the death penalty are correct?
Correct answers: Death penalty usage and sentences have decreased over time. The Supreme Court has banned the death penalty. The Supreme Court has restricted the cases in which the death penalty can be applied. Incorrect answers: Procedural changes in the 1970s remedied the uneven application of the death penalty.
Which of the following are parts of the Lemon test?
Correct answers: Does the practice have a secular legislative purpose? Does the practice foster an excessive government entanglement with religion? Does the practice advance or inhibit religion? Incorrect answers: Does the practice discriminate against any one religion?
Which of the following equal protection laws have had lasting influence on the expansion of civil rights?
Correct answers: Fair Housing Act of 1968 Civil Rights Act of 1964 Voting Rights Act of 1965 Incorrect answers: Equal Rights Amendment of 1969
Select all of the following ideas that are found in the Declaration of Independence.
Correct answers: Government gains its legitimacy through the consent of the governed, People have certain rights that government cannot take away. Incorrect answers: Monarchy is a legitimate form of government, The Articles of Confederation protected the rights of the people.
What is the basic structure of court cases in the United States? Which of the following statements accurately describe it?
Correct answers: In a criminal court case, the plaintiff charges the defendant with a crime. In criminal cases, the plaintiff is always the government. Incorrect answers: Civil cases involve potential jail time as punishment. A class-action suit is a type of criminal suit.
Choose all of the following about the Brady Bill that are true.
Correct answers: It strengthened gun control laws. It established waiting periods to purchase hand guns. Incorrect answers: It was passed in 2012. It was passed in reaction to a school shooting.
How are the Court's opinion-writing assignments made?
Correct answers: Justices may vote strategically so that they can write or assign opinion writing themselves. The Court sometimes considers public sentiment about individual justices when assigning opinion writing. Individual expertise can sometimes play a factor in opinion assignment. Incorrect answers: The chief justice assigns the writing of the majority opinion.
What challenges did African Americans face after the Brown v. Board of Education decision in 1954?
Correct answers: Many African Americans still could not exercise their right to vote. Housing remained racially segregated. Employment discrimination against African Americans persisted. Incorrect answers: De jure school segregation continued in the North and South.
Which of the following statements about conflict in politics are accurate?
Correct answers: People often avoid talking about controversial subjects, Political conflict has its roots in the public's policy disagreements. Incorrect answers: Conflict can be avoided in politics., Politics would be avoided if politicians just listened to the public.
Which of the following statements about politics are true?
Correct answers: Politics affects everyone's lives on a daily basis. Political process helps determine political outcomes. Politics is necessarily conflictual. Incorrect answers: Politics only occurs in government. There is a "public interest" though many politicians do not follow it.
You and your friends are having an argument over where to go to lunch, so you decide to put it up to a vote. Each of you argues for your favorite before the voting takes place. This example demonstrates which core statements about politics?
Correct answers: Politics is everywhere. Political process matters. Politics is conflictual. Incorrect answers: There is a best interest if everyone would just agree to it.
According to advocates of a larger role for state governments, what benefits to the country can stronger state governments offer?
Correct answers: Powerful state governments are a check on national tyranny. States can develop innovative solutions to problems. Incorrect answers: States are better at protecting the civil rights of their citizens. States have more resources than the national government.
Which of these cases dealt with a right to privacy?
Correct answers: Roe v. Wade Griswold v. Connecticut Incorrect answers: Lemon v. Kurtzman Gitlow v. New York
What rationale did the Federalists offer in their initial arguments that a Bill of Rights was unnecessary?
Correct answers: State constitutions already protected such rights. The national government lacked the power to threaten people's liberties. There would be too many rights to try to list them all. Incorrect answers: The Supreme Court would protect rights without a Bill of Rights.
Which of the following falls under the exclusionary rule?
Correct answers: Suspect confessions given without proper reading of Miranda rights cannot be used at trial. Illegally or unconstitutionally acquired evidence cannot be used in a trial. Incorrect answers: The government cannot pass laws that unfairly exclude certain groups from political participation. Each party to a lawsuit is allowed to veto the inclusion of a certain number of jury members.
How does the "wall of separation" apply to the establishment clause?
Correct answers: The "wall of separation" refers to the dissociation between church and state. Incorrect answers: The "wall of separation" protects the rights of nonbelievers. The "wall of separation" refers to a recent law that keeps religious individuals from persecuting nonreligious individuals. The "wall of separation" separates the establishment clause from the free exercise clause.
How does the Constitution promote the idea that the states are part of a larger nation and not independent entities?
Correct answers: The Constitution prohibits states from passing laws that favor their citizens over citizens of other states. The Constitution requires states to honor the public acts and judicial proceedings of each other. Incorrect answers: The Constitution prevents states from using police powers. The Constitution places strong limits on local governments.
What factors led the Supreme Court to weaken affirmative action laws?
Correct answers: The Court decided that affirmative action policies must survive strict scrutiny. The Court ruled that states are allowed to make it illegal to consider race in admissions and hiring decisions. Incorrect answers: The Court struck down the affirmative action policies of many colleges because diversity is not important in education. There was no longer any need for affirmative action policies.
How has the Supreme Court influenced privacy rights?
Correct answers: The Court expanded privacy rights when it ruled that states cannot make homosexual conduct a crime. The Court expanded privacy rights when it ruled that women have a right to seek an abortion. The Court expanded privacy rights when it ruled that people have "privacy in one's association." Incorrect answers: The Court expanded privacy rights when it ruled that people have the "right to die."
How has public opinion influenced the Supreme Court?
Correct answers: The Court may sometimes delay issuing a decision on a certain issue based on expected reaction by the public. The public indirectly chooses the justices themselves, who ultimately reflect public opinion in their decisions. When the public strongly leans one way or the other, the Court typically agrees with the public.
How has the Senate affected presidential nominations for federal judges?
Correct answers: The Senate rejects nominees far more often for ideological reasons than because of qualifications. The district and appeals court nominee confirmation process is more contentious today than in the past. Incorrect answers: The confirmation time for federal judges has decreased in the past thirty years. The practice of senatorial courtesy has become more important in recent years.
Since its establishment in Marbury v. Madison, the concept of judicial review has evolved over the course of time. Which of the following statements about the use and evolution of judicial review are accurate?
Correct answers: The Supreme Court has struck down only a tiny fraction of the laws passed by Congress in the nation's history. After its establishment, judicial review was not used again for over half a century. Incorrect answers: The Supreme Court does not have the authority to rule on state laws. Congress has unsuccessfully challenged the power of judicial review twice.
How did the federal government's power expand in the early 1800s?
Correct answers: The Supreme Court supported Congress's ability to regulate interstate commerce. The Supreme Court ruled that Congress had the power to establish a national bank. Incorrect answers: South Carolina Senator John Calhoun proposed the "nullification" of federal laws.
Which of the following statements about President Donald Trump's travel ban are accurate?
Correct answers: The Trump administration had to revise the travel ban multiple times .#It took three drafts, and adjusting the affected countries each time, before the ban would be upheld by the courts. The courts recognized the president's power over immigration policy. The courts overturned early travel bans due to the president's previous political comments. Incorrect answers: The president has the authority to set immigration policy however he chooses.
Which of the following powers does the federal government have that state governments do not?
Correct answers: The federal government is responsible for international relations. The federal government can declare war. Incorrect powers: The federal government administers all elections. The federal government can create or dissolve local governments.
Which of the following cases would definitely be eliminated or rejected before they could reach the Supreme Court?
Correct answers: The litigant and the defendant want the Court to render essentially the same decision. A case involves a citizen challenging a state law that does not have any federal implications. A case challenging a federal antidiscrimination law is based on a hypothetical situation. Incorrect answers: A nonprofit group appeals the result of a case that involves two third parties that are not related to the nonprofit, and the outcome will not affect the nonprofit. A case that has happened far enough in the past that the dispute and related harm have become irrelevant.
Which of the following statements are supported by the following chart?
Correct answers: The percentage of individuals identifying as two or more races is expected to grow, No single category of race will represent a majority of the population by 2060. Incorrect answers; The black or African American percentage of the population is expected to grow rapidly, The Asian percentage of the population is expected to shrink.
Which of the following statements about the war powers are correct?
Correct answers: The president has more influence over war powers than Congress. Congress's influence on the war powers expanded after the Vietnam War. Incorrect answers: Congress has declared war each time the president authorizes the use of American troops. Presidents have only recently expanded their war powers.
Which of the following are signs that indicate the information you have found about politics is credible?
Correct answers: The source you used provides evidence to back up its claim. The information has been gathered from multiple sources, each with different ideological outlooks. The source has a strong reputation for being accurate. Incorrect answers: The source is vague on why the information is accurate.
What component(s) must be met for speech to be regulated under the direct incitement test?
Correct answers: The speech is likely to produce a lawless action. Incorrect answers: The speech is targeted at an individual instead of at a group. The government deems the speech dangerous. The government deems the speech obscene.
Which of the following are examples of states properly exercising their powers in the U.S. federal system?
Correct answers: The state of California requires teachers to obtain specific credentials before they teach in public schools. Incorrect answers: The state of Alaska decides to leave the United States because it disagrees with a federal law. The state of Florida prints its own currency that can be used to pay state taxes. The state of Texas signs a treaty with Mexico to regulate immigration.
Imagine that you have been arrested for a speech criticizing the government. During which years, and at which levels of government, would this be an unconstitutional violation of your civil liberties?
Correct answers: The year is 1986, and you were arrested by the federal government. The year is 1886, and you were arrested by the federal government. The year is 1986, and you were arrested by the state government. Incorrect answers: The year is 1886, and you were arrested by the state government.
Which confessions would be legally admissible today?
Correct answers: a confession made when the suspect and her attorney have agreed to a plea deal a confession made after the suspect has been informed of his right to silence Incorrect answers: a confession made before the suspect had been informed of his right to silence a confession made when the suspect was not allowed to use the bathroom or drink water
Which of the following forms of speech would be subject to the intermediate scrutiny standard?
Correct answers: a law forbidding all picketing in residential areas a law banning advertisements on public utility poles Incorrect answers: a law prohibiting anti-abortion protesters in a city park a law forbidding political campaign yard signs
Choose all of the following criteria that the Court uses to decide whether to hear a case.
Correct answers: actual controversy mootness standing collusion Incorrect answers: N/A
Which issues are most likely to remain on the political agenda for a long time?
Correct answers: expanding government's role in providing health insurance, establishing a pathway to citizenship for immigrants Incorrect answers: requiring children to be enrolled in school, mandating the death penalty for speeding
Which terms are associated with the freedom of religion?
Correct answers: free exercise clause Lemon test establishment clause Incorrect answers: clear and present danger test "godless government" standard
Which of the following rights appeared in the original text of the Constitution, before the addition of the Bill of Rights?
Correct answers: guarantee of habeas corpus prohibition against ex post facto laws Incorrect answers: protection against unreasonable searches right to petition the government
In which of the following scenarios would evidence be subject to the exclusionary rule?
Correct answers: if police search a passenger in a car stopped for driving with a noisy muffler if police entered your house without warrant or probable cause Incorrect answers: if police obtain a warrant before searching a house for weapons if police search a car for alcohol after noticing an intoxicated driver
Choose all of the following methods that were used in the Jim Crow South to try and disenfranchise black voters.
Correct answers: introducing grandfather clauses instituting mandatory poll taxes making voters pass a literacy test Incorrect answers: passing laws barring blacks from voting in the general election
Which of the following positions is someone with a libertarian ideology likely to support?
Correct answers: legalizing drugs, removing environmental protections, cutting income and property taxes, defunding the Department of Education Incorrect answers: prohibiting abortion
Select all of the following that the textbook identifies as being at the core of American values.
Correct answers: liberty democracy equality Incorrect answers: fraternity justice
How did the Supreme Court limit the power of the national government after the Civil War?
Correct answers: limited Congress's ability to regulate commerce supported the notion of dual federalism declared major civil rights legislation to be unconstitutional Incorrect answers: declared the Fifteenth Amendment unconstitutional
After the Supreme Court issues a ruling, how can Congress respond if it disagrees with that decision?
Correct answers: pass a constitutional amendment to deal with the issue rewrite the law the Court has ruled on if it is an issue of statutory interpretation Incorrect answers: veto the Court's decision with a two-thirds majority in both chambers refuse to enforce the Court's decision
What methods for amending the Constitution are provided in Article V?
Correct answers: passage in a national convention, followed by ratification by conventions in three-fourths of the states passage in the House and Senate, followed by ratification by three-fourths of the states Incorrect answers: proposal by the president, followed by a two-thirds majority vote in the Congress proposal by the Supreme Court, followed by ratification by a national convention
Which religious practices has the Court decided violate the establishment clause?
Correct answers: prayers before a public high school football game mandating the Bible be taught in a public school's American government course Incorrect answers: printing "In God we Trust" on U.S. currency beginning each session of Congress with a prayer
What does the solicitor general of the United States do?
Correct answers: signals to the Court what cases the federal government wants the Court to hear represents the federal government in cases heard by the Supreme Court that involve the federal government Incorrect answers: represents Congress in those cases that come before the Court represents the Supreme Court in Congress to ensure the constitutionality of legislation
Which of the following cases of discrimination would be subject to strict scrutiny?
Correct answers: the U.S. government ordering people of Japanese descent into internment camps a university using race as part of its holistic admissions procedures Incorrect answers: a university requiring that men register for the draft prior to admissions, but not women a state requiring its public officials to retire at the age of 70
Which of the following protections are guaranteed by the Fifth Amendment?
Correct answers: the protection from double jeopardy the protection from self-incrimination the right to a grand jury Incorrect answers: the right to a trial by jury in civil cases the protection from unreasonable search and seizure
Which of the following tactics have depressed turnout among black and Hispanic voters over the previous fifteen years?
Correct answers: using voter challenges that target minority voters withholding voting information from black communities reducing the number of polling places in minority neighborhoods Incorrect answers: making voters pay a poll tax before they can vote
Although gay rights are often seen as a civil rights issue, how can they be considered a civil liberties issue as well?
Court ruling have established board privacy rights for sexual behavior
Sort the following into descriptions of "de facto" or "de jure" segregation.
De facto: schools where students are predominantly of one race because of who lives in the neighborhood segregation resulting from housing patterns De Jure: laws mandating separate dining facilities for minorities policies restricting who can sit where on a public bus
Which of the following political systems resolves political conflicts through voting and elections, rather than violence and coercion?
Democracy
Complete the following diagram to demonstrate which amendments have been, through selective incorporation, incorporated or applied to the states using the Fourteenth Amendment.
Federal: Tenth amendment Seventh amendment State: First amendment Eighth amendment
During the Constitutional deliberations, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay wrote 85 articles to sway public opinion. Collectively, these 85 articles are known as what?
Federalist Papers
Each of the following amendments deals with the due process of law. Match the amendment to its function in protecting due process rights.
Fifth amendment: protects citizens from being tried twice for the same alleged crime Sixth amendment: protects citizens by giving the right to receive counsel for defense of a crime Fourth amendment: protects against unreasonable searches and seizures Eighth amendment: protects citizens from being tortured or excessively threatened
In which ways is the Second Amendment different from the First Amendment? How are they similar?
First amendment: allows for the freedom of speech allows for the freedom of press Second amendment: allows for the right to bear arms Both: reserves powers to the public protects individual freedom limits the government's power within the Bill of Rights
After the Civil War, Congress amended the Constitution to guarantee equal protection under the law for all citizens under the -Amendment. Congress would also use this amendment to pass additional civil rights laws. However, in the decades following the Civil War, the Supreme Court - federal power and reinforced the notion of dual federalism.
Fourteenth, limited
Watch the animation below, and then match the terms with whether they are more applicable to freedom of expression or to freedom of religion.
Freedom of religion: free exercise clause establishment clause Freedom on expression: right to petition fighting words
Why was the court case Plessy v. Ferguson important?
It established the idea of "separate but equal".
Which state has the highest lifetime wage gap between men and women?
Louisiana
Which of the following is the best definition of dual federalism?
National and state governments are distinct entities providing seperate services
Identify which of the following parts of the Constitution support a nationally-centered perspective on government and which parts support a state-centered perspective.
Nationally centered: necessary and proper clause supremacy clause State centered: Tenth amendment
Which of the following best captures the "melting pot" view of racial and ethnic differences?
People should mostly leave their native languages and customs behind when they come to the United States
Your friend confidently tells you that everyone knows that Donald Trump won the 2016 election because he is a celebrity. Why should you be skeptical of this explanation?
Political outcomes rarely have a single cause
Which theme of the book applies to the scenario of having government officials elected, rather than appointed by a king?
Political process matters
Match the example with the core concept that it demonstrates.
Politics is everywhere: The food you had for breakfast was likely subject to regulation by the government. Politics is conflictual: Americans are deeply divided on their views of the availability of abortion. There are very few areas where everyone agrees on what is in the best interest of the public. Political process matters: The cloture rule in the Senate makes it more difficult to pass new laws.
Fill out the Venn diagram to show what powers belong to the states, belong to the national government, or are shared by both.
Powers delegated to the national: Signing an international treaty declaring war Shared (concurrent) powers: borrowing money collecting taxes Powers reserved to the states: licensing a lawyer
Place the following examples of speech into the correct category.
Protected speech: A person protests outside a politician's funeral. A protestor burns the Texas state flag. Inflammatory protestors picket at a military funeral Unprotected speech: A newspaper publishes detailed U.S. military positions during wartime.
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?
Race may be one of several factors in a holistic approach to determining admissions
Why is the doctrine of strict scrutiny important to free speech?
Strict scrutiny forces the government to prove a reason for restricting speech
How have the following contributed to the civil rights of gays and lesbians?
Supreme Court ruling on the Defense of Marriage Act: legalized same-sex marriages in all states Lawrence v. Texas: extended right of privacy as related to intimate conduct to gay men and lesbians repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell": allowed gay men and women to serve openly in the military
The - is the branch ultimately responsible for deciding whether an action is constitutional. It draws this authority from the power of -.
Supreme Court, judicial review
Which of the following best describes the pattern of court cases dealing with the right to bear arms over the course of our nation's history?
The Court did not deal with many gun control cases until the twenty-first century
In what way did Chief Justice John Marshall's actions in Marbury v. Madison both weaken and strengthen the Supreme Court?
The court's original jurisdiction was reduced, but it gained the power of judicial review
How did Dred Scott v. Sanford influence civil rights in the United States?
The decision denied civil rights to all blacks
What argument did the Antifederalists make about the Supreme Court?
The other branches of government would be unable to control it
Analyze the following two images that illustrate U.S. Census data, and then pick the answer that best summarizes the geographic relationship between poverty and minority population.
The poverty rate is higher in areas that have higher concentrations of minorities
What was one way the Federalists cultivated support for the Constitution?
They published the Federalist Papers
Match the following plans for representation proposed at the Constitutional Convention plan with their correct features.
Virginia plan: House of Representatives representation based on population New Jersey Plan: equal representation for each state the Senate
The - Plan pushed for representation based on population, whereas the - Plan called for equal representation for all states. The Great Compromise, proposed by -, split the difference between the two and saved the Constitutional Convention from dissolving.
Virginia, New Jersey, Connecticut
Which of the following regarding the Supreme Court's procedures is accurate?
When not in session, justices typically write opinion or review briefs
Roe v. Wade was one of the most controversial court cases of the 1900s. It dealt with access to __________.
abortion
A justice believes the Court should assert itself as part of the policy process by routinely finding actions of the president and Congress unconstitutional. This is an example of judicial __________.
activism
Which method for amending the Constitution is responsible for the most successful amendments?
approval by congress followed by ratification by state legislatures
Time, manner, and place restrictions in the regulation of freedom of __________ are allowable as long as they do not show favoritism towards certain groups.
assembly
Select the example that best emphasizes the concept that "political process matters."
changing the voting rules in a student group from unanimous consent to simple majority
The ability of Congress to impeach the president, or for the president to veto legislation, are mechanisms that facilitate
checks and balances
Basic political freedoms that protect citizens from governmental abuses of power are called -, while things the government must do to ensure that citizens are protected from discrimination are called -.
civil liberties, civil rights
Numerous car manufacturers installed air bags that, under certain conditions, can explode and injure passengers. Owners of these cars banded together to file a single -.
class-action lawsuit
In 2003, the Supreme Court ruled on two different University of Michigan cases related to affirmative action. They ruled that it was - to use race as one of a number of considerations while also ruling that it was - to give minority applicants a specific number of bonus points in the application scoring system.
constitutional, unconstitutional
Choose all of the following that are sources of conflict in American politics.
cultural values, economic interests,. ideology, racial, gender, and ethnic differences
According to the - hypothesis, voters in - states are more secular while voters in - states are more religious.
culture wars, blue, red
The ability of people to choose their leaders in free and fair elections is - while - refers to political freedoms and legal rights.
democracy, liberty
What is the name given for a Court opinion submitted by one or more justices who disagree with the outcome of the case?
dissent
How federalism has worked in U.S. history has changed over time. Label each description with the type of federalism, dual or cooperative, that best describes it.
dual: the earliest type of federalism in the United States less powerful national government cooperative: more closely describes modern federalism helps the government deal with more complex issues
What is the method the United States uses to select its president?
electoral college
One of the ideals of American government, though not always achieved in reality, is that everyone should have the same opportunity to succeed regardless of their class, race, gender, or ethnicity. This is most compatible with which core value?
equality
The - is primarily concerned with Congress sponsoring or favoring a specific religion, whereas the - pertains to Congress prohibiting or interfering with the practice of religion.
establishment clause, free exercise clause
After the Civil War, three amendments to the Constitution - civil rights for African Americans. Once Reconstruction ended, however, - severely restricted the rights of African Americans, with - states taking the lead in segregating many public facilities.
expanded, Jim crow laws, southern
James Madison was concerned about groups of citizens working towards their own interests. What did he call these groups?
factions
"Strict construction" is another name for those who believe in a living Constitution.
false
Chinese immigrants faced discriminatory practices from citizens, but not from the U.S. government.
false
Discriminatory policies stopped after the Brown v. Board of Education decision overturned Plessy v. Ferguson.
false
Latino voter registration typically outpaces that of white and blacks.
false
Most proposed constitutional amendments pass.
false
Police powers rest with the federal government.
false
Recent state actions have generally expanded access to firearms.
false
Restrictions in voting access, such as requirements to have a photo ID, provide proof of citizenship, or limit voting days and times, have the same impact on white and minority voters.
false
The Constitution explicitly states a right to privacy.
false
The Supreme Court allows three witnesses and cross-examinations per side.
false
The United States has a parliamentary system.
false
When the Supreme Court incorporates an amendment from the Bill of Rights and applies it to the states, all the protections from that amendment are then guaranteed by the states.
false
The - government is solely responsible for handling national defense and foreign policy. -governments are created by state governments.
federal, local
Which of the following is most likely to be a violation of the free exercise clause?
forcing government employees to work on Friday night or Saturday if those are their days of worship
An economic system based on competition among businesses, without government interference, is known as what kind of market?
free
What exists to provide order and promote the general welfare?
government
Conservative, liberal, and libertarian are all examples of what concept?
ideologies
What is the term for powers that are supported by the Constitution but not specifically stated in it?
implied
In 2008, a landmark Supreme Court ruling recognized a(n) - right to bear arms for the purposes of -.
individual, self-defense and hunting
Today, cases involving gender discrimination apply which level of legal scrutiny?
intermediate
How does the government help solve collective action problems, such as defense or a clean environment?
it provides public goods that would otherwise not be produced by the free market
Which branch of government has played the most important role in interpreting how the meaning of the Constitution has changed over time?
judicial
Which of the three branches of government is responsible for determining whether a government action violates civil liberties?
judicial
Contrast judicial activism and judicial restraint by indicating which of the two matches the hypothetical scenario.
judicial restraint: A conservative justice votes to keep strict environmental laws in place because they were put in place by Congress, even though he disagrees with them in principal. A liberal justice writes a dissent of a majority conservative decision that invalidates congressionally established campaign finance limits. A liberal justice upholds detainment, without access to a lawyer, of illegal immigrants, despite a personal inclination to side with those detained. judicial activism: A conservative justice votes to force federal executive agencies to omit race as a factor in hiring decisions, even though Congress established these factors in a specific hiring program twenty years prior.
Justices make decisions based on - factors such as precedent and norms, and - factors such as ideology and sensitivity to public opinion.
legal, political
The RFRA represents the struggle between the judicial and - branches over civil liberties, - the requirement of demonstrating a "compelling state interest" before limiting religious freedoms.
legislative, creating
When it comes to the criminal justice system, whites are - like than blacks to be convicted of the same crimes and serve - sentences once convicted.
less, shorter
The Bill of Rights of the U.S. Constitution primarily addresses which core American value?
liberty
Justice Adamo views the Constitution as a changing document that adapts to changing attitudes and circumstances. Justice Adamo is a follower of the - perspective.
living constitution
James Madison argued that a strong national government provided by the Constitution would solve which tension?
majority rule versus minority rights
If a case has been resolved before the Supreme Court can hear it and is therefore irrelevant, the Court might choose to dismiss it on the grounds of what criterion?
mootness
Minorities, whether armed or unarmed, are -likely to be killed by police than are whites. Convictions for shootings by police are -.
more, rare
Which part of the Constitution lets national laws take precedence over state laws if the two are in conflict?
national supremacy clause
In a unitary system, all laws and decisions are made by the - government. In a federal system, powers are divided between the - and national governments.
national, state
Unwritten rules about how government and society should operate are known as -. One of the most important examples of these in America is - or the idea that all individuals should have the same opportunity to realize their potential.
norms, equality
Other than the Supreme Court, which has both, courts can have one of two types of jurisdiction: -, which allows them to hear a case first, or -, which allows them to hear a case after a lower court has already ruled on it.
original, appellate
A single Supreme Court case can involve justices writing several different opinions, which vary by which and how many justices issue them. Label each example of an opinion with the type of opinion it represents.
plurality opinion: an opinion with the backing of the most justices when a majority opinion cannot be reached concurring opinion: an opinion written by a justice who signed the majority opinion but disagrees with its reasoning dissent: an opinion submitted by a justice who disagrees with the majority opinion of the case majority opinion: an opinion with the backing of at least five justices
The statement "choices about rules are actually choices about outcomes" best captures which core idea about politics?
political process matters
The process that we use to determine what the government is going to do is known as __________.
politics
The timeline in the image best demonstrates which core statement about politics?
politics is everywhere
Which method of selection would make the president the strongest?
popular election
How is power distributed in the U.S. federal system?
powers are divided between the national and state
What is the most important legal influence on Supreme Court decisions?
precedent
The federalists - a strong national government and felt that the Bill of Rights was - to protect civil liberties.
preferred, unnecessary
The U.S. government is a - system, separating national powers between the executive and legislative branches. The U.S. government is also a - system, sharing power among different levels of government.
presidential, federal
Imagine 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, and so they sue you to prevent you from publishing it. The government is attempting to engage in which kind of censorship?
prior restraint
The argument that women are too frail to serve on the front lines in the armed forces is a modern example of what idea?
protectionism
What is one of the key trade-offs in civil liberty cases?
public good versus individual freedom
Education, cleaner air, and lighthouses are all examples of what kinds of goods?
public goods
Government is often necessary to provide -goods, such as a cleaner environment. This is because the free market tends to - such goods.
public, underprovide
Which level of scrutiny makes it easiest for the government to discriminate against a subset of citizens?
rational basis test
According to the map, the - Party had its greatest strength in the Great Plains and the South while the - Party had its greatest strength on the coasts and in major cities.
republican, democratic
Which constitutional civil liberty was Roe v. Wade based on?
right to privacy
The Constitution uses - to ensure that each of the three branches has a different responsibility, while - make sure that each of the branches has a way of preventing the other branches from becoming too powerful.
seperations of powers, checks and balances
Congress has the right to declare war, but the president is the commander in chief of the military. This is a classic example of which kind of power?
shared
The United States decides to change its policies on the death penalty. Even if other nations do not approve of this, the United States has the right to do so, free from foreign interference. This is an example of the United States having what kind of power?
sovereign
For each of the following options, specify whether the Court engaged in statutory or constitutional interpretation.
statutory review: The Court rules that the Environmental Protection Agency can restrict a company's pollution because of the Clean Air Act. The Court rules that a defendant broke federal bank fraud laws by passing forged checks. constitutional review: The Court rules that a new voting law passed by Congress violates the Bill of Rights. The Court rules that the president exceeded executive power in making a certain agreement between the United States and a foreign power.
Watch the animation, and then match the type of scrutiny with the correct description.
strict scrutiny: the level of scrutiny used for cases that deal with racially-based discrimination claims intermediate scrutiny: the level of scrutiny used for cases that deal with gender-based discrimination claims rational basis: the lowest level of scrutiny applied by the courts
One of the amendments to the Constitution states, "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." This is an argument for which of the following?
stronger state powers
Which part of the Constitution ensures that an adoption of a child that occurs in Florida is still valid in Tennessee?
the full faith and credit clause
According to the strategic model of Supreme Court decision making, which of the following justices are most important in that model?
the median voter on the court
What competing views of government did the Constitution seek to reconcile?
the need for a strong national government versus the need to preserve the states' autonomy
The most important factor in nomination battles over federal judges is
their ideology
A majority of whites support passive forms of affirmative action in public opinion polls.
true
According to Article VI of the Constitution, when state laws and federal laws are in conflict, the federal law takes precedence over the state law.
true
Despite some early cases to the contrary, power predominantly remained with the states until the 1930s, at which point the federal government expanded into many new areas.
true
From the very beginning of the Preamble to the Constitution, the Founders laid out a vision of a stronger national government.
true
It is easier for Congress to overturn Supreme Court decisions when the cases deal with statutory interpretation than when they deal with constitutional interpretation.
true
Most cases come to the Supreme Court through a writ of certiorari.
true
Political actors will typically emphasize one American value over another.
true
Supreme Court justices may interrupt lawyers to ask questions during oral arguments.
true
The Federalists reluctantly agreed to the creation of a Bill of Rights as a compromise to help the new Constitution become ratified.
true
The Supreme Court ruled that the "show me your papers" part of an Arizona law (which required law enforcement officials to check the immigration status of a person during a stop, detention, or arrest) was constitutional.
true
The U.S. federal income tax, wherein the wealthy pay a higher percentage of their income as a tax than those who are less well off, is an example of a redistributive tax policy.
true
The United States has passed laws that make it illegal to say anything that might challenge the government.
true
