Chapter 4 Wrap It Up Quiz

What personal characteristics most often result in differing interpretations of political values?

Age and education

What explains the unusually high confidence Americans had in their government in the 1950s?

Americans expected far less of the government

Why are Americans more likely than citizens of many other Western democracies to accept income inequalities?

Americans value equality of opportunity more than equality of outcome.

Compared to citizens of Sweden, Americans are more likely to do what?

Challenge governmental decisions in court

Compared to citizens of Japan, what value are Americans more likely to emphasize?

Competition

Americans are more likely than the French or British to believe that everyone should be equal politically and less likely to think that it is important that everyone be equal economically. What do these differing views reflect?

Differences in the countries' political cultures

Why do significant conflicts over policy persist even though Americans share a common political culture?

Differing interpretations of beliefs

Which of the following is the primary source of U.S. political party affiliation?

Family

Compared to citizens of other nations, Americans are most likely to believe in what value?

Hard work

Which of the following characterizes Max Weber's Protestant ethic?

Hard work

Which of the five important elements of the American view of the political system do some individuals use to argue against welfare programs?

Individual Responsibility

An American who belongs to the orthodox cultural class holds what belief?

Morality is as important as, or more important than, self-expression

Two opposing views exist about the importance of the culture war. One view holds that it is a myth perpetuated by political leaders and the media. Which of these statements describes the rival view?

More and more people are choosing party affiliations based on the party's position on moral issues.

How do typical American economic values reflect the American belief in liberty?

Most Americans support free enterprise

Which of these statements best fits the way most Americans view liberty?

People should be free to do as they please as long as they don't hurt anyone

What strain of Protestantism was especially dominant around the time of the writing of the U.S. Constitution

Puritanism

Even though equality is a foundational American value, Americans denied political equality to African Americans for generations. Besides values, what helps explain this contradiction?

Self-interest and social circumstances

According to scholar Robert Putnam, what determines the level of trust among members of a community?

Social capital

In 2002, Americans showed the importance they place on religion when they protested a federal appeals court attempt to ban what?

The Pledge of Allegiance

A classic study of political culture found that, of the five nations the study examined, the citizens of what country had the strongest sense of civic duty?

The United States

Compared to the average European, the average American is more likely to have what orientation toward religion?

The average American is more likely to acknowledge clear standards of right and wrong.

In the United States, most people, regardless of their job, think of themselves as belonging to what socioeconomic group?

The middle class

Why do the leaders of some left-leaning groups support preferential hiring and promotion practices for minorities and women?

They believe the disadvantages minorities and women face are the result of inequalities in the economic system rather than flaws in the individuals.

In what area of political participation do Americans consistently lag behind many European countries?

Voter participation

Which of these is a good example of civic competence?

Voting because you believe your vote can make a difference