AP Gov 94, 99, 02 Released Exam

Which of the following statements about voting behavior in the US is correct a) College graduates are more likely to vote than are those who have at most a high school diploma b) Voters under the age of 25 are more likely to vote than are those in any other group c) Registration requirements have no significant effect on voter turnout d) since 1920, the proportion of women who have voted is approximately the same as the proportion of men who have voted e) during the twentieth century, the proportion of African Americans who voted was approximately the same as the proportion of white Americans who voted

a) College graduates are more likely to vote than are those who have at most a high school diploma

Following the Civil War, the Fourteenth Amendment to the US Constitution was designed to overturn the a) Dred Scott decisions b) Plessy v. Ferguson ruling c) Emancipation Proclamation d) Vicil Rights Act of 1866 e) Slaughterhouse cases

a) Dred Scott decisions

In recent presidential administrations, the principal staff for the President has been made up of members of the a) White House Office b) cabinet c) Congress d) national committee of the President's party e) civil service

a) White House Office

The Supreme Court established the incorporation doctrine when the court a) interpreted the Fourteenth Amendment as extending most of the requirements of the Bill of Rights to the states as well as the federal government b) interpreted the Ninth Amendment as requiring national health and worker-safelty standards to protect the individual's implied right of personal safety c) stripped the armed fires of their discretionary powers regarding military service for gay men, lesbians, and married people d) strengthened local police forces by granting them them the power to investigate and prosecute federal offenses e) granted the federal government the power to declare acts of Congress unconstitutional

a) interpreted the Fourteenth Amendment as extending most of the requirements of the Bill of Rights to the states as well as the federal government

The 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that upheld a woman's right to secure an abortion was based on the right to a) privacy implied in the Bill of Rights b) equality guaranteed by the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments c) due process of law enumerated in the Fifth and Sixth Amendments d) adequate medical care implied in the Preamble to the Constitution e) life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness enumerated in the Declaration of Independence

a) privacy implied in the Bill of Rights

Of the following, which has been used most to expand the power of the national government a) the commerce clause of the Constitution b) the habeas corpus of the Constitution c) the bill of attainder clause of the Constitution d) the 1st Amendment e) the 5th Amendment

a) the commerce clause of the Constitution

Of the following, the most important role in political socialization of children is played by a) their peer groups b) their places of worship c) the family d) the media e) the school

a) their peer groups

Which of the following is true of amicus curiae briefs a) they are used by interest groups to lobby courts b) they are used exclusively by liberal interest groups c) they are used exclusively by conservative interest groups d) they are now unconstitutional e) they are the means by which a litigant seeks Supreme Court review of a lower court decision

a) they are used by interest groups to lobby courts

Which of the following statements about voting patterns is best supported by the table? a) women were more likely than men to vote Democrat b) people who were young, White, and from the South were most likely to be perot supporters c) voters with low educational attainment were more likely to vote republican than democrat d) voters in the south were more likely to vote democratic than those in other regions e) nonwhite voters were less likely to support republican presidential candidates in 1992 than they were in 1980

a) women were more likely than men to vote Democrat

To which of the following congressional committees would a proposal to reform the national income-tax system initially be sent a) House Appropriations Committee b) House ways and means committee c) House budget Committee d) senate budget committee e) senate finance committee

b) House ways and means committee

Which of the following is true about the line-item veto a) it is specifically granted to the President by the Constitution b) It is used by many state governors c) it is basically the same as a pocket veto d) its use was upheld by the Supreme Court e) it would, if instated , strengthen the power of congressional leaders

b) It is used by many state governors

The advantages of incumbency in congressional elections include which of the following? 1. Incumbents receive more campaign contributions than do challengers. 2. Incumbents are able to provide important services for individual voters. 3. The government provides campaign funds for incumbents. 4. The President usually endorse incumbents for reelection. 5. Most American voters believe Congress does a good job. A) 1 and 2 only B) 3 and 4 only C) I, 4, and 5 only D) 2, 3, and 5 only E) 3, 4, and 5 only

A) 1 and 2 only

Public monies are used to help finance which of the following campaigns? 1. Presidential 2. Congressional 3. Gubernatorial A) 1 only B) 2 only C) 1 and 2 only D) 2 and 3 only E) 1, 2, and 3 only

A) 1 only

In which of the following did Congress move to regain powers previously lost to the executive branch? A) Budget and Impoundment Control Act B) Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Act C) Presidential Disability Act D) Gulf of Tonkin Resolution E) Persian Gulf War Resolution

A) Budget and Impoundment Control Act

Diversity of public policy throughout the United States is primarily a consequence of A) federalism B) separation of powers C) innovation within bureaucratic agencies D) decentralization in the Senate E) lack of party discipline in the House

A) Federalism

Which of the following is true about the right of free speech, as currently interpreted by the Supreme Court? A) It protects the right to express opinions even without the actual use of words. B) It protects the use of language deemed obscene by the courts. C) It allows citizens to disobey laws that they believe to be unjust. D) It is protected from infringement by the federal government but not from infringement by state governments. E) It cannot be limited in any manner.

A) It protects the right to express opinions even without the actual use of words.

Which of the following is the most important influence on the choice made by voters in presidential elections? A) Partisan identification B) Party platform adopted at the national convention C) Vice-presidential running mate D) Endorsement by political incumbents E) Appeal of the candidates' spouses

A) Partisan identification

The request of recent Presidents for line-item veto is a challenge to which of the the following principles? A) Separation of powers B) Senatorial courtesy C) Eminent domain D) Executive privilege E) Congressional oversight

A) Separation of powers

In McCulloch v. Maryland, the Supreme Court established which of the following principles? A) States cannot interfere with or tax the legitimate activities of the federal government. B) The judicial branch cannot intervene in political disputes between the President and Congress C) The federal Bill of Rights places no limitations on the states. D) The federal government has the power to regulate commerce. E) It is within the judiciary's authority to interpret the constitution.

A) States cannot interfere with or tax the legitimate activities of the federal government.

The largest amount of political coverage in newspapers during presidential campaigns is devoted to A) day-to-day campaign activities B) the platforms of the major parties C) candidates' policy stands on domestic issues D) candidates' stands on foreign policy issues E) candidates' experience and qualifications

A) day-to-day campaign activities

The received powers of the the state governments can be best described as those powers A) not specifically granted to the national government or denied to the states B) implied in the fifth amendment C) listed specifically in the Tenth Amendment D) exercised by both national and states government E) granted to states as part of the implied powers doctrine

A) not specifically granted to the national government or denied to the states

The "miranda warning" represents an attempt to protect criminal suspects against A) unfair police interrogation B) biased jury selection C) imprisonment without trial D) illegal wiretapping E) unjustified police surveillance

A) unfair police interrogation

Supreme Court justices were given tenure subject to good behavior by the framers of the Constitution in order to ensure that A) justices are free from direct political pressures B) justices remain accountable to the public C) justices are encouraged to make politically popular decisions D) cooperation between the judicial and legislative branches is assured E) Presidents are encouraged to seek younger nominees for the Supreme Court

A. justices are free from direct political pressures

The graph above supports which of the following statements? a) People with higher incomes are more likely to think of themselves as conservative than are those with lower incomes. b) Americans with incomes under $10,000 are twice as likely to think of themselves as liberal than as conservative. c) A majority of people whose incomes fall between $10,000 and $50,000 think of themselves as conservative. d) No income group contains more people who think of themselves as liberal than people who think of themselves as conservative. a) People with higher incomes are less likely to think of themselves as either liberal or conservative than are those with lower incomes.

A. People with higher incomes are more likely to think of themselves as conservative than are those with lower incomes.

In selecting members of the White House staff, Presidents primarily seek people who a)give the White House ideological balance b)are personally low to the President c)have extensive governmental experience d)will help the president develop a good working relationship with Congress e)can bring a nonpartisan perspective to policy deliberations

B

Which of the following is a significant trend in the presidential nominating process over the past three decades? A) Replacement of national party conventions by national primaries for each party B) Increasing importance of presidential primaries rather than state conventions C) A sharply declining role for political action committees (PAC's) D) Decreasing cost of campaigns E) Increasing control by political party leaders over outcomes

B) Increasing importance of presidential primaries rather than state conventions

Which of the following procedures resulted in the removal of the President from office? A) The House and the Senate vote for impeachment, and the Supreme Court reaches a guilt verdict. B) The House votes for impeachment, and the Senate conducts a trial and reaches a guilty verdict. C) The House and the Senate both vote for a bill of impeachment. D) Only the House votes for a bill of impeachment. E) A criminal court finds the President guilty of "high crimes and misdemeanors"

B) The House votes for impeachment, and the Senate conducts a trial and reaches a guilty verdict.

Which of the following statements about Congress is true? A) Members of Congress only occasionally are interested in and pay attention to constituents. B) The legislative process is frequently lengthy, decentralized, and characterized by compromise and bargaining. C) Lobbyists and political action committees (PAC's) successfully induce most member of Congress to trade their votes for campaign contributions. D) The growth in the size of Congress as an organization is the principle cause of growth in the federal budget deficit. E) Debate in both houses is structured by elaborate rules enacted by leaders of the majority party.

B) The legislative process is frequently lengthy, decentralized, and characterized by compromise and bargaining.

Which of the following is the most accurate statement about political parties in the United States? A) Parties increasingly identify themselves with coherent ideologies to attract large blocs of voters. B) The percentage of voters identifying themselves as either Democrats or Republicans has been declining since the 1970's. C) National party organizations are generally the strongest party organizations. D) It is increasingly difficult for third parties to gain more than two percent of the popular vote. E) Most candidates prefer to run as independents rather than as Democrats or Republicans.

B) The percentage of voters identifying themselves as either Democrats or Republicans has been declining since the 1970's.

One of the formal tools used by Congress for oversight of the bureaucracy is A) the line-item veto B) authorization of spending C) impoundment bills D) private bills E) senatorial courtesy

B) authorization of spending

GRISWOLD v. CONNECTICUT and ROE v. WADE are similar Supreme Court cases in that both are cases based on the A) rights of gay men and lesbian women B) right of privacy C) right to an abortion D) right to freedom from cruel and unusual punishment E) right of women to equal protection before the law

B) right of privacy

The boundaries of the United States congressional districts are usually determined by A) the Federal Election Commission (FEC) B) the state legislatures C) the House Rules Committee D) a conference committee of the House and the Senate E) the director of the United States Census Bureau

B) the state legislatures

When selecting a vice-presidential candidate, a presidential nominee is usually concerned primarily with choosing a running mate who a) has significant personal wealth b) adds balance and appeal to the national ticket c) comes from the same ideological wing of the party as the President d) can serve as the most important domestic policy adviser to the President e) can effectively preside over the Senate

B. adds balance and appeal to the national ticket

The most important source of the Supreme Court's caseload is A) its original jurisdiction B) its appellate jurisdiction C) instruction from the solicitor general D) the special master's certification of cases for review E) Congress' certification of cases for review

B. its appellate jurisdiction

Discrimination in public accommodations was made illegal in the United States as a direct result of the A) Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka B) Supreme Court Decision in Sweatt v. Painter C) Civil Rights Act of 1964 D) Montgomery bus boycott E) Voting Rights Act of 1965

C) Civil Rights Act of 1964

The date displayed in the table above best support which of the following statements? A) The reelection rate is higher in the Senate than in the House. B) The average vote won by Senate members surpasses that won by House members. C) House seats are safer from election turnover than are Senate seats. D) House members serve more terms than do Senators. E) More members of the Senate win reelection by 60% or more of the the vote than do members of the House.

C) House seats are safer from election turnover than are Senate seats.

The establishment clause in the First Amendment does which of the following? A) Guarantees freedom of speech to all citizens. B) Prevents prior restraint of the press. C) Prohibits the setting up of a state church. D) Defines the concept of dual citizenship. E) Allows citizens to enter freely into contracts with other citizens.

C) Prohibits the setting up of a state church.

Which of the following is articulated in the War Powers Resolution? A) The POTUS may declare war B) The POTUS must finance any war efforts from a special contingency fund. C) The POTUS must bring troops home from hostilities within 60 to 90 days unless Congress extends the time. D) The POTUS may not nationalize state militias without congressional consent. E) The POTUS may not send troops into hostilities without a declaration of war from Congress or a resolution from the United Nations.

C) The POTUS must bring troops home from hostilities within 60 to 90 days unless Congress extends the time.

A state has 11 electoral votes. In a presidential election, the Democratic candidate receives 48% of that state's popular vote, the Republican candidate receives 40% of the vote, and an independent candidate receives 12 percent of the vote. If the state is similar to most other sates, how will the electoral voted most likely be allocated? A) The Democratic candidate will receive 5 electoral votes, the Republican will receive 4, and the independent will receive 2. B) The Democratic candidate will receive 6 electoral vote and the Republican will receive 5. C) The democratic candidate will receive all 11 electoral votes. D) The votes vill not be allocated until there has been a runoff election between the Democratic and Republican candidates. E) The House of Representatives will determine the allocation of the electoral votes.

C) The democratic candidate will receive all 11 electoral votes.

The importance of Shays' Rebellion to the development of the United States Constitution was that it A) revealed the necessity of both adding the Bill of Rights to the Constitution and creating a new system of checks and balances0 B) demonstrated the intensity of anti ratification sentiment within the thirteen states C) indicated that a strong, constitutionally designed national government was needed to protect property and maintain order D) convinced the delegates attending the Constitutional Convention to accept the Connecticut Plan E) Reinforced the idea that slavery should be outlawed in the new Constitution

C) indicated that a strong, constitutionally designed national government was needed to protect property and maintain order

Decisions reached by the Supreme Court under the leadership of Chief Justice Earl Warren (1953-1969) did all of the following EXCEPT A) rules against malapportionment in state legislatures B) void state statues that permitted school segregation C) invalidate state abortion statues D) expand the rights of criminal defendants E) increase protection for the First Amendment freedoms

C) invalidate state abortion statues

Interest groups and political parties both promote the United States democracy by A) expressing detailed, ideology distinct programs B) centralizing public authority C) linking citizens to the political process D) increasing domination of the political process by elites E) lobbying members of Congress

C) linking citizens to the political process

An election involving more than two candidates in which the person who receives the most votes is the winner called A) majority election B) proportional election C) plurality election D) simple election E) indirect election

C) plurality election

Which of the following conclusions about income distribution during the Reagan administration is supported by the table above? a) The share of income received by the lowest fifth increased, whereas the share received by the fourth fifth decreased. b) The share of income received by the second fifth increased, whereas the share received by the fourth fifth decreased. c) The share of income received by the highest fifth increased, whereas the share received by the lowest fifth decreased. d) The number of people earning high incomes increased. e) The middle class disappeared.

C. The share of income received by the highest fifth increased, whereas the share received by the lowest fifth decreased.

A primary election in which voters are required to identify a party preference before the election and are not allowed to split their ticket is called a) an open primary b) a blanket primary c) a closed primary d) a runoff primary e) a presidential preference primary

C. a closed primary

A President attempting to influence Congress to pass a legislative program might employ all of the following strategies EXCEPT A) using the media to draw attention to the legislative program B) assigning legislative liaisons in the Executive Office of the President to lobby legislators C) denying campaign reelection funds to legislators who oppose the President's policy stand D) Exploiting a partisan majority for the President's party in both the House and the Senate E) Reminding legislators of high popularity ratings for the President in public opinion polls

C. denying campaign reelection funds to legislators who oppose the President's policy stand

All of the following powers are granted to the President by the Constitution EXCEPT A) commissioning officers in the armed forces B) dressing the Congress on the state of the union C) receiving ambassadors D) granting new pardons for federal offenses E) forming new cabinet-level departments

E) forming new cabinet-level departments

A corporate lobbyist would be LEAST likely to have an informal discussion about a pending policy matter with which of the following? A) A member of the House in whose district the corporation has a plant B) A member of the White House staff concerned about the issue C) A member of the staff of the Senate committee handling a matter of concern to the corporation D) A federal judge in whose court a case important to the corporation is being heard E) A journalist for a major newspaper concerned about the issue

D) A federal judge in whose court a case important to the corporation is being heard

Cabinet members often do not have a dominant influence on presidential decision-making because A) cabinet members generally maintain close independent ties to Congress B) cabinet members generally view the position only as a stepping-stone to further their own political ambitions C) cabinet members are not permitted to disagree publicly with the President D) Presidential goals often conflict with the institutional goals of individual cabinet-level agencies E) only half of all cabinet members can be members of the President's party

D) Presidential goals often conflict with the institutional goals of individual cabinet-level agencies

Which of the following is an accurate statement about committees in Congress? A) The work of a committee ends when it submits a bill to the full House of Senate for consideration. B) An individual representative or senator can serve on only one committee and one subcommittee. C) Membership on key committees such as House Rules and Senate Finance is limited to fixed terms. D) Standing committees oversee the bureaucracy's implementation of legislation. E) Committee recommendations tend to have little influence on floor voting.

D) Standing committees oversee the bureaucracy's implementation of legislation.

Which of the following statements accurately describes the selection of the caseload for the United States Supreme Court? A) The United States Constitution spells out all the categories of cases that the Supreme Court must hear. B) The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court has the authority to select the cases that the Court will hear. C) The Solicitor General in the Department of Justice determines the Supreme Court's agenda. D) The Supreme Court is free choose the cases it hears with only a few limitations. E) The Attorney General screens cases for consideration by the Court.

D) The Supreme Court is free choose the cases it hears with only a few limitations.

Which of the following actions can Congress take if the Supreme Court finds a federal law unconstitutional? A) Appeal the Court's decision to the District of Columbia's Court of Appeals. B) Formall request the President to veto the Court's decision. C) Remove certain members of the Court and replace them with new members. D) Try to amend the Constitution. E) Reenact the same law.

D) Try to amend the Constitution.

When 18 to 21 year olds received the right to vote in 1971, in the 1972 national elections they did which of the following? A) Voted overwhelmingly for Republican candidates. B) Vote overwhelmingly for Democratic candidates. C) Voted overwhelmingly for radical candidates. D) Turned out at a lower rate than the rest of the electorate. E) Turned out at the same rate as the rest of the electorate.

D) Turned out at a lower rate than the rest of the electorate.

In a federal system of government, political power is primarily A) vested in local government B) vested in the regional governments C) vested in the central government D) divided between the central government and the regional governments E) divided between regional governments and local governments

D) divided between the central government and the regional governments

Congressional standing committees are best described as A) specially appointed investigative bodies B) joint committees of the two houses of Congress C) committees created for each session D) permanet subject-matter committees E) advisory staff agencies

D) permanet subject-matter committees

Political socialization is the process by which A) the use of private property is regulated by the government B) governments communicate with each other C) public attitudes toward government are measured and reported D) political values are passed to the next generation E) children are trained for successful occupations

D) political values are passed to the next generation

Registered voters directly elect which of the following? 1. The President and the Vice President 2. Supreme Court Justices 3. Members of the Senate 4. Members of the House of Representatives A) 1 only B) 4 only C) 1 and 2 only D) 3 and 4 only E) 2, 3, and 4 only

D. 3 and 4 only

Which of the following is an example of checks and balances, as established by the Constitution? a) A requirement that states lower their legal drinking age to eighteen as a condition of receiving funds through federal highway grant programs b) Media criticism of public officials during an election campaign period c) The Supreme Court's ability to overturn a lower court decision d) The requirement that presidential appointments to the Supreme Court be approved by the Senate e) The election of the President by the electoral college rather than by direct election

D. The requirement that presidential appointments to the Supreme Court be approved by the Senate

The committee system is more important in the House than in the Senate because A) the seniority system plays no role in the House and therefore committees must play a larger role B) the Constitution mandates the type of committee structure in the House C) committee members are appointed by the President D) the House is so large that more work can be accomplished in committees than on the floor E) the majority party in the House prefers to give priority to the work of the committees

D. the House is so large that more work can be accomplished in committees than on the floor

Presidents have had the most success in changing the direction of decisions of the federal judiciary by A) threatening to ask Congress to impeach specific judges B) using the media to build consensus for the President's position C)requesting that Congress reduce the term of office that judges may serve D) using the appointment process to select judges with judicial philosophies similar to those of the President E) pressuring Congress to pass the appropriate legislation to override judicial opinions

D. using the appointment process to select judges with judicial philosophies similar to those of the President

The author of the cartoon above would most likely agree with which of the following? a)only the exclusionary rule can protect the rights of those accused of violating the law b)the exclusionary rule has been detrimental to the maintenance of law and order c)plea bargaining is an effective means of reducing court backlogs d)the Warren Court advocated social order at the expense of civil liberties e)the Rehnquist court has been too lenient toward criminals

E

Which of the following is true of nominees for federal judgeships? a)they are recruited from the current pool of United States attorneys b)they are nominated by the Senate and approved by the H.O.R c)they are elected in popular elections in individual states d)they must receive the approval of American Bar Association upon nomination e)they are appointed for life by the President with the advice and consent of the senate

E

Which of the following generalizations about group voting tendencies is true? A) Jewish voters tend to vote Republican. B) Protestant voters tend to be more liberal than Roman Catholics on economical issues. C) More women than men identify themselves as Republicans. D) Rural voters are more likely to support Democratic candidates than are urban voters. E) African American Democrats tend to support the more liberal candidates within their party.

E) African American Democrats tend to support the more liberal candidates within their party.

Which of the following form an "iron triangle"? A) President, Congress, Supreme Court B) President, House majority leader, Senate majority leader C) Interest group, Senate majority leader, House majority leader D) Executive department, House majority leader, President E) Executive department, Congressional committee, interest group

E) Executive department, Congressional committee, interest group

Most of the individual protections of the Bill of Rights now apply to the states because of the Supreme Court's interpretation of the Constitution's A) Preamble B) necessary and proper clause C) supremacy clause D) Tenth Amendment E) Fourteenth Amendment

E) Fourteenth Amendment

In the 1992 election, the membership of Congress was altered significantly by an increase in the number of A) Conservative Democrats B) Liberal Republicans C) Third-Party Representatives D) Political Independents E) Minorities and Women

E) Minorities and Women (this was the election that Bill Clinton won, the first time)

Which of the following statements are rules of procedure in the House and Senate is correct? A) Debate by a determine minority in either chamber cannot be halted. B) The rules in each chamber are determine by the majority whip. C) The rules are specified in Article 1 of the Constitution. D) The rules can be changed by the President during a national emergency. E) The House operated more formal rules, while the Senate operates more on informal understandings.

E) The House operated more formal rules, while the Senate operates more on informal understandings.

Which of the following did the most to expand civil rights in the 1950's? A) State legislative decisions desegregating public accommodations B) State court decisions outlawing poll taxes C) The passage of voting-rights legislation by Congress D) Executive orders mandating affirmative action E) The Supreme Court decision declaring state mandated school segregation to be unconstitutional

E) The Supreme Court decision declaring state mandated school segregation to be unconstitutional

A fundamental source of power for the federal bureaucracy lies in its A) role in moving legislation out of sub-committees B) role in mediating interstate conflicts C) ability to convince Congress to fund more projects it supports D) ability to mobilize public opinion in support of legislative initiatives E) ability to set specific guidelines after receiving a general mandate from Congress

E) ability to set specific guidelines after receiving a general mandate from Congress

All of the following have contributed to an increase in presidential power in the post- 1945 era EXCEPT A) tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War period B) an increase in public expectations for services from the federal government C) economic and domestic problems such as inflation, unemployment, and civil rights issues D) increasing United States involvement in international affairs E) legislation granting the President the power to impound funds appropriated by Congress

E) legislation granting the President the power to impound funds appropriated by Congress

The congressional power that has been contested most frequently in the federal courts is the power to A) establish post offices B) coin money C) levy taxes D) regulate commerce with foreign nations E) regulate interstate commerce

E) regulate interstate commerce

Critical elections in the United States typically have occurred A) as a result of temporary shift in the popular coalition supporting one or both parties B) whenever a third party has secured more than fifteen percent of the presidential vote C) Each time a Republican has been elected President D) when voter turnout has declined significantly from the previous elections E) when groups of voters have changed their traditional patterns of party loyalties

E) when groups of voters have changed their traditional patterns of party loyalties

Which of the following statements is supported by the chart above? A) Both Republican presidents nominated a greater proportion of Latinos to the judiciary that did either Democratic president. B)president Carter made more judicial nominations than president Reagan C)the percentage of nominees to the judiciary who were minorities was higher for republican presidents than for Democratic president D)the percentage of nominees to the judiciary who were women was higher for Republican presidents that for the Democratic presidents E)President Reagan nominated the smallest percentage of women to the judiciary

E)President Reagan nominated the smallest percentage of women to the judiciary

The primary function of political action committees (PAC's) is to a) serve as fund-raising organizations for challengers b) Provide members of Congress with unbiased information regarding proposed legislation c) consult with the President regarding domestic policy d) encourage broader participation in politics among the electorate e) raise campaign funds to support favored candidates

E. raise campaign funds to support favored candidates

The role of a conference committee in Congress is to A) hold hearings on proposed legislation B) oversee the actions of the executive branch of the government C) decide which bills should be considered by the full Senate D) conduct hearings that make information available to the public E) reconcile differences in bills passed by the House and Senate

E. reconcile differences in bills passed by the House and Senate

A major reasons why the majority of Supreme Court justices have had political experiences prior to appointment to the court is that a) Justices are expected to act like politicians in their decision-making b) Presidents seek to place individuals on the court whose policy views are similar to their own c) the Senate will refuse to confirm any nominee to the Court who is not familiar with the political process d) appointment to the Supreme Court is a reward for political party loyalty e) the court is expected to defer to the political branches making its decisions

b) Presidents seek to place individuals on the court whose policy views are similar to their own

Congressional district boundaries are usually redrawn every ten years by the a) Bureau of the Census b) State legislatures c) President d) House Rules Committee e) Federal Election Commissions

b) State legislatures

Which of the following is true under the system of checks and balances a) the Supreme Court can overrule the President's policy proposals b) The Senate must ratify treaties negotiated by the President before they become a law c) A Bill becomes law when the House and the Senate pass it, and the Supreme Court declares it constitutional d) the Supreme Court can remove members of Congress, and Congress can impeach the President e) The House of Representatives appoints justices to the Supreme Court and the Senate approves the appointments

b) The Senate must ratify treaties negotiated by the President before they become a law

Political action committees (PAC'S) representing which of the following groups have increased in number most sustabtially since the mid 190's a) labor b) business c) health-care pros d) veterans' group e) civil right's advocates

b) business

The term "horse-race journalism" refers to the tendency of the media to a) cover Congress by focusing on committee chairs rater than on the work of the committees b) cover campaigns by emphasizing the relative standings of the candidates in the polls rather than the issues they discuss c) cover politics by concentrating on scandal and corruption rather than on instances of integrity and honorable action d) compete for access to sources rather than to cooperate in gathering news e) compete to be first major breaking stories rather than trying to present full, accurate accounts of such stories

b) cover campaigns by emphasizing the relative standings of the candidates in the polls rather than the issues they discuss

The largest portion of "uncontrollable spending" in the federal budget is designated for which of the following a) interest on the national debt b) entitlement spending c) defense spending d) environmental programs e) salaries of federal bureaucrats

b) entitlement spending

Federal benefits that must be funded by Congress and must be paid to all citizens who meet eligibility criteria are called a) discretionary appropriations b) individual entitlements c) tax expenditures d) distributive benefits e) continuing appropriations

b) individual entitlements

In The Federalist No. 10, James Madison argued that factions in a republic are a) a more serious threat if the republic is large b) natural but controllable by institutions c) not likely to occur if people are honest d) prevented by majority rule e) prevented by free elections

b) natural but controllable by institutions

Which of the following actions by the federal government best illustrates the concept of unfunded mandates a) requiring the polling booths remain open beyond the hours of the workday b) requiring states and municipalities to provide certain services for their citizens without providing resources to pay for those services c) requiring state governments to guarantee short-term bonds issued by large municipalities in their states d) requiring all municipalities to impose a minimum property tax on all residential and business properties

b) requiring states and municipalities to provide certain services for their citizens without providing resources to pay for those services

the Tenth Amendment to the constitution has been interpreted by the Supreme Court to a) prevent states from thaxing agencies of the federal government b) reserve powers to the states c) restrict the application of judicial review d) allow for the burning of the flag as an expression of protest e) limit the use of the legislative veto

b) reserve powers to the states

Considering all elections at all levels of government, which of the following best describes electoral behavior in the US? a) primary elections tend to elicit higher voter turnout than do general elections b) the majority of the electorate does not vote in most elections c) voter turnout plays an insignificant role in election outcomes d) adult citizens under the age of 30 tend to have the highest rate of voter turnout e) voters with strong party identification vote less regularly than do independents

b) the majority of the electorate does not vote in most elections

The doctrine of original intent holds that a) Supreme court justices must emphasize independent and original thinking in considering constitutional matters b) the meaning of the constitution depends on the intention of the framers c) cases selected for review by the Supreme court must address an original and new concern no previously addressed by the Court d) Supreme Court justices should avoid bias by documenting their original impressions of a case e) the Supreme court should review all treaties that alter previously established foreign policy

b) the meaning of the constitution depends on the intention of the framers

The data in the table provide clear evidence that a) Republicans were increasingly likely to defect from their party's candidate b) the vote in the Midwest predicted the outcome rather consistently c) the East has become a Republican stronghold d) voters under the age of 30 were more likely than older voters to support the Democratic candidate e) nonwhite voters showed no preference for one party over another

b) the vote in the Midwest predicted the outcome rather consistently

All of the following serve as checks on the power of the federal courts EXCEPT a) federal judges can be impeached b) the voters can oust federal judges in national elections c) congress can pass a law clarifying "legislative intent" d) Presidents, governors, and local executives can refrain from enforcing court rulings e) congress and the state legislatures can amend the constitution

b) the voters can oust federal judges in national elections

Which of the following in NOT a presidential role authorized by the Constitution a) to be commander in chief of the armed forces b) to lead the political party of the President c) to negotiate treaties with foreign nations d) to be chief executive e) to present the state of the union address

b) to lead the political party of the President

The Supreme Court ruled the legislative veto unconstitutional on the grounds that such vetoes a) were the province of the courts alone b) violated the principle of separation of powers c) would give the executive branch too much power d) would give too much authority to non elected officials e) were an unwarranted infringement on the rights of state governments

b) violated the principle of separation of powers

The table above supports which of the following conclusions? a) I only b) II only c) III only d) I and II only e) I, II, and III

c) III only

Which of the following best explains why delegates to both the Republican and Democratic Conventions in 1996 were much more likely to have college and postgraduate degrees than was the rest of the voting population a) college education increases the likelihood of holding liberal political positions b) college education increases the likelihood of holding conservative political decsions c) Political activism increases with education levels d) Education allows people to have more time to attend conventions

c) Political activism increases with education levels

Which of the following best illustrates the point being made in the cartoon above a) the influence of the presidents on the Supreme Court is limited because the Senate often rejects their nominees b) the terms of Supreme Court justices should be reduces from their current forty years c) Presidents can have an influence on public policy far beyond their terms of office d) the opinions of Supreme Court justices remain very similar over long periods of time e) Supreme Court justices seldom issue dissenting opinions

c) Presidents can have an influence on public policy far beyond their terms of office

States and localities have the most discretion in establishing policy when federal funding is derived from a) categorial grants b) matching grants c) block grants d) project grants e) grants-in-aid

c) block grants

The "wall of separation" doctrine refers to the a) division between levels of government b) unique powers possessed by each branch of government c) division of church and state d) barrier between legislative chambers e) differentiation of municipal powers from county powers

c) division of church and state

Since the 1970's, Presidents have made use of executive orders at an increasing rate because executive orders a) are non controversial measures that can be easily implemented b) are really defeated in Congress c) do not need to be passed by Congress d) avoid judicial review e) must be ratified by the Senate rather than by the House

c) do not need to be passed by Congress

Which of the following is NOT a core value of US political culture a) legal equality b) political equality c) economic equality d) freedom of religion e) freedom of speech

c) economic equality

Which of the following took place after presidential candidates Truman in 1948, Nixon in 1968, and Clinton in 1992 won only pluralities of the popular vote a) the election was formally decided in the House of Representative b) the election was formally decided in Senate c) the winning candidate took office after receiving less than 50% of the popular vote casts d) the electoral college votes cast independants were critical in determining the winner e) the results the popular vote necessitated a runoff

c) the winning candidate took office after receiving less than 50% of the popular vote casts

Which of the following statements about trends in presidential approval ratings is supported by information presented in the graph above a) President Reagan was the most popular President since 1953 b) there is little relationship between military conflicts and presidential approval ratings c) Presidents have tended to become more popular over time d) A President's popularity tends to fall during his term in office e) President Carter suffered the largest drop in popularity of any President since 1953

d) A President's popularity tends to fall during his term in office

Senate Confirmation is required for which of the following presidential appointments a) I only b) II and III only c) II and IV only d) I, III, and IV only e) I, II, III, and IV

d) I, III, and IV only

Which of the following is generally true of the gerrymandering of congressional districts? a) it results in more Democrats being elected to the House b) it results in more Republican being elected to the House c) It guarantees that all minority parties will be equally represented d) It creates districts that favor one political party over another e) it violates the principle of one-person, one-vote

d) It creates districts that favor one political party over another

The table best supports which of the following statements about the two elections for which data are provided a) the 1988 and 1990 elections were clear victories for the Democratic party b) Republican voters exhibited greater party discipline in 1990 than they did 1988 c) Independent-leaning Republicans were the Republicans least likely to cross party lines d) Pure Independents were less likely to vote for the Democratic presidential candidate in 1988 than for Democratic House candidate

d) Pure Independents were less likely to vote for the Democratic presidential candidate in 1988 than for Democratic House candidate

Which of the following best explains the trend depicted in the chart above a) Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka b) imposition of a federal poll tax c) elimination of all-White primary elections d) The Voting Rights Act of 1965 e) the Civil Rights Act of 1964

d) The Voting Rights Act of 1965

Which of the following is a result of the electoral college system a) the winner of the presidency often lacks a majority of the popular vote b) candidates focus on one-party states in which they can win most of the electoral votes c) the House of Representatives frequently choose the President from the top three candidates d) candidates focus on the states with the largest populations e) campaign spending increases because candidates emphasize television advertising

d) candidates focus on the states with the largest populations

The President can do which of the following without seeking the consent of either the House or the Senate a) ratify the treaty b) appoint ambassadors c) appoint district court judges d) deploy troops e) declare war

d) deploy troops

An electoral system based on single-member districts is usually characterized by a) strong, centralized political parties and a weak executive b) higher rates of voter turnout than are common in other systems c) legislative representation of each party in proportion to the number of votes it receives d) domination of the legislature by two political parties e) ideological rather than mass-based parties

d) domination of the legislature by two political parties

In Miranda v. Arizona, the US Supreme Court declared that a) illagal aliens have the same right to an education as US citizens b) evidence seized during an illegal search cannot be used in court c) affirmative action programs cannot employ numerical quotas d) police must inform criminal suspects of their constitutional rights before questioning suspects after arrest e) the death penalty is constitutional so long as juries are supplied with sentencing guidelines

d) police must inform criminal suspects of their constitutional rights before questioning suspects after arrest

Which of the following committees of the House of Representatives sets the conditions for debate and amendment of most legislation a) ways and means b) appropriations c) judiciary d) rules e) government operations

d) rules

Which of the following was the most important effect of replacing the Articles of Confederation with the Constitution of 1787 a) the protection of free speech b) the guarantee of states' rights c) the establishment of direct democracy d) the creation of a strong national government e) the establishment of judicial review

d) the creation of a strong national government

Which of the following is one of the central concerns of the First Amendment a) the supremacy of the national over the state governments b) the right of the citizens to bear arms c) the division of powers among the three branches of government d) the right of citizens to petition the government for redress of grievances e) the protection of the rights of those accused of committing a crime

d) the right of citizens to petition the government for redress of grievances

Which of the following statements can be supported from information in the table above? I. Federal grants to state and local governments have increased substantially in total dollar amount since 1950 II. In 1994 the federal government devoted a larger percentage of outlays to grants than in 1980. III. Between 1980 and 1990, grants decreased as a larger percentage of federal outlays. IV. In 1994 states were more dependent on federal grants for revenue than in 1990, 1970, or 1960. a) IV only b) I and III only c) II and III only d) II ad IV only e) I, III, IV only

e) I, III, IV only

When a lower court decision is appealed to the Supreme Court, which of the following is most likely to occur a) The Supreme Court will reconsider the case, and overturn the lower court decision b) The Supreme Court will reprimand the lower court judge from improperly deciding the case c) the plaintiffs or defendants will file motions for the change of venue d) the case will be retired at the lower court level e) The Supreme Court will not hear the appeal

e) The Supreme Court will not hear the appeal

The procedure for formally amending the US Constitution best illustrates which of the following? a) the dominance of the national government b) the dominance of the state governments over the national government c) the Founding Fathers' desire to facilitate rapid constitutional revisions d) Supreme Court's power to review constitutional amendments e) The federal structure of the US government

e) The federal structure of the US government

The terms "fiscal federalism" and "cooperative federalism" refer to situations in which a) the federal government completely dominates state and local governments b) states are forbidden any activity that has not been specifically approved by the Supreme Court c) the federal judiciary uses its power of judicial review to ensure congressional dominance over state legislatures d) state, municipal, and local income taxes are pooled by special agreement and redistributed in accordance with individual need e) federal, state, and local governments work together to complete a project, with the federal government providing much of the project funding

e) federal, state, and local governments work together to complete a project, with the federal government providing much of the project funding

Which of the following is a provision of federal election laws a) a small fee must be paid by persons voting in federal elections b) on-site registration to vote must be permitted on the day of any federal election c) Electoral districts must be apportioned to equalize the numbers of Democratic and Republican voters wherever a historic imbalance exists d) citizens must be automatically registered to vote on their 18th birthday e) in areas with significant populations of linguistic minorities, voting materials must be made available in the preferred languages of the population

e) in areas with significant populations of linguistic minorities, voting materials must be made available in the preferred languages of the population

The concept of "critical elections: is most closely associated with a) the electoral college process b) elections during wartime c) the nomination process d) economic recession e) party realignment

e) party realignment

The table best supports which of the following statements about party identification and voting behavior a) there is no consistent relationship between party id and voting behavior b) people with weak party id tend to vote for opposing party candidates c) independent-learning Democrats are unreliable voters for the Democrat party d) people who most resist party intend to vote Republican Candidates e) people with strong Democratic party identification tend to vote for the Democratic Party

e) people with strong Democratic party identification tend to vote for the Democratic Party

Lobbyists try to influence legislators mainly through a) "wining and dining" legislators b) orchestrating petition drives and letter-writing campaigns c) placing persuasive advertisements in the media d) threatening to help the legislator's opponent in the next election e) providing legislators with information on technical issues

e) providing legislators with information on technical issues

The franking privilege refers to the a) Federal Reserve Board's control over interest rates b) practice of permitting senators to preview lists of judicial nominees c) practice whereby legislators with the most seniority select the committees on which they want to serve d) right of the chair to control the schedule of his or her congressional committee e) right of members of Congress to send mail to their constituents at the government's expense

e) right of members of Congress to send mail to their constituents at the government's expense

Which of the following statements best describes the organization of the tow major political parties in the US a) parties have no organization except at the national level b) parties are centrally organized to provide a smooth transition from one national campaign to the next c) parties are organized much like a large corporation, in that decisions flow from national to state and local levels d) local and state parties have virtually no power in the party system e) separate and largely independent party organizations exist a national, state, and local levels

e) separate and largely independent party organizations exist a national, state, and local levels

A major difference between the House of Representatives and the Senate is that a) filibusters are possible only in the House b) revenue bills must originate in the Senate c) judicial nominations originate in a House Committee d) each state has equal representation in the House but non in the Senate e) there is unlimited debate in the Senate but not in the House

e) there is unlimited debate in the Senate but not in the House

In which of the following scenarios would a presidential veto most likely be upheld? a) the president has the support of the Supreme Court b) the president is in a second term, removed from partisans politics c) the proposed legislation enjoys widespread bipartisan support d) the proposed legislation was originally adopted by a large majority in both houses of Congress e) two-thirds of the representatives and senators are members of the same party as the president

e) two-thirds of the representatives and senators are members of the same party as the president