Chapter 1 PoliSci
Which of the following statements are true about the motivations for creating American democracy?
Colonists, following Enlightenment ideas, wanted to overturn the European way of governing. The American Revolution sought to create a radically different form of society. The idea of individual potential could be achieved more easily in the New World than in the Old World.
In what year was discrimination against Chinese, Japanese, and other Asian immigrants finally removed from U.S. immigration law?
1965
What is the true test of an opinion?
Does it hold up when judged against other views?
Politics are necessary for which of the following reasons?
Society's resources are limited. Conflict in a society is inevitable. People do not all think alike.
As political leaders have become more willing to make deceptive claims, the public has
become more tolerant
According to sociologist C. Wright Mills, who or what has greater control over economic policy than even elected officials have?
corporate elites
What term refers to the influence of business firms on public policy?
corporate power
A particularly strong example of Americans' determination to build a more equal society is its ______.
public education system
Critical thinking should involve which of the following?
putting forth considerable effort evaluating information carefully
Who or what holds the power in a pluralist system?
special interests
What document proclaimed that "Governments deriv[e] their just powers from the consent of the governed"?
the declaration of independence
Democracy may free the mind, but who determines how that freedom will be used?
the individual
Under an authoritarian government, ______.
the regime is usually backed by the military or police; opposition leaders are sometimes brutalized or imprisoned; political opposition is openly repressed
The term party polarization refers to ______.
the situation resulting from the intense conflicts between Republicans and Democrats in recent years
Concerning power sharing, the United States is ______.
unique
The "two Americas" referenced in the text are ______.
white and black Americas
The best way to characterize political power in the United States is that it is ______.
widely shared
Individualism in the United States is best described as ______.
deeply ingrained
Despite the existence of institutions that encourage widespread participation, wealth gives rise to ______, which is the power possessed by well-positioned and highly influential individuals.
elitism
Which of the following reflects the notion that all individuals have the same moral worth and treatment under the law?
equality
______ is a commitment to personal initiative and self-sufficiency.
individualism
When political leaders respond to the policy desires of the majority, it is referred to as
majoritarianism.
Compared to other countries, the United States holds ______.
more elections
The overall way in which society settles conflicts and allocates the resulting benefits and costs is called ______.
politics
Who or what owns the means of production in a free-market economic system?
private firms
Elements of Constitutionalism include
the protection of individual rights, officials being required to follow the laws, lawful restrictions of governmental power.
Slavery in America lasted for ______ years.
250
What best describes the ways in which our media system has presented obstacles to critical thinking in recent history?
All the answers are correct
Which of the following statements are true about American ideals and government?
Americans believe that their government should have a high purpose. Americans generally believe that government power should be widely shared.
The text suggests that Americans tend especially toward selective memory and recasting history because ______.
Americans' beliefs are so idealistic
Which of the following statements are true of economic power in the United States?
Corporate power operates in part through the influence that firms have with government officials. Firms have greater control over wages and working conditions than in other Western democracies. Roughly two-thirds of all lobbyists in the nation's capital represent business firms.
The obstacles to critical thinking have ______ in recent decades.
increased
What does the text describe as "America's most elusive ideal"?
Equality
Which of the following statements about political institutions and interests in the United States is true?
Few nations have as many competing interests and institutions as the United States.
Which of the following is a core value of American political ideology?
Government should serve the people
Which of the following correctly describes political culture?
It helps define the relationship between citizens and their government. It helps define citizens' relationships to each other. It is derived from the country's traditions.
Which of the following are true of legal action?
It involves use of the courts to assert rights and interests. It involves the Bill of Rights, an independent judiciary, and firm attachment to private property. It is a channel through which ordinary Americans exercise power.
Which of the following people is acting in a way that promotes critical thinking?
Jamal is a liberal but his best friend is conservative. The two often compare sources before forming opinions on political issues.
Which of the following statements best describes politicians' "slanting" of the facts?
Leaders of both parties have done this
Which of the following are true of party polarization?
Partisanship has increased dramatically over the past few decades. Partisan fights have become prolonged and bitter. Partisan divisions have surfaced on nearly every issue. Need help? Review these concept resources.
What role, generally, do politicians play in misinformation?
Politicians' deceptions have always been part of our politics, and they have contributed to the current rise in misinformation
Which of these ideals encompasses the principle that the people are the ultimate source of government authority and should have a voice in their governing?
Self-government
Upon what assumption was Chinese immigration to the United States suspended in 1882?
The Chinese were inferior people
What best explains why European governments gave the American colonies a degree of self-determination?
The geographical distance that separated them was too great to do otherwise.
At what point in American history did the influence of business firms on public policy become a defining feature of American politics?
The late 1800's
In the U.S., who or what is the ultimate source of governing authority?
The people
Who is the "self" in the political ideal of self-government?
The people
How are the media treated under an authoritarian government?
They are tightly controlled
Which of the following is true of American democratic political ideals?
They come from European Enlightenment beliefs about individual worth.
If citizens do not develop the habit of critical thinking, what may result?
They may invent odd versions of reality. Their choices may not result in the outcome they expect. They may engage in wishful thinking.
Which of the following accurately describe higher education in the United States?
U.S. states with the lowest proportion of college grads have more residents with a bachelor's degree than the typical European country. The United States ranks second only to Canada in the number of people over 25 with a college degree. The United States has the most elaborate system of higher education in the world.
An economic system that operates mainly on private transactions where firms are free to make their own production, distribution, and pricing decisions is known as ______.
a free-market system
Compared to other countries, Americans have pursued their individual rights ______.
aggressively and in many areas
Political culture in the United States is based upon Americans' ______.
allegiance to common goals
As a discipline, political science relies upon ______, which requires critical thinking.
analysis
A properly designed legal system enables citizens to do which of the following?
assert their rights and interest
Which governing structure represses individuals and groups that oppose the regime?
authoritarianism
The text cites President Trump's decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement on climate change—even though two-thirds of Americans polled disagreed with the decision—as an example of ______.
authority
Henri is a conservative Republican. This morning, he heard a news story describing how the local Democrat school board chair was allowing student scores to be artificially inflated. If Henri is guilty of confirmation bias, he will likely
believe the story without any further research.
Which of the following were placed in the United States Constitution in order to prevent majority tyranny?
checks and balances separation of powers a bill of rights
Which of these is not considered to be a core value of American political ideals?
collectivism
Americans' belief in self-government formed in ______.
colonial America
Which of the following is a system based on rule of law, including legal protections for individuals, empowering individuals by enabling them to claim their rights in court?
constitutional
The idea that there are lawful restrictions on government power is called ______.
constitutionalism
A form of government in which the power to govern is in the hands of the citizens, either directly or through representatives, is called a(n) ______.
democracy
Which of the following is a system of majority rule through elections, empowering majorities, groups, and officials?
democratic
What is critical thinking?
determining what can be reasonably believed and then using the information to reach a thoughtful conclusion
In a(n) ______ form of democracy (for example, the type that might be conducted through town meetings) citizens decide policy instead of depending on elected representatives.
direct
Liberals who only listen to liberal talk radio as a source of information are immersing themselves in a(n)
echo chamber
Americans have a(n) ______ view of their rights and freedoms.
expansive
Which of the following is an economic system that centers on the transactions between private parties?
free market
Liberty
is the principle that individuals should be free to act and think as they choose, provided they do not infringe on the freedoms of others.
Authority
is the recognized right of officials to exercise power.
The use of the courts as a means of asserting rights and interests is known as ______.
legal action
Basic to politics is ______, which is needed to influence political developments.
political power
Confirmation bias is the tendency to
reinterpret information in ways that reinforce what we already believe
The tools of political science attempt to ______.
sharpen students' understanding of American politics
Participants in a free-market economy depend primarily on which of the following for their economic security?
themselves
In America, majoritarianism occurs mainly
through competition between the Republican and Democratic parties.
A country's political culture derives from its ______.
traditions
