govfinal

A nonprofit advocacy group seeks to block an expensive subsidy to what it believes is an environmentally destructive project. Which of the following accurately depicts the free-rider problem in this scenario? A) The public can expect to reap the benefits of blocking the subsidy without making any contribution to the nonprofit group. B) The public will recognize that the cost of the project greatly outweighs the benefit, so they can expect their legislators to vote against the subsidy. C) The advocacy group will be able to carry out activities at an unusually low cost because of discounts and tax breaks afforded to nonprofit organizations. D) A company can purchase support from certain members of the public who will persuade their legislators to vote in favor of the subsidy.

A

A recent poll indicates that 60 percent of all people in the United States support a flat tax system. Which of the following supports the credibility of the poll result? A) The poll reported a sampling error. B) The poll was conducted online and open to anyone who wished to participate. C) The poll was administered to several thousand people who were stopped while shopping in malls across the country. D) Before the question was asked, respondents were told that a flat tax system is fairer than a progressive tax and will lead to economic growth.

A

Based on the data shown in the table, which of the following statements is true about the electoral college? A) It can work against the principle of popular sovereignty when a candidate wins without winning the most votes nationwide. B) It creates a scenario in which electors frequently do not vote for the candidate they pledge to support. C) It undermines the rights of states to determine their own method of electing the president. D) It encourages independents and third-party candidates to run for office.

A

Based on the infographic, which of the following claims would an opponent of state voter-ID laws most likely make? A) Voter-ID laws are likely to decrease turnout among African American voters because they are less likely to have government-issued IDs. B) Voter turnout will likely decrease by 10% if voters are required to present a government-issued ID to vote. C) Voter-ID laws will likely decrease election fraud, which will increase voter confidence in institutions and thereby increase turnout. D) African American voters who do not have government-issued IDs are likely to participate at the grassroots level and exert influence through channels other than turning out to vote.

A

I go further, and affirm that bills of rights, in the sense and in the extent in which they are contended for, are not only unnecessary in the proposed constitution, but would even be dangerous. They would contain various exceptions to powers which are not granted; and on this very account, would afford a colourable pretext to claim more than were granted. For why declare that things shall not be done which there is no power to do? Why for instance, should it be said, that the liberty of the press shall not be restrained, when no power is given by which restrictions may be imposed? I will not contend that such a provision would confer a regulating power; but it is evident that it would furnish, to men disposed to usurp, a plausible pretence for claiming that power. —Alexander Hamilton, The Federalist Paper number 84 Based on the text, which of the following statements would the author mostly agree with? a) The Bill of Rights could potentially be used to limit civil liberties. b) The amendment process would create confusion about the meaning of the US Constitution c) The media ought to be held accountable for publishing untrue information about public figures. d) The US Constitution explicitly prohibits the government from restricting the press.

A

Members of the United States House of Representatives Committee on Veterans Affairs are concerned about the quality of services at hospitals run by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Which of the following is an action the committee can take to address the problem? A) Holding a hearing and subpoenaing high-level officials in the Department of Veterans Affairs to testify B) Impounding funding for veterans hospitals until problems are resolved C) Placing a referendum on the ballot in each state to increase health-care funding for veterans D) Appointing a new secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs

A

Senator Smith votes her conscience on bills that her constituents care little about, but she votes according to the wishes of the majority of her constituents on other bills. Which model of representation do her actions embody? A) The politico model B) The trustee model C) The majoritarian model D) The delegate model

A

The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 authorized the government to deny income tax deductions for employer health plans that did not offer employees the option of keeping their health insurance after leaving the job. Which enumerated power allowed Congress to make the law? A) Regulating commerce among the states B) Declaring laws unconstitutional C) Borrowing money on the credit of the United States D) Issuing copyrights and patents

A

Which of the following best describes the message in the political cartoon? A) Contributions from special interests have undermined fair and competitive political campaigns. B) Placing limits on special interest contributions would not diminish the role of money in elections. C) Although money garners attention from the media and voters, it does not influence how people vote. D) Special interests have a large amount of cash but a small number of votes to use to influence elections.

A

Which of the following is a consequence of the way the district is drawn on the map? A) It will likely lead to a less competitive general election, which could lead to increased partisanship. B) It will likely lead to a highly contentious and competitive election. C) It will lead to a seat that will be occupied by a member of a third party. D) It will lead to very high turnout in the election.

A

Based on previous court rulings, which of the following scenarios would most likely violate the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment? A) A police officer inspects the contents of a computer hard drive without a warrant. B) A mayor refuses to allow an unpopular group to hold a political rally. C) A public school system uses race-based segregation. D) The federal government passes a law prohibiting assault rifles.

A public school system uses race-based segregation.

A new president has been elected and has a number of positions to fill within the federal bureaucracy. Which of the following is an example of filling a position based on political patronage? A) Choosing a secretary of state to appease members from the opposition party B) Nominating a high-level campaign fund-raiser to serve as an ambassador to New Zealand C) Reappointing the secretary of defense even though he or she was appointed by the previous president, who is a member of the opposite party D) Asking the chair of a prestigious university's economics department to serve as chair of the Council of Economic Advisers

B

A society that puts equality—in the sense of equality of outcome—ahead of freedom will end up with neither equality nor freedom. The use of force to achieve equality will destroy freedom, and the force, introduced for good purposes, will end up in the hands of people who use it to promote their own interests. On the other hand, a society that puts freedom first will, as a happy by-product, end up with both greater freedom and greater equality. . . . A free society releases the energies and abilities of people to pursue their own objectives. It prevents some people from arbitrarily suppressing others. It does not prevent people from achieving positions of privilege, but so long as freedom is maintained, it prevents those positions of privilege from becoming institutionalized. —Milton Friedman, Free to Choose (1980) Which of the following governmental policies would the author most likely support? a) Restricting individuals from carrying guns in public. b) Allowing individuals to purchase marijuana for recreational use. c) Requiring individuals traveling in cars to wear seat belts. d) Establishing minimun age requirements to access adult social media sites.

B

Appointments to the federal judiciary are often contentious for which of the following reasons? A) The House of Representatives can undermine presidential authority by overriding judicial appointments. B) Life terms for federal judges mean that presidential appointments will continue to have influence long after the president's term is over. C) The president selects nominees based on political orientation, while the Senate focuses on the academic credentials of nominees. D) Federal judges are given a platform to legislate from the bench, and the Senate is hesitant about relinquishing power to the judiciary.

B

Bureaucratic rule-making is best defined as A) legally binding decisions made by Congress to constrain regulatory agencies B) guidelines issued by government agencies, which provide specific details about how a policy will be implemented C) directions given by the president to the bureaucracy regarding how a specific policy will be applied D) review and supervision of departments and agencies conducted by congressional committees

B

How is a president chosen when none of the candidates receive a majority of electoral college votes? A) There is a national runoff election between the two candidates with the greatest number of electoral college votes. B) The House chooses a new president by a majority vote of its state delegation. C) The election is ruled null and void and Congress appoints a new president. D) The US Supreme Court directly elects the president. E) The Senate chooses a new president by a majority of its entire membership.

B

The application of the death penalty has been limited in recent decades and cannot be applied to minors and people who are found to be mentally incompetent. Which of the following is a reason for this? A) The Supreme Court redefined what constitutes an unreasonable intrusion under the Fourth Amendment. B) The Supreme Court changed its interpretation of what constitutes cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment. C) The Fifth Amendment's due process clause motivated state legislatures to limit the death penalty. D) The right to an attorney guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment led to limited application of the death penalty.

B

The legislative process at the national level of government reflects the intent of the framers of the Constitution to create a legislature that would be A) less powerful than the executive B) slow and deliberate in the law-making process C) able to involve as many citizens as possible in the law making process D) able to ensure that all citizens are equally represented slow and deliberate in the law-making process

B

The president is most likely to use an executive order to make important policy when A) Congress is dominated by the president's party B) a compromise cannot be reached with Congress C) the Supreme Court is divided along ideological lines D) a negotiation with foreign heads of state reaches an impasse

B

Which of the following Supreme Court cases is most relevant to the topic of the cartoon? A) Baker v. Carr (1962) B) Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission (2010) C) New York times Co. v. United States (1971) D) Shaw v. Reno (1993)

B

Which of the following important functions of democracy would most likely be more difficult without political parties? A) Eliminating corruption in the bureaucracy B) Educating the public about upcoming elections C) Ensuring that only eligible voters can vote D) Reducing gridlock in Congress

B

Which of the following is NOT a way in which the federal government regulates campaigns? A) By the establishment of federal agencies to regulate campaign finance activities B) By having prohibitions on negative advertising C) By having limits on individual donations to campaigns D) By having requirements for disclosure of campaign donations E) By having limits on the distribution of soft money

B

Which of the following is an accurate comparison of constitutional provisions? Answer format enhance federal power; enhance state power A) Necessary and proper clause; Fourteenth Amendment B) Commerce clause; Tenth Amendment C) Supremacy clause; Seventeenth Amendment D) Fifth Amendment; Article V

B

Which of the following is contained in the Fourteenth Amendment and was likely an inspiration for Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "Letter from a Birmingham Jail"? a) The guarantee that all people, regardless of race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation, have the right to free speech b) The principle that all people should be equal under the law, as embodied in the equal protection clause c) The due process clause, which implies the right to vote, shall not be denied on the basis of race d) The guarantee that citizens have the right to a speedy and public trial regardless of gender, race, or age

B

Which of the following may the president do to limit the Supreme Court's power? A) Fire and replace justices B) Refuse to enforce a ruling by the Court C) Adopt new constitutional amendments D) Veto parts of the Court's decisions

B

Which of the following measures would a president adhering to Keynesian economic principles most likely employ during an economic recession? A) An executive order to increase the amount of money in circulation in the economy B) A budget with significant increases in spending for unemployment benefits and public works projects C) Legislation to cut individual and corporate income tax rates and decrease regulation of the economy D) A national budget with dramatic cuts in federal spending on entitlement programs like Social Security

B

A society that puts equality—in the sense of equality of outcome—ahead of freedom will end up with neither equality nor freedom. The use of force to achieve equality will destroy freedom, and the force, introduced for good purposes, will end up in the hands of people who use it to promote their own interests. On the other hand, a society that puts freedom first will, as a happy by-product, end up with both greater freedom and greater equality. . . . A free society releases the energies and abilities of people to pursue their own objectives. It prevents some people from arbitrarily suppressing others. It does not prevent people from achieving positions of privilege, but so long as freedom is maintained, it prevents those positions of privilege from becoming institutionalized. —Milton Friedman, Free to Choose (1980) Which of the following ideological perspectives is most consistent with the passage? a) Progressive b) Socialist c) Libertarian d) Liberal

C

A society that puts equality—in the sense of equality of outcome—ahead of freedom will end up with neither equality nor freedom. The use of force to achieve equality will destroy freedom, and the force, introduced for good purposes, will end up in the hands of people who use it to promote their own interests. On the other hand, a society that puts freedom first will, as a happy by-product, end up with both greater freedom and greater equality. . . . A free society releases the energies and abilities of people to pursue their own objectives. It prevents some people from arbitrarily suppressing others. It does not prevent people from achieving positions of privilege, but so long as freedom is maintained, it prevents those positions of privilege from becoming institutionalized. —Milton Friedman, Free to Choose (1980) Which of the following statements is most consistent with the author's argument in this passage? a) Individual freedom and equality are not compatible values. b) Equality is not an important outcome in society. c) Undermining freedom will extinguish both freedom and equality. d) There should be more emphasis on governmental action to achieve equality.

C

Based on the infographic, which of the following strategies would a group seeking to increase turnout likely pursue? A) Use radio ads to advocate stricter voter-ID laws B) Hold a voter registration drive in public high schools C) Lobby state legislatures to overturn voter-ID legislation D) Lobby Congress to eliminate the Voting Rights Act

C

During the Civil War, President Lincoln suspended the right of habeas corpus and detained thousands of citizens who protested the war. Which of the following statements best illustrates this scenario? a) Freedom of speech is an absolute right. b) There is nothing in the Constitution that guarantees the right to a fair trial. c) There is a tension between civil liberties and public order. d) When the public does not support the rights of others, those rights tend to no longer be applied

C

I go further, and affirm that bills of rights, in the sense and in the extent in which they are contended for, are not only unnecessary in the proposed constitution, but would even be dangerous. They would contain various exceptions to powers which are not granted; and on this very account, would afford a colourable pretext to claim more than were granted. For why declare that things shall not be done which there is no power to do? Why for instance, should it be said, that the liberty of the press shall not be restrained, when no power is given by which restrictions may be imposed? I will not contend that such a provision would confer a regulating power; but it is evident that it would furnish, to men disposed to usurp, a plausible pretence for claiming that power. —Alexander Hamilton, The Federalist Paper number 84 Supporters of Hamilton's view that a Bill of Rights could be dangerous to liberty could point to which of the following cases? a) Tinker v. Des Moins b) Engel v. Vitale c) Schenck v. United States d) New York Times Co. v. United States

C

I go further, and affirm that bills of rights, in the sense and in the extent in which they are contended for, are not only unnecessary in the proposed constitution, but would even be dangerous. They would contain various exceptions to powers which are not granted; and on this very account, would afford a colourable pretext to claim more than were granted. For why declare that things shall not be done which there is no power to do? Why for instance, should it be said, that the liberty of the press shall not be restrained, when no power is given by which restrictions may be imposed? I will not contend that such a provision would confer a regulating power; but it is evident that it would furnish, to men disposed to usurp, a plausible pretence for claiming that power. —Alexander Hamilton, The Federalist Paper number 84 Which of the following constitutional provisions limits the power of the national government in Hamilton's argument? a) Supremacy Clause in Article VI b) Faithful execution of the laws in Articel II c) Enumerated powers in Article I d) Judical Review in Article III Enumerated powers in Article I

C

Which of the following best explains the difference in the number of bureaucrats employed by the Department of Education and the Department of Homeland Security? A) The Department of Homeland Security was created before the Department of Education. B) The Department of Education receives its funding from Congress, while the Department of Homeland Security works directly for the president. C) The Department of Education primarily addresses state issues, whereas the Department of Homeland Security primarily addresses national issues. D) The Department of Homeland Security hires more employees at the state level than the Department of Education.

C

Which of the following best illustrates the concept of iron triangles? A) The tendency of interest groups to hire former legislators, lobbyists, and judges B) The inability of third-party candidates to garner public attention through media coverage C) The long-term relationships between agencies, congressional committees, and interest groups in specific policy areas D) The practice of congressional leaders diverting PAC funds meant for certain popular candidates to those in more competitive races The long-term relationships between agencies, congressional committees, and interest groups in specific policy areas

C

Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the House of Representatives and the Senate? answer format HOR Senate A) Only the Speaker of the House can initiate the legislative process by proposing bills; Only the majority leader can initiate the legislative process by proposing bills B) Members can delay the policy-making process by invoking cloture; Members can delay the policy-making process through the use of a filibuster C) Members are elected by constituents in a local district based on population; Members are elected by constituents of an entire state D) Members serve six-year terms; Members serve two-year terms

C

Which of the following is an accurate comparison of the two court cases? Answer format McCulloch v. Maryland (1819); United States v. Lopez (1995) A) Declared an act of Congress unconstitutional; Recognized the importance of state sovereignty and local control B) Decided that Congress had implied powers; Ruled that state laws were supreme to national laws C) Led to an increase in power for the national government; Established limits to Congress' power under the commerce clause D) Decided that a state had the power to tax a national bank; Declared the Gun-Free School Zones Act unconstitutional

C

Which of the following scenarios would be considered an unconstitutional use of state power? A) A state passes a law that increases the pay of state legislators. B) A state enacts a law prohibiting smoking in all public places. C) A state places a tax on furniture made overseas. D) A state raises the drinking age to 25 years of age.

C

Which of the following scenarios would most likely be considered a violation of the Fourth Amendment? A) A suspect is interrogated without being informed of the right to an attorney. B) A person is tried twice for the same crime. C) A suspect's cell phone is analyzed by police before a warrant is issued. D) A person is prosecuted for a federal crime without a jury.

C

Which of the following statements describes a difficulty presidents face in the policy implementation process? A) Members of the bureaucracy often lack the expertise to carry out the president's preferred policies. B) Members of the president's Cabinet can be removed at any time by Congress. C) Because of civil service laws, it is not easy for the president to remove professional bureaucrats when they disagree with the president's agenda. D) Congress generally gives specific details about how the laws they pass will be executed by members of the professional bureaucracy.

C

A member of the House of Representatives has introduced a bill to raise the minimum wage, but it has been in committee for 36 days and is unlikely to make it to the floor. Which of the following is the best course of action for the representative to take to get a vote on the bill? A) Presenting a cloture motion B) Placing a hold on the bill C) Introducing a concurrent resolution D) Filing for a discharge petition

D

Based on previous rulings, the Supreme Court is most likely to view a case concerning which of the following as a right-to-privacy case? A) A university whose admissions standards prevent women from attending the institution B) A person who is licensed to carry a handgun and brings one to a political rally C) A high school student who leaves class at a specified time during each school day for daily prayer D) A woman who is prevented from an abortion

D

I go further, and affirm that bills of rights, in the sense and in the extent in which they are contended for, are not only unnecessary in the proposed constitution, but would even be dangerous. They would contain various exceptions to powers which are not granted; and on this very account, would afford a colourable pretext to claim more than were granted. For why declare that things shall not be done which there is no power to do? Why for instance, should it be said, that the liberty of the press shall not be restrained, when no power is given by which restrictions may be imposed? I will not contend that such a provision would confer a regulating power; but it is evident that it would furnish, to men disposed to usurp, a plausible pretence for claiming that power. —Alexander Hamilton, The Federalist Paper number 84 Which of the following statements best summarizes his argument? A) Even though civil liberties are protected by a Bill of Rights, there are some reasonable expectations B) A Bill of Rights is necessary to protect civil liberties such as freedom of the press. C) Freedom of the press is essential for a functioning democracy D) Listing rights will lead some to assume that government may regulate those rights.

D

In a public opinion poll of a representative sample of a population, 1,200 people were asked to agree, disagree, or express neutrality toward the following statements. Statement A: The government should spend more money on welfare. Result: 35·percent of the respondents agreed. Statement B: The government should spend more money on helping the poor. Result: 60·percent of respondents agreed. Which of the following most likely accounts for the different results? A) The questions were not open-ended. B) There were no welfare recipients in the sample. C) The sample size was not large enough to be reliable. D) The questions contained a difference in wording.

D

The map shows the outline of a congressional district. Which of the following statements best explains the motivation behind the way in which it is drawn? A) It has been drawn by a political party to group together moderate voters. B) It has been drawn cooperatively by both political parties to ensure a fair election. C) It has been drawn to group together diverse voters to foster highly competitive elections. D) It has likely been drawn to pack together voters who are registered with the same party.

D

Which of the following actions by public school students would most likely be protected symbolic speech based on the precedent established by Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District (1969)? A) Leading prayers over the school's public address system B) Publishing an editorial in the school newspaper C) Protesting a school board decision by disrupting a school assembly D) Wearing t-shirts objecting to a school board decision Wearing t-shirts objecting to a school board decision

D

Which of the following is a consequence of candidate-centered campaigns? A) The electoral success of third-party candidates sharply increases. B) Parties tighten their control over candidate fund-raising to ensure compliance with regulations. C) Candidates have less accountability for their positions because the importance of the party platform increases. D) Candidates' ability to appeal to voters can outweigh the importance of experience and policy positions.

D

Which of the following is an accurate comparison of Federalist and Anti-Federalist views on government? Answer format Federalist; Anti-Federalist A) Favored a weak central government and strong state governments; Favored a strong central government and weak state governments B) Believed the creation of a bill of rights was necessary; Believed the creation of a bill of rights was not necessary C) Favored the legislative branch having more power than the executive; Favored increasing the power of the national judiciary over the states D) Believed a large republic ensured the best protection of individual freedoms; Believed only a small republic could best ensure protection of individual freedoms

D

Which of the following is an accurate comparison of conservative and liberal views concerning social policy? answer format conservative; Liberal A) The federal government should have a stronger role in shaping education; The federal government should provide more funding for public schools B) Licensed gun-owners should be permitted to openly carry firearms in public; The federal government should not conduct background checks for gun purchases C) Racial and gender considerations should be taken into account to promote diversity in workplace hiring decisions; Job promotion should be based on skills and experience, not race or gender D) Individuals should not rely on government aid for their economic well-being; The government should be responsible for helping to improve the economic position of low-income people

D

Which of the following policies is most likely to cause tension between the competing values of individualism and equality of opportunity? A) Expanding the national defense system B) Reducing environmental regulations C) Decreasing funding for space exploration D) Implementing affirmative action programs

D

Which of the following is true of political action committees (PACs)? A) They may operate at the state level but not at the national level B) They effectively control the presidential campaigns C) They are part of political party organizations. D) They are allowed to contribute to only one candidate in a given contest. E) They make campaign contributions to gain access to legislators.

E